Charleston Currents

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Sunset at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Stadium in Charleston.

FOCUS: Baseball season opens Tuesday to sold-out venue

Staff reports | After a year in Charleston without minor-league baseball, the Charleston RiverDogs open their season 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at The Joe with a game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

“We’ll pull out all the stops for the first game of the season,” according to the ‘Dogs’ website. “A pre-game flyover, first pitch and national anthem from Mayor John Tecklenburg and a post-game light show are all part of our return.”

The game, presented by REV Federal Credit Union, is sold out, but there are tickets still available for other games throughout the week:

May 5, 12:05 p.m. It’s Perros Santos de Charleston Day in this Cinco de Mayo game versus the Pelicans.

May 6, 7:05 p.m. Thirsty Thursday returns in this match with the Pelicans.

by Charleston Currents · 05/03/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

NEWS BRIEFS: Conservationists applaud PSC decision on rooftop solar

Staff reports | The state Public Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday unanimously rejected a rate plan by Dominion Energy that conservationists said would have made it too costly for homeowners to add rooftop solar panels.

by Charleston Currents · 05/03/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

PHOTO ESSAY: A walk through a maritime forest

Staff reports | With a flash point of the May 4 election on Sullivan’s Island being the future of a maritime forest, here’s a look at nature’s diversity that can be found, day in, day out. (More: 4/19: Maritime forest looms large over Sullivan’s Island election.)

“People think of the maritime forest as being just the tall trees, but maritime forests are successional, starting with sea oats and flowers and then shrub thickets, filled with myrtles, which lay down soil and protect tree saplings,” said Karen Byko, a resident fighting to protect the forest. “The last part of the forest to evolve are stands of tall trees. Throughout, the Sullivan’s Island Maritime Forest is filled with wetlands.”

Enjoy these photos by Byko and her husband, Realtor Rob Byko, who serves as our contributing photographer.

by Charleston Currents · 04/26/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news, Photo Essay, Photos

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

NEWS BRIEFS: City seeks feedback on Ashley River bike/pedestrian bridge

Staff reports | Charleston residents can submit online comments through May 3 to a proposal that calls for construction of a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over the Ashley River to connect the peninsula and West Ashley. The Ashley River Crossing project seeks to provide a safe connection and increased access to the peninsula for bicyclists and walkers who live in West Ashley, where nearly half of the city’s residents live.

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

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

NEWS BRIEFS: $500 million fund is new to state’s $10 billion spending plan

Staff reports | South Carolina House members will consider something new this week in the state’s $10 billion budget — a single line item that sets aside $500 million to keep agencies from making midyear cuts that could be brought on by unexpected pandemic expenses.

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