Charleston Currents #14.05 | NOV. 29 2021
IN THIS EDITION
FOCUS: Wednesday is last day for public comment on I-526 project
COMMENTARY, Brack: Act appropriately (this time) as new surge headed here
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Morris Financial Concepts, Inc.
NEWS BRIEFS: S.C. justice leaders react to Brunswick convictions.
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Jet lake
CALENDAR: Dunning, CJO to bring holiday swing to Charleston Music Hall
TODAY’S FOCUS
Wednesday is last day for public comment on I-526 project
I-526 from North Charleston to Mount Pleasant would be widened and replaced under some SCDOT plans | Credit: Flickr user donwest48
By Skyler Baldwin | The online public information meeting for the Interstate 526 Corridor (I-526) EAST Planning and Environmental Linkages project launched by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is ending Dec. 1.
“The 23-mile connection between West Ashley and Mount Pleasant, known as the I-526 Lowcountry Corridor (LCC), has been identified by SCDOT as one of the state’s most congested interstate highways — and it’s among the Department’s top priorities statewide,” reads the project website.
Potential changes could bring more lanes, new technological advancements or other strategies aimed at meeting the growing demand for more capacity on the interstate. I-526 from North Charleston to Mount Pleasant would be widened and replaced under some SCDOT plans.
Public comment will help project leaders weigh options considered for the future of the project. The most prominent option remains widening the highway, but the possibility remains of doing nothing at all.
With components like the upgrade or replacement of the Don Holt and Wando bridges that include complicating factors like aquatic resources, relocations of residents and impacts to parks, the projects are multi-faceted and affect a large population along the corridor. In all pre-planning, the Wando Bridge was highlighted for full replacement. But the Don Holt has proven to be more complicated.
The corridor has been broken down into two distinct projects, a West phase, which runs from Paul Cantrell Boulevard in West Ashley to Virginia Avenue in North Charleston, and an East phase, which runs from Virginia Avenue to U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant.
SCDOT estimates the East phase could cost around $4 billion, a massive price tag many times larger than proposals to extend I-526 from West Ashley to James Island — priced at around $725 million, according to most recent estimates in 2014. Funding sources for each project are still being explored.
The public information meeting can be found at the 526 Lowcountry Corridor website. Project leaders encourage all residents who participate to leave a comment expressing their thoughts and opinions on the project.
COMMENTARY
Act appropriately (this time) as new surge headed here
The church in Eyam, Derbyshire, England, which was closed during the plague to keep people from being too close. Photo via Wikipedia.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | There’s a big difference between knowing something, understanding it and doing something about it.
The coronavirus pandemic illustrates this trichotomy perfectly. For example, we know it’s smart to wear masks to reduce transmission of the virus. But if you walk around any bar, restaurant or grocery store in South Carolina today, it’s clear we don’t understand the reality. Rather than doing what we know is right (to keep wearing masks), we ignore what we know and act as if everything is hunky-dory.
It’s not. If you routinely watch a map of virus hot spots, it’s crystal clear the virus is about to make another surge in South Carolina. A map of the United States, for example, shows a slow approach of the virus toward us from states with high levels of COVID-19. Right now, for example, South Carolina has a comparatively low rate of positive coronavirus tests — in the 5 percent range over the last couple of weeks.
But look at where it’s already gotten cold — places like the Dakotas and Minnesota. Because winter weather has returned, people are inside more and living in closer proximity, causing infection rates to surge so much that some mask mandates are back.
It’s fairly obvious that the fourth surge is headed our way, probably just in time for Christmas. But people in South Carolina, where leaders never have taken public health warnings too seriously, will do what they’ve done in the past — ignore simple behavioral changes that can save lives. More people, particularly those who refuse to get a vaccination, will die. It’s as clear as the nose on your face.
Community transmission map through Nov. 23, 2021, via CDC.
The odd thing about ignoring the reality of this disease is people have known for years how to protect themselves. A century ago during the great flu pandemic, masks were a part of American culture. The difference between now and then is that people had a sense of common good, as compared to today when the notion of individual freedom at all costs trumps any general good to society.
Ever heard of the English village of Eyam in Derbyshire? Its citizenry figured out 350 years ago how to protect other villages from spreading bubonic plague. To this day, it’s considered a case study in how to prevent disease.
