SLIDING FOR A CAUSE: A youngster watches "Fun Ship Freddy," the Carnival Cruise Lines mascot, slide down a 40-foot inflatable slide that the cruise line set up at Saturday's Cooper River Bridge Run Finish Festival. Carnival agreed to donate $1 to MUSC Children's Hospital for each person who went down the slide and raised a total of $5,000 in the effort. Carnival begins offering year-round cruise service out of Charleston on May 18. (Photo provided)

FEEDBACK
:: What are you thinking about?

THE LIST
:: Label lingo

GOOD NEWS
:: Appliance rebates, Spark, help wanted

ALSO INSIDE

___:: CALENDAR: This week ... and next

___:: REVIEW: Send us your recommendations

___:: HISTORY: SC mottoes

___:: QUOTE: Miss Manners on being civilized

___:: SPOTLIGHT: Meet an underwriter

UNDERWRITERS AND PARTNERS

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TODAY'S FOCUS
Look for these veggies to shine as farmers markets return
By HOLLY HERRICK
Cookbook author
Special to CharlestonCurrents.com

MARCH 29, 2010 -- Though I love all the seasons of the farming/growing year, spring is by far my favorite. In part, it's because we've all had to wait so long for its arrival, especially after this wacky winter year, but also because everything's so fresh and colorful. The fruits of this season truly taste and look like spring.

Herrick

Here are the ones I love most and why. Look for them at local farmers markets when the season begins.

Spring Potatoes - The super-thin spring skins on fingerling and baby potatoes are so thin you can practically see through them, and they make for delicious, sweet eating. My favorite way to cook them is to toss them in sea salt and olive oil and roast on high (about 425 degrees), tossing occasionally. Serve them super-hot and wait for them to pop in your mouth! Pair with a salad made of spring greens and/or an omelet made from farm-fresh eggs and you are in spring simplicity and deliciousness heaven!

Sweet Onions - So tender, mild and sweet, these creamy white orbs with brilliant green, edible tops are packed with flavorful possibilities. I load up my basket with a bunch or two every time I go to the farmers market during their short-lived season. Sweet enough to eat raw and whole, they're also wonderful flash-sautéed or grilled half or whole to accompany fish. They make excellent gratins and quiche fillings, and can even be stuffed.

Asparagus - Who doesn't love it? Asparagus equals spring for a reason. The feathery waving fronds from these elegant plants seem to herald the season. Available in deep purple and pale green hues with lean, tapered spears, asparagus begs for simplicity in preparation. Asparagus shines with a quick roast on high heat. You get maximum color protection with a quick blanch in well-salted water, a quick cool bath and a fast sauté in lots of butter with some fresh herbs such as tarragon or thyme.

Greens - All the dark green bad boys we know and love are out in fine form this time of year. Collards, kale, spinach, mustard greens, cabbage and my new favorite, tatsoi, are squeaky fresh this time of year. Tatsoi is a beautiful, deep, almost emerald green, with tender leaves and a buttery, tender flavor. It's a great substitute for anywhere you might otherwise use spinach. Give it a go!

Turnips - If you've turned your nose up to turnips in the past, this is the time of year to consider giving them a deep sniff. They're sweet, fragrant and practically skinless because the rind is so thin when they're this fresh out of the ground. They are pearl white in color and simply scream spring! I love to pair these subtle spring beauties with the onions of the season in either a puree or a soup.

Radishes - These colorful, flavorful firebombs add peppery, seasonal pluck to everything from salads to aperitifs. Slice them paper thin and toss them in your seasonal greens of choice with a freshly prepared vinaigrette of Dijon mustard, extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar, or simply serve them, green tops trimmed to half-inch in length, alongside a small bowl of coarse sea salt, cheese and crackers. Spring has sprung!

Charleston resident Holly Herrick is a classically trained chef and food writer who studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. The former restaurant critic for The Post and Courier, she is the author of two cookbooks, "The Southern Farmers Market Cookbook" and "Charleston Chef's Table. More online.

CURRENTS
SC is moving into economic recovery
By ANDY BRACK, publisher

MARCH 26, 2010 -- You might not believe it from what you see around you, but economists say South Carolina is coming out of the recession.

Brack

“We still have a long way to go,” said Ryan Sweet, a senior ecomist at Moody’s Economy.com in West Chester, Pa. “The recovery is likely going to be slow and uneven, but we’re moving in the right direction.”

