|
TODAY'S
FOCUS
Expert advice
on protecting skin in summer and year-round
By BRUCE THIERS, M.D.
Chairman, MUSC Department of Dermatology
Special to CharlestonCurrents.com
JULY
13, 2009 -- Summer
is officially here, and anyone who is regularly exposed to the sun
should know the basics of skin protection.
Thiers |
Why?
Because the summer sun produces a high UV index, which puts your
skin at risk for melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.
Skin
cancer
- Skin
cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States.
- There
are several types of skin cancer, including squamous cell (flat
cells that form the surface of the skin), basal cell (small, round
cells in the base of the outer layer of the skin) and melanoma
(skin cells that make pigment).
- Most
of the 1 million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are sun-related.
-
Skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body, but it is most common
in skin that is often exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck,
hands, and arms.
- The
incidence of melanoma continues to rise significantly, at a rate
faster than that of any of the seven most common cancers (source:
http://www.melanoma.com).
- More
than 20 Americans die each day from skin cancer, primarily melanoma
(source: http://www.melanoma.com).
- The
survival rate for patients whose melanoma is detected early, before
the tumor has penetrated the epidermis, is about 99%. The survival
rate falls to 15% for those with advanced disease (source:
http://www.melanoma.com).
 |
Melanoma
risk factors
- Any
change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole,
freckle or spot, or a new growth.
- Scaliness,
oozing, bleeding or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule.
- The
spread of pigmentation beyond its border such as dark coloring
that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark.
- A
change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness or pain.
- Fair
skin, light eyes, many freckles.
- Severe,
blistering sunburns as a child or adult.
- Family
history of melanoma.
- Having
had melanoma in the past.
- More
than 50 moles on the skin.
- A
weakened immune system.
- Exposure
to UV radiation from the sun or artificial sources.
Protecting
your skin
The
best way to lower the risk of skin cancer is to limit time in the
sun. You can exercise and enjoy the outdoors while practicing sun
safety. Here are some ways to do this:
- Avoid
the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
-
Cover areas exposed to the sun (hat and long sleeves and pants)
and use plenty of sunscreen SPF 15 or higher (remember your hands
and ears).
- Wear
sunglasses with 90 percent-100 percent UV absorption.
- Avoid
sun lamps and tanning beds.
Schedule an annual full-body skin check with a dermatologist.
I
Will Reflect
The
Medical University of South Carolina has partnered again this year
with the Spa at Charleston Place to educate the public about melanoma.
"I Will Reflect" (IWR) is a program that aims to remind
individuals to "reflect" on the need to protect their
skin. There are several ways to "reflect."
- Wear
an "I Will Reflect" bracelet, which glows purple when
the wearer's skin is exposed to dangerous sun rays. They are on
sale at the Spa at Charleston Place for $3. All bracelets sales
will be donated to the MUSC Foundation's Department of Dermatology.
You can also share the message of skin protection with family
and friends by wearing an "I Will Reflect" bracelet.
- Pamper
yourself with a luxury "I Will Reflect" treatment and
The Spa at Charleston Place will donate 10 percent of the cost
to MUSC. These treatments combine an indulgent facial or massage
with sun safety tips, skin checks and sunscreen gifts.
- Enjoy
a 25 percent discount on a specialty sun care treatment when wearing
an "I Will Reflect" bracelet.
Bruce Thiers,
M.D., is the chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the Medical
University of South Carolina
CURRENTS
There's
a thaw in the air
By
ANDY BRACK, publisher
Special to CharlestonCurrents.com
JULY
13, 2009 – Slog through this month's South Carolina business
headlines and you might reach a surprising conclusion – that
there's an economic thaw going on.
Brack |
“All
of the indicators are certainly that the recession is losing its
steam,” said Ken Goldstein, an economist in New York with The
Conference Board. But, he added, it's going to be a “long,
slow, tough slog.”
While
the state economy may remain tough for retail and this year's tourism
numbers remain unclear, just look at what's going on in other major
business areas:
-
Boeing announced it would pay $580 million for a fuselage plant
in North Charleston, which could mean opening of a second production
line and more jobs to get the 787 Dreamliner jet back on schedule.
