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One mother is demanding better for her children after what she said were questionable experiences at a Mount Pleasant daycare.

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - One mother is demanding better for her children after what she said were questionable experiences at a Mount Pleasant daycare.

April Gilliard said her children attended Sunshine House for two years before she ultimately pulled them from the center after hearing a toddler was found wandering near Long Point Road.

Witness reports from Sunshine House staff that were received from the Department of Social Services show a toddler escaped out of a gate while on the playground and was found by staff in the arms of a truck driver.

Gilliard said the daycare never addressed what happened to the other parents, she was made aware of the situation through a post on social media.

“I asked about it and was told that wasn’t true,” Gilliard said. “I was told it was the previous director who was trying to sabotage the reputation or the name of the center.”

Gilliard said she had her own questionable experiences at the daycare as well. Some days she had trouble getting in contact with the daycare to check on her kids. On other days, when she received pictures from staff, it looked like too many children were in one classroom.

“When I got to the center I asked, ‘How was your day, what’s going on, did you guys have to combine classrooms,’” Gilliard said. “None of that was really communicated.”

She said the social media post about the escaped toddler was her final straw.

“It makes me question what happened prior to this incident,” Gilliard said.

Documents obtained from the Freedom of Information Act show inadequate supervision at the daycare has been an ongoing problem since 2015.

According to Department of Social Services documents, eight separate visits to the center reported deficiencies in areas like improper child-to-caregiver ratio, unqualified caregivers, inadequate supervision or improper accounting for the presence of children.

Gillard said by sharing her experiences, she is advocating for her own children and other children in the community.

“These are issues that are going on and no one is being held accountable, no one is actually speaking on it, and some parents don’t have social media to find out or learn about these things,” Gilliard said.

Sunshine House provided the following comment:

This past May, at our school in Mount Pleasant on Long Point Road, a child on the playground opened an exterior gate and was able to leave the premises and walk through the parking lot.

The safety and well-being of the children in our care is our highest priority. While the child was, thankfully, returned unharmed to the school two minutes later, we are distraught that this occurred.

Following the incident, we contacted the child’s family and officially notified our state licensor and Child Protective Services, per state licensing regulations and company procedures. The teachers were placed on administrative leave pending the results of both internal and state licensing investigations. The teachers involved are no longer employed with the company.

The playground gate was functioning and closed at the time of the incident. After this incident, we worked with our state licensors to identify a South Carolina state-approved lock, which was subsequently installed.

Two teachers were supervising 12 children on the playground at the time of the incident. The state ratio for this age group is 1 teacher to 6 children or 2 teachers to 12 children.

The safety and well-being of the children in our care is our highest priority, and we cannot stress enough how seriously we take this incident. We have bolstered our operational procedures and retrained teachers and teammates on playground safety checks and other safety protocols.

The Department of Social Services provided the following comment:

The provider in question was terminated from the ABC Quality program in June 2023 due to documented serious safety violations and the provider has not appealed the decision. Providers must be enrolled in the ABC Quality program to accept childcare scholarship funds issued by the Department of Social Services per federal guidelines.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Plans to develop a small boutique hotel on a corner lot in Mount Pleasant’s historic Old Village neighborhood are being revived under a new majority owner.

Jeremy Graves of Village Inn LLC has submitted plans to build the Seabird at Hibben and Whilden streets. The town’s Commercial Site Review Board is scheduled to vote July 26 for final approval of the site, landscape and architecture plans.

Renderings show 23 guest rooms in one building with 1,185 square feet of restaurant space and a lounge.

I’On developer Vince Graham pursued a plan more than a decade ago for what then was called Earls Court Hotel that was to be an offshoot of the nearby Earls Court residential nook his company built.

The inn project faced early pushback from some Old Village residents and was stalled by years of legal squabbles with the town. A settlement was struck in 2019.

Village Inn LLC bought the property in 2021 for $925,000, and Graham remains a minority investor in the hotel project, according to a spokesperson. Graves did not respond to a request for comment.

Back at the BAR

Two notable downtown Charleston hotel projects are coming back before the city’s Board of Architectural Review on July 26.

The developer of South Carolina’s first Four Seasons property at 155 Meeting St. is requesting conceptual approval and the OK to add an eighth floor for a rooftop terrace, conservatory and pool.

