Charleston Currents

Good news

FOCUS: A nourishing rain of books for Charleston County

By Patty Bennett-Uffelman | A recent article about urban “book deserts” in the New York Daily News highlighted a universal challenge for low-income families with young children: limited access to books.

The article focused on urban areas where concentrations of poverty and changes in technology have led to the closure of book stores, but in Charleston, some of our driest book deserts are rural areas, where families may live miles and miles from the closest book store or library.

According to authors Naomi Moland and Susan Neuman, “Book deserts are particularly detrimental for young children. Babies and toddlers (who do not yet have access to books in schools) need to be surrounded by books to develop preliteracy skills. …

by Charleston Currents · 01/09/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

GOOD NEWS: City Gallery to offer Sculpt Mettle! exhibit.

Staff reports | The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs will present “Sculpt Mettle: Redux! A Henry G. Michaux Retrospective” on Jan. 21 through Feb. 26, 2017, at the City Gallery, 34 Prioleau St., Charleston. The show presents 30 years of works by Michaux, a former art professor at S.C. State University.

by Charleston Currents · 01/09/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

FOCUS: Making Emanuels out of us all

By Marjorie Wentworth, contributing editor | The relatives and friends of the nine people murdered on June 17, 2015, are facing a second New Year’s without their loved ones.

The strength and dignity the bereaved have displayed during the killer’s trial is an extension of the goodness of those who died at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. And we all must keep telling their stories — to remind us of who they were and all that we could be.

by Charleston Currents · 01/02/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

GOOD NEWS: Seniors get holiday cheer from Palmetto Goodwill

Staff reports | Martha Deveaux (left) and Mildred Simmons, above, are two Charleston seniors who received some holiday cheer at the Charleston Area Senior Center thanks to the annual Golden Angel program offered by Palmetto Goodwill. The program allows the non-profit to provide a hot meal, sing carols, and deliver vouchers for clothing and blankets to more than 1,100 seniors in lower South Carolina.

by Charleston Currents · 01/02/2017 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

FANNING: The power of minding your own business

By Ben Fanning, contributing editor | I heard someone say, “It’s probably something tantric,” as I walked with my family into a tightly-packed pizza restaurant in San Francisco.

There was a couple sitting right next to us involved in a kiss that was so long I was concerned they might suffocate. The longer the kiss went on, the more people around the restaurant stared. Minutes passed and tension built. Is this even sanitary?

by Ben Fanning · 12/19/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Careers, Focus, Views

GOOD NEWS: You can recycle your Christmas tree

Staff reports | You can “go green” this holiday season by recycling your Christmas tree. Here are instructions from Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department:

Remember to remove all décor such as lights, tinsel, ornaments, etc.
Some municipalities will pick them up curbside, or they can be taken to a convenience center. The trees picked up curbside are transported to the Bees Ferry Compost Facility to be ground and composted.

by Charleston Currents · 12/19/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

FOCUS: Charleston artisans celebrate Smithsonian’s newest museum

By Janie Manning, special to Charleston Currents | Local sweetgrass basket artist Tonya White of Mount Pleasant joins local jewelry designers in celebrating the opening of the National Museum African American History and Culture. After six years, they were extended an offer to share jewelry collections with the Smithsonian’s newest museum gift store and provide actual sweetgrass basket displays created by Tonya and her Charleston family.

by Charleston Currents · 12/11/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

Progress

County and library officials unveiled a sign today at the location of a new library branch that will be built in Carolina Park off U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant.

by Charleston Currents · 12/07/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

FOCUS: Win a boat and have fun at a great party on Saturday

Staff reports | It’s only a few days until one of the most unique and fun parties of the year – the Rotary Club of Charleston’s annual Light Up the Night Parade Party. It will be held Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Charleston Maritime Center where festive attendees have a front row view for the 2016 Charleston Parade of Boats.

In fact, the party is a two-fer. Not only can you enjoy great food and drinks with hundreds of holiday-goers for an affordable price, but you can buy a chance to win a brand new 18-foot Commander Sea Fox boat being raffled by the club. Cost? $100 per ticket (and tickets are limited!)

Buy tickets to the party ($25 for adults; $5 for kids under 18)

Buy a $100 raffle ticket to win the boat

by Charleston Currents · 12/05/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

GOOD NEWS: Packers wrap a lot of gifts at CSU party

Staff reports | Charleston Southern University students packed 1,823 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child at CSU’s 6th annual packing party last week. Also this week: New DASH buses downtown; Joe Engel Street; Ann Thrash’s new online holiday store.

by Charleston Currents · 12/05/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs