GOOD NEWS: A big win for our coast

Staff reports | Coastal elected and environmental leaders are tickled pink that the Obama Administration last week reversed itself on the potential for offshore gas and oil development in the Atlantic Ocean.

The plan was opposed by more than two dozen coastal South Carolina communities, including Charleston and Beaufort. Both of the towns’ mayors met with White House officials on March 14, the day before the reversal was announced.

Comments in recent days:

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, March 14: “Everyone we spoke to today seemed to understand and appreciate our deep concerns about the dangers that offshore drilling would pose to our environment, our economy and our citizens’ quality of life here along the South Carolina coast. And while there were no specific promises made, we came away from our meetings very hopeful that we will soon see major movement in the right direction on this issue.”

Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling, also on March 14: “”We came here today representing the broadest possible coalition of citizens and groups — Oceana, the Wildlife Federation, Audubon SC, the Conservation Voters of South Carolina, the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce and the 110 coastal towns and cities that have passed resolutions formally opposing this plan. And I hope and believe that we made real progress toward protecting our beaches, our businesses and our communities from the unnecessary and unwarranted perils of offshore oil drilling in our state.”

Dana Beach, S.C. Coastal Conservation League: “The long, dark night of offshore oil is over.  The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has withdrawn its proposal to allow drilling in the seabed along the coasts of Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.  Right whales, bottlenose dolphin, grouper and marlin can celebrate, free from deafening seismic blasts.  Pelicans, gannets and terns can fish safely in non-oiled waters.  Krill and plankton — foundations of life in the ocean and on the planet — can flourish unharmed. The victory occurred because people cared enough about protecting marine life, and a human way of life.  They commented, e-mailed, spoke, demonstrated and organized by the thousands against a foolish proposal that became an existential threat to the future of our region.

Hamilton Davis, S.C. Coastal Conservation League: “Tens of thousands of citizens organized throughout the state to stop offshore drilling. Hundreds of coastal towns and cities passed resolutions declaring their opposition. Businesses and local leaders, Republicans and Democrats, urban and rural folks alike stood as a united front with a single message: Don’t mess up our coast. It worked.”

Jacqueline Savitz, U.S. vice president of Oceana: ““President Obama has taken a giant step for our oceans, for coastal economies and for mitigating climate change. This is a courageous decision that begins the shift to a new energy paradigm, where clean energy replaces fossil fuels, and where we can avoid the worst impacts of decades of our carbon dioxide emissions. This is a victory for people over politics and shows the importance of old fashioned grassroots organizing. It will prevent oil spills and coastal industrialization; it makes seismic testing unnecessary and it will help promote the clean energy solutions that we so desperately need.”

In other good news:

Hollings, Class of 1942

Hollings wins big award. Former U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, a member of The Citadel’s Class of 1942, has won one of the college’s top honors, the Krause Center Award for Distinguished Service, Leadership and Ethics. “Senator Hollings has exemplified the courageous and principled leadership in service to others that the Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics seeks to make more common in American life,” said Winfred “Bo” Moore Jr., dean of the Citadel School of Humanities and Social Services. Moore nominated Hollings for the honor. Read the full press release.

Wertimer, marketers honored. Long-time Charleston area marketer Peter Wertimer of Chernoff Newman received the highest honor of the Charleston Marketing Association, 2016 Marketer of the Year, at the organization’s March 10 Spark! awards ceremony. His nominator noted, “Peter has mentored dozens of successful marketing professionals and has contributed his firm’s talents and labor to an arm’s-length list of charities. A list of Chernoff’s successes for clients would stretch for miles.” Other winners: Charleston AMA’s director of programming Kelly Jones of the South Carolina Aquarium received the 2016 Volunteer of the Year Award. Ted deLoach of Ted deLoach Marketing Services and a long-time Charleston AMA volunteer and past chapter president was honored with the inaugural Lifetime Volunteer Award.

Bridge Run has new app. You can find everything you want about the April 2 Cooper River Bridge Run and Walk through a new app available through the event’s website: http://www.bridgerun.com. The app includes event information, results, tracking, bib lookup, maps, info about eating and drinking, weather, photos and more.

Bridge Run parking. Starting at 5 p.m. April 1, participants in the Cooper River Bridge Run and Walk can get special $5 overnight parking at three city garages until 2 p.m. the following day. The rate applies to the Visitor’s Center Parking Garage on Mary Street, the S.C. Aquarium Garage on Calhoun Street and the garage at 34 St. Philip Street between George and Liberty streets, according to the City of Charleston.

Road improvements. Charleston County Government started a construction project Sunday to make intersection improvements at Folly Road at Camp Road. The design includes major changes to Camp Road and Folly Road by adding dedicated turn lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks and improving drainage in the area. The construction cost of the project is estimated to be $14.4 million. Follow the project online