Charleston Currents #13.25 | May 3, 2021
WIDE LOAD. Here’s a picture that shows something often seen around Charleston — a packed wagon of large tourists. We’re happy they’re here. Perhaps they’d be happier — and healthier — by walking. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. Photo by Andy Brack.
FOCUS: Baseball season opens Tuesday to sold-out venue
COMMENTARY, Brack: Gubernatorial race kicks into gear early
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston Gaillard Center
NEWS BRIEFS: Conservationists applaud regulators’ decision on rooftop solar
FEEDBACK: Brack on target; Keep those masks on
MYSTERY PHOTO: “Thou shalt”
CALENDAR: County waterparks to open May 15 in three locations
Baseball season opens Tuesday to sold-out venue
Sunset at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Stadium in Charleston, 2015.
Staff reports | After a year in Charleston without minor-league baseball, the Charleston RiverDogs open their season 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at The Joe with a game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
“We’ll pull out all the stops for the first game of the season,” according to the ‘Dogs’ website. “A pre-game flyover, first pitch and national anthem from Mayor John Tecklenburg and a post-game light show are all part of our return.”
The game, presented by REV Federal Credit Union, is sold out, but there are tickets still available for other games throughout the week:
May 5, 12:05 p.m. It’s Perros Santos de Charleston Day in this Cinco de Mayo game versus the Pelicans.
May 6, 7:05 p.m. Thirsty Thursday returns in this match with the Pelicans.
May 7, 7:05 p.m. Fireworks Friday is back with a grand fireworks display after the game, which will feature Boeing Red Shirt Friday and PGA Night.
May 8, 6:05 p.m. There will be a Rays Welcome Party to celebrate the RiverDogs’ new affiliation with the Tampa Bay Rays. The game also will feature the Tyler Glasnow Bobblehead Giveaway to the first 1,500 fans.
May 9, 5:05 p.m. The RiverDogs will pay tribute to Charleston’s nickname of “The Holy City” by wearing special uniforms with an HC logo on them.
- Buy tickets early.
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Gubernatorial race kicks into gear early
Former Congressman Joe Cunningham kicked off his gubernatorial campaign last week in Charleston. Photo via the Charleston City Paper.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | And just as predictable as sunrise, the race to be the next governor of South Carolina is on.
Former Congressman Joe Cunningham of Charleston, a one-term Democrat who lost a bid for reelection in November, came out of the gate quickly this week to try to nab the seat occupied by GOP Gov. Henry McMaster.
“The challenges we face in this state aren’t because of our people, they’re because of career politicians like Henry McMaster who have been in politics longer than I’ve been alive,” Cunningham told Statehouse Report. “And after 20 years of one-party rule and one way of thinking, it’s time for something different — something new.”
Cunningham, 38, was born in 1982 at which time McMaster was serving as the state’s U.S. Attorney after being appointed by Ronald Reagan, the nation’s 40th president. McMaster went on to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate and lieutenant governor before being elected attorney general twice statewide. He later lost a 2010 bid for governor, followed by a 2014 win for lieutenant governor. McMaster became governor in 2017 after Gov. Nikki Haley became United Nations ambassador in the Trump administration. McMaster then won a full term as governor in 2018 with an eight-point victory over Democratic nominee James Smith of Columbia.
So now comes Cunningham, who announced his bid for a general election 18 months away. First, though, he has to win the Democratic nomination. But by coming out so early — and with strong initial fundraising — Cunningham may just scare away other Democratic candidates in what is seen as a tough race for a Democrat to win anyway. The last Democratic governor was elected in 1998 and currently there are no Democrats in statewide elected roles.
Cunningham, left, and McMaster
But Cunningham’s early numbers are impressive, as the candidate related: “We’re building a campaign unlike anything this state has ever seen. We raised almost half a million dollars from grassroots supporters in the first 48 hours of this campaign because people are yearning for new leadership and that’s exactly what I represent.”
Still, it won’t be easy, particularly if you look at the solid red band of Republican counties across the top half of the Palmetto State. Not only did Donald Trump carry those counties convincingly — often with more than 70 percent of the vote in 2020 — but McMaster, who will tell you in a skinny minute that he was the first statewide official to endorse Trump in 2016, has spent years cultivating Upstate voters as his base through a blend of wily conservative politics and appealing to Christian voters.
But McMaster may have some work to do to keep his supporters in line. Scuttlebutt is that Greenville businessman John Warren is eyeing another run for governor by campaigning to the right of McMaster. And it could work. In 2018, McMaster won a five-way primary by nabbing 42 percent of the vote, but was forced into a runoff with Warren, who picked up an impressive 46 percent of the vote in the runoff. Coming that close might tempt him to give it another try as many Republicans would note McMaster, a familiar face with a thick grandfatherly drawl, is no Donald Trump.
One pathway for Cunningham to succeed is to draw Warren as a challenger. He could make the case that he was a safer candidate than someone untested like Warren. But such a race would likely have all of the predictable catcalls and worn themes of right-wing conservatism versus left-wing liberalism.
