NATIVE BEAUTIES: Native plants such as sarracenia (pitcherplant, in yellow) and iris make lovely additions to Lowcountry gardens and are often low-maintenance, too. Learn more about the S.C. Native Plant Society and its upcoming sale in Today's Focus. (Photo provided.)

TODAY'S FOCUS
:: Native plants beautify Lowcountry

ANN THRASH
:: Charleston library deserves praise

FEEDBACK
:: From Food Bank, Goodwill

THE LIST
:: Five ideas for a greener office

GOOD NEWS
:: Mt. Pleasant, Aquarium, Piccolo...

ALSO INSIDE

___:: CALENDAR: Coming events
___:: REVIEW: Show and tell with us
___:: HISTORY: Circular Congregational Church
___:: QUOTE: Einstein on creativity
___:: BOOKSHELF: Interesting reading

UNDERWRITERS AND PARTNERS

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TODAY'S FOCUS
Native plants make Lowcountry more beautiful, naturally
By COLETTE DEGARADY
President, Lowcountry chapter, S.C. Native Plant Society
Special to CharlestonCurrents.com

APRIL 16, 2009 -- As we work toward creating a beautifully landscaped yard, how many of us take the time to consider the flowers, shrubs and trees we are planting beyond the ornamental qualities they provide? Is it invasive, exotic or a native food plant for wildlife? We all have a responsibility to make sure what we put in the ground will be good for our environment, however suburban that environment may be. The S.C. Native Plant Society is a nonprofit group whose mission is to educate people about the importance of native plants.

DeGarady

There are five chapters of the Native Plant Society across the state, and each one is different in terms of the programs it provides to the public. The Lowcountry chapter holds lecture meetings the third Tuesday of each month (September through May) at The Citadel's Biology Auditorium. We also offer monthly field trips or workshops on the Saturday following our lecture meetings. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast or a backyard gardener, you'll find something of interest among the many different programs about native Lowcountry plants.

Our members participate as volunteers to help organize our programs, and we certainly couldn't do it without them. One of our largest events is our annual native plant sale, held at Charles Towne Landing each spring. Many volunteers are needed to unload plants, prepare tags and signs, and handle sales.

This is our biggest fundraiser, allowing the Lowcountry chapter to offer small grants to the public for native plant work in the community. Our next sale will be held April 18 at Charles Towne Landing

Planting native vegetation has several benefits. Native Lowcountry plants are already adapted to the South's hot and humid climate, so they require less attention and watering than exotic plant species. Countless native plant species are a beneficial food source for local wildlife, including butterflies and birds. Natives can also be aesthetically pleasing to the eye and symbolic of the Charleston area (i.e., palmetto trees, Southern magnolias and sweetgrass).

Certain exotic species that we plant can be considered "invasive," meaning they not only don't belong in this particular habitat, but they can be problematic (i.e., Chinese tallow or popcorn tree, Japanese honeysuckle, and Chinese privet). Invasive plants out-compete native plants, spreading over areas at a rapid rate. To learn more about South Carolina's worst invasive plants, visit the South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council Web site.

A great source for identifying native species in South Carolina is "A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina," by Richard Porcher and Doug Rayner. This book contains not only perennial wildflowers but also trees, shrubs and vines, and describes the typical habitats they are located within. Some examples of beneficial perennials include horse mint (Monarda punctata), goldenrod (Solidago species) and Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica). In the shrub category, beauty berry (Callicarpa americana), Virginia willow (Itea virginica) and inkberry (Ilex glabra) are pleasant additions to a landscape. Beneficial trees include redbud (Cercis canadensis), red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) and river birch (Betula nigra). Some native vines beneficial to wildlife include coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) and yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens).

Visit http://www.scnps.org to learn more about the programs offered by the Lowcountry Chapter of the S.C. Native Plant Society and obtain general information about native plants.

Colette DeGarady is president of the Lowcountry chapter of the S.C. Native Plant Society.

CURRENTS
Library deserves praise for earning national honor
By ANN THRASH, editor

APRIL 16, 2009 -- If the last time you went to a public library all it had was books, you need to get over to your nearest branch and check it out, pun intended - especially now that we have a nationally honored library system in our midst.

