Charleston Currents – 2017

Archive for December, 2017

CALENDAR, Dec 18:+: More than holiday events now on calendar

A Christmas Carol.: Runs through Dec. 20, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston. The holiday classic returns again as Charleston Stage’s musical adaption features Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, will put you in the Christmas spirit with four spectacular new musical production numbers. For tickets and more information, go to CharlestonStage.com.

Holiday Festival of Lights: Runs through Dec. 31, James Island County Park. There’s fun every night through the end of the month for anyone who wants to see more than 2 million holiday lights in this annual spectacular event. Learn more.

(NEW) New Year’s Eve: There are lots of parties around town where you can ring in the new year. A sampling:
* Yorktown Countdown
* Mansion Ball at The Restoration
* New Year’s Eve – Hollywood Style with the Joe Clarke Quartet
* New Year’s Eve dinner cruise
More: Search Charleston CVB

by Charleston Currents · 12/18/2017 · Comments are Disabled · calendar

FOCUS: The 12 Days of January: Charleston Restaurant Week returns

Staff reports | For 12 days in January – from Jan. 10 to Jan 21 – Charleston diners will be able to enjoy special food and drinks from renowned chefs at dozens of local eateries. It will be the latest installment of Charleston Restaurant Week, the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association, Inc. announced.

“What better way to kick off 2018 than with Charleston Restaurant Week?” said Greater Charleston Restaurant Association President Randall Goldman. “It’s the perfect time of year for both locals and visitors to explore Charleston’s ever-evolving culinary scene and we are so excited to be offering new restaurants and new menus for diners to experience in January.”

More than 100 restaurants participated in Charleston Restaurant Week in September . Newcomers joining the roster this January include Grace & Grit, Ink N Ivy and Pearlz Oyster Bar.

by Charleston Currents · 12/18/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

BRACK: #FakeNews is a fake phenomenon

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | There is no such thing as #FakeNews.

There is, however, a cynical, national political strategy called #FakeNews. It is a continuing attempt by President Trump and his cronies to promote public disbelief in information that these politicos don’t like or that makes them look bad.

The whole “#FakeNews” phenomenon is nothing more than a public relations ultra-spin to kill the messenger AND the message.

Before you shout #FakeNews or #RealNews, please realize neither exists. Either something is news or it is not. That which is not news either doesn’t measure up as something that’s new, factual and interesting. Or it is something titillating that is simply made up, a fiction.

The job of a reporter is to provide new information based on facts (hence, “news”) with which you might not be familiar so you can keep informed. Facts are bits of verifiable information. For example, Clemson will play in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. That’s a verifiable fact. But it’s also a fact that a Clemson coach hopes the team will win. Sure, that’s an opinion of the coach, but it’s a fact that it is his opinion.

by Andy Brack · 12/18/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Andy Brack, Views

September flooding in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island. (Photo by SCDOT)

COMMON GOOD: Flood risk assessment to force major change in local, state borrowing

By Fred Palm, special to Charleston Currents | A major transition just began in public finance now that two bond rating agencies, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s, the say they will add the risk of flooding to flood risk to financial risk when they evaluate the total risk. The addition is expected to have a major impact on associated bond interest rates that state and local governments will pay to borrow up front for their major building programs.

Why the change? The rating agencies are concerned lenders can lose all their investments should flooding impacts become extreme. To date, only financial risk was measured. This new metric can be expected to impact the state and local public finance decisions of lenders and borrowers.

When capital investment decision-makers start assessing longer-term risk, the risk inherent in the overall flood adaption plans themselves becomes a consideration of how effective a flood plan will be in addressing the potential flooding conditions — not just the risk of failing to make the coupon payment associated with a project or general obligation bond.

by Charleston Currents · 12/18/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Common Good

GOOD NEWS: West Ashley commission endorses new master plan

Staff reports | The most comprehensive renewal and revitalization effort in Charleston’s history received unanimous approval last week when the West Ashley Revitalization Commission endorsed implementation of a master plan.