Frank Hefner at the College of Charleston agrees: “The optimism now is we’re no longer pessimistic. So, in other words, the bottom has been reached.”

A recent study by Moody’s Economy.com shows 22 states, including South Carolina, moving to better days.

Sweet says two factors pushed South Carolina into recovery, compared to a November report by the company that showed it on the edge of recovery: A slight uptick in hiring and a steady increase in industrial production.

He said the state experienced hiring of about 10,000 new jobs over the last three months. Such an increase is positive because businesses generally are “very reluctant” to hire right now due to past uncertainty. For the last several months, industrial production also has increased, Sweet said.

“This is pretty much a business-led recovery,” he noted. “Consumers appear to be lagging and that’s not unexpected, given the very high unemployment rate in South Carolina.”

While unemployment may rise in the coming months, South Carolinians need to keep in mind that rising unemployment doesn’t necessarily mean the economy is getting worse.

Hefner said it’s typical in an area coming out of recession for unemployment to rise. When people stop looking for work, agencies stop counting them among the “unemployed” because they’ve taken themselves out of the job market. But when jobs become more available, those people often opt in again, which increases the labor pool more than the growth in new jobs. Hence, there is higher “unemployment” even though jobs are growing.

Hefner said a better indicator to look at to determine an economy’s health is job growth.

“You’ve got to see that job growth,” he said. “As you eventually see positive job growth, the unemployment rate will reduce and wage (growth) will follow later.”

Sweet said South Carolina’s emergence from the recession seemed to be following a typical pattern. As the economic engine begins to rev up and businesses see more demand for their products, they’ll increase production. But because many manufacturing businesses have excess capacity now – some invested during the recession to build capacity – they can rely on productivity gains for awhile before they have to hire workers.

Whatever pans out, the recovery is going to take a long time – up to two years to return to where we were before the whole mess started, Hefner said.

“This time last year,” Sweet said, “consumers were panicked. “Now that the economy is improving, not only in South Carolina but nationwide, workers are becoming a little less nervous about their jobs.”

* * * * *

IT’S SADDENING AND WORRISOME to see how some nuts around the country are so irked about the new federally-passed health care reform bill that they’re making death threats, using inappropriate slurs and hurling bricks at buildings.

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the South Carolina Democrat who is third in power in the House, received a faxed copy of a noose at his office. He was on target this week when he pointed to GOP leaders to set a better example and not inflame angry taxpayers.

“These kinds of things happen when people in authority do not do what they can to tamp this down,” Clyburn told CNN late Wednesday. “We saw the other day, Sunday, [Republican] members on the floor cheering when people were up in the balcony jeering. That should not be. We're giving aid and comfort to these people, and this stuff gets ratcheted up.”

Resorting to threats and violence in a civil democracy is not acceptable. If you’re mad with the guys in office, register to vote and get involved in the political process to kick them out -– something it took far too long for congressional Republican leaders to say last week.

Andy Brack is publisher of CharlestonCurrents. He can be reached at publisher@charlestoncurrents.com. He's now on Facebook too.

FEEDBACK
What's on your mind?

We know people in Charleston are opinionated, but we haven't heard from you lately. 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
South Carolina Aquarium

The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring CharlestonCurrents to you at no cost. In this issue, we turn the spotlight on the South Carolina Aquarium, the #1 attraction in Charleston. The aquarium offers interactive excitement and value for visitors of all ages. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the South Carolina Aquarium aims to inspire conservation of the natural world by exhibiting and caring for animals, by excelling in education and research, and by providing an exceptional visitor experience. Guests can explore new exhibits such as a rare albino alligator, Penguin Planet with four Magellanic penguins, the Touch Tank featuring Atlantic stingrays, the 385,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank featuring sharks and moray eels as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at the extraordinary care that is provided to rescued sea turtles in the Sea Turtle Hospital. Check out the daily educational programs with animal feedings and dive shows. Start planning a visit to the South Carolina Aquarium today at www.scaquarium.org.

GOOD NEWS
Need a new appliance? State rebate program starts this week

If you've been in the market for a new appliance, now might be a good time to buy, especially if you get your power from SCE&G. SCE&G customers who purchase new appliances as part of the S.C. Energy Office rebate program, which begins March 31, could be eligible for up to $800 in rebates and SCE&G bill credits, plus up to $1,500 in federal tax credits.