Library Journal, the oldest and most respected publication in the library biz, recently chose the Charleston County Public Library system as one of the best systems in the nation. [Read news release.] The journal's first-ever study evaluated 7,115 public libraries, comparing systems with similar operating budgets and rating them in four categories: number of visitors, circulation, program attendance, and public Internet computer use. Our own CCPL was awarded a star in the index, meaning that it is in the top 3 percent of systems nationwide.

"We're a community resource, not a vault with books that are kept under lock and key," says Cynthia Bledsoe, the library's acting director. "From computer training and entertainment events to homework help and finding the most recent book or DVD, libraries provide residents with essential services and information. Library Journal's star rating is a reflection of how Charleston County residents have embraced the library and understand its importance as a vital cornerstone in the community. We're proud of our rating and of the support from our community."

In a letter earlier this week to CharlestonCurrents.com and other local media, Bledsoe, library Board of Trustees Chairman R. Patrick Flynn and Friends of the Library President Sharon M. Harvey offered a big thank-you to Charleston County residents for making the library system busier than ever. The increase in patronage is due in no small part to the recession, they say. People finally seem to be realizing how many different services and programs the library offers for free. There are free videos to borrow, free computer classes, free activities for kids, free help researching anything from a grade-school term paper to the cost of living in another part of the country where you want to relocate for a new job, free advice on starting a business, and free arts and cultural displays. And that's really just the tip of the iceberg.

You can even patronize the library "virtually" these days via its Web site. For example, you can search the catalogs, reserve items from the library's collection, and make arrangements to have material transferred to your neighborhood branch so it's more convenient to pick up.

All this for the price of a library card -- which, if you didn't know, is no price at all. That's right, library cards are free to all Charleston County residents and business and property owners. Part-time residents, such as students and members of the military, are eligible for library cards, too.

In announcing the Library Journal honor, local officials noted that a 2007 comparison by the S.C. State Library found that the Charleston County system was the busiest in the state -- tops in circulation, patron visits, programs offered, program attendance, reference transactions, public Internet computers and number of branches. More than 2 million patrons visited CCPL branches in the most recent budget year. Nearly 1.93 million reference questions were answered, and approximately 147,500 people attended more than 4,700 library programs.

Kudos to everyone at the library who's been part of this success story - and here's hoping that once the economic skies clear, people will remember all that the library has to offer and continue to patronize it just as enthusiastically.

Ann Thrash is editor of CharlestonCurrents.com. She can be reached at: editor@charlestoncurrents.com

FEEDBACK
Food Bank emphasizing benefits of home vegetable gardening

To the editor:

I truly enjoyed reading your article today in Charleston Currents. As you may know, we have an aggressive goal to ensure that 60 percent of the food we distribute from our Food Bank be considered healthy food. In our efforts to encourage healthy eating, we have started providing nutrition education classes, and creating community garden projects. Since we live in a community where many of our clients suffer from high rates of obesity, high-blood pressure and hypertension, we feel a tremendous responsibility to provide a healthy choice to our clients. Thank you for raising awareness of the importance of growing our own food.

-- Jermaine Husser, Executive Director, Lowcountry Food Bank, Charleston, SC

Remember Goodwill when you do that spring cleaning

To the editor:

Spring cleaning will have new meaning this year as people tighten their budgets to save money during this tough economic time. Donations of gently-used clothing and household goods have softened in recent months, and Goodwill needs those donations to fund the critical job training programs and career placement services that we offer to the community.

When the community donates unused goods, Goodwill is able to provide hope to the homeless, dignity to the disabled and strength to those who are struggling through training and employment opportunities. Over 90 percent of revenues generated from the sale of donated items go directly toward funding the mission of helping people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. The mission is served by providing career counseling, job training and other employment-related programs to people who have barriers to employment. In 2008, Goodwill served more than 17,000 people and placed over 900 people into new jobs.

Since we do not receive funding from the government to support our job training and employment programs, donations play a pivotal role in our ability to provide the community with those services. As you clean out your closet, please remember to make an economic investment in your community, and donate items you no longer need to Goodwill.

-- Robert Smith, President and CEO, Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina, North Charleston, SC

Our policy: We encourage readers to submit feedback or letters to the editor. Send your thoughts to editor Ann Thrash. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. One submission allowed per month. Make sure to include your name and phone number. Submission of a comment grants permission to us to reprint. Please keep your comment to 200 words or less.