Florida-based Strategic Property Partners plans to construct three buildings for the 1.9-acre corner site at Horlbeck Alley that will include a mix of hotel rooms and residential condominiums.

During the last review of the proposal in June, the BAR generally was in favor of what was presented, but members remained split over the request for the extra height.

The panel also is set to take up a boutique 18-room lodging for upper King Street.

Plans show a five-story building with parking, a rooftop area, meeting space and two ground-floor commercial spaces on a vacant lot between Line Street and the overpass where Interstate 26 merges into the Septima P. Clark Expressway.

Greenville-based Atlantic South Development is listed the developer.

Point of view

An upcoming luxury waterfront hotel went before the Board of Architectural Review earlier this month requesting final approval of exterior changes that would improve the view.

The Cooper, which is under construction at 176 Concord St., is expected to open in 2025 with 225 guest rooms on six floors.

It will be part of the locally based Beemok Hospitality Collection, which also is embarking on an overhaul of The Charleston Place across from the City Market.

The developer requested to switch from two-pane to four-pane windows on the top and bottom floors facing Charleston Harbor to improve the waterfront views from the penthouse, restaurant and lobby. Also, it asked for architectural columns on the top floor to be removed from the design plans.

The BAR had mixed feelings about the latter request. The item was deferred.

Remember how excited lots of people were in 2021 and 2022 about I-bonds, the federal savings bonds with interest rates linked to inflation?

Toward the end of 2021 banks were still paying less than 1 percent interest on savings accounts, but I-bonds were paying an annualized 7.12 percent, which increased to 9.62 percent in May 2022.

Much has changed since then.

Today, it’s easy to find a bank certificate of deposit that pays at least 5 percent interest, but the current I-bond rate is 4.3 percent — about the same as my savings account. That’s still not bad, considering I-bond earnings are exempt from state and local taxes, but it’s nothing like the premium I-bonds were offering just a year ago.

Inevitably, people who jumped into I-bonds for the sky-high interest offered between November of 2021 and November of 2022 and going to wonder if it would make sense to cash out and put the money elsewhere.

Here are some things to know:

That last part is important, because those 9.62 percent I-bonds had a fixed rate of zero. That means those bonds aren’t earning 4.3 percent at the current rate, but 3.38 percent. That’s because the latest rate includes a 0.9 percent fixed rate, which only applies to newly bought I-bonds.

Conversely, someone who bought an I-bond back in early 2000 has been earning a fixed rate of 3.6 percent plus the six-month inflation rate. Those lucky savers are currently earning 7.04 percent on the same bonds that pay 4.3 percent to new purchasers.

Okay, I know this is all a bit wonky and complicated, but that’s how it works. The combined interest rate an I-bond pays depends on when it was purchased.

One takeaway is that people who bought I-bonds for the high interest rates offered, but plan to hold them for the long term, could be better off selling them and then buying new ones.

Why? Because current I-bonds have that 0.9 percent fixed rate that’s paid in addition to the inflation rate, while any I-bond sold between Nov. 1, 2019, and May 1, 2022, has a fixed rate of zero.

The current 0.9 percent fixed rate is far from the highest ever offered, but it’s the highest offered since the end of April 2009. Both the fixed rate and the inflation rate will change again on Nov. 1.

For more details, or to buy an I-bond, go to treasurydirect.gov.

There is a $10,000 per-person limit on annual I-bond purchases, and they can only be purchased online, unless a person is buying one using a federal income tax refund.

MOUNT PLEASANT — A new 9,000-square-foot dining venue soon will replace a seafood restaurant that started in 1979 in an old fish shed with 35 seats.

Sunsets plans to open in about three weeks at 97 Mill St. in the former R.B.’s on Shem Creek, which closed after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The seafood-centric offering between Red’s Ice House and Saltwater Cowboys comes from a partnership between Bottle Cap Group and Southern Entertainment, both based in Charlotte.

The two-story restaurant is designed “to focus on the views and accentuate waterfront dining,” according to Bob Durkin of Southern Entertainment. “Every seat will have an amazing view.”

The lower level features a larger deck that allows more outdoor seating while the second story includes garage door-like features to give it an open-air atmosphere.

“We really wanted to open it up outside,” Durkin said.

The project has been in the works for a couple of years since the business partners homed in on the site after longtime R.B.’s owner Ronnie Boals decided to retire and sell the property.

