Back To School for Berkeley County

Soon, the children will be headed back to school on Daniel Island on Monday, August 20. The summer has flown by! Each year, I like to adopt a fourth grade class at Daniel Island School. It invigorates me to sit with the kids and see how much they learn over the school year. I read to them, help the teacher when she needs me and donate supplies to help out. I'm looking forward to seeing a whole new group of kids.

Thinking of moving to Daniel Island? Here's some fast facts about the Berkeley County School District from their website:

Berkeley County, one of the largest in the state, is a unique 

setting covering over 1,229 square miles. It is the fastest 

growing county in the state, in terms of population, and is 

located just north of Charleston, South Carolina. Berkeley 

County, part of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, is home to the 

Francis Marion National Forest and surrounds Lake Moultrie. 

Berkeley County was recently named as a part of the South 

Carolina National Heritage Corridor,  spanning rural 

communities with rich history as well as metropolitan towns. 

The county includes the incorporated areas of Hanahan and 

Goose Creek, which are directly outside the city limits of 

North Charleston. Daniel Island is a large island located three 

miles north of the Charleston harbor between the Cooper and 

Wando Rivers. Moncks Corner is  further to the north, near 

Lake Moultrie, and serves the county seat. North of Moncks 

Corner, a predominantly rural area, the smaller towns of St. 

Stephen, Jamestown, and Bonneau are located.

The county boasts a dynamic history, beginning with English and French Huguenot 

planters who settled the area in the late 1600’s. It is rich in Revolutionary and Civil War 

history and contains churches that date from the early 1700’s. The treasures of the 

county include Mepkin Abbey, Cypress Gardens, the Palmetto Trail, and the “Berkeley Blueways,” featuring 20 canoe and kayak trails.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the 2009 population of Berkeley County to be over 

173,000 with a 21.7% increase from July 2000. 

Of this group, approximately 69% are white; 27% are African-American; and 4% are Hispanic. Eighty percent of persons age 25 or older are high school graduates (2000) and 14% have a bachelor’s degree or higher (2000). The median household income is $49,414 (2008).

Berkeley County Child Nutrition Services is a member of the SC Purchasing Alliance.  The alliance was formed in 1995.  The SC Department of Education Office of School Food Service and Nutrition came together with a common goal to streamline the purchasing process by collectively working together to obtain high quality products, greater competition, and more competitive pricing.  The Alliance is comprised of 78 members consisting of 74 school districts and 4 school programs.  This represents 88% of all school districts in the state.  The collective buying power is over 90 million dollars. All National School Breakfast/Lunch Programs must meet the USDA Federal Guidelines.  They meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend that no more than 30% of an individual's calories from fat, and less than 10% from saturated fat.  School lunch must provide one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of protein, Vitamin A and C, iron and calcium.  School breakfast must meet one-fourth of the RDA.


Four Meal Components are offered daily at breakfast (minimum of three must be taken):
          1 oz. Meat/Meat Alternate
          1 serving Bread
          ½ cup Juice or Fruit
          8 oz. Milk


Five Meal Components are offered daily at lunch (minimum of three must be taken):
          2 oz. Meat/Meat Alternate
          ½ cup Vegetable
                ½ cup Fruit
                1 serving Bread
                8 oz. Milk


Chef salads, vegetarian plates, and fresh fruit are offered daily.


Child Nutrition professionals are committed to providing safe and nutritious meals to all students.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to visit their child's cafeteria and join them for breakfast/lunch.  Please talk to the Child Nutrition Manager about the nutritional profile of foods that are provided.

Thanks for reading and let me know if you're going to be at the Daniel Island School, I'd love to introduce myself!
Brenda J. Cook

Keeping Daniel Island Clean

The City of Charleston's Keep Charleston Beautiful hosted a cleanup event to remove litter and other discarded materials from Governor's Park on Daniel Island on Saturday, July 14, 2012 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. The public was invited to come help keep Charleston beautiful. So grabbed a pal and joined it. This cleanup will greatly improve the look and feel of the park, and will help restore the areas around the trails to their natural beauty. 

Want to join me on the next one? 

Email me at brenda.cook@danielisland.com 

New Construction Ready for A Family

We're in the middle of July and things have been heating up in the Lowcountry when it comes to home sales. On Daniel Island, we've seen our sales up 60% ahead of last year at this time. There's plenty of new construction happening on the island. This marvelous home on Daniel Island is almost complete and is ready for a family to call it home.  Located at 251 Furman Farm Place in Daniel Island Park, this 5 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home will be finished at the end of July. Here's more on this amazing new construction: 

Located within the country club neighborhood of Daniel Island Park, this beautiful home is situated on a corner homesite with glimpses of the nationally ranked Ralston Creek golf course which is bordered by scenic marshes. The well-designed floor plan includes an elegant dining room off the foyer that adjoins a butler’s pantry complete with a beverage center.

  

A living room located across from the dining room opens into a library with built-in bookshelves and beyond to the large family room, providing an abundance of living space.

The spacious family room features a lovely coffered ceiling, a fireplace with built-ins on each side and access to a screened porch. The kitchen/breakfast room is an inviting and comfortable space with plenty of room for eating and cooking.

The gourmet kitchen includes Thermador and Electrolux appliances with separate fridge and freezer, custom cabinets and a large center island. A mud room with built-in cubbies and a desk is located off the breakfast room and has access to the two-car garage. On the second floor are two bedrooms that share a Jack and Jill bath as well as the expansive master suite. The master suite is truly a luxurious getaway with a private terrace, fireplace, his and her walk-in closets and a soothing bath with a spa tub, double vanities and a walk-in shower.

Perfect for overnight guests, there is suite complete with a common area, two bedrooms and a full bath located over the garage. Other features include impact resistant windows, an outdoor kitchen and extensive landscaping. This property includes Daniel Island Club social membership privileges. An invitational golf membership may also be purchased. To see more photos of this home, click here! 

Stay tuned to my blog as I highlight all the great new listings on Daniel Island and all the events you can't miss. 

Thanks for reading, 

Brenda J. Cook