Charleston Currents #13.36 | July 19, 2021
FADING RAINBOW. Dusk crept up on this West Ashley rainbow as Sunday drew to a close, but you can still see hints of yellow and rose in the refraction. With humid, hot weather and rainy afternoons over the next month or two, you’re sure to spy another rainbow in short order. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo by Andy Brack
FOCUS: Second contest underway to find Rescue Brew stars
COMMENTARY, Brack: Republicans should work to expand, not restrict, voting
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Morris Financial Concepts, Inc.
NEWS BRIEFS: Cunningham says S.C. should legalize marijuana
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Livers and gizzards
CALENDAR: PURE Theatre to open 19th season in September
Second contest underway to find Rescue Brew stars
Photos provided.
Staff reports | You can now enter Charleston Animal Society’s second annual contest to get an image of your rescue dog and cat printed on labels of 2021 Rescue Brew Beer cans of beer from Palmetto Brewing Company.
Nominations for the spokespet star search are open through Aug. 15. The cost? A donation of $10, which will support programs at the animal welfare organization. After the entries are in, voting will be from Aug. 16 through Sept. 17. The grand prize spokesdog and spokescat will be announced Oct. 16.
Last year’s winners.
“We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate the unconditional love that pets bring to our lives and partner with Palmetto Brewing Company, Southern Eagle Distributing, WCSC Live 5 News, Charleston City Paper and Cupcake DownSouth to find the second spokesdog and spokescat for the 2021 Rescue Brew Beer,” said Joe Elmore, president and CEO of Charleston Animal Society.
“Last year, voting was furious in the final hours as dog and cat lovers put their money to work to cast ballots for their favorite nominee,” said Andy Brack, publisher of the Charleston City Paper. “It was exciting to experience and a thrill to be a part of the event’s fundraising success to help area animals.”
Last year, the first spokescat and spokesdog contest generated more than 70,000 votes. At $1 per vote, the contest was a winner for the society, officials said.
“All of us at the brewery are huge dog and cat fans and it is important for our company to support the lifesaving work of the Charleston Animal Society,” said Palmetto Brewing’s Collin Clark. “We could not think of a better way to celebrate pets and the people who love them than by creating a special release beer featuring rescued pets on the labels!”
The public will choose the three finalist dogs and three finalist cats through voting. Then three local celebrity judges will choose one winning dog and one winning cat to appear on the labels of the 2021 Rescue Brew Beer. The six finalist dogs and cats will each receive a $100 gift certificate for pet supplies at the pet supply store at the Charleston Animal Society and a “Mega Pupcake” from Cupcake DownSouth.
After the winner is named, 2021 Rescue Brew Beer will be available at the Palmetto Brewing taproom and at select retailers.
- To enter the contest, visit www.CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/RescueBrew. Pet owners will be asked to submit a photo of their rescued dogs and cats and tell why their pet deserves to win.
Republicans should work to expand, not restrict, voting
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Red states like South Carolina face increasing pressure to fiddle with election laws. They should resist.
But expecting Republican leaders to dial back the rhetoric is hopeful at best, looney at worst. Why? Because of this: “These voter suppression efforts are based on a big lie that the election was stolen,” observed state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg. “Sadly, I have not heard one Republican elected official at the state or local level here, disavow the lie and admit that Joe Biden won the election fair and square.”
On Tuesday, Biden framed the election debate in a Philadelphia speech at the National Constitution Center as an unrelenting, modern Jim Crow attack on freedom:
“Hear me clearly: There’s an unfolding assault taking place in America today, an attempt to suppress and subvert the right to vote in fair and free elections, an assault on democracy, an assault on liberty, an assault on who we are as Americans,” Biden said.
This came during the same week that Texas House Democrats fled their state to avoid restrictive voting measures being passed. Without them there for a quorum to conduct legislative business, no votes can happen. They say they’ll stay out of the state until the session expires early next month.
In Philadelphia, Biden renewed a push for Congress to deal with attacks on the election process by passing federal legislation to protect voting.
According to the Brennan Center for Justice, legislators across the country filed 389 bills this year to restrict voting, such as measures to make it more difficult to register, cast ballots by mail and vote in-person. Most tend to be in red states. But there also have been some 880 bills filed, mostly in blue states, on everything from increasing early voting opportunities, making it easier to vote by mail and protecting access at polling places.
The Brennan Center includes 17 South Carolina bills in its tally but the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of South Carolina says there are actually 44 bills in the hopper dealing with elections and voting.
So far, no major restrictive legislation has passed in South Carolina. But there are forces at work to tamper with election laws here, just like in Texas.
First, state lawmakers are all but certain to finish with H. 3444, a bill that will change the S.C. Election Commission by allowing the legislature to have a say on who sits on the board. Currently, the state’s governor makes appointments with members from both parties, but the bill would split appointments between the governor and legislature, which critics say would lead to a more partisan commission. Both chambers have passed versions of the bill, which likely will find compromise soon.
