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School of Rock, a leader in performance-based music education, is opening its first South Carolina location in Mount Pleasant at 1907 U.S. 17 North, Suite 102. A grand opening event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21. announces the grand opening of a school in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Founded in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1998, School of Rock has become a rapidly growing international franchise with over 500 schools open and in development across 15 global markets. Since 2009, School of Rock has grown its student count from 4,000 to nearly 60,000.

School of Rock offers music lessons for students of all ages, including lessons in bass, guitar, singing, drum and piano. Drawing from all styles of rock and roll, students learn theory and techniques via songs from legendary artists such as Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz and Led Zeppelin.

The opening event will include a ceremonial guitar smashing (School of Rock’s version of a ribbon-cutting),performances by a neighboring School of Rock house band, a raffle, balloon art, a prize wheel, and tours of the school with free demo lessons and program discounts.

School of Rock Mount Pleasant is owned by the McFarland family. Steve McFarland has been an owner for over 11 years with three Indiana locations, one in Wisconsin and now one in South Carolina. Matt and Mandy McFarland had previously been a part of School of Rock in Indiana before deciding to open in Mount Pleasant, according to a news release.

"Our family is completely committed to School of Rock because of its mission; a passionate community dedicated to enriching lives through performance-based music education,” said Matt McFarland. “We teach students how to rock on stage and in life. We enjoy helping students break out of their shells and become more confident in their skin. School of Rock is more than just a music school; it is a place to call home.”

“The McFarland family has such a strong motivation for providing students in their community with creative and personal development through music education,” said Rob Price, CEO of School of Rock. “I know they will go above and beyond in delivering upon our purpose. I am excited to see how this new school will positively impact the lives of its students and the community as a whole.”

National furniture and home décor store Ballard Designs announces "Doors Open" in the high-end shopping destination, Mount Pleasant Town Centre, SC. This store is the brand's entry into retail locations in the state. As Ballard ramps up its retail presence nationwide, its new freestanding store joins more than 60 other shops and restaurants in this popular open-air mall just minutes from historic downtown Charleston.

CHARLESTON, S.C., Feb. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Home décor and furniture design company Ballard Designs has just opened its first South Carolina retail location, in its first stand-alone retail store. The new venue, a free-standing, airy space of almost 9,000 square feet, is part of the popular retailer's multi-year expansion currently spanning 13 states and 19 retail stores.

Ballard Designs' Mount Pleasant Town Centre retail store is just off Interstate 526 and Highway 17 North

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"We're thrilled to be one more reason to visit this Lowcountry shopping destination," reports Dominic Milanese, VP of Retail for Ballard Designs. "With its beautiful homes, active lifestyles, and gorgeous coastal location, the Charleston area is the ideal choice for our first South Carolina store."

"If you entertain year-round like we do, you're going to LOVE our new Mount Pleasant store," Milanese adds. "We have a huge selection of gorgeous outdoor furniture, performance fabrics, indoor/outdoor rugs, and coastal accents. We hope to end up at the top of everyone's 'Things to Do in Mount Pleasant, SC' list."

Easy Access and Ample Parking - Near the Sweetgrass Baskets Stands

The new Ballard Designs store will serve passionate home decorating enthusiasts & professional designers alike, as well as visitors to the roadside Sweetgrass Baskets stands of Mount Pleasant's famed Gulla sweetgrass basket weavers. Located at 1128 Market Center Boulevard, the store has its own parking area at the front for easy access.

Regular store hours will be 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday. See Ballard Design's stores and products online.

About Ballard Designs

Since 1982, Ballard Designs® has offered a unique curation of home furnishings and décor from all periods and provenance. Its designers travel the world for inspiration, translating the latest trends in fashion, color and style into finely crafted products not found anywhere else. Ballard Designs is part of Qurate Retail Group^SM which includes QVC®, HSN®, Zulily®, Frontgate®, Garnet Hill® and Grandin Road®.

