News briefs

GOOD NEWS: Park for two hours for free in Charleston Nov. 24-Jan. 1

GOOD NEWS: Park for two hours for free in Charleston Nov. 24-Jan. 1

Staff reports  |  The city and county of Charleston are offering two free hours of parking at participating garages during the holiday season, starting on Thanksgiving and ending on New Year’s Day.

Click the link above to find out how to print the voucher. (Hard copies of the voucher will be a part of local water bills.)

Garages participating in the “holiday magic” present to area shoppers include the those at the visitor’s center, 34 St. Philip St., Concord-Cumberland, East Bay-Prioleau.  According to the flyer, “additional automated garages are participating,” but you won’t be able to see a list of them until later this week at this link. 

by · 11/20/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs
Charleston sunset, by Missy Hanahan.

GOOD NEWS:  Great sunset plus accolades for restaurants, groundskeeper, more

Staff reports  |  Here’s one of the best Lowcountry sunset photos we’ve seen in a while.  Taken last week by Missy Hanahan of Charleston, it’s hard to tell whether the sky or reflection is at the top of the picture of a still pond near Ashley River Road.  (Answer: Sky is at the top.)  Thanks, Missy, for the photo.

Also in Good News: Bertha’s, The Grocery:  Hats off to these two Charleston area eateries for making Eater’s annual list of America’s Essential Restaurants.  They’re two of 38 restaurants across the U.S. that made the list.  On Bertha’s in North Charleston, the site noted, “Albertha Grant founded the restaurant in the early 1980s, and many of her specialties — meaty okra stew, tomato-stained red rice, creamy lima beans, and turkey prioleau (a sustaining rice dish available only on Tuesdays) — originate from the culinary traditions of the Gullah, former slaves who established themselves in Lowcountry hamlets and the nearby islands.”  On The Grocery, Eater says, “he Grocery has steadily bloomed into one of the city’s most remarkable and welcoming restaurants. This is the circa-right-now modern American menu, Lowcountry edition: delicata squash with pomegranate and herbed tahini-yogurt sauce; smoked mackerel flanked by crackers with everything-bagel seasoning; triggerfish over cornbread puree, bacon, and pickled mushrooms.”

by · 11/13/2017 · 1 comment · Good news, News briefs
Photo by Michael Kaynard.

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 · 11/06/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs
Along the Ashley River at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, outside Charleston, S.C.

GOOD NEWS: Magnolia Gardens to undergo $3.2 million habitat restoration

Staff reports  | Ducks Unlimited has received a $1 million federal grant to launch a habitat enhancement and restoration project at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, according to a press release. The goal is to improve the flow of water through the various impoundments and ponds on the 500-acre Magnolia property to raise the diversity of plants and animals.

Funding from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) will be combined with $2.2 million in matching funds from federal, non-profit, state and private sources, said James A. Rader, manager of conservation programs in Ducks Unlimited’s South Atlantic Field Office in Charleston. The first phase of the two-year project will begin in the spring.

GOOD NEWS: From trick-or-treating to a referendum

GOOD NEWS: From trick-or-treating to a referendum

Staff reports  | With Halloween just around the corner, the health experts at Envolve, an integrated health care solutions company sent along these five tips to make sure you and your goblins have a safe night of trick-or-treating next week: 

Travel together. Before your little ones head out for the big night, make sure there’s a plan in place for an adult or two to supervise the festivities. It can be challenging to identify young ones in the dark wearing similar looking costumes. Make sure there’s an established plan beforehand to meet at a familiar location in case your child or someone under your supervision somehow strays from the group during the trick-or-treat trek.

by · 10/23/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs
Old postcard of a trolley on Rutledge Avenue.

GOOD NEWS: Charleston begins to update city-wide transportation plan

Staff reports  | The city of Charleston will work to update its city-wide transportation plan starting Oct. 25 with a series of public input sessions designed to determine transportation needs throughout the community.

“Engaging our citizens is a critical first step as we work toward improving transportation city-wide,” said Charleston Director of Traffic and Transportation Keith Benjamin.  “Their first-hand recommendations will help us to effectively define accessibility in Charleston, mitigate congestion and achieve a good balance of transportation alternatives throughout our city.”

Also in Good News: YESCarolina’s national winner; #4 minor league city; Ingevity and the Lowcountry Food Bank; Assessor’s Office; and eye health survey.

by · 10/16/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs
GOOD NEWS: Harvest Festival set for Nov. 4 on Johns Island

GOOD NEWS: Harvest Festival set for Nov. 4 on Johns Island

Staff reports  |  The 16th annual Harvest Festival will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 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.

Other Good News on International African American Museum, AAA credit rating, year-round market, more.

by · 10/09/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs
Schematic drawing of the new Baxter Patrick James Island Library, set to open at the end of next year.

GOOD NEWS: Officials break ground for new James Island library

Staff reports  |  A new 20,000 square foot library on James Island should open by the end of 2018, according to library and county officials who kicked off construction of the facility at a Friday groundbreaking.

In related news, county officials last week gave the O.K. to designers and builders to move forward with a new library to replace the Cooper River Memorial Library in North Charleston.

by · 10/02/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs
GOOD NEWS: Star Wars Reads Day to launch Oct. 7

GOOD NEWS: Star Wars Reads Day to launch Oct. 7

Staff reports  |  One of the most fun-filled days at Charleston County Public Library’s main library is just a few days away – Star Wars Reads Day is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 7.  Also, you can see one of two Star Wars movies starting at 2 p.m.

Dress up your kids (or yourself) in your favorite Star Wars costume and join more than 1,500 people in an event that continues to grow in size and entertainment value.  You might not think about your library doing this kind of thing, but if you visit, you’ll see lots of happy people (and some Stormtroopers), library officials say.

by · 09/25/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs
Carolina Youth Development Center’s Charleston Emergency Shelter, one of the organization’s three residential group homes serving children in foster care. Photo provided.

GOOD NEWS:  Carolina Youth Development Center wins national accreditation

Staff reports  |   Carolina Youth Development Center (CYDC) has achieved national accreditation through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA).

CYDC is a nonprofit serving Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties that provides shelter and support services to child victims of abuse and neglect, as well as youth mentoring programs and a community-based prevention program that helps at-risk families access the resources they need to stay together.

Also inside: Good news for the RiverDogs, benefit for the Whiddon family; Great success for local telethon for Harvey relief; and how to get amnesty for overdue library fines.

by · 09/05/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs