Charleston Currents #13.44 | Sept. 20, 2021
SWEATY WORK. A team of volunteers from JW Aluminum collected about 75 pounds of trash during the 33rd annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep organized by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and S.C. Department of Resources. These volunteers collected the trash, which included plastic bottles and aluminum cans, at the Wannamaker North Trail of Charleston County Park near Goose Creek. Nicole Snyder, who sent along the picture, shared that nearly 75 percent of aluminum ever produced is still in use today. “Recycling just one aluminum can can save enough energy to power your television for two hours,” she said. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo provided.
FOCUS: Pride Week offers plenty of events to celebrate diversity
COMMENTARY, Brack: Murdaugh case’s twists, turns in national spotlight
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston Gaillard Center
NEWS BRIEFS: State sets pandemic milestones on vaccinations, deaths
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: A real mystery
CALENDAR: Few weeks left to get your farmers market fix
Pride Week offers plenty of events to celebrate diversity
Photo provided.
Staff reports | There’s plenty you can do to take part in highlighting the diversity and uniqueness of the Charleston LGBTQ community during Charleston Pride week starting Sept. 25, even though the annual Charleston Pride Festival on Oct. 3 was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.
Kicking off the week, Closet Case Thrift Store will host the inaugural Rainbow Market, a day-long event full of treasure hunting, tasty bites,and thrifty finds from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 25 at its store’s parking lot at 1801 Reynolds Ave. in North Charleston. Mask-wearing requested. There also will be a contest for best mask.
The event will feature more than 20 curated vendors, including Grease Kelly Vintage, Embellished Premium Apparel, Butter Fruit Frog Jewelry, Bitty Chip Cookies, and other community-based businesses offering clothing, accessories, records and home decor. Guests also are invited to visit neighboring restaurants Rebel Taqueria and Machu Picchu Chicken for delicious bites and refreshing drinks during the event.
“The Rainbow Market will be a fun event with thrifty vibes, tacos, and drinks! How bad can
Other events during Pride Week:
Virtual worship service: 10 a.m., Sept. 26, Two Rivers Church. Join virtually.
The Real Rainbow Row Tour. 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., Sept. 26. An historic Charleston walking tour. More info and tickets.
Let’s Get Trivial: 7 p.m., Sept. 27, Holy City Brewing, 1021 Aragon Ave., North Charleston. LGBTQ trivia hosted by Shawna Jarrett and Melody Lucas.
Nacho Mother’s Taco Tuesday: 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sept. 28, 217 Huger St., Charleston.
Dinner at Dig with music by Return of the Mac: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sept. 29, 1049 E. Montague Ave., North Charleston.
- For more events, including a night of stand-up comedy, bowling night, a rugby football game and a big party, click here.
Murdaugh case’s twists, turns in national spotlight
Alex Murdaugh turned himself in Thursday in Hampton County | CC license Ffuhr
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Keeping up the spectacle of South Carolina’s Murdaugh murder case is like riding a land rocket without steering.
The rural killings of the wife and a son of a father later accused of plotting his own shooting to reap an insurance payout has more twists and turns than three television shows filmed in the Palmetto State — Southern Charm, Outer Banks and The Righteous Gemstones.
This is an ongoing reality show taking place in Hampton and Colleton counties that already has at least two major podcasts as well as reporters from The New York Times and national television networks scrambling to get the latest. And you know what’s ahead: books and made-for-TV movies.
Along the lower part of coastal South Carolina, the Murdaugh family has been a legal dynasty for 100 years. Three generations of lawyers served as the area’s top prosecutor.
Alex Murdaugh, a prominent Hampton County lawyer who is the son of the third generation prosecutor, surrendered to authorities Thursday on charges related to an alleged plot to orchestrate his death over Labor Day weekend. That came just a few weeks after the killings of his wife and son, who was indicted in April on charges related to a 2019 boating death. Alex Murdaugh was released on a $20,000 personal recognizance bond Thursday on a condition that he return to a rehab facility where he reportedly is trying to kick a 20-year opioid addiction.
Trying to keep up with the number of investigations going on is dizzying. First there’s the state probe into the June deaths of Margaret and Paul Murdaugh at the family’s rural Colleton County retreat. Authorities are also looking into the shooting of Alex Murdaugh in which he first told authorities someone tried to kill him as he was changing a flat tire. Later authorities accused him and another man in a $10 million insurance fraud and shooting scheme. Next, there’s an investigation into missing money at the law firm from which Murdaugh resigned to go into rehab as the state Supreme Court suspended his law license.
This year’s investigations prompted authorities to look into past cases, including the 2019 boating death in which Murdaugh’s son was implicated and a 2015 hit-and-run death of a 19-year-old man in Hampton County. And this week as Murdaugh was making plans to turn himself in, news came that authorities were also looking into the 2018 death of a housekeeper at the Murdaugh home. And now, a lawyer associated with that case believes there may be yet another investigation going on that involves federal authorities.
