Charleston Currents #13.13 | Feb. 8, 2021
CLICKBAIT. Pictures of adorable puppies like those that participated Saturday in Pup Bowl IV are always welcome. Thanks to contributing photographer Rob Byko for sending along this one and others in the story below.
FOCUS: Two dozen cute dogs adopted at Pup Bowl IV
COMMENTARY, Brack: Lawmakers need to ask right questions on Santee Cooper
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston RiverDogs
NEWS BRIEFS: State changes how it calculates COVID-19 positivity rate
FEEDBACK: Remembering Hank Aaron
MYSTERY PHOTO: Where’s this painting?
CALENDAR: Wine Down Wednesdays will be back in March
Two dozen cute dogs adopted at Pup Bowl IV
By Rob Byko, contributing photographer | Pup Bowl IV, billed locally as “the most adorable football game ever,” was held for three hours Saturday at Mount Pleasant’s Towne Centre.
Charleston Animal Society suited up 17 rookie free agents and a handful of older veterans – known affectionately as “retired players.” They strutted their stuff in front of nearly 250 people gathered at The Oaks to watch the action. The crowd was masked-up and tried to remain socially distant as all anxiously awaited kickoff.
The event, a pet adoption and family-fun benefit, also featured live music, balloon animals, food, snacks and fund-raising for the society.
With game-faces on, the four-legged gridders rambled onto the field tussling and taunting each other, hoping to catch the eye of the young scouts who encircled the gated turf. Each player’s goal, of course, was to latch on with a new home-team so he or she would be able to play out the remainder of their careers with an adoring family.
The competition was fierce but the players’ shameless displays of cuteness were quickly rewarded by the enthusiasm of volunteers, all wearing “Rufferee” jerseys, and cheers from the adoring crowd. Sidelines filled with exuberant faces of young dog fans, their outstretched arms dangled over onto the field each hoping for a quick snuggle or nose lick from their favorite player. The athletes gratefully and enthusiastically returned the attention.
A few of the bold rookies decided early on that they would “leave it all out on the field.” But after being flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, any offensive foul was quickly scooped up and the field sanitized by a judge. Play quickly continued.
When the big game was over, Charleston Animal Society posted the final score: Every one of the 21 dogs brought to Pup Bowl IV had been adopted! All players signed with their new families and headed to new homes after the game.
For its part, the organization acknowledged the invaluable support it received from volunteers, foster families, donors and sponsors who support their mission to save lives. Live recorded video of Pup Bowl IV can be seen at CharlestonAnimalSociety.org, courtesy of Fox Audio Visual, Mount Pleasant Towne Center, South Carolina Federal Credit Union, Crews Subaru and Latin Groove Charleston.
Local photographer and Realtor Rob Byko is a contributing photographer for Charleston Currents.. He lives on Sullivan’s Island.
Lawmakers need to ask right questions on Santee Cooper
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Embarrassed by creating a controversial law that allowed utility companies to charge customers for projects that were not complete, the General Assembly wants to make it all go away.
So they essentially got rid of the 2007 Base Load Review Act after two power companies, the private SCE&G and the public Santee Cooper, suffered the humiliating failure in 2017 of a $9 billion project to build a nuclear plant in Fairfield County. Since then, a Virginia company swept in to take over SCE&G and its parent, SCANA, and Santee Cooper became the legislature’s favorite whipping boy.
And now the General Assembly has thrown out a $14 million study on what to do next — sell Santee Cooper to a private company, let a private company manage it or reform the utility from within. Why? Apparently because leaders, blinded by the gods of privatization, didn’t like what the report said. So they’ve decided to change the rules and rush pell-mell down a shiny new, unexplored path to figure out what to do with Santee Cooper.
This is the height of arrogance. It illustrates how the conversation that’s been boiling isn’t really about electricity and South Carolina ratepayers. Instead, it’s about the legislature’s lust to beat its chest and show how it has power and knows better than anyone else.
