GOOD NEWS: It’s really time to lift a glass or two

But maybe with something a little stronger than coffee!

Staff reports  | The folks at Lowcountry Local First have a good idea in having a virtual local social — a happy hour online.  It’s set for 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.  

“Connecting with one another is perhaps more important now than ever,” the group said in a recent email invitation.  “Join your local business community virtually for our April Local Social sponsored by Limehouse Produce. 

“Stay home, grab a beverage or snack and connect virtually with a small group of your fellow local business owners and leaders.”

But hurry.  The online space is limited.  Complete this brief registration form and you’ll be placed into a small digital group in Zoom based on your interest area, facilitated by a member of the LLF team. Free. Register in advance.

In recent news:

Food Bank recertified.  The Lowcountry Food Bank today announced it passed stringent food safety inspections in March by the American Institute of Baking International at  its three regional distribution centers in Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Yemassee. AIB certification is considered the gold standard in food safety, according to a press release.  “Our successful AIB inspection demonstrates our commitment to food safety, high quality food handling practices and sanitary working conditions,” said Pat Walker, president and CEO of the food bank.  

Art at Gibbes on Google.  You can now visit the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston online through Google Street View.  How neat. Notes the Gibbes in a recent email: “This wonderful tool enables you to virtually ‘visit’ the Gibbes’ exterior and interior spaces without leaving your home! Add this to your virtual art adventures for the upcoming week, along with a sampling of online videos and tours offered by the Gibbes.”

Memoirs done write.  Now is the right time to write the stories of your life, says James Island writer Archie Burkel.  “We all have them. Use this ‘found time’ to look in your rear-view mirror. See how you got to where you are and find a road map to where you might be headed.  While others may enjoy reading them some-day, YOU will benefit the most to-day.” Go to www.hatladies.org and get started.  What are you waiting for?  The next hurricane? Another virus?

359 file for 170 legislative seats.  Filing for the state’s 170 legislative seats closed a week ago to find 248 candidates filed for the 124 House seats and 111 filed for the 46 Senate seats. Statehouse Report correspondent Lindsay Street reported 10 members of the S.C. House of Representatives and four members of the S.C. Senate did not file for reelection for their current seats.  But nearly 43 percent of House seats — 53 of 124 House seats — have no challengers this year. Thirty-seven are Republicans, 16 are Democrats. In the Senate, 10 incumbents have no challengers.  Click here to see who’s running and who’s not.

House, Senate to convene Wednesday.  The S.C. House of Representatives and S.C. Senate will meet April 8 after the coronavirus pandemic interrupted the session.  Members will vote on a continuing resolution that will allow state government to operate as-is into the 2020-2021 budget that begins July 1. In other words, they’ll use this year’s budget for next year.  And in case they want to change something, they will also vote on a sine die resolution, which will allow them to take up items after the scheduled end of session in May. Read more.

Surprise, surprise.  Former Gov. and unapologetic libertarian Mark Sanford, quiet these days after a snuffed bid for the GOP nomination for the presidency, still has thoughts — a lot of them — on the federal government’s ever-growing debt, especially with the recently approved $2.2 trillion aid and stimulus package. Those $1,200 checks for taxpayers are “nonsensical and dangerous in economic terms,” in Sanford’s estimation, as he told Lindsay Street for the Charleston City Paper:  “These are non-offset funds, which means we are going straight to the Chinese and other lenders around the world or to ourselves and borrowing the money.  You’re putting in the one pocket and taking out the other … We’re digging some mighty, mighty holes.”

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