Women's Clothing Boutique in North Mount Pleasant, SC

Local community member Brianna Harmon is one of 10 candidates contending for Sheriff Carl Ritchie's vacant seat on Mount Pleasant Town Council in the March 25 special election. Harmon focused on issues related to economic growth, development and government transparency in her Q&A session with the Moultrie News.

Moultrie News: What prompted you to throw your hat in the ring in the upcoming special election? Can you tell us about your connection to the Mount Pleasant community?

Brianna Harmon: As a resident of the Commonwealth neighborhood for the past 18 years, I have witnessed the extraordinary amount of growth in all of Mount Pleasant, but especially surrounding us here in North Mount Pleasant. While many positive improvements have been made that directly benefit my family, such as amazing schools, sports fields and walking paths, there have been some development decisions that simply could have been better planned. My reason for running is to ensure positive growth while maintaining the unique charm and quality of life we all cherish here in the Lowcountry.

MN: What’s your take on some of the bigger issues impacting the community in terms of taxes (and the recently proposed tourism tax that was pulled), traffic, public safety and continued industrial growth in Mount Pleasant?

BH: As far as taxes go, the public should be made fully aware of any proposed tax increase and have the ability to vote on anything that could directly impact us financially. As a council member, I would look for ways to creatively budget town funds that do not involve a tax increase for residents.

I am deeply concerned with public safety when development is allowed without consideration of the long-term effects it will have on the community. For example, we all see the industrial distribution center being constructed on Faison Road. This warehouse is too close to senior housing, schools, daycare and local businesses that draw children on bikes and families on golf carts to the area. Encouraging more semi-trucks up an already congested corridor of Hwy 17 to the middle of a residential, school and family orientated area is completely unnecessary and unsafe. We need to examine current guidelines and implement policies that ensure children, family and public safety are of the utmost importance when considering any new construction.

MN: A big topic at a recent committee meeting was local government being more transparent with its constituents. How do you plan on being open and forthcoming with the public?

BH: We need our voices to be heard. It seems many residents no longer feel the Town has our best interests at heart. The Town is instead selling out to greedy developers who don't care what our town ends up like. I intend to hold both commercial and residential developers to stricter Town-enforced guidelines so residents do not have to worry every time a lot gets cleared, seemingly overnight, and have to watch in horror after something hideous, that has already been "approved" gets built. It seems these things get passed quickly or in secrecy in our current set up. We cannot continue as is, our town is suffering because of it.

MN: How would describe yourself as an environmentalist/conservationist in light of our diminished tree canopy, etc.?

BH: I understand the importance of conservation and the effects haphazard development has on the intricacies of our landscape here in the Lowcountry. We need to address these concerns prior to land being cleared, wetlands being filled and structures built. Dealing with safety, flooding and traffic issues after the fact is not only more costly to us as a town, but upsetting to residents as we helplessly stand by and watch. I would like to propose independent studies with the Army Corps of Engineers to provide us an unbiased assessment of the effects the recent development has on flooding in our area and to get their advice on any future build sites going forward.

MN: What is your occupation and how will that help you be a great leader for Mount Pleasant?

BH: My education and work background in psychology and legal investigation will be instrumental in ensuring the necessary and much needed revamping of current policies. My dedication to the community and desire to help is evident through my role on the board of the Commonwealth Property Owners Association for the last six years, as well as a FEMA certified Community Emergency Response Team member, volunteer soccer and football coach over the years and local therapeutic riding center volunteer. As a motivated small business owner, I am passionate about protecting the very reasons we all choose to live in this beautiful area and to safeguard and enhance our part of the low country for generations to come.

MN: Can you tell us a bit about your personal life? Are you married with kids? What do you enjoy in your free time?

BH: I am married to my husband, Bobby, and we have three very busy boys. We currently have a freshman at Wando, a sixth grader at Cario and a third grader at Carolina Park Elementary. We spend a lot of time watching, sometimes coaching, the boys' basketball and football teams. We love our beaches or boating along the Wando during the warm months. We are big supporters of all the local restaurants and kid-friendly local businesses. We love our neighbors and family all around us here in Mount Pleasant and are proud to call this place our home.

MN: Can you give us three words that best describe Brianna Harmon ?

BH: Authentic. Passionate. Innovative.

#MeetTheCandidates #BriannaHarmon #CarlRicthie #SheriffCarlRitchie #MountPleasantSpecialElection #MountPleasantNews #MountPleasantGovernment

While the hot, new restaurants tend to open in downtown Charleston, folks east of the Cooper need to eat too. Mount Pleasant serves up a lot of hidden gems that might not get the same publicity as the peninsula hot spots.

This group spans multiple cuisines, from Japanese to Vietnamese to Southwestern, and collectively satisfies all of your restaurant needs.

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After a successful run with Ma’am Saab at former food hall Workshop, restaurateurs Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba opened another Pakistani restaurant, Malika Canteen, in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. Popular menu items include dahi puri, chicken tikka masala, the kabab roll plate, and paneer tikka masala.

