|
TODAY'S
FOCUS
New business
showcases local resources for 'green' homes
By COLE GAITHER
Owner, The Green Room
Special to CharlestonCurrents.com
SEPT.
17, 2009 -- The Green
Room is a venue created to display local companies' products
that are renewable, sustainable and/or energy efficient. The products
are presented in a fashion that is interactive and educational in
an open-air-market style that offers the visitor time to preview
the items in a leisurely way.
Our
goal is to present the products that are currently available in
today's market that can be used to create a Near Zero Energy Home
and to demonstrate the applications in the Green Room. The information
and understanding of these sustainable, renewable, energy-efficient
products should, we hope, facilitate their use in the visitor's
next home or construction project.
The
Green Room came about through a combination of events. As the economy
slowed and residential construction stalled, so did my construction
development business. In an effort to restructure and conform to
the trends towards conservation, I used the "free time"
to try to understand the combination of products that could be integrated
into a starter home that would result in the lowest affordable electric
bill.
During
the educational process, I visited many "green" trade
shows and discovered that conservation could be achieved in many
other areas with little effort. It is this knowledge and understanding
of the sustainable, renewable, energy-efficient products that are
available and how they can be incorporated into mainstream construction
that the Green Room hopes to convey to its visitors.
The
American public has been jolted by the recent economic downturn,
and the resulting changes in our consumption patterns will be evident
in the way we view future purchases of all kinds. Recognizing the
public sentiment, the Green Room displays the products locally available
that provide these features.
Sustainable
products are those that meet our current needs while preserving
the source of the product for use by future generations. Renewable
products are those replaced by nature at a rate equal to or greater
than that at which they are consumed. Energy-efficient products
are those that use less energy to produce the same results. The
Green Room displays products with these characteristics and in ways
that demonstrate their qualities.
The
vendors in the Green Room represent a wide variety of products,
from the Stokes Honda 43 mpg Insight to the Heritage Plank Floors
reclaimed pine flooring. An LED lighting display by Controllit gives
visitors a demonstration of the excessive heat generated by incandescent
bulbs vs. LEDs. Bamboo flooring by Floor It Now and bamboo kitchen
cabinets by Advanced Kitchen Designs of Charleston are among the
renewable products displayed.
In
addition, other renewable products represented include solar wind
and power by Eco-Bilt and geothermal by Earth Comfort. Water conservation
and retention products by Cloud Stream and a working dual flush
toilet by Moluf's are displayed as well.
When
it comes to conserving energy Global Building Solutions' structurally
insulated panels house gives the customer a first-hand look at this
thermal package used to frame a house. Water retained off the Summit
Green Solutions roofing products is used to water the drought-resistant
grass in the Carolina Fresh Farms and Accu-Brick outdoor products
area. Low-voltage lights by Nite Lites give this area an energy
efficient lighting option. A unique electric zero radius riding
mower from Eco Mow will cut three acres very quietly on a single
charge.
These
vendors and the Green Room have come together in an effort to bring
the public an ongoing showcase of the products that will be the
future of residential construction. The "Green Room: Near Zero
Energy House Plans" publication will offer the construction
plans for homes with few or no electrical bills. We hope that you
will drop by and visit or watch for one of the events that we hope
to bring to the Green Room at 26 Cumberland St. in the near future.
Cole Gaither is the owner of The
Green Room.
CURRENTS
Expect to see red (and more) in S.C. mountains this fall
By
ANN THRASH, editor
CharlestonCurrents.com
SEPT.
17, ,2009 -- All it takes is a few cool evenings and a few college
football games to make some of us - present company included - start
thinking about serious signs of fall, including what kind of show
the leaves up in the mountains are going to put on this year. For
a little preview, Charleston Currents turned to the folks at the
S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, who kindly put
us in touch with Scott Stegenga, a park interpreter at Table Rock
State Park in Pickens.