- A
Korean company is looking at South Carolina and four other states
to be the plant location to build a low-speed electric vehicle
– an investment that could bring 2,500 jobs over five years.
(Since BMW picked South Carolina in the 1990s, the state hasn't
landed a car plant as other states have upped the incentive ante;
now with state budgets in the toilet due to the recession, South
Carolina may be in a better competitive position because other
states don't have money to throw around, Goldstein said.)
-
An Australian fabric production plant is consolidating operations
to its sister plant in St. Stephens.
-
Michelin, which has its North American headquarters in Greenville,
has started a $1 million loan program to help small companies
stay out of trouble.
-
In Bamberg, a company is investing $800,000 in a textile plant;
in Summerville, a metal fabricating company is investing $2.3
million. Both mean more jobs for the area.
-
Other expansions are underway by Zaxby's and Dunkin' Donuts in
the Columbia area and Fluor in Greenville.
 |
On
the down side, the old Georgetown steel mill finally appears to
be closing after several years of see-saw existence.
But
the point is that after months of a tentative business environment
in which companies have downsized, consolidated and held onto their
money, something more positive appears to be in the offing.
“We
had a lot of announcements that were put on the shelf until the
economy picked up,” said S.C. Chamber President Otis Rawl in
an interview. “Maybe we're seeing some of those come off the
shelf now.”
He
added the big winners from the economic downturn likely would be
companies that had little debt before things started going south.
Now, he said, they're loosening the belt to do some additions and
make changes when it's comparatively less expensive to build or
buy inventory than it was 18 months ago.
Frank
Knapp, who runs the S.C. Small Business Chamber, agreed, noting
there was a sense anecdotally that the state's economy had hit rock
bottom.
“I
get the feeling now that people just are ready to get back to business,”
he said. “Everybody was cautious; nobody wanted to do anything.
I think the hunkering down part has gone out.”
Perhaps
a silver lining for our part of the country is that it may emerge
quicker from the recession than in the past. Through the years,
South Carolina was slower to get in – and get out – of
recessions because its economy was supported, in part, by a strong
military presence, Rawl said. But now with a more diverse economy,
it may be get back to a better business climate more quickly.
Goldstein
said he thought the business environments of the Colorado-Nevada
mountain region and the Carolinas-Georgia region were the two places
that likely would start growing out of the recession earlier than
the rest of the country.
Our
region, he said, had advantages because of its support for building
industries due to forest products (lumber) and furniture.
So
while unemployment remains high in the state with one out of every
eight South Carolinians out of work – and joblessness may stay
high for awhile before it starts to go down – the silver lining
appears to be a thaw that's starting to melt the freeze that's impacted
just about everyone. Let's hope we get back to normal quickly.
Andy
Brack, publisher of CharlestonCurrents.com, can be reached at: publisher@charlestoncurrents.com.
This commentary first appeared in StatehouseReport.com.
FEEDBACK
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your comments
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something to say about leadership in South Carolina, the state of
baseball today, good barbecue or something about your community's
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(phone number, hometown) so we can get in touch with you.
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more about all of our underwriters and nonprofit partners, click
here.
GOOD
NEWS
Charleston
youth to represent state at national track event
Charleston's
own DeAndre Burnell has been selected to represent South Carolina
at the North American Final track and field competition, the last
contest in a series of events in the Hershey's Track and Field Games.
DeAndre, a student at the St. Andrews School of Math and Science,
is one of only five South Carolina youngsters who qualified for
the meet, which will be held July 30-Aug. 2 in Hershey, Pa.
In
the Hershey's Track and Field Games, athletes ages 9 to 14 compete
in local qualifiers, with the top two finishers in each event advancing
to district finals. The top two qualifiers from the district finals
then compete in statewide competitions. The times and distances
of first-place winners at the state finals are then compared to
those statistics from other winners in their region. South Carolina
is in the Southeast region, which also includes Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and
Virginia.
The
Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission has coordinated
the South Carolina district games for almost 10 years.