Too many state lawmakers aren’t asking the right questions about future rates, control, debt and past performance of the players. Too many still enchanted by failed trickle-down economics seem deaf to anything other than privatization is best, regardless of consequences.
So here are just a few things to question:
Rates. While wonks at a pro-privatization think tank published a report denigrating Santee Cooper’s rates, they used the wrong figures (egg on face) — numbers from a cooperative, not Santee Cooper. A real comparison of rates for the average residential customer shows Santee Cooper’ rates are “clearly the lowest” compared to the for-profit utilities currently serving the state. Question: If an out-of-state company buys the non-profit Santee Cooper, do you really think it will lower rates to pay the $21 million salary of the private company’s top executive?
Control. South Carolinians, for better or worse, control Santee Cooper because it’s a public asset. But if it’s sold to a private company, South Carolinians will cede major control of what can be done. Question: What’s the advantage of losing control of a state asset that an overwhelming majority of ratepayers like?
Debt. Santee Cooper’s debt expanded by $4 billion after the nuclear deal failed. As of the end of 2020, its total debt was $6.8 billion, but a restructuring by new management has been paying off debt early. Santee Cooper’s opponents argue that S.C. ratepayers or citizens are liable for that debt. But the debt for the leading suitor to privatize Santee Cooper, NextEra Energy, was more than $47 billion in October. Questions: Do you really think NextEra’s debt will go down if it purchases Santee Cooper? Do you really think NextEra will shift the debt to shareholders and not ratepayers in South Carolina?
Past performance. NextEra recently tried to buy a Jacksonville, Fla., utility for $11 billion, a deal that has led to multiple investigations and media headlines like, “NextEra Energy’s failed attempt to purchase JEA highlights web of murky spending, lobbying.” Questions: With slick pieces of direct mail denigrating Santee Cooper now showing up in S.C. mailboxes paid for by unknown sources, is there any possibility that consultants, lobbyists, lawyers and well-paid marketing gurus are relentlessly attacking Santee Cooper in an orchestrated effort to influence lawmakers in South Carolina’s opaque political environment? Isn’t what’s happening an all-out underground campaign to poison the reputation of Santee Cooper so a company can buy the utility on the cheap?
One Santee Cooper retiree we know is disgusted about how the valued — and valuable — state utility is being raked over the coals after implementing internal reforms that are working.
“South Carolinians created this situation and South Carolinians can and are fixing this situation,” he said, adding that if you think it makes sense to transfer Santee Cooper to an outside behemoth, “you are sadly mistaken.”
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Charleston Currents, and publisher of the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Charleston RiverDogs
The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring Charleston Currents to you at no cost. This issue’s featured underwriter is the Charleston RiverDogs.
The Lowcountry’s leader in sports entertainment, Charleston RiverDogs baseball is an attractive, affordable medium for your group or business. The RiverDogs, now affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays, offer one of the finest ballparks in Minor League Baseball — Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
Three short words sum up the everyday approach taken by the Charleston RiverDogs front office. The brainchild of club President Emeritus Mike Veeck, the nine-letter phrase “Fun Is Good” is meant to be a guideline and daily reminder of how employees should approach their jobs and in turn capture the imagination of the fans to turn them into repeat customers.
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State changes how it calculates COVID-19 positivity rate
Staff reports | State health officials last week announced a change in the way they will calculate the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests.
Ten months into the pandemic, officials said the reformed calculation brings the state in line with others and is a better measure of spread. But slightly lower positivity rates that result should not be used as indicators that COVID-19 poses any less of a risk in the state.
As of Sunday, South Carolina health officials reported 2,228 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, with 35 additional confirmed deaths. Using the new calculation method, the state reported that 8.8 percent of 35,718 tests were positive for COVID-19. Prior to the new method, positivity rates were more than 20 percent.
- Confirmed cases in S.C.: 412,996 (+2,228 from the previous day).
- Total positive cases in Charleston County: 34,589 (+157).
