Charleston Currents

Focus

FOCUS: Maritime forest looms large in Sullivan’s Island election

Staff reports | A decade-long lawsuit over trimming a maritime forest on Sullivan’s Island is the flash point of a May 4 election for mayor and three town council seats.

For years, homeowners cited concerns of vermin and wildfire risk when they requested the forest be trimmed prior to the lawsuit, which was settled by the town in October with a plan to cut many smaller trees. Other residents objected to the plan entirely, wanting the forest to stay wild.

At a Tuesday forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, two mayoral candidates and five council candidates had something to say regarding the matter.

“People are exhausted with the continuous fight,” said town council member Chauncey Clark, who is challenging incumbent Mayor Pat O’Neil. “Many people on the island are tired of our inability to come to some reasonable compromise on this issue. It’s torn the island in two.”

by Charleston Currents · 04/19/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Group plans to plant 3.3 million trees on Earth Day

By Skyler Baldwin | PowerPlantSC is prepping for what may be a record-setting loblolly pine tree planting event across South Carolina. The group estimates more than 3.3 million trees will be planted throughout the Palmetto State on Earth Day, April 22.

Several state groups have signed on to the event, conceived and directed by global expedition leader and S.C. Floodwater Commission Chairman Tom Mullikin of Camden. PowerPlantSC will involve the Boy Scouts, 4-H Club members, Future Farmers of America, schools and other key partners in the state’s 46 counties.

State leaders including Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette will participate in the statewide effort as well. “We are not only planting and growing trees, but this is about growing our economy and growing our state,” Evette said.

by Charleston Currents · 04/12/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Brookgreen Gardens offers a magnificent day trip

Staff reports | There couldn’t have been much more of a perfect day than a Sunday day trip to Brookgreen Gardens in Georgetown County. The temperature was mild. Humidity wasn’t anywhere around. And the sun shined a penetrating light on scores of statuaries and thousands of flowers that filled the attraction.

Brookgreen Gardens, known as one of the world’s finest outdoor museums of American figurative sculpture, has a stunning collection of more than 2,700 works by 425 artists.

Take a look at some photos below from the Easter visit. Brookgreen Gardens is about an hour and a half from downtown Charleston. The ticket price is affordable — $18 per adult — and good for seven days.

by Andy Brack · 04/05/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news, Photo Essay

FOCUS: Park Circle Art Walk set for April 10

Staff reports | Almost four dozen painters, sculptors, musicians and other artists will be participating in an April 10 North Charleston community art show in front yards throughout Park Circle.

According to a press release, the art show, which lasts from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., has been reimagined to take into account social distancing and the coronavirus. “It has been close to impossible to have indoor art shows so our creative minds got together to create a walking, biking, or car riding art show in our community,” the release said.

“Each artist will display, and some will have their works of art for sale, in their front yards throughout our beautiful community. We recommend viewing the show from your car, scooter, golf cart, or whatever mode of transportation you prefer. The weather is perfect and we are excited to be able to safely interact with each other.”

by Charleston Currents · 03/29/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Conservancy launches April litter cleanup program

Staff reports | The Charleston Parks Conservancy is launching a volunteer litter cleanup program in April to remove trash from the West Ashley Greenway and Bikeway.

“After conducting a community survey about the West Ashley Greenway and Bikeway, it was clear that litter is a big concern,” said Rachel Barry, volunteer manager for the Conservancy. “We are excited to give the community an opportunity to join us in cleaning up the trails and making them more enjoyable for everyone.”

The organization will give away 100 cleanup kits with bags, gloves, safety vests and trash pickers for volunteers to use in its Cleanup in the Parks effort to remove trash from any local park or public greenspace, according to a press release

by Charleston Currents · 03/22/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS, Saul: Why telling the truth is so important

By Dr. Robert Saul, special to Statehouse Report | Truth-telling is an essential skill for personal life, for interpersonal social interactions, for community activities and for governmental decision-making.

