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Issue
1.27 |Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 |
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LIST GOOD
NEWS ALSO INSIDE ___::
CALENDAR: Coming events |
ABOUT US CharlestonCurrents.com is a new online twice-weekly publication that offers insightful community comment and good news on events. It cuts through the information clutter to offer insight and news on the best of what's happening locally. More. |
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TODAY'S
FOCUS FEB. 12, 2009 -- Yes, it's bad out there. Unemployment in South Carolina is officially at 9.5 percent, and when you add in the effect of reduced work hours and furloughs, you can add several more points to the effective rate. Businesses are throwing in the towel, seeing that we are in a long recession.
OK - - what now? What if you can make it through and be ready for what will be waiting on the other side? For many, an instinctive reaction to the economic drop-off would be to hunker down and move very cautiously. But if you pull back, it will be harder to climb back out when the economy does pick up again. The best approach is to push forward and take advantage of the slower pace of business to prepare for the upturn:
This recession is a generation-changing event. The economic culture that began after the 1982-83 recession of high debt, quick flips of assets (stocks, houses) and high, instant-gratification consumer spending are gone. In December, for the first time in over 20 years, consumer savings rose and debt dropped. The "new, new economy" will use debt judiciously, will save more, and spend less. In this new reality, you need to assess where and how you and your company will fit in. Peter Lucash is founder and CEO of Digital CPE, LLC, a Charleston-based consulting, information and training firm that works to improve the business management and direction of organizations. Peter is a faculty member teaching business, strategy and entrepreneurship for several universities online, including Northeastern University, Gratz College and the University of Phoenix. This commentary is © 2009 Digital CPE All rights reserved. CURRENTS FEB. 12, 2009 -- Life is a like a box of chocolates - unless there's a candy map.
Several years ago, when I was the food editor at The Post and Courier, a co-worker came in one February day with a big, heart-shaped, red-cellophane-wrapped box of Valentine's Day candy to share with everyone. My boss at the time, a great lady named Betsy Cantler, strolled out of her office, surveyed the gang that had gathered around the chocolates, and then asked the immortal question: "Is there a candy map?" In case you haven't heard that term - and at the time, I hadn't - a candy map is what Betsy called the little directory in the top of the box that identifies what kind of filling each piece has - nougat, buttercream, caramel, cherry, etc. You've probably seen one inside the lid of the classic Whitman's Sampler boxes - even if it never occurred to you to call it a "candy map," as my boss did. The candy map comment sparked a big discussion in the office about why some boxes had candy maps and others didn't. (Can you say "slow news day"?) Then we went off on a tangent about whether, if there was no candy map, you could tell what the filling was just by the shape of the piece of chocolate. Surely there had to be some meaning to the squiggles and swoops on top of the individual pieces. At the urging of my co-workers, I started looking into the situation and, after consulting various boxed-chocolate-industry trade groups, I decided to turn what I'd learned into a story for the paper's food section. I think we really blew the lid off the candy code, thanks to some tasty investigative reporting.