SPOTLIGHT

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GOOD NEWS
Mount Pleasant named best S.C. city for starting a business

BusinessWeek magazine recently chose Mount Pleasant as the best South Carolina city in which to start a business. The magazine looked at cities across the United States with populations ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 people to compile a list of the best place to start a business in each state. The analysis looked at 11 factors to gauge an area's entrepreneurial climate, including the number of small businesses and startups, the quality of the workforce, how many universities were in town, and measures of innovation such as the number of patents issued and the amount of venture capital invested.

"According to the analysis conducted by BusinessWeek using ZoomProspector.com, Mount Pleasant came out as the top place to start up a business in South Carolina," said Anatalio Ubalde, CEO and co-founder of ZoomProspector.com. "BusinessWeek is one of the most respected business publications, and this recognition should highlight the economic development efforts in Mount Pleasant."

Mount Pleasant Mayor Harry M. Hallman Jr. said the town was delighted to receive the distinction. "The town of Mount Pleasant has proven to be an outstanding location for business, offering a highly desirable lifestyle to attract and retain key employees while providing an available highly skilled regional workforce," he said. "Competitive costs of business, a pro-business attitude and attractive financial incentives highlight Mount Pleasant as a prime location for relocating, expanding, emerging and startup operations. The public investment we are making with our infrastructure is undoubtedly going to create a tremendous incentive for new business startups in Mount Pleasant."

The magazine article is available online here. The profile of demographic and business data for Mount Pleasant is available here.

Aquarium offering incentives for members through May 31

Both new and current members of the S.C. Aquarium can take advantage of special perks being made available through May 31. Current members who refer a friend to become a member before that date will receive a free parking pass and an extra month added to their membership. New members who join the Aquarium before May 31 will enjoy year-long unlimited admission as well as a gift.

Members receive exclusive invitations to members-only events, as well as discounts and other special promotions, throughout the year. To take advantage of the membership drive, visit http://www.scaquarium.org or call 577-FISH (3473) and ask for the membership drive incentive offer. To ensure proper referral credit, please be ready to provide the referring aquarium member's full name and address or member ID number.

Piccolo Spoleto ticket brochure now available online

The 2009 Piccolo Spoleto ticket brochure is complete and ready to be downloaded here. This year's festival runs May 22 through June 7 at venues around town. Event highlights include a battle of high school jazz bands, bluegrass cookouts, the Festival of Churches, music at Mepkin Abbey, a "Diehard (James) Dickey Weekend," "Beethoven: His Women and His Music," and much more.

Piccolo Spoleto, the official outreach arm of Spoleto Festival USA, was founded by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs in 1979. The festival is funded in part by grants from the City of Charleston; Charleston County; the S.C. Arts Commission; the National Endowment for the Arts; and the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

REVIEW
Share your ups and downs

• HAVE A REVIEW? If you have a review of a book, movie, restaurant or local arts endeavor, please send no more than 150 words to editor Ann Thrash. Make sure to include your name and full contact information.

HISTORY SPOTLIGHT
Circular Congregational Church

The Circular Congregational Church, dedicated in 1892, is the fourth house of worship on the site at 150 Meeting Street in Charleston. Its Richardsonian Romanesque style reflects Charleston's tradition of adopting current architectural fashion for ecclesiastical buildings, despite the city's famous conservatism in residential design.

Followers of many creeds populated early Charleston. The city's first congregations, St. Philip's (Church of England) and the Dissenter's Society, were organized in 1681. Builders of the "White Meeting House" that gave Meeting Street its name, the Dissenters included Presbyterians, Huguenots, and Congregationalists. French Protestants soon had their own church and others withdrew to form First (Scots) Presbyterian, but the independent church flourished, dedicating a larger building in 1732.

As the new church became overcrowded, the Dissenters planned a separate building on Archdale Street. The new building (today's Unitarian Church) was completed in 1787, and for thirty years two preachers each gave Sunday sermons at both churches. In 1802 there was again a waiting list for pews, and the church agreed to replace its building on Meeting Street. The third edifice, designed by Robert Mills and completed in 1806, was noted for its circular design.

The great fire of 1861 left only the brick walls of Mills's building standing. For years the church retained its identity while meeting in borrowed spaces, although before 1870 most of the black members separated to form Plymouth Congregational Church. Circular Church's earliest records show African American baptisms as well as white, and black communicants (both slaves and free) were often the majority. Some African Americans remained even after Plymouth was organized.