Second, be on the lookout for the myth of dead people voting. No real case has turned up in South Carolina for years, but that isn’t keeping conservative activists from spewing nationally-generated talking points about a grand scheme to vote dead people.
About 10 years ago came allegations that more than 950 dead voters cast ballots in South Carolina. The result: a state law enforcement investigation found claims completely baseless. And it’s not hard to figure out why — such a conspiracy is virtually impossible to pull off — thanks to the very voter identification requirements that the GOP insisted upon.
“The only two cases of dead voter fraud reported nationally in 2020 were immediate relatives of the deceased who had access to protected personal information,” said the LWVSC’s Lynn Teague in June 30 written testimony to a S.C. House committee. “One was a gentleman who voted in the name of his wife after he murdered her.”
Don’t fall victim to the fear that’s being spread about our election system. Those trying to convince you that it’s broken are scurrying to hold onto power as America’s demographics change. Unfortunately, they’re also working to harm our democracy, not make it better.
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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Cunningham says S.C. should legalize marijuana
Marijuana grown in Colorado. Via Pixabay.
Staff reports | Former U.S. Rep. and current Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham of Charleston last week pushed for recreational and medicinal legalization of marijuana at the state level.
“It’s time for elected officials to admit that what we are doing has not been working although there are career politicians who would rather live in the past,” the 39-year-old Cunningham said in a veiled reference to GOP Gov. Henry McMaster, 74.
Cunningham went on to say marijuana legalization is no longer a matter of looking to the future, but of catching up to the present. Marijuana is fully legal in 18 states, including Virginia. And 37 states, including Alabama and Mississippi, have legalized or voted in favor of medicinal marijuana.
Cunningham leaned heavily on the benefits of medical marijuana use for those with chronic illness, specifically veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, in his advocacy for cannabis. But he also said tax revenue from marijuana sales could bolster the state’s ability to fund infrastructure and education.
“We owe this to our men and women who have served our country; we owe it to those who suffer through chronic illnesses who just want relief from their pain,” he said. “We owe it to communities of color who have been unfairly impacted by these archaic laws.”
His plan calls for the complete expungement of criminal records for those who were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana in South Carolina. However, marijuana legislation often raises red flags for law enforcement, who have been fighting the war on drugs for decades now.
“But let’s be clear,” said former U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Bill Nettles, “Their title is law enforcement, not the whole promulgation. What we ought to be doing is asking law enforcement to get in their lane. It is a misnomer that law enforcement is lockstep behind making cannabis illegal.”
Cunningham said he has the numbers behind him.
“The people are no longer divided on this issue,” he said. “It’s the politicians that haven’t come around.”
Skyler Baldwin of the Charleston City Paper, a sister publication, first reported on this story here.
In other recent news:
VIRUS UPDATE: S.C. to offer vaccines at state park entrances. South Carolina public health authorities will soon be offering coronavirus vaccines at the entrances to state parks. Both the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the various two-shot options will be available. State officials also say there’s also an alarming rise of virus cases in the state. Over the last week, the state tallied 2,133 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 over the last week, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Some 94 percent of new COVID-19 cases in S.C. were unvaccinated, DHEC said, according to the Pickens County Courier, and there’s been a nearly 40 percent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to WCSC.
Port reaches milestone. The S.C. State Ports Authority is celebrating its strongest fiscal year on record for containers handled at the Port of Charleston. According to a press release, the ports handled 2.55 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in fiscal year 2021, which ended June 30. That was a 9.6 percent increase from the previous fiscal year.
S.C. leading nation in fewer ex-felons returning to prison. Less than 22 percent of prisoners released from July 2016 to June 2017 have wound up back in prison, making the Palmetto State a national leader in putting ex-felons on the road to success. More: The Post and Courier
Santee Cooper kicks off search for new CEO. The state-owned utility is starting to search for its next leader. More: The Post and Courier
S.C.’s Clyburn says Biden reworking filibuster rules. U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina is a longtime ally of President Joe Biden, a former U.S. senator. He told reporters Wednesday that Biden is likely working behind the scenes to push for Senate rule changes so the filibuster cannot be used on election law legislation or other changes. More: AP News | The Orangeburg Times & Democrat.
Send us a letter
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Livers and gizzards
You can pretty much guarantee that this building wouldn’t be found outside of the South. This one is in South Carolina, but where? Send your best guess to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. And don’t forget to include your name and the town in which you live. And if you’ve got a clever mystery photo for our readers, send it to the same address (Try to stump us!)
Our previous Mystery Photo
Last week’s mystery, “Rear view,” was provided by longtime reader Don Clark of Hartsville. It shows the 1890s-era St. James-Santee Episcopal Church in McClellanville.
Among those who identified the church were Jay Altman of Columbia; Bill Segars of Hartsville; Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Jim McMahon of Charleston; Chris Brooks and Jeri Oates, both of Mount Pleasant; Lasonya Blake of McClellanville; Marnie Huger of Richmond, Va.; Annie Smiley of Adams Run; and Sandra McWethy.
