Grand Strand Newsmakers

Wofford students study abroad during Fall 2016

Study abroad is a major component of Wofford's commitment to shaping globally connected citizens. Opportunities range from travel/study Interim projects to a full-year at a university abroad. Students may choose from more than 200 programs and 59 countries. Co-curricular opportunities include service learning, internships and cultural excursions. Area students studying abroad are:

Kenneth Hiler is studying abroad in Wellington, New Zealand. Hiler, a junior, is majoring in economics with a minor in business. He is from Pawleys Island.

John Monroe is studying abroad in Glasgow, United Kingdom. Monroe, a junior, is majoring in government. He is from Pawleys Island.

Lions Club pays tribute to 9/11

South Strand Lions Club remembers 9/11 and pays tribute to our country and lives lost. Fifteen club members gathered this morning in Surfside to wave our American flags as a reminder of the tragedy and the strength of our country. Lions received salutes, waves and honks in response, in addition to a personal handshake for all from a Surfside police officer, Kylie McAlister, a Piggly Wiggly employee, brought bottles of water for all...a generous gesture.

‘Dress Our Babies’ makes first donation

Dress Our Babies made its first contribution of donated items to Family Outreach of Horry County.

Sherry Coutain, a family life educator, accepted the contribution. Dress Our Babies collects donations of new and gently used baby clothes, sizes new born to 12 months, blankets & diapers . All monetary donations are used to purchase these items. Items go to mothers and babies in need in our local area.

Donations can be mailed to P O Box 684, North Myrtle Beach. For more information, contact 843-465-0291.

Munley graduates basic training

U.S. Air Force Airman Tyler A. Munley graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Munley is the son of Karen M. Rawls and step-son of David R. Rawls of North Myrtle Beach. He is a 2016 graduate of North Myrtle Beach High School.

Local families donate CuddleCot to Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center

In September, Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center was the recipient of a CuddleCot. A CuddleCot is a cooling system for a Moses basket bassinet that allows families who have a stillborn baby or whose baby dies shortly after birth to extend the amount of time they have to spend with their child, if they choose.

This past July, Robin Hicken held a fundraiser, along with another family whose daughter was stillborn, to raise money for a CuddleCot for each of the facilities where their babies were born. Hicken’s son, Austin, was stillborn at Brunswick Medical Center. Hicken is now working to ensure every hospital in North and South Carolina has a CuddleCot.

“Our goal is to provide a CuddleCot for grieving parents,” Hicken said. “I don’t even remember holding my baby. I have no concept of the time I had to spend with him. If I had had a CuddleCot, it would have allowed me to get myself together after the fog of being in surgery, prepare myself and start the grieving process.”

Old Bridge Preservation Society organizes Supplies for Success

Members of the Old Bridge Preservation Society planned and organized Supplies for Success, a school supply drive benefiting the students of Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary School during the month of August. After the successful conclusion of Project PBJ in June OBPS volunteers expected the best but again were overwhelmed and overjoyed by the generosity of the community.

Recognizing that in order for children to be successful, they needed the appropriate tools for school, OBPS worked with Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary School’s Parent Facilitator, Sharon Morrison, and a list of critical supplies was developed. Although all school supplies were gratefully accepted, especially needed were glue sticks, children’s scissors, #2 yellow pencils, spiral notebooks and marble composition notebooks. The call was put out and area residents, businesses and non-profits responded. Participating area locations were Backstreet Café, Blue Heron, Body Edge, Brunswick Business Center, Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce, Century 21 (Sunset Beach), Core and More, Ingram Planetarium, Island Breeze, Lowes Foods (OIB), Museum of Coastal Carolina, Mystical Reflections, Ocean Side Place, Oceans Salon and Spa, Old Bridge Preservation Society Museum and Interpretive Center, The Olive Press, Seaside United Methodist Church, Sea Trail, Silver Coast Winery, South State Bank, Spa Rituals, Spirit Quest, Sunset Beach Town Hall, The Olive Press, Windowz Inc, and more.

Picture this – two Old Bridge Preservation Society volunteers’ cars filled to the brim with school supplies. Believe it or not there were 4,000 sheets of loose leaf paper, 460 glue sticks, 440 notebooks, 2,500 pencils, 250 pens, 73 boxes of crayons, 37 packages of markers, 1500 index cards, 225 erasers, 78 folders and 176 pairs of scissors. As well, collected were backpacks, reams of copy paper, binders, book covers, staplers, jump drives, pencil cases, boxes of colored pencils, and rulers. The greater Sunset Beach community overwhelmingly came through for the Jessie Mae Monroe students!

Sharon Morrison of Jessie Mae Monroe met OBPS founding members Karen Dombrowski and Ann Bokelman at the school house door with carts to bring all of the school supplies into the building. These supplies will be allocated as needed as the school year progresses and will help students be prepared and ready to learn.

The Old Bridge Preservation Society Museum and Interpretive Center’s Fall and Winter hours are Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For more information about hours and upcoming events visit oldbridgepreservationsociety.org or call 910-363-6585.

This story was originally published September 27, 2016 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Grand Strand Newsmakers."