Rucker
to give benefit concert to collect school supplies
Hometown
(and nationwide) musical favorite Darius Rucker will offer a special
concert in Charleston again this year to help bring in donations
of school supplies for needy local students. The concert is planned
for Aug. 13 at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Island.
Rucker
and his band, Hootie and the Blowfish (which also features Mark
Bryan, Dean Felber and Jim "Soni" Sonefeld), began offering
the "Homegrown Concerts" to support local schools in 2003.
This year, Darius Rucker will perform solo, featuring tracks from
his gold-certified debut country album, "Learn to Live."
"With
Dean's surgery and the break in Hootie for the year for my solo
country album, we all agreed it was important to continue the benefit
concert efforts, but with a country twist this year," Rucker
said. "It will be a great night, and we look forward to returning
for the 'Homegrown Concert' as Hootie in the coming years."
Country
music star Dierks Bentley has signed on to perform with Rucker this
year, and organizers say another special guest will be announced
in coming weeks.
Tickets
are on sale via
Ticketmaster (), at Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone (1-800-745-3000),
at local Publix outlets and at the Family Circle Tennis Center ticket
office (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon
Friday). Reserved seats cost $40 for floor or first-tier tickets,
or $32 for second-tier tickets. General-admission, third-tier tickets
are $25.
The
concert series encourages fans to bring school supplies to the show
as a donation. The first year the concert was held, fans filled
a 55-seat Charleston County school bus from top to bottom with supplies.
The band then decided to expand the concert into other markets.
In the years since, the band and its fans have gathered enough school
supplies to pack more than 60 buses (seven in Charleston County
alone) with approximately $300,000 worth of school supplies.
'Shaggin'
on the Cooper' comes to new Mt. Pleasant pier
With
the opening of the Mount Pleasant Pier at the town's new Memorial
Waterfront Park, the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission
is offering Shaggin' on the Cooper, a series of moonlight dances
on the harbor.
Shaggin'
on the Cooper makes its debut on July 25 at the pier, located at
the base of the Arthur Ravenel Bridge near Patriots Point, with
live music from The Sneakers, a four-piece party band that plays
beach, jazz, funk and blues. Beverages will be available for purchase
at the event; no outside alcohol or coolers will be allowed.
The
gates open at 7:30 p.m., and the music starts at 8:30 p.m. Only
800 tickets will be sold, and they are available at the gate only.
Admission is $8 for ages 3 and up.
Additional
Shaggin' on the Cooper dates are Aug. 8, Sept. 19 and Oct. 24. For
more information, go to http://www.ccprc.com
or call 795-4FUN.
REVIEW
Good
restaurant, book? Let us know
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
Louisville,
Cincinnati and Charleston Rail Road Co.
This
railroad represented the most ambitious dreams of the antebellum
Charleston business community: a transportation connection to the
markets of the Midwest that would return their city to national
prominence. Agitation for such a route began early; an 1832 proposal
to survey a route from Columbia to Knoxville failed when North Carolina
and Tennessee refused to put forth any money.
In
1835 a committee of citizens headed by Robert Y. Hayne proposed
surveying a route to Cincinnati, Ohio; that same year the group
convinced the South Carolina General Assembly to spend $10,000 to
cover the surveys. The company was chartered on December 19, 1835,
to connect Charleston and Cincinnati. Louisville was added two months
later to appease a Kentucky legislature reluctant to support any
project that would benefit only Cincinnati.
In
1837 the company purchased stock in the South Carolina Canal and
Rail Road Company in an effort to secure a source of revenue. That
same year the company began constructing a sixty-mile line from
Branchville to Columbia - the only track it ever built. Its charter
was later amended by the General Assembly to grant banking privileges
in an effort to finance the project. The company in turn organized
the South Western Rail Road Bank, but efforts to secure a charter
for the bank in the other states along the route proved fruitless.