Segars said the chapel of ease was a “40’X60′ Carpenter Gothic style building built by Paul B. Lucas in 1890 for a cost of $560. Alexander Hume Lucas designed the building, which is covered with hand drawn black cypress shingles.”
Peel shared, “According to an article in the SC Picture Project here … ‘it was the sixth church built within the St. James-Santee Parish and became the primary church after the Civil War, when rice plantations along the Santee, which depended upon slave labor, were abandoned and former planters moved to more central locations such as McClellanville.’”
- 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.
PURE Theatre to open 19th season in September
David Mandel will perform in the first show of PURE Theatre’s new season. Photo via PURE Theatre.
Staff reports | PURE Theatre is emerging from a year of virtual shows with live performances with the theme of, well, emergence.
“When I think of what it means to emerge,” said Sharon Graci, PURE Theatre’s co-founding artistic director, “I see images of something or someone, coming out of the darkness into the light. I see rubble and debris being muscled away so that the process of becoming can flourish. To emerge means to rise up, to come forth, to be more of what you are meant to be. It’s inspiration and aspiration, it’s hope and promise, and it’s commitment and bravery all rolled into one simple verb.”
The 2021-22 season opens Sept. 29 with “The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey” , a solo show featuring PURE’s David Mandel. The performance at the Dock Street Theatre will run through Oct. 8. Also on the lineup this season are four other works, all of which will be performed at the Cannon Street Arts Center:
- Nov. 26 to Dec. 18: “Little Gem,” a play by Elaine Murphy about three generations of North Dublin women.
- Jan. 21 to Feb. 12: “Ben Butler,” a comic story by Richard Strand.
- March 11 to April 2: “Mlima’s Tale,” a play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage.
- April 22 to May 15: World premiere of “Honoria Quietly Drawing Strength from Her Truth,” a play by Clifton Campbell.
- To learn more or buy tickets, visit puretheatre.org or contact PURE Theatre’s box office at 843-723-4444, Monday through Friday.
Also on the calendar:
Party at The Point: 6 p.m., Fridays in July, Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, Mount Pleasant. The long-beloved Happy Hour concert series is back with live music and plenty of food and drinks. Each event is limited to 600 general admission ticket holders. Tickets are available at citypapertickets.com. All shows are $10; children 12 and under are free. Gates open at 5 p.m. The lineup:
“Tidal Futures” exhibition: July 30 to Sept. 11, Redux Contemporary Art Center, 1056 King St., Charleston. Tidal Futures: Friends of Gadsden Creek is an exhibition that aims to highlight the organization’s outreach program to challenge viewers’ preconceived notions of what contemporary art is. It also seeks to guide them to discover and investigate how social justice work is conceptualized and executed, and to serve as a catalyst for dialogue about the intersection of creative practice and cultural impact.
Shaggin’ on the Cooper: 7 p.m., July 31, Mount Pleasant Pier, Mount Pleasant. The SugarBees will perform live music as part of this popula Charleston County Parks monthly event. More shows on Aug. 21, Sept. 11 and Oct. 23. Gates open at 7 p.m. Click to learn more and buy tickets.
Art of Jazz Series: 6 p.m., Aug. 25, Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St., Charleston. The 2021 Art of Jazz Series of original music inspired by art at the museum will feature the Geoffrey Dean Trio on Aug. 25. Tickets are $40.
Ongoing
Now free: Weekend beach bus. The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority is operating a new Beach Reach Shuttle with hourly weekend service to provide a new connection between Mount Pleasant and Isle of Palms. Landside Beach Reach parking is located along Market Center Boulevard in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. The on-island Beach Reach stop is located at 9th Avenue and Ocean Boulevard, adjacent to public beach access. Open through Sept. 6 from 9:15 a.m. through final departure from Isle of Palms at 5:35 p.m. Cost: free.
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.”
Reviving photos. Through Oct. 31, Charleston Museum, Meeting Street. The museum is exhibiting The Lowcountry in Living Color: Making Historical Photographs Come to Life as the latest offering in its Lowcountry Image Gallery. Colorizing black and white pictures allows viewers to see components that otherwise might be overlooked. Buy tickets.
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.
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.
Farmers markets
Here’s a look at a bunch of local farmers markets where you can find fresh fruit, vegetables, crafts and more. If you know of others, send us a note at: feedback@charlestoncurrents.com.
Mount Pleasant Farmers Market: 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Tuesday, Market Pavilion at Moultrie Middle School, 645 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant. Check here for more.
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.
West Ashley Farmers Market: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Wednesday, Ackerman Park, 55 Sycamore Avenue, Charleston. More.
North Charleston Farmers Market: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Thursday, Felix Davis Community Circle in Park Circle. The market offers fresh, locally grown produce as well as arts-and-craft vendors, specialty foods and live music. More.
Charleston Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday, Marion Square, 329 Meeting St., Charleston. More.
Summerville Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday, First Citizens Bank parking lot near Town Hall, 200 S. Main Street, Summerville.
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. More info.
- 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.
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