The subject of the candy map came up earlier this week in a conservation with my husband. It's been about a decade since that story was published, and I wasn't able to recall all the specifics about the different shapes and fillings. But thanks to the Internet, I discovered some similar guidelines from the National Confectioners Association. As a public service to all Lowcountry residents who might get unmapped boxes of chocolates this Valentine's Day, here's what the NCA says: "Each manufacturer usually has its own 'code.' If you find a manufacturer whose chocolates you enjoy, get to know their codes. A swirl with two loops on it may mean caramel for one company and buttercream for another, but it will generally always mean the same the thing within a brand. Beyond codes, look for signs of nuts (large bumpy surfaces) or coconut (small bumpy surfaces). Hard caramels are typically square or rectangular and soft caramels are typically flat and round (like a silver dollar). Chocolates that are wrapped often have liquid or softer centers (cherry cordials, for example)." If you want even more detailed information, check out a Web site called The Straight Dope. You've gotta love this site's motto: "Fighting Ignorance Since 1973 (It's taking longer than we thought)." The Straight Dope has uncovered more than even my former boss might want to know about what swirls on squares, straight lines on rectangles and curlicues on circles mean when it comes to chocolate fillings. Of course,
when you're standing in the candy section of the grocery store or drug
store, staring at all those lovely heart-shaped boxes, it's practically
impossible to tell whether there will be a candy map inside. That's why
you can't go wrong by following the advice of poet Ogden Nash: "Candy
is dandy, but liquor is quicker." Ann Thrash is editor of CharlestonCurrents.com. She can be reached at: editor@charlestoncurrents.com FEEDBACK
SPOTLIGHT
The public spiritedness of our underwriters and nonprofit partners allows us to bring CharlestonCurrents.com to you at no cost. This issue's featured nonprofit partner is the Lowcountry Food Bank, which was founded in 1983 as a clearinghouse for donated food items. The Food Bank, which receives more than 10 million pounds of donated food annually, seeks to feed the poor and hungry of the ten coastal counties of South Carolina by soliciting and distributing healthy food and grocery products to nonprofit agencies serving the poor, and to educate the public about the problems of and solutions to domestic hunger. For more, visit the Food Bank online at: http://www.lcfbank.org.
GOOD
NEWS Chef Aaron Deal of Tristan Restaurant in Charleston will be featured in the "Chef on a Shoestring" segment of the CBS "Early Show" on Feb. 21. Deal was selected to prepare an Oscar-themed menu on a budget of just $35.
Deal, 26, graduated summa cum laude from Johnson & Wales University. Under his leadership, Tristan has picked up a number of notable honors, including a Four Diamond rating from AAA. At the BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival in March, Deal will be creating the only vegetarian menu at the festival's popular Friday-night Dine Around. Deal will team up in the Tristan kitchen with executive chef Jeremy Fox and pastry chef Deanie Fox of Ubuntu Restaurant in Napa, Calif., to craft a five-course vegetarian tasting menu paired with exclusive wines. Ubuntu was named one of The New York Times' top 10 restaurants for 2008. For more
information on Tristan,
visit online here. For tickets or other information on the Dine Around,
click
here. Students at the College of Charleston raised $70,042 for the Children's Miracle Network at the MUSC Children Hospital during a 15-hour, student-run dance marathon held Feb. 6 at the Carolina First Arena.
Nearly 400 C of C students took part in the marathon. Participants raised money through their pledge to dance the night away in honor of kids who can't. All the money raised will stay in the Lowcountry to be used for children's programs and research at MUSC. This is the third year for the marathon. Students raised approximately $43,000 last year, and in the past three years combined, more than $130,000 has been raised through the event. Public
hearing tonight to address drilling off S.C. coast
The state Legislature's Natural Gas Exploration Feasibility Study Committee will be the host for the hearing, which will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Trident Tech Nursing Auditorium, located in the 920 Building on campus, 9000 Rivers Ave. Supporters of offshore drilling have said environmentally safe industry technologies could be used, and the drilling would reduce gas prices, cut U.S. dependence on foreign oil and boost the economy on the coast. Opponents have said that the industry poses significant threats to coastal ecosystems, the region's tourism-based economy, and the development of the alternative energy potential in the state. Dorchester
Co. has region's first certified industrial site
Dorchester
County Economic Development Director Jon Baggett said the county pursued
the certified site designation to meet the demand for port-served industrial
sites near the I-95 corridor and to address the need for job opportunities
in upper Dorchester County. "In today's competitive business environment,
companies need to be up and running as quickly as possible," he said.
"This certification offers companies requiring both port and interstate
access a low-risk option to help them make a fast decision. It also provides
Dorchester County a competitive advantage in attracting quality jobs and
investment for local residents, especially in the upper part of the county."
