Moving Company in Summerville

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. — Minette du Plooy wants to fly.

The 18-year-old from Prosper, Texas, has her mind set on becoming an Air Force pilot. She’s so committed that she convinced her parents to drive three days and book a hotel in Charleston so she could spend two weeks learning from instructors at a CRAFT Flight Training and Simulation camp.

The decision, and all that came with it, were worth it.

“It’s incredible,” du Plooy said. “I wouldn’t change giving up two weeks of my summer to do this.”

Seven high school students and recent grads are participating in CRAFT’s first-ever summer camp from July 11 to 23 at the Summerville Airport. Most of the students come from around South Carolina, with du Plooy being the only person to travel across state lines.

For the inaugural camp, the flight school reached out to the Lowcountry Aviation Association and Charleston Southern University to find students interested in participating.

The goal of the camp is to give high schoolers a head start on receiving a pilot’s license, said Jay Aldea, co-owner of CRAFT. By the end of the camp, the students earn an endorsement to take the Federal Aviation Administration’s private pilot exam.

PREPARING FOR TAKEOFF

The students go into the camp at any skill level. While some entered with hours of flying experience, others, like du Plooy, had only been in a plane one or two times.

The students spend each day cycling through three different types of lessons: ground school, simulator training and flight.

In ground school, the students learn everything they need to know for their written exam. They spend about four hours nestled in a small classroom in the airport taking lessons from an instructor.

The school teaches them the mechanics of the plane and the rules and regulations. While it might seem like the most boring part of the entire experience, the ground schools lays the foundation for what the students will do later on.

“Sitting up there in ground school, it does not make that much sense,” du Plooy said. “But the next day when you fly, it makes so much more sense. It all fits perfectly together.”

The students then spend one or two hours in a simulator. They take the wheel of a large metal box outfitted like the cockpit of a plane and resembling an arcade game.

They learn to fly through a variety of conditions with limited visibility, using only the tools of the plane to navigate.

With those skills in hand, the students are then able to start flying. By the time the camps ends, they’ll have about 12 hours of flying experience with an instructor and learning the fundamentals including navigation, turns and acceleration. They’ll work their way up to slow flight, where the speed is slow enough that the pilot has full control.

The slow flight is crucial as it’s used whenever a pilot is taking off or landing the plane.

“It feels like the plane is on a stick or a needle,” Aldea said. “Having them comfortable in that type of environment or that type of flight regime, allows them to have confidence controlling the aircraft.”

By the end, the students should have the endorsement to do their solo flight, Aldea said. The solo flight and the endorsement for the private pilot’s exam are the first steps in a piloting career.

The camp has been eye-opening for its four instructors as well. Todd Brooks, who came to Charleston from the Washington, D.C., area for the camp, said he’s enjoyed experiencing the thrill of flying vicariously through his students.

“It’s usually their first time ever being in a small plane,” he said. “You see the lights click on a little bit and they think ‘wow this is so cool.’”

OPENING DOORS

Aldea hopes the camp can give the students a sense of their options when it comes to being a pilot.

“There’s a lot of misconceptions about being a pilot and what that entails,” he said. “A lot of folks think that they have to take the military route, and that’s not necessarily the case.”

For many, pursuing a career as a pilot can be daunting and inaccessible. Getting a pilot’s license is no small feat and can mean thousands of dollars in schooling. The flight camp alone costs students around $3,000.

Through connections with the Lowcountry Aviation Association and other groups like Women in Aviation, however, most of the students were able to secure scholarships and have the program fully covered.

Emmanuel Peterson, a rising senior at Georgetown High School, said he was able to attend the camp through a scholarship. Without the opportunity, he isn’t sure that he’d be able to afford flight school to do his solo flight.

Ultimately, Peterson wants to be a commercial pilot, a job that no one in his family has pursued before.

“It’s a career that’s out there … being able to go to new places every day,” he said. “It’s like a thrill.”

Aldea said the camp is also an opportunity to network with collegiate flight programs. The school has a partnership with Charleston Southern University, which is the first school in the state to offer a collegiate pilot program.