This obviously goes without saying, but I would argue that we are suffering from some of the recent ill effects of “less than truth-telling.”

Before everyone starts pointing fingers at each other or at the other political party, let’s settle back and just be honest with each other. Truth-telling can be hard at times (it has consequences) and listening to truth-telling can be hard at times (it can change our thoughts and actions). And it indeed takes a good deal of perseverance.

Truth is not in the eye of the beholder. Truth is a series of facts that often need to be proven or investigated. Truth is not an opinion. Truth is not a series of alternate facts because a series of alternate facts is a series of untruths. The search for truth can be frustrating but eventually leads to the correct way to live and to conduct oneself.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 03/08/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, My Turn, Views

FOCUS: Special window open to sign up for health insurance

Staff reports | If you are uninsured and want health insurance but missed signing up in a short window just before Christmas, you have until May 15 to apply for coverage. Local groups are ready to help.

Last month, an executive order by President Joe Biden, who promised to make health care more affordable and available for people without work-provided coverage, reopened Affordable Care Act enrollment on the federal health insurance exchange in a special enrollment period.

The Palmetto Project’s director of programs, Shelli Quenga, said that the only thing stopping many people from enrolling before was the lack of information, and the new administration has helped.

“When people know the facts and the truth of the ability to enroll, that really helps,” Quenga said. “Most people are covered by their employer-sponsored coverage, but they just don’t know how individual coverage works. It’s stuff you don’t need to know until you need to know it.”

by Charleston Currents · 03/01/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

Travel writer Bill Thompson says he's itching to get on the road to places like the Lake District in England. Photo via Unsplash.

FOCUS: Time to plan travel is now says local author in new book

By Bill Thompson, special to Charleston Currents | Feeling claustrophobic? After a year of social distancing and, for many, relative isolation, you could be excused for feeling the walls are closing in.

Thompson

Though the progress of distributing and administering COVID-19 vaccinations has been spotty, those receiving them finally have a chance to take a deep breath and have a glimpse of what life may be like not too far down the road. But no matter how well-appointed our homes or numerous our diversions, the avid travelers among us are bound to be getting itchy.

Count me among them. It’s been a long, if sometimes productive, wait.

I have traveled and written about travel for 40 years. And while I daily count my blessings and good fortune, it does not diminish my eagerness to be on the road or in the skies again, to set foot on another land, in another city, or hike the wilderness.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 02/22/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

Wentworth, left, and Singleton. Photos provided.

FOCUS: Wentworth, Singleton receive top state arts honors

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Former S.C. Poet Laureate Marjory Wentworth of Mount Pleasant and Grammy Award-winning trumpet player Charlton Singleton of Charleston have received the state’s highest award for 2021 for arts achievement from the S.C. Arts Commission.

““It means a lot to me that Charlton and I are getting this honor at the same time,” Wentworth said today about the S.C. Governor’s Awards for the Arts. “We used to teach together at [Charleston County] School of the Arts. We’ve improved together. It’s been so much fun to watch his trajectory. Because he got it too, It just means so much more. It’s just sweeter.”

Singleton received the award for Artist of the Year, while Wentworth received a special award.

by Andy Brack · 02/15/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Two dozen cute dogs adopted at Pup Bowl IV

By Rob Byko, contributing photographer | Pup Bowl IV, billed locally as “the most adorable football game ever, was held for three hours Saturday at Mount Pleasant’s Towne Centre.

Charleston Animal Society suited up 17 rookie free agents and a handful of older veterans – known affectionately as “retired players. They strutted their stuff in front of nearly 250 people gathered at The Oaks to watch part in the action. The crowd was masked-up and tried to remain socially distant as all anxiously awaited kickoff.

The event, a pet adoption and family-fun benefit, also featured live music, balloon animals, food, snacks and fund-raising for the society.

With game-faces on, the four-legged gridders rambled onto the field tussling and taunting each other, hoping to catch the eye of the young scouts who encircled the gated turf. …

by Rob Byko · 02/08/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news