REVIEW
HISTORY
SPOTLIGHT Hartsville owes its existence to Captain Thomas Hart of Society Hill, who purchased much of the original town site in 1817. Kalmia Gardens, a thirty-acre garden near modern Hartsville, is the site of Hart's 1820 plantation house. The community grew slowly until after the Civil War. Hart built a road to Society Hill in 1825 and the community acquired a post office in 1838. In 1850 his son, John L. Hart, settled in the area, donated land for the Hartsville Baptist Church, and established several businesses. To promote the development of scientific agriculture, local planters organized the Hartsville Farmers' Club in 1859.
Though visited by Union troops in 1865, Hartsville escaped the destruction that accompanied visits to other Pee Dee towns. In the postwar years, Hartsville continued its reliance on cotton. In 1880 the town had a population of only fifty. But Hartsville blossomed between 1880 and 1920, primarily due to the efforts of James Lide Coker. After returning from the Civil War in 1865, Coker opened a general store that became J. L. Coker and Company. Coker channeled store profits into other enterprises, securing a railroad connection for Hartsville, then establishing Carolina Fiber Company to process pulpwood. The railroad and Coker's business acumen transformed Hartsville from a quiet farming village into a bustling town, which the General Assembly incorporated in 1891. Between 1890 and 1910 Hartsville acquired a newspaper, a high school, a bank, a telephone company, and numerous other businesses to become, according to the Hartsville Messenger, "the industrial beehive of the Pee Dee." In 1899 James L. Coker, Jr., founded the Southern Novelty Company to manufacture cardboard cones for the textile mills. As the textile industry flourished from 1900 to 1920, so did the Southern Novelty Company, which became Sonoco in 1924. By 1930 Hartsville's population had topped five thousand. By 1893 the Baptist Church, with Coker's support, had established the Welsh Neck High School, a private institution. With the advent of a public high school, the trustees of Welsh Neck converted their school into Coker College. With its railroad connections, Hartsville also became the leading cotton market in the Pee Dee, surpassing the county seat of Darlington. … In addition to Coker College, Hartsville is home to the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics. Founded in 1988, the Governor's School is a public residential magnet school for academically gifted high school juniors and seniors. The Allstate Foundation recognized Hartsville for its efforts to revitalize downtown and named it an All-America City in 1996. Coker College and Sonoco continue to define the character of Hartsville.
CREDITS CharlestonCurrents.com is provided to you twice a week by:
© 2008-2009, Statehouse Report LLC. All rights reserved. CharlestonCurrents.com is published every Monday and Thursday by Statehouse Report LLC, PO Box 22261, Charleston, SC 29413. |
Amy Mendez, a registered dietitian with MUSC's Seinsheimer Cardiovascular Health Program, says these are the top five foods to include in your diet for a healthier heart. For more information, to to MUSC's Heart Health Web site -- and if you missed Amy's top five foods to avoid in Monday's edition, click here. 5) Broccoli. Dark green veggies always top the nutrition list, and broccoli is usually easy to find and fresh in the supermarket. Cruciferous veggies are potent cancer fighters, and the beta-carotene is great for heart health, too. 4) Guacamole. What a delicious way to get heart-healthy monounsaturated fats from avocadoes! Ready-made refrigerated varieties such as Wholly Guacamole are easy to find at most markets. Try dipping with carrots or veggies for added vitamins and crunch. 3) Edamame. These green soybeans are a great source of fiber and protein. Plus, they're fun to eat when steamed - just pop them out of the pod! 2) Oat bran cereal. All cooked cereals help fill you up with their high water content, but 1 cup of cooked oat bran provides 3 grams of cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber per serving, the same as 3 cups of Cheerios. Try it with a handful of chopped nuts and a smidge of brown sugar. 1) Salmon. Omega-3 fats are superstars for many reasons, but heart health is one of the main benefits. One 3-ounce portion of this fatty fish provides your day's requirement and then some. For a quick meal, drizzle fillets with a no-salt marinade such as those made by Mrs. Dash and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. "There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart. … Pursue those."
