This episode of Sasee in the City features Ginny Lassiter, Director of Sunset River Marketplace.

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All Sasee in the City installments are brought to you by WMBF-News Channel 10.

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This week, Market Common’s Fashion Week is what’s Sasee in the City! Don’t miss this fun event, there’s something for everyone.

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All Sasee in the City installments are brought to you by WMBF-News Channel 10. Video shared courtesy of Market Common Fashion Statement.

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This week, Nicole tells us about a fun event going on in Myrtle Beach that also is raising money for breast cancer. Sasee and The Little White Dress are sponsoring a contest to raise money for Brides Against Breast Cancer. Five local women are wearing a beautiful birdcage veil from The Little White Dress and accepting donations for Brides Against Breast Cancer. Rhonda Todd, Judi Bonnoitt, Pat Bates, Tilghman Smith and Heidi Vukov are each wearing the veil for one week in August. The one raising the most money will win a prize. This competition is getting tough, so please visit one of these ladies and help her win the prize while helping find a cure for breast cancer.

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All Sasee in the City installments are brought to you by WMBF-News Channel 10.

Submit your questions about events happening around the Grand Strand, South Carolina area.

This week’ Sasee in the City features Katie Rohden of Katie’s Project.

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All Sasee in the City installments are brought to you by WMBF-News Channel 10.

Submit your questions about events happening around the Grand Strand, South Carolina area.

Be sure to check our Sasee Scoop to find out what is Sasee in the City!

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All Sasee in the City installments are brought to you by WMBF-News Channel 10.

Submit your questions about events happening around the Grand Strand, South Carolina area.

This week, Nicole introduces us to the April “Woman of Character,” Kandi Fleming-Jones. Mrs. Fleming-Jones is the Assistant Principal of the Academy of Arts, Science and Technology and was nominated by one of her students, Brittany Gardner. The following is an excerpt from Brittany’s letter.

The role model I look up to is Mrs. Jones. …Mrs. Jones was there through my rough times in the past year. I could always talk to her and trust her no matter what we talked about. Throughout this, Mrs. Jones was the one to understand my situation and how it has affected school and my attitude. She showed me I do not have to be the same as I had been in the past. I can change and break the cycles for the future of my life. She provided happiness that never went away and always brightened my day no matter what kind of mood I was in. She has a peace that always surrounds her, which I like. I would like people to say that about me. School was an escape for me, and I knew that when I came to school Mrs. Jones cared about me. My being able to have this relationship was not a mistake, because God puts people in our lives to help us.

Kandi Fleming-Jones, as Assistant Principal, handles all the discipline concerns at the school, but sees these problems as opportunities to do better. She told us that she feels that every day is another chance for students to start anew and turn their lives around. This dedicated educator truly cares about the welfare of her students and even makes home visits on occasion. We agree with Brittany that there is a “peace surrounding her” and are proud to honor her as April’s “Woman of Character.”

Be sure to check our Sasee Scoop to find out what is Sasee in the City!

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All Sasee in the City installments are brought to you by WMBF-News Channel 10.

Submit your questions about events happening around the Grand Strand, South Carolina area.

This week, Danner introduces us to Mindy Johnson, co-owner of Bamboosa!, a factory in Andrews that produces wonderful clothing from bamboo fibers. Mindy was highlighted in our Sasee “Southern Snaps” feature.

Mindy was working as art director for Silkworm, a screen printing firm in Mt. Pleasant and loved it. However, in 2003, they went out of business. Rather than take another art director position, she decided to “go for broke” and become of one three owners of Bamboosa.

The fabric made from bamboo fiber is easily dyed and so soft it feels like a mixture of silk and cashmere. Mindy wears bamboo nearly every day! And, it doesn’t hold odor. One of her partners wore the same pair of bamboo socks for four days and no one complained!

Because the Chinese have a patent on the process of converting bamboo stalks into fiber, Bamboosa! must purchase the unbleached fiber from a company there. The fiber is spun into fabric at a plant in Clover, SC, and then the factory in Andrews cuts, sews and packages the final product. Except for the fiber, all the work is done here in S.C., and Mindy and her partners have given many of the very talented sewing machine operators in our area a chance to work again.

For a peek into what is Sasee in the City this week, be sure to check out our Sasee Scoop!