Contact: Ann Bailey 404-603-7239 354544@email4pr.com

SOURCE Ballard Designs

A three-day festival experience for all things Charlie Chaplin is coming to town. Chaplin, famously known for his mustached, bowler hat-wearing character “the Little Tramp,” was one of the most influential filmmakers of the silent movie era.

His use of slapstick comedy and pantomime in his movies, or dramatic, exaggerated movements in place of words, launched him to international stardom.

On March 23 to 25 at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, a selection of Chaplin’s films will be played on the big screen, and festivalgoers can learn more about the man behind the icon.

The festival will feature a keynote from University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Toni Bowers, who teaches an advanced cinema studies course on Chaplin’s silent films. Bowers plans to speak about who Chaplin was beyond the Tramp character, and the lasting impacts his films have had on the film industry.

“We’ll explore the almost uncanny appeal of the Tramp figure on a global stage. I also want to go further than that and think about Chaplin himself, the man behind the Tramp who was definitely not the Tramp in any way. I also want to think about Chaplin’s artistic processes,” Bowers said.

Festival organizer Linda Dennis hopes the event will expose the Mount Pleasant community to Chaplin’s work and educate attendees on the role the filmmaker had in motion-picture history.

“Had Charlie not come out with some of his silent films following the close of World War I, the world would have been a sadder place. He was known for bringing love and laughter to populations who had just gotten over war, so he’s had a huge impact on our culture,” Dennis said.

Events lined up for the festival include a Tramp look-a-like contest, a filmmaking demonstration, and of course, screenings of Chaplin’s films at Regal Palmetto Grande. Festivalgoers can view The Kid (1921), The Circus (1928), Modern Times (1936) and City Lights (1931), which is said to be Chaplin’s personal favorite of his films.

The Mount Pleasant SC Film Festival – Charlie Chaplin Silent Films will be held at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre on March 23-25, with a half-day showing at Barnes and Noble for seniors on Friday and Family Day set for Saturday. Sponsors for the festival include Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, Barnes & Noble, Sweet Julep’s, Filmdomfete and Jon Smith Subs. For a full schedule of events and to purchase tickets, visit mountpleasantscfilmfestival.com.

“It’s not just a film festival. It’s an experience,” Dennis said. “We hope people come and enjoy it and come inside and watch some of the films.”

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Coastal Carolina saw a 3-0 lead erased late in the contest on Tuesday night, as the Chanticleers fell 4-3 on the road at the College of Charleston in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

The loss dropped Coastal to 4-4 overall and 0-2 in midweek contests. With the win, Charleston moved to 4-3 overall.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Chants over the Cougars.

Despite a solid start from super senior Jack Billings, who struck out two hitters and allowed just two hits over 2.0-complete innings, and a career outing by sophomore pitcher Darin Horn, who fired a career-high 4.0-scoreless innings and struck out four CofC hitters, the Chanticleers were unable to steal a road win.

The loss fell to junior transfer Alex Edmondson (0-1), as the righty gave up two runs on two hits, two walks, and one strikeout in 1.0 inning of work out of the bullpen.

While the Cougars used four pitchers on the night, the win went to 2022 Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year William Privette (1-0), as the reliever struck out one over a scoreless eighth and ninth innings.

Coastal's offense used the long ball to score all three of its runs for the game, as sophomore Derek Bender (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, run) hit a two-run home run in the second and senior Graham Brown (1-for-4, HR, RBI, run) added a solo home run in the sixth.

However, the Chants had just seven hits for the game compared to 12 strikeouts at the plate.

The Cougars' offense had just eight base hits on the night but was able to plate four runs, highlighted by Jared Kirven (3-for-4, 2B, 2 runs) and his game-high three hits. William Baumhofer (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs) had a two-run double, while Luke Wood (1-for-1, 2B, RBI) and Khyree Miller (1-for-3, BB, RBI, run) had one RBI each in the win.

After both teams stranded a runner in the first inning, the Chants took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a two-run opposite field home run off the bat of Bender. The home run was his first of the season.

Billings and Horn combined to strikeout six hitters and strand three Cougar runners over the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, while the Chants added to their lead with a solo home run to straightaway center field by Brown in the top of the sixth. The long ball was the third of the year for Brown.

