Mattress storein Summerville, SC

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - For many people, when they first hear they have Parkinson’s Disease, it can be scary and worrisome. But, a group of people attending a boxing class called Rock Steady Boxing in Summerville, say it’s helping slow the progression of the disease.

Dennis Tianello has been coming to Rock Steady Boxing at Title Boxing in Nexton for two months now.

“My doctor, when I was first diagnosed and everything, I couldn’t walk to his exam room without touching the wall four or five times in the hallways,” Tianello said. “I went back to see him after doing this for a month and he says ‘Dennis, I watched you walk down the hall way. You didn’t even touch the wall.”

Parkinson’s is a progressive disorder that affects motor movement. Through this boxing class, folks say they’ve seen their balance, coordination, and strength improve.

Annie Barra, the lead trainer at Title Boxing, says they recognize the disease is still there, but the program helps slows it down.

“They box and they move around and we challenge them to different things,” Barra said. “It’s a great group of people and it brings them together where they may have felt uncomfortable, we make it comfortable.”

Paul Werksman was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about two months ago, even though he says he had many symptoms long before that. When he got his diagnosis, he started attending Rock Steady Boxing.

“Just being able to work it out and get better myself,” Werksman said. “I know I’ve lost my voice quit a bit. That’s why Don has us speaking very loudly.”

While it’s completely non-contact boxing, Bob Rodenkirk says one of his favorite things in the class is when he gets to go one-on-one with an instructor.

“They’ll get one of those belts on and they’ll say okay, give me everything you’ve got, don’t hold back,” Rodenkirk said. “And boom, boom, boom, boom.”

Rodenkirk says he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s five years ago. He says this boxing class has helped him stabilize things and has helped him feel normal.

The instructor of the class, Donald Wright, says they do more than just boxing. The goal is to get these folks moving and exercising, which is something doctors tell many people with Parkinson’s to do.

“We have a bend, lift, stretch, voice, you toss balls, stack cones, lift, weights, get on the floor, planks, push ups, sit ups if you can,” Wright said.

Rodenkirk says he’s been surprised by the impacts he’s had from Rock Steady Boxing.

“My doctors told me, you’re not going to lose if you try boxing,” Rodenkirk said. “You may think it sounds stupid or I’m just gonna get pounded, but it’s not that at all.”

Many of the fighters added that Rock Steady Boxing has been a great way for them to build new friendships and realize they aren’t alone in their Parkinson’s journey.

The class is held three days a week. Title Boxing owner Chris Bowen says they are always accepting new members. He added that anyone with Parkinson’s Disease interested in joining can come watch a class before attending. More information on the gym can be found on their website.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

SUMMERVILLE, S.C., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Maritime Sustainment Technology and Innovation Consortium (MSTIC), established by The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD), is pleased to announce the achievement of its milestone 300^th member. That member is Systel, Inc. located out of Sugar Land, Texas. Systel designs and manufactures rugged computing solutions purpose-built for mission-critical applications in austere environments.

Established in June 2021, MSTIC focuses on innovative sustainment solutions to effectively address current and future security threats in maritime environments. The consortium brings together traditional and non-traditional government contractors, small and large businesses, for-profit and not-for-profit entities, and academic organizations collaborating to perform research and development and prototyping efforts. Their goal is to develop and mature technologies in the field of Maritime Sustainment that enhance the Navy's mission effectiveness.

"MSTIC is delighted to welcome our 300^th member to the consortium. Our members' capabilities align with solutions for which the Government is looking and the collaboration among them yields the relationships, teaming, and innovative ideas that deliver those solutions at mission speed," stated Program Manager, Tim Macon with Advanced Technology International (ATI).

"Systel is proud to be a part of this collaborative effort to deliver the solutions that our Government needs to support maritime sustainment and deliver advantage for any mission," said Systel CEO, Vimal Kothari. "We have delivered thousands of systems for maritime applications over the past 30 years with a relentless commitment to enabling mission success; MSTIC is precisely aligned with that commitment and provides a great way to connect with other like-minded leading innovators."

MSTIC is managed by ATI.

ABOUT ATI

ATI, a public-service nonprofit based in Summerville, South Carolina, builds and manages collaborations that conduct research and development of new technologies to solve our nation's national security challenges. Fueled by a community of experts from industry, academia, and government, ATI accelerates impact by using the power of collaboration to help the federal government quickly acquire novel technologies. ATI is a subsidiary of Analytic Services, Inc. (ANSER), a public-service research institute organized as a nonprofit corporation, which is dedicated to informing decisions that shape the nation's future.

ATI.org | LinkedIn | Twitter | collaborATIon app

SOURCE Maritime Sustainment Technology and Innovation Consortium (MSTIC)

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Dorchester County has set aside over nine million dollars to build a new library branch in downtown Summerville, but neighbors are concerned over its possible location.

A two-story, 15,000-square-foot library could soon be built in front of the Summerville Family YMCA. It’s one of three planned libraries in the lower part of Dorchester County.

