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 KAYAKRAZY: The East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival on Friday drew participants at every experience level, from complete newbies to experienced paddlers looking to take their water skills to the next level. Several vendors set up around the lake at James Island County Park to allow participants to check out -- and even try out -- their kayaks, paddle boards and canoes. |
TODAY'S FOCUS :: Marines helping counterparts CURRENTS :: Do right thing on redistricting THE
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APRIL 18, 2011 - The average American might not consider toothpaste a luxury, but some Marines in Afghanistan do. The Marines at Forward Operating Base Edinburgh, Afghanistan, are an example of accomplishing more with less. On a recent site visit, a pair of Camp Leatherneck Marines observed their Edinburgh-based counterparts fulfilling their mission in a much more austere environment. That's why Sgt. Christopher L. Preston and Cpl. George N. English, who both provide security for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) command group, traveled April 7 from Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, to FOB Edinburgh to deliver additional supplies to fellow Marines, including North Charleston native Sgt. Ricardo M. Porter.
"I'm very thankful for this stuff," Porter said. "It increases morale when we receive things like these." Preston, a native of New Castle, Ky., and English, a native of Brockton, Mass., gathered the supplies from care packages sent to the 2nd MAW (Fwd.) Marines. "We took them a lot of the basic necessities," said Preston. "It was exciting to see their faces when they were digging through the supplies and divvying them up." The Edinburgh-based Marines said they felt the additional supplies were not only for them, but could benefit other troops at Edinburgh, especially ground forces who travel through the base. "This means so much, not only to our Marines but others that come through the base," said Staff Sgt. Travis J. Treloar, a water purification specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272. "It's a boost of morale for us all." Preston and English delivered more than 500 pounds of items including sunscreen, wet wipes, socks, candy, board games and, of course, toothpaste. "It's exciting," said Cpl. David B. Gurney, an aircraft rescue firefighter with MWSS-272. "We all love getting stuff that we don't usually have out here." "We took care of the Marines and they took care of others with the supplies we gave them," said Preston. "Marines take care of other Marines." If you'd like to give a care package for troops deployed overseas, go online to the USO Web site.
APRIL 18, 2011 - Redistricting is the political equivalent of the fox guarding the hen house. As important as it is to redraw our political districts periodically to ensure elected officials are representing areas of about the same population, the very people in South Carolina who redraw the lines are those in office.
That makes many cynical about the process because of the potential for backroom nudge-and-wink deals, political gamesmanship and the pressure by incumbents to protect their districts. The big news this year is that the federal government may look at what's happening in South Carolina with renewed interest. For the first time in 50 years as reapportionment is being done, Democrats control the Justice Department, which monitors redistricting plans in several states, including South Carolina. Many believe that a Justice Departments led by Democrats, long associated with pushing civil rights legislation, will work hard to ensure compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act. Among the things it requires is for states to redraw district lines that are compact (they don't look crazy on a map); contiguous (all areas of the districts are connected geographically); non-discriminatory; and protect "communities of interest" (that try not to split up natural communities).
A look at the results of the last legislative reapportionment in 2003 shows a lot of odd-shaped districts in the House and Senate. Charleston County provides a textbook example of some of the political gerrymandering that went on to protect incumbents and make sure that the county had some black-majority districts where black leaders could win. Some examples:
In other words, east of the Cooper is represented by three senators, two of whom don't live in the county. Similarly, the North area is pieced between three senators. West Ashley has two, or three if you include Ravenel.
The districts from 2003 for the House are little different.
Bottom line: While these 2003 districts are contiguous, many in Charleston aren't compact, as evidenced by their odd shapes. And several split up traditional communities. The House and Senate committees this year are to be congratulated for public hearings across the state to get citizen input on where the new lines should be drawn. The House had nine hearings, while the Senate had 10. Local governments, which also have to redistrict, would do well to emulate how state legislators reached out this year to citizens. The City of Charleston currently is undergoing redistricting to prepare for November elections. We are hearing rumors that Charleston County officials may try to push through new districts without much public involvement and hope that's not true. In the meantime, if you want to have a say in how you think state House, Senate and congressional districts should be drawn, you have until May 2 to provide proposals or comments to the Senate. It's unclear when the deadline for the House is, but it's probably similar.