In 2020, an affiliate of Geyer Morris Co., a privately held Dallas-based commercial real estate development firm, bought the nearly 1-acre property from Boals for $7 million.

The existing two-story structure, built in 2003 after a fire destroyed the restaurant a year earlier, will feature seating for 284 diners on the first floor, according to site plans. Another 218 seats will be available on the second level.

“It’s the ideal location, but everything has taken longer than expected,” said Britton McCorkle with Bottle Cap Group. “We also had to install a sprinkler system, which held us up a bit.”

In addition to seafood, chef Kevin Spencer will offer entrees such as steaks, chicken and pork. Appetizers, sushi and veggie-centric dishes also will be on the menu. Brunch will include mainstays as well as some favorite items from lunch and dinner, Spencer said.

Lighter-fare salads, sandwiches and burgers also will be available.

“We will have something for everyone,” said Andrew Izrael, general manager.

A full bar with local beers, cocktails and wine also is part of the new dining spot.

“The bar includes a playful reimagining of classic items that work with the seafood-forward menu and being on the water,” Izrael said. “They will have touches of flair.”

The restaurant will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. weekdays, with later hours on weekends.

The restaurant’s partners also have other business interests in the Charleston area.

Bottle Cap Group includes Snapper Jack’s Seafood & Raw Bar on Folly Beach. Southern Entertainment is involved in developing Farm Haus Butcher & Beer Garden in Moultrie Plaza Shopping Center in Mount Pleasant. Durkin said Farm Haus is several weeks away from opening.

If you've made your way through the essential brunch restaurants in Charleston and still yearn for another mimosa in a different setting, we present this list of the new spots servicing the early crowds. To be on the Brunch Heatmap, these establishments must be less than a year old (with some consideration for those barely over the mark or changes in the kitchen).

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Fans of brunch fun spot Millers All Day should take notice — you no longer need to fight the downtown crowds for a chance to order the hot honey chicken doughnut, shrimp and grits, or a lobster roll, because there’s a second location on James Island now. Go hard with breakfast shooters — try the tequila-based, French-toast-flavored one.

Charming French restaurant La Bonne Franquette offers the classics like salmon Benedict, croque monsieur, quiches, and plenty of bubbles for brunch. Sit on the sunny patio if its not too hot outside.

Filipino restaurant Kultura now has permanent residence in the former Baguette Magic space on Spring Street. This has given chef Nikko Cagalanan a chance to experiment with brunch on Sundays. The menu includes ube lattes, guava “Pop-Tarts,” egg sandwiches with pork belly adobo, and pancit with local lump crab.

Sunny spot Island Provisions serves breakfast and lunch, so technically it isn’t a brunch spot. However, you could definitely believe it’s brunch if you order a few glasses of bubbly to go with your salmon toast with chive cream cheese or a slice of quiche with a side salad.

2022 James Beard semifinalist Orlando Pagán, of tasting menu spot Wild Common, created the breakfast and lunch menu for Alcove Market with health and well-being in mind, so go here if you want a brunch on the lighter side, like a rainbow quinoa bowl or crispy falafel sandwich. Though, there is a fried chicken sandwich with bacon jam on the menu, for those who might need a bit of heft to start their day.

Party bar Palace Hotel now offers brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. The menu has fun morning items like cinnamon roll waffles, bananas foster French toast, and a breakfast hot dog with scrambled eggs and maple syrup.

If your only requirements for brunch are a giant egg sandwich to soak up a hangover or a breakfast burrito to take to the beach, then George Street stop Legend Deli has your back. The creative sandwich shop offers bagel sandwiches all day long, every day, and the burritos are stuffed full of egg, cheese, grilled onions, and hash browns.

European cafe Azur starts brunch service on Sunday, August 20. Look for hearty items like the Azur burger (beef burgundy, tomato, and Emmental cheese on a croissant bun) or something lighter, like the shrimp salad on avocado toast. There’s plenty of quiches, frittatas, and mimosas to go around too.

Broad Street restaurant Brasserie La Banque now serves a brunch full of French classics. Look for croque madame, French toast with fresh berries, an expertly prepared omelet, and steak frites in a stunning setting. It feels like a sophisticated way to start the day.