However, the location off Doty Avenue has drawn parking concerns from business owners and neighbors.

“I think that this is a good bad idea,” business owner Diane Frankenberger said, “and I think there’s gotta be another place for it where there’s just more parking. Parking’s the issue.”

County Administrator Jason Ward says he believes the library will serve a smaller radius than its current library on Trolley Road, which it will replace once complete.

“When you go from one facility, like the one on Trolley Road, to three facilities, you’re going to have a dispersion of the parking,” Ward said. “You’re not going to have everyone that’s going to the Trolley branch come to downtown .”

Frankenberger said the proposed site will hurt both the library and the YMCA.

She and neighbors say instead of building the facility there, the library should go across the railroad tracks onto the former site of the town’s public safety headquarters, which they say could provide ample space for parking.

However, the county disagrees, saying the YMCA site is the most walkable.

“While [the old public safety building] is a location that some have looked at for different purposes, we really feel the location that we have provides kind of the old four corners concept,” Ward said.

Neighbors said they’re not against having a library built downtown, but they want a place where people won’t have to stress out about where to park.

“I’d like to get peace in my heart, and I know other people would too, about where folks are going to park, and that those studies have been done,” Frankenberger said.

Joseph Debney, the Summerville Family YMCA’s CEO, released the following statement:

We, at the Summerville Family YMCA, are invested in this community. Our parking provides over 100 spaces to our members. We have and will continue to work with our local businesses, residents, and elected officials to address the need for parking in Summerville.

To that end, we have had many discussions regarding bike sharing and improved pedestrian and bike trails to encourage safety and greater access to our downtown and Oakbrook areas. We believe that creating this access improves equitability for all in our community.

We will continue to work with the county and town on projects that improve the quality of life for all Dorchester County residents through community partnerships, workforce development, removing barriers to transportation accessibility.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

New London ? One of the seven Coast Guard Academy cadets ordered off campus last month for failing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 disputed an academy officer’s statement Thursday that the cadets left “at their own convenience” and that the academy paid for their travel “to the location of their choice.”

In a phone interview arranged by his attorney, Michael Rose, whose practice is in Summerville, S.C., the cadet said he was forced to live out of his truck for three nights and four days after being ordered to leave the academy Aug. 19. The cadet said he is now living with a friend on another college campus due to a serious conflict with his parents that prevents him from returning home.

The cadet estimated he has incurred about $1,000 in travel and living expenses since his banishment from the academy and has received no reimbursement.

The Day agreed to the attorney’s request that the cadet not be named out of fear of retaliation.

In the academy’s statement Thursday, Cmdr. Krystyn Pecora, the external affairs officer, said Rose’s account of the way the seven cadets left campus, published online Tuesday and in print Wednesday by The Day, was “completely inaccurate.” The cadets left the academy “at their own convenience,” with the academy arranging their travel back to their homes and paying for it, Pecora said.

The Day reported the cadets had been disenrolled for failing to comply with the military’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate after the academy denied their requests for exemptions on religious grounds.

Rose told The Day the cadets were informed Aug. 18 that they had to leave campus the following day, when they were “escorted to the gate like they were criminals or something.” Rose then said the academy offered the cadets no help in arranging or financing their travel and that two of the cadets had no home to go to.

After speaking further to clients, Rose, who represents dozens of military personnel and service-academy cadets in a lawsuit challenging the military’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement, said Thursday he now understands the academy had threatened to escort Coast Guard Academy cadets off campus if they failed to leave by 4 p.m. Aug. 19. The cadet who spoke confirmed that was the case, saying he was given less than 24 hours to comply.

Pecora, in the academy’s written statement, said the seven cadets left campus at various times Aug. 19 based on their individual travel arrangements, with the last to leave departing around 8 p.m.

She said no cadets were escorted from the academy grounds.

“The Coast Guard Academy staff assisted the seven cadets with Coast Guard processes to make travel arrangements,” Pecora said. “The Coast Guard Academy funded travel to the location of their choice. All seven cadets are currently residing at a safe location, having either returned to their families or are being hosted by the families of fellow cadets. While the seven cadets have been disenrolled, they have not been separated from the Coast Guard Academy and are continuing to receive cadet pay and entitlements until their separation is processed.”

“The seven cadets will not be subject to recoupment of their education expenses,” she said.

The cadet who spoke to The Day Thursday confirmed the academy provided some assistance with travel arrangements and indicated it would reimburse the cadets for the cost of traveling to their homes. He said the academy suggested the cadets put their expenses on their personal credit cards.

He said another of the cadets also was unable to return home and is temporarily staying with the family of another of the cadets.

While at their new locations, the cadets are supposed to maintain certain military standards, such as engaging in physical activity, and must check in weekly with academy officials, the cadet said. And, though the cadet said the academy superintendent told the cadets they could not attend classes remotely, the cadet said he was told to periodically check in with his academic adviser.

“None of this has happened at the other four service academies,” Rose said. “The Coast Guard Academy is in a class by itself. It’s really outrageous, and one of the most outrageous things is this misleading statement it’s issued. Clearly, these cadets didn’t get to leave ‘at their convenience.’”

