Charleston Currents #13.43 | Sept. 13, 2021]
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER. Well, it’s really a pair of smokestacks along Cooper Street that tower over St. Julian Devine Community Center. But the guy on the ladder must have a great view. Wonder what he’s doing on a Saturday morning. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo by Andy Brack.
FOCUS: State’s COVID-19 rate now s 4nd highest in U.S.
COMMENTARY, Brack: Become the best person you can be
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston RiverDogs
NEWS BRIEFS: Charleston remains top designation on magazine list
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Graffiti
CALENDAR: City to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month starting Sept. 14
State’s COVID-19 rate now s 4nd highest in U.S.
The MUSC COVID-19 Epidemiology Intelligence Project rates the Charleston-area disease impact as “severe.” MUSC image.
Staff reports | South Carolina has the fourth highest rate of COVID-19 with 88 cases per 100,000 people, according to Sept. 13 data from The New York Times. At one point last week, the state ranked highest in the country, but rates in Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia are higher now, according to media reports.
Over the last two weeks, the virus has shown few signs of abating as hospitals are filled with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients, schools struggle to stay open and hospitalizations are increasing for children.
On Sept. 8, new data from MUSC showed the rate of breakthrough infections from COVID-19 in the area appeared to be rising slowly. But only two cases among MUSC employees and students led to hospitalization.
“There’s a big difference between feeling like you have a cold for a few days from a breakthrough infection versus being on a ventilator if you’re unvaccinated,” said Dr. Scott Curry, an infectious disease specialist at MUSC Health. “If you don’t want to risk being on a ventilator, I suggest you get vaccinated.
“Breakthrough infections are not landing vaccinated people in the intensive care unit unless they’re transplant patients or have something seriously wrong with their ability to respond to a vaccine.”
According to state health officials Friday, one in eight South Carolinians who were tested for the disease were positive for it. There were 3,917 new cases with 99 new deaths, 82 of which were confirmed. New data will be released this afternoon.
- Delta surge hits younger, unvaccinated people. The Wall Street Journal.
- More S.C. hospital beds filling with COVID patients than ever before. The State.
- S.C. nears 11,000 dead, surpassing 750,000 cases since start of pandemic. The Post and Courier
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Become the best person you can be
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Dear Avery,
Eighteen years ago when your eyes fluttered to see the world for the first time, you brought joy to your family. You still do. We’re proud of the young woman you are and look forward to the adult you’re becoming.
From the beginning, you’ve heard how South Carolinians are a warm and generous people with an independent spirit. On the day you were born, I wrote this to you: “You should know our people are generally good. Sometimes they stray and do bad things or forget to do what’s right. … Sometimes people forget the lessons of church to love their neighbors and, instead, love themselves too much.”
Those words are still true today as are those that followed, “Sometimes people need help — a hand up to get past hard times. There’s nothing ever wrong with asking for help and you shouldn’t look down on somebody who needs it.”
You and your younger sister have learned and seen a lot as you’ve grown. You learned to read, communicate with others and look adults in the eye. You’ve found things that interest you and make you interesting — playing the piano, learning Japanese, admiring sharks and more. You’ve shown you appreciate the value of hard work and travel. And like many of your generation, you’ve mastered using the mobile phone as more than a device to talk to people.
Through the years, you and your sister have gotten a lot of advice and guidance, such as encouragement to discern the difference between good and evil, truth and lies. You’ve heard how you should help to make our democracy strong by standing up for what’s right and for those who feel they have no voice.
Our state and nation have many challenges. We hope you and the members of your generation will become America’s next greatest generation to help fix our messes. As we wrote in 2003, “We hope you’ll be fearless in the midst of naysayers. We hope you’ll help make things better.”
As you move through life, here are a few more things to keep in mind:
Think. Don’t be rushed into doing something you don’t want to do. If you are unsure, call a personal time-out and think about what’s the right thing to do. In your heart of hearts, you will know the right direction.
Have fun. You’re only here once. Make the most of it. Enjoy each day.
Finish the job. If you start something, see it through. Do it correctly.
Try new things. Explore our world. Taste different foods. Smell lavender fields in France. Make art. Live beyond South Carolina — and then come back and make it better.
Fall forward. Actor Denzel Washington once noted that you shouldn’t be scared to fail. “Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments,” he said. “Did you know that? I didn’t know that because the 1,001st was the light bulb. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”
Question. Don’t accept everything at face value. Question authority — and question those questioning authority.
Listen. Slow down and listen to what other people are saying. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn — and grow — just by listening.
Use common sense. Too many people seem oblivious about too many things. Whenever you encounter a decision point, examine it practically and use common sense to figure out the best choice.
Laugh. Don’t take things too seriously. The drama you have today probably will be forgotten by next year. Enjoy life. Laugh at it and yourself. A good sense of humor will take you a long way.
In the years ahead, become the best Avery you can be. Maximize your potential. Be a good friend to others. And enjoy yourself. Remember, we’re only here once.
Love, Dad
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.
On Sunday, the RiverDogs, finished the regular season at home with a towering 80-34 record in the the Low-A East standings. There are still six games on the road in the regular season before the RiverDogs crank up championship play Sept. 24 at home in the playoffs.
