Day: January 20, 2026

Save the Light Half Marathon and 5K Run/Walk

Sat., Feb. 7, 8 a.m.

Folly Beach Pier

Join us on Folly Beach for the Save the Light Half Marathon and 5K to support the preservation of the Morris Island Lighthouse by Save The Light, a grassroots non-profit organization that formed in 2000 to save the Morris Island Lighthouse from being lost to the sea. Both races are USATF-certified and start and finish near the Folly Beach Pier. Half Marathon is a run only event. The 5K is open to runners and walkers. Awards and post-race food provided. Registration is required and ends by February 4; on-site registration not available. The race is open to runners of all levels, including beginners. For more information, visit https://ccprc.com/3258/Save-the-Light-Half-Marathon-5K.

Fee: $45 5K, $65 Half Marathon

Ages: 10 and up for half marathon, ages 8 and up for 5K (chaperones required for 15 and under)

https://ccprc.com/3258/Save-the-Light-Half-Marathon-5K

Lincoln Community Center Senior Sneaker Dance

Lincoln Regional Center in McClellanville – High School Basketball Gymnasium

Sat., Feb. 21, 4 – 6 p.m.

Join us for the second annual Senior Sneaker Dance at Lincoln Community Center in McClellanville for a fun evening of dancing and refreshments wearing your favorite sneakers and formal attire.

Fee: FREE

Ages: 50 and up

https://ccprc.com/3765/Senior-Sneaker-Dance

Schroder Community Center Senior Sneaker Dance

Schroder Community Center – Basketball Gymnasium

Sat., Feb. 28, 4 – 6 p.m.

Join us for the inaugural Senior Sneaker Dance at Schroder Community Center in Hollywood for a fun evening of dancing and refreshments wearing your favorite sneakers and formal attire.

Fee: FREE

Ages: 50 and up

https://ccprc.com/3765/Senior-Sneaker-Dance

February 2026 Programs

Early Morning Bird Walk at Caw Caw

Wednesdays and Saturdays, Feb. 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25 and 28, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Registration is required. Join us on one or more of our regular bird walks. Our trek through many distinct habitats will allow us to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms. What to expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, accessible water fountains, and accessible picnic tables are available at this location. The program route is a flat, loop and benches are available along the trail route. The trails are unpaved. The program speed is moderately slow and will require periods of standing and gazing upwards.

Fee: FREE for Gold Pass members or Non-member: $12 (registration required)
Ages: any
Register Online

Belay Basics

Sun., Feb. 1, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

James Island County Park – Climbing Wall at Outdoor Zone
New to belaying? This class will teach you the essential skills to belay safely and confidently on top rope. We’ll cover proper setup, communication, catching falls, and gear handling—all broken down step by step. No experience required, just a willingness to learn. By the end, you’ll be ready to belay a climbing partner outdoors or indoors. Gear is provided, but feel free to bring your own.

Fee: $25

Ages: 14 and up

Register Online – 16982

Kids on the Go: Little Bikers – 2 year-olds

Tuesdays, Feb. 3 and Feb. 10, 9 a.m.  

Palmetto Islands County Park

Let the kids go! Foundations for bike riding start with balance. Have your little one join in to learn the basics on a balance bike.

Fee: $10

Age: 2 years

Register Online – 16905

Kids on the Go: Little Bikers – 3 year-olds

Tuesdays, Feb. 3 and Feb. 10, 10 a.m.            

Palmetto Islands County Park

Let the kids go! Foundations for bike riding start with balance. Have your little one join in to learn the basics on a balance bike.

Fee: $10

Age: 3 years

Register Online – 16906

Kids on the Go: Little Longboarders – 4-5 year-olds

Tuesdays, Feb. 3 and Feb. 10, 11 a.m.            

Palmetto Islands County Park

Let the kids go! Foundations for board sports start with balance. Have your little one join in to learn the basics on a longboard. All activity equipment provided.

Fee: $10

Age: 4-5 years

Register Online – 16907

Wee Wild Ones: Tree Tales – Little Night Flyers

Fri., Feb. 6, 9 – 10 a.m.

