GOOD NEWS: Bark for your brew on June 7

Sunset at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park in Charleston.

You can enjoy a unique opportunity to sample some of the finest craft beers around at Bark for Your Brew, a dog-friendly, craft beer tasting. It’s set for June 7 at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park at 2 p.m. prior to the RiverDogs’ Dog Day Game scheduled against the Asheville Tourists (first pitch is 5:05 p.m.).

Bring your wing dog and sample fine beers from around the globe.  An assortment of ales will be available to quench the taste buds of every craft beer enthusiast.   The event will also feature dog-themed contests and activities including a howling contest, a mutt mingle, a tail wagging contest for the pet and their owner, an ice cream licking contest and a pre-game pooch parade. Chocolate Labrador Martinis and Poodle Coladas will be available for purchase.

Bark for Your Brew will benefit Canines for Service which is a national program that provides Veterans with disabilities a quality trained service dog.  The program works with military prisoners at the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston and teaches them how to train rescue dogs as service dogs for the wounded and injured Veteran.

Bark for Your Brew is a 21-and-over event.  Tickets are $25 each and admission includes entry to the tasting, sampling tickets and a ticket for the RiverDogs last Dog Day baseball game of the 2015 season for you and your pet.  The first 500 dogs through the gates will receive a special treat.  Tickets are limited and may be purchased at the Riley Park Box Office or online at www.RileyParkEvents.com.

In other good news:

SCRA nominated. SCRA today recently that two company nominations were selected as finalists for the 2015 American Business Awards. This national award, known as The Stevie Award, recognizes the achievements and contributions of businesses worldwide. SCRA’s finalists are: the SC Launch Annual Report for the Best Annual Report Print and SCRA Executive Vice President Natalie Corrella for Woman of the Year, Non-Profit. SCRA has received numerous Stevies including the 2011 Stevie for Company of the Year, Non-Profit, and in 2012, SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney was recognized as CEO of the Year, Non-Profit.

Law school to stay open. The Charleston School of Law will accept an incoming class of first-year students in the fall, according to a statement by the school. The announcement was due to “continued and additional cost-cutting initiative and the dedicated support of members of the Charleston school community,” according to a statement. “The school’s landlords are cooperating with the school in efforts to consolidate facilities.  Also the school’s year-long effort to reduce the size of the faculty and staff to a level consistent with the reduced enrollment will continue and begin to have a budgetary impact in September.”

Fashion Week has big year. Baker Motor Company Charleston Fashion Week^® continues to grow and exceed expectations, according to a news release. With record attendance of more than 7,500 attendees, sponsor participation, and international media attention, the 2015 event made a significant impact to the local economy. According to the Dr. Wayne Smith at The College of Charleston, the 2015 5-day event boosted the local economy by close to $3.5 million in its ninth year, an increase of nearly 20 percent from 2014.