7th Annual Moms 5K Run & Walk Comes to Daniel Island

Dr. Risa Mason-Cohen moved from New York to the Charleston area in 2000. She moved to Daniel Island with her husband in January, 2009. Previously living on Johns Island, Dr. Mason-Cohen found herself wanting more of a community where she could walk to restaurants and coffee shops and enjoy the beautiful trails and parks with her dog Charlie, in addition to the many other special perks Daniel Island has to offer. She also relocated her clinical practice to Daniel Island for an easy commute.

“I had spent a few Saturday mornings at Etc. Gourmet on Daniel Island and it just reminded me a little bit of being home in New York,” recalled Dr. Mason-Cohen. “We wanted to live in a place where I could walk the dog into town for a quick bite or cup of coffee. And we found that on Daniel Island.”

She also found a place where she could open her private practice. With a master’s degree in Counseling Pyschology from the University of Masschusetts at Boston, and her Doctorate in School-Clinical Psychology from Pace University in New York City, Dr. Mason-Cohen offers clinical services for children, adolescents and adults. She maintains a special interest in working with women coping with a wide range of issues from daily mood management, life balance and self-image to relationship difficulties and parenting strategies.

On Daniel Island, she not only opened her practice but she also became more involved in the Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation for Postpartum Depression, and even facilitated moving their 7th Annual 5K Moms Run/Walk from Hampton Park to Daniel Island on Saturday, May 8th. Dr. Mason-Cohen is also now the Executive Director of the foundation, which was started by Helena Bradford after her daughter, Ruth Rhoden Craven, developed PPD after the birth of her son Andrew and eventually took her own life in 1999.

“Postpartum Depression is a temporary and treatable illness, but it is imperative that women receive the proper treatment which typically includes medication, psychotherapy with a qualified mental health provider and some form of a support group like the one offered by RRCF,” said Dr. Mason-Cohen. “There is no reason for women to suffer in silence. As a foundation it is our mission to remind women they are never alone with this illness and there is help readily available.”

Tara Lynn of NBC Channel 2 interviews Angie Mizzell (race coordinator) & Dr. Risa Mason-Cohen.

The foundation’s mission is to support women with PPD and to educate them, their families, the public and the media. Ten to twenty percent of women will have face some level of PPD but the illness is treatable. And on Saturday, May 8th the Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation is bringing its 7th Annual 5K Moms Run/Walk to Daniel Island for the first time to raise funds and awareness of the illness.

The race, which will take place on the south side of the island through the Etiwan Park and Codner’s Ferry Park neighborhoods, is a family-friendly event with games for the kids, food and live music. The night before the race, everyone is invited to the Daniel Island Grill for a pre-race pasta dinner. The Daniel Island Grill will also host a post-race party featuring a Bloody Mary bar. For more information or to register for the race, visit www.momsrun.blogspot.com. And for more information on the Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation, visit www.ppdsupport.org. Visit the national association, Postpartum Support International, at www.postpartum.net.

The Pylants Discover the Benefits of Building

Rick and Linda Pylant can’t wait until June. That’s when the finishing touches will be complete on their brand new home in Daniel Island Park and they’ll conclude their three-year quest to settle into a new home in a warmer climate.

Originally from Pittsburgh, the Pylants learned about Daniel Island when they attended a wedding in Charleston in 2007. The bride and groom owned a homesite on Daniel Island and found time to give Rick and Linda a quick tour. “We immediately fell in love with the community,” says Linda. “It offered what we were looking for, including great school options for our daughter, Riley (now 5 years old).”

With three older daughters off at college, the Pylants no longer felt they needed a huge house to take care of with lots of empty rooms, so they began a search for a homesite that would be appropriate for a “long and narrow,” one-story home. They found and purchased the perfect site in Daniel Island Park overlooking the third fairway of the Tom Fazio-designed Beresford Creek golf course.

But it turns out the Pylants weren’t the only ones heading south. “We got cold feet when the economy tanked and we debated whether or not we should wait to build, or even start looking for a pre-built home,” Rick explains. Ready for the move, they rented a home on the island to buy some time while they decided what to do.

