Charleston Currents #12.40 | Aug. 24, 2020
ANGRY CLOUDS. Storms brewed and rain inundated the area last week as summer started to wind down. Here’s a view from the Sullivan’s Island beach of a string of impressive clouds that pounded U.S. Highway 17 with rain, but left the island alone. That’s how it’s been — dry in one area and a flood in another. If you’ve got a photo our readers should see, send it along to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com. Photo by Andy Brack.
TODAY’S FOCUS: West Ashley Greenway needs more tender loving care
COMMENTARY, Brack: Don’t get conned on postal service, election process
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Titan Termite & Pest Control
NEWS BRIEFS: Charleston collecting input to update its comprehensive plan
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Spaghetti roadways
CALENDAR: YALLFest to return virtually in November
NEW BOOK: Learn about the palmetto flag, college’s impact and a big loss
West Ashley Greenway needs a little tender loving care
This Greenway bin along Canterbury Road overflowed with trash, obviously neglected for awhile compared to other similar locations. Photos by Andy Brack.
Staff reports | If there’s one thing that the coronavirus pandemic has done, it’s made people get outside more often. The perfect testament is the West Ashley Greenway, which seems busier than ever.
But the upside of more use also means there’s more trash and wear on what essentially is a walking park that stretches for miles. This photo essay shows conditions along the greenway at various West Ashley intersections with city streets.
If you want to let the city know what you think about its parks, the city is undertaking an update to its comprehensive plan (see news briefs below), which includes seeking input about parks and recreation. You can have your say by clicking on this link: Take the One Charleston park survey. These photos follow the greenway from Folly Road to Arrington Drive:
Tidy: The greenway at Folly Road.
A modern sculpture in the background at Campbell Drive in Byrnes Downs.
At Nicholson Street.
Broken, dangerous fencing at Coburg Drive. Park volunteers are in the background.
At Farmfield Avenue, adjacent to the Charleston Tennis Center.
At Betsy Road.
Debris cleaned up from the greenway has been waiting to be collected for awhile at Braxton Avenue.
At Wappoo Road.
Somebody missed the bin at Stinson Drive.
Don’t get conned on postal service, election process
By Andy Brack, editor an publisher | Don’t let yourself be conned by the Con Man in Chief: Postal workers will deliver your mailed-in ballot just fine, thank you very much.
In fact, President Donald Trump, who unpatriotically has been denigrating the U.S. Postal Service, believes in mail-in voting so much that he’s going to vote (wait for it) by mail.
What Trump is trying to do is make you believe our postal workers, who deliver billions of holiday packages every year, can’t effectively deliver several millions of absentee ballots. They can. It will be a walk in the park for them.
Trump is desperately trying to sow the seeds of confusion to make you believe there could be a problem in final results. He assumes Democrats across the country are so eager to see his rear end booted from Washington that they’ll vote as early as they can. And he knows if he makes Republicans think there’s something wrong with mail-in voting, then they’ll tend to vote in person on election day.
Why is this even a thing? Because mail-in ballots take longer to process. On election night in a close race, in person results will tumble in first. Initially, it could appear in some states that Trump is ahead, particularly if lots of Democrats vote by mail and GOP voters cast ballots in person. But when absentee ballots are added to election day ballots, Democratic nominee Joe Biden could end up with more votes. That sets the stage for Trump to do what he really wants — to complain the election was “stolen” from him.
Hogwash. It’s all a Trump con job.
“Elections in the United States have been the envy of much of the world for a very long time,” said Lynn Teague of the League of Women Voters of South Carolina. “Anything involving many millions of people has occasional hiccups, but on the whole, our election processes are tried and true.”
In this pandemic year, people want to vote absentee because they don’t want to stand in long lines and potentially be exposed to the virus.
“Voters should understand what that means,” Teague said. “States that don’t permit processing absentee ballots before Election Day will report their results late, possibly quite a few days after Election Day. The results, and the winners, will change as the absentee ballots are counted.”