“A lot of people won’t be exposed to that stuff early on,” Aldea said. “That’s part of our mission here to expose students to a potential occupation and potential lifestyle.”

Although it is limited by space, CRAFT hopes to expand the camp in future years to include more students, Aldea said.

Registration for Summerville Parks and Recreation Fall 2021 youth sports programs runs through Aug. 1.

The town has opened registration for its Youth flag football, tee ball, baseball and soccer Fall seasons. All programs are coed.

Registration for all programs is available at the Town of Summerville Parks and Recreation Office located at 301 North Hickory Street from 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturdays and from noon until 6 p.m. Sundays as well as by appointment only at the Gahagan Park Office at 515 West Boundary Street. Online registration is available at https://secure.rec1.com/SC/summerville-sc/catalog.

The registration fee is $45 for Summerville residents and $65 for non-residents. A $10 late fee will be added starting Aug. 2. Forms of payment accepted include cash, check and credit cards.

A birth certificate or military ID, proof of residency and proof of medical insurance are required to register.

Practices for all Fall programs will start in August. Games will be played evenings Monday through Thursday and/or Saturday mornings in mid-September and October at the Jerry Blackwell Sports Complex at Gahagan Park with the one exception being the town’s 10U baseball teams that compete at a different local facility.

Each Fall program has its own age groups and equipment requirements, but none allow the use of metal cleats for any age group.

Youth flag football age groups are: 5U (4-5), 7U (6-7) 9U (8-9), 11U (10-11) and 14U (12-14). Participants must provide their own mouthpiece and “no pocket” pants. Participants will receive a game jersey. Teams will be furnished with footballs, flags and other necessary equipment.

Youth baseball age groups are: Tee Ball 4U (3-4) and 6U (5-6), Coach Pitch 8U (7-8), and Baseball 10U (9-10). Participants must provide their own grey baseball pants and a glove. Participants for the 8U and 10U groups must provide their own batting helmet with a mask.

Baseball players will receive a game jersey and a cap. Teams will be furnished with bats, balls and tees. Catcher gear will be supplied for 8-10 group.

Youth soccer age groups are: 4U (3-4), 6U (5-6), 8U (7-8) and 10U (9-10). Participants must provide their shin guards and “no pocket” pants. Participants will receive a game jersey and socks. Teams will be furnished with additional soccer balls, cones, and other equipment.

NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Meredith Corporation's (NYSE: MDP) Southern Living today announced this year's list of Tastemakers, celebrating 10 talented, inspiring and trendsetting women who exude modern southern style across fashion, home, art and beauty. The full list of 2021 Southern Living Tastemakers is featured in the August issue, on newsstands July 23 and online at southernliving.com/tastemakers.

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"We're thrilled to celebrate this third annual list of Tastemakers, honoring women who found new ways to bring their passion to life in an exceptionally challenging year," said Southern Living Editor in Chief Sid Evans. "From entrepreneurs and business-owners to artists and designers, this year's list recognizes extraordinary women who are moving the South forward in exciting new ways."

To create this list each year, Southern Living editors seek out stylish, forward-thinking women shaping their corners of the South through their work, whether that's owning a business, designing a clothing or accessories line, or inspiring others through their social media platforms.

The complete list of 2021 Southern Living Tastemakers is presented below and on southernliving.com/tastemakers:

Check out the 2019 and 2020 Southern Living Tastemakers.

About Southern Living
Southern Living celebrates the essence of life in the South, covering the best in Southern food, homes, gardens and travel. Southern Living connects consumers to the region's rich culture through a variety of print, digital, mobile, social and event platforms. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the rapidly expanding Southern Living brand is produced by Meredith Corporation.

SOURCE Meredith Corporation

SUMMERVILLE — Nearly 80 Summerville families in need will have an opportunity for additional financial assistance from the town.

Summerville is planning to offer up to six months of rent, mortgage and utility payment assistance to residents through its “Summerville Home to Stay” program. The max amount for each household is $7,500.

