Celebrating Herd Provisions Executive Chef Jeanne Oleksiak and Events Director Kellie Holmes – Learn more about these influential women leaders in the Charleston culinary scene

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As a celebration of Women’s History Month, we wanted to share background on some of the powerful women behind Herd Provisions, Charleston’s whole-animal butcher shop, restaurant and boutique grocery destination. 

  • Executive Chef Jeanne Oleksiak helms the kitchen as she oversees the restaurant’s culinary operations and collaborates with the staff to create innovative farm-to-table dishes. Formerly of Poogan’s Porch, Lana Restaurant, Pages Okra Grill and Park & Grove, Oleksiak serves as a leader, teacher and motivator for the culinary team at Herd Provisions. During the pandemic, she connected with Herd Provisions’ owner Alec Bradford and joined him at the restaurant. Oleksiak has since maintained the title of executive chef, while also working as a butcher and pastry chef throughout the years. Chef Oleksiak’s culinary philosophy for Herd Provisions prioritizes supporting local purveyors and ensuring their products are sustainably raised, grown and produced. Please see HERE for Jeanne’s full bio.

  • As Herd Provisions’ Wine & Events DirectorKellie Holmes runs the wine program for the dining room and retail shop, along with facilitating events and acting as an advisor and operations support, bringing into play her years of experience as a general manager. She focuses on sustainability and small production and minimal intervention wines that pair well across the menu. Please see HERE for Kellie’s full bio.

Cat Nearly Crushed at Junkyard Reunited with Owner Thanks to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue

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 Early last week, an employee at Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, located at 31 Glendale Ave, Asheville, NC, received an alarming message from her partner. While at the junkyard where he works, Sarah Batten’s boyfriend encountered a young cat who leaped into his arms just moments before the car it was using as shelter was scheduled to be crushed!

After completing the rest of his shift with the small cat tucked away in his jacket, Batten’s partner drove to Brother Wolf in the hopes of helping his new feline friend, Lilly, receive any care she needed and to check for a microchip. Staff at Brother Wolf treated Lilly immediately for dehydration before working to ensure she was medically sound overall.

During Lilly’s medical exam, Batten’s boyfriend received a call from his co-workers at the junkyard who had made contact with a man who was frantically searching for his lost cat. It just so happened that this man’s missing cat loved sneaking into cars and had previously made a habit of quietly leaving the house for spontaneous adventures. 

After getting the owner’s contact information, the medical team at Brother Wolf reached out to ask if he would be agreeable to Brother Wolf microchipping, vaccinating, and spaying Lilly. Not only was he grateful to hear that Lilly was okay, but he eagerly and happily agreed to receive the additional medical help at no cost. 

After her spay surgery, Batten and her partner drove Lilly back to her home. “Lilly took a nap the whole way there, and she woke up to the sound of her dad talking to her. You could see the look of relief and happiness on her face when she realized she was home,” Batten said. “Her dad scooped her up, and she nestled right into him.”

Lilly’s owner expressed immense gratitude that Brother Wolf Animal Rescue had stepped up and provided his cat with a safe place to stay as well as the medical attention she needed. He is especially thrilled that Lilly is now microchipped and spayed, though he is hopeful that her wild journey has taught her a valuable lesson about running away from home!

Media Contact

  • Leah Craig Chumbley – Executive Director
  • Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
  • (828) 620-0041
  • leahcraig@bwar.org 

Charleston, SC Based Blackbaud Supports Crisis Text Line to Help Fund the Nonprofit’s International Expansion

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Crisis Text Line Provides Mental Health Support to Those in Emotional Distress

CHARLESTON, S.C., Feb. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the leading provider of software for powering social impact, today announced that its 2024 annual major gift will support Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit organization that provides free, 24/7, confidential text-based mental health support. Currently, Crisis Text Line serves anyone in the United States (including Puerto Rico) in both English and Spanish, and works with affiliates in Canada, the UK and Ireland. Blackbaud’s donation will be utilized for the organization’s plans to expand its service into Latin America and Australia with the goal of providing critical mental health support to more people globally.

Since Crisis Text Line’s launch in 2013, the organization has supported more than 12 million conversations globally, connecting more than 65,000 trained volunteer crisis counselors to texters in emotional distress. Only 19% of texters have access to professional mental health support, and 25% say they don’t have anyone else to talk to. Crisis Text Line is a unique platform for teens in particular, as 88% of teens in the U.S. have or have access to mobile phones, and 90% of teens communicate via text messages. Individuals seeking mental health support through Crisis Text Line can text HELLO to 741741 to reach a live volunteer crisis counselor, at any time and for no cost.

