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ALSO INSIDE :: FEEDBACK: Send your letters :: SPOTLIGHT: Force Protection :: BROADUS: Teaching the teachers :: CALENDAR: This week ... and next :: QUOTE: Making the effort |
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OCT. 3, 2011 - Founded in 1670 and originally called Charles Town, this scenic and historic municipality that we call home is a wonderful city in every possible sense.
But to the RiverDogs, Charleston is more than just a name. It is part of who we are as we strive continually to give back to our community. The club's owners, The Goldklang Group, firmly believe in benevolence, not only with community service, but with financial resources. Our president, Mike Veeck and his triumphant "Fun Is Good" business philosophy, calls for constant giving and evolving as a community partner. While that sounds good, it is not something that we simply put in a manual. Giving back to our community is what we do because we feel strongly about it, and as a result, it is something that is always in the forefront of our collective minds. Because of our club's affinity for the Medical University of South Carolina's Storm Eye Institute -- due to the retinitis pigmentosa suffered by Rebecca Veeck, the daughter Mike and his wife, Libby -- we have donated more than $400,000 to the Storm Eye Institute through our annual "Kindness Beats Blindness Auction" in June. In that specific opportunity, we count on the exuberant kindness and generosity of our fans and patrons.
In addition to our donating nearly $40,000, we also invite non-profit organizations to have a presence at each of our Monday games so they can promote their worthy causes to our vast audience. In the off-season, we, as a complete staff, devote a single day per month to help clean up public areas, assist with Habitat for Humanity and participate with several other worthy endeavors. While many of our fans are visitors from out of town on vacation in one of American's most popular destination sites, we know that the bulk of our fans come from a radius of 35 miles, meaning that Charleston really loves the RiverDogs. And we'd like to think it is because we believe in giving back annually and in various ways.
 It's a great day in South Carolina, Charleston By ANDY BRACK, publisher OCT. 3, 2011 -- Am I the only one who wonders if Gov. Nikki Haley ripped off local tire and brake shop for the state's new cheery greeting?
A lot of people have been giving the governor grief about a new edict ordering state employees to answer phones with the greeting, "It's a great day in South Carolina. How can I help you?" At first blush, it may seem silly and trite. (And to be polite, employees should ask, "How may I help you?) It also sounds suspiciously similar Gerald's has been answering the phone for years: "It's a great day at Gerald's. This is [insert name] How can I help youuuuuu?" Regardless, Haley understands the notion that South Carolina, a state that has one of the highest jobless rates in the nation, needs to rebrand itself. A simple thing like answering the phone with a more positive greeting certainly can't hurt. And while we continue to face numerous challenges, why is it that we generally live in the Palmetto State? Because we actually do think it's a great place. More SC women needed in elected office A lead headline last week in a national newspaper -- "Saudi monarch grants women right to vote" -- led to an ineluctable conclusion: Around the world, people are fighting for more democracy and representative government. But here at home, we're often lazy about the rights we have. Setting
aside Jon Stewart's humor that it took a royal decree for Saudi women
to get the right to vote and run in elections in 2015 in a country where
they can't even drive, so few women in South Carolina run for public office
that we have the lowest percentage (8.8 percent) of women in the Statehouse
in the country. Only four women ever have been elected to statewide office, including current Gov. Nikki Haley. And women comprise just 17.5 percent of trustees of public institutions of higher education, according to the Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics. "The
near absence of women's input into critical decisions of the 21st century
is a monumental waste of one of South Carolina's most valuable resources
and a staggering affront to women, who make up 51.3 percent of the state's
population," the Institute's Web site says. Columbia business leader Barbara Rackes, a member of the Institute's board, says women often are reluctant to run for office, because of lingering societal attitudes in the state that "a woman's place is in the home." But that has been changing. "A woman is her own worst enemy in this case," Rackes said. "She's generally too busy to think about it, or when she does, she thinks somebody else can do that. What we're trying to do, one woman at a time, is to help them get over that." Rackes
said research shows women may have some gender advantages over men in
elections. That's largely because women wear multiple hats. Not only do
many South Carolina women work, but they're generally in charge of keeping
the family running by doing the household shopping, overseeing its health
care and giving rides to kids to activities. Men, Rackes said, may have
a narrower focus on their work. Because South Carolina women may have a more diverse daily routine than men, women may be able to relate better to potential constituents because they have more direct and frequent contact on everything from grocery prices to public education. "Those
kinds of things come together to give women an opportunity that they haven't
had historically," Rackes said, adding that women traditionally haven't
been thought of as being as strong on the economy as men. "But now
as women have become such a huge part of the workforce -- in fact, the
breadwinners in many families -- we are on par with men. It's no longer
a disadvantage."