If Cunningham has McMaster as an opponent, the race would be more nuanced, a battle versus old-school and the upstart, of age and experience versus fresh ideas. But wasn’t that the kind of campaign that Smith tried in 2018?
So we’ll see what time and money bring for 2022. As Cunningham notes, “We’ve defied the odds before and we’re going to do it again.”
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 Gaillard Center
Charleston Gaillard Center provides the Lowcountry with a world-class performance hall, elegant venue space and vibrant educational opportunities that inspire dynamic community throughout the area through the power of the performing arts. The Center’s vision is to enrich the diverse community of Charleston with artistic and cultural experiences that are accessible and unique, and to serve as an educational resource for generations to come.
Did you know that the Charleston Gaillard Center is a 501c3 non-profit that works with over 25,000 students each year from the tri-county area? Promoting education is one of the core values of the Charleston Gaillard Center and an integral part of our mission. By broadening the reach of arts-education in the Lowcountry the Gaillard Center encourages learning through the arts and serves as a powerful tool for student achievement and personal development while providing people of all ages with the opportunity to cultivate and grow their talents and appreciation for the arts. To learn more about our education initiative, click here: www.gaillardcenter.org/outreach.
For more information, click the links below:
- Buy tickets and see our great events
- Become a member today
- Plan your event at the Charleston Gaillard Center
- Learn about our education and community programs
- Contact the Gaillard Center.
- To meet all of our underwriters, click here.
Conservationists applaud PSC decision on rooftop solar
Staff reports | The state Public Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday unanimously rejected a rate plan by Dominion Energy that conservationists said would have made it too costly for homeowners to add rooftop solar panels.
Instead, regulators adopted an alternative pricing plan that’s being hailed as a win for energy independence and a victory for the rooftop solar industry. (You can find the Wednesday meeting here.)
“Today’s ruling will allow this important industry to continue to grow and provide ratepayers the freedom to reduce energy bills and emissions,” said John Tynan, executive director of the Conservation voters of South Carolina. “This ruling also demonstrates that the PSC is faithfully implementing the Energy Freedom Act, is standing up for the best interests of all customers, and is not afraid to push back on egregious proposals by the utility monopolies. In short, today is a bright day for solar in South Carolina.”
Tynan said ratepayers wanted a fair rooftop solar plan.
“This ruling shows a broader trend for energy decisions in South Carolina — that there’s a new PSC in town. We finally have a Public Service Commission that will listen to experts, thoughtfully consider public input, and encourage robust engagement from stakeholders as the Commission helps to chart the path forward for South Carolina’s energy future — even when it means pushing back against the utility monopolies.”
In other recent news:
Ranked second in the country. Academic Magnet High School has once again been put on the national honor roll by U.S. News & World Report, ranked as the No. 2 high school in the U.S. in its 2021 rankings. Charleston County’s school for high-achieving students, situated in North Charleston, is no stranger to the U.S. News list, having made the top two positions each of the last three years. In 2019, the school was named the top high school in America. Also atop the list in South Carolina were Charleston School of the Arts, which shares a campus with Academic Magnet, and Wando High in Mount Pleasant. The three schools were the only Charleston County high schools in the top 1,000 in the nation.
State Senate approves 2021-22 budget. South Carolina senators on Thursday approved the state’s budget for next fiscal year but spent more time talking about social issues important to conservative members. Previous coverage: Debate to start on $11.4 billion budget.
Pence tests waters in Columbia. Former vice President Mike Pence put down a marker for a potential run in the 2024 election before an audience in Columbia Thursday during his first speech since leaving office. He touted accomplishments of the Trump administration.
S.C. Senate ready to debate open carry of guns. South Carolina senators took several steps Thursday to bring to a vote a bill that would allow licensed people to openly carry pistols and not hide them under a jacket.
Scott’s national rebuttal: U.S. isn’t racist country. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott took the national stage Wednesday to make the Republican response to Democratic President Joe Biden’s speech to a joint session of Congress. The Senate’s only Black Republican, Scott said, “America is not a racist country” and said the economy under previous Republican President Donald Trump boomed, especially for Black and brown people. Read the full transcript here.
NextEra withdraws Santee Cooper bid. NextEra Energy has withdrawn its offer to purchase Santee Cooper, a move that effectively ends the years-long debate over whether to sell South Carolina’s embattled electric and water utility, according to findings from The Post and Courier. This means the public utility will likely remain in state hands for the time being.
S.C. launches statewide effort against human trafficking. The South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force on Wednesday announced the launch of the South Carolina Highway Heroes Campaign to help fight human trafficking in the Palmetto State. The campaign offers a free Truckers Against Trafficking online training to the state’s more than 100,000 commercially licensed drivers in the state.
Brack on target
To the editor:
On the dumbing down of American political discourse: You always give me hope. Thank you.