Caw Caw Interpretive Center

Ready to flutter into a world of wonder? Join us to discover the secret lives of bats! We will learn how these tiny night flyers “see” with sound, where they live, what they eat, and more. This program nurtures curiosity, early science skills, and love for these amazing nighttime creatures. Join us for lots of hands-on exploration and fun as we celebrate one of nature’s coolest creatures – bats!

Ages 18 months – 6 years. Chaperone must accompany child.

Fee: $10

Register Online – 16755

Junior Naturalist: The Art of Being A Naturalist

Sat., Feb. 7, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Palmetto Islands County Park

Throughout time, nature has inspired people’s artistic expressions. Accompany us as we connect with nature and explore various creative art concepts. Bring your creativity and we will supply the rest!

Bring your curiosity and engage all of your senses while exploring natural habitats at your county parks! Led by Charleston County Park’s Education staff, the multi-seasonal Junior Naturalist program series offers a wide variety of fun and educational nature-based activities focused around a central theme. Children who attend 8 classes earn the title of a Certified Junior Naturalist.

Fee: $10

Ages 8-12. Chaperones are required

Register Online – 16750

Intro to Lead Climbing

Sun., Feb. 8, 1 – 4 p.m.

James Island County Park Climbing Wall

Ready to take your climbing to the next level? This class covers the basics of lead climbing in the gym—how to clip safely, manage rope drag, belay a lead climber, and fall safely with confidence. We’ll walk you through key techniques and safety protocols, with plenty of hands-on practice. No prior lead experience needed, but participants should be comfortable top rope belaying and able to climb at a 5.9 level or higher. All gear provided; bring your own if you prefer.

Fee: $40

Ages 14 and up

Register Online – 16991

Secrets of the Swamp

Tues., Feb. 10, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Wannamaker County Park

Experience the beauty of a bottomland hardwood forest with a trained naturalist. Beneath the towering cypress trees, we’ll uncover some secrets of the plants and animals that inhabit this uniquely southern ecosystem.

Ages 12 & up. A registered and paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under.

Fee: $12Register Online – 16823

Nature Ramble

Tues., Feb. 10, 1 – 3 p.m.

Johns Island County Park

Join a Master Naturalist instructor to see the natural wonders of our parks in a new light. Discover plants and animals while learning about their connections to the world around them and how that connectivity may circle back to you!

Ages 12 & up. A registered and paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under.

Fee: $12

Register Online – 16819

Lighthouse Inlet Bird Walk

Fri., Feb. 13, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve

This walk focuses on the incredibly diverse northeast end of Folly Island. Once the home of a Coast Guard station, this Heritage Preserve protects maritime forest, beach, dune, and marsh habitats for wildlife. This site is a leader in number of bird species seen in South Carolina. At this time of year, we hope to see a variety of seabirds, sea ducks, and shorebirds such as Northern Gannet, Black Scoter, Piping Plover, and much more.

Ages 12 & up.

Fee: $12

Register Online – 16800

Lowcountry Senior Series: Disc Golf

Tues., Feb. 17, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

James Island County Park Outdoor Zone

Come out and learn the art of flying discs! We’ll start with the basics, including: types of discs, throwing techniques and etiquette on the course. We’ll have the opportunity to play a few holes at our course.

Ages 50 & up

Fee: $20

Register – 16933

Seashore Exploration – Isle of Palms

Thurs., Feb. 19, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Isle of Palms County Park

Winter is a great time to explore the beach. Join an experienced naturalist to familiarize yourself with many species that may be found there. We’ll search for artifacts and living creatures along the beach such as molluscs, sponges, corals, and more. Share in the discovery by learning intriguing stories about adaptations that allow for life near the ocean.

Ages 9 & up. A registered and paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under.

Fee: $12

Register Online – 16824

Winter Tree Identification

Thurs., Feb. 19, 1 – 3 p.m.

Palmetto Islands County Park

Identifying trees without their distinctive leaves demands scrutiny, dedication, and practice. Through the use of dichotomous keys, helpful instruction, and your powers of observation, learn more about twigs, buds, and bark!

