NEWS BRIEFS: Library offers two new streaming services

Charleston County residents now can stream a wide variety of music and award-winning independent films for free through two online services available from Charleston County Public Library.

Anyone with a library card can enjoy the streaming services by visiting the library’s website – www.ccpl.org – and logging into either Freegal or IndieFlix on the site’s Downloadable Media page.

With Freegal, customers can stream three hours of music daily and download five music tracks to keep each week. This free music service offers access to approximately 9 million songs from genres including rock, hip-hop, top 40, pop, country, classical, reggae, jazz, blues, Latin and more through the Sony Music Entertainment catalog.

Fans of independent cinema can use the IndieFlix streaming film service to access award-winning shorts, feature films and documentaries, including some films shown at major festivals all over the world, including Sundance, Cannes and Tribeca. Users can instantly watch the thousands of films available from more than 50 countries and search films by language, genre, film length or country of origin. Customers can use the service on any Internet-enabled computer, smartphone or tablet with a web browser, along with Roku and xBox.

• For a full list of all the free digital materials available, check the Downloadable Media link on the left side of the library’s homepage.

Pinckney family starts charitable foundation

AUG. 3, 2015  |  The family of the late state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, one of the victims of the Charleston church shooting on June 17, last week established a charitable foundation to continue his work on what would have been his 42nd birthday.

“While the shock has started to dissipate, we are still in a state of deep grief,” said Jennifer Pinckney, the late senator’s wife and new chair of the Honorable Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney Foundation. “But, we are answering God’s call to continue my husband’s work and that starts with establishing a charitable foundation in his honor.”

State Sen. Gerald Malloy, a Hartsville Democrat involved with establishing the foundation, added, “We are reaching out to those who have been raising money in Clem’s name in order to consolidate efforts,. And on his birthday, we are thankful for your generous support as we begin to build a foundation that will become part of the Senator’s legacy.”

The mission of the Honorable Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney Foundation is to improve the quality of life for all South Carolina citizens by supporting religious, educational and charitable causes Pinckney supported while serving as a leader in his church, community and the state Senate.

• More: www.senatorpinckney.org

IN OTHER NEWS:

Big check.  The Wells Fargo Foundation in July awarded a $100,000 grant to the College of Charleston to grow the Wells Fargo Business Scholarship. Created by the bank in 1998, the Wells Fargo Business scholarship annually supports two students majoring in the College’s School of Business who are planning to pursue careers in finance or banking upon receiving their degrees.

New planning director. City of Charleston employee Jacob Lindsey on Aug. 1 became the city’s new planning director, replacing Tim Keane who left for a similar position in Atlanta.  “I have determined that the best applicant was someone right here – Jacob Lindsey, who is currently Director of the Design Division,” Charleston Mayor Joe Riley announced last week.  “Jacob is an excellent urban designer; his planning instincts are superb, he communicates extremely well and easily engages with his colleagues and our citizens as well.”  The position, which received many applicants,  is subject to city council confirmation on Aug. 18.

Not such good news.  In the July 27 issue, April Borkman wrote about a new sexual education curriculum being considered by county schools.  We now hear from her that discussion of the curriculum by a committee has been pulled — for the second time.  Really?  Any conservative political pressure at work here?