OCT. 3,
2011 - If you think the BB&T Charleston Wine & Food Festival is
confined to a few days in early March, think again. The festival has grown
to include events and promotions year-round, all geared toward keeping
the festival spirit (and spirits!) going. One such event kicks off this
week: free tastings of the 2012 festival's hot-list wines. Join festival
staff members each Tuesday, beginning this week (Oct. 4), from 5 p.m.
to 7 p.m. at Eurasia Café and Wine Bar in Mount Pleasant (next
door to Whole Foods) for free tastes of the wines that will be featured
at the festival next spring.
OCT. 3, 2011 -- Local paper 'WEST OF' reported last week on the status of recycling in the county, and it is not a wowser kind of story: The goal is 40 percent kept out the landfill, and right now we are at about 22 percent. However, half of that is coming from yard waste, which means we are only recycling 11 percent. Some small efforts are going forward to improve this, and possibly the largest effort - moving from manual (prisoner) labor to machine work -- is about a $15 million dollar commitment. Sadly, we are unlikely to see investment in our greener future anytime soon. The 'Green Business Challenge' awards ceremonies were held recently and Mayor Joe Riley and the Sustainability Institute partnered together, along with numerous other local organizations, to honor the efforts made: Over $44K was saved through green business practices, over 130K gallons of water were saved and over 80 businesses learned how to better their green practices. The national annual 'SRI in the Rockies', (Socially Responsible Investing) meetings started Saturday, and Money with a Mission, Charleston's local SRI/ community investment professionals is there in full force. There will be programs on investing in alternative /green businesses; water resources, including Phillippe Cousteau; The U.S. military as a 'Clean Energy Catalyst' and organic foods future. Greg Garvan (your writer) will be hosting a topic table. We expect to bring back much new information about greening your money! SPA has started a program to get trucks built before 1994 off the road. Drivers will get up to $5k if they buy a 2004 or newer truck and junk the old one. The EPA provided the grant money for this and while SPA thinks about 260 trucks are eligible, they expect about 100 to take up this first offer. Every little step helps!
The geeks at Palmetto Technology Hub hope that you'll take one minute to help them do some good for local nonprofit organizations.
"This is about doing awesome projects and making new connections. To keep the connections and overall goodness going, we'll follow up with a community night," the geeks promise. Library seeks to break world
record, promote kids' reading
Charleston to hold design drop-in for Concord Park The city of Charleston, in conjunction with design consultant ColeJenest&Stone, is hosting a drop-in public meeting Tuesday to review the proposed Concord Park, to be located on Concord Street between Calhoun and Laurens streets. The meeting
will be held at the site of the proposed park on Oct. 4, from 5:30 to
7 p.m. There will be tents on the site for the meeting. The public is
encouraged to stop in and provide feedback on the plans. Cooper
River Bridge Run grant applications available Local author Brad Crowther will read excerpts from his recently released novel, "Ninth Man," and sign copies of the book at a Thursday event to benefit abused and neglected children in the tri-county area.
Speed limits to drop in Mount Pleasant work zone The speed
limit on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mount Pleasant will be cut from 45
mph to 35 mph this month to promote safety in the work zone. Mask, dress auction to benefit College of the Building Arts The American
College of the Building Arts will hold its annual "Get REDy to Wear"
party and auction at the Cocktail Club on Oct. 12 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Custom couture masks created by local artists and unique red dresses designed
by local fashion stars will be auctioned at the hottest new cocktail club
in town at this free event. Young Lawyers collecting items for domestic abuse victims The S.C. Bar Young Lawyers Division Voices Against Violence Committee is collecting personal care items for its 2011 Necessities and Paper Products Drive to go to domestic violence shelters throughout the state. From today through Oct. 17 and Nov. 1 through Nov. 14, volunteers are collecting personal care items including paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, office paper, canned goods and other food items, powder laundry detergent, cleaning products (floor cleaner, window cleaner, etc.), deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other personal care items. Items can be dropped off at the Charleston Housing Authority, 550 Meeting St. in Charleston or at the law firm of Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, LLC, 1037 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Bldg. A., Mount Pleasant. Artist's
seventh annual collection will be on display When it comes to art, it isn't often that an artist successfully produces a sizable showing of new artworks each year for seven years running. However, that is the case at "Lowcountry VII - New Works by Karen Burnette Garner." The exhibition continues Ms. Garner's tradition of creating Lowcountry landscape paintings, with over 30 new original works in acrylic on canvas.