The 1886 earthquake finally made the ruined walls of Circular Church a safety hazard, and the congregation resolved to rebuild. Designed by the New York firm of Stephenson and Greene, the new church was erected by the Charlestonian Henry Oliver, who faced its walls with brick from the 1806 structure. The church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and the 1806 Parish House was designated a National Historic Landmark the same year.

-- Excerpted from the entry by Sarah Fick. To read more about this or 2,000 other entries about South Carolina, check out The South Carolina Encyclopedia by USC Press. (Information used by permission.)

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CREDITS

CharlestonCurrents.com is provided to you twice a week by:

• Editor: Ann Thrash, 843.494.4468
  
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• Address: P.O. Box. 22261 | Charleston, SC 29413

© 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.

THE LIST
Five ideas for a greener office

Making your office greener can be as simple as turning off lights and computers. The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and Charleston Young Professionals suggest these five ways to have a more eco-friendly workplace. Look for five more in Monday's issue.

1. Use recycled paper.

2. Purchase other recycled and environmentally friendly office supplies.

3. Turn off electronic devices when not in use.

4. Switch to energy-saving power strips.

5. Recycle your ink and toner cartridges.

QUOTE
Creative license

Einstein

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."

-- Physicist and genius Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

CALENDAR: THIS WEEK

(NEW) "Dead Man Walking Out": 7 p.m. today, 103 Maybank Hall, 165 Calhoun St., College of Charleston. The Charleston chapter of Amnesty International and South Carolinians Abolishing the Death Penalty present the film "Dead Man Walking Out: The Conviction, Sentencing and Vindication of Juan Melendez." Melendez spent 17 years on Florida's Death Row for a crime he did not commit. In December 2001, his conviction was overturned because prosecutors at his original trial had withheld key evidence.

(RESCHEDULED) 'Fun is Good' Conference: Scheduled for April 17, but moved to July 31.

Kiawah Art and House Tour: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 17, Kiawah Island. Tour of six homes is sponsored by the volunteer group "Gibbes, etc." to raise money for Gibbes Museum of Art programs. Each home features a distinctive art collection and dramatic views of the salt marsh, ocean, woodlands or river. Cost: $55, which includes an admission to the Gibbes; purchase at the Gibbes Museum Store online or by calling 722-2706, ext. 18.

Moonlight Mixer: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. April 17, Folly Beach Fishing Pier. Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission's popular Moonlight Mixers series returns for another season, with nine mixers scheduled for April through Septemeber. DJ Rob Duren will play oldies and beach music for dancing. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Cost: In advance, $8 for Charleston County residents, $10 for nonresidents; at the gate (if available), $10. Sellouts are common, so advance purchases are recommended. More info/other mixer dates.

(NEW) Earth Day Festival: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 18, Park Circle, North Charleston. Sponsored by the Charleston County Solid Waste and Recycling Department, the event features more than 70 environmental activities and educational displays, including an "Avant Garbage" recycled-fashion show. More info, detailed schedule.

Champagne, Cupcakes & Brides: 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 18, Francis Marion Hotel, Charleston. Dianne Shaver and Suzette Latsko, authors of "Bride's Advisor Charleston, Everything You Need to Create Your Dream Wedding in Charleston," are the hostesses for this event for engaged couples and their families. Champagne, Cupcakes & Brides will feature a variety of merchants involved in the wedding business, and the authors will be on hand to answer questions and sign books. More info.

Drayton Hall Picnic: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 18, Drayton Hall Plantation. Second annual Friends of Drayton Hall Picnic includes Lowcountry food, historical games for children and informal presentations on Drayton Hall archaeological work and architectural research. Tickets: $16.95 for adult members of Friends; $19.95 otherwise; $11.95 for ages 6 to 12; free for ages 5 and younger. Reservations/details: Courtney Bates, 769-2612.

(NEW) "Re-Run" and "Greenival": April 19, Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Events celebrating Earth Day include a 5K timed run and 1-mile beach fun run beginning at 9:30 a.m. on the beach at Boardwalk 18 (adjacent to the Night Heron Park nature center). The green festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a bluegrass band, food, green vendors, and family crafts. More info and Re-Run registration: 768-6001.

