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HISTORY: Debutante balls

S.C. Encyclopedia | The debutante ball as a rite of passage for young girls probably evolved from a seventeenth-century European custom in which aristocratic families presented their daughters at court to help them find suitable husbands. While a debutante may be presented to South Carolina society at an individual ball, tea dance, or other party given by her parents, the social events that accompany the debutante season across the state usually revolve around the official debutante balls held by organizations created specifically for that purpose.

by Charleston Currents · 11/20/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Features, S.C. Encyclopedia

CALENDAR, Nov. 13+: Johns Island holiday bazaar coming Dec. 2

Staff reports | The fourth annual Homegrown Holiday Bazaar on Dec. 2 will feature more than 100 vendors and farmers – and it’s just in time for you to do your holiday shopping from local vendors.

The event will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Johns Island County Park, 2662 Mullet Hall Road, on Johns Island. The bazaar will also serve as the farmers market for that day and is brought to you by the Johns Island Farmers Market and Sea Islands Chamber of Commerce.

by Charleston Currents · 11/13/2017 · Comments are Disabled · calendar

FOCUS: S.C. gun safety advocacy group seeks middle ground to curb tragedies

By Lindsay Street, via StatehouseReport.com | A gun safety lobbying group founded in 2015 after South Carolina’s mass shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston is still struggling to get lawmakers to listen. On Tuesday in Charleston, they’ll explain what they’re working on to get lawmakers’ attention.

Arm-in-Arm, a South Carolina grassroots group, said it is having trouble despite 2015 and 2016 polls showing more than 80 percent of South Carolinians favor stricter background checks on gun purchases.

“It’s reckless and irresponsible for South Carolina to not have reasonable laws that prevent people from getting guns if they should not have them in the first place,” spokesman Meghan Trezies said. “The biggest battle is to be heard.

by Charleston Currents · 11/13/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

Medals of Honor awarded by the three branches of the U.S. military. Left to right are the Army, Coast Guard/Navy/Marine Corps, and Air Force. (Source: Wikipedia.)

S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: S.C. Medal of Honor recipients

S.C. Encyclopedia | Approved by the United States Congress in 1862, the Medal of Honor is America’s highest award for military valor. Thirty native South Carolinians have been awarded the medal for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity” above that of their comrades in arms. On rare occasions the Medal of Honor has been awarded for individual exploits taking place in peacetime. Among them is Shipfitter First Class George Huber Wheeler of Charleston, who received the award for extraordinary heroism during a fire at Coquimbo, Chile, on January 20, 1909.

The first South Carolinian to receive the award during military action was Ernest A. Garlington of Newberry, who earned the honor for “distinguished gallantry” against the Sioux Indians at the Battle of Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890. Early in the following century, naval surgeon Middleton Stuart Elliott of Beaufort and Commander William A. Moffett of Charleston each received the decoration during hostilities against Mexican forces at Vera Cruz in April 1914.

by Charleston Currents · 11/13/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Features, S.C. Encyclopedia

CALENDAR, Nov. 6+: Time to head to polls, see the lights, more

Election Day: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Head to the polls in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms and other communities to cast your ballot in local elections. In Charleston, we encourage you to vote YES for a $20 million affordable housing referendum.

Holiday Festival of Lights: Nov. 10 through Jan. 1. Experience more than 2 million twinkling lights every evening at the 28th edition of the great, annual festival. More: HolidayFestivalofLights.com

Hort Harvest: 9 a.m. to 4:30p.m., Nov. 11, Magnolia Gardens and Plantation, Charleston. The attraction and Charleston Horticulture Society will present eight nationally-known gardening experts during this design, garden and grow event. Admission to the plant sale and produce sale is free. Garden admission is required for presentations and demonstrations.

by Charleston Currents · 11/06/2017 · Comments are Disabled · calendar

FOCUS: Holiday Festival of Lights starts this week

Staff reports | It’s already that time of the year again – time to enjoy the dazzling annual display at the Holiday Festival of Lights at James island County Park.