In Eyam, the plague arrived in August 1665 when a bundle of flea-infested cloth arrived for a tailor. Plague-infested fleas started biting people and they died. Over the next 14 months, some 260 people out of 800 in the village — almost one in three — died horrible deaths. But two priests developed a plan to try to stop the spread of the disease. Villagers agreed to quarantine, allowing no one in or out until the disease had run its course. Next they closed the church and held outdoor services. They stopped burying dead in the graveyard and buried them quickly after they died on land near where they died. Finally, supplies from merchants and other villages were left outside the quarantine zone and paid for with money that had been soaked in vinegar. By November 1666, there was no plague in the village and it had not spread to neighboring populations.
The example from Eyam shows how uneducated people were able to beat the disease by following protocols that were new to them, but known far and wide today: quarantining, not getting too close to others, having air flow in interactions and disinfecting things.
If they can do it, we can too by using the guidelines of modern science more effectively: wear a mask in public places; wash your hands frequently; maintain social distancing; and don’t gather in large groups. And for goodness sake, get vaccinated — something people in Eyam didn’t have.
Another surge is on the way. Let’s beat it by acting on what we know, instead of ignoring it.
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Charleston Currents, and publisher of the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Morris Financial Concepts, Inc.
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring Charleston Currents to you at no cost to readers. Morris Financial Concepts, Inc., is a nationally recognized, fee-only financial consulting firm that helps you identify and align your resources, values and goals to achieve an enriched life.
We do not accept commissions or compensation related to the products and service we recommend. Our counsel is based solely on what we believe is best for each client.
NEWS BRIEFS
S.C. justice leaders react to Brunswick convictions
Staff reports | Murder convictions of three men last week for the shotgun-killing of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia, is being considered a major victory for justice in America that nearly brought the Rev. Nelson B. Rivers to tears.
Although video evidence showed Arbery, an unarmed Black man jogging through a white neighborhood, was killed because he was Black, the guilty verdicts were not guaranteed, said Rivers, pastor of Liberty Hill’s Charity Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston. “This is still America,” said Rivers, a vice president with the National Action Network. Read more reactions.
In other recent news:
Bill would reform heritage commission appointments. If a bill prefiled by state Rep. J.A. Moore becomes law, the method to make appointments to the S.C. African American Heritage Commission (SCAAHC) would mirror other state boards and commissions, according to a story in the Charleston City Paper. Instead of the S.C. Commission of Archives and History having the authority to decide who sits on SCAAHC the presidents of the state’s seven historically Black colleges and universities would recommend appointments with staggered terms with the approval of the governor.
USC Lady Gamecocks unanimous No. 1. choice. After a dominating win this week over the No. 2 women’s basketball team from the University of Connecticut, the No. 1 USC Gamecocks were the unanimous pick as the nation’s top women’s team in the new Associated Press poll. More: Associated Press, ESPN
Nuclear plant in S.C. remains offline after malfunction. A week after a malfunction sparked a fire at V.C. Summer nuclear plant in Jenkinsville, the plant remained offline. About 250,000 customers in the state receive power from the plant but it has other generation available when nuclear operations are offline. Dominion Energy officials have not provided a timeline for when it will return to service. More: The Post and Courier.
Calculator says S.C. has great air quality but bad for abortion rights. A new quality-of-life calculator looks at why people are moving to certain states and what those states have to offer. Take the quiz or just see where South Carolina ranks. More: The New York Times
19 holes discovered at Charles Pinckney National Historic Site. Park officials say a person likely used a metal detector and dug 19 holes at the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site on Sullivan’s Island this month. It is both illegal to dig at a national site and use a metal detector. The site is the former plantation of one of the signers of the U.S. Constitution, Charles Pinckney. More: AP News
FEEDBACK
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.
MYSTERY PHOTO
Jet lake
Here’s an odd sight — a lake that has a peninsula formed to look like a jet. Where is it?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, “A pretty old thingamajig,” shows an old GE refrigerator from 1930 that West Ashley pilot and Realtor Ed Sutton is hoping to restore.
We wish we could tell you that four dozen people identified it, but we can’t because something killed all incoming email for the week — except the spam from somebody named Alesandr from Russia. We’ve fiddled with settings and have it back running again, but can’t reward anyone for their mystery work this week. Oh well. We apologize specifically to all who guessed and in general for technology.
- 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.