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All Sasee in the City installments are brought to you by WMBF-News Channel 10.

Submit your questions about events happening around the Grand Strand, South Carolina area.

Sasee is going “Green” in March, and in this edition of Sasee in the City, we are honored to have local celebrity, and Sasee writer, Diane DeVaughn Stokes appear to talk about her essay, “Bag Lady.” As the spokesperson for the Horry County Solid Waste Authority, Diane has visited our landfill many times and the amount of trash staggered her. She is now an advocate for recycling to reduce the amount of waste we produce. Personally, Diane not only recycles her trash, she started composting and now has a free and easy source of rich organic soil for her garden!

To find out what’s Sasee in the City, check out the calendar on our website! Come back often as new events are added weekly.

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All Sasee in the City installments are brought to you by WMBF-News Channel 10.

Submit your questions about events happening around the Grand Strand, South Carolina area.

Nicole visited Forestbrook Middle School and interviewed our March “Woman of Character,” Candice Lively.

We arranged to meet Candice at Forestbrook Middle School where she volunteers her time with the school’s mock trial team, teaching the students about the law and instilling public speaking skills and confidence. According to Stephanie Necessary, assistant coach of the team and creative writing teacher, Candice has donated more than 50 hours of her time to the team, and has helped students blossom and become more confident. She does all of this while raising two young children and working a very demanding full-time job. Watching Candice interact with her team was awe-inspiring; it was obvious how much she cares about them.

[Interview]

Candice, how did you get started with the mock trial team?

Actually, I’ve been involved with mock trial teams for quite a few years. I started with high school teams and now work with middle school students.

What keeps you coming back?

It’s simply the kids. It’s amazing to see these young people get up in front of all kinds of people and do things that I could never have done at their age. I love their enthusiasm and their effort. Mock trial is not an easy thing to do.

Is there one experience that really stands out in your mind? Something you’ll never forget?

Several come to mind. It’s usually that one student who seems so timid and unsure of him/herself and gets to the state competition and just blows us all away. We have one like that here at Forestbrook Middle School. It was wonderful to see her get up in front of the team and act like she had been an attorney for years! Those are the kind of moments that really make me proud.

How do you keep yourself motivated? What do you do for yourself?

It’s hard to find time for much! I have two small children, both in preschool, and they keep me occupied when I’m not at work or coaching the mock trial team. My children are the ones who inspire me to help other children and stay involved with the community. I do try to go to the gym every once in a while, but mostly my free time is spent with my children.

Tell us a little about yourself?

I am a Columbia native and went to college and law school there. I got my first job in Horry County and moved here in 1996. I’ve been a prosecutor for nearly two years now. My husband, Chad Lively, and I live in Murrells Inlet with our children; Matthew, five years old and Bella, three years old. I named my daughter Bella because of our Italian ancestry. My mother is a first generation Italian immigrant, who met and married my dad.

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Video: “Nicole talks about Candice Lively, Women of Character

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Sasee in the City featuring Leslie Moore, editor of Sasee.

This week, Leslie talks about one very special nomination that came in response to our call for “Woman of Character.”

A plain manila envelope arrived at our office a couple of weeks ago from Stephanie Necessary, who teaches Creative Writing and Yearbook to 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Forestbrook Middle School. After hearing about our “Women of Character” contest from Eileen Patonay, the school’s Career Development Facilitator, Stephanie asked all of her students to write and nominate their choice for our “Woman of Character” contest. Stephanie says entering contests like ours gives her students a chance to be published and improve their writing. Her students have won regional, national and even international recognition. After reading the amazing essays written by these young writers, we decided to pay a visit to the school.

Sasee, together with WMBF News and Cinzia The Spa at North Beach Plantation, are spending this year honoring the women in our area who have provided encouragement, given strength and touched the lives of other women. To submit your choice, please use the form on our website, or mail your submissions to: 1357 21st Ave. N., Ste. 102, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.

Sasee in the City events this week are:

“Coffee with the Authors,” on February 5, featuring Jack DeGroot, Miller Pope and Mark Smith, 10 – 11:30 am at Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash.

Art Walk in the Downtown Conway Historic District, on February 7, from 10 am – 5pm.

Link to video interview »
All Sasee in the City installments are brought to you by WMBF-News Channel 10.

Video: “Leslie talks about Women of Character nomination”