Charleston Currents

Good news

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.

by Charleston Currents · 10/30/2017 · 1 comment · Good news, News briefs

Rev. Joseph A. De Laine Sr., center, sits next to Eleanor Roosevelt (in white) at a New York civil rights rally in 1955. Photo from the University

FOCUS, Elliott: Time to recognize De Laine with a monument

By Carl Elliott, republished with permission of the author | If you look closely at Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark 1954 school desegregation decision, you’ll see that Brown wasn’t a single case. It was five cases consolidated into one. Briggs v. Elliott, the first of them, took place in my home state, South Carolina.

Briggs came about after the Rev. Joseph De Laine organized a group of black parents in Clarendon County to petition for equal educational facilities. The man who stood fast against that request — the Elliott of Briggs v. Elliott — was the chairman of the school board, Roderick Miles Elliott. Or as he was known in my family, Uncle Roddy.

by Charleston Currents · 10/23/2017 · 1 comment · Focus, Good news

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 Charleston Currents · 10/23/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

FOCUS: New local Livability PAC taps three for Charleston council

Staff reports | A new local political action committee focusing on livability in the Lowcountry has endorsed three candidates in three of the six races on the ballot for November’s council elections.

The new Lowcountry Livability PAC (LLPAC), a group founded by Charleston residents committed to advocating livability as a governing principle, said each of the endorsed candidates demonstrated a commitment to livability issues, protecting our community, and balancing the needs of a diverse community where people live, work and play.

Endorsed were incumbent Rodney Williams (District 2), and challengers Amy Brennan (District 6) and Carol Jackson (District 12).

by Charleston Currents · 10/16/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

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 Charleston Currents · 10/16/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

FOCUS, Palm: Where to start to fix flooding in Charleston County

By Fred Palm, special to Charleston Currents | The driver of future flooding or its prevention lies in Charleston County’s comprehensive land use and the county’s zoning code that is now undergoing review.

Charleston County’s Comprehensive Plan does NOT have water height, e.g., FLOODING, in the plan. Imagine doing a county plan without having looked at an inundation map, let alone defining a land use plan that will accommodate future floods. To continue to muddle through is other than the top-tier governance that we need now.

The next meeting of the countywide planning commission is October 9, 2017, 2 p.m. There, Charleston County can take immediate action in addressing flooding by crafting the comprehensive plan land use and zoning code to address the water issues.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 10/09/2017 · 1 comment · Focus, Good news

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 Charleston Currents · 10/09/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

Anyago Yarbo-Davenport will pay a tribute to opera sensation Leontyne Price. (Photos provided)

FOCUS: Colour of Music Festival’s 5th year to open Oct. 18 across Charleston

By Allison Savicz, special to Charleston Currents | Celebrating five years, the Colour of Music Festival offers a musical kaleidoscope showcasing the impact and historical significance of black classical composers and performers on American and world culture October 18-22, 2017 at various venues in historic Charleston, South Carolina.

The largest black-presenting classical organization in the world, the Colour of Music Festival brings leading black artists from France, Britain, Colombia, the Caribbean, and the United States performing orchestral and choral works, chamber, piano, organ, vocal recitals, and opportunities for community education with over 15 performances.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 10/02/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

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 Charleston Currents · 10/02/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

TODAY’S FOCUS: 11th annual Defense Summit set for Dec. 5-8 in North Charleston

By Heather Walker, special to Charleston Currents | Cyber-attacks are on the rise. The most recent cyber-attack impacted 143 million American’s personal information. There is no better time for industry leaders to convene to discuss hot topics involving cyber security, cyber intelligence, and cyber warfare at the CDCA Defense Summit one of the largest in the Southeast.

Walker
Most people don’t know that aside from Charleston’s idyllic beaches and laid back lifestyle, there is a burgeoning, defense tech community. The 2017 economic report for South Carolina states that defense contributes more than $24.1 billion to the annual budget. The dramatic growth of this community involves some of the most innovative offerings surrounding the defense industry.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 09/25/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news