GOOD NEWS: USS Charleston to be commissioned March 2

Staff reports  | The Columbus Street Terminal in Charleston will host a March 2 commissioning of the new USS Charleston (LCS 18), an Independence-class littoral combat ship built in Mobile, Ala.

The $440 million ship is a state-of-the-art trimaran designed to go into shallow waters that other ships can’t.  Awarded in December 2010, the ship was named by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus in January 2015 with Charlotte Riley, wife of former Mayor Joe Riley, serving as the ship’s sponsor.  Launched in September 2017, the 418-foot ship with a speed of 44 knots (50.6 mph) was delivered in August 2018.  It will be homeported in San Diego, Calif.

The shield on the crest of the USS Charleston features ship representing previous Charlestons as well as symbols on the state’s flag.  The crest includes palmetto fronds, a bald eagle and a motto, “While we breathe, we fight” that is an homage to the state’s Latin motto, “Dum Spiro Spero” (While I breathe, I hope).

During the ship’s 2017 christening, current U.S. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer said, “Charleston, like the other ships in the LCS program, is going to be highly maneuverable, able to operate where other ships cannot, and will project power through forward presence. The ship and her crew will serve our nation for decades to come, but let us not forget our industrial force whose service makes this great ship possible. “

According to the Department of Defense, “The first Navy ship to bear the name Charleston was a row galley that defended the coast of South Carolina during the Quasi-War with France. The second Charleston (C-2) was a protected cruiser that received the surrender of Guam during the Spanish-American War. The third Charleston (C-22) was a St. Louis-class protected cruiser that performed escort and troop transport duties in World War I. The ship named Charleston (PG-51) was an Erie-class patrol gunboat that earned the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star for her service in the northern Pacific during World War II. The fifth Charleston (AKA-113/LKA-113) was an amphibious cargo ship that served during the Vietnam War.”

• Want to go? If you want to attend the commissioning ceremony for the ship, the sixth named for Charleston, you will have to register through the Navy League of Charleston and fill in all of the required information.  In late January or early February, the Navy will send an letter to those who registered online with further instructions.  Then the Navy will send invitation tickets to successful registrants. More info.

In other Good News:

Johns Island traffic. Charleston County will hold a meeting 7 p.m. Thursday at Berkeley Electric Coop on Maybank Highway to discuss its plans for traffic improvements throughout Johns Island, including intersections of Main Road with U.S. Highway 17 and Maybank Highway, as well as widening of Main Road.  According to Nix 526, “If you live anywhere on Johns Island, this will impact you.  Please plan to attend this meeting so we can protect our Island by asking for the best improvements to alleviate traffic that also provide the least amount of harm to impacted residences and our our irreplaceable trees.”

Parks open, but …  During the shutdown of the federal government due to the lapse of appropriations, the Fort Sumter National Monument, including Fort Moultrie, Fort Moultrie Visitor Center, Liberty Square Visitor Education Center, and the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site will remain as accessible as possible while following all applicable laws and procedures, according to a press release. Park trails and outdoor signs will remain accessible to visitors, but emergency and rescue services will be limited. There will be no National Park Service-provided visitor services at Fort Sumter National Monument and Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, including public information, restrooms, trash collection, and facilities and roads maintenance.

New record.  More than 4.1 million people have flown in and out of Charleston International Airport so far this year, according to a press release.

Recycle your Christmas tree.  Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department is asking citizens to go green this holiday season by recycling Christmas trees and by following other helpful tips to lessen the environmental impact. To recycle Christmas trees and greenery, remove all decorations such as lights, tinsel and ornaments.  Some municipalities will pick them up curbside, or they can be taken to a convenience center. The trees picked up curbside are transported to the Bees Ferry Compost Facility to be ground and composted.  Residents who drop off a tree at the Bees Ferry Compost Facility from Jan. 2 to Jan. 9 will receive a free bag of compost (one bag per customer).

Help wanted. Lutheran Hospice of the Lowcountry is looking for volunteers to help to deliver individualized end-of-life care by providing physical, emotional and spiritual support. The organization needs Direct Patient Volunteers to provide companionship, socialization and emotional support to patients and caregivers in their homes or nursing facilities throughout the three-county area.  To learn more, contact Volunteer Manager Jennifer Hartig at 843.856.4735 or jhartig@lutheranhospice.org.