In other words, early outcomes that may seem conclusive early may shift as all ballots are counted.
“This is NOT evidence of incompetence or fraud and it does NOT mean that the election is in some way illegitimate. It is simply the process of vote counting playing out. We hope that the political parties will not mislead voters and that media will not play into misperceptions about this by attempting to ‘call’ elections before all absentee ballots are counted. This election matters too much to become embroiled in manufactured controversy.”
So here’s what state legislators need to do when they return next month: Make it easier for South Carolinians to vote absentee by allowing the pandemic as an authorized excuse for a mail-in ballot, just like they did in the primary. And, they need to allow county election officials to start counting the expected deluge of absentee ballots early so there aren’t delays in reporting.
Such a process worked in June, S.C. Election Commission Executive Director Marci Andino wrote in a letter to legislative leaders in July: “The primaries were successful overall as voters were able to vote in a timely and efficient manner, and election officials were able to count those votes and report totals on election night.”
She requested legislators to allow all voters to vote absentee and be able to apply for an absentee ballot online. She asked for removal of a witness requirement for absentee ballots and to allow use of ballot drop boxes and curbside voting. She also sought more time to count ballots and certify election results.
Legislators: Rise to the occasion and make the changes that worked in the primary so election officials can do their jobs in November. Voters: Trust the system and postal service, not the president’s blatant attempt to con you.
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Charleston Currents. Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Titan Termite & Pest Control
Titan Termite & Pest Control, headquartered in Charleston, is a full service residential, commercial and industrial pest control company serving South Carolina. It is a third-generation, family-owned company known for outstanding customer service. Each associate is dedicated to the customer and exhibits integrity and respect. Titan’s pest professionals can assist your commercial or residential location with general pest control, termite inspections, termite control, flea control, bed bug extermination, ant control and more. Titan Termite and Pest Control continues to set high standards so that its customers receive the best possible service. Titan’s technicians are knowledgeable of the latest in pest control techniques, which enables the company to customize effective treatment plans for every situation.
- Free estimate: 888-794-5603.
- Contact Titan online.
- To meet all of our underwriters, click here.
Charleston collecting input to update its comprehensive plan
Staff reports | Charleston residents can help update the city’s comprehensive plan, the guiding outline for decisions on development, housing, transportation, land use and more for the next 10 years.
This input ensures the “Charleston City Plan” reflects citizens’ vision for the Holy City’s future. Some of what officials are looking for are ways to strengthen residential neighborhoods, improve transportation, increase affordable housing and improve the general quality of life for the Charleston community.
- You learn more by clicking on this link: One Charleston information and survey.
Events that complement the plan, which kicked off virtually Thursday with a discussion of housing, will take place in three phases: Phase one deals with defining existing conditions, challenges and opportunities facing the community and establishing a shared vision as the city tackles them.
“Our goal with the City Plan is to weave together recommendations from a whole host of recent plans and studies with the expertise of our community and rigorous research and analysis to create one unified vision for the future of Charleston,” said Charleston Planning Director Jacob Lindsey in a press release.
In other recent news:
Remembering Bill. Let’s have a moment of silence for Bill Hall Sr., founder of Halls Chophouse, who died unexpectedly last week. A solid Rotarian and booster of the greater Charleston community, his generous spirit and infectious smile will be missed. Bill Hall Sr., 1946-2020. Rest in peace. Read more.
Big donation. Hats off to the folks at Charles River Laboratories, which has donated $30,000 to the Lowcountry Food Bank to help feed Lowcountry neighbors who struggle with hunger. “As COVID-19 continues to impact food needs within our community, the Lowcountry Food Bank has been busy keeping up with demand for food assistance,” said Greg Marshall, a vice president and chief operating officer of Charles River Microbial Solutions. “This donation will help the LCFB continue to alleviate food insecurity with nutritious food needed by their partner agencies and schools throughout coastal South Carolina that serve our community’s most vulnerable.”