ON THE CALENDAR
Dunning, CJO bring holiday swing to Charleston Music Hall
Dunning. Photo provided.
Staff reports | Vocalist Zandrina Dunning will join the Charleston Jazz Orchestra (CJO) led by Maestro Robert Lewis for two Dec. 4 concerts guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.
It’s a Charleston Jazz tradition with big band arrangements of winter classics and holiday favorites such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Sleigh Bells.”
Dunning, who began singing as a youth in church and elementary school, began her professional musical journey studying classical music and theatre arts at S.C. State University in 2000. She received her bachelor’s degree in music industry with a concentration in vocal music in 2004. Since 2013, she has been managing her own career with a broad array of concerts and tribute shows. She also works with show production for Forte Jazz Lounge and Charleston Music Hall and in programming and management locally at OHM Radio.
Under the direction of Lewis, the CJO has been performing for audiences in the Lowcountry for more than12 years. It is comprised of 18 accomplished jazz musicians and is an entertaining and educational example of the rich history of jazz in Charleston.
Performances on Dec. 4 will be at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.charlestonjazz.com or call the Charleston Jazz box office at 843-641-0011. Tickets range from $25-$62, with discounts for seniors, military and students.
Also on the calendar:
Keeping it local: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec. 4, Johns Island County Park, 2662 Mullet Hall Rd., Johns Island. The 8th annual Homegrown Holiday Bazaar will include about 75 vendors from whom you can get all of your holiday shopping, according to the Sea Island Chamber of Commerce. In addition to great gifts, there will be a kiddie train ride, horse rides and a special visitor from the North Pole. Food trucks will be available as well as local craft beer, wine and music.
Holiday Festival of Lights: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m, through Dec. 31, James Island County Park.. Visitors can drive through the impressive three-mile light spectacle with more than 750 illuminated displays. The festival also includes other holiday activities like train rides, marshmallow roasting, a climbing wall and more. There also will be a Winter Wonderland, which features the area’s largest holiday sand sculpture made from more than 50 tons of sand. You and your family can also explore the shops, an enchanted walking trail and the amazing dancing light display. Tickets It is recommended that visitors purchase tickets in advance online.
Elf the Musical returns: Dec. 1-19, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston. The popular musical, sold out in Charleston in 2019, returns for several holiday performances by actors at Charleston Stage. Based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, the musical tells the story of Buddy the Elf who is transported from Santa’s Workshop to New York City. Click here for times and tickets, which range from $32 for students to $36 to $75 for adults..
Winter Wonderland exhibit. Through March 27, 2022, Lowcountry Image Gallery, The Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St., Charleston. This exhibit showcases colorized photographs of remarkable snow days captured by residents of Charleston dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. More on tickets and hours.
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
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.
- 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.
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Charleston Currents #14.05 | NOV. 29 2021
IN THIS EDITION
FOCUS: Wednesday is last day for public comment on I-526 project
COMMENTARY, Brack: Act appropriately (this time) as new surge headed here
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Morris Financial Concepts, Inc.
NEWS BRIEFS: S.C. justice leaders react to Brunswick convictions.
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Jet lake
CALENDAR: Dunning, CJO to bring holiday swing to Charleston Music Hall
TODAY’S FOCUS
Wednesday is last day for public comment on I-526 project
I-526 from North Charleston to Mount Pleasant would be widened and replaced under some SCDOT plans | Credit: Flickr user donwest48
By Skyler Baldwin | The online public information meeting for the Interstate 526 Corridor (I-526) EAST Planning and Environmental Linkages project launched by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is ending Dec. 1.
“The 23-mile connection between West Ashley and Mount Pleasant, known as the I-526 Lowcountry Corridor (LCC), has been identified by SCDOT as one of the state’s most congested interstate highways — and it’s among the Department’s top priorities statewide,” reads the project website.
Potential changes could bring more lanes, new technological advancements or other strategies aimed at meeting the growing demand for more capacity on the interstate. I-526 from North Charleston to Mount Pleasant would be widened and replaced under some SCDOT plans.
Public comment will help project leaders weigh options considered for the future of the project. The most prominent option remains widening the highway, but the possibility remains of doing nothing at all.
With components like the upgrade or replacement of the Don Holt and Wando bridges that include complicating factors like aquatic resources, relocations of residents and impacts to parks, the projects are multi-faceted and affect a large population along the corridor. In all pre-planning, the Wando Bridge was highlighted for full replacement. But the Don Holt has proven to be more complicated.