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.
- Visit the ‘Dogs online at: RiverDogs.com
- To meet all of our underwriters, click here.
Charleston remains top designation on magazine list
Photo via Unsplash
Staff reports | For the ninth year in a row, Charleston was named the top U.S. destination for Travel + Leisure readers and the only place in the country at the top of the magazine’s worldwide destination list.
Charleston edged out Santa Fe, New Mexico and Savannah for the top U.S. spot. Stuck between Jaipur, India and Tokyo, Japan, Charleston snagged No. 19 in the magazine’s top world city destinations.
Hilton Head was also named among the world’s best islands, according to the magazine. Kiawah Island’s Sanctuary was named the state’s top resort hotel, with the John Rutledge House Inn taking the best hotel spot in Charleston.
Complete Travel + Leisure reader survey results will be published in the magazine’s new issue, out Sept. 17.
In other recent news:
Estimate for Charleston flood plan drops. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Friday cut $650 million from the estimate of the cost of a project to safeguard the Charleston peninsula from rising and increasingly common floodwater. The cost, which is one of several changes to the flood study, dropped from $1.75 billion to $1.1 billion.
SCETV backs off deal. S.C. Educational Television (SCETV) has backed off an exploratory leadership proposal to lease space in its Columbia studio to a private broadcaster following pushback by staff, the Charleston City Paper and Statehouse Report reported last week. The proposal to generate new revenue comes two years after a former board chairman and two others resigned after months of drama to try to get more money from SCETV’s nonprofit endowment that has pumped millions of dollars into the network to ensure South Carolinians get high-quality public programming.
S.C. one of hardest-hit states as foreclosure moratorium ends. Even prior to the July 31 federal foreclosure and eviction moratorium, South Carolina ranked in as one of the top states for current foreclosure rates and risk of foreclosure. GSA Business Report.
McMaster proposes using COVID aid to widen I-26. Gov. Henry McMaster has proposed widening nearly 70 miles of Interstate 26 between Columbia and Charleston to three lanes each way. The proposal suggests using $360 million in federal pandemic aid to get the project mostly completed by 2029. The Post and Courier.
Send us your thoughts by email
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.
Graffiti
You can find graffiti all over the place these days, but we wonder where you think this particular manifestation is located? The only hint we’ll give you is this is somewhere in Charleston or North Charleston. Which and 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
Our most recent past mystery, “Really old photo” is a photo of the ruins of the Cathedral of St. John and St. Finbar on Broad and Legare streets which was destroyed by fire in December 1861. According to the Library of Congress, the photographer was George Stacy.
Only five readers correctly identified the photo. Congratulations to these sleuths: George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; Chris Brooks of Mount Pleasant; Cristel Newton of North Charleston; and Judy Hines of Charleston.
Graf told us that the cathedral, which was the first Roman Catholic cathedral in Charleston, started construction in 1850.. The cathedral was consecrated on April 6, 1854.
“It was destroyed on December 11, 1861, in a fire that ravaged much of Charleston. A new cathedral—the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, built on the same site-was started in 1890. It opened in 1907 and was completed in 2010 with the addition of the long-anticipated steeple.
“The first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (previously the diocese of the Carolinas and Georgia), Bishop John England (of County Cork, Ireland), originally conceived of the cathedral. In 1821, he purchased the site of a garden in Charleston called “New Vauxhall”. A house was on the lot, and on Dec. 30, 1821, Bishop England blessed it as a temporary chapel and named it in honor of St. Finbar, the patron saint of Cork. He then set about planning and raising funds for a cathedral for the see.
“The cathedral was designed by Patrick Charles Keely (of County Tipperary, Ireland) in the highly ornate Gothic Style, as a 219-foot-tall structure topped with a steeple and bronze cross. The Cathedral of St. John and St. Finbar was, like its successor the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, clad in brownstone from Connecticut.”
- 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.
City to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month starting Sept. 14
Staff reports | The city of Charleston will enjoy Hispanic Heritage Month starting Sept. 14 with several activities over more than four weeks that are sure to get you grooving. Among the events, which run through Oct. 15:
Cuban Night: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 14, Tobin’s Market, 197 Jackson St., Charleston. Gino Castillo & The Cuban Cowboys will perform for $5 per ticket in what is sure to be a fun-filled evening of Afro-Cuban jazz.
Coffee with the Mayor: 7:30 a.m., Sept. 16, El Pincho Taco, 616 Meeting St. Charleston.. Join Mayor John Tecklenburg for a cup of coffee and speak one-on-one about local issues that matter to you.
Police at the Park: 5 p.m., Sept. 16, Johns Island Park, 1770 Bozo Lane, Johns Island. Join the City of Charleston Police Department as nonprofits throughout the Tri-county join forces to distribute educational material to underserved communities and diverse populations. The event includes food, drinks, music and a bounce house.
Porto Seguro: 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Sept. 16, Forte Jazz Lounge, Charleston. Artists from Hungry Monk Music have teamed up with jazz vocalist and violist Alva Anderson for a cultural musical explosion. Enjoy Brazilian, Choro and Bossa Nova on flute, mandolin, guitar and bass. This lighthearted music has a mellow groove with a fun, laid-back, rhythmic, soulful vibe!. Reserve your tickets while seats last: ForteJazzLounge.com.