'To Kill A Mockingbird': Feb. 11-28, Memminger Auditorium, 56 Beaufain St., Charleston. Charleston Stage production of Harper Lee's moving novel is directed by Julian Wiles. Tickets: $15-$29. For show dates and times, visit Charleston Stage online. Moments of Joy: 8 p.m. Feb. 12; 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 14, and 3 p.m. Feb. 15, Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St., Charleston. The Company Company presents "Moments of Joy: An Evening with Joy Vandervort Cobb" to celebrate Black History Month. Cobb, an actress, comedienne and singer, gives a one-woman show recounting the people and moments that have shaped her life and what she has learned from death, relationships, faith, motherhood, the creative muse, failure and success. Tickets: $20 adults, $15 students and seniors; available at The Company Company's Web site. Child Suicide Prevention Seminar: 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 13, Embassy Suites Charleston Area Convention Center, 5055 International Blvd., North Charleston. Sponsored for the community free of charge by the North Charleston Breakfast Rotary Club, the seminar is designed for teachers, school counselors, district administrators and staff from other organizations that serve children. Register by email or call Stacey Lindbergh at 745-5166. Read more in a Feb. 9 Today's Focus. Southeastern Wildlife Exposition: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 13 and Feb. 14; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 15, downtown Charleston (eight venues). SEWE features 120 artists, lectures, Busch Wildlife shows, sporting outfitters, and conservation exhibits. In addition, the popular Dock Dogs competitions return, along with retriever demos, free flight shows by the Center for Birds of Prey, and children's activities. Tickets start at $10 & kids 10 and under are free. VIP packages available. More info/tickets: http://www.sewe.com or 723-1748. RiverDogs Job Fairs: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 14 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 14, Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. Apply for game-day working positions with the RiverDogs, the Class-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. On Feb. 14 applications will be taken for positions in the RiverDogs' food and beverage department; apply for other game-day positions, including ushers, ticket-takers and Kidz Zone staff, on March 14. More info: Jake Terrell, 723-7241. CSO, CBT Collaboration: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14, Sottile Theatre, 44 George St., Charleston. The Charleston Ballet Theatre and Charleston Symphony Orchestra will offer a joint performance of three ballet masterworks underscored by works from a trio of celebrated composers. Tickets: $35-$45, available only through the CBT box office, 477 King St., by calling 723-7334 or ordering online. CALENDAR: ONGOING AND SOON Sea and Save: Throughout February, S.C. Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston. Reduced admission fee of $10 for all South Carolina residents during the month, a savings of $7 off regular adult admission. Proof of residency required. More info online or at 577-3474. 'Uptown in Downtown Charleston': Throughout February, Saul Alexander Gallery, Charleston County Library Main Branch, 68 Calhoun St. Watercolors by artist Andrea Hazel, a native Charlestonian, will focus on the neighborhood people, corner stores and small businesses that becoming harder to find in downtown Charleston. The paintings are part of an ongoing series that reflects Hazel's love for her hometown and the streets where locals live and hang out. Winter Golf Classic: Feb. 16, Wild Dunes Resort's Links and Harbor courses, Isle of Palms. Sponsored by Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, with 60 teams and plenty of chances to network. Following the event, there will be a Business After Hours at the Sweetgrass Pavilion. Sponsorships still available. Tournament cost: $650 per team, or $200 per individual. To register or learn more, click here. For sponsorship info: Laura Kate Whitney, 805-3113. Entertaining with Nathalie: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 16 through Feb. 20, Culinary Institute of Charleston, Palmer Campus, 66 Columbus St., Charleston. Join internationally known cookbook author and Charleston resident Nathalie Dupree for "Entertaining With Ease," a week's worth of classes on the art of entertaining, including recipes, ideas and tips for preparing ahead. Each day's class includes a brief talk and demo