The corridor has been broken down into two distinct projects, a West phase, which runs from Paul Cantrell Boulevard in West Ashley to Virginia Avenue in North Charleston, and an East phase, which runs from Virginia Avenue to U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant.
SCDOT estimates the East phase could cost around $4 billion, a massive price tag many times larger than proposals to extend I-526 from West Ashley to James Island — priced at around $725 million, according to most recent estimates in 2014. Funding sources for each project are still being explored.
The public information meeting can be found at the 526 Lowcountry Corridor website. Project leaders encourage all residents who participate to leave a comment expressing their thoughts and opinions on the project.
COMMENTARY
Act appropriately (this time) as new surge headed here
The church in Eyam, Derbyshire, England, which was closed during the plague to keep people from being too close. Photo via Wikipedia.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | There’s a big difference between knowing something, understanding it and doing something about it.
It’s not. If you routinely watch a map of virus hot spots, it’s crystal clear the virus is about to make another surge in South Carolina. A map of the United States, for example, shows a slow approach of the virus toward us from states with high levels of COVID-19. Right now, for example, South Carolina has a comparatively low rate of positive coronavirus tests — in the 5 percent range over the last couple of weeks.
But look at where it’s already gotten cold — places like the Dakotas and Minnesota. Because winter weather has returned, people are inside more and living in closer proximity, causing infection rates to surge so much that some mask mandates are back.
It’s fairly obvious that the fourth surge is headed our way, probably just in time for Christmas. But people in South Carolina, where leaders never have taken public health warnings too seriously, will do what they’ve done in the past — ignore simple behavioral changes that can save lives. More people, particularly those who refuse to get a vaccination, will die. It’s as clear as the nose on your face.
Community transmission map through Nov. 23, 2021, via CDC.
The odd thing about ignoring the reality of this disease is people have known for years how to protect themselves. A century ago during the great flu pandemic, masks were a part of American culture. The difference between now and then is that people had a sense of common good, as compared to today when the notion of individual freedom at all costs trumps any general good to society.
Ever heard of the English village of Eyam in Derbyshire? Its citizenry figured out 350 years ago how to protect other villages from spreading bubonic plague. To this day, it’s considered a case study in how to prevent disease.
In Eyam, the plague arrived in August 1665 when a bundle of flea-infested cloth arrived for a tailor. Plague-infested fleas started biting people and they died. Over the next 14 months, some 260 people out of 800 in the village — almost one in three — died horrible deaths. But two priests developed a plan to try to stop the spread of the disease. Villagers agreed to quarantine, allowing no one in or out until the disease had run its course. Next they closed the church and held outdoor services. They stopped burying dead in the graveyard and buried them quickly after they died on land near where they died. Finally, supplies from merchants and other villages were left outside the quarantine zone and paid for with money that had been soaked in vinegar. By November 1666, there was no plague in the village and it had not spread to neighboring populations.
The example from Eyam shows how uneducated people were able to beat the disease by following protocols that were new to them, but known far and wide today: quarantining, not getting too close to others, having air flow in interactions and disinfecting things.
If they can do it, we can too by using the guidelines of modern science more effectively: wear a mask in public places; wash your hands frequently; maintain social distancing; and don’t gather in large groups. And for goodness sake, get vaccinated — something people in Eyam didn’t have.
Another surge is on the way. Let’s beat it by acting on what we know, instead of ignoring it.
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Charleston Currents, and publisher of the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Morris Financial Concepts, Inc.
We do not accept commissions or compensation related to the products and service we recommend. Our counsel is based solely on what we believe is best for each client.
NEWS BRIEFS
S.C. justice leaders react to Brunswick convictions
Staff reports | Murder convictions of three men last week for the shotgun-killing of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia, is being considered a major victory for justice in America that nearly brought the Rev. Nelson B. Rivers to tears.
In other recent news:
Bill would reform heritage commission appointments. If a bill prefiled by state Rep. J.A. Moore becomes law, the method to make appointments to the S.C. African American Heritage Commission (SCAAHC) would mirror other state boards and commissions, according to a story in the Charleston City Paper. Instead of the S.C. Commission of Archives and History having the authority to decide who sits on SCAAHC the presidents of the state’s seven historically Black colleges and universities would recommend appointments with staggered terms with the approval of the governor.