Located in Towne Center, Savi Cucina has become known for its excellent wine selection, including a wine-tasting room and coveted inclusion in the wine club membership. Ricotta gnocchi and pizza options including the original fig and prosciutto pie accompany other Italian classics. Situated across from Regal Palmetto Grande movie theatre, Savi Cucina is a great stop before a film.

Chef Eric Milley constantly rotates the offerings on the menu at the Shellmore, but there’s always an oyster and cheese selection available to pair with the amazing wine selection. The restaurant is small and the kitchen is even smaller, but it puts out big flavors like shrimp and scallop risotto with lobster cream or rigatoni bolognese.

Kanpai is truly a staple of Mount Pleasant dining. Chef Sean Park puts the utmost care into every plate and seems to score the freshest catches around. Always check out the specials, which can range from uni to chutoro.

Open since 2003, Langdon's serves some of the best fine dining in Mount Pleasant. The dining room is set for a special night out, but it isn’t stuffy. Start with local goat cheese gnocchi or seared foie gras and then move on to a lamb ribeye or duck breast with celery root puree.

Brunch is serious business at this restaurant that draws crowds for PB&J pancakes and breakfast martinis. There’s a downtown location as well.

A South-meets-Southwest staple of Mount Pleasant, Red Drum has served the community since 2005. An inviting patio, great margaritas made with real ingredients, crispy fried shrimp, and a wood-fired creations from chef Ben Berryhill keep this a date night destination for many in the Lowcountry.

Expect friendly and fast service at this Mount Pleasant deli. At Mozzo, it’s common to hear, “Hey Jimmy, are you having the regular?” Other patrons can choose from an extensive sandwich menu featuring proteins like chicken cutlet, roast beef, turkey, and Italian meats served on ten different kinds of bread. Daily soups, house-made pickles, and local iced tea are a few of the many accompaniments offered.

Interested in grabbing a few cocktails and watching the sunset? Head here. Chef Denis Crutchfield’s menu offers plenty to snack on, whether it be roasted oysters with “casino butter” or pimento cheese with bacon jam, plus flatbreads and entrees such as grilled swordfish and pasta bolognese.

Oysters are the star at Nico, but there’s so much more to explore. This bustling brasserie from chef Nico Romo serves a wide variety of raw bar items and classic French dishes like escargot and burgundy sea scallops. The wood-fired oven brings a bit of smokiness to the menu through a selection of roasted bivalves and whole roasted fish. The brunch is popular here as well.

Locals like to debate whether Shem Creek dive Wreck of the Richard & Charlene is too touristy or just the right amount of out-of-towners. Nestled on the water, the dining room is not much more than a screen porch and some plastic furniture. It’s no frills, so stop by after a trip to the beach for some boiled peanuts, a cold beer, and fried shrimp.

Post House is a handsome tavern anchoring the Old Village. The neighborhood restaurant focuses on coastal, seasonal cuisine, and classic cocktails. Diners can start their meals with blue crab toast or Abundant Seafood crudo and move on to a half chicken or smothered pork loin. In addition to dinner, the restaurant offers lunch and brunch.

Established in 1945, H&R Sweet Shop is a staple of the Old Village. The address is an old shotgun-style building with a small cafe on the left and a hat shop on the right. Visitors come for deals on griddled burgers, fried oyster plates, and daily specials like cabbage and rice — many dishes are $10-$20 and some less than that.

After a successful run with Ma’am Saab at former food hall Workshop, restaurateurs Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba opened another Pakistani restaurant, Malika Canteen, in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. Popular menu items include dahi puri, chicken tikka masala, the kabab roll plate, and paneer tikka masala.

Located in Towne Center, Savi Cucina has become known for its excellent wine selection, including a wine-tasting room and coveted inclusion in the wine club membership. Ricotta gnocchi and pizza options including the original fig and prosciutto pie accompany other Italian classics. Situated across from Regal Palmetto Grande movie theatre, Savi Cucina is a great stop before a film.

Chef Eric Milley constantly rotates the offerings on the menu at the Shellmore, but there’s always an oyster and cheese selection available to pair with the amazing wine selection. The restaurant is small and the kitchen is even smaller, but it puts out big flavors like shrimp and scallop risotto with lobster cream or rigatoni bolognese.

Kanpai is truly a staple of Mount Pleasant dining. Chef Sean Park puts the utmost care into every plate and seems to score the freshest catches around. Always check out the specials, which can range from uni to chutoro.

Open since 2003, Langdon's serves some of the best fine dining in Mount Pleasant. The dining room is set for a special night out, but it isn’t stuffy. Start with local goat cheese gnocchi or seared foie gras and then move on to a lamb ribeye or duck breast with celery root puree.

Brunch is serious business at this restaurant that draws crowds for PB&J pancakes and breakfast martinis. There’s a downtown location as well.

A South-meets-Southwest staple of Mount Pleasant, Red Drum has served the community since 2005. An inviting patio, great margaritas made with real ingredients, crispy fried shrimp, and a wood-fired creations from chef Ben Berryhill keep this a date night destination for many in the Lowcountry.

