Full issue, 5/18: Sanders-Clyde painting project, Volvo, documentary

Edmondston-Alston House gate

AN HISTORIC GATEWAY: The detail in this gate at the Edmondson-Alston House illustrates the long history of the museum, the only house museum that commands a great view of Charleston’s harbor. The house, built in 1825, is filled with period antiques and served as host to Confederate generals. More. Photo by Michael Kaynard, Kaynard Photography.

PHOTO:  An historic gateway
FOCUS: Spearman to attend unveiling of painting project
BRACK: Why Volvo incentives make sense
IN THE SPOTLIGHT:  Titan Termite & Pest Control
GOOD NEWS: Documentary about turtles wins local festival
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
CALENDAR: May 18+ — Dancing, fishing, more
REVIEW:  The Book of Wisdom: The Heart of Tibetan Buddhism
MYSTERY:  Iconic figure
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Sgt. William Jasper

Spearman to attend unveiling of school painting project

From staff reports

MAY 18, 2015  | State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman will join students, parents, community partners, faculty and administrators of Sanders-Clyde Creative Arts School at the school’s Black Box Theatre on Morrison Drive at 5:30 p.m. May 21 for the unveiling of a painting done to inspire students.

The school’s eighth graders picked artist Teil Duncan to be the inaugural painter for Inspirational Pathways, a project aiming to expose students to talented South Carolina artists while awakening creativity and raising art awareness for the next generation of leaders. Duncan, a native of Columbus, Ga., is a full-time painter who describes her works as “mostly figurative and non-objective work.” In addition to paintings and prints, she offers stationery and leather clutches on her website.

According to a press release, the Inspirational Pathways project started with the commitment of South Carolina Liberty Fellow Barbara Melvin and Sanders-Clyde patron, Hydrick Services, to decorate the school’s hallways with beauty and creativity. Hydrick Services’ commitment includes the donation of 10 works of art over 10 years to Sanders-Clyde, a long-term investment that will have generational impact on students, parents and faculty.

During the school year, a team of community partners, including staff from Charleston Promise Neighborhood and Redux Contemporary Arts Center, have worked closely with the arts department at Sanders-Clyde to select four scholars from the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades. These students visited the Redux studios; met with and interviewed four artists; familiarized themselves with art description, analysis and interpretation; and ultimately introduced artists to their eight-grade classmates, who voted to select the artist who would paint the program’s inaugural piece of art.

“As a former music teacher, I am a firm believer that the arts are an integral part of every student’s education,” Spearman said in the release. “This initiative at Sanders Clyde is a great way to spotlight the importance of art education and it is my hope we can bring similar programs to schools across South Carolina.”

Charles Atkins, chair of the Arts Department at Sanders-Clyde Creative Arts School, said Inspirational Pathways scholars at the school matured throughout the year. “Their interests in the arts has only become more solidified as they interacted with the talented artists who work with Redux.”

Sherrie Snipes-Williams, CEO of Charleston Promise Neighborhood added, “Partnerships with our schools demonstrated through programs like Inspirational Pathways are exactly what we envisioned when we established our mission. Long term relationships with patrons such as Hydrick Services will move the needle as we boost educational levels and life skills for our students.”

Why Volvo incentives make sense

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher

MAY 18, 2015 | The $204 million incentive package that state and local governments offered Volvo to make a huge investment for at least 2,000 jobs in Berkeley County masks a pesky public policy debate that few talk about in public:  Are incentives a good deal or should they exist at all?

On one hand, we wouldn’t have landed BMW, Boeing or Volvo without incentives.  That’s just the reality of economic development.  Because of incentives, these companies hired a lot of people and served as a catalyst to generate thousands of other in-state jobs — everything from suppliers to fast-food workers to staff restaurants that serve them.

Furthermore, incentives make sense, many argue, because they will eventually be paid off through steady infusions of revenues from sales, income and property taxes from the thousands of workers who get new jobs.  It will just take a little time — and it’s in the government’s interest to invest now to get a long-term return on investment.

On the other hand, use of incentives is particularly interesting because it’s being pushed by the ruling Republican Party, which often goes overboard in its zeal to denounce “activist” government.  If anything is “activist” and should raise the blood pressure of those who drink conservative tea, it’s using the power of big government to build incentive packages.

Wouldn’t it be fairer, economist Frank Hefner of the College of Charleston has argued, to completely rewrite tax policy to level the playing field and make it so that you don’t need tax incentives to lure big businesses here?

“The only reason you need to offer incentives is because you’ve created disincentives,” Hefner said.  “I’d prefer a simplification of the tax code for everyone.  If property taxes are too high for Boeing, then they’re too high for a lot of other businesses.”