More seeking Medicaid help. The number of adults covered by Medicaid in South Carolina rose 4.9 percent from March 1 to July 1 as the impact of the recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic roiled the state. Experts say the rise could be just the beginning of an enrollment spike in a program that accounts for billions of dollars in the state budget. “More people may be coming,” Palmetto Project Director of Programs Shelli Quenga told Statehouse Report, adding that she was surprised it hadn’t risen by more. “(4.9 percent) seems like a low number.” Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are increasing calls to expand eligibility for the program.
House Equitable Justice committee to meet Aug. 25-26. A newly-formed House committee formed in light of racial justice and policing calls around the nation will convene three times next week: 10 a.m. Aug. 25 on sentencing reform, 1:30 p.m. Aug. 25 on law enforcement training and accountability, and 10 a.m. Aug. 26 on criminal laws. All meetings take place in room 110 of the Blatt building on Statehouse grounds in Columbia.
S.C. Supreme Court to hear case over private school grant program. The S.C. Supreme Court agreed this week to hear arguments in the lawsuit over McMaster’s decision to spend $32 million in federal coronavirus aid on grants to help students afford private school tuition. Read more.
Statehouse Report’s Lindsay Street contributed to this section. Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com
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Unusual building
Good gracious. This is an odd-looking building. Where is it and why is it unusual? Send your best guess of what it is as well as something about it. Send 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. 17 photo, “Spaghetti roadways,” is more familiar than many readers probably realize. It’s a drone view of the road coming off the Arthur Ravenel Bridge in Mount Pleasant.
Among those who identified the photo by Davin Martin via Unsplash were: Jamie George of Johns Island; Chris Brooks, Kirk Zerangue and David Lupo, all of Mount Pleasant; Claire Gibbons and Delia Smith, both of Charleston’ Randy Herald of Lexington; Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; Marnie Huger of Richmon, Va.; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Wayne Beam of North Myrtle Beach; and Charles Davis of Aiken.
George outlined how the aerial view of the Ravenel Bridge in Mount Pleasant was a much more complicate network than when the Grace bridge was the only game in town: “Starting at the center bottom of the picture, to the left is the parking lot for Waterfront Park with an obscured playground under the elevated lanes. The left four elevated lanes go west into Charleston.
“From the bottom center of the picture to the right are apartment homes, and office buildings; and the four elevated lanes here go east into Mount Pleasant, two on to Highway 17 and two to Coleman Boulevard. The bicycle/pedestrian path is on the far right.
Further to the right is Patriots Point and the ball fields. The two center elevated lanes criss cross about two thirds of the way from the top.”
- 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.
YALLFest to return virtually in November
Staff reports | YALLFest, Blue Bicycle Books’ popular annual young adult book festival, is moving online with a new format, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. YALLFest fans can now look forward to YALLWrite, a “craft-themed extravaganza” to be held Nov. 13-14.
While the bookstore has not released details about YALLWrite, it promises the virtual fest will have most of the elements of YALLFest, including signed books, special events, giveaways and a stellar author lineup. You can subscribe to the YALLWrite newsletter to stay up-to-date with all the juicy deets at yallwrite.org.
Also on the calendar:
Studio Works at Redux: Through Aug. 28, Redux Contemporary Art Center, Charleston. The center is presenting a solo exhibition featuring the work of North Charleston artist Fletcher Williams III. It features recent works on paper pulled directly from Williams’s studio. Highlights include 50 black-and-white single pickets evocative of featureless portraits, small-scale exploratory studies, and a collection of color-saturated works painted in synthetic and natural greens, lush blues, and bold turmeric tones. More.
Safe Sounds concerts are back: Saturdays through Oct. 31, Firefly Distillery, North Charleston. The distillery’s socially-distanced concerts are back starting Sept. 5 with its fall Safe Sounds series. The first concert will feature On the Border, a tribute to the Eagles and Haley Mae Campbell.There also will be a special performance on Oct. 2 from the Grammy Award-winning Del McCoury Band. Tickets can be purchased in advance at citypapertickets.com.
