Charleston Currents #11.38 | Aug. 12, 2019
SKINNY CHURCHES. About an hour east of Montreal starts the Eastern Townships, a large region of Quebec that hugs the northern borders of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. We found a remarkable number of “skinny churches,” much like this one in Sutton Junction. The Church of St. Aiden, above, reportedly is the model for the church in Louise Penny’s Three Pines mysteries. To lovers of her books, the windows in the church do not have stained-glass depictions of soldiers. More skinny churches below in this week’s Photo Essay.
FOCUS: Trident Tech offers free tuition for 70+ programs
COMMENTARY, Brack: #PayItForward with #RandomActsOfKindness
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston International Airport
PHOTO ESSAY: The skinny churches of the Eastern Townships
GOOD NEWS: From a new hospital and top-ranked college to 2020 politics, more
FEEDBACK: Send us your letters
MYSTERY PHOTO: Pair of crosses
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Pawleys Island
CALENDAR: From movies to a wine stroll
FOCUS: Trident Tech offers free tuition for 70+ programs
Staff reports | Trident Technical College this fall is offering students a chance to take classes for free if they enroll in specific in-demand career training programs in manufacturing, information technology, culinary and hospitality, emergency medical technology and technical trades.
“This is a great opportunity for people who want to get the skills required to land a good job, and also for people who are already working to upgrade their skills to get a better job,” said Trident Tech President Mary Thornley.
The college is able to offer students free tuition through a combination of federal, state and college financial aid funds, according to a press release. The total aid package for a tri-county student taking 15 credit hours is more than $2,800.
To take advantage of this free semester of college, students must apply to the college and pay the $30 application fee. The college admission application can be completed online at www.tridenttech.edu. Students also must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which can be found at fafsa.gov.
Once accepted to the college, students can register for fall classes either online or in person with their assigned advisor. Students who qualify will be awarded financial aid to cover the full cost of tuition, registration fees and course fees. Students are responsible for the cost of books and digital course materials.
Full Fall and Fall 1 classes begin Aug. 26. Fall 2 classes begin Oct. 23. To see a list of programs eligible for free tuition and for additional information visit bit.ly/FreeTuitionFall19. To speak with a Trident Tech representative, call 843-574-6111.
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com
BRACK: #PayItForward with #RandomActsOfKindness
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | With all of America’s turmoil, you might feel discouraged. Worn down. Like there’s nothing you can do that will really make a difference because the system is so big that whatever you do just won’t matter.
Not true. You can make a difference. But you might want to think a little closer to home. More than three dozen Facebook friends this week offered advice on ways to cure feelings that that you can’t be agents of change.
Say “please,” “thank you” and “hello” to strangers, one high school buddy shared. “Open and hold doors, help senior citizens with shopping and rides, volunteer for children’s programs and sports. Smile and have a positive attitude. Set a good example and let others see it.”
Retired advertising executive Peter Wertimer of Charleston added, “Volunteer to work pro bono for a worthy cause of some kind. Think about someone or something other than yourself or your own complicated life for awhile.”
A Columbia friend added, “This seems so simple, but I try to always compliment strangers as much as possible.”
Another guy chimed in, “Say ‘good morning’ to your spouse, coworkers and strangers. Hold the door for people. Ask people how things are going and see if you can help them in any way. Be a friend.”
In other words, engage with people you don’t know or who don’t look like you. Acknowledge their existence and show we’re all in this together. Brighten someone’s day.
Or simply inspire them, as one former state representative shared: “I told a little Latino girl this morning I hoped she would become President of the United States one day,”
West Ashley carpenter Michael Kaynard saw an employee in a big box store give a hug to a co-worker — and then to him. “Everyone had a big smile on their face. This act probably made a big impact on how we all felt the whole day.”
This is not huge, systemic change, but it makes people in communities feel more connected.
Other friends offer suggestions for intentional acts of kindness, as evidenced by one Atlanta runner: “I bring a reusable bag and EVERY DAY pick up 30 to 40 bottles and cans off the street and get them back into secondary use.”
“Ride local transit,” Mount Pleasant lawyer William Hamilton suggests. “You’ll meet people and find new ways to connect in your community. It’s cheap and fun.”
Tom Johnson, executive director of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, said a lot of good never gets reported. His attraction, for example, is responsible for about $500,000 of related “giving” to the community each year through free tickets to people who donate blood or collect food, and free memberships to those who adopt pets. “I bet a lot of other companies are contributing more to the common good than we are aware of. Bad stuff makes the news.”
