DI News History - March 21, 2019

TEN YEARS AGO

The March 19, 2009 issue of The Daniel Island News featured a feel-good story about Tom Pomposelli (owner of Qwik Pack & Ship on Daniel Island) and his participation in a nationwide program called “Cell Phones for Soldiers.” Inside Qwik Pack, there was a box for people to donate their old cell phones, which were reprogrammed and sent to U.S. troops stationed overseas.

A sister and brother team created the program back in 2004 (when they were just 12 and 13 years old, respectively) after they heard about a soldier who ran up a cell phone bill of nearly $8,000 calling home to his family. They had a cousin serving in Iraq, so they knew the importance of keeping in touch with loved ones. 

Pomposelli explained, “People always tell me they have extra phones and don’t know what to do with them...Now they can support our troops and properly dispose of old phones in an environmentally-friendly way.”

Also in the news was an article in reference to 38 property owners along the Cainhoy peninsula that sold their properties to the State Ports Authority (SPA) between 1997 and 2000 to make room for a transportation corridor that was to provide rail and road access to and from a proposed Global Gateway Port on Daniel Island. In 2003, after plans for the Daniel Island terminal were abandoned, the SPA sold all but seven properties back to the original owners or on the open market.

Of the seven properties that remained in SPA hands at the time, six were on Thomas Island. Several of those former land owners did not think it was fair that their properties were not sold back. According to the port, the reason for not selling back those particular properties was that those properties had to be deemed surplus or excess and no longer useful to the Ports Authority, which could not be done at that time.

FIVE YEARS AGO

The theme of the March 20, 2014 issue of The Daniel Island News was summer camps! The centerspread article included tips for finding the best fit for your child. Local PCI Certified Parent Coach Christine Donovan also weighed in on the benefits of summer camps. She believed that summer camps benefit children in so many ways. “Most camps require children to ‘unplug’ from the ‘noise’ of technology. Without cellphones, iPods, games, and TVs a child reconnects with nature and face-to-face friendships. Children build confidence as they acquire new skills and make friends in an atmosphere of adventure and fun. As older children ‘separate’ from parents and look to others for their values and ideas, it is good to have counselors to offer leadership and advice!”

Another article featured Peace Love Hip Hop owner Angel Roberts and a new class she was adding to her programming. She announced that she would begin offering a “Rock Stars” dance class for special needs kids and their friends, old and new.

“My goal is for them to just really have them take ownership of this class, feel a part of our studio, a part of our big collective team,” Roberts said. “I want them to learn and have fun, and express themselves as best they can.”