Proprietor Kevin Roach set out to make New York-style bagels in Mount Pleasant, and many people (including NYC transplants) are saying he succeeded with the opening of Ruby’s Bagels. The doughy creations are kettle boiled and baked for an exterior with a snap and a chewy inside. Find over a dozen varieties, including a bloody mary bagel, plus housemade cream cheeses.

New Mount Pleasant addition Spread Bagelry offers wood-fired Montreal-style bagels, which are thinner than the New York style and with a larger hole. There’s plenty of choices of bagels and spreads, but the stacked sandwiches are the way to go for a really filling meal — the melted pimento cheese with bacon and tomato is a standout star.

Fans of brunch fun spot Millers All Day should take notice — you no longer need to fight the downtown crowds for a chance to order the hot honey chicken doughnut, shrimp and grits, or a lobster roll, because there’s a second location on James Island now. Go hard with breakfast shooters — try the tequila-based, French-toast-flavored one.

Charming French restaurant La Bonne Franquette offers the classics like salmon Benedict, croque monsieur, quiches, and plenty of bubbles for brunch. Sit on the sunny patio if its not too hot outside.

Filipino restaurant Kultura now has permanent residence in the former Baguette Magic space on Spring Street. This has given chef Nikko Cagalanan a chance to experiment with brunch on Sundays. The menu includes ube lattes, guava “Pop-Tarts,” egg sandwiches with pork belly adobo, and pancit with local lump crab.

Sunny spot Island Provisions serves breakfast and lunch, so technically it isn’t a brunch spot. However, you could definitely believe it’s brunch if you order a few glasses of bubbly to go with your salmon toast with chive cream cheese or a slice of quiche with a side salad.

2022 James Beard semifinalist Orlando Pagán, of tasting menu spot Wild Common, created the breakfast and lunch menu for Alcove Market with health and well-being in mind, so go here if you want a brunch on the lighter side, like a rainbow quinoa bowl or crispy falafel sandwich. Though, there is a fried chicken sandwich with bacon jam on the menu, for those who might need a bit of heft to start their day.

Party bar Palace Hotel now offers brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. The menu has fun morning items like cinnamon roll waffles, bananas foster French toast, and a breakfast hot dog with scrambled eggs and maple syrup.

If your only requirements for brunch are a giant egg sandwich to soak up a hangover or a breakfast burrito to take to the beach, then George Street stop Legend Deli has your back. The creative sandwich shop offers bagel sandwiches all day long, every day, and the burritos are stuffed full of egg, cheese, grilled onions, and hash browns.

European cafe Azur starts brunch service on Sunday, August 20. Look for hearty items like the Azur burger (beef burgundy, tomato, and Emmental cheese on a croissant bun) or something lighter, like the shrimp salad on avocado toast. There’s plenty of quiches, frittatas, and mimosas to go around too.

Broad Street restaurant Brasserie La Banque now serves a brunch full of French classics. Look for croque madame, French toast with fresh berries, an expertly prepared omelet, and steak frites in a stunning setting. It feels like a sophisticated way to start the day.

Proprietor Kevin Roach set out to make New York-style bagels in Mount Pleasant, and many people (including NYC transplants) are saying he succeeded with the opening of Ruby’s Bagels. The doughy creations are kettle boiled and baked for an exterior with a snap and a chewy inside. Find over a dozen varieties, including a bloody mary bagel, plus housemade cream cheeses.

New Mount Pleasant addition Spread Bagelry offers wood-fired Montreal-style bagels, which are thinner than the New York style and with a larger hole. There’s plenty of choices of bagels and spreads, but the stacked sandwiches are the way to go for a really filling meal — the melted pimento cheese with bacon and tomato is a standout star.

This streamlined Lowcountry home is set off Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, SC. See how the family of 6 made it a perfect fit for them.

Shrimp boats, kayaking outfitters, and lively bars and restaurants line the commercial side of Shem Creek, the gem of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina's Old Village Historic District. But north of the Shem Creek bridge, the waterway winds through quiet neighborhoods where children roam on bikes and go crabbing off backyard docks. "My husband dreamed of being on the water, and we fell in love with this lot. We're drawn to older areas where kids can run around," says owner Maggie Bullwinkel. She and husband George, a Charleston native, had two young children when they began renovating this 3,200-square-foot house that was built in the 1970s. Their third child was 9 months old when they moved in. Maggie refers to her then-infant sidekick as "my design assistant."