However, the Cougars were able to cut into the Chants' 3-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh, as Kirven led off the inning with a double to left field. After a ground out moved Kirven to third base, Miller hit a ball deep in the hole on the left side of the infield and legged out a base hit to plate Kirven to put the score at 3-1.

On the play, an errant throw to first base allowed Miller to advance to second base, which proved to hurt the Chants, as two batters later, Wood hit a pinch-hit double to right-center field to score Miller and cut the Coastal lead to one at 3-2.

Following a 1-2-3 inning for the Chants in the top of the eighth, the Cougars struck again in the bottom half of the inning as Baumhofer delivered a double down the left-field line and just out of the reach of a diving Chad Born to score two more runs and put the home team on top 4-3.

With three outs left, Privette was able to send the Chants down in order in the top of the ninth to seal the come-from-behind win by the Cougars.

The Chanticleers stranded six runners on base compared to the Cougars' seven.

However, CCU also hit into two double plays and was just 2-for-15 (.133) with runners in scoring position for the game.

Coastal will return home to host the Davidson Wildcats for a three-game series this weekend, March 3-5, at Springs Brooks Stadium.

For complete coverage of CCU baseball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalBaseball (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUsports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.

COLUMBIA — Pam Loudon’s life changed forever nine months after she gave birth to her daughter P.J. Sloat.

Doctors diagnosed P.J. with an intellectual disability and cerebral palsy, an abnormal brain development that affects a person’s ability to control their muscles.

P.J., now 20, is legally blind, uses a wheelchair and requires constant care to perform basic functions. Loudon, 52, had to quit her job as a software developer and devote herself to caring for P.J. The Mount Pleasant family renovated their home, hired a nursing service and bought a used van they rigged with a wheelchair lift.

The family is barely making it work now with a mix of government support and donations through GoFundMe pages, but Loudon worries most about the future.

“A parent’s worst fear is outliving a child. Not so sure that’s the case in South Carolina when you’re caring for a child with a disability,” Loudon said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to P.J. when I cannot care for her.”

If P.J. had to go into state care, she would enter a system that the federal Department of Justice has been investigating since last January for parking disabled people in community residential care facilities, cutting them off from society and violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Advocates for disabled people on Feb. 28 called for the state to create a plan to come into compliance with the ADA and adequately fund services for families like Loudon’s during a press conference at the Columbia Convention Center. If nothing is done, the advocates pointed out that disabled people elsewhere in the country have sued their states into compliance.

“Historically, our clients ... have been segregated, they’ve been warehoused and they’ve struggled for many years to be recognized as human,” said Anna Maria Connor, an attorney for Disability Rights South Carolina.

“Do we want (change) imposed on us by litigation or an outside entity, or do we want to take this opportunity and come up with our own plan?” she asked.

The U.S. Supreme Court found in the 1999 Olmstead v. L.C. decision that the ADA requires disabled people be cared for in the most communally integrated setting possible regardless of their financial means.

South Carolina does not do that, advocates said in a report released this month.

Thirty-five states and Washington, D.C., have Olmstead compliance plans, but South Carolina does not, said Beth Franco, executive director of Disability Rights South Carolina.

Franco called on South Carolina to pass legislation to create a plan, benchmarks to ensure it’s enforced and a state coordinator position to oversee its implementation.

Advocates and families also faulted the state for poorly reimbursing support services, like nursing agencies, and for long waiting lists for state-administered Medicaid waivers. Loudon said her family has not had enough nurses since 2014 due to the tough working conditions and paltry pay driving people from the profession.

“There are some really genuinely great people out there who will do it, but I do feel like we in this state have leveraged their compassion,” she said. “We’ve guilted them into staying in a job that doesn’t pay.”

State Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, pledged to support the advocates’ efforts in the Statehouse.

“We owe it to those who sometimes can’t advocate for themselves to see this work through and improve the lives of millions in our state,” she said at the Feb. 28 event.

Loudon hopes relief comes soon.

“It would provide some hope,” she said as P.J. sat quietly in her chair nearby.