Charleston Currents – 2017

Archive for December, 2017

BRACK: State should provide flexibility with local tourism taxes

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | South Carolina’s legislators need to provide more flexibility to city and county governments in how they can use some of the tax money they collect as the state works to take away more of their revenue.

For years, local governments have received state subsidies to comply with requirements that cities and counties provide some state-mandated services, such as maintaining ditches along state roads or providing offices for courts and some agencies. By law, the state is supposed to pay 4.5 percent of the previous year’s general fund to help counties with the cost of these required state services. But since 2010, the state has been shorting local governments with the gap now at just under $100 million a year.

by Andy Brack · 12/11/2017 · 1 comment · Andy Brack, Views

Scarves on sale at a Market in Mostar with the town pictured in the background. (Michael Kaynard)

PHOTO ESSAY: Bullish on the Balkans

Photographers Michael Kaynard and Cynthia Bledsoe of Charleston recently enjoyed a cruise with stops along the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe.

Kaynard, our contributing photographer, emphasized how warm the people were and how many of them spoke English and several other languages – vital in an economy that gets tourists from around the world.)

Click to enjoy these photos.

by Michael Kaynard · 12/11/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Photo Essay, Photos

Student Abigail Henry, third from left, smiles after winning the CDCA student app contest. Pictured with her, from left, are her dad Brian Henry, grandmother Sandy Bruorton and mother Amy Henry. Photo provided.

GOOD NEWS: Lowcountry students win mobile app competition

Staff reports | The Charleston Defense Contractors Association (CDCA), a non-profit advocacy group for the defense industry in the Southeast, on Friday announced student winners of the 7th Annual Student Mobile App Competition’

The organization annually holds a mobile app contest for students from middle school through graduate school to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers. The contest allows students to develop creative unique applications that ae able to run on either iOS phone or Android platforms to solve a challenge. They are judged by sponsors and attendees at the event. Winners share STEM-related contest awards of $10,000 in prizes, scholarships and future jobs.

Also in Good News: Bridge Run’s sponsor; New online job board; Resurfacing rescheduled; and New language for Calhoun monument.

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

MYSTERY PHOTO: Where did this portrait go?

If you’ve been around South Carolina politics for a little while, you probably know the identity of the man painted in this portrait. That’s not the information we’re seeking with this mystery. Rather, we want to know where the portrait is located. For bonus points, where was it, say, three years ago and why did it move? Send your best guess to: feedback@statehousereport.com – and please make sure to include your name and hometown. In the subject line, write: “Mystery Photo guess.”

by Charleston Currents · 12/11/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Mystery Photo, Photos

HISTORY: South Caroliniana Library

S.C. Encyclopedia | The South Caroliniana Library building was completed in 1840 as the central library building for South Carolina College (later the University of South Carolina). It was the first freestanding college library building in the United States, predating those of Harvard (1841), Yale (1846), and Princeton (1873).

The structure contains design elements from several architects, most notably the South Carolina native and federal architect Robert Mills. A typical Mills architectural feature is the curved stairway leading to the second-floor reading room, which was closely modeled after the original Library of Congress.

by Charleston Currents · 12/11/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Features, S.C. Encyclopedia

FEEDBACK: Leave historical monuments alone

Bill Segars, Hartsville: “Leave our historical statues alone. The people depicted in the statues, right or wrong, good or bad have formed us into who we are today. “

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

CALENDAR, Dec 4:+: From holiday shows to holiday light — and more

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 featuring veterans Ryan Ahlert and Brandon Joyner. For tickets, times and more, go to: Midtown Productions.

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.

by Charleston Currents · 12/04/2017 · Comments are Disabled · calendar

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

FOCUS: Magazine names RiverDogs as top Class A baseball operation

Staff reports | After a record-setting season at the turnstiles and a promotional calendar that continued to turn heads, the Charleston RiverDogs have been honored as the Class-A recipient of the Bob Freitas Award, which recognizes the top overall operation at each level of the minor leagues by Baseball America magazine.

“The Freitas Award is one of the most sought-after honors in all of minor league baseball (MiLB), recognizing an organization’s overall accomplishments and commitment to their community,” said. said Jeff Goldklang, president of the Goldklang Group which owns the team. “Ownership takes tremendous pride in the first-rate operation that Dave [Echols] and his staff have built, establishing the RiverDogs as cutting-edge leaders in one of the country’s greatest markets. We’re honored and humbled to receive this recognition from Baseball America.”

by Charleston Currents · 12/04/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

Pamela Evette, flanked by Gov. Henry McMaster. Source: McMaster campaign video.

BRACK: Time will tell if governor’s running mate gamble pays off

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Gov. Henry McMaster made a strategic political decision this week. Whether it’s good or bad remains to be seen, but it certainly surprised the establishment in Columbia.

McMaster announced a political neophyte, Ohio native Pamela Evette – a Travelers Rest business executive who moved to South Carolina in 2005 – would be his running mate in next year’s gubernatorial race.

That is, if he wins the GOP party nomination. Three other political animals – Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant of Anderson, former Lt. Gov. Yancey McGill of Kingstree and former agency head Catherine Templeton of Mount Pleasant (who also has never held elected office) – want to be the Republican standard bearer at the top of the 2018 ticket.

by Andy Brack · 12/04/2017 · 1 comment · Andy Brack, Views

PALMETTO POEM: Two poems by Tim Conroy

A poem by Tim Conroy:

Is there a safe path
even with a light aimed
perfectly on the walkway
or upon the camellia bushes?
We imagine a world
with shadows everywhere,
lurking to steal lives….