If you're reading this before 10 a.m. on Monday, tune in to Martha Stewart's show this morning to see Charleston chef Sean Brock from Husk and McCrady's. He's scheduled to be cooking with Stewart today. The show airs at 10 a.m. on the Hallmark Channel. According to the channel's Web site, he'll be making Crispy Soft-Shell Crab with Pistou and Soft Fried Eggs. The site also notes that Anson Mills' benne seeds, which are used in the recipe, will be featured as well. If you missed it and want to see a video or get Chef Brock's recipe, you'll find everything here after the show airs. Southern Food Bracket: Drumroll, please… Two weeks ago in this space, we sung the praises of Garden & Gun magazine's Southern Food Bracket, in which the creative minds at the magazine paired up favorite Southern dishes in culinary combat, March Madness style.
As the
magazine said in announcing the winner, "Pulled pork barbecue put
up a heck of a fight and, in the end, the two were separated by just a
handful of votes." Don't worry, 'cue, you'll get 'em next time. Here's
hoping the magazine makes this an annual event. Cooking class spotlight Farm to Table with Legare Farms: 6:30 p.m. April 26, Charleston Cooks!, 194 East Bay St. Charleston Cooks! and Lowcountry Local First continue their popular Farm to Table series by offering class participants a chance to cook alongside Helen and Thomas Legare, ninth-generation Lowcountry farmers and ranchers. You'll make a five-course dinner that features Legare Farms produce and the farm's own beef. Cost: $50. Register here.
The evening will feature music and dancing below the Great Ocean Tank, along with a silent auction, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Cocktail attire is appropriate. Tickets are $50. To buy tickets, go online. Bark Busters lectures train dog owners Lowcountry dog owners are invited to their local county parks this spring to learn more about their loyal companions and how they see the world.
Nikki Seibert
will be joining the staff at Lowcountry Local First beginning today as
the director of its Sustainable Agriculture Program, Farm Fresh Food.
Lowcountry
Local First has been working in this area since its inception partnering
with the state Agriculture Department to promote "Fresh on the Menu"
by reaching out to those restaurants looking to find local food and farmers
seeking new markets. For the remainder of the month of April, Cenegenics Carolinas is offering free functional testing to help players advance their golf games.
Chemist, geologist and inventor Ottolengui Aaron Moses was born in Charleston on Feb. 7, 1846, the son of Aaron I. Moses and Judith Ottolengui. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Leipzig, Germany. Moses was married to Flora Moses of New York. They had one son, who died in infancy.
In his capacity as state inspector, Moses performed scientific analyses of shipments of guano and other commercial fertilizers. He also developed a uniform statement of the chemical contents that explained in simple words the composition of a fertilizer that farmers could understand. Moses then assigned market prices to the percentages of phosphate of lime, decomposed lime, and ammonia that represented the cash value at the factory of the contents of fertilizers purchased. Moses was the founder of the Hebrew Technical Institute in New York City, an institution for free education of poor boys, and served as its director for several years. He was associated with the Montefiore Home, the Hebrew Orphan Asylum, and other charities. He died in New York City on January 3, 1906.