A study done by Hefner as part of the Volvo project shows the annual economic impact to the state to be almost $4.8 billion a year in direct and spin-off effects through payroll, taxes and more.  According to the study:

“Once the plant is up and running at the completion of Phase 1, it is estimated that 2,000 jobs will be directly employed at the plant. This will result in a total of 8,052 jobs within the state. Total labor income is estimated to be over $517 million with a total economic impact of over $4.7 billion. Over $72 million will be collected in state and local taxes annually. (This amount could potentially be reduced depending on incentives offered.)”

• Read Hefner’s study here.

That’s a pretty good return on investment … and will add up pretty quickly, although it doesn’t factor in the incentive package’s impact on taxes.

Still, others wonder about the fairness of providing big incentives to big businesses at the expense of small businesses, which have to pay full freight on things like property tax and other expenses for government.

“When a big business moves into the state, it employs workers who help build local economies by purchasing goods and services from local small businesses,” said Frank Knapp, head of the S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce.  “But while we appreciate these state government efforts and welcome these businesses, there should also be a commitment from the state to promote local economies by supporting the creation and growth of small businesses when big business recruitment is not part of the equation, especially in rural areas.”

With Volvo, lots of rural communities will benefit because their residents will travel to Berkeley County for jobs.  Santee Cooper, which is purchasing 6,800 acres with Berkeley County as part of the deal, is involved because the deal fits the utility’s mission to promote economic development and create opportunities for small business retailers and service providers.

“Additionally, to the extent these projects improve the general welfare in terms of jobs and income, they create more disposable income for people to spend at small businesses,” said spokesman Mollie Gore.

Bottom line:  Yes, it’s politically hypocritical for big government opponents to make hay through big government’s strength to offer incentives.  Yes, the tax code needs to be fairer.  But it’s far better for the state to have a big new corporate citizen like Volvo than to quibble now.

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Charleston Currents and Statehouse Report, where this commentary first appeared.

Titan Termite & Pest Control

Documentary about turtles wins local film festival

The winner of the 6^th annual Charleston Film Festival was David Weintraub’s Call of the Ancient Mariner, a documentary that follows the power that sea turtles have held over man for thousands of years.

(photo credit: D. Weintraub)

The documentary, which will open for a limited run at the Terrace Theater on James Island on May 29, was filmed at several locations, including Kiawah, Seabrook and Isle of Palms

Organizers say they the film will be shown for at least a week because they believe “film festivals are for the movie-going public and those movies celebrated at our festival deserve to reach as broad and diverse audience as possible.  Every year, the Terrace looks forward to this unique set up.    Call of the Ancient Mariner is sure to be a crowd-pleasing film.” Learn more here.

Weintraub is expected to be at the May 29 opening to meet viewers and answer questions after the screening. More details and show times.

Forums to be held this week on new West Ashley senior center

The City of Charleston and Liollio Architecture will two community forums on Tuesday and Wednesday about the new senior center in West Ashley. There will be a brief presentation about the project followed by time for participants to provide feedback on various topics.

• Tuesday, May 19, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Bees Landing Recreation Center, 1580 Ashley Garden Blvd, which is located in the Grand Oaks subdivision on Bees Ferry Road.
• Wednesday, May 20, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., St. Francis Hospital, Mall Classrooms, 2095 Henry Tecklenburg Blvd.

According to a press release, the Senior Center will be built on the campus of Roper/St. Francis Hospital off of Glenn McConnell Highway and will be approximately 15,000 sf. The City of Charleston will build and own the building, while Roper St. Francis will staff and operate it.

The building is planned to include areas for fitness and aerobics, arts and crafts, cards and games. There will also be dividable multi-purpose rooms, a small kitchen, and an outside walking path. Liollio Architects will design the building. They have extensive experience in designing senior and community centers.

Construction is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2016.

Local poetry contest winners hail from New York, Indiana

Stacy Pratt, an assistant professor of English at Jefferson State University of New York in Watertown, won first place in the adult division of the second annual Garden of Romance Poetry Contest, sponsored by Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. The prize for his poem, “A Soldier’s Wife at Magnolia,” was $500.

The other winning entries in the adult division are Paula S. Osborn of Johns Island, S.C., second place, $300, “Magnolia,” and Brian Slusher, of Greenville, S.C., third place, $200, “On Blackwater.”

In the youth division, Lauren Koch, a student at Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville, Ind., received the first-place prize with “At the Garden of Magnolia.” She won an iPad. The other winning entries in the youth division are Ashley Spoleti, of Mount Sinai, N.Y., second place, $200, “The Garden That Brings Love,” and C.J. Cleland, Ridgeland, S.C., third place, $100, “The Beautiful Gardens of Magnolia.”

Entries in the adult division were judged by Katrina Murphy, vice president of the Poetry Society of South Carolina, and Dr. Jacquelyn Markham, an award-winning poet. Youth division poems were judged by Donna Adams, reference and young adult librarian, Otranto Road Regional Library in North Charleston, and Willette Wilkins, creative writing teacher, North Charleston Cultural Arts Department.