SCE&G customers who switch from an electric heat pump or water heater to a highly efficient natural gas furnace or water heater are eligible for a $300 SCE&G bill credit for each conversion and may qualify for the ValueRate, which offers the lowest natural gas rate available for customers who use natural gas water heating. Additionally, customers who purchase and install Energy Star certified appliances, such as a natural gas tankless water heater, may qualify for up to $1,500 in federal tax credits until Dec. 31.

The state's rebate program offers a total of $3.9 million in appliance rebates from the S.C. Energy Office. The program is funded by South Carolina's share of federal stimulus funds being distributed to each state for appliance rebates.

State residents who buy new Energy Star certified appliances are eligible for up to $500 in rebates. The program will continue until the funds run out, with rebate requests handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Rebates cannot be applied to online purchases or to purchases made before March 31.

If you do buy a new appliance, you must allow contractors and retailers to remove and recycle your old appliance to ensure that inefficient appliances are removed from the power grid. To find a retail vendor, visit the Energy Office rebates Web site. For more information, visit online or call Customer Service at 1-800-251-7234.

Arts agency to hold forum tonight to get community ideas

The S.C. Arts Commission is holding seven public forums around the state, including one tonight in North Charleston, to give state residents a chance to offer input on the agency's 2011-2020 Long-Range Plan. The forums are part of "the 2010 Canvas of the People" (playing off the canvas artists use for painting and the verb "canvass," meaning "to survey").

Tonight's forum will be held from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. at North Charleston City Hall, 2500 City Hall Lane. The program is free and open to anyone who's interested. Those who can't attend but would like to comment on the plan or offer suggestions can fill out an online survey.

For more info, visit the Canvas of the People Web page or contact Milly Hough at (803) 734-8698.

New Blackbaud program to help nonprofits with Web sites

Daniel Island-based Blackbaud introduced a new program last week to help nonprofits complement and expand their online presence. NetCommunity Spark combines Blackbaud's Raiser's Edge fundraising system with tools to help with e-mail communication, events, volunteers and membership, the company said in a press release.

"Organizations need their Web sites to do more than just share information," said Allison Van Diest, Blackbaud's Internet solutions market manager. "Spark helps nonprofits create an interactive online experience by providing two-way communication through email, events, and online transactions, improving the online experience by keeping supporters interested and engaged."

"Blackbaud NetCommunity Spark will help us redefine how we approach online fundraising and e-mail marketing," said Aaron Tockstein, database administration for the Detroit Zoological Society, which is already using the program. "We will now be able to better craft messaging to supporters through tracking and testing of e-mail campaigns and online fundraising forms. By developing a members-only section on our Web site, we will also be able to provide enhanced online benefits in a very cost-effective way."

For more information, go to http://www.blackbaud.com/sparks. At that site, nonprofits can also register for an upcoming Web seminar on the system.

County Council looking for candidates for boards, commissions

Charleston County Council is looking for citizens willing to volunteer their service on one of several local boards and commissions. April 2 is the deadline to apply. The vacancies are:

• Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (Charleston Center) Advisory Board - two vacancies.
  
• Charleston Development Corporation - two vacancies.
  
• Firemen's Insurance and Inspection Fund (1% Commission) - one vacancy from St. Andrews PSD.
  
• Awendaw Consolidated Fire District - three vacancies.
  
• Community Development Advisory Board - one vacancy for a representative from the financial sector, one vacancy for a representative from the legal sector.
  
• Weed and Trash Abatement Hearing Board - one vacancy.

Applications will be considered by County Council's Administration Policy and Rules Committee on April 15. The committee's recommendations will be voted on by the full council on April 20.

To find an application for appointment, visit this Web page. For questions or more specific information about each board, call Kristen Salisbury, Deputy Clerk of Council, at 958-4031, or visit online.

RECOMMENDED
Send us your reviews

HAVE A REVIEW? If you have a review or recommendation 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.

State mottoes

South Carolina has two official mottoes. These were engraved on the original great seal in 1777. Animis Opibusque Parati ("Prepared in Mind and Resources") is on the rim of the seal obverse (front), accompanying a picture of a palmetto tree. The motto had earlier appeared on a 50-pound South Carolina banknote issued in 1776. The words were taken from the second book of Virgil's Aeneid, at the point in the story where Aeneas joined his band of followers who had escaped from the burning city of Troy and had gathered on the beach. Aeneas said that he found his Trojans armed, equipped, ready, and willing to follow him into exile. They were about to set forth on the great voyage of adventure that would ultimately lead to the founding of Rome. Revolutionary South Carolina's use of this motto expressed confidence in the state's destiny.

