SKYLINE: One of the best views of the Charleston skyline can be found at a small park on James Island. Demetre Park, at the tip of Wampler Drive, offers a pier, picnic area and a pond, as well. Photo by Michael Kaynard.

THE LIST
:: Five recruiting tips

GOOD NEWS
:: Craven, Riverdogs, workshop, more

FEEDBACK
:: Send us your letters

ALSO INSIDE

___:: CALENDAR: This week ... and next
___:: REVIEW: Send us a review
___:: HISTORY: Mary Jackson
___:: QUOTE: On immortality
___:: SPOTLIGHT: Meet an underwriter

UNDERWRITERS AND PARTNERS

ABOUT US

CharlestonCurrents.com offers insightful community comment and good news on events twice each week. It cuts through the information clutter to offer insight and news on the best of what's happening locally. What readers say

TODAY'S FOCUS | permalink
Watch out for head injuries in youth sports
By MALCOLM CROSLAND
Steinberg Law Firm
Special to CharlestonCurrents.com

OCT. 4, 2010 — It’s fall in the Lowcountry, and that means playing fields all over the area are filled with aspiring football and soccer stars — running, wrestling and having a great time.

Crosland

No doubt, athletics can be great for young people, who benefit from exercise, teamwork and personal fulfillment.

But it’s up to us parents — and the coaches and other adults involved in youth athletics — to help guard against a growing problem among child athletes: head injuries, or traumatic brain injuries.

Emergency rooms across the nation report a growing number of concussions landing children – some as young as 4 or 5 – in their waiting rooms.

According the Centers for Disease Control, 135,000 (65 percent) of sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments occur each year in young people ages 5 to 18. Popular youth sports, including football, basketball and soccer, generated the greatest number of emergency room visits for TBIs.

I became acutely aware of the dangers of head injuries a few years ago, when I was representing an injured professional soccer player. A supremely fit athlete in his 20s, the soccer player took his last “head shot” one night on a playing field, sustaining a serious concussion that rendered him unconscious.

Days later, we discovered that it was one of numerous concussions the player had received, the first of which he endured as a young boy.

Sadly, the injuries had a cumulative effect for him, and cut his promising career short. Not only was his livelihood affected, but his injuries also affected his ability to reason, gave him a hair-trigger temper and reduced his cognitive abilities.

However, it doesn’t take a career of head shots to do serious damage to a growing brain. We see single events – concussions sustained on the football field, basketball court or on the baseball diamond – creating lifelong consequences for young people and their families.

That’s why the Steinberg Law Firm has founded Heads Up! This non-profit organization works with recreation departments throughout the region. We visit coaches’ meetings to discuss prevention of head injuries, and to focus on warning signs of a problem. We distribute “warning sign” wallet cards to parents at football jamborees and tournaments. And we give kids water bottles emblazoned with the HeadsUp! Logo.

All of this is our way of helping ensure that kids can have fun while being safe, and grow up to be active, fully functioning adults.

The Centers for Disease Control offer these signs to watch for if you or a loved one sustains a nasty bump in the head.

• Signs and symptoms of a mild brain injury
  
• Brief period of unconsciousness
  
• Headache
  
• Confusion
  
• Dizziness
  
• Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears or a bad taste in the mouth
  
• Mood changes
  
• Memory or concentration problems

Moderate to severe brain injury symptoms

• Persistent headache
  
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
  
• Convulsions or seizures
  
• Inability to awaken from sleep
  
• Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes
  
• Slurred speech
  
• Weakness or numbness in the extremities
  
• Loss of coordination
  
• Increased confusion or agitation

If your non-profit organization would like to order materials from HeadsUp! (they are free), notify me at mcrosland@steinberglawfirm.com.

Meanwhile, let’s all do as we tell the kids: Play safe, and have fun!

Malcolm Crosland is an attorney with the Steinberg Law Firm and founder of HeadsUp! SC.

CURRENTS| permalink
Counting game about cooking DeMint's goose
By ANDY BRACK, publisher

OCT. 4, 2010 -- When an out-of-state friend learned Thursday about Charleston cookbook author Nathalie Dupree’s surprise write-in campaign for U.S. Senate, the reaction was saucy and unequivocal: “I love South Carolina politics.”

Brack

Folks, that’s not necessarily a tasty review. Witness the nomination by Democrats of now-indicted Manning resident Alvin Greene to the post held by GOP U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and the host of unflattering news stories about our state over recent months – from an embarrassing tryst by the governor to various allegations of impropriety by a governor wannabee.

But the entry of Dupree, better known for her shrimp and grits than politics, will add much-needed spice to a relatively dull Senate race. Just imagine the glee that boiled over in newsrooms around the state when Dupree announced the write-in campaign. Like sugar plums, all sorts of headlines certainly danced across their minds, although few actually made their way into print. Let’s see how many bad cooking clichés we can stuff into one column:

• Dupree wants to cook DeMint’s goose
• Dupree burns DeMint for being against pork for SC
• Nathalie wants to bring home the bacon
• Dupree punches for DeMint’s sweet spot
• DeMint gives Dupree a bad taste
• Dupree whips up support
• DeMint nutty over port, Dupree steams
• Dupree muddles DeMint
• Dupree stirs the pot
• You, me and Dupree: Why not Nathalie?
• Dupree wants to cream DeMint (our favorite)

Dupree admits she’s a long shot, but emphasizes her candidacy isn’t a publicity stunt. She’s serious as a heart attack about why she’s running – to inject some common sense and real leadership into the political process.

Dupree

She got so steamed about DeMint’s recent refusal to push a needed earmark for funding of a project to study the deepening of Charleston harbor that she decided to jump into the race.

“Sen. DeMint’s stubbornness and bad ideas about earmarks – federal grants for specific projects – threaten the port of Charleston,” she said Thursday. “The largest of our five ports, it serves as an economic engine for all of South Carolina.

“Without the port of Charleston, there would be no BMW in South Carolina, which generates almost 50,000 jobs in the state. … To say all earmarks are bad is like saying all milk is bad because you have a carton that turned sour.”

Although it is unlikely Dupree will knock off DeMint, South Carolina is the only state in the union in which a non-incumbent write-in candidate won a seat for the U.S. Senate. That candidate? Strom Thurmond – the guy who is the subject of two books by Dupree’s husband, Jack Bass.

Back in 1954 after the death of U.S. Sen. Burnet Maybank just two months before the election, Thurmond mounted and won a Senate seat he held until 2003.

Dupree acknowledges she’s no Thurmond, but she thirsts to roast DeMint at the polls.

So a word of advice to the incumbent: Senator, you’d better pay a little more attention to South Carolina instead of boiling all over the country with these tea party folks. Arrogant my-way-or-the-highway moves, such as antics like blocking all Senate legislation through the end of the year, are political recipes for disaster. Punishing the people of our state by a zealous, ideological opposition to earmarks isn’t good in the long run for the Palmetto State.

Elephants are supposed to have good memories. So do voters. As a senator, you represent everyone in the state, not just tea party folks. How about stewing on that for a bit?

Andy Brack, publisher of Charleston Currents, counted two baker’s dozen of cooking references or bad clichés in this week’s commentary. Can you find them? Write: publisher@charlestoncurrents.com.

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SPOTLIGHT
Charleston Green Commercial

The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring CharlestonCurrents to you at no cost. In this issue, we turn the spotlight on Charleston Green Commercial, a full-service commercial property management company that pays attention to detail, provides exceptional personal service and is committed to adding value to buildings. Offering professional property management, consulting and other services, the company strives to improve clients' bottom lines with superior service, accessibility, reliability and a wealth of knowledge of the Charleston real estate market. By blending use of proven contractors and contacts with environmentally-conscious practices, the company helps clients stay on the leading edge of commercial real estate practices. More.

