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🌱 Patch AM: Which Charleston schools already use vape detectors in student bathrooms?

Coming up: Center for Creative Retirement on the Charleston Patch calendar

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Monday January 12th Patch AM
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Hello again Charleston! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Which Charleston schools already use vape detectors in student bathrooms?
  • Why so many Berkeley County parents missed graduation in North Charleston
  • See which Charleston-area homes just sold and for how much.

Also on today's calendar: Center for Creative Retirement and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Charlestonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one elevator say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Charlestonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Monday: Sunny and cooler, with a high of 51 and low of 35 degrees.
  • Tuesday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 60, low: 42.
  • Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 60 and low of 46 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Lowcountry schools crack down on vaping with bathroom detectors (abcnews4.com) — Charleston County high schools are increasingly installing vape detectors in bathrooms to curb student e-cigarette use and improve safety. Oceanside Collegiate Academy in Mount Pleasant is using detectors that sense vaping chemicals and loud disturbances, sending instant alerts to administrators. Officials emphasize education over punishment and warn parents that many students start vaping as early as middle school.
   

2. Berkeley Co. winter graduation turns away hundreds of parents due to capacity limits (live5news.com) — Hundreds of Berkeley County parents were turned away from winter graduation at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center after the venue hit capacity, leaving many unable to see their students walk. Families are criticizing the district’s planning and lack of ticketing, while officials say graduations are traditionally non-ticketed and capacity decisions were handled by Performing Arts Center staff.
   

3. Real estate Transactions for Sunday January, 11 2026 (postandcourier.com) — If you’re watching the Charleston housing market, a new batch of late-October sales shows million-dollar deals from downtown and West Ashley to Mount Pleasant, Johns Island, and beyond. The report details who bought and sold dozens of properties across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties, including waterfront condos, suburban homes, and major investment purchases.
   

4. Review: Enchanting Charleston-set time-travel fantasy contends with Southern history (postandcourier.com) — A new award-winning novel uses time travel and art restoration to plunge readers into Charleston’s past, from Stoll’s Alley to high society parlors. The story follows a modern conservator navigating 1804 Charleston, wrestling with race, history, and complicated relationships that link the city’s lore across centuries.
   

📸 Around Charleston

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Charleston

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Liberty Senior Living Chefs Turn Up the Heat in Inaugural Top Chef Competition —Liberty Senior Living Read on Patch
  • If anyone has seen Poot please let us know!
    Last seen by owners in Canterbury Woods on the morning of December 22nd. We have raised him since he was a month old and have tried everything to get… (Nextdoor Canterbury Woods)
  • Please share & repost to help reunite this stray cat!
    FOUND on December 20, 2025 in Charleston, SC 29414 near Back yard of 2910 Bolton Rd, Charleston, 29414 Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest… (Nextdoor Hunt Club)
  • Mercedes-Benz Group posted a job opening for Body Shop Operator - Door Adjuster in Charleston. Apply here.
  • Whole Foods posted a job opening for Grocery Team Member (Stocker, Inventory, Floor Service, Customer Service) - Full Time in Charleston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Charleston here.

Ok Charleston! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I think I’m coming down with something!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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