In the end, the changes in the economy worked in their favor. “We discovered building was actually more cost-effective than buying an existing home,” says Rick.

“It’s been fun participating in the process,” says Linda, adding that building a new home isn’t as scary as some people think. “The great thing about building is you get exactly what you want,” she says. “There are so many great lots available now, it’s really worth looking into. And the building process here is much shorter than up north because of the weather.”

Along with their Daniel Island Park home comes a membership to the Daniel Island Club, a benefit the Pylant family has been taking advantage of since they closed on their lot. They’re particularly excited about living within walking distance to the club’s Park Club facility, where Rick regularly plays tennis, Rick and Linda work out and the entire family enjoys the resort-style swimming pools.

“The club has done a great job of incorporating both family and adult activities,” says Linda. “Riley loves the pools, and our older daughters always use the club kayaks when they come to visit. Rick and I enjoy dining on the screened porch at the Grill Room and taking in the spectacular views. It’s a great place to entertain family and guests when they’re in town.”

More Springtime Fun on Daniel Island

This week, the focus shifts from tennis to soccer as Charleston’s pro soccer team, the Battery, hosts its first home game of the season on Daniel Island on Saturday, April 24 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Battery soccer has been a tradition on Daniel Island for more than ten years, and cheering on the home team at the state-of-the-art Blackbaud Stadium is a great experience for fans of all ages. The action starts at 7:30 pm. Click here for ticket information.

Meanwhile, mark your calendars for the following upcoming island events:

Daniel Island Farmers Market
Thursdays from May 6 through September 30 | 3-7 pm
Family Circle Tennis Center
Vendors offering everything from local produce and fresh seafood to crafts, jewelry, specialty foods and much more are gearing up for the second season of the Daniel Island Farmers Market. This weekly event also features offerings from local restaurants, beverages, frozen treats and live entertainment.

Concert in the Park
Saturday, May 15 | Concert begins at 7 pm
Smythe Park
Jeremy Davis and The Equinox Jazz Orchestra will perform at this popular annual picnic extravaganza overlooking the lake at Smythe Park. This 17-piece ensemble features some of the south’s greatest musicians performing the music of the “Great American Songbook” with a sprinkling of Motown and Funky New Orleans thrown in for good measure. Each year, thousands of residents and visitors try to outdo one another with impressive picnic spreads, which are judged prior to the concert. Prizes are awarded for the most elaborate and creative spreads.  Picnic judging takes place at 6 p.m.; Rain date is May 16th. Event is free.

Zac Brown Band
Saturday, June 5 | 7 pm
Family Circle Stadium
Grammy award-winning country group Zac Brown Band, making their second appearance at Family Circle Stadium, will be joined by supporting acts Nic Cowan, Levi Lowrey and Sonia Leigh at this summer concert event. Click here for ticket information.

Funk Fest
Saturday, June 19
Family Circle Stadium
Returning to Daniel Island for its second year, this “Old School Music Festival” features sounds ranging from old school R&B, funk and hip-hop to blues, jazz and comedy. This year’s event will feature Charlie Wilson, Kieth Sweat, Bell Biv Devoe, Heavy D and many more to be announced. For further details, click here.

Family Circle Cup Draws Record Crowds for 10th Year on Daniel Island

Attracted by a star-studded line-up and spectacular springtime weather, more than 95,000 tennis fans came out to Daniel Island last week to experience one of the WTA’s Premier Events. It was a record attendance for the Family Circle Cup since moving to its home on Daniel Island ten years ago.

On the courts, the competition was fierce, with the tournament’s number one seed (and World No. 2) Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark losing in the semifinals to Vera Zvonareva (World No. 22) of Russia.

World No. 22 Vera Zvonareva and 2010 Family Circle Cup Champion Sam Stosur

Zvonareva faced Australian Samantha Stosur (World No. 11) in the finals, with Stosur capturing the title — just the second championship of her career. The action was broadcast live to a national television audience by ESPN2.

Saturday night, thousands of lucky fans cheered on tennis legends John McEnroe and Jim Courier in an intense exhibition match that went into a tiebreaker before McEnroe emerged as the winner. Afterwards, the pair was joined by Monica Seles and Anna Kournikova for a lively set of mixed doubles. In between, the crowd enjoyed live music by the Blue Dogs, one of Charleston’s favorite bands. The event, called “Game, Set, Rock. Tennis. Amplified.”, was a celebration recognizing the tournament’s ten years in Charleston.