GOOD NEWS | permalink
Council Chambers named for Beverly T. Craven

Craven

Charleston County Council recently honored longtime Clerk of Council Beverly T. Craven by naming its meeting chambers for her.

Craven, 77, has served as the Clerk of Council since 1987. She lives in downtown Charleston and has served 37 different elected members of Charleston County Council during her tenure.
“When I first learned about what was going to happen, I couldn’t believe it. I was tickled, giggly and so proud and happy that something like this could be happening,” Craven said. “In the 23 years I have been here, God has given me 37 wonderful ‘babies’ to love and care for, and I’m very grateful to have had them in my life.”

Chia Head Night is finalist for Giveaway of the Year
 
The Charleston RiverDogs’ 2010 season was another success at the gate, and as a result, one promotional giveaway is up for an award from Minor League Baseball.

Eight finalists from across the nation have been nominated by MiLB.com, and RiverDogs’ Chia Head giveaway on May 15, featuring the visage of award-winning groundskeeper Mike Williams, has been lauded as one of the elite giveaways in Minor League Baseball in 2010.

“I’ve never seen a more dedicated groundskeeper than Mike Williams,” said smiling RiverDogs general manger Dave Echols. “He has now literally become one with his field.”

The first 1,000 fans through the turnstiles at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park on May 15 received what appeared to be a ceramic bust of Williams, but upon further investigation, a removable hat revealed an empty vase to be filled with seeds and water and ready to sprout a Chia Head in a humorous adaptation of Williams garnering laurels as the 2009 South Atlantic League Groundskeeper of the Year.

• Go online to vote for the 2010 MiLB Giveaway of the Year.

Manigault House served in World War II

The Charleston Museum’s Joseph Manigault House at 350 Meeting St., is offering World War II focus tours at 4 p.m. on Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28.

The Joseph Manigault House is well-known for its Adam-style architecture and elegant furniture; however, most are unaware of its star-spangled past. 

During World War II this grand structure served as a popular USO location. From parties and dances to food and games, this house had it all.  Learn more about this period through photographs, stories and even a hidden cartoon every Thursday in October.  

Reservations are not required.  Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children (free for Charleston Museum members). For more information, e call 722-2996 ext. 235 or visit www.charlestonmuseum.org. 

Free Web workshop for nonprofits

Brian Rogel and Trevor B. Reed from Synactable will discuss what nonprofits need to know about their Web sites, whether they already have one, or are thinking of having one built.

Topics at the noon Oct. 26 workshop will include: The Importance of Contracts, Domain Name Ownership, Online “Free” Web site Builders, Flash, and SEO. The workshop will be at the Coastal Community Foundation office at 90 Mary St. To attend, nonprofits must register at this link.

Shumway wins Pike's Peak Performance Award

Shumway

Priscilla Shumway, an Isle of Palms resident and president of New Learning Presentation Systems, has won the Pike's Peak Performance Award from the Bob Pike Group.

The award recognizes Shumway’s 25 years as a professional trainer. Colleagues, learning professionals and Bob Pike Group Trainer Consultants nominated award winners.

A former public school teacher and corporate trainer, Shumway has focused her energies on staff development in the education and software industry since 1991.

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SC ENCYCLOPEDIA | permalink
Mary Jackson’s sweetgrass baskets win her fame

Born in Mount Pleasant on Feb. 15, 1945, the daughter of Joseph and Evelyina Foreman, Mary Jackson grew up in an African American community of basketmakers and learned the craft as a child from her mother.

Mary Jackson has won international honors for her work, including fellowships from the MacArthur Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

She started creating baskets seriously in the mid-1970s, and soon mastered a variety of shapes and types, including the rice-winnowing tray called the “fanner,” grain storage baskets, and flower, market, and sewing baskets for domestic use. Her solo exhibition at the Gibbes Museum of Art in 1984 introduced her to the public. Since then her career has grown dramatically, with representation in major crafts shows, and in the public collections of the Smithsonian Institution, Philadelphia and American Craft Museums, Museum of African American History in Detroit, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, and U.S. embassies abroad.