USC Lady Gamecocks unanimous No. 1. choice. After a dominating win this week over the No. 2 women’s basketball team from the University of Connecticut, the No. 1 USC Gamecocks were the unanimous pick as the nation’s top women’s team in the new Associated Press poll. More: Associated Press, ESPN
Nuclear plant in S.C. remains offline after malfunction. A week after a malfunction sparked a fire at V.C. Summer nuclear plant in Jenkinsville, the plant remained offline. About 250,000 customers in the state receive power from the plant but it has other generation available when nuclear operations are offline. Dominion Energy officials have not provided a timeline for when it will return to service. More: The Post and Courier.
Calculator says S.C. has great air quality but bad for abortion rights. A new quality-of-life calculator looks at why people are moving to certain states and what those states have to offer. Take the quiz or just see where South Carolina ranks. More: The New York Times
19 holes discovered at Charles Pinckney National Historic Site. Park officials say a person likely used a metal detector and dug 19 holes at the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site on Sullivan’s Island this month. It is both illegal to dig at a national site and use a metal detector. The site is the former plantation of one of the signers of the U.S. Constitution, Charles Pinckney. More: AP News
FEEDBACK
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.
MYSTERY PHOTO
Jet lake
Here’s an odd sight — a lake that has a peninsula formed to look like a jet. Where is it?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
We wish we could tell you that four dozen people identified it, but we can’t because something killed all incoming email for the week — except the spam from somebody named Alesandr from Russia. We’ve fiddled with settings and have it back running again, but can’t reward anyone for their mystery work this week. Oh well. We apologize specifically to all who guessed and in general for technology.
ON THE CALENDAR
Dunning, CJO bring holiday swing to Charleston Music Hall
Dunning. Photo provided.
Staff reports | Vocalist Zandrina Dunning will join the Charleston Jazz Orchestra (CJO) led by Maestro Robert Lewis for two Dec. 4 concerts guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.
It’s a Charleston Jazz tradition with big band arrangements of winter classics and holiday favorites such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Sleigh Bells.”
Dunning, who began singing as a youth in church and elementary school, began her professional musical journey studying classical music and theatre arts at S.C. State University in 2000. She received her bachelor’s degree in music industry with a concentration in vocal music in 2004. Since 2013, she has been managing her own career with a broad array of concerts and tribute shows. She also works with show production for Forte Jazz Lounge and Charleston Music Hall and in programming and management locally at OHM Radio.
Under the direction of Lewis, the CJO has been performing for audiences in the Lowcountry for more than12 years. It is comprised of 18 accomplished jazz musicians and is an entertaining and educational example of the rich history of jazz in Charleston.
Performances on Dec. 4 will be at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.charlestonjazz.com or call the Charleston Jazz box office at 843-641-0011. Tickets range from $25-$62, with discounts for seniors, military and students.
Also on the calendar:
Holiday Festival of Lights: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m, through Dec. 31, James Island County Park.. Visitors can drive through the impressive three-mile light spectacle with more than 750 illuminated displays. The festival also includes other holiday activities like train rides, marshmallow roasting, a climbing wall and more. There also will be a Winter Wonderland, which features the area’s largest holiday sand sculpture made from more than 50 tons of sand. You and your family can also explore the shops, an enchanted walking trail and the amazing dancing light display. Tickets It is recommended that visitors purchase tickets in advance online.
Elf the Musical returns: Dec. 1-19, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston. The popular musical, sold out in Charleston in 2019, returns for several holiday performances by actors at Charleston Stage. Based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, the musical tells the story of Buddy the Elf who is transported from Santa’s Workshop to New York City. Click here for times and tickets, which range from $32 for students to $36 to $75 for adults..
Winter Wonderland exhibit. Through March 27, 2022, Lowcountry Image Gallery, The Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St., Charleston. This exhibit showcases colorized photographs of remarkable snow days captured by residents of Charleston dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. More on tickets and hours.
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
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.
SHARE CHARLESTON CURRENTS
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.
ABOUT CHARLESTON CURRENTS
OUR UNDERWRITERS
Charleston Currents is an underwriter-supported weekly online journal of good news about the Charleston area and Lowcountry of South Carolina.
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.
Charleston Currents is provided to you weekly by:
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