- Total positive cases in Berkeley County: 13,380 (+68).
- Total positive cases in Dorchester County: 13,500 (+79).
- Deaths in S.C. from COVID-19: 6,849 (+35).
“It is important that people understand that while percent positive appears as a smaller number under the new way of calculating the rate, COVID-19 continues to spread at an elevated level in our state. That smaller number is solely based on the change in the way we calculate the rate,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell, in a statement on Tuesday. Learn more about the recalculation method.
In other recent news:
$300 million lawsuit alleges voyeurism at Bishop England. A $300 million lawsuit filed by former GOP state Sen. Larry Richter against Bishop England High School and the Catholic Diocese of Charleston seeks tuition refunds and damages for every child who might have been seen through a window peering into students’ locker rooms. More: Charleston City Paper.
More bus service on Folly Road. Starting today, the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) will double service frequency Monday through Saturday on Route 31 Folly Road, the line that connects James Island and downtown Charleston. The enhanced service will cut wait times in half on Route 31, which previously had the system’s lowest frequency with trips occurring every 90 minutes, according to a press release. Find the updated route schedule is here.
No fans. The Volvo Car Open will be held April 3-11 on Daniel Island as scheduled, but without fans present due to the ongoing pandemic. The tournament is forgoing its traditional on-site fan environment to create a made-for-TV tennis event instead, allowing the tournament to operate in 2021. More.
Huge port deal gets limits. State legislators have agreed to send a proposed deal to borrow $550 million for Port of Charleston infrastructure improvements to the full Senate for consideration, but only after adding a series of financial controls. More: The Post and Courier. Meanwhile, the port, along with The Keith Corporation, last week announced the groundbreaking of a 1.02 million-square-foot speculative industrial facility at the Charleston Trade Center off Nexton Parkway. More.
Cunningham starts podcast. Former S.C. Congressman Joe Cunningham teased political watchers and supporters in recent days with news of a “big announcement,” keeping many on the edge of their seats through a 56-second Twitter video. Last week he announced a new podcast, “Joint Resolution with Joe Cunningham.” Its first episode is available on Spotify, features former U.S. Rep. Denver Riggleman, a Virginia Republican, and U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat. Cunningham was defeated in November by now-U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.). More.
Another podcast. Charleston Stage also has started a podcast. “The Ghost Light Effect” features interviews with people who have taken their early experiences making theatre into a diverse array of careers and life paths. The first episode features Colin Somers and Evie McGee, who were both involved with Charleston Stage from its beginning as The Young Charleston Theatre Company in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Listen.
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com
Aaron was his hero, too
To the editor:
Hank Aaron was my hero, too.
Growing up in Atlanta in the 1950s, my hero was Mickey Mantle…but when the Braves and Hammerin’ Hank arrived in Atlanta in 1966, my loyalties quickly switched to Mr. Aaron.
I , like Robert Kittle, was not aware of the ugly resentment and harassment Aaron faced until years after he became baseball’s home run king. Had I known as a young man, I would have admired him all the more. Years later, I went to school in New York City where I had the opportunity to meet Mantle, but alas, I never had the honor of meeting my real hero, Hammerin’ Hank. He will be missed.
— Dr. Jake Podber, Charleston
Aaron was “The Natural”
To the editor:
In 1971 I graduated from college, but I had grown up about two miles from Forbes Field [in Pittsburgh], so my hero in the 1950s and ‘60s was Roberto Clemente (who did not like the prejudice he faced). I got to see Aaron, Mays, Matthews, Frank Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson, Warren Spann, Maury Wills++. They were all National Leaguers – and all in their prime. Clemente would throw out runners 9-3 from right field if they didn’t hustle to 1st. And most folks stopped at second, on a single to right/Clemente – or fear being gunned down at 3rd. And Roberto was a crazy bad-ball hitter.
The ‘50s and ‘60s were a great time to watch baseball. Thanks for the reminder article. I have to agree the “best gentleman” of all of the above was Hank Aaron! He looked effortless in how he played the field and how he batted. Hank was The Natural.