Others intentionally “pay it forward” by paying anonymously for something for someone.
“I pay for person’s fast food in line behind me in the drive through,” one college friend explained. “Give a $20 to the cashier at the grocery store to help offset the bill of the person behind me l and walk away quickly so I get no credit. Pay for young couple’s dinner at nicer restaurants when it looks like a stretch for them.”
Several people suggested becoming a guardian ad litem — a legal advocate for children in trouble. There’s some legal training involved, but it’s hugely rewarding, former reporter Bill Steiger of Tampa, Fla., shared: “The best part about being a guardian ad litem … is the chance to make a one-on-one positive difference in a child’s life. Yes, I could give money to a charity or maybe serve meals to the homeless — all great gestures — but to sit down every month with a child and form a bond and help them solve problems, or just be a friend at a very traumatic time in their lives, is truly special.“
Columbia public relations executive Ashley Hunter has been a guardian for 15 years. “It is hard; it is emotional many times. But some days, you also see a happy ending for these children and these families.”
Pay it forward. Commit random acts of kindness. Or just be kind, intentionally.
Andy Brack’s new book, “We Can Do Better, South Carolina,” is now available for $14.99 in paperback via Amazon.
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com
SPOTLIGHT: Charleston International Airport
Club CHS, the new premium shared-use lounge in the main airport concourse. The 3,060-square-foot lounge was opened July 31 and will seat up to 50 people as a quiet place to relax, work, eat or freshen up. An expansion is planned. Photo provided.
Today we shine a spotlight on Charleston International Airport, which provides a first impression of the Charleston metropolitan area to over 4 million passengers a year who visit for business and leisure activities. One of three public airports operated by the Charleston County Aviation Authority, Charleston International Airport is committed to providing an unparalleled passenger experience while continuing efforts to support economic development for the Lowcountry and State of South Carolina.
Eight airlines currently serve Charleston International Airport, which have jobs that create more than $200 million in income for workers in the region. Visiting passengers also spend about $450 million a year directly in area businesses, which sustains an estimated 6,000 jobs locally. The total economic impact of the Charleston International Airport is over $1 billion dollars to the Lowcountry and State of South Carolina.
- To learn more about Charleston International Airport, please visit iflyCHS.com.
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The skinny churches of the Eastern Townships
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | The distinguishing feature of many churches in Quebec’s Eastern Townships seems to be that they’re skinny with tall steeples that accentuate their comparatively diminutive width.
Inside, these simple churches have 15 to 20 pews and can hold, we guess, up to 100 people when packed. Here are a few that we spied on a recent visit. Enjoy:
St. Patrick’s Anglican Church, Bolton Center, Quebec.
Calvary Church, now an art center, Sutton, Quebec.
St. Austin’s, Austin, Quebec
St. Edward’s, Knowlton, Quebec.
From a new hospital and top-ranked college to 2020 politics, more
New hospital dedicated. Hats off to MUSC for dedication of the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women’s Pavilion, which will be open in October to parents and families. A dedication with remarks from Jenkins, Gov. Henry McMaster and others took place Aug. 9. The new hospital will have 250 beds and lots of other new features for patients. To learn more, visit this link.
Rated a top school. For the 16th year in a row, The Princeton Review has recognized the College of Charleston as a top school in the United States for undergraduate education. The education services company features the College in the new 2020 edition of its annual college guide, The Best 385 Colleges. According to The Princeton Review, “The College of Charleston provides its 10,000 undergraduates a mid-sized liberal arts experience within the boundaries of one of the south’s most thriving cities. Good academic advising, a strong focus on writing skills and interdisciplinary studies, and a reputable business program are just some of the school’s many perks, and many classes incorporate non-traditional types of learning such as lots of field work and field trips around the city.”
Strong start to port’s year. The S.C. Ports Authority had its business July in port history at container terminals and inland ports, according to a press release. It handled 210,542 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) at the Wando Welch and North Charleston container terminals in July, up 5 percent from the year prior. As measured by the total number of boxes handled, the port moved 119,700 pier containers in July, up about 5 percent from a year ago.
2020 political overview. Statehouse Report, our sister publication, on Friday published a special political feature in conjunction with the new Almanac of American Politics. Click here to read a 2020 political overview of the state by reporter Louis Jacobson.
Do something. People across the state want something done about gun violence, but state lawmakers are being slow to act. Statehouse Report correspondent Lindsay Street talked with seven residents with an array of opinions and looked at legislation in the hopper to weaken and strengthen gun laws. Read more.