“Mental health is one of the most critical and important issues our society faces today,” said Margaret “Maggie” Driscoll, chief people and culture officer, Blackbaud. “By supporting Crisis Text Line, we are prioritizing mental health resources not only for our own employees, but also for the broader communities where they live and work, making quality mental health care more accessible and reducing stigma for those in need.”

Blackbaud places significant importance on providing total wellbeing benefits designed to help employees thrive while they help customers drive impact—this includes supporting the emotional, social, intellectual, physical and financial health of employees and their families. In addition, Blackbaud is educating students on the importance of mental health through the EVERFI® from Blackbaud course “Understanding Mental Wellness,” a free, digital course that introduces students to the topic of mental health and the ways in which they can implement coping strategies.

“Expanding mental health resources internationally will not only help individuals in need but will also foster global resilience, understanding, and empathy,” said Dena Trujillo, CEO at Crisis Text Line. “Thanks to our partnership with Blackbaud, we are building a foundation for a healthier, more compassionate and connected world.”

Blackbaud’s donation will be structured as a multi-year gift to Crisis Text Line to facilitate an ongoing partnership. Blackbaud will engage employees by raising awareness of the resources available to them through Crisis Text Line and by inviting representatives from Crisis Text Line to present to Blackbaud employees as part of team meetings and special events. In addition, Blackbaud will encourage employees to explore the opportunity to volunteer by becoming trained counselors for Crisis Text Line.

This annual gift follows Blackbaud’s donations in previous years to organizations focused on supporting workforce development for underrepresented youth, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Project Drawdown. Learn more about Blackbaud corporate social responsibility at https://csr.blackbaud.com/

About Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line is a nonprofit organization that provides free, confidential, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support in English and Spanish. Since its launch in 2013, Crisis Text Line has engaged in more than 9 million crisis conversations and trained over 65,000 volunteers to support people in their moments of need. Crisis Text Line is committed to creating an empathetic world where nobody feels alone. Individuals seeking confidential support can connect with us via text, web chat and WhatsApp. To be connected to a live, trained volunteer Crisis Counselor, text HELLO to 741741 or 443-SUPPORT in WhatsApp or text HOLA to 741741 or 442-AYUDAME in WhatsApp for Spanish or connect with us via web chat. Visit Crisis Text Line on InstagramTwitterFacebook and TikTok.  Additional information, including how to become a volunteer or how to support Crisis Text Line through donations or partnerships, is available at www.crisistextline.org.

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the leading software provider exclusively dedicated to powering social impact. Serving the nonprofit and education sectors, companies committed to social responsibility and individual change makers, Blackbaud’s essential software is built to accelerate impact in fundraising, nonprofit financial management, digital giving, grantmaking, corporate social responsibility and education management. With millions of users and over $100 billion raised, granted or managed through Blackbaud platforms every year, Blackbaud’s solutions are unleashing the potential of the people and organizations who change the world. Blackbaud has been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies, Quartz’s list of Best Companies for Remote Workers, and Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers. A remote-first company, Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at www.blackbaud.com or follow us on X/TwitterLinkedInInstagram and Facebook.

Mount Pleasant SC ‘Get Fit Where You Live’ Campaign Creating A Healthier and More Connected Community

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MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – The Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce (MPCC) and the Town of Mount Pleasant have joined forces once again to encourage residents to support local health and wellness establishments. The campaign begins on March 1 and goes through April 1.

“The Town of Mount Pleasant is proud to once again partner with the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce and to encourage citizens to #GetFitWhereYouLive. Through this effort, we are not only prioritizing health and well-being but also supporting our local business community,” stated Mayor Will Haynie.

Getting fit locally supports the health and wellness establishments that are owned and operated by your friends, neighbors and family members and keeps dollars in our local economy. Every week through April 1, the MPCC will give away a $50 gift card for a health and wellness business to one lucky person who posts a photo of their fitness experience at a participating Mount Pleasant establishment on Instagram or Facebook and follows the instructions on how to enter. 