Tennis Superstars John McEnroe and Anna Kournikova at Game.Set.Rock!

There were smiles all around throughout the entire week on the Family Circle Tennis Center grounds as spectators enjoyed a wide range of special activities and events, including tennis clinics, celebrity and player appearances, live music, shopping, health and fitness demonstrations and an endless assortment of food and beverage options.

Our congratulations and thanks go out to the Family Circle Cup staff – and the hundreds of hard-working volunteers – for pulling off yet another spectacular week of world-class tennis and entertainment on Daniel Island.

Check out more photos of the 2010 Family Circle Cup below!

Beautiful Weather & Great Tennis at the Family Circle Cup!

The weather in Charleston could not be more perfect for the Family Circle Cup! With temperatures on Daniel Island in the mid-70s, light breezes and everything in bloom, it’s an ideal setting for enjoying some fantastic competitive tennis.

After an exciting weekend of qualifying matches, the first round of the Family Circle Cup kicked off on Monday to record-breaking attendance for the first day of the tournament!

Two of the tournament’s seeded and most closely watched players had successful first days. Alona Bondarenko (UKR) and Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) both moved through to the second round of the Premier-level tournament in straight sets.

As of Tuesday afternoon, fan-favorite Patty Schnyder (SUI) had defeated Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Schnyder, the only player to have played in all ten Family Circle Cup tournaments held on Daniel Island, has hinted that this could be one of her last appearances at the Family Circle Cup. Make sure to cheer for her this week as she continues her pursuit of the title! Former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic and Melanie Oudin will begin their quest for the Family Circle title late Tuesday afternoon.

If the forecasts are correct, it looks like the weather is going to stay springlike and comfortable for the remainder of the tournament, so get outside, cheer on the players and take advantage of all of the fun happening at the Family Circle Tennis Center this week and weekend!

In other exciting tournament-related news, the folks at the Family Circle Cup announced today that Monica Seles will be participating in the star-studded Game.Set.Rock! Tennis Amplified event this Saturday night. The former World No. 1, nine-time Grand Slam champion (and Family Circle Cup finalist in 1997) will join John McEnroe, Jim Courier and Anna Kournikova for an evening of tennis and musical entertainment provided by local favorites, the Blue Dogs. This special event celebrates the tournament’s ten-year anniversary in Charleston. For more information on Game.Set.Rock!, click HERE.

Daniel Island Resident Shelby Rogers Is Ready To Serve!

Each year the Family Circle Cup brings the top professional female tennis players to Daniel Island from across the globe. But this year, one competitor won’t have to travel very far at all… In fact, 17 year-old Shelby Rogers can hop on her bicycle and ride over to the Family Circle Tennis Center from her home in Daniel Island Park if she wants!

A Daniel Island resident since 2004, Shelby first picked up a tennis racket when she was four years old in an attempt to be just like her mentor and older sister, Sabra. When she was eight, she began training at the tennis academy at the Family Circle Tennis Center. That same year, she had the opportunity to serve as a ball girl at the first-ever Family Circle Cup on Daniel Island, and the honor of handing Jennifer Capriati flowers following her win.

“I think it was really at that moment,” recalled Shelby, “that I decided I wanted to be in Capriati’s place. And I’ve been working and striving for that ever since then.”

This Saturday, April 10 Shelby will continue that dream in her first appearance as a player at the Family Circle Cup. A SMASH tournament win guaranteed her a wild card entry into the qualifying rounds this weekend. She’ll need two match wins to move ahead in the tournament.

Fortunately Shelby has something that the other players don’t – home court advantage! “Having my friends and family around me will definitely be a positive experience,” said Shelby. “It’s great to be able to play off the crowd. And I know the courts at the tennis center pretty well, which doesn’t hurt.”

Shelby’s last several weeks have been focused on intense training and practice with the help her longtime coach Bryan Minton, a former College of Charleston player and graduate who has been coaching Shelby since she was eight years old. For six hours a day, the duo has worked on Shelby’s tennis game, fitting in weight training and her online school schedule during her “off” hours.