Send us your thoughts
We’d love to get your impact in one or more ways:
Send us a letter: We love hearing from readers. Comments are limited to 250 words or less. Please include your name and contact information. Send your letters to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com. | Read our feedback policy.
Tell us what you love about the Lowcountry. Send a short comment – 100 words to 150 words – that describes something you really enjoy about the Lowcountry. It can be big or small. It can be a place, a thing or something you see. It might the bakery where you get a morning croissant or a business or government entity doing a good job. We’ll highlight your entry in a coming issue of Charleston Currents. We look forward to hearing from you.
Pair of crosses
Since we appear to be on a church theme today, here’s something new to the area skyline, but what is it? For a bonus, why is it new? (This may be kind of tough for people who live outside of the Lowcountry.) Send your guess to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. And don’t forget to include your name and the town in which you live.
Our previous Mystery Photo
Our Aug. 5 mystery, “Rusty gate,” showed the gate to the Avian Conservation Center at The Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw along U.S. Highway 17.
Hats off to the 21 readers (a record?) of Charleston Currents who nailed the photo identification: Chris Brooks, Judson Matthews and Carolyn Coker, all of Mount Pleasant; Kit Matthew, Jim McMahan, Carol Ann Smalley, Legare Clement, Joe Mendelsohn, Cydney Davis and Stephen Yetman, all of Charleston; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Bryce Donovan, Rebecca Manning Davis, Jeffrey Bassett and Scott Shoff, all of West Ashley; Grayson Kirk and Corinne Fullmer, both of North Charleston; Jay Altman of Columbia; and Rose Riordan of Pawleys Island; and Pat Deussing, a former Charleston resident who now lives in Apex, N.C. One reader didn’t identify her hometown.
Remember: To get credit for identifying the Mystery Photo, you have to send the town in which you live. More info on the Center, thanks to George Graf:
According to thecenterforbirdsofprey.org, “The Avian Conservation Center is designated in the USCG Area Contingency Plan as the official repository for oiled birds in South Carolina and maintains situational readiness in this crucial role. Constructed with a grant from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the Center’s combined use Avian Medical Center / S.C. Oiled Bird Treatment Facility was completed in October 2007 and is the only permanent avian treatment center of its kind on the Eastern seaboard.
“The facility is designed and equipped to provide the highest quality medical care available for injured birds of prey and shorebirds on a daily basis and affords the most efficient response possible in the event of a contaminant spill affecting native bird populations and their fragile breeding habitats along the South Carolina coast.”
- Send us a mystery: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
HISTORY: Pawleys Island
Pawleys Island Chapel
S.C. Encyclopedia | Situated on the Waccamaw Neck in Georgetown County, Pawleys Island is one of the oldest summer resorts on the east coast. In the eighteenth century rice planters, their families, and slaves stayed in cottages of cypress and pine near the saltwater to escape malaria. By 1822 cottages appeared on the island, and by 1858 eleven stood on this four-mile-long, one-quarter-mile-wide stretch of sand.
The decline of rice caused a rise in timber harvesting, and Atlantic Coast Lumber Company bought land on the neck. In 1901 the company ran a railroad from the river to the beach, bought or built houses, and created an employee retreat. Others opened homes to paying guests. Beginning in 1905, northerners bought river plantations as winter retreats.
In the early twentieth century U.S. Highway 17, connecting New York to Miami, passed through the community. The Hammock Shop opened on the highway by 1939, as did restaurants and stores. Marlow’s Store sold items ranging from caviar to flip-flops. Area residents once earned a living farming, fishing, logging, or commuting to the paper mill or to motels. In 1954 Hurricane Hazel destroyed many houses on the island, yet spurred an interest in the resort. In the 1980s plantations were developed as golf communities and many visitors made the island their permanent home. In 1985 the town of Pawleys Island incorporated. Hurricane Hugo in 1989 brought major challenges to homeowners and businesses on the Waccamaw Neck.
Pawleys retains an “arrogantly shabby” uniqueness. Creek docks, porches, and lookouts define its skyline. A mixed culture of natives and newcomers and of affluence and poverty, Pawleys has strong traditions. The spirit of the “Gray Man,” a local legend, is said to appear to warn islanders of impending storms in this barefoot paradise.
— Excerpted from an entry by Lee G. Brockington. This entry may not have been updated since 2006. To read more about this or 2,000 other entries about South Carolina, check out The South Carolina Encyclopedia, published in 2006 by USC Press. (Information used by permission.)
CALENDAR: From movies to a wine stroll
Starlight Cinema: 8:30 p.m., every Wednesday until Aug. 21, Freshfields Village, 149 Village Green Lane, Kiawah Island. Check out a free outdoor movie in the weeks ahead: Aug. 14: Coco; and Aug. 21: Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.
Spring Street Stroll: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Aug. 22, Spring Street. Charleston. You can share wine and canapes with several businesses that are co-hosting an evening stroll to showcase what they do. Co-hosts include Josephine Wine Bar, Taxidermy, Artisan Tees, Continuum Skate Shop, Dalilas, Warehouse, Tiger Lily, and Dishtination Guides. More on Facebook.
Events at the Gaillard. Check out these awesome coming events at the Charleston Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St., Charleston:
Homeless to Hope Fund Benefit: 6:30 p.m., Aug. 25. Join Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie for an uplifting musical celebration in support of the Homeless to Hope Fund. Entertainment line-up includes the Blue Dogs, soulful vocalist Zandrina Dunning and BlackNoyze Band, percussive Americana Rock band Rene Russell and the Bottom End and singers from the College of Charleston Choir, Charleston Symphony Chorus and Taylor Festival Choir under the direction of Dr. Rob Taylor. Tickets are $33 to $253.
Lowcountry Jazz Fest: Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, The All White Party Affair, set for Aug. 30 from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.,will feature Grammy-nominated soul slinger Anthony David. Tickets are $85. The next evening at 7:30 p.m. is Day One of the festival, which will include several artists: The Sax Pack. Richard Elliott, Peter White, Keiko Matsui, DW3 and the West Coast Jam Horns. Tickets are $68 to $153. At 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1, Day Two starts including Dave Koz and Friends Summer Horns with Gerald Albright, Rick Braun, Kenny Lattimore and Aubrey Logan; Marion Meadows; Kirk Whalum; and Jonathan Butler. Tickets are $68 to $153.
Wine Down Wednesday: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 11, Old Towne Creek County Park, Old Towne Road, West Ashley. Charleston County Parks will kick off this fall series of four events to allow you to enjoy wine, food and live music in a new park. Admission is $15 in advance of $20 at the gate. Other dates are Sept. 25, Oct. 9 and Oct. 23. More info.
Galivants Ferry Stump: 5 p.m., Sept. 16, Pee Dee Farms General Store, 125 West Highway 501, Galivants Ferry, S.C. Democratic presidential candidates will be vying for attention in a special edition of the nation’s oldest stump meeting in Horry County. Learn more here.
Early morning bird walks at Caw Caw: 8:30 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, Ravenel. You can learn about habitats and birds, butterflies and other organisms in this two-hour session. Registration is not required, but participants are to be 15 and up. $10 per person or free to Gold Pass holders. More: http://www.CharlestonCountyParks.com.
AREA MARKETS
TUESDAYS. The Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the market pavillion at Moultrie Middle School, 645 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant. Free parking. Lots of activities. More info.
WEDNESDAYS. The West Ashley Farmers Market is every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Ackerman Park off Sycamore Avenue in West Ashley. The last week of the market will be the first week of October. More.
FRIDAYS/SATURDAYS: Night Market. Every Friday and Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for the rest of the year, you can shop with 108 vendors, including artists and craftsmen, at the night market on Market Street between East Bay and Church streets. It’s more than four blocks of local shopping and fun. Free.
SATURDAYS: Johns Island Farmers Market operates each Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. year-round with more than 50 local farmers and vendors, food trucks, music and more. The market is located on the campus of Charleston Collegiate School, 2024 Academy Road, Johns Island
SATURDAYS: The Charleston Farmers Market is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Marion Square each Saturday through Nov. 30. More info.
- If you have an event to list on our calendar, please send it to feedback@charlestoncurrents.com for consideration. The calendar is updated weekly on Mondays.
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Charleston Currents offers insightful community comment and good news on events each week. It cuts through the information clutter to offer the best of what’s happening locally.
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Charleston Currents is provided to you weekly by:
- Editor and publisher: Andy Brack, 843.670.3996
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- Contributing editor, money: Kyra Morris
- Contributing editor, Palmetto Poem: Marjory Wentworth
- Contributing editor, real estate: Digit Matheny
- Contributing editor, AT: Jerry Adams
- Contributing photographer: Rob Byko
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