Participating establishments include (as of 2/27/24):

  • 633 Physical Therapy *
  • Blue Sky Endurance *
  • Carolina Physical Therapy *
  • ConciergeOT
  • D1 Training
  • Fleet Feet Mount Pleasant
  • Graze Craze Mount Pleasant *
  • Iron Tribe Fitness Mount Pleasant
  • Lowcountry Yoga *
  • Mount Pleasant Fit Body Bootcamp

* Denotes MPCC Members

To enter:

  1. Simply post a photo of your fitness experience at a participating establishment on Instagram or Facebook.
  2. Tag @mtpchamber, @experiencemp and the participating location.
  3. Include the hashtag #GetFitWhereYouLive

“The MPCC is excited to once again partner with the Town of Mount Pleasant on #GetFitWhereYouLive, a campaign that inspires our local community to embrace healthy living,” declared MPCC President Kathleen Herrmann. “Get Fit Where You Live supports our local health and wellness establishments. We believe that a healthy community starts with the well-being of its individuals. By supporting local fitness and health businesses, we are not only investing in the success of entrepreneurs but also creating a healthier and more connected community for everyone.”

For more information on how to sign up as a participating business, a list of already participating businesses and how to enter to win $50 please visit https://www.mountpleasantchamber.org/biz-where-you-live and click on the Get Fit Where You Live tab.

About MPCC: Since 1992, the MPCC has brought together business leaders from the East Cooper community for mutually beneficial purposes. The membership is a mix of professions including advertising, publishing, finance, health care, food and beverage, hotel, retail, insurance, legal, and service businesses of every description. MPCC aims to encourage business and community success East of the Cooper. MPCC was named a Noteworthy Network in the 2023 Lowcountry Diversity Leadership Awards by the Charleston Regional Business Journal and Best Activist Group or Effort in Best of the Best 2023 by Moultrie News.

Breeze Airways announces nonstop service between Charleston, SC and Manchester, NH

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Breeze Airways has just announced nonstop service between the CHS and MHT (@flymanchester)!

Get ready to explore New England’s industrial hub with history, culinary delights, and cultural gems.

The 2x seasonal offering begins June 14th, 2024 and is priced at $69 one-way.

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

From 2lb 12oz at birth to Honors Graduate from Coastal Carolina – The Ronald McDonald House and MUSC reflect on this beautiful story of resilience and hope

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In December 2000, Emma arrived 12 weeks earlier than expected at a mere 2lb 12oz. Emma’s family stayed at the House to be closer to MUSC Children’s Health and after 5 weeks of battling health complications, they were able to go home with her. 23 years later, Emma graduated with Honors from Coastal Carolina University with a degree in Applied Mathematics and a minor in Statistics! 🌟

“To parents facing similar trials, we hope our story provides comfort and some measure of hope. Despite the initial uncertainties, miracles can happen with love, care, and support of organizations like RMHC Charleston.” – Linda, RMHC Charleston Grandmother ❤️🌟

Juliska on King Street launches new Spring ’24 Floral Workshops with new format and pricing

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Juliska, located at 268 King St, Charleston, SC 29401 has just launched their new Spring ’24 workshops with a new format* and pricing. All Workshops will be $65.

*The new format will be instructed in a plain glass vessel.

There is more: You will be able to purchase any item you want in the store after the workshop for 20% off! Or, you may purchase a vessel to use for class (selection limited) for a discount. ($60)

  • Graham or Ella 9” Corset Vase
  • Devon Willow or Provence Rattan Small Hurricane

If you have your workshop vase already, please feel free to bring it to class to use!

Click HERE to review and sign up for the new workshops.

Charleston Small Business Spotlight: Cart Life EV LLC

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Cart Life EV LLC located at 1141B Clements Ferry Rd, Charleston, SC 29492 is a true family business with an eye on the future. Recreation, sustainability and environmental thoughtfulness is the driving force behind this custom golf cart designer and seller. We see a company that embodies quality, relationship building and a passion for coastal living.

The goal of Cart Life EV LLC is to “Bring high-quality, high-tech carts to the Charleston area through our partnership with Venom-EV and high-quality, competitively priced carts to the Charleston area through our partnership with Advanced EV.”

About Cart Life EV LLC

Seventeen years ago, Cart Life EV LLC General Manager, Joe Boczkowski, moved to the Charleston area from Pittsburgh, PA.  He fell in love with the city and put down his roots.  Sales Manager Aaron Moore has called Charleston his home his entire life and wouldn’t have it any other way.  During Joe and Aaron’s many years of combined experience in the golf cart industry working for both manufacturers and dealers, they have seen various golf cart brands and models up close and personal, inside and out.  They wanted to be able to offer a high-quality, reasonably priced golf cart to people in the Charleston area so they could start living the Cart Life without having to worry about issues they saw with other brands.  Joe told his brother, Mike Boczkowski, about his vision and together with business partner, Jeff James, they started Cart Life EV LLC in the summer of 2023.  Not only were they lucky enough to find an extremely well-built golf cart through their partnership with Venom-EV, but they were also able to find another extremely well-built brand in Advanced EV.  With two high-quality brands and a boutique showroom off Clements Ferry Road, Joe and Aaron are able to focus on providing the highest level of customer service to help Charlestonians start living the Cart Life!