— Tom Leonard, Charleston
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Where’s this painting?
Here’s an interesting mural painted on the side of an area building, but where? Bonus: Name the artist. Send your best 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 Feb. 1 photo, “Interesting wall,” shows an interesting quote in orange letters on a living, green wall that’s at Edmund’s Oast restaurant near the corner of Brigade Street and Morrison Drive in Charleston. (Thanks for the pic, Kitty Barksdale.)
Hats off to the few who correctly identified it: Jay Altman of Columbia; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Claire Gibbons of Charleston (“And such a good time it is, too”); Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; and Marnie Huger of Richmond, Va.
Peel explained that the founder of Edmund’s Oast wanted to create a relaxed environment. “So to encourage his clients to slow down and enjoy life, he had Robert Farrar Capon’s famous quote ‘a good time occurs precisely when we lose track of what time it is’ affixed to the back courtyard wall. The message of ‘losing track of time’ seems so appropriate in these trying times were we all hunker down to try to stay safe and healthy in these pandemic times.”
- 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.
Wine Down Wednesdays will be back in March
Staff reports | Charleston County Parks is bringing back two Wine Down Wednesday events on March 17 and March 31 to give people a chance to enjoy a glass of wine and explore Old Towne Creek County Park, a West Ashley gem.
Guests will enjoy wine and live music from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. from a local Charleston performer, while experiencing the beauty of this natural site. A commemorative wine glass is included with your admission. Food truck fare will be available for purchase on-site. Cost: $15. Ages 21 and up. There is no onsite registration. You must purchase tickets in advance.
Also on the calendar:
Land trust auction. Online Feb. 11-21. Nature lovers, hunters and conservationists can bid on Lowcountry experiences and products as part of the For the Love of the Lowcountry Auction benefiting Lowcountry Land Trust. The online auction opens at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 and runs through 6 p.m. Feb. 21. Proceeds support Lowcountry Land Trust’s work preserving vital Lowcountry lands and waterways. Lowcountry Land Trust has protected more than 147,000 acres across 14 counties in South Carolina. To place bids or purchase items directly, visit this link.
Museum adds February hours. The Old Slave Mart Museum, which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the week, will also be open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each Sunday in February to honor and celebrate Black History Month, the City of Charleston said in a news release. The museum, owned and operated by the city at 6 Chalmers Street, recounts the story of Charleston’s role in the slave trade.
Where the Wild Things Run 5K. 8:30 a.m., March 6, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, Ravenel. Registration ends Feb. 24. You can take part in this race and enjoy a wild, but managed county park that is a favorite habitat for rare wildlife. There also is family-friendly yoga and readings from Marice Sendak’s book that gives the race its name. Learn about registration and rules.
Sunday Brunch Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Sunday, Charleston Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway, James Island. While the market is discouraging people from spending too much time hanging out during the market, everyone is invited to shop their local vendors.
Craft entries sought. Fine craft artists from around the state are invited to enter the 19th annual S.C. Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition, which will be presented April 28 to May 2 as part of the North Charleston Arts Fest. Entry fee is $15. The deadline for entries is March 15. Applications are offered online only. The show, cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, will offer objects made in media of clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and three-dimensional mixed media. More info: culturalarts@northcharleston.org.
Bird-watching at Caw Caw. Every Wednesday and Saturday — particularly through the end of February — you can see a plethora of birds at Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel as they make their way through the Lowcountry. The two-hour regular walks, which start at 8:30 a.m., are through distinct habitats that allow participants to to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms. Registration is not required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars. A paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under. Max. 10 participants. Fee: $9; free for Gold Pass holders. Open to all ages. More: Caw Caw Interpretive Center.
- 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.
- ORDER NOW: Copies of our new book, 350 Facts About Charleston, are in Lowcountry-area bookstores now, but if you can’t swing by, you can order a copy online 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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