Dum Spiro Spero ("While I Breathe, I Hope") appeared on the reverse (back) of the great seal, along with an image of the Roman goddess Spes (Hope). The phrase was popular in the British Isles, where it was borne as a motto by over fifty families. It had also been used as a personal motto by King Charles I and appeared on coins he minted during the English civil war. The words were probably chosen for South Carolina's seal as an expression of optimism that fit well with the picture of Hope. No special connection with Charles I or any of the various families that employed the motto is known.

-- Excerpted from the entry by David C.R. Heisser. 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

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THE LIST
Label lingo

Trying to shape up your meals and snacks? Why not start by spending a little extra time at the supermarket checking out nutrition labels? (Don't forget to take your reading glasses for the small print.)

Milkereit

Joanne Milkereit, a registered dietitian who lives in Charleston, says the "Nutrition Facts" labels are filled with helpful, accurate information. Here are five sections on every label that Joanne says you shouldn't miss.

1. First, check the Serving Size. The facts that follow below it are related to this amount. If you usually eat more, amounts of all nutrients will be more.

2. Evaluate the Total Fat section. Look at similar foods to see if you can find one with less Saturated Fat and/or Trans Fat (sometimes referred to as the bad fats).

3. Be aware of Sodium. Most people get too much. The amounts of sodium can vary greatly in similar foods (soups, for example). Remember, to perk up flavor, you can add low-salt seasonings such as hot sauce or pepper at serving time.

4. Go for the good Carbohydrates, choosing foods with the most Dietary Fiber and the least amount of Sugars. Most people get way too little fiber.

5. Don't miss the Ingredients section down towards the bottom of the label. What's listed first is the predominant ingredient. The ingredients are listed in descending order by weight.

QUOTE
On being civilized

"We are born charming, fresh and spontaneous and must be civilized before we are fit to participate in society."

-- Judith Martin, "Miss Manners" (1938 - )

CALENDAR: THIS WEEK

Dock Street Reopening: 6 p.m. April 1, Dock Street Theatre. Gala concert planned by Spoleto Festival USA for the reopening of the theatre after three years of renovations. Performances include a sneak peek of the Spoleto opera "Flora," which was first performed at the Dock Street in 1736. Events include champagne reception, performance and seated dinner. Tickets range from $250 to $1,000. Call 579-3100 or buy online.

Family Fun First Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., April 3, Drayton Hall, 3380 Ashley River Road. "The Civil War: Soldiers and Civilians" will be the theme for Drayton Hall's next Family Fun First Saturday program. The interactive educational program highlights the history of Drayton Hall and its surroundings. Programs are geared toward families with children ages 6 to 12. Cost: Regular admission plus $7 per family. Regular admission is $15 adults; $8 ages 12-18; $6 ages 6-11; free for age 5 and younger. More info: e-mail Rikki Davenport, or call 769-2607.

Hat Ladies Easter Promenade: 11 a.m. April 3, Meeting Street between Broad and South Battery, downtown. Members of the Hat Ladies and their families will take their annual elegant stroll down one of the city's most recognizable streets in honor of hat-wearing traditions. Free. More info online or call 762-6679.

CALENDAR: ONGOING AND SOON

(NEW) RiverDogs Home Opener: 7:05 p.m. April 8, Joseph P. Riley Park. The RiverDogs take on the Lexington Legends for opening night at The Joe. It will be a Budweiser Thirsty Thursday with $1 beers, hot dogs and sliders in the Ashley View Pub, and the RiverDogs will also be handing out free magnet schedules. Tickets: Available online. More info: http://www.riverdogs.com.

Kiawah Art and House Tour: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 9, Kiawah Island. The 10th annual tour, sponsored by the volunteer group Gibbes, etc., benefits the Gibbes Museum of Art. Tour features six homes that have distinctive art collections and dramatic views of the salt marsh, creeks, ocean and woodlands. Tickets: $55 per person (includes tour, light refreshments throughout the afternoon at the Cassique clubhouse, and an admission pass to the Gibbes Museum of Art valid through Dec. 30. Buy at the Gibbes Museum Store, online, or by calling 722-2706, ext. 21.