Expect friendly and fast service at this Mount Pleasant deli. At Mozzo, it’s common to hear, “Hey Jimmy, are you having the regular?” Other patrons can choose from an extensive sandwich menu featuring proteins like chicken cutlet, roast beef, turkey, and Italian meats served on ten different kinds of bread. Daily soups, house-made pickles, and local iced tea are a few of the many accompaniments offered.

Interested in grabbing a few cocktails and watching the sunset? Head here. Chef Denis Crutchfield’s menu offers plenty to snack on, whether it be roasted oysters with “casino butter” or pimento cheese with bacon jam, plus flatbreads and entrees such as grilled swordfish and pasta bolognese.

Oysters are the star at Nico, but there’s so much more to explore. This bustling brasserie from chef Nico Romo serves a wide variety of raw bar items and classic French dishes like escargot and burgundy sea scallops. The wood-fired oven brings a bit of smokiness to the menu through a selection of roasted bivalves and whole roasted fish. The brunch is popular here as well.

Locals like to debate whether Shem Creek dive Wreck of the Richard & Charlene is too touristy or just the right amount of out-of-towners. Nestled on the water, the dining room is not much more than a screen porch and some plastic furniture. It’s no frills, so stop by after a trip to the beach for some boiled peanuts, a cold beer, and fried shrimp.

Post House is a handsome tavern anchoring the Old Village. The neighborhood restaurant focuses on coastal, seasonal cuisine, and classic cocktails. Diners can start their meals with blue crab toast or Abundant Seafood crudo and move on to a half chicken or smothered pork loin. In addition to dinner, the restaurant offers lunch and brunch.

Established in 1945, H&R Sweet Shop is a staple of the Old Village. The address is an old shotgun-style building with a small cafe on the left and a hat shop on the right. Visitors come for deals on griddled burgers, fried oyster plates, and daily specials like cabbage and rice — many dishes are $10-$20 and some less than that.

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America, with an average growth rate over the past three years of 158.6 percent, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. The number of pickleball players in the U.S. now totals 36.5 million. Combining elements of tennis, ping pong and badminton, pickleball is a paddle sport with two or four players playing at one time. It is played both indoors and outdoors, on a court that measures 44 feet long and 20 feet wide.

There are currently several locations in Mount Pleasant with pickleball courts, but the sport’s surging popularity has led to increased demand. The newly-opened Crush Yard, located in North Mount Pleasant off South Morgan Road, is a pickleball player’s dream come true. Crush Yard is almost like Top Golf meets Frankie’s Fun Park, but for pickleball players. The indoor pickleball facility, which features eight pickleball courts, a restaurant and bar and plenty of TVs and couches, has been open for over a month now, and the news is spreading quickly that they’re in full swing.

“We are an entertainment space. You don’t have to be a member to come in and experience the atmosphere,” said General Manager Dessa Paul. You don’t have to be a member to play at Crush Yard, but if you are a member then you will receive a discount on court rentals during public hours and access to book their courts ahead of time. Reservations are suggested during peak time hours, but you can walk in anytime and play subject to court availability.

There are two different types of memberships. A Crush Membership is $115 per month and the benefits include unlimited open play between 6-11 a.m. every day. Additionally, you can buy up to 10 ‘Member Open Play’ guest passes per month for $9 each, enjoy unlimited coffee and soft drinks, reserve courts up to four weeks in advance, Sunday through Thursday, at a 50 percent discount and receive a 20 percent discount on retail purchases, equipment rentals, tournaments, camps, classes and lessons. You can also participate in leagues at no additional cost.

The Yard Membership is available for those that are less intense about the game, but still want to fully enjoy all of Crush Yard’s amenities. A Yard membership costs $7.45 per month and the benefits include: unlimited coffee and soft drinks, the ability to reserve courts up to two weeks in advance Sunday through Thursday at a 10 percent discount as well as getting one 10 percent discount on retail purchases and equipment rentals.

The pricing to play varies. From 6-11 a.m., Crush members can enjoy free open play. There are no reservations required and Crush members can play as much as they’d like. From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. court reservations are open to all and the cost is $19 per hour for Crush members, $34 per hour for Yard members and $38 per hour for all others.

Don’t know how to play or need a refresher on the fundamentals of the game? Crush Yard has a pickleball pro who teaches lessons. “We have an in-house pro. His name is Dan, he does lessons and classes every week. He will run leagues and tournaments as well,” explained Paul. Dan offers private lessons, which start at $100. For two people it’s $120, three people is $130 and four people costs $140.

Crush Yard is a place where everyone can lounge, eat, drink and have a great time. Enjoy the two-level, loft-style open layout lounge area. Waiting for a court to open? Don’t sweat it, Crush Yard features 36 beers, nine wines and three cocktails, all on tap. Plus, they even have an Espresso Martini draft.

Their food menu reads like a tapas bar, with lots of shareable plates and tasty dishes. Come in, reserve your court and while you wait, place your food order. Crush Yard does have an app to download, which they highly recommend. It is a great spot to entertain your guests, a place to throw a party or even to host an intimate dinner with your closest friends, while mixing in some pickleball.

For more information about hours, membership information or court reservations, check them out at crushyard.com.

By Maurice J. Frazier

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