Shelby moved with her family from Mt. Pleasant to Daniel Island almost six years ago. As residents of Daniel Island Park, they enjoy access to the Daniel Island Club’s tennis facilities, including Charleston’s only grass court. “Grass is a lot of fun to play on,” said Shelby. “The ball moves faster, and you have to be more creative and hit some big serves, but it’s fun.”

A high school senior, Shelby takes her classes online. “Online school is really great for me,” she said. “I can take the work with me when I travel to tournaments. It’s really flexible and convenient.” Set to graduate this June, she’s decided to take a year off before going to college to work on her game and play in more tournaments.

As for this weekend’s competition, her coach Bryan thinks she’s up to the challenge. “As long as she’s relaxed and having fun, Shelby will do great. She’s got a great mindset and she’s done the hard work. Now it’s time to put that hard work to play!”

UPDATE: Though she lost her match on Saturday to Christina McHale (6-4, 3-6, 6-1), Shelby did not disappoint the large crowd that came to cheer her on at the Althea Gibson Club Court. She played a great match against McHale, who’s more experience playing in professional tournaments helped her defeat the Daniel Island resident. And even though her time at the 2010 Family Circle Cup is over, Shelby Rogers is just getting started on the professional circuit so keep your eyes open for her!

The Family Circle Tennis Center is Ready to Rock!

The Family Circle Tennis Center isn’t just a great place to watch tennis. It’s also an amazing venue for live music! And they’ve got plenty  on their calendar for the next several months.

My Morning Jacket | Wednesday, April 28, 2010
My Morning Jacket is ready to bring their electrifying live show back to Charleston! The guys will make their way around the Southeastern United States this Spring and stop at Family Circle Stadium on April 28. My Morning Jacket is also excited to both try something new with their choice for an opening act, the historic Preservation Hall jazz Band, and bring some of the spirit of New Orleans to Charleston. www.mymorningjacket.com

Zac Brown Band | Saturday, June 5, 2010
Since their last visit to the Charleston and Family Circle Stadium in 2009, the Zac Brown Band has toured the country and won a Grammy!
The band’s namesake, Zac Brown, was raised in Dahlonega, GA, where he was a chef, restaurant owner, husband and father, as well as lead singer of the band. Musically, his jaw-dropping, flat-picking skills help to create music that can’t be pigeonholed and easily fits into several genres of music ranging from country to folk to southern rock to jam band. www.zacbrownband.com

Funk Fest | Saturday, June 19, 2010
Funk Fest is designed to expose and entertain a diverse audience with a variety of Old-School music. The categories of music range from Old School R&B, Funk, Old School Hip-Hop, Blues, Jazz and Comedy.This year’s event will feature Charlie Wilson, Keith Sweat, Bell Biv Devoe, Heavy D, and more to be announced! www.funkfestconcerts.com

More concerts are anticipated to be announced soon, including O.A.R. and the annual “Homegrown Concert” featuring Darius Rucker!

Visit www.ticketmaster.com for ticket information.

Springtime Fun at the Annual Daniel Island Easter Egg Hunt

Spring was in the air at the Annual Daniel Island Easter Egg Hunt at Smythe Park on Saturday, April 3, 2010. Temperatures in the 80s, blooming azaleas and a carpet of lush springtime grass created the perfect backdrop for this annual event. Approximately 7,000 eggs were gobbled up by more 380 Daniel Island children. Overall, an estimated 600 residents attended the event! The fun and merriment was made possible through the sponsorship of several island business and the hard work of residents!

Special thanks goes out to the following individuals and companies: the Daniel Island Rotary Club, Longshore Boats, DoodyCalls Premier Pet Waste Removal, Daniel Island Professional Partners Network (DIPPN), Daniel Island Hip Hop, CrossFit Gym, Robert Ivy Ballet, Chris Noland, Knockout Mosquito, LLC and Valary Dryer Photography.

Be sure to check out more of the event pictures taken by photographer and Daniel Island resident, Valary Dryer. More photos can be found at the Daniel Island community website .