Pecora also provided a detailed timeline of the events surrounding the cadets’ disenrollment, starting with the Secretary of Defense’s Aug. 24, 2021 determination that “mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for service members is necessary to protect the military and defend the American people.”

The Coast Guard announced the vaccination mandate two days later.

“Subsequent to this announcement, fifteen cadets filed either medical exemption requests or religious accommodation requests in September 2021,” Pecora said. “Each request was evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Coast Guard’s Office of Military Personnel Policy. The cadets were notified on March 14, 2022 of the denial of their exemptions or accommodations and given 10 business days to file an appeal. The cadets were informed in May 2022 that their appeals were denied by Coast Guard Headquarters and directed to report to the Coast Guard Academy clinic to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.”

“Four cadets chose to become vaccinated, four cadets chose to resign from the Academy, and seven cadets refused the order to become vaccinated,” Pecora said.

On June 13, the seven cadets were informed they were in violation of military law and given an additional five days to get their first dose of vaccine, according to Pecora’s timeline. On June 22, they were notified of their disenrollment and given an opportunity to appeal to Coast Guard headquarters. On Aug. 15, they were notified that their appeals were denied “and were directed to proceed to an alternate worksite status beginning on August 19th, 2022,” Pecora said.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com

The Coast Guard, like all effective military institutions, has the responsibility to ensure that all its members are prepared and ready for duty, including not infecting other members with preventable diseases. Being vaccinated, as mandated by the Coast Guard, is part of the deal when you sign up. These babies, and their lawyer, should quit whining about the rules being enforced. If they don’t want to be vaccinated, then the solution is simple: resign and go home to mommy and daddy. The Coast Guard bent over backwards to be nice to these boys giving them every procedural protection imaginable. The organization is better off without them.

Well it very well may be you have a greedy lawyer who’s looking to exploit the situation for his game. Additionally this kid could’ve made a stink about it before he left if it was so unagreeable. It’s not like he didn’t know it was coming . Basically it boils down to- if you don’t wanna follow the rules then get out. Smarten up kid -you’re gonna be told what to do for the rest of your life-unless you’re an entrepreneur!

So, that’s the view from SC. Was Lyndsey Graham even consulted? Vaccination was a requirement. Perhaps a career in our Nation’s military is not the best choice for these cadets. On a separate issue: Thank you, editors, for (apparently) reinstating the 48 hours rule.

The Day’s Coast Guard Cadet story represents excellent investigative reporting! Something sorely missing from Connecticut’s local television stations and The declining Hartford Courant.

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — A new push for your penny begins today in Dorchester County as community members and county leaders announce a new group looking to help renew the one-cent sales tax.

The original one-cent sales tax was established in Dorchester County in 2004, however, it will run dry in 2024.

A referendum question is set to appear on the ballot at on Nov. 8 to reestablish the tax. If passed, it will establish a new penny tax in the county for 15 years.

A Dorchester citizens-led group will announce their formation Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Hutchinson Square in Summerville. Speakers include Dorchester County Council Chairman Bill Hearn and North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey.

The "Dorchester Citizens for Responsible Growth" group was created to support the referendum.

Residents and community leaders say without it, the county will not have the money needed for improvement projects.

Leaders with the new group say the referendum would be the main source of funding for improvements to Dorchester Road, Glenn McConnell Pkwy, and U.S. 78.

In total the new tax would fund $700 million in transportation improvements and $35 million in open space improvements.

While most people don't love the idea of another tax, residents with the group say it's worth it.

“Not passing, it's just not an option. The state, the federal government, they're not going to give us money for these projects,” Longtime Dorchester County resident Tony Pope said.

“There’s always gonna be people who complain about a tax but it's not another tax or an additional tax. It's the same pay the we've paid for years and it's worked well. We did a great job managing those projects. They did everything they said they were going to do," he said.

But how has the penny sales tax impacted the county in the past? That’s the big question for voters this November.

Dorchester County Council leaders say if you take a look around Dorchester County today, many of the roads and infrastructure would be much worse off without it.

Vice chairman of the county council, Jay Byars, said the tax has raised $180 million dollars over the past 17 years, which has been the major funding source for $500 million dollars in road improvements. This includes the upper Dorchester Road widening, Bacon Bridge Road widening and Berlin G. Myers parkway extension.

Byars said without the penny tax, none of these projects would have had the funds to happen. He said it's especially important due to the little federal or state support for these projects in the future.

“Without the penny sales tax that Dorchester County has had for the last 17 years, none of the projects that have been completed would have been done. We I think we raised about $180 million over those 17 years and by doing that we built over $500 million worth of roads. None of that would have happened without that and so in order to build new roads in the future, we need to be able to issue a new penny and retire this current penny,” Byars said.

Although this would be an entirely new tax for residents, the new referendum would have the same functionality as the last penny sales tax. It would take one cent out of every dollar spent in the county to go towards these road improvements.