Ages 12 & up

Fee: $12

Register Online – 16811

Folktales Fish Fry

Fri., Feb. 20, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

McLeod Plantation Historic Site – pavilion

Join us for a delightful morning of Southern storytelling and culinary tradition at the Folktales Fish Fry. This immersive experience brings together the rich folklore of the South, featuring tales of High John the Conqueror, a legendary figure who embodies resilience, wit, and triumph. The program will be a celebration of the deep connection between food and community, where stories are passed down from generation to generation, and every meal is an opportunity to connect with the past while creating new memories, celebrating the joy of food, friendship, and shared traditions.  This program will take place at the McLeod Plantation Historic Site Pavilion where seating is available for all participants. The program location is outside in a shaded area. A small, tasting portion of food will be provided to each participant.

Fee: $5

Register – 17200

Seashore Exploration – Folly Beach

Tues., Feb. 24, 9 – 11 a.m.

Folly Beach County Park

Winter is a great time to explore the beach. Join an experienced naturalist to familiarize yourself with many species that may be found there. We’ll search for artifacts and living creatures along the beach such as molluscs, sponges, corals, and more. Share in the discovery by learning intriguing stories about adaptations that allow for life near the ocean.

Ages 9 & up. A registered and paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under.

Cost: $12

Register Online – 16825

Homeschool in the Parks: Partners & Rivals

Fri., Feb. 27, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

James Island County Park

Discover the secret social lives of plants, animals, and everything in between! Who are partners and who are rivals in different ecosystems? We will explore the surprising and sometimes sneaky ways living things work together – or against each other – in the wild. From best-bud partnerships like flowers and bees, to one-sided freeloaders, like dreaded ticks! This program will help us see that in nature, everything (and everyone) is linked – sometimes in the most unexpected ways!

Ages: 7-12. Chaperone required

Fee: $7

Register Online – 16760

College Transitions report ranks Clemson’s Honors College among the country’s best.

by Shawna Cass

Clemson University has the fourth-best honors college in the country and the best in South Carolina, according to a list of the 50 Best Honors Colleges in 2026.

The report, published by College Transitions as a resource for high school students and college counselors, evaluates and ranks hundreds of honors colleges and programs throughout the U.S. using three criteria: selectivity, benefits offered and program rigor.

“We are incredibly proud to be ranked among the top honors colleges in the nation—an achievement that reflects the excellence and dedication of our students, staff and faculty,” said Sarah Winslow, dean of the Honors College. “Through interdisciplinary learning, research and intentional mentorship, our Honors College cultivates a vibrant community of learners and leaders who grow through connection and purpose.”

A key goal of the Honors College is to recruit the highest-achieving and highest-potential undergraduates to Clemson. The median student in the college’s Fall 2025 incoming class was ranked in the top 2% of their high school graduating class. These students were also deeply engaged outside the classroom in service, volunteer and extracurricular activities, often holding leadership positions. 

At Clemson, Honors students join and create a community designed to foster both academic excellence and personal growth. The nationally recognized Honors Residential College offers a state-of-the-art environment for collaboration and learning. Students also have access to high-impact academic and research opportunities, including professional and academic development grants, specialized cohort-based programs, peer mentorship and leadership-focused experiences.

As a result, Honors students go on to earn major college and University-level awards as well as national and international recognition, including Rhodes, Churchill, Truman and Fulbright scholarships.

When they graduate, almost 96% of Honors students report immediate post-graduation plans. Some join leading employers, such as Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA and the Bank of America. Others pursue graduate studies at prestigious institutions like Yale University, Stanford University, Cornell University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Honors College’s national prominence mirrors Clemson’s continued rise as a leader in undergraduate education and the student experience. The value of a Clemson degree has never been higher. The University was recently recognized as the best national and public university in South Carolina in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 rankings. Forbes also named Clemson as the best university in the state and No. 33 nationally among public colleges.

Source: Clemson University

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By Mark A. Leon

Robert Huffman’s Camino Caffeino is more than a mobile coffee stand; it is a personal manifesto—an attempt to stitch together the loose threads of a life shaped by movement, loss, and a persistent yearning for belonging. The influence of his grandfather, a deep commitment to community, an ethic of self-care, and the responsibilities of family converge in a project that is at once nostalgic and forward-looking.