followed by hands-on cooking with Nathalie. The week concludes with dinner at Nathalie's Charleston home on Feb. 20 featuring the menu prepared that day. Cost: $899. Click here to register (it's course number is XPOC 657-501) or phone 574-6152. Web 2.0 Workshop: 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Feb. 18, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 2750 Speissegger Drive, Suite 100, North Charleston. The workshop, "Making Sense of Web 2.0 - How Facebook and Other Interactive Media are Changing Business," will help business people get a handle on Facebook, podcasts, YouTube, wikis, social bookmarking and similar tools that have become vital to staying competitive and creating a workplace that can recruit and retain tech-savvy talent. Cost: $15 for Chamber members, $30 for nonmembers. To register. visit the Chamber online. An Evening in the Orient: 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 21, Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St., Charleston. Annual fundraiser sponsored by Friends and Needed Supporters (FANS) of the Charleston Museum. Far East food, culture and items from the museum's Asian collections are showcased. George Read of Sotheby's will preside at an auction, with items including vacations, jewelry, Charleston silver, a 100-person oyster roast, a quail hunt, and artwork by local artists. Tickets: $60 members, $70 nonmembers. To register: 722-2996, ext. 264, or http://www.CharlestonMuseum.org. Chefs' Feast for Food Bank: 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 22, Embassy Suites Charleston Area Convention Center, North Charleston. 10th annual Chefs' Feast fundraiser for the Lowcountry Food Bank features approximately two dozen chefs from the area's top restaurants serving samples of their best dishes. More than 95 percent of proceeds support programs that fight childhood hunger, and all money raised stays in the community. Tickets: $150 per person, available online. Corporate and event sponsorships: Miriam Coombes, 747-8146, ext. 104, or mcoombes@lcfbank.org. BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival: March 5-8, various venues. The fourth annual festival highlights Charleston's distinctive restaurants, culinary history and cuisine while allowing guests to meet stars of the food world from around the nation, including chefs, authors, wine makers and pitmasters. Events include dinners, a gospel brunch, tastings of food and wine, cooking demonstrations (including a burger demonstration with Food Network star Bobby Flay) and more. MUSC's Children's Hospital is the signature charity for the festival. Details, tickets and more info: click here. Photographing Your Baby: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. March 15, Charleston Center for Photography, 654 King St., Suite D, Charleston. Portrait photographer Julia Lynn will lead this workshop, giving demonstrations and teaching students how to choose the right location for shooting, properly position the baby and get a great exposure every time. Aperture, shutter speed, ISO and lens selections will be discussed as well. Cost: $125. Register here. (NEW) Nature Photography Workshop: March 18-March 21. Through the Charleston Center for Photography, nature photographer Kenny McKeithan will lead a workshop called "Nature of the Lowcountry." Participants will travel around the greater Charleston area photographing various sites. Sessions include hands-on instruction for each student along with critiques. Cost: $300. Details/registration: http://www.ccforp.org or 577-0647. Penguins 'n' Pajamas Family Sleepover: 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. March 20, S.C. Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston. Sleep with the penguins at the aquarium on the night that the new Penguin Planet exhibit opens. Family sleepover will offer special chances to watch the penguins dive underwater, learn about penguin colonies and discover what makes them march. One adult required per two children attending the event. Reservations and advance payment required. Cost: $30 per member child, $40 per member adult; $40 and $50 for nonmember child and adult, respectively. Reservations: 577-3474. More info. In this section, we offer a list of good reads that you might want to consider reading:
FOCUS ARCHIVES 8/20:
Yarian:
New local music CD THRASH ARCHIVES 8/20:
Good,
bad, spineless BRACK ARCHIVES 8/17:
RIP
to old clunker LIST ARCHIVES 8/20:
You
know you're from... SISTER PUBLICATIONS We encourage you to check out our sister publications:
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