Jackson makes her baskets traditionally, from long coils of sweetgrass, pine needles, and bulrush, bound and woven with strong, flexible strips from the palmetto tree. Her innovation has been to create baskets of original design. “From the family I learned all the traditional pieces and styles, and then I just started doing my own designs. I wanted to make something that no one had ever made before. The forms would be different — very simple, yet elegant.” This was accomplished in examples such as the “Cobra,” a variation of a market basket, and her daring, abstracted interpretation of a fruit basket in the series she calls “Untitled,” consisting of a narrow, disk-like base and sweeping handle.

Attentive to formal and decorative qualities in her baskets, Jackson employs the soft, natural color and textures of her materials, creating a subtle interplay of light and dark concentric bands, or dynamic overall patterns. She has control over the building of forms in perfect balance,
tension, and symmetry that gives her work a natural solidity and grace.

-- Excerpted from the entry by Roberta Kefalos Sokolitz. 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 : Marsha Guerard , 843.270.1814
• Contributing editor: Ann Thrash
• Contributing editor, business: Peter Lucash
• Contributing editor, green: Greg Garvan
  
• Publisher: Andy Brack, 843.670.3996
  

Address: P.O. Box. 22261 | Charleston, SC 29413

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© 2008-2010, 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 | permalink
Five recruiting tips

Jackson

For student athletes and their families, the decision to participate in the college athletic recruitment process can be overwhelming. On Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Burke High School auditorium, 244 President St., former LPGA player and NCSA Athletic Recruiting educational speaker Brandi Jackson will share what student athletes must do to ensure they have a chance to pursue a collegiate athletic career. Here’s a sneak peek:

• Develop a game plan and get evaluated: Every student athlete needs an objective, third-party evaluation to determine “best fit” qualifications for various college programs. A knowledgeable third party helps set realistic expectations on programs, competition levels, academic fit and schools, helping you target 100 to 200 realistic opportunities.
  
  
• Post athletic and academic resume online: Preparing a complete portfolio that allows coaches to access your up to date athletic and academic information is crucial.  Coaches no longer file away paper resumes, but look to online website resources that allows them to view the complete information of more prospective athletes in an efficient and timely manner.
  
  
• Create a compelling highlight/skills video: Every student athlete needs a highlight and skills video that best conveys their athletic abilities to college coaches. These videos are now typically streamed online and sent through e-mail. The best videos are digitally enhanced, sequenced properly and have spot shadowing, and most importantly, are sent from a credible third party. College coaches will likely never receive, let alone view an unsolicited DVD.
  
  
• Contact at least 50-100 athletic programs: College coaches contact thousands of student athletes in order to have enough athletes to fill their program’s needs. Student athletes need to play the same game: contact at least 10-20 [ercemt of the programs that offer your sport across all divisions, which could mean more than 200 college coaches.
  
  
• Remember it’s not a four-year decision, it’s a 40-year decision. Most Division I prospects will receive offers by the end of their junior year. Even if you aren’t a DI player, keep your options open. Have a step-by-step plan in order to navigate the process. It takes hard work, perseverance and a consolidated team effort between student-athlete, parents, coaches, guidance counselors and credible inside recruiting experts.

QUOTE | permalink
On immortality

"I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work ... I want to achieve it through not dying."

-- Woody Allen

CALENDAR: THIS WEEK | permalink

(NEW) Let’s Do Lunch: noon, Oct. 8, Harbour Club. King Street Marketing Group hosts lunch. Each guest will receive a King Street Goodie Bag, free parking and an opportunity to take home prizes from King Street and Charleston Peninsula businesses. Ticketed admission is $20. Proceeds benefit Water Missions International. For details, go online. (www.letsdolunchincharleston.com) Purchase tickets online here (www.brownpapertickets.com), or call 843-303-1113 to reserve your spot.