Heyward-Washington Garden Tours: 4 p.m. each Friday in April, Heyward-Washington House, 87 Church St., Charleston. The Heyward-Washington House garden includes plants that were introduced to the Lowcountry no later than 1791. Visitors will see camellias, tea olives, boxwoods, native azaleas, yellow begonias, roses, herbs and more. Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for ages 3-12 (free for Charleston Museum members); includes both the garden and house tours. More info: 722-2996, ext. 235.

Historic Charleston Foundation Festival of Houses and Gardens: Ongoing March 19 through April 18, various sites. Tours feature the interiors and gardens of approximately 150 historic private homes in 10 colonial and antebellum neighborhoods during the peak of the city's springtime blooms. Other events include Plantation Picnics at Drayton Hall Plantation, daily walking tours through the Old and Historic District, "Eat and Run" luncheons, harbor tours, book signings, etc. Proceeds benefit the work of the Historic Charleston Foundation. Tickets/more info: 723-1623 or by clicking here.

CALENDAR: ONGOING AND SOON

(NEW) Greener Businesses: 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. April 22 (Earth Day,) Embassy Suites Hotel, 5055 International Blvd., North Charleston. The Charleston Metro Chamber's North Area Business Council will teach businesses how going green can affect the bottom line. Speakers include Joel McKellar of LS3P Architecture and Lowcountry chapter president of the U.S. Green Building Council; Wayne Koeckeritz of The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island; and Jane Thompson, Liollio Architecture. Cost: $15 chamber members, $30 nonmembers. Registration.

(NEW) Green Tour and Expo: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 22 (Earth Day), 10 Storehouse Row, 2120 Noisette Blvd., North Charleston. Charleston Young Professionals will host the second annual "Get on the Bus Green Tour and Expo," featuring a tour of the Navy Yard at Noisette and surrounding eco-friendly businesses and neighborhoods aboard the LEEP Biodiesel Bus. Following the bus tour, there will be an eco-friendly art show and a green expo with sustainability tips from businesses, nonprofits and developers. Cost: $15 members, $25 nonmembers (fees include refreshments). Registration.

(NEW) Charter School Meetings: 6 p.m. April 20, April 22 and April 23. A local group establishing the Palmetto Scholars Academy, a charter school for gifted and talented students, will hold informational meetings for interested families. Locations are: April 20, Berkeley County Library, 2301 Daniel Island Drive, Daniel Island; April 22, Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St., Meeting Room B, Charleston; and April 23, Dorchester County Library, 76 Old Trolley Road, Metro Room, Summerville. More info.

Business Disaster Planning: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. April 23, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 2750 Speissegger Drive, North Charleston. The chamber's Business Continuity Planning Council will host a workshop on how to write a business continuity plan in light of hurricanes or other natural disasters, economic downturn and other unforeseen obstacles. Cost: $20 chamber members, $35 nonmembers. Registration.

Blessing of the Fleet: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 26, Alhambra Hall, Mount Pleasant. Enjoy samples of local restaurants' best seafood dishes, live music by the East Coast Party Band, shrimp-eating and shagging contests, arts and crafts, and a parade of decorated shrimp trawlers at the 22nd annual festival. Admission is free; tickets will be sold for food samples. More info, including a list of other "Week With the Fleet" activities.

(NEW) Wine Dinner: 6:30 p.m. April 27, Crave Kitchen & Cocktails, 1968 Riviera Drive, Mount Pleasant. Five-course dinner will pair classic French cuisine with French wines. Cost: $70 per person, including tax and gratuity. Reservations (required): 884-1177. More info.

Fort Sumter Findings: 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. May 2, Charleston Museum, followed by boat tour to fort. Dr. Russell Horres, a volunteer researcher and National Park Service Guide, will talk about new revelations on the fort's construction and events leading up to the start of the Civil War. Following talk at museum, group will visit the fort. Cost: $30 museum members, $35 nonmembers (includes boat transportation to fort). Make reservations online by April 24 or phone 722-2996, ext. 235.

(NEW) Magical Mystery Tour: 7:30 p.m. May 8, North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Charleston Ballet Theatre will team up with Eddie Bush & One Flew South to present a journey through the Beatles' songbook, featuring dance interpretations of classics such as "Lady Madonna," "Yellow Submarine," "While My Guitar
Gently Weeps" and "Penny Lane." After the CBT performances, Eddie Bush & One Flew South will offer a concert celebrating the Fab Four. Cost: $41 adults, $26 student/child. Tickets: Call 723-7334, visit the NPAC box office or go to here online.

ON THE BOOKSHELF

In this section, we offer a list of good reads that you might want to consider reading:

• A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson
• A Turn in the South, V.S. Naipaul
• The Book of Marie, Terry Kay
• Charleston Jazz, Jack McCray
• Going Deep: 20 Classic Sports Stories, Gary Smith (review)
• I'll Be Sober in the Morning: Great Comebacks, Putdowns, and Ripostes, Chris Lamb (List)
• Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller
  
  
• Suggest a book to us

FOCUS ARCHIVES

8/20: Yarian: New local music CD
8/17: Fisher: Uses of social media
8/13: Hall: Time for renovations
8/10: Morris: Dog days at Drayton
8/6: Lindbergh: Gifted school
8/3: Jackson: Insurance tips
7/30: VanBogart: Singles
7/27: Stewart: Get it clean
7/23: Rosenberg: Elect women
7/20: Nathan: Turtle release
7/16: Johnson: Online school
7/13: Thiers: Protect skin
7/9: Lee: Scoring supplies
7/2: Shockley: Company wellness
6/29: McKenzie: Park opening
6/25: Jones: Cheer on US rugby
6/22: McGahey: Young pros
6/18: Ridder: Dress for Success
6/15: Bender: Patriots Point
6/11: Gerardi: Furry Affair
6/8: Arnoldi: Reducing stress
6/4: Mathos: Field to Families
6/1: Moniz: Book burning event

• More of Focus in the archives

THRASH ARCHIVES

8/20: Good, bad, spineless
8/13: Locals on Runway
8/6: Cookie contest
7/30: Vote on car tags
7/23: True confessions
7/16: New way of tithing?
7/9: Lookout for manatees
6/29: Big green bus here
6/18: New Mt. P. promo
6/11: WDAV at Spoleto
6/4: Protecting your computer
5/28: Thoughts on hurricanes
5/21: Special weekend at home
5/14: Zucchini pie
5/7: Charleston cookie contest
4/30: Age spots
4/23: Mt. P. Farmers Market
4/16: Charleston library honored
4/9: First vegetable garden
4/2: Markets, mushrooms
3/26: Feeding the need
3/19: Waddling in
3/12: Great Food + Wine Festival
3/5: Provocative poem
2/26: Seeking colorful birds
2/19: Grab-bag of thoughts
2/12: The candy map
2/5: Shem Creek park input
1/29: Controversy over fireworks
1/22: Talking about oysters
1/15: Help bald eagles thrive
1/8/09: Local man moves up in contest

• More Thrash in the archives

BRACK ARCHIVES

8/17: RIP to old clunker
8/10: Lots to squeeze in
8/3: On flying Delta
7/27: Conspiracy theories
7/20: Protect carriage animals
7/13: Economic thaw here?
6/25: Sanford shouldn't resign
6/22: Lots of questions
6/15: Mosquitoes, water park
6/8: Think big
6/1: On public television
5/25: Shorten the session
5/18: A last supper
5/11: Legislature: do something
5/4: Spring is in the air
4/27: Mortgage discrimination
4/20: Carriage regs
4/6: Fun at the ballpark
3/30: Southern tour
3/23: Cultural appreciation
3/16: Hodges leaves great legacy
3/9: Being positive about economy
3/2: Remember rural areas
2/23: Looks at three books
2/16: What tourists see
2/9: PDAs, Phelps, layoffs
2/2: Whales vs. Dolphins
1/26: Dear Ellie ...
1/19: Lift hood on "reform" efforts
1/12: Truman book is great pleasure
1/5/09: Manning band is inspiring

• More Brack in the archives

LIST ARCHIVES

8/20: You know you're from...
8/17: On the school menu
8/13: Wines for grilling
8/10: First Day Fest facts
8/6: Sales tax holiday
8/3: Twittering tips
7/30: Fall planting
7/27: 5 for teens
7/23: Consignments
7/20: Beach reads
7/16: Save the books
7/13: Hot plants
7/9: Staying cool
7/2: Old Exchange 5
6/29: Historic house
6/25: Mosquito list
6/22: Hot stuff
6/18: Five to bid on
6/15: Last of Spoleto
6/11: Fun in the sun
6/8: Enviro-minded
6/4: Out go the lights
6/1: 5 on duck race

• More Lists in the archives