Also on the calendar:
Free yoga. 6 p.m., every Wednesday in September, Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. 1218 Belk Drive. Mount Pleasant. The venue is hosting free in-person yoga classes live and in person to celebrate National Yoga Month, so mark your calendars. Each class features a different local yoga instructor from a variety of groups. More: mtpleasanttownecentre.com.
Toast Under the Oaks: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sept. 23, Johns Island County Park, Johns Island. Enjoy Toast Under the Oaks while exploring Johns Island County Park. Guests will enjoy wine, beer, and live music, while experiencing the beauty of this 738-acre park. Food truck fare will be available for purchase on-site.
“Bright Star”: 7:30 p.m., Shows through Sept. 26 with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m., Dock Street Theatre, Charleston. Charleston Stage rescheduled the opening performance of this bluegrass Broadway musical from the comic mind of Steve Martin and musical prowess of Edie Brickell in a month of exciting shows. New COVID-19 safety precautions are in place. Tickets are $36 to $75 for adults with other pricing also available. More.
Wine Down Wednesday: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sept. 15, Old Towne Creek Park, WeSt Ashley. Come Wine Down your Wednesday and explore Old Towne Creek County Park, one of West Ashley’s hidden gems. Guests will enjoy wine and live music 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. Fee: $20.
Walk to fight hunger. Noon to 4 p.m., Sept. 19, Riverfront Park, North Charleston. The Lowcountry Food Bank is holding a “hybrid” walk event that aims to bring awareness to hunger issues in coastal South Carolina and raise funds for Lowcountry Food Bank programs, including senior meals, childhood hunger programs, and fresh produce options for the community. Donors and friends are encouraged to drop-in to the park and participate in a self-guided walking tour at their own pace and comfort level. Guests will receive an informational packet to accompany their self-guided tour.
Fun coming events at the Terrace. Check out these new events at the Terrace Theater on James Island:
-
- Late September: Drag costume contest to complement the airing of “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” Tentatively scheduled for Sept. 17 or Sept. 24.
- October at the Drive-in: Horror weekends, in which the theater will offer weekends featuring slasher, vampire, classic and comedy films.
Bruce Hornsby: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 29, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston. Pianist Bruce Hornsby with his band, the Noisemakers, will be in town to push a new selection of songs that explore a broad range of themes — from civil rights to computer hackers. Tickets start at $35. COVID-19 protocols are in place.
Evening of Remembrance: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Oct. 3, McLeod Plantation Historic Site, James Island. This fundraiser to benefit the McLeod Project will feature drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef BJ Dennis, and a performance by a brass quintet from the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are $75 per person. The McLeod Project supports cultural and historical education opportunities that foster a more equitable society, by expressing a unified narrative of African American history, culture, heritage and art. The event is being put on by the Charleston County Parks Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission.
Ongoing
The Lawn Party exhibition: Ending 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.”
Sisters Across the sea: Through Sept. 30, Park Circle Gallery, North Charleston. A free reception will be held at the gallery 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 10 to celebrate the exhibit of art quilts by local artist Torreah “Cookie” Washington and Ghanaian artist Eunice Maku Aiyku-Nartey. Admission is free and free street parking is available on Jenkins Avenue. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information about PCG, call 843-637-3565 or email culturalarts@northcharleston.org.
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.
We 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! And it includes cool stuff about the community that’s hard to find elsewhere. We hope they’ll enjoy our coverage.
- DONATE. Now also would be a great time to contribute as we deal with the crisis. In advance, thank you.
OUR UNDERWRITERS
Charleston Currents is an underwriter-supported weekly online journal of good news about the Charleston area and Lowcountry of South Carolina.
- Meet our underwriters
- To learn more about how your organization or business can benefit, click here to contact us. Or give us a holler on the phone at: 843.670.3996.
OUR TEAM
Charleston Currents offers insightful community comment and good news on events each week. It cuts through the information clutter to offer the best of what’s happening locally.
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 21942, Charleston, SC 29413.
- Phone: 843.670.3996
Charleston Currents is provided to you weekly by:
- Editor and publisher: Andy Brack, 843.670.3996
- Contributing editor, common good, Fred Palm
- Contributing editor, money: Kyra Morris
- Contributing editor, Palmetto Poem: Marjory Wentworth
- Contributing photographer: Rob Byko
- Charleston Currents also uses content from the outstanding staff at the Charleston City Paper, a sister publication.
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
Subscriptions to Charleston Currents are free.
- Click here to subscribe.
- Unsubscribe. We don’t want to lose you as a reader of Charleston Currents, but if you must unsubscribe, you will have to do it through the email edition you receive. Just go to the bottom of any of your weekly newsletters and click the “unsubscribe” function. If that doesn’t work, please send us an email with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line.
- © 2008-2021, City Paper Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Charleston Currents is published every Monday by City Paper Publishing LLC, P.O. Box 21942, Charleston, SC 29413.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Use our feed
Send us your comments