(NEW) Authors’ Luncheon Series: noon-2 p.m., Oct. 8, Virginia’s Restaurant, 414 King St. Blue Bicycle Books Author's Luncheon Series continues when Jonathan Sanchez welcomes local authors Josephine Humphreys and Beth Webb Hart. The talk and lunch at Virginia's will be followed by a dessert-and-champagne book signing at Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King St. Free parking is available in the Camden Exchange Garage, which has entrances on Hutson Street and John Street. Single tickets are $35, or bring a friend for $60. Price does not include books. Reservations required, call 843-722-2666.

(NEW) King Street Goes Pedestrian: 1 to 6 p.m., Oct. 10. Pedestrians will command King Street from Broad Street to Calhoun during the Second Sunday on King Street event. King Street shops will be able to display their wares outdoors and restaurants can offer table service in the street. Restaurants with Sunday permits can serve adult beverages to seated patrons outdoors. Similar events are planned for November and December.

CALENDAR: ONGOING AND SOON

Bubbly & Brew: 6 to 10:30 p.m., Oct. 7, Omar Shrine Temple, 176 Patriots Point Street, Mount Pleasant. The Second Annual Bubbly & Brew will benefit My Sister's House. Guests will dine on selections from High Thyme, Home Team BBQ, Gullah Cuisine and more as well as sip on champagne, cocktails from Firefly Distillery and beers from local brewers. A silent auction and live music from party band Permanent Vacation are planned. Tickets are $50 in advance and can be purchased online or $60 at the door.

Dill Sanctuary Family Picnic: 1 to 4 p.m., Oct. 24, Dill Sanctuary, 1163 Riverland Drive, James Island. The Friends and Needed Supporters (FANS) of The Charleston Museum will host their Annual Family Picnic, including a nature walk with naturalist Billy McCord, a butterfly release, live music by the Susie Summers Duo, a Lowcountry dinner, children's games, hayrides, demonstrations by Birds of Prey and the SCDNR Touch Tank. Advance reservations are required; please call (843) 722-2996 ext. 264 or register online. No pets or outside coolers.

Poetry and paint: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Oct. 26, The Meeting Place, 1077 East Montague Ave., North Charleston. An adult workshop featuring Poetry and Paint taught by Mary Harris and Karole Turner Campbell. Participants will be inspired to combine poetry and paint in a unique experience that combines two art forms. Materials are provided. Fee: $5. Registration begins one month ahead and ends two days prior to class.

(NEW) Daisy Dash 5K: 8 a.m., Oct. 30, Riverland Terrace on James Island. The annual Daisy Dash 5K run/walk will raise awareness for Simply Divine Garden, an organization that plants healing gardens for individuals going through chemotherapy. Register at www.active.com or www.simplydivinegarden.org or on-site at the Baptist Church at Riverland Terrace located at Wappoo Road and Maybank Highway. The cost per person is $20 before Oct. 20 and $25 after. 

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FOCUS ARCHIVES

12/13: Joye: Court system vital
12/9: Barnette: The Nutcracker
12/6: Kaynard: Recycling ideas
12/2: Swayne: Health reform
11/29: Boisseau: Idea harvested
11/22: Hamilton: Operation Home
11/18: Humphreys: Being healthier
11/15: Dittloff: Saltmarsh
11/11: Guerard: Veterans Day
11/8: Stanfield: Metanoia invests
11/4: Hannah: Immunologix
11/1: Clements: Red Cross
10/28: Roberts: Road myths
10/25: Jones, Patrick: Schools
10/21: Spencer: Fine Art Annual
10/18: Duncan: 220 years of service
10/14: Colbert: Smartphones
10/11: Barnette: Ballet season
10/7: Bailey: YESCarolina book
10/4: Crosland: HeadsUp on injuries
9/30: Starland: Visual arts
9/27: Vural: Art, essay contest
9/23: Blanchard: House in order
9/20: Barry: Going "social"
9/16: Hutchisson: Being green
9/13: Schleissman: Wood workshop
9/9: Kirby: Sobering success
9/6: Brooks: Great volunteers
9/2: Graul: Lowcountry Loc 1st

