Charleston Currents #13.27 | May 17, 2021
GET OUT AND SMELL SPRING. Magnolias and all sorts of flowers are blooming. May brings comfortable temperature as we brace for what’s to come — the sweltering humidity that starts with gusto next month. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
FOCUS: Tips on tax day if you can’t afford to pay now
COMMENTARY, Brack: Meet South Carolina’s red snowflakes
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SCIWAY
NEWS BRIEFS: Legislative work left on the table for summer, fall and 2022
FEEDBACK: Send us a letter
MYSTERY PHOTO: Moon shot
CALENDAR: Jazz meets classical in four coming shows
Tips on tax day if you can’t afford to pay now
Staff reports | State and federal individual income taxes are due today, a month after the regular deadline thanks to the pandemic. But what do you do if you can’t afford to pay right now? The S.C. Department of Revenue (SCDOR) says there are options:
First, the IRS advises, don’t panic. Both the IRS and the SCDOR offer payment plans that may be available to you.
Second, here’s what the agencies say not to do:
- Do not delay filing your return on time. Filing your return on time will reduce the amount of penalty and interest you will owe, which is added based on the amount of tax not paid by the due date (which is May 17 this year).
- Do not believe paying installments to the SCDOR and the IRS is your only choice. Weigh your options.
- Do not wait to begin paying your bill with an installment plan. Pay as much as you can by the due date so the interest charged on the balance going forward is lower.
Third, you may qualify for a payment plan with the SCDOR. If you want to request a payment plan agreement from the SCDOR, you must not have an active levy or garnishment with the agency, and you must first receive a notice. There are several parts of an agreement that you must make with the agency. For payment plan details and specific qualification information, visit the SCDOR’s website at dor.sc.gov/payplan. For information about payment plans with the IRS, visit IRS.gov.
To prevent future tax bills, the agency says to determine what caused the bill, if unexpected. Consider adjusting your withholding or making or increasing quarterly estimated payments.
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Meet South Carolina’s red snowflakes
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | They don’t want to be told what to do, yet they hold public office to pass laws to let their people do just about whatever they want to do.
We want to carry guns out in the open, they say. Get the slowpokes out of the left lane on the interstate. We ain’t going to wear masks because we don’t believe in them, regardless of what your science says. We know better than you and we’ve got the power so you can go to hell.
These are South Carolina’s Red Snowflakes, a politicized cadre of people loyal to former President Donald Trump. They often claim to be religious, but seem to forget most of the New Testament — the part about “loving your neighbor as yourself.” Instead, they’re seemingly tickled to be able to get to the “eye for an eye” part of the Old Testament by now allowing firing squads as a way to execute those on death row.
The leader of the whiny Red Snowflakes seems to be Gov. Henry McMaster, who like his idol Trump, has poo-pooed mask mandates throughout the pandemic and downplayed medical science. Why? To keep almighty business humming throughout the worst global pandemic in a century.
Yet almost 10,000 South Carolinians died so far. You’ve got to wonder how many wouldn’t have succumbed to coronavirus if South Carolinians, led by leaders with safety in their hearts, would have been more cautious.
Last week — before the Centers for Disease Control relaxed mask recommendations for vaccinated people — McMaster issued an executive order to end mask mandates statewide, a move that sent school boards and local governments into a tizzy to figure out how to react.
The governor’s order, State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said, rippled chaos throughout South Carolina as officials didn’t have time to prepare. But what’s worse is because most kids in schools aren’t vaccinated, they’re now more at risk during the last month before school ends.
So what you see is McMaster, immensely sensitive to the mask-haters, trying to score political points in the ongoing culture wars in an unbridled attempt to appease his GOP base. Oh, did we mention a governor’s race is coming up — and McMaster is expected to be challenged from the right?
“McMaster is running in 2022 and wants to run on a humming economy since the pandemic started,” one observer told us. “He wants to offer himself as a smart executive weathering the pandemic and maintaining the economy that is flat out untrue. But the truth is irrelevant in politics. A humming economy campaign needs to have just the ‘crazies’ wearing masks. McMaster’s intent is to get rid of face masks using craven confusion.”
South Carolina is taking a pandemic victory lap too soon. Sure, businesses need business. But they need to remain careful so that the virus doesn’t spread.
Only 31 percent of South Carolinians are fully vaccinated, as of May 13. Only 38.3 percent have had one of two shots. That leaves six in 10 South Carolinians unvaccinated, including virtually all children under age 16.
“When the history of the pandemic in America is written,” one critic wrote us, “there will be a big chapter on the politicians like McMaster, who dithered and denied while people sickened and died from the virus—the vast majority who would have been spared if ‘leaders’ like Henry McMaster weren’t so … stubborn. Sure hope the voters remember this at the ballot box.”
Unfortunately, many won’t because they’re still falling for the Big Lie that the election was stolen from Trump and all of the little lies about the pandemic.
Keep safe. You can continue to mask up in crowded places — stores, schools and churches. And keep the masks handy because you’ll still be required to wear them on planes, trains and buses.
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Charleston Currents, and publisher of the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
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Legislative work left on the table for summer, fall and 2022
Staff reports | State lawmakers finished their regular legislative session Thursday but still have a lot of work this year.
In June, they’re expected to finish with reform to the state’s utility, Santee Cooper, and put final touches on the state’s $11 billion spending plan for 2021-22. Then in the fall, they’ll return to Columbia to hammer out constitutionally-mandated redistricting and details of two supplemental appropriations bills on how to spend $2.1 billion in federal money from the American Rescue Act and $525 million from a Savannah River Site settlement. Several high-profile measures, such as a hate crimes bill and a proposal to approve use of medical marijuana to ease suffering, will have to wait until next year. For more of a roundup-of the last week of the session, see this story at Statehouse Report.
In other recent news:
More than 400 winners. Our sister newspaper, the Charleston City Paper, last week published its whopping annual Best of Charleston issue honoring more than 400 individuals and businesses for the best that they bring the area.
- To see the Best of Charleston winners, go to: CharlestonCityPaper.com.
Part of Folly Beach pier is open. The part of Folly Beach Pier closest to a parking lot has reopened, including the gift shop, observation deck, restrooms, showers and beach access. The rest of the pier will remain closed through Spring 2023, while it undergoes a complete reconstruction project. Fishing off the pier is not available. But guests can now also access the pier’s restrooms, showers and changing stations, as well as other amenities daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Port handles record cargo. South Carolina Ports had a record April for cargo handled at the Port of Charleston, following an all-time cargo record achieved in March. SC Ports reported its strongest April ever for containers, moving 225,137 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) across Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal. The amount represents a 27.8 percent increase from a year ago.
Caslen resigns as USC’s president. University of South Carolina President Bob Caslen has resigned his post and the board of trustees has accepted less than a week after Caslen appeared to misidentify the school as University of Southern California and plagiarized portions of his commencement speech to graduates. Harris Pastides, who served in the role before Caslen, will serve on an interim basis during a search for a replacement. More: AP News | The Daily Gamecock.
Vaccinated can stop wearing masks, CDC says. Americans who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus may stop covering their faces or maintaining social distance in most settings, the Centers for Disease Control said Thursday. The announcement is seen as a turning point in the pandemic, but there are still places where masks are required, such as airplanes and school buses. More: The New York Times.
State to get $2.5B in pandemic relief aid. State and local governments in South Carolina are getting nearly $2.5 billion in new federal coronavirus aid. More: AP News.
Send us a letter
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Moon shot
A reader sent in this shot of a sculpture of a moon. Where and what is it? (Hint: It’s not in the Lowcountry, but 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, “Some maritime thing,” showed salvage operations of the Golden Ray, a container ship with hundreds of cars that capsized near St. Simons Island, Ga., in 2019.
Congratulations to these sleuths for figuring out the mystery: George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; and Jay Altman of Columbia.
Peel shared this about the ship: “The Golden Ray was a 660-ft long cargo ship that capsized on Sept. 8, 2019 in St. Simons Sound. The ship was carrying 4,200 vehicles and started to list just 23-minutes after departing the dock at Port of Brunswick’s harbor, while en-route towards the Port of Baltimore. Although four of the 23 crewmen were initially reported as missing, a rescue mission eventually found them and, thankfully, none of the 23 crewmen, three engineers or marine pilot were injured during the accident. Valued at nearly $80-million, with an additional $80 million worth of cars onboard, the ship and its cargo were declared a total loss in October 2019 and salvage operations began in December 2019.”
- 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.
Jazz meets classical in four coming shows
Staff reports | Although jazz and classical music are different in many ways, the border between the two genres is fluid. According to the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, America’s classical music is jazz and it breathes spontaneity while being contained within the technical mastery of a composition.
In three shows this month called “Symphonic Swing: Jazz Meets the Classics,” the Charleston Jazz Orchestra will bring the world of improvisation and swing to notable classical compositions, bridging the gap, bending the genres, and introducing the styles of Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Billie Holiday to Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.
“I personally love this type of show, because it gives us an opportunity to showcase the full range of talents of the Charleston jazz community,” said CJO Music Director Robert Lewis, in a press release. “Not only do we get to do a wonderful performance, but all of the charts are written by members of the CJO or other fine arrangers in town.
“The creativity on display with this show is top-notch, whether we are talking about a samba version of a Vivaldi aria, Hall of the Mountain King in the style of Take Five, or a complicated funk version of Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance. I guarantee you will recognize a lot of this music, but certainly never like this!”
Shows are scheduled for:
- May 21, 6 p.m., Firefly Distillery, North Charleston.
- May 22, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., Charleston Music Hall, Charleston.
- June 5, a virtual performance that’s on demand.
Tickets are on sale now at charlestonjazz.com or call the Charleston Jazz box office at 843-641-0011.
Also on the calendar:
Waterparks open on weekends. Each of Charleston County’s three parks — in North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and James Island — is now open 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.
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 20: Jimmie Allen
- May 22: The Reckoning
Hampton Park picnic: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 22, Hampton Park, Charleston. The Charleston Nature Conservancy will hold a Picnic in the Park. You can purchase a picnic basket (with wine) and enjoy it on the lawn near the Rose Pavilion. More.
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
The Lawn Party exhibition: 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.”
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.
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.
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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