Despite
initial fanfare, the Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston Rail
Road soon foundered because of the inability of the various states
to agree on the level of necessary financial commitment, the difficult
economic climate following the Panic of 1837, competition from neighboring
projects, and the death in 1839 of Hayne, the project's most vigorous
supporter. Consolidation with the South Carolina Canal and Rail
Road was considered as early as 1840, and in 1843 the two companies
were joined to form the South Carolina Rail Road Company. While
Charlestonians would still dream of western trade, the search for
a single route connecting their city and the Ohio Valley was effectively
over.
-- Excerpted
from the entry by Aaron W. Marrs. 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:
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
Hot
plants
Loropetalum |
There's lots
of shade at the new Memorial Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant,
thanks to the Ravenel Bridge overhead, but there's also a lot of
hot Lowcountry sun, so park planners choose plants that could weather
our weather. Here are five local favorites you'll see at the park.
1) Oleander:
The popular plants thrive in our hot, humid, often dry summers
and won't wilt in the face of salt winds off the water.
2) Lantana:
A low-maintenance, dry-weather lover. Lantana spreads easily (some
would say too easily) and comes in lots of hot tropical color
combinations.
3) Vinca:
Durable, abundant flowers come in everything from white to
baby pink to fuchsia and lavender, adding welcome color that sticks
around even in the hottest summer weather.
4) Loropetalum:
Sometimes called "Chinese fringe," this is a great
plant for year-round interest. Tiny flowers appear off and on
throughout the growing season and range from pale pink to deep
fuchsia, and the foliage is red-bronze when new, maturing to deep
purple-green shades.
5) Sweetgrass:
What would the Sweetgrass Pavilion be without it? Sweetgrass
(Muhlenbergia) fares well in a variety of soils, even dry, sandy
onees. The plants looks delicate and thin now, but just wait until
they flowers in the fall.
QUOTE
On
hard work
Kipling |
"Gardens
are not made by sitting in the shade."
-- Author
Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936)
CALENDAR:
THIS WEEK
Wine
Dinner: 6:30 p.m. July 13, Crave Kitchen & Cocktails,
1968 Riviera Drive, Unit O, Mount Pleasant. Summer fare paired with
California wines in a five-course dinner, with local wine experts
offering tasting notes. Cost: $54 plus tax and service charge. Reservations
(required) or more info: 884-1177 or online.
People
of the Land Exhibit: Through July 15, Charleston County
Main Library, 68 Calhoun St. The work of Lowcountry native and documentary
photographer Vennie Deas Moore will be featured. Moore has devoted
much of her career to exploring the vanishing traditions along the
S.C. coast, and her photographs show the connections between cultures,
the value of work and the symbiotic relationship between the black
and white communities. On June 28 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Moore
will discuss her photographs and her new book, "Home: Portraits
from the Carolina Coast." More info: 805-6930.
Preparing
Your Nonprofit for a Crisis: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 16,
Charleston County Library Main Branch, 68 Calhoun St. Learn from
experts how to prepare your organization for a crisis and how to
handle the potential of a media and public firestorm. More info:
805-6930.
Networking
Night for Entrepreneurs: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 16, Charleston
County Library Main Branch, 68 Calhoun St. Bring your business cards
and meet other entrepreneurs at this event, which is held monthly.
More info: 805-6930.
Palette
and Palate Stroll: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. July 17, downtown
Charleston. The Charleston Fine Art Dealers Association's Fourth
Annual Palette and Palate Stroll features art and food "pairings"
at 13 downtown galleries. Tickets: $30 per person; reservations
required. Call 819-8006 or go
online.
Reggae
Nights: 8:30 p.m. July 18, James Island County Park.
Join the Eclectic Roots Ensemble at the Charleston County Park and
Recreation Commission’s Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series.
In addition to the music, there will be Caribbean fare, pizza, Lowcountry
favorites and crafts. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. Cost: $8 or 5 books
of Greenbax; free for children 12 and under. Annual Gold Passes
will be honored. More
info online.
Free
Skin Cancer Screenings: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 18, Isle
of Palms County Park, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 8, Splash Zone
at James Island County Park. Dermatologists from MUSC will bring
the MUSC Mobile Health Unit – a fully equipped doctor’s
office on wheels – to the county parks to offer free skin cancer
screenings. More info: MUSC Health Connection, 792-1414.