• More of Focus in the archives

ANN THRASH ARCHIVES

12/9: Looking for perspective
12/2: Experience a gift
11/18: Ticket for downtown
11 /11: Early for Christmas?
11/4: On sharpening knives
10/28: On voting decisions
10/21: Fall color, parties
10/14: Squirrel away some pecans
10/7: New film on Jews, baseball
9/30: Making It Grow
9/23: Diving into the Lowcountry
9/16: Curbing domestic violence
9/9: Shrimp-baiting time
9/2: Tail-wagging and -gating
8/26: Urban gardening
8/19: Nirvana, Class of '14
8/12: History is interesting
8/5: Robert, Variety Store
7/29: Lazy? Boiled peanuts
7/22: Purple Toes book
7/14: Art opens doors
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

• More Ann Thrash in the archives

ANDY BRACK ARCHIVES

12/13: Inspiring entrepreneurs
12/6: Be careful what you ask for
11/29: Our linguistic heritage
11/22: Shared sacrifice
11/15: Media responsibility
11/8: No "new era" for SC
11/1: "Invest" isn't dirty word
10/25: Challenges ahead
10/11: Highway problem
10/4: Dupree and Senate
9/27: Haley-Sheheen race
9/20: Political, energy efficiency
9/13: British invasion
9/6: Meet Dave the Potter
8/30: Gulf pix make impact
8/23: Thank a teacher
8/16: Pharmacy, juice
8/2: Cherry juice, Gardner
7/26: Biden on Hollings
7/19: About Turkey
7/7: Campaign trash
6/28: Impatient electorate
6/21: Haley's thin record
6/14: Daddy-daughter trip
6/7: Gulf spill report

• More Andy Brack in the archives

PETER LUCASH: BUSINESS INDIGO

9/9: Busy with meetings
8/26: On biz interruptions
8/12: Pecha Kucha 7 coming
7/29: TwelveSouth again
7/14: Tech After 5 hits Chas
7/1: TwelveSouth scores praise
5/27: Facebook on privacy
5/13: Spark Charleston, more
4/22: Green Wizard, more
4/1: Encouraging biz signs
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

GREG GARVAN: CHARLESTON GREEN

9/23: Shredding together
9/16: Saving money
9/2: Energy standards needed
8/19: Investing can be tied to ideals
8/5: Trident Tech green grant

LIST ARCHIVES

12/13: 5 offbeat SC places
12/9: 5 financial sites
12/6: 12 uses of WD-40
12/2: 5 for Web traffic
11/29: 5 on dehydration
11/22: 5 for going back to school
11/18: 5 on foreclosure
11/15: 5 for exercising
11/11: 5 to rid roadblocks
11/8: 5 for keeping warm
11/4: 5 favorite ballets
11/1: 5 for your face
10/28: 5 parenting tips
10/25: 5 on long-term care
10/21: 5 on childhood obesity
10/18: 5 homeless myths
10/14: 5 on breast cancer
10/11: 5 beef cuts
10/7: 5 back helpers
10/4: 5 for recruiting
9/30: 5 kids' books
9/27: 5 for kayaks
9/23: 5 for pets
9/20: 5 at the Gibbes
9/16: 5 date nights
9/13: 5 fall plants
9/9: 5 wine resources
9/6: 5 magical moments
9/2: 5 great preachers
8/30: 5 local runs
8/26: 5 great cookbooks
8/23: Creative five
8/19: 5 local blogs
8/16: More plaudits
8/12: 5 local dog romps
8/9: New heritage sites
8/5: 5 around Chucktown
8/2: Bedside reading
7/29: Five for fall
7/26: Hollings library
7/22: Wine + Food fest
7/19: New Chas app
7/14: Chas at top
7/7: SC films
7/1: Keeping cool

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