The grandfather’s shadow is central to Robert’s narrative. He learned in his twenties that his maternal grandfather had taken his life at 37, a revelation that prompted existential questions about purpose and wellbeing. Robert recalls asking himself a question that would recur throughout his life: “What am I doing with my life? Am I pursuing what I want, or am I letting life pursue me?” That moment launched a search for meaning that moved him away from a conventional finance career and ultimately toward projects that prioritized human connection.

There is another grandfather in Robert’s memory—the one whose small farm in Kentucky embodied hospitality. Summers at that farm, where oversized tomatoes were sold more for company than profit, gave Robert an early lesson in the social value of simple acts. He describes how his grandfather “just does it so people will come over,” a philosophy that would crystallize into a business model built around presence and conversation rather than purely transactional goals. That ethos is visual and literal in Camino Caffeino: an old El Camino parked by the shore, coffee served out of its back, an invitation to slow down and trade stories.

Community is the oxygen of Camino Caffeino. For Robert, community emerged both as a corrective to loneliness and as an aspiration. After years living in different states and working remote jobs—experiences that, he says, often left him “behind a computer all day, just crunching numbers”—he moved to Charleston seeking roots. The El Camino became a vehicle for relationship-building: “The point is to meet people,” he said, reflecting that the business was initially about making coffee and making connections. Those connections are not incidental; they are the product. Robert has translated that goal into concrete efforts like monthly Build and Brew meetups and partnerships with local artisans, choosing community resilience over scale-at-all-costs.

Self-care informs both the personal and operational logics of Camino Caffeino. Robert’s work with Movember—an organization focused on men’s mental health—has continued to shape his attentiveness to mental wellbeing. The cafe is an embodiment of a philosophy he phrases succinctly: “drive fast, drink slow.” Chase your dreams with urgency, he argues, but enjoy the moments along the way. That tension—pursue boldly, savor slowly—underpins his cautious approach to growth. He recognizes the grind that often turns passion into drudgery: “While you are fulfilling a dream, you are doing a lot of things that you hate,” he observes. Still, he chooses practices meant to preserve the original joy: keeping operations simple, favoring local sourcing over mass outsourcing, and resisting the pressure to monetize every aspect of the brand.

Family is both a motivator and a boundary for Robert. Becoming a father intensified his desire to live intentionally. He worried about letting resentment build from deferred dreams, asking himself whether he could model bravery for his son if he never pursued his own passions. That calculus tipped him toward action: “If it doesn’t succeed, at least I tried it,” he said, showing how the desire to live an examined life outweighed the fear of failure. Yet parenthood also introduced new limits—on social media exposure, for instance. Robert and his wife are protective, refusing to make their child a public mascot and limiting screen time to preserve childhood. That protective stance extends to the business, which prioritizes face-to-face interactions over digital amplification.

Robert’s decision to center local artisans and slow production practices is another family- and community-minded choice. He accepts lower margins in favor of relationships: “The point is going to build local partnerships,” he explains, even if that means higher costs. Those partnerships amplify the communal purpose of Camino Caffeino and root the brand in the place that gave Robert the confidence to pursue it.

The core reasons behind creating Camino Caffeino are simple and consistent: to heal a personal void, to create a place—literal and figurative—where people can slow down and talk, and to model a life that balances ambition with presence. Robert’s project asks that customers do two things at once: pursue the things that matter and savor the ordinary moments that make life worth living. His vehicle, his design choices, and his daily conversations are all instruments in that work.

In a culture that often equates success with scale and speed, Camino Caffeino stands as a small, deliberate rebellion. It is a business shaped by the memory of a man who loved company, by a son’s resolve to choose presence over inertia, and by a father’s commitment to protect and teach. As Robert puts it, the venture is about more than coffee: it is “to meet people,” and through those meetings, to weave a life that honors family, community, and the care that sustains both.

Follow Robert’s journey on Instagram.