While the Bullwinkels had renovated and sold houses before, this one would be a keeper. "It had great bones. We loved the back porch and knew this could be our forever home," Maggie says. Working with architect Hunter Kennedy and designer Sidney Wagner, they spearheaded family-friendly changes to the four-bedroom abode that have definitely paid off. Today, the Bullwinkels have four kids under age 10 and plenty of yard, a great porch, and a frequently used outdoor kitchen to accommodate their active lifestyle.

"Overall, the footprint didn't change much," says Sidney, who squared off the kitchen to make it more functional. As the home's command center, it now opens up to a bright eating nook, which is one of Maggie's favorite spots. "Family dinners are a priority," she says. What was previously a formal dining room, adjacent to the kitchen, became the kids' playroom. They removed an attached garage to make way for a new mudroom/laundry area off the kitchen. "It's basically where I live," quips Maggie. They also elevated and enlarged the back porch to be a seamless open-air extension of the family room, ground zero for entertaining during Clemson University football season. "I love that we really do live in each space," Maggie says. "We use it all."

Brighten It Up

A monochrome kitchen keeps Maggie happy. "It helps to have a clean look in a busy room," she says. Streamlined light fixtures by Cedar & Moss and vintage Lucite barstools scooped up at a local antiques mall add to the airy feel in the room.

Remember That Simplicity Rules

"With four kids, there is plenty of chaos," says Maggie. Namibia marble countertops and Benjamin Moore's Simply White (OC-117) paint make her kitchen a calming space. Plus, they allow the Hampton Faucet by Waterstone to shine as the statement piece.

Let the Landscape Lead

Reorienting the kitchen to open into a family dining area was Maggie's top priority. Hunter bumped out the eating nook to add windows on all sides, inviting in sunlight and creek views. A mid-century modern table and slipcovered chairs keep lines simple, and Roost's whimsical light fixture "softens all the hard surfaces," says Sidney. The fabric used for the curtains (Katana by Kelly Wearstler) is also on the barstools, where it's laminated to be indestructible.

Choose Flexible Design

"We needed comfortable pieces that are easy to rearrange," says Sidney, who was mindful of not blocking the French doors that open to the porch. "I love how the vintage-reproduction chairs are movable and sculpturally interesting from whatever angle." A sofa slipcovered in Crypton fabric is ultrapractical, and bare windows keep things light and airy while connecting well with the porch, she says.

Lean On A Natural Palette

Sidney painted the porch floor in Benjamin Moore's Kennebunkport Green (HC-123), the same color that's used on the exterior trim, and added soothing blue accents to complement the surrounding outdoor hues. "We didn't want to distract from the view," she says. Wicker chairs from CB2 add natural texture, and a fun Annie Selke rug anchors the blue tones. Floor-to-ceiling screens and a vaulted ceiling help the porch feel cool in summer.

Prioritize All-Purpose, All-Season

Two years after moving in, the Bullwinkels worked with architect Chris Heinlen of Heinlen Design to add a backyard shed with a full attic to supplement the home's limited storage. Adjacent to that, they created an outdoor kitchen and entertaining area. "This is our favorite spot for birthday parties, neighborhood suppers, or sometimes sunset sips after the kids have gone to bed," says Maggie. A metal roof, green trim, and white siding tie the shed to the main house.

Stretch Family Space

"I love the playroom right off the kitchen. It's our cuddle area," says Maggie. A big barn door can be closed to contain toys and messes. Commissioned pieces by local artist Michelle Owenby add grown-up flair to the room, designed to one day transform into a family hangout space.

Control Clutter

Maggie believes that tidiness is key, even in the playroom. Each child has (and uses!) a designated toy-and-book basket, and a rotating gallery helps solve the what-to-do-with-endless-kids'-art dilemma.

Invite Some Drama

" 'Are you sure about going this showy?' my husband asked about the paint color, and I was—including covering the ceiling," says Maggie of the vibrant Benjamin Moore Slate Teal (2088-20) she chose for the laundry room. "I love how the boldness brings you in." Custom cabinets add extra pantry space.

Be Bold And Functional

Next to the laundry room, the bold color continues in the mudroom with an added touch of graphic wallpaper. Each kid has their own space for coats and bags in the blue storage wall.