The draft 333-0age report by Dover Kohl, a planning consultant hired by Charleston City Council earlier this year, now will go to the city’s planning commission for its consideration. City Council then will have a review.

“Plan West Ashley will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the area’s economic growth and the revitalization of its streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces,” Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said in a news release last week. “Last night’s endorsement is a significant step forward as we continue working to enhance the quality of life for all of West Ashley’s residents.”

by Charleston Currents · 12/18/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

MYSTERY PHOTO: Very official-looking room

Hanahan photographer Chuck Boyd sent along this very official-looking local mystery. But what and where is it? Send your best guess – plus your name and hometown – to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. In the subject line, write: “Mystery Photo guess.”

Virginia sleuth solves tough mystery
Last week’s mystery was one of the toughest ever. It sought the location of a portrait of retired Democratic U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings of Isle of Palms was one of the toughest in a long time.

Chris Brooks of Mount Pleasant got a half mark for knowing that the portrait was moved from what was the Hollings Judicial Center before it was renamed for the late federal judge Waties Waring. Upon the renaming, which was requested by Hollings (the only time a federal building has been renamed like this), the portrait was moved to Columbia.

But only one Currents reader — George Graf of Palmyra, Va., — knew that the portrait is now in a room in a new part of the Thomas Cooper Library at the University of South Carolina that is named in honor of Hollings.

by Charleston Currents · 12/18/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Mystery Photo, Photos

HISTORY: Early Judaism in South Carolina

S.C. Encyclopedia | Following the Revolutionary War, South Carolina’s Jewish population surged. When Columbia became the state capital in 1786, seven Jewish men from Charleston were among the first to buy town lots.

Jews arrived in the British colony of Carolina with the first wave of European settlement. A new outpost in the mercantile traffic of the Atlantic basin, Carolina offered economic opportunities, as well as risks, and a degree of religious tolerance remarkable for the time. The colony’s Fundamental Constitutions of 1669 granted freedom of worship to “Jews, Heathens, and other Dissenters from the purity of the Christian Religion.” Although the colonial assembly never endorsed the provision, British Charleston became known as a place where people of all faiths—except Catholics—could do business and practice their religion without interference. In 1696 Jews in Charleston allied with French Huguenots to safeguard their rights to trade and the next year to secure citizenship.

by Charleston Currents · 12/18/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Features, S.C. Encyclopedia

FEEDBACK: Great article on tax flexibility

Gary Parker, Blythewood: “Great article on [how the] state should allow flexibility in the use of tourism taxes.”

by Charleston Currents · 12/18/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Feedback

CALENDAR, Dec. 11:+: Holiday events fill December calendar

A Charleston Celtic Christmas: 7 p.m., Dec. 11, Circular Congregational Church, Meeting Street, Charleston. Na Fidléirí and the Taylor Festival Choir will perform a program that continues to present a mixture of traditional holiday carols, instrumental jigs with a Celtic flavor and spiritual choral and instrumental segments.

Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings: Shows are through Dec. 17, Cabaret Theatre, Duvall Center, 2816 Azalea Drive, North Charleston. Midtown Productions will offer the local premier of this musical comedy of doo=wop songs of the 50s and 60s.

by Charleston Currents · 12/11/2017 · Comments are Disabled · calendar

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg (center) unveils the memorial outside the Dart Library with two students. (CCPLphotos)

FOCUS: Dart Library celebrates 90th anniversary with new plaque

Staff reports | More than 60 people gathered Saturday to unveil a new historical marker to commemorate the formation of the Dart Hall Library 90 years ago in the northern part of Charleston. Today, the library is located on upper King Street in a building constructed in the late 1960s.

Onlookers clapped as Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and two students unveiled the marker, which was sponsored by the Charleston County Public Library. The anniversary event also featured special presentations including unveiling of a portrait of the first librarian, a poetry reading by artist Fouche Sheppard and an excerpt of a documentary showcasing the evolution of Dart Hall Library and the Dart Library of today.

by Charleston Currents · 12/11/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news