Vintage market: Noon to 3 p.m., Sept. 13, via Instagram. Holy City Vintage Market will hold a virtual event to allow shoppers to view hundreds of items for purchase over three hours. How it works: Watch HCVM’s Instagram story as we repost items for sale from 20 local vintage, secondhand, and artisan vendors. Shoppers can DM individual shops to arrange purchase and no-contact shipping, drop-off, or pickup details. More.
“Connections” on display: Through Oct. 24, Redux Contemporary Art Center, Charleston. The exhibition of works by Gret Macintosh features looks at physical connections between places, such as waterways, roads, and bridges that the artist has experienced over the last 15 years of living in the Charleston area. The exhibition is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays; and by appointment. More.
From Etchings to Pastels: Through Nov. 29, Lowcountry Image Gallery, The Charleston Museum. The museum has partnered with the Pastel Society of South Carolina to present new interpretations of etchings stemming from the Charleston Renaissance Movement about 100 years ago. Learn more.
Online offerings:
- Gibbes Museum. You can enjoy lots of local art offerings through the website and social media accounts of the Gibbes Museum. At 10 a.m. on weekdays, the museum posts virtual readings and workshops on Facebook. Find more online.
- Avian Conservation Center. Access videos and live streaming presentations online to learn about what’s going on at the Center for Birds of Prey.
- Around the world. You can visit 500 museums across the world online through this Google amalgamation of sites.
If you have any online events, drop us a line (editor@charlestoncurrents.com) and make sure to put “Online event” in the subject line. Similarly, if you’ve got cool ideas for stuff to do while in isolation at home, send them our way.
NEW BOOK: 350 FACTS ABOUT CHARLESTON
Learn about the palmetto flag, college’s impact and a big loss
Staff reports | Here are three more factual snippets from the new book, 350 Facts About Charleston:
How the palmetto tree was added to the state flag
South Carolina’s Revolutionary Council of Safety asked Colonel William Moultrie to design a flag in 1775 for the state troops in preparation for the American Revolutionary War. The flag’s original design had the blue of the militia’s uniforms and a crescent, which some scholars say was really a military gorget. The palmetto was added in 1861 as a reference to Moultrie’s defense of Sullivan’s Island, the fortress on which had survived largely due to the ability of interwoven fibers of palmetto trees to absorb cannonfire and, thus, to withstand British attacks.
College of Charleston founders help start a nation
What does the College of Charleston and the United States have in common? Six men: three future signers of the Declaration of Independence and three future signers of the United States Constitution helped found Charleston College in 1770. The College of Charleston founders who also signed the Declaration of Independence include Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton and Thomas Heyward. The founders that also signed the Constitution include John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. Other founders of the college were or became federal and state lawmakers and judges, state governors, diplomats, and Charleston councilmen and mayors.
Third attempt was biggest colonial loss of Revolutionary War
The Redcoats mounted their strongest attempt to take the Holy City in 1780 when Sir Henry Clinton’s 10,000-man army, supported by the Royal Navy, laid siege to the city from April 1 to May 12. It was the longest siege of the Revolutionary War. It ended when Charleston and 6,000 colonial soldiers surrendered. The loss is considered the worst defeat of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and gave the British a foothold to try to retake the Southern states, a quest that ultimately failed.
350 Facts About Charleston, a new book of historical facts commemorating the 350th anniversary of the city of Charleston, will be available in print in mid-September. Published by the staff of sister publication, Charleston City Paper, you can pre-order a copy today.
As more people stay home to deal with the coronavirus crisis, people are looking for things to do. You can find some fun things to do online in our calendar section below, but let us also encourage you to FORWARD your issue of Charleston Currents to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. It’s got a great price, as you know: Free! We hope they’ll enjoy our coverage.
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Charleston Currents is provided to you weekly by:
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- Contributing photographer: Rob Byko
- Charleston Currents also uses content from the outstanding staff at the Charleston City Paper, a sister publication.
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