— Mike Kirk, Santee
Keep your masks on
To the editor:
Most adults can separate fact from fantasy. The facts for public health are driven by data. The S.C. COVID-19 infection rate is below one saying the daily number of cases are expected to decline. But not cease.
Imperial Gov. Henry McMaster says government-mandated mask-wearing and other COvID-19 restrictions must end across South Carolina. Do “whatever’s necessary” to put a stop to masking. In this fantasy, no and low case counts have the same meaning.
If McMaster means that retailers or employers on their own cannot adopt or enforce masking to keep people safe, then every person entering an indoor place is at risk. Many of us understand the CDC guidance is for indoor risks. Inside any room is the best place to get infected. That’s the reason why the CDC says a mask is not needed outside. Unless it is crowded.
Choose to keep your masks on, no matter what the McMaster epidemiological fantasy is this time. Guess Biden is not a legitimate president either.
— Fred Palm, Edisto Island
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.
“Thou shalt”
Where might one find this door sign? 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, “Looking up,” is one that should make people in Charleston kick themselves. Sure, it’s an odd viewpoint … but it’s something people have been watching for months — part of the new Sergeant Jasper — now called The Jasper — on the lower end of Broad Street near the Coast Guard station. The building is being readied for occupancy … but perhaps not yet for Mystery Detectives!
The ONLY person who correctly guessed is the Sleuth of Sleuths, George Graf of Palmyra, Va. (Egg on face to Charlestonians — he doesn’t even live here!) Congratulations, George. Keep up the good work.
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.
County waterparks to open May 15 in three locations
Staff reports | You can tell that the heat is coming when you hear that the county waterparks are planning big openings. Each of Charleston County’s three parks — in North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and James Island — will open May 15 for weekends only.
Splash Zone at James Island County Park will be open daily starting June 5 through mid-August, when it will return to weekends only until Labor Day.
Splash Island at Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park and Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark in the North Charleston Wannamaker County Park will be open weekends only until June 18, when they will open daily until mid-August. Both will then open on weekends through Labor Day.
Also on the calendar:
Artist exhibition in Park Circle: Through May 28, Park Circle Gallery, North Charleston. More than a dozen new mixed media works will be on display by Johns Island-based artist Christine Bush Roman, winner of the 2020/21 North Charleston Arts Fest Poster Design Competition. Her winning design, Oak Circus, will be featured in the exhibition, which is presented as a component of the annual North Charleston Arts Fest.
Safe Sounds: Firefly Distillery, North Charleston. Head over to citypapertickets.com to secure a spot. Tickets are available now. Doors open 6 p.m. for shows that begin an hour later. (Editor’s note: City Paper Tickets, which is run by sister publication Charleston City Paper, is operating ticketing for Safe Sounds.) Check out some of the shows that are on the way:
- May 8: Runaway Gin: A Tribute to Phish
- May 9: The High Divers
- May 20: Jimmie Allen
- May 22: The Reckonin
The Lawn Party exhibition: Opens May 8 and through Sept. 19, Charleston Museum, Meeting Street, Charleston. The Charleston Museum is pleased to present The Lawn Party: From Satin to Seersucker, the latest offering in its Historic Textiles Gallery. In an “unprecedented” era when large gatherings have been discouraged and fashion has trended towards leisurewear, this exhibition is a celebration of getting dressed up for an outdoor party. Bringing a hint of glamour to a trying time, the garments on display were selected with the grand idea of “after” in mind. This is a perfect opportunity to come see what to wear for your next outdoor event as we head toward the new “normal.”
Johns Island concerts: June 5 and July 10, Johns Island County Park. The reggae sounds of Mystic vibrations on June 5 and the Motown sounds of The Legacy on July 10. For each show, gates open at 6 p.m. with music beginning at 7 p.m. Shows end by 9:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $60 per 10×10 square, not per person. Squares are limited to four people max. Guests must arrive together, as each vehicle must have a ticket for entry. Squares will be available on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival. Each show will also offer food vendors; no outside food, alcohol or coolers will be permitted. Alcohol will be available for purchase. Patrons are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, tables, etc. to be used at their space. Masks are required, except when eating.
Ongoing
Holy City Farmers Market: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Wednesday, Holy City Brewing, North Charleston. vendors rotate weekly to provide shoppers with a tiny but mighty shopping experience. vendors will be selling a range of products from specialty foods, home and body care to arts and crafts. More info.
Birds of Prey flight demonstrations: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays, Center for Birds of Prey, 4719 Highway 17. Awendaw. The center has reopened its doors to visitors after closing due to the COvID-19 pandemic, inviting people to once again come and explore the world of raptors through an outdoor program and flight demonstration. Tickets: . $20/adult; $15/children age 3-17.
Quiet Edge: Through May 22, Redux Contemporary Art Center, 1056 King St., Charleston. This new show brings together the works of two artists who address rectangular forms that ebb and flow between depiction and abstraction: Suzanne Dittenber of Ashevlle, N.C., with the form of the book and Benny Fountain of Waco, Texas, with the window and room. Hours are Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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.
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 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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