Charleston Currents – 2021

Archive for April, 2021

PHOTO ESSAY: A walk through a maritime forest

Staff reports | With a flash point of the May 4 election on Sullivan’s Island being the future of a maritime forest, here’s a look at nature’s diversity that can be found, day in, day out. (More: 4/19: Maritime forest looms large over Sullivan’s Island election.)

“People think of the maritime forest as being just the tall trees, but maritime forests are successional, starting with sea oats and flowers and then shrub thickets, filled with myrtles, which lay down soil and protect tree saplings,” said Karen Byko, a resident fighting to protect the forest. “The last part of the forest to evolve are stands of tall trees. Throughout, the Sullivan’s Island Maritime Forest is filled with wetlands.”

Enjoy these photos by Byko and her husband, Realtor Rob Byko, who serves as our contributing photographer.

by Charleston Currents · 04/26/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news, Photo Essay, Photos

BRACK: On the dumbing down of American political discourse

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Maybe it’s smartphones. Or television and the 10-second soundbite. Maybe it’s all of that instant access to information.

But any way you look at it, the people who get microphones stuck in front of their faces these days just don’t seem as smart or pithy as they did a few decades — or centuries — ago.

by Andy Brack · 04/26/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Andy Brack, Views

NEWS BRIEFS: Chamber recognizes community champions of 2020

Staff reports | Navigating the economic challenges of 2020 were tough, but some individuals and businesses learned ways to make it through and make big local differences in the area.

by Charleston Currents · 04/26/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Uncategorized

CALENDAR: Johns Island concert series to open May 1

Staff reports | Bring your chairs or blanket and your love of music with the opening of the new Johns Island Concert Series on May 1 at Johns Island County Park. The May 1 concert will feature the shag and beach music of Vinyl Daze , followed by the reggae sounds of Mystic Vibrations on June 5 and the Motown sounds of The Legacy on June 10. For each show, gates open at 6 p.m. with music beginning at 7 p.m. Shows end by 9:30 p.m.

by Charleston Currents · 04/26/2021 · Comments are Disabled · calendar

MYSTERY PHOTO: Looking up

What and where is this building? 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

Last week’s mystery, “Not the Citadel,” shows what’s known as the Beaufort Arsenal, which is the current location of the Beaufort History Museum.

by Charleston Currents · 04/26/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Mystery Photo, Photos

NEW for 4/26: Photos of maritime forest; Dumbed-down discourse; More

INSIDE CHARLESTON CURRENTS | April 26, 2021
FOCUS: A walk through a maritime forest
COMMENTARY, Brack: On the dumbing down of American political discourse
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston RiverDogs
NEWS BRIEFS: Chamber recognizes community champions of 2020
FEEDBACK: Open carry of guns isn’t in S.C.’s best interest
MYSTERY PHOTO: Looking up
CALENDAR: Johns Island concert series to open May 1

by Charleston Currents · 04/26/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue, Uncategorized

FOCUS: Maritime forest looms large in Sullivan’s Island election

Staff reports | A decade-long lawsuit over trimming a maritime forest on Sullivan’s Island is the flash point of a May 4 election for mayor and three town council seats.

For years, homeowners cited concerns of vermin and wildfire risk when they requested the forest be trimmed prior to the lawsuit, which was settled by the town in October with a plan to cut many smaller trees. Other residents objected to the plan entirely, wanting the forest to stay wild.

At a Tuesday forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, two mayoral candidates and five council candidates had something to say regarding the matter.

“People are exhausted with the continuous fight,” said town council member Chauncey Clark, who is challenging incumbent Mayor Pat O’Neil. “Many people on the island are tired of our inability to come to some reasonable compromise on this issue. It’s torn the island in two.”

by Charleston Currents · 04/19/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

BRACK: Now is the time to thank a South Carolina teacher

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | The letter from my daughter’s longtime piano teacher gave a start.

“After being in the classroom for 31 years and working with children and youth for another nine-plus years, I have decided to retire at the end of this year,” wrote Debra Benson, who teaches at Charleston County School of the Arts (SOA). “As one of my colleagues said, ‘I have never worked as hard as I do at SOA’ but every minute has been rewarding because of the students we serve.”

For six years, Mrs. Benson has been a steady influence, a reassuring fixture in our family’s life. It’s hard to imagine her not being at SOA during my daughter’s senior year.

by Andy Brack · 04/19/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Andy Brack, Views

NEWS BRIEFS: City seeks feedback on Ashley River bike/pedestrian bridge

Staff reports | Charleston residents can submit online comments through May 3 to a proposal that calls for construction of a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over the Ashley River to connect the peninsula and West Ashley. The Ashley River Crossing project seeks to provide a safe connection and increased access to the peninsula for bicyclists and walkers who live in West Ashley, where nearly half of the city’s residents live.

by Charleston Currents · 04/19/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

MYSTERY PHOTO: Not the Citadel

This building isn’t at the Citadel. It’s not even in Charleston County, but it is in South Carolina. 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

Last week’s mystery, “In the distance,” shows the huge, new cranes at the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston. The facility, the first container terminal to open since 2009, started unloading cargo March 30.

by Charleston Currents · 04/19/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Mystery Photo, Photos