People have become addicted to the developing story. They feel like they’ve jumped into a rabbit hole from which they can’t (and don’t want to) escape.
“It starts really small,” said Charleston triathlete Kayla Edwards. “The more that you know, the more you want to know? It’s like following a really good Netflix series, but you can’t jump to the next episode,” she said.
Watermelon no longer may be the reason most people know about Hampton County.
Even Will Folks, whose muckraking FITSnews blog has been on the story like white on rice (his news editor’s Murdaugh Murders is the nation’s top podcast now), concurred. He told the Charleston City Paper: “The whole thing was already a huge parlor game before we had the bizarre roadside shooting that sort of set everything off. So, it was already at a pretty high energy level and then we had this Labor Day weekend situation that just shot it into another stratosphere.”
Michael DeWitt, managing editor of the Hampton County Guardian, described the Murdaugh story as a “neverending nightmare” for people who live in the county, which has been mostly known for its annual watermelon festival.
“Now people will know us for the Murdaugh killings,” he said. “It’s very disheartening. It’s embarrassing for some. For some it’s tragic.”
If anything good comes from the drama, he points to crimes that have been exposed and the good-old-boy system that has been ripped apart.
“The media should be proud of its work on staying on top of this story … shedding the light on what’s been going on for quite some time,” he said.
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.
State sets pandemic milestones on vaccinations, deaths
An ancient actual milestone near Stonehenge. Photo via Unsplash.
Staff reports | The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced Thursday that the state reached a 50 percent vaccination rate among eligible residents. S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster says the milestone was important, but there was still work to do. Some 59 percent of South Carolinians have had at least one vaccination shot.
That work may be around another milestone — confirmation by the state that more than 10,000 South Carolinians have been confirmed to have died from COVID-19. An additional 1,491 deaths are listed as “probable” COVID deaths, meaning the statewide death toll as of Thursday was 11,532, according to DHEC.
By Friday, state health officials reported another 4,777 total cases of COVID-19 with 3,610 confirmed. A total of 83 new deaths, with 60 confirmed, also were reported Thursday. With 40,559 tests reported, 11.9 percent were confirmed positive.
In other recent news:
AFFA announces new leader. Holly Whitfield is the new executive director of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Alliance for Full Acceptance. Whitfield, 52, most recently worked as executive director for Shepherd’s Center of Charlotte, a nonprofit that provides senior services. Before that, she worked with Charlotte’s Time Out Youth, which served LGBTQ residents aged 11 to 20. More in the Charleston City Paper.
Murdaugh exits jail after $10M insurance fraud arrest. The Murdaugh family saga took another twist Thursday with the arrest of Alex Murdaugh, who reportedly admitted to setting up his own shooting in an insurance fraud scheme. He returned to rehab after a court hearing. More: AP News | The State | The New York Times | NPR.
- Everything you need to know about the Murdaugh murders in 2 minutes, Charleston City Paper.
Publix offers big support. Publix Super Market Charities has donated to two local organizations in recent days — $5,000 to support the community gardening program at Charleston Parks Conservancy and a whopping $135,000 to the Lowcountry Food bank to buy fresh produce for food insecure neighbors it serves. During Hunger Action Month in September, Publix Super Markets Charities will donate $5.5 million to its ongoing support to alleviate hunger and help local communities, according to a press release.
S.C. Senate plans October special session, masks not on agenda. South Carolina senators plan to return to the Statehouse next month for a special session on spending federal COVID-19 relief money and redistricting. More: AP News | The State
Federal labor board rules in favor of Charleston ports agency, Leatherman Terminal. The union that represents dockworkers at the Port of Charleston cannot stop shipping lines from calling on the Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston, a federal judge ruled on Sept. 16. More: The Post and Courier.
S.C. hospitality industry still feeling worker shortage crunch. Even as unemployment rates decrease in the state and tourism regains strength, the hospitality industry is among those unable to find enough workers. More. Columbia Business Report
Redistricting criticized as lawmakers move ahead. South Carolina lawmakers are now working on a statewide redistricting plan to redraw congressional and legislative districts based on new 2020 census data. But some say the process is seriously flawed. There’s a strong contention from the South Carolina Progressive Network and the League of Women Voters of South Carolina that redistricting should be overseen by voters, not politicians. Meanwhile, the state Senate has had 10 hearings around the state. House lawmakers continue with hearings this week. Full story in Statehouse Report.
Fire the S.C. shyster legislator gang
To the editor:
55 MPH and “seat belts are required” are government legislative services.
Mandates based on a tradeoff between science (High speed kills more of us the higher the speed.) with time and convenience. Providing safety to S.C. travelers costs more.
The current cabal in the Statehouse does not seek safety for us. The dotard-like majority now advocates getting sick with COVID-19, followed by therapeutic drugs.
The politicization of S.C. COVID-19 policy means of the 79 possible therapeutic drugs; not the 3 COVID-19 vaccine drugs freely available, are the best way out of this pandemic. The get-sick to get -well path is runner up to, “We had to destroy the village to save it.”
This green light to get let’s-get-infected lunatic health policy is offered up as medical freedom. The newest member of the freedom politic set.
Last week, not wearing a mask was plain old freedom. This definition of freedom replaced the earlier one understood by patriots. The brand of freedom that many soldiers died for. Deeded to us with their lives. The shyster leaders are out of gas and ideas. The common-sense tested health practices replaced with iterations of freedom.
Freedom from COVID-19 is what is needed in S.C. Masks, vaccines, distance and rapid tests are the shortcut to get there that avoid convoluted shyster doctrines.
These shyster S.C. leaders were all elected by us. Shame on us. This is correctable. Write them. Call them. Fire them.
— Fred Palm, Edisto Island, S.C.
Send us your thoughts by email
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A real mystery
We’ll try something different this week: a real mystery. We’ll tell you where the sign is — it’s across from South Windermere shopping center on Folly Road on a fence in The Crescent neighborhood — but we want you to tell us about the story behind the sign. If you don’t know, make it up! (NOTE: We don’t know the answer and we’re looking for help in learning the truth about the jewelry theft. If you make up your answer, please let us know that it’s fiction. Have fun.) 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, “Graffiti” showed boxcar art in the S.C. Port Authority rail yard along East Bay Street in Charleston near Cooper Street.
Congratulations to several sleuths who correctly identified the location: Chris Brooks of Mount Pleasant; Christel Newton of North Charleston; Rose Riordan of Pawleys Island; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; and Jay Altman of Columbia, as well as “Khriss” from Mount Pleasant.
Peel shared some interesting info about these rail cars: “If I am correct, this week’s mystery photo is a photo of a type of boxcar called a ‘Bi-level Autorack,’ used to transport automobiles, trucks and vans across the vast network of railroad tracks throughout the world. These types of rail cars are most often found at RoRo (stands for Roll-On / Roll-Off) shipping ports, like the premium RoRo shipping terminal known as the Columbus Street Terminal off the banks of the Cooper River in the Port of Charleston.”
- 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.
Few weeks left to get your farmers market fix
Staff reports | As scorching summer temps cool and fall creeps in, it’s time for many favorite farmers markets in the area to pack it in until next spring. Luckily, there are still a few more weeks to get your farmers-market fix — and even some markets that say open year-round. We’ve rounded up the closing dates of local farmers markets, organized by month:
Closing in September:
Mount Pleasant Farmers Market: 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.Market Pavilion at Moultrie Middle School, 645 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant. Check here for more. Closes Sept. 28.
Closing in October:
North Charleston Farmers Market: 3 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. Closes Oct. 28.
Moncks Corner Farmers Market: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., every Thursday, Market Pavilion at the Regional Recreation Complex, 418 E. Main St., Moncks Corner. More. Closes Oct. 28.
Closing in November
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. More. Closes Nov. 20.
Charleston Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday, Marion Square, 329 Meeting St., Charleston. More. Tentative closing Nov. 27. Holiday market to open temporarily in December.
Closing in December
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. Closes Dec. 18 with holiday market.
Open year-round
West Ashley Farmers Market: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Wednesday, Ackerman Park, 55 Sycamore Avenue, Charleston. More.
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.
Sea Island Farmers Market: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., every Saturday. Charleston Collegiate Campus, 2024 Academy Rd., Johns Island. More.
Goose Creek Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday, 519 N. Goose Creek Blvd., Goose Creek. More.
Also on the calendar:
Maintenance of Way exhibit: Through Oct. 30, Redux Contemporary Art Center, 1056 King St., Charleston. Redux and Tiger Strikes Asteroid Greenwill are presenting this exhibition of work by Hannah Barnes and Gyun Hur. They = create work that considers place as a mental and physical construct built by layers of time, a collection of striations. Barnes and Gyun explore the idea of maintenance in their practices as a physical and emotional pursuit, connected both to one’s private self and a broader public society. Their work invites the viewer to share in the collective experience of being private selves in public spaces.
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.
Cooper River Bridge Run: 8 a.m. Sept. 25., Mount Pleasant. Join thousands to run the Ravenel Bridge from Mount Pleasant to Charleston. Sign up: BridgeRun.com.
“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.
October at the Terrace. Check out Horror weekends at the Terrace Theater on James Island: 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.
Gershwin shows: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 1, and 2 p.m. Oct. 2, Forte Jazz Club, 477 King St., Charleston. Brad and Jennifer Moranz present “The Glory of Gershwin,” a 90-minute musical celebration of the songs of George and Ira Gershwin. Starring an all-professional cast from Broadway and beyond, the show features such classics as “I Got Rhythm,” “Embraceable You,” “Our Love is Here to Stay,” “Strike Up the Band,” “S’Wonderful / Rhapsody in Blue” and more. Tickets are $35 to $50. For ticket information, visit bradandjennifermoranz.com.
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
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.
- 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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