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Five reasons to visit the Aquarium
-- Vaclav Havel
(NEW)
Hysterectomy alternatives: 10 a.m., April 20, East
Cooper Medical Center, first floor classroom. According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention about 600,000 hysterectomies are performed
each year in the United States - the second-most frequently performed
major surgical procedure among reproductive-aged women. Hysterectomies
are so common that one in three women in the United States has had one
by age 60. But there are alternatives, and Dr. Natalie Gregory will discuss
them. Call 843-884-7031 to reserve your space. (NEW) Summerville Shaggin' & Shoppin': 5 to 8 p.m., April 21. Summerville D.R.E.A.M. (Downtown Restoration, Enhancement and Management) will close Little Main (from West Doty Avenue to West Richardson Avenue) to traffic and bring in a live radio remote from The Boardwalk 1340 to spin tunes for shaggers. Carolina Classic Ford Car Club cars will be on display on East Richardson Avenue. A summer camp fair will offer arts, craft camps, sports camps by the YMCA and fun camps at Celebration Town and FasTrac Kids. Downtown merchants and restaurants will offer specials, music and interesting bites to eat. Hat Ladies Easter Promenade: 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., April 23, promenade down Meeting Street below Broad Street. In honor of hat wearing traditions and the holiday spirit, all are invited to watch, wave and receive "HaTpy Easter" greetings. More. CALENDAR: ONGOING AND SOON Social Media Seminar: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 26. Step Ahead, a Charleston company specializing in social media marketing, is offering a first-time seminar on how to successfully use social media for business. The full-day seminar will be at the Charleston Digital Corridor, 475-A East Bay St. Members of the Step Ahead team will guide attendees "step by step" through all the key social media tools and share their experiences working with businesses of all shapes and sizes. Cost is $75. Register online or by email. Resume Webinar: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., April 27. Sponsored by the Center for Women, this live 90-minute interactive webinar will focus on resume preparation best practices. Registration required: $25.
Homeland Security Conference: May 4 and 5, Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston. ThinkTEC presents its 7th Annual Homeland Security Innovation Conference focusing on homeland security 10 years after 9/11. Keynote speaker is Mike McConnell, executive vice president, Booz Allen Hamilton, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence (2007-2009), former Director of the National Security Agency along with other homeland security specialist. There will also be an exhibition hall. Cost: $250 Chamber member/ government/ military, $375 non-member. More.
(NEW) Small Business Lunch: noon, May 5, Halls Chophouse. The King Street Marketing Group and the Hall Family are launching "Small Business Lunch at Halls," a forum for business leaders to be held the first Thursday of each month. The events will be ticketed, with a maximum of seating for 50 attendees at $28 per person. Parking is included in the ticket price. The launch event on May 5 will feature Jim Newsome, President and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority, who will discuss opportunities the Port of Charleston presents to area businesses, development plans for Union Pier Terminal and the newly formed Cruise Business Council. Tickets are available online. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
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for Ard to go MARSHA GUERARD 4/14: RiverDogs' date4/7: Grab your paddle 3/31: 80,000 feet here 3/24: Don't be shocked 3/17: Being Irish for 1st time 3/10: Honoring givers, adventurers 3/3: Watching Charlie, selves 2/24: Oysters, pigs, chickens 2/17: Law student's brief 2/10: Simple act of beauty 1/3: Spoleto plans 12/27: Hunger, homeless 11/11: Veterans Day 10/21: Charleston: good performer 8/19: How many med schools for SC? PETER
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Starting
with 64 favorites, fans on the magazine's Facebook page pared it down
to two dishes: 
Charleston
Waterkeeper will celebrate its second annual Water Ball at the South Carolina
Aquarium on Thursday.
Starting
this Saturday and on dates through the spring, Charleston County Parks
will be hosting local dog experts from Bark Busters Home Dog Training
for free seminars. Open to the public and presented within the three county
dog parks, these programs will aim to teach dog owners about their pet's
behavior as well as some recommended "do's and "don'ts"
during park trips.
Whether
you're a weekend putter or dedicated daily golfer dreaming of going pro,
core strength and specific muscle function are keys to a longer drive.
The testing will involve movement analysis of three separate exercises
that relate to your golf swing. Analysis of these movements will be performed
by Cenegenics' biomechanics expert to determine strengths and weaknesses
and give recommendations for improving golf swing mechanics.
Moses
and his brother, A.J. Moses, engaged in phosphate mining from 1868 to
1870 at the Massot Farm in Berkeley County. He then served as state inspector
of phosphates (1872-1874) and geologist of South Carolina, and was the
author of a report, The Phosphate Deposits of South Carolina, published
by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1882. Moses also received two patents
for his own inventions in the 1860s. His first was for washing, screening,
and drying phosphate rock, and the second patent was for a blowpipe.
Your
kids are on spring break, you've got 168 hours to keep them busy, what
do you do?! Here are five great reasons you should head on down to the
South Carolina Aquarium:
