Charleston Currents – Special to Charleston Currents

Articles by: Special to Charleston Currents

ADAMS: 548 miles down; Only 1,644 to go!

By Jerry Adams, contributing editor, May 14, 2019 | Their chatter let me know they were coming a few minutes before they caught up to me on the trail this morning. I stopped to let the young couple pass and we chatted.

“Since I left Springer in March, more than 500 people have passed me on the trail, “ I said. “But that’s OK. I’m slow. We’ve been out here for more than 500 miles and more than 500 hikers have already left the trail, ending their journey. We’re still here!””

They smiled. We chatted briefly about the two topics on every hiker’s mind — the machete guy and bears. Bears have been wreaking havoc in this area of Virginia, and the machete guy had just been arrested for killing one thru-hiker and cutting up another.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 05/20/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Photo memories from the 1960s

By Chuck Boyd, special to Charleston Currents | In 1964, I had a picture pending to be on the full MISCELLANY page in LIFE Magazine, but I could not identify where it was taken!

I was in a helicopter, returning inland after taking photos of surfers for my newspaper, the San Diego Union-Tribune. I was a staff photographer for the paper, lugging a bulky 4×5 Speed Graphic camera. I quickly managed to grab two shots as we passed over an apple orchard with the word “QUIET” plowed in the field in huge letters.

Back at the paper, the editor passed on using it, but when I sent a copy to LIFE magazine, the editors immediately called to say they needed a caption with the facts! We photographers at the paper had submitted shots before and always received a polite stock rejection slip… but this time, they phoned me.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 05/13/2019 · 1 comment · Focus, Good news, Photo Essay

PHOTO ESSAY: The colors of spring in Holland and Belgium

By Cynthia Bledsoe, special to Charleston Currents | My husband and I recently took a Holland and Belgium river cruise, starting in Amsterdam. We cruised through canals north to Enkuizen, a formerly important Dutch East India Company trading port, and then south to Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Veere.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 05/06/2019 · 1 comment · Photo Essay, Photos

FOCUS: Learn how to avoid enemies of change to realize success

By Anton Gunn, republished with permission | Recently, I have been focused on success. Particularly, I am focused on the changes you need to make to achieve success in your life.

Change is the operative word today. Change is a constant in our lives. Nothing in our lives stays the same. Everything changes. Some changes happen on their own. Other changes happen when we decide to make them happen.

I want you to be aware of the enemies of change. Yes, that’s right. I want you to be aware of the nemeses of the improvements you want to make in your life.

You must avoid them at all cost because they can stifle your success. You must learn how to defend and defeat them.

Here they are.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 04/29/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FRAZIER: The women of Magnolia share a love of nature and beauty

By Herb Frazier, special to Charleston Currents | Decades ago when Magnolia Plantation and Gardens only opened the gates during the azalea-bloom season, Nona Hastie Valiunas and one of her cousins hid in the bushes then jumped out to scare the tourists. It was a playful time for young Nona who now shares ownership of the gardens that has been in her family for more than three centuries.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 04/08/2019 · Comments are Disabled · My Turn, Views

FOCUS: On disruptive companies and policy-makers impacting change

By Stanfield Gray, special to Charleston Currents | Whether crafting outreach for major brands or leading political campaigns for U.S. senators, Matt McKenna and Taylor Bennett have equally impressive backgrounds in communications and public affairs.

For over seven years, Matt served as spokesperson and senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation. He also ran communications for Uber North America and spearheaded several political campaigns for governors and senators around the country. Two years ago, Matt co-founded Greenbrier, a San Francisco-based consultancy that helps individuals and organizations avoid, navigate and recover from complex media, political and legal challenges.

Taylor spent the first half of his career at Edelman and Adfero, where he managed reputation campaigns for leading brands like Walmart and American Airlines. He later served as Communications Lead at Uber during its early expansion and as Head of Communications for global bikeshare leader of North America. …

by Special to Charleston Currents · 04/01/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS, Cantral: S.C., Charleston County need environmental leadership

By Laura Cantral | Trash. Trash has always been a problem, and now that problem is getting even bigger all over the world. Global and local circumstances now mandate that we get creative on how we reckon with waste, including in our own backyard.

The New York Times recently reported that recycling efforts across the country are collapsing. For cities and towns, costs to run their recycling programs have skyrocketed after a crash in the global market. Communities used to make money selling cardboard, bottles, and glass, but now they get little or nothing for the material. At times, they even have to pay processors to take it away.

Small towns in Florida have canceled entire curbside pick-up programs. Philadelphia now burns about half of its recyclables, while city residents grow more concerned about air quality. Every plastic bottle dropped in a blue bin at the Memphis airport is thrown away. And in Charleston County, a month of recycling now sits under a tarp at the Bees Ferry Landfill.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 03/25/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Photos from a Lowcountry oyster roast

Staff reports | Local Realtor Rob Byko has a real eye for capturing the essence of the world around us. Whether he’s scouting birds in the wild or people with his camera, his photos provide a real feel that puts you inside the spaces and places he sees.

In this issue, we welcome Byko, who lives on Sullivan’s Island, as a contributing photographer who will provide periodic photo essays of what he’s seeing around the area. In today’s essay, you get a real feel for the grittiness and steaminess of a Lowcountry oyster roast. It’s easy to smell and taste the briny sweetness of oysters as they left the cooker and were dumped on the tables of hungry patrons of a roast earlier this month on Sullivan’s Island. Enjoy these — and future — photos from Rob.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 02/18/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Photo Essay, Photos

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivering a speech.

FOCUS: Remembering Dr. King and 6 principles that guided his work

By Elliott Brack, special to Charleston Currents | As we observe Martin Luther King Day, it’s fitting to review the King Philosophy. Dr. King viewed three evils, that of poverty, racism and militarism that he said formed a vicious cycle. He felt these were intertwined and were barriers for reaching his nirvana, what he called the “Beloved Community.”

Let’s look at his thoughts in this area, this taken from his view as recorded at The King Center in Atlanta and available on the Internet.

Fundamental tenets of Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence are described in his first book, Stride Toward Freedom. The six principles include: …

by Special to Charleston Currents · 01/21/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

MY TURN, Felkel: Bush had a life well-lived

By Chip Felkel, special to Charleston Currents | One of my heroes is gone and hopefully not the ambition, desire and commitment to see our country through this lens.

A text early last Saturday from an old friend (a loyal Democrat who understands it’s not about partisanship, it is about people) informed me that President George H.W. Bush had died. It was no real shock or surprise. He was, after all, 94, and just like my own parents who shared a long loving marriage, he was likely to soon follow his beloved Barb.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 12/10/2018 · Comments are Disabled · My Turn, Views