Charleston Currents

Focus

FOCUS: Nonprofit grocery store opens in North Charleston food desert

By Todd Chas | After breaking ground on a vacant city owned lot in the fall of 2014, Fresh Future Farm, a nonprofit urban farm, celebrated Lowcountry Giving Day on May 3 by opening its neighborhood store to the public.

On that day, Fresh Future Farm’s founder and CEO Germaine Jenkins (pictured above) started accepting cash, credit and SNAP (food stamp) benefits for an assortment of basic groceries and fresh produce grown onsite at 2008 Success Street.

The Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood in North Charleston, a certified “food desert,” has been without a full-service grocery store since Winn-Dixie closed in 2005. The new store is now open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

by Charleston Currents · 05/16/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Local group identifies 1/3 of state’s new HIV positive cases

By Bradley Childs | We recently uncovered a startling statistic about our community: Almost one-third of the new HIV positive cases in South Carolina last year occurred in the tri-county area. Of all the new HIV cases recorded last year by South Carolina community-based organizations, 33 percent of those were identified by Lowcountry AIDS Services. As a point of reference, Lowcountry AIDS Services (LAS) is just one of 10 community-based organizations that provide prevention services throughout South Carolina.

by Charleston Currents · 05/09/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Heat is summer’s number one danger for pets

By Dan Krosse, guest contributor | As the temperatures heat up, so do the risks of injuries for your pets. Dr. Lucy Fuller, DVM, of Charleston Animal Society says that the risk of heat stroke is the number one issue that pet owners need to be aware of.

“It takes less than five minutes for a car to get well over 100 degrees,” she warns. “There is no safe amount of time for a pet to be left in the car.”

Remember that dogs can’t sweat and the only way they can release heat is by panting. Health experts warn that just being outside can cause danger in the summer months.

by Charleston Currents · 05/02/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Time for another look at the “new reverse mortgage?”

By David Heilman, guest contributor | Once viewed as a last resort financial option advertised by aging celebrities on late-night television, reverse mortgages have long suffered from a bad reputation. Now thanks to new qualifications and needed program changes by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the “new reverse mortgage” is getting more attention from many and is seen as a viable retirement option.

These changes are beneficial to the industry and will help expand the conversation around how best to use home equity in retirement planning.

by Charleston Currents · 04/25/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: What the heck is DIG SOUTH?

By Stanfield Gray, guest contributor | When DIG SOUTH launched on July 4, 2012, our goal was simple: plant the flag as the South’s first and foremost event elevating the digital economy.

We invited leading brands and promising startups from across the region – Sparc, Blackbaud, Benefitfocus, PeopleMatter, RedHat, CNN, Coca-Cola – to join reps from global brands like Facebook, Twitter, Google, IBM, Fast Company, Inc and others to discuss innovation in technology, marketing, media, entertainment, business, entrepreneurship and other verticals. And since that auspicious launch, our mantra has been “Succeed in the South.”

by Charleston Currents · 04/18/2016 · 1 comment · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Expo expands to offer more resources to businesses, job-hunters

Staff reports | When the City of North Charleston introduced the North Charleston Business Expo in 2015, the goal was to help businesses collaborate and grow. After a successful inaugural run, the Business Expo has expanded, joining with Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC and Charleston County to offer targeted resources for businesses and employment seekers. In addition, exhibitor participants have increased to 200.

Scheduled for April 21 at the Charleston Area Convention Center, the Business Expo will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a networking reception through 6:30 p.m. Admission, parking, and Wi-Fi are free.

by Charleston Currents · 04/11/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Future bright for Volvo, Charleston

By Kyra Morris, contributing editor | In May of 2015, Volvo chose South Carolina to build its first plant in North America. Volvo will build its factory on a 2,800-acre parcel of the Camp Hall Industrial Campus near Ridgeville in Berkeley County. It will be a 575-acre first phase development with an initial 2,000-worker assembly plant. Volvo’s investment for its American presence in our home state will begin at $500 million.

Why Ridgeville? Ridgeville is a small town with a population of approximately 2,000 people who live 12 miles northwest of Summerville. Ridgeville is also 30 miles from a thriving port that currently exports more than 800 BMWs a day. The proximity to a vital port that provides access overseas is a very important factor for Volvo.

by Kyra Morris · 04/04/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Spring training photo essay

Staff reports | Live professional baseball will be back in Charleston when the RiverDogs have their home opener April 7 at Joe Riley Stadium, followed by six straight home games.

In anticipation of opening day, we thought you’d enjoy some photos from two Major League spring training games from the Grapefruit League in Charleston. Photos are from two games:

Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles, March 26, Sarasota, Fla.

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees, March 27, Tampa, Fla.

by Andy Brack · 03/28/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Bees bring a hive of possibilities to Magnolia Gardens

By Herb Frazier | Bee hives soon will give Magnolia Plantation and Gardens a new buzz to highlight the insect’s role as pollinators and the human threat to them.

Tori Johnson, Magnolia’s student and youth group coordinator, recently earned her wings as a certified beekeeper after completing a two-day introductory beekeeping course sponsored by the Charleston Area Beekeepers Association.

by Charleston Currents · 03/21/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Buckwheat Zydeco to perform at Cajun Festival

Staff reports | Renowned Cajun musician Buckwheat Zydeco will bring his energetic, accordion-laced sound to the Lowcountry Cajun Festival on April 3 at James Island County Park.

Zydeco and his band, which claim the three largest selling Zydeco albums of all time, will perform from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the festival, which opens at noon. Two other featured acts during the spring festival are Shrimp City Slim and Sidewalk Zydeco.

by Charleston Currents · 03/14/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news