The 28th edition of the annual attraction opens Friday, Nov. 10, and will feature more than 700 bright, beautiful light displays of all shapes and sizes every night through Jan. 1, 2018. And starting Nov. 13, you can get $5 off the price of admission if you visit in the evenings from Mondays through Thursdays with a can of food for the Lowcountry Food Bank.

by Charleston Currents · 11/06/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

GOOD NEWS: Magnolia offers holiday food drive to help feed S.C. families

Staff reports | For the sixth consecutive year, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is collecting food for the Lowcountry Food Bank, which serves 10 counties in coastal South Carolina. Since 2012 Magnolia’s guests have donated more than 15 tons of food that has benefited families in the food bank’s service area. The food drive began Nov. 1.

“I am challenging other tourism-related businesses like Magnolia to support food drives of their own to help needy families during the holiday season,” said Tom Johnson, executive director of the attraction.

Also in Good News: A new local beer; a new Living Your Truth talk, CYDC gets nod from state; law school rated highly; and two law firms make national list.

by Charleston Currents · 11/06/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

CALENDAR, Oct. 30+: From a Harvest Festival to a health expo and more

Harvest Festival: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 4, Johns Island County Park. A foot-stompin’ showcase of Charleston’s bluegrass talent, this year’s lineup will feature local performers Blue Plantation, YeeHaw Junction, Southern Flavor Bluegrass, Marshgrass Mamas and Boss Hawg. Plenty of food will be available for purchase. There will be hay rides, a stick pony corral, pumpkin decorating, penny diving and more. Tickets are $8 per person; kids under 13 are free. More: CharlestonCountyParks.com

Take a walk on the Wild Side: 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 4, Hobcaw Barony, Georgetown, S.C. The S.C. Environmental Law Project will hold its 8th Annual Wild Side with special guest, naturalist Rudy Mancke, scheduled to be the featured speaker. Great event with boat tours, food, drinks, live music and more. For ticket prices and more information on the nonprofit benefit, click here.

Health Day Conference and Expo: 8:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Nov. 4, International Longshoremen’s Association, Morrison Dr., Charleston. The Healthy Lifestyle Network, Inc, will present a keynote by Dr. Souzan Abdel Samie, an internationally-trained specialist in family medicine, during a presentation on the impact of diabetes and high blood pressure on the heart. There will be other talks on living with diabetes, exercise and diet as well as blood pressure checks, screenings and more. Register online here: http://hlndiabetesconference2017.eventbrite.com

by Charleston Currents · 10/30/2017 · Comments are Disabled · calendar

Mayor John Tecklenburg, left, speaks at an event earlier this month at Williams Terrace. At right are Charleston Housing Authority Executive Director Don Cameron and the agency's board chair, Edward Kronsberg.

BRACK: Vote YES on Charleston’s $20 million housing bond referendum

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Charleston needs more places for police, firefighters, teachers and seniors to live if we want to keep the fabric of our community diverse and strong. If there aren’t affordable places for people to live, we’ll keep heading down the path of becoming a historical Disney world for rich tourists and rich folks who want to have a second home here.

You can do something to keep Charleston vibrant by voting YES in a Nov. 7 citywide bond referendum that seeks $20 million to buy, build and equip safe and affordable housing for people and families with low to moderate incomes.

“We need more housing that working families can afford — firefighters, police officers, nurses, teachers and more,” Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg told us. “That’s why this bond is so critical to our city’s future, and it’s why I’m asking our citizens to support it on Nov. 7th.”

by Charleston Currents · 10/30/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Andy Brack, Views

MY TURN: Let’s evacuate better next time by adding rail

By Fred Palm, special to Charleston Currents | Every emergency is different and each one gives rise to the opportunity to study and improve our responses in the next one. Try this for a moment.

Can South Carolina use the existing rail system to evacuate people, especially Charleston? Read more.

by Charleston Currents · 10/30/2017 · Comments are Disabled · My Turn, Views