Flip
Flop Ball: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. July 18, Gold Bug Island,
foot of the Ben Sawyer Bridge (Mount Pleasant side). The Fourth
Annual Flip Flop Ball will benefit Wings for Kids, a program that
helps children who grow up in poverty learn the skills needed to
succeed in life. Charleston Bay Gourmet will serving barbecue, and
Two 3 Ways will provide music. Open bar and beer kegs available.
Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the gate. More info/tickets: http://www.wingsforkids.com.
CALENDAR:
ONGOING AND SOON
Solving
Business Challenges: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 21, Center
for Women, 129 Cannon St., Charleston. The Center for Women’’s
Entrepreneurial Woman Series will feature a workshop called “Solving
Your Five Biggest Business Challenges.” What are the make-or-break
issues you need to identify to keep your business successful? How
can you best adjust to a failing economy and still thrive? Find
out what resources are available to businesses through the federal
stimulus plan and other resources to help entrepreneurs stay afloat
during the economic downturn. Cost: $20 CFW members, $40 nonmembers.
Registration
(required).
Shagging
on the Cooper: 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. July 25, Mount Pleasant
Pier at Memorial Park, foot of the Ravenel Bridge in Mount Pleasant.
Shag under the stars at the new pier. Music provided by The Sneakers
(four-piece party band playing beach music, jazz, funk and blues).
Beverages available for purchase on-site. Tickets: $8; only 800
tickets will be sold and must be purchased at the event (no advance
sales). More info: 795-4386.
Hurricane
Preparedness for Businesses: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. July
30, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 2750 Speissegger Drive,
North Charleston. The chamber’s Business Continuity Planning
Council will host the workshop, which features experts from local
governments and utility companies explaining how to write a business
continuity plan that works before, during and after a storm. Cost:
$25 chamber members, $35 nonmembers. Registration
(required).
(NEW)
Continuing Education Open House: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug.
11, Continuing Education Center (Building 910), Trident Technical
College Main Campus, 2001 Mabeline Road, North Charleston. The event
is designed to familiarize participants with TTC continuing-education
courses and they can provide training for a new career or personal
enrichment. Talk with course instructors, tour the facilities, register
for fall classes, learn about financial options, and enjoy refreshments
and prizes. More info: 574-6111.
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
- The
Book of Marie, Terry Kay
- Charleston
Jazz, Jack McCray
- 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
10/15:
Bender:
Special Olympics
10/12: Baron:
Breast Center
10/8: Ginn:
Growing prosperity
10/5: Buffum:
Waterkeeping
10/1: Personal
branding
9/28: Acker:
Designer fashion
9/24: Spencer:
Art galleries
9/21: Riley,
Moryl: MOJA
9/17: Gaither:
Green Room
9/14: Chesson:
Museum Mile
9/10: Barnette:
Chas. Ballet
9/3: Deaton:
Thrive Prize
8/31: Rawl:
Charting courses
8/27: Jurcova-Spencer:
Creatives
8/24: Brooks:
Rural Mission
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
THRASH
ARCHIVES
10/15:
Bob's
new food show
10/8: Robot
ice cream
10/5: Costumes,
snarks
9/24: Must-see
TV
9/17: Fall
leaves
9/3: Cold
comfort, more
8/27: Being
a fan
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
BRACK
ARCHIVES
10/12:
Renovated
Gaillard?
10/1: Napa
wine trip
9/28: Anti-crime
measures
9/21: Caw
Caw park
9/14: Debris
policy
9/10: Mystery
solved
8/31: This
and that
8/24: SC's
treasures
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?
LIST
ARCHIVES
10/15:
Giving
blood
10/12: Top
ratings
10/8: Major
league
10/5: Book
sale
10/1: Citadel
football
9/28: Taste
of Charleston
9/24: Feeding
the need
9/21: Hugo
9/17: History
for sale
9/14: Shrimp
baiting
9/10: Day
of Caring
9/3: Free
legal clinics
8/31: CofC
Class of 2013
8/27: Citadel
Class of 2013
8/24: 7
stores, 7 days
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
|