The service is part of a Community Development Block Grant Program that’s funded through The CARES Act, a federal coronavirus aid bill. The town will have more than $400,000 to distribute through the assistance program.

With organizers expecting to help 75 households, the funds will be given on a first-come first-served basis.

“The money is just sitting there waiting to be used,” said P.J. Harbert, the town’s grants writer.

This comes after many families in South Carolina and across the U.S. in general have been faced with new financial struggles with recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. To help, a federal pause on evictions was issued.

On June 24, it was announced that the eviction mortarium would be extended for one month, giving people more time to take advantage for rent assistance programs.

Summerville area residents also haven’t been immune to feeling the financial struggles. John Michael Stagliano is the founder of the nonprofit Home Again.

The organization supplies furniture and household items for people transitioning out of homelessness. Recently, he said the organization has seen a noticeable influx of people reaching out to them for help.

In Summerville, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance reports that low-income households spend 71 percent of their income on housing and transportation.

“It’s been difficult for everybody,” Stagliano said.

But in addition to the new rental assistance program, Summerville area residents have access to free housing counseling the second Tuesday of every month through the Charleston Trident Urban League.

The program also offers advice around building financial assets.

“The reason why most people are struggling in the pandemic is because they didn’t have any assets,” said Otha Meadows, president and CEO of the league.

As far as Summerville’s rental assistance program, it will be done in partnership with Origin SC, a professional financial and housing counseling nonprofit. The nonprofit will help residents with organizing applications.

Residents can also email Harbert at [email protected] for any additional questions. The town will also be paying utility companies and landlords directly.

To qualify for the assistance, applicants must live within the legal boundaries of the town of Summerville. The households also have to be at or below 80 percent area median income.

In the Dorchester County area, the median family income is $82,100. Officials are estimating as many as 100 calls a day while only being able to help around 60 families.

“Once the money is gone it’s gone,” Harbert said. “If you need this, you need to do this right out of the gate.”

Officials said they are hoping to start accepting applications by July 16.

Standard Communities, has led a public-private partnership to acquire Osprey Place Apartments in North Charleston, SC. This deal brings Standard’s affordable portfolio in the Charleston area to over 500 units.

In February, Standard led a public-private partnership that acquired Bridgeview Village Apartments, the largest privately-owned affordable community in Charleston.

A long-term ground lease for the 108-unit Osprey Place Apartments was acquired by Standard

in partnership with South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing) and Housing On Merit. The transaction has a total capitalization of over $22 million, including more than $82,000 per unit in renovation costs. The transaction was financed with Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) arranged in partnership with SC Housing, and purchased by Regions Bank.

Built in 2004, Osprey Place Apartments is located at 2390 Baker Hospital Boulevard, North. It comprises five garden-style apartment buildings on a 19.3-acre site. Amenities include a community center, playground, laundry room, and off-street parking for residents.

“Our work with SC Housing and Housing on Merit exemplifies what can be accomplished through community engagement and collaboration across the public and private sectors,” said Scott Alter, Principal and Co-founder of Standard Communities.

“Standard continues to focus on ways we can preserve and create affordable and workforce housing through strong public-private partnerships. With this addition to Standard’s portfolio in the Lowcountry, we are trying to do our part to alleviate the area’s high housing costs and low supply of affordable and workforce housing,” said Tommy Attridge, Standard’s Director of Southeast Production, based in Charleston.

In addition to Bridgeview Village Apartments, Standard Communities’ acquisition and rehabilitation of Osprey Place Apartments follows its September 2020 deal to acquire and renovate Canebreak Apartments, a 120-unit affordable apartment community in Summerville, SC.

“Housing on Merit’s commitment to preserving affordable housing has not wavered during the pandemic, which has reinforced how important it is to continue to provide residents with safe and affordable places to live. To that end, we’re grateful for our partnership with Standard Communities and South Carolina Housing in preserving and extending the affordability of Osprey Place Apartments,” said Jennifer Litwak, Executive Director for Housing on Merit.

The seller was represented in the transaction by Gene Levental of SVN Affordable | Levental Realty.