Want to learn more about the inventory or schedule a test drive, click HERE.

Merci, European themed restaurant scheduled to open this summer in downtown Charleston, SC

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By Jason Thomas

Chef Michael and Courtney Zentner of The Drifter, a Charleston-based culinary and event design company, are set to open their first brick and mortar restaurant concept.

Merci will open this summer at 28 Pitt St. in Harleston Village in downtown Charleston.

A neighborhood bistro featuring a European-inspired menu in a cozy, convivial setting, Merci will offer guests a taste of the dinner parties that the Zentners are known for creating for their private event clients, according to a news release.

As the culinary leader at The Drifter, Chef Zentner crafts each menu, showcasing the best in local produce and a seasonal approach, the release stated. He will adapt this approach at Merci, serving a European-influenced menu focusing on French and Italian techniques.

Menu highlights include an updated spin on the classics, from steak tartare and foie gras to Beef Wellington and roasted duck.

Set in a historic, 1820s Federal-style building on the corner of Pitt and Montagu Streets in the residential Harleston Village, Merci is inspired by the Zentners’ travels to Europe but also to neighborhood bistros in New York and Boston, the release stated.

The space, designed by Helen Rice of Serious Buildings, though small in size is big on ambiance, the release stated. Rice and Courtney Zentner, an event designer and stylist by trade, have worked together to curate furnishings, fixtures, fabrics and vintage cookware for the restaurant.

Attached to the restaurant will be a studio space available to rent for trunk shows, workshops and small-scale private events.

Merci will be open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday, as well as Friday lunch. A summer 2024 opening is planned.

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South Carolina export sales total $37.3 billion in 2023, defying national exports trend

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Automotive remains dominant industry for state’s exports

Governor Henry McMaster, the South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) and South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) today announced that the state’s 2023 export sales totaled $37.3 billion, defying the national trend where U.S. exports were down 2.2%, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Since 2013, South Carolina exports have grown at an average rate of 4.4% year-to-year. Over the same period, U.S. exports grew at an average rate of 3% year-to-year.

The automotive industry led South Carolina’s exported goods, with sales more than double that of the next largest industry type (aircraft and aerospace components). The state remains the nation’s top exporter of tires, and a national leader of completed passenger vehicles.

South Carolina’s top five exported commodities in 2023 were: 

  1. Completed passenger vehicles 
  2. Aircraft and parts 
  3. Machinery and mechanical appliances (turbojets, turbopropellers, gas turbines, ball and roller bearings, appliances for boilers and pumps)
  4. Plastics
  5. Rubber (tires)

Notable 2023 trade statistics include:

  • 2023 export sales totaled $37.3 billion, defying the national trend of U.S. exports dropping 2.2% over the same year. South Carolina’s 2023 total export sales figure is an 18% increase over 2022 export sales.
  • For the eighth consecutive year, South Carolina is the national leader in the export of tires, with sales reaching $1.8 billion — representing 34.3% of the total U.S. market share.
  • South Carolina also remains among the top in the nation in the export of completed passenger motor vehicles, with 2023 sales growing to $10.2 billion — accounting for 16% of the total U.S. market share.
  • South Carolina exports reached 211 countries in 2023.
  • Germany was the number one export market for South Carolina-made products and services, accounting for $4.7 billion. 
  • Belgium, a primary point of entry into the European Union market, entered South Carolina’s top five global export markets with an increase over 21% from 2022.

“Other countries continue to find that South Carolina offers the best products and services available anywhere, which is emphasized by the fact that our state saw an increase in trade despite a national decline in exports,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “By sending locally made goods throughout the world, we can continue to create more jobs and careers for South Carolinians while helping expand our economy.”

“South Carolina is a global state — we’re proud to be a leading destination and trade partner for companies and countries throughout the world,” said Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III. “Growing our international trade and exports network makes our economy more resilient, more diverse, and more competitive for long-term economic development success.” 

“As the 8th largest U.S. container port, SC Ports serves as South Carolina’s gateway to the world,” SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said. “We are proud to move cargo for South Carolina companies, ensuring that automakers, advanced manufacturers, farmers and small businesses have direct access to global markets. We consistently invest in port infrastructure and deliver excellent port service to help South Carolina companies thrive.”

South Carolina companies looking to expand their global markets can explore S.C. Commerce’s Export Incentives or contact the international trade team.

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