House & Garden Tours: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 9 and April 10, downtown Charleston. The Garden Club of Charleston offers its 75th annual walking tour of private homes and gardens in the Historic District. Homes also feature flowers arranged by garden club members, and refreshments will be served in one of the gardens. All proceeds benefit the garden club's year-round maintenance of several public gardens, including those at the Manigault House, the Heyward-Washington House, the Gateway Walk and the Healing Garden at MUSC. Tickets: $35. Details: Online or 530-5164.

(NEW) Tricounty Youth Service Day: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 24, various locations. The event is part of Global Youth Service Day, a worldwide event engaging millions of children and youth in more than 115 countries to address unmet needs in their communities. Locally, more than 600 youths are expected to take part in service projects such as neighborhood beautification, school cleanups, senior services and environmental issues. A celebration rally will be held to wrap up the event from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at North Charleston High School. More info.

FOCUS ARCHIVES

7/1: Shaffer: Picky Eaters Group
6/28: Bender: Fishy Fourth
6/24: Belden: Society 1858
6/21: Stevenson: Summer reading
6/17: Handel: On Jim Fisher
6/14: Reeves: Summer dress
6/10:Martin: Garden tips
6/7: Dubrofsky: Green homes
6/3: McCutcheon: Young pros
5/31: McFaddlin: Health benefits
5/27: Ledbetter: Senior riders
5/24: Myers: Microloan's impact
5/20: Gadson: Rural Mission's needs
5/17: Bender: Bocce bashing
5/13: DeMarco: Homeless help
5/10: Spencer: Ending violence
5/6: Westmeyer: Fish to buy
5/3: Maas: Spoleto tips

• More of Focus in the archives

THRASH ARCHIVES

7/1: Lots to do on 4th
6/24: Ways to nab skeeters
6/17: Dump the Pump, more
6/10: Lots to do locally
6/3: Dancin' for dollars
5/27: Locals' 15 minutes
5/20: Strawberry season
5/13: New for foodies
5/6: Poll managing
4/29: Adopt a Duck
4/22: Indelible ink
4/15: Grab-bag of items
4/1: In jingle semifinals
3/25: Blues and birds
3/18: Recalling "The Charleston"
3/11: East Cooper hospital
3/4: Green mowers
2/25: Get outdoors
2/18: Local guide book for kids
2/11: Reviewing Jenny's book
2/4: MSNBC looks at success
1/21: Tell Mt. Pleasant
1/14: Winter plant tips
1/7: New books

• More Ann Thrash in the archives

BRACK ARCHIVES

6/28: Impatient electorate
6/21: Haley's thin record
6/14: Daddy-daughter trip
6/7: Gulf spill report
5/31: New SC poll flummoxes
5/24: BBQ should be state meat
5/17: Advice to new grads
5/10: Bad Spoleto poster
5/3: First District candidates
4/26: Don't veto cigarette tax
4/19: Great weekend of fun
4/12: Remembering Civil War
4/6: Be counted in Census
3/29: SC economy is recovering
3/22: Meeting Turkish neighbors
3/15: Clyburn whips up support
3/8: The Wreck rec
3/1: Cut all of the cuts
2/22: A look at summer camps
2/15: School district Einsteins
2/8: About mules
2/1: Bauer should get out
1/28: Gibbs at White House
1/25: Friend's new show
1/18: Rockwell painting
1/11: Palmetto Priorities
1/4/10: Piggly Wiggly visit

• More Andy Brack in the archives

BUSINESS INDIGO

3/18: Biz fair, CED venture
3/4: Lowcountry tech hub
2/4: Advice on working with Boeing
1/21: Co-working group
1/7: Free library text questions

LIST ARCHIVES

7/1: Keeping cool
6/28: LinkedIn tips
6/24: Be an Angel
6/21: CFW finances
6/17: Pirate facts
6/14: Gadsden Flag
6/10: Butterfly tips
6/7: 1773 awards
6/3: Good reads
5/31: 5 Southern artists
5/27: Local jazz legends
5/24: Piccolo for kids
5/20: Pats on back
5/17: Tea tips
5/13: PeaceLoveHipHop
5/10: Myth detector
5/6: Cooking with Mom
5/3: Turtle tales

• More Lists in the archives
  
  
• Let us know if there's a broken link