Magnolia is America’s last large-scale romantic-style garden. The contest was open to poems that emulate the style of romance poets William Wordsworth, Ashley Tennyson and Percy Bysshe Shelley. More than 120 poems were submitted between Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14 and March 31. The winning poems are posted at magnoliaplantation.com.

June knife-sharpening event will help local charity

Have some dull knives and want to help a local charity at the same time? Mosey over to The Coastal Cupboard from June 11 to June 14 and you can get knives sharpened for $1 each and help the store raise $5,000 for East Cooper Meals on Wheels.

In five previous knife-sharpening events, the store has raised more than $30,000 for the charity.

“We are celebrating our 10-year anniversary this year, so we want to make a huge impact with this event to thank the community for their amazing support over the years,” said store owner Brad Pitner. “It only takes four sharpened knives to feed one person for a day. Our goal is to raise $5,000, which will feed 1,250 people with food for a day.”

Celebrating its 30th year, East Cooper Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals twice a day, seven days a week, to homebound residents in the East Cooper area.

“Our mission is to keep people in the comfort of their own home,” said Chris Brooks, director of community development of ECMOW.

• For more details, plus tips on ways to transport your knives safely to and from the event, visit www.thecoastalcupboard.com.

Send us a letter

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May 18+:  Dancing, fishing and more

The Book of Wisdom:  The Heart of Tibetan Buddhism

A book of teachings by the mystic Osho

Do you feel a stirring inside like something is trying to awaken? A fresh awareness? And who are you really? This delightful little book, in which Osho’s talks are presented, attempts to show and inspire a few ways to uncovering the mystery of life and consciousness.

Osho was an Indian mystic, a spiritual master with a large following, during the second half of the 20^th century. In his discourses, he reinterpreted the writings of various religious traditions and philosophies from around the world. The Book of Wisdom is filled with his brilliant outside-the-box interpretations. It is also a guide, if you are curious to take the path, to deep awakening and happiness that does not fade. In the very first chapter the reader is given a recipe to follow in seven easily digestible steps.

From the hundreds of spiritual works I’ve read, Osho’s talks are by far the most humorous and human I’ve encountered; fresh and relevant to today’s world. He fearlessly challenges the listener/reader to come face to face with his or her own ego and accept the magic of being human. It inspires laughter and joy from cover to cover and begs to be read many times.

How each individual will receive Osho’s message depends on their mind. Will you laugh? Will you think a little differently? Will you awaken to a new reality? It remains to be seen.

– Helen Walker, Mount Pleasant Regional Library

WINNER: Congratulations to the Main Library’s Darryl Woods for being picked as April’s winner of a monthly drawing for reviewers of two tickets from Charleston Currents to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.

Find this and similar titles from Charleston County Public Library. This item available as a book. To learn more or place a hold, visit www.ccpl.org or call 843-805-6930.

Iconic Charleston figure

What and where is this?

This might be a pretty tough mystery photo. It shows an iconic figure that has a special meaning in Charleston. But where can you see it and what does it mean?

First person to correctly answer will get something neat. Send your answers — and your hometown and contact information — to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.  Photo by Andy Brack.

Sgt. William Jasper

Little is known of Revolutionary War Sgt. William Jasper’s origins. Traditionally he has been identified as Irish, but others have argued that he was of German ancestry.

An historical image of Jasper raising the battle flag of the colonial forces over present-day Fort Moultrie on June 28, 1776 during the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.

On July 7, 1775, in Halifax District, Georgia, William Jasper enlisted in the elite grenadier company of the Second South Carolina Continental Regiment. On June 28, 1776, as a sergeant, he won lasting fame during the British attack on Sullivan’s Island, near Charleston. When an enemy shot brought down the fort’s flag, Jasper restored the banner while under enemy fire. In 1779 he led dangerous guerrilla raids against British pickets and patrols. At least once, he passed through enemy lines by posing as a deserter.

During the Franco-American attack on the British lines around Savannah on October 9, 1779, Jasper received a mortal wound while rescuing one of his regiment’s flags. He had placed another flag on a British entrenchment, which is now preserved in the Smithsonian Institution. Jasper left a widow and at least two children, although apparently no descendants are living today.

Jasper became a national hero as a character in the historical novel by Mason L. Weems, The Life of Gen. Francis Marion (1809). Weems based this work loosely on a manuscript by Peter Horry. Although Horry dismissed Weems’s book, he and other Revolutionary War veterans confirmed Jasper’s great personal courage. Eight counties (including Jasper County, South Carolina), numerous towns, and thousands of Americans were named for the man described as “the Brave Sergt. Jasper.”

• Calendar note: There will be a history presentation entitled “William Jasper, an Enigmatic Hero” at the Poe/Sullivan’s Island Library at 10:30 a.m., June 27, 2015.

– Excerpted from the entry by Robert S. Davis. To read more about this or 2,000 other entries about South Carolina, check out The South Carolina Encyclopedia by USC Press. (Information used by permission.)

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