Thrash |
"Right
now everything is still pretty green," Scott says, but before
long the blush to red will start. The sourwoods, which are understory
trees, will start to turn first, he says, followed by the dogwoods
and sweetgums. "If we have some nice warm days and chilly nights,
that helps bring out the reds, and that's pretty much what the weather
has been in September," says Stegenga. "We've been having
highs in the upper 70s and low 80s, and at night it's been in the
upper 50s and low 60s."
The
amount of rainfall in the months leading up to fall has an affect
on colors, too. A drought can delay the arrival of fall colors by
several weeks. On the other hand, a warm, rainy spell during the
fall isn't good either, because that can dilute the intensity of
leaf colors. This year, Stegenga says, things seem to be working
out in just about the right combination.
"Moisture
was good up until June but July and August have been pretty dry,"
he says. "Last year was pretty good (for fall colors) and the
drought was a little worse then."
What
everyone wants to know, of course, is when the peak leaf-peeping
time will arrive. "I think it will probably be around the end
of October - I'd say anywhere between Oct. 25 and the first week
in November," Stegenga says.
Raven
Cliff Falls in Caesars Head State Park.
(Photo courtesy of SC Parks) |
If
you're looking for a place to take in the fall beauty, Table Rock
State Park off S.C. Highway 11 has a lot to recommend it. Table
Rock Mountain looms over the park, and there's a nice overlook where
you can pull off the road, get out of the car and breathe it all
in. "Around the lakes, you can see up toward the mountains
and you get some nice reflections," Stegenga says, adding that
those who hike up into the mountains have a great perspective, too:
"It's equally as impressive looking down as it is looking up."
Another
drive in the vicinity of Table Rock State Park, he says, is up Highway
130, north from Highway 11, to the Whitewater Falls/Oconee State
Park area.
If
you want to keep up-to-date on these colorful developments, go to
the Table
Rock Web paget . There's a link there to a live Web cam showing
the mountain, so you can check in on the progress of the color changes
anytime you want.
- Good
news from the market:
After we lamented in this space (more than once) that the Mount
Pleasant Farmers Market didn't last past the end of October, we're
pleased as punch to give the town a laurel and hearty handshake
for its decision to keep the market season going until Nov. 24.
That's two days before Thanksgiving. Excellent! Can't wait to
get my Turkey Day veggies there and support our local farmers.
Ann
Thrash, editor of CharlestonCurrents.com,
can be reached at: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
FEEDBACK
Livability
fines 'unreasonable' for responsible homeowners
To
the editor:
Bravo
and kudos for your
remarks re: the city policy of ticketing for "livability"
infractions. It seems to me that they could encourage livability
if they suspended unreasonable ordinances. A $1,000 fine or 30-day
jail term? Are they kidding? Unreasonable response (to) effective
upkeep of home property.
It's
more than (the) friendly city that is flaunted. It's an unreasonable
and irrational response to a homeowner necessity in maintaining
the appearance of his residence.
I
luckily have a yard service, which I specifically arranged for a
Tuesday so that I could have my yard materials removed the following
day (Marsh Cove) to avoid any such notices. But I perfectly well
understand that some work can be completed only on weekends, so
(I) am never critical of my neighbors' cuttings and leaf bags visible
until pickup on Wednesday.
I
hope you indeed have a positive effect with city officials - often
very officious as well as obstinate. Good luck!
-
Leona Baker Hall, Charleston
Have
a comment or want to vent? If you have something to
say about leadership in South Carolina, the state of baseball
today, good barbecue or something about your community's government,
drop us a line to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Please send no more than 200 words and include contact information
(phone number, hometown) so we can get in touch with you.
SPOTLIGHT
Joye
Law Firm
The
public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring CharlestonCurrents
to you at no cost. In this issue, we highlight the Joye Law Firm.
Committed to fighting for the rights of the wrongly injured in South
Carolina for more than 40 years, the experienced, dedicated personal
injury lawyers of the Joye Law Firm want to help you get every dollar
you truly deserve for the injuries you've suffered. Whether you've
been injured in an auto accident, by a defective product, in a nursing
home, or on the job, we may be able to help you. For more information,
contact Joye Law Firm at 843.554.3100 or visit online at: http://www.joyelawfirm.com.