• Related: Meet Chip Colon, Owner and Operator of Tuckaway Coffee Roasters on Johns Island
• Related: 6 Pet Friendly Coffee Shops in Charleston, SC
• Related: 5 Stand Out Coffee Shops in North Charleston, SC

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By Mark A. Leon

McNeal by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Ayad Akhtar makes its national regional premiere in Charleston, South Carolina.

To properly examine the latest production of McNeal we must ask the audience to remove their perceptions, prejudices and subjective thoughts on the current and future state of A.I. in our current social landscape and walk into the theater with an open slate.

I will give you all a moment to close your eyes, clear your mind and begin to explore a journey of discovery without any pre-determined expectations. 

Are we ready?  Good.

What is McNeal?

McNeal is a new contemporary play by Pulitzer Prize Winner playwright Ayad Akhtar making its national regional debut at the Pure Theatre in Charleston, South Carolina.  This production is directed with thoughtful precision by Sharon Graci (Co-Founder and Artistic & Executive Director of Pure) and stars David Whalen at Jacob McNeal and co-starring Sam Smith, Joy Vandervort-Cobb, Andrew Puckett, Journey Townsend, Sylvia Jeferies and Ryka Khanna.

At the heart of this play is the evolution of humanity and a deeper dive into the human condition as it evaluates the place artificial intelligence (A.I.) in  the future of our planet and perhaps our own sanity. 

• Is A.I. to be feared? Yes
• Is A.I. to be embraced? Yes
• Does A.I. make our lives easier? Yes
• Does A.I. complicate our lives introducing elements that question fact form distortion?  Yes
• Do we have a way, as human, to co-exist with A.I.?  Hopefully
• Will A.I. have us questioning our intellect and creative capabilities?

There it is!  That last question sums up the heart of this play. 

That is the journey McNeal will take you on for 90 minutes and certainly much longer as the conversation is sure to continue long after the play has concluded. 

In the opening scene we learn acclaimed novelist Jacob McNeal he has just been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.  Yet sometimes the view from the top isn’t always as glamorous as we hope.  At this point, I could add spoilers to paint a much more visual picture of the spiraling downfall of this writer, but I won’t. 

As the audience watches each scene progress, we witness a man nosediving into a blackhole of intellectualism, narcissism, metaphysical digital obsession, self-doubt and redemption and he grapples with his past, present and future.

David Whalen’s portrayal of Jacob McNeal was nothing short of exquisite.  His use of verbal and non-verbal range captures the essence of a man so driven by passion and relevancy that his loses touch of the core elements of rational thought. 

Still I felt a sympathetic sensitivity to this novelist.

To walk away with empathy and likability from a character who has been manipulated by his demons throughout his adult life is truly the work of a stage artist.  Mr. Whalen found an inner strength in this role allowed him to express regret, anger and obsession and in the end, even find forgiveness within himself with poignant thoughtfulness and transparency. 

I even found a bit of self-reflection through this character whose exposure of hidden truths and repressed memories becomes the fire the alters his future and all relationships with family, colleagues and loved ones. 

Mr. Whalen’s performance could not be complete without a supporting cast who collectively played a powerful role as antagonists and influencers providing guidance and direction to McNeal.

What are the core themes of McNeal

A good play follows a clear narrative with a structured story built around strong characters.  A great play leaves the audience with an assortment of interpretations, meanings and emotional connection.  It explores a story but connects with its audience in varied ways. 

McNeal is a great play.

With elements of gender equality, generational social behavioral norms, human creativity vs A.I., plagiarism vs originality, love vs lust, and obsession vs passion, McNeal takes you on an absolute emotional rollercoaster that continues to evolve with each scene leading to an explosive conclusion.

Director Sharon Graci and her technical team cleverly use sound, light and digital visuals to blur the line of actual life versus artificial.  It is a beautiful chaos created by the production team.

This play is certainly a ride worth being on.  By the end, you may even think differently about your thoughts on A.I.

How can I see this production?

McNeal will be playing at Pure Theatre through February 7, 2026.  Click HERE to purchase tickets. 

P.S. – No A.I. agents assisted in the writing of this review…..

Photo credit: David Mandel

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