GOOD
NEWS
CCPL
film series to look at civil rights movement
The
struggles of black Americans from the mid-1950s to mid-1960s are
the focus of a seven-part documentary and discussion series that
the Charleston County Main Library will offer during the next two
months. The series, "Eyes on the Prize: Part One," begins
with the story of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white
man on a bus in Montgomery, Ala., and continues through the days
of Malcolm X and the movement's evolution to Black Power.
The
programs start at 1:30 p.m. Mondays in the Main Library Auditorium,
68 Calhoun St., on the following dates: Sept. 28, Oct. 5, Oct. 19,
Oct. 26, Nov. 2, Nov. 9 and Nov. 16.
For
more information or schedule specifics, call the library at 805-6930.
Museum
looking for Lowcountry wedding stories, old and new
The
Charleston Museum is collecting personal stories about weddings
held here in the Lowcountry in conjunction with a new exhibit, "Aisle
Style: 150 Years of Wedding Fashion," that will run from Oct.
16 through June 30, 2010.
Whether
the wedding was as recent as last year or as long ago as the 1940s
(or earlier), personal histories are welcome. The museum staff will
archive selected stories for future generations of Charlestonians
to read and will also post them on the Aisle Style Web site. Stories
can be submitted online.
The
Aisle Style exhibit explores wedding traditions, from orange blossoms
and blue garters to the magnificent white gowns. The garments in
this exhibition date from the early 19th century to the mid-20th
century. Most were worn in the Lowcountry, and all reflect the changing
fashions of the different decades. The earliest wedding dress dates
to 1806.
While
focusing on brides and their fashions, the exhibition will also
include accessories, men's garments, trousseau treasures and photographs.
The museum will also offer a number of workshops and programs in
connection with the exhibit. More information is available at the
Web site.
Mobile
phone company crews refurbishing youth club site
Charleston
is one of 10 sites nationwide to be taking part in the T-Mobile
Huddle Up, a national community outreach program designed to connect
kids, primarily from single-parent families in high-need urban communities,
to positive people, places and programs.
In
Charleston, about 150 T-Mobile employees and volunteers are giving
an "extreme makeover" today to the Boys & Girls Club
building at 22 Mary St. downtown. Plans include creating a "Huddle
Up Zone," a customized after-school space stocked with computers,
furniture, books and games; adding murals to the gym; setting up
an outdoor courtyard with landscaping and places to sit; and repainting
the entire facility.
This
is the fourth consecutive year for the T-Mobile program nationally,
but its first effort in Charleston.
Get
in the Gibbes free on Sept. 26 for Folk Art Community Day
The
Gibbes Museum of Art, with support from the Junior League of Charleston,
will be offering a Folk Art Community Day on Sept. 26 with free
admission and family activities from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Junior
League Community Days are held quarterly to offer visitors the opportunity
to experience the Gibbes' programming free of charge.
Community
Day events will include art-making activities for children, a ballet
performance by Once Upon a Ballet, and beverages from Rising High
Cafe. Visitors can also enjoy the special exhibition "Ancestry
& Innovation: African-American Art from the American Folk Art
Museum."
The
Gibbes is located at 135 Meeting St. Go to http://www.gibbesmuseum.org
for more information or details.
REVIEW
Send
us your opinion
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
Taxpayers'
Conventions
In
1871 and 1874 white Democrats in South Carolina, frustrated with
high taxes and the Republicans' domination of the state government,
held statewide conventions to register their protests. The 1871
convention met in Columbia to protest that year's tax increase to
the unheard-of level of eleven mills on the dollar. William D. Porter
of Charleston presided, and the leading members of the convention
were Matthew C. Butler and Martin W. Gary of Edgefield. The delegates
undertook a rather cursory review of the state's finances and (erroneously)
pronounced the state's debt to be entirely legitimate. They also
advocated a scheme for "cumulative voting," which would
have increased the representation of the minority party (the Democrats)
in the legislature.
In
1873 widespread reports of profligate spending and financial malfeasance
by the Republican state government surfaced, accompanied by the
highest taxes of the Reconstruction era (twelve mills). A second
Taxpayers' Convention therefore met in February of 1874, with William
D. Porter again presiding. Martin Gary again played a leading role,
this time proposing to solve the problems of white South Carolinians
by recruiting white immigrants into the state in order to outnumber
blacks. The convention submitted a petition to President Ulysses
Grant and to Congress complaining of "taxation without representation,"
by which they meant that the class that paid the bulk of the taxes-white
Democrats-was unable to win elective office. Neither Congress nor
the president was impressed by this logic.
The
1874 convention, like its predecessor in 1871, achieved its most
important results indirectly: by shining a light on the financial
situation of the state, both conventions shamed the Republican government
into conducting its own investigation. The second investigation,
completed in June 1874, provided the most revealing picture yet
of Republican financial mismanagement and laid the foundation for
the rapid improvements that took place during Governor Daniel Chamberlain's
administration.
--
Excerpted from the entry by Hyman S. Rubin III. 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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|
 THE
LIST
History for
sale
Handel |
If you'd like
to add some authentic Charleston history to your home, you have
a rare opportunity to do so this weekend. The Historic
Charleston Foundation is selling a variety of salvaged architectural
elements to the public, including many items recovered around the
city in the wake of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The sale will be held
from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 575 Meeting St. We asked Leigh
Handal, HCF's director of communications and public programs, to
clue us in to five interesting items she saw this week among the
merchandise up for sale. Here's Leigh's list:
- A lunette
window frame from the Capt. James Missroon House (HCF's office
and headquarters).
- A stained
glass door/window.
- Frances
Edmunds' typewriter (Edmunds was the first executive director
of the foundation).
- 19th-century
door sidelights.
- Nine-over-nine
window sashes.
- An old weight
and balance set
- Victorian
molding pieces
- Marble scraps
- Beautifully
detailed door brackets
QUOTE
On
happiness
Repplier |
"It is
not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible
to find it elsewhere."
-- Agnes
Repplier, American essayist (1855 - 1950)
CALENDAR:
THIS WEEK
Third
Thursdays: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 17, downtown Summerville.
The Summerville D.R.E.A.M. group (Downtown Restoration, Enhancement
and Management) sponsors the event the third Thursday of each month
to promote local businesses and community spirit. This month's event
features the Cobblestone Jazz Trio playing selections from Duke
Ellington, Frank Sinatra and other favorites. Businesses will be
open for shopping and dining, and artists will display their work
on Short Central Avenue as part of the Art Central Art Walk.
ECCO
Hurricane Party: 7 p.m. Sept. 18, Omar Shrine Temple,
Mount Pleasant. To mark 20 years of service, East Cooper Community
Outreach, which was founded in the wake of Hurricane Hugo in 1989,
is having a Hurricane Party featuring a an auction, music and dancing
to the music of the Mighty Kicks, heavy hors d'oeuvres by Cru Catering
and an open bar featuring hurricanes. Tickets: $50 in advance, $60
at the door. More info/tickets: 971-9500 or online.
Lowcountry
Spiritual Journey: 7 p.m. Sept. 19, Christ Episcopal
Church, 2304 Highway 17 North, Mount Pleasant. The newly formed
Charleston Symphony Orchestra Spiritual Ensemble, under the direction
of Nathan L. Nelson, will kick off its first full season with this
performance, which is free (donations are accepted) and open to
the public. A pre-concert voice recital featuring lyric soprano
Shanelle Woods of Charleston Southern University will begin at 5:30
p.m. More
info.
CALENDAR:
ONGOING AND SOON
ABWA
Meeting: 6 p.m. Sept. 21, Wescott Country Club at Wescott
Plantation, 5000 Wescott Club Drive, Summerville. Meeting of the
Jessamine Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association.
All local business women are welcome. Meeting lasts about two hours
and includes dinner; the guest speaker is Sue Mac Ridgeway of Divine
Creations, speaking on interior design. Networking starts at 6 p.m.;
meeting and dinner are at 6:30 p.m. Optional dinner cost: $15 (includes
tax and gratuity) payable at the door by cash or check; cash bar
will also be available during the networking time. Reservations
(required): Send an email
to Shirlie Taylor, 873-6769.
ECMOW
Golf Tournament: Sept. 22, RiverTowne Country Club, Mount
Pleasant. The 11th Annual Outback Steakhouse Charity Golf Classic
to benefit East Cooper Meals on Wheels will feature a daylong tournament
and banquet. More info: 881-9350 or visit here
online .
(NEW)
'Quick Connect' Webinar: 8:30 a.m. Sept. 23. Pluff
Mud Connect will host a free online webinar detailing five reasons
that successful for-profit businesses benefit from nonprofit customers.
Laura Deaton, a nationally renowned nonprofit expert and founder
of Pluff Mud Connect, will lead the webinar, which will last less
than 20 minutes. To join the discussion, register
in advance online. Pluff Mud Connect is an underwriter for CharlestonCurrents.com.
MOJA
Festival:
Sept. 24 through Oct. 4, various locations. Tickets are now
on sale for the annual arts festival, which highlights black artists'
contributions to dance, music, literary arts, visual arts, theater
and the overall cultural community in Charleston. Schedules, tickets,
more info: http://www.mojafestival.com.
SEWE
Fall Party: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 25, Charleston Visitor
Center, 375 Meeting St. Casual event to unveil featured artist Luke
Frazier's official poster for the 2010 Southeastern Wildlife Expo.
Includes oysters, barbecue and side from Buck Ridge Plantation,
plus live music by Triple Lindy, an open bar, and a silent auction
and raffles to benefit Ducks Unlimited. Attendees must be 21 or
over. Tickets: $40 in advance through http://www.sewe.com
or by calling 723-1748; at the door, if available, tickets are $50.
Benefit
Fashion Show: Noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 26, Jasmine Porch
restaurant, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island. Fashion show and luncheon
will benefit the Center For Women. Models will wear fashions from
Eden Boheme and Cose Belle, and jewelry designers will display their
work. Three-course lunch includes champagne. Cost: $45 plus tax
and gratuity; portion of the proceeds go to the Center for Women.
Lunch guests also get complimentary beach access at The Sanctuary
for the day. More info/reservations: 768-6253. The Center For Women
is a nonprofit partner of CharlestonCurrents.com.
Concert
in the Park: 6 p.m. Sept. 26, Mayflower Court park, next
to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, 30 Race St., Charleston.
The concert is part of the church's year-long centennial celebration.
Program will feature Holy Trinity's Centennial Choir performing
liturgical music as well as secular selections in both Greek and
English; in addition, Ann Caldwell and the Magnolia Singers will
perform spirituals. Cost: $15 for adults; $3 ages 17 and under.
Tickets available at the Hellenic Center, 30 Race St., or by calling
577-2063 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays before Sept. 25).
Entertaining Charleston Style: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays,
Sept. 30 through Nov. 18, Culinary Institute of Charleston's
Palmer Campus, 66 Columbus St., Charleston. A series of short courses
celebrating the many facets of entertaining with a focus on Charleston
style and traditions. Guest presenters include hosts, event professionals,
authors, collectors, stylists and other specialists known for their
distinctive contributions to local hospitality and tourism. Light
beverage and cocktail samplings will be provided. Cost: $149. More
info/registration.
(NEW)
Pork and Politics in the Park: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1, Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. Mix and
mingle with candidates for Mount Pleasant mayor and Town Council
at this event sponsored by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Cost: $30; includes food and beverages. Registration.
FOCUS
ARCHIVES
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
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
THRASH
ARCHIVES
11/19:
LowCANtry
holiday
11/12: Hawks
vs. doves
11/5: Improving
turnout
10/29: Celebrating
a year
10/22: Good,
bad signs
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
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
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
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
|