Merchant and legislator Miles Brewton was born on Jan. 29, 1731, in Charleston to Robert Brewton, a prosperous goldsmith, and his second wife, Mary Griffith. His grandfather Miles Brewton had immigrated to South Carolina from Barbados in 1684 and became a goldsmith and militia officer. Since his family's trade was allied to banking, young Miles was well placed for a career in finance and trade. Twice during the 1750s, he traveled to England to finish his education and establish commercial ties. Between 1756 and his death, Brewton conducted business in several partnerships and was part-owner in eight commercial vessels. His partnerships dealt largely with the exportation of domestic produce, but he also made substantial profits in the importation of slaves. On May 19, 1759, Brewton further expanded his fortune and influence by marrying Mary Izard, daughter of Joseph Izard and Ann Bull. The couple had three children. Through his marriage, numerous land grants, and purchases, Brewton accumulated a large quantity of real estate. However, he made his fortune principally as a merchant rather than as a planter, becoming one of the wealthiest men in South Carolina.
In public life, Brewton was active in the Charleston Library Society and was an officer of the South Carolina Society. In his will he left a legacy of £500 sterling to support the South Carolina Society's free primary school and £1,000 sterling to establish a college in South Carolina. He served as a commissioner of several public bodies in Charleston, including the Work House and Markets and the projects to build the Exchange and magazines. In 1773 he was elected vice president of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce. Brewton served in the Commons House of Assembly from 1765 until his death, representing the parishes of St. Philip's, St. John's Colleton, and St. Michael's in succession. In 1773 Lieutenant Governor William Bull recommended him for a seat on the Royal Council, but Brewton's support of antigovernment measures led him to decline the seat. In July 1774 Brewton stood as a conservative South Carolina candidate for the First Continental Congress, but he lost to the more radical Christopher Gadsden. Brewton represented the parishes of St. Philip's and St. Michael's in the First Provincial Congress in 1775 and there was elected to the Council of Safety. Lord William Campbell, the last royal governor of South Carolina, was married to Mary Brewton's first cousin, and on his arrival in Charleston in 1775 he briefly resided at Brewton's King Street mansion. Also in 1775 Brewton was reelected to the Provincial Congress for its second term, but he would not be able to serve in that body. In late August 1775, on a voyage from Charleston to Philadelphia, Brewton and his family were lost at sea.
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Giving Back winners
And congrats, as well, to the Giving Back Award Winners:
"The effort
to understand the universe is one of the very few things that lifts human
life a little above the level of farce, and gives it some of the grace
of tragedy."
Open House about McLeod Plantation: 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Oct. 6, James Island Charter High School cafeteria. McLeod Plantation is a 37-acre property on James Island recently acquired by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission. Consultants are working with the commission and a steering committee to create a master plan and a stabilization plan for McLeod Plantation. Join the consultant team as well as CCPRC representatives at a public open house to discuss the project. A formal presentation of the project will be given at 6 p.m. Free of charge. (NEW) Square Onion Too Anniversary: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Oct. 6, 411 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant. The Square Onion Too is going pink to celebrate its first year of business at the Coleman Boulevard location. The Warriors 4 Warriors Foundation (formerly Warriors Wear Pink) will benefit in the fight against breast cancer. A $10 donation will get you admission to this pink party with a purpose, savory delights, live music and a glass of wine. (NEW)
Cancer
Prevention Cooking Course: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Oct. 6 to 27
(Thursdays), Roper St. Francis Cancer Care, 2085 Henry Tecklenburg Drive.
The Cancer Project sponsors this cancer prevention and survival cooking
course. Cost: $60. Registration: call 843-402-CARE. (NEW)
MOJA -
Eleganza: 7 p.m., Oct. 6, the City Gallery at Waterfront Park.
Featuring Rhiannon Giddens, soprano, and Cheryse McLeod Lewis, mezzo-soprano,
the program includes a variety of musical genres from opera and art songs
and spirituals to jazz, sacred songs and musical theatre. A champagne
reception will follow the concert. Tickets: $26 ($21 Seniors/Students)
available
online. French Quarter Art Walk: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Oct. 7. Charleston's French Quarter art galleries are planning featured artists and opening reception for the first big art walk of the season. More info. (NEW) MOJA - The Philadelphia Dance Company: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 7, Gaillard Municipal Auditorium. Tickets: $19, available online. Time Stands Still:
7:30 p.m., through Oct. 14, PURE Theatre, 477 King St. PURE Theatre's
production of Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies. Oct. 7, 8, 13,
14 at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday Matinee Performance at 2 p.m. on Oct.
9, and a Pay What You Can Preview Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, $25,
are available at puretheatre.org or by phone at 866-811-4111. Tickets
can also be purchased the night of the show at the Box Office, which opens
30 minutes before showtime. Seating is limited. (NEW) Open-Cockpit Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 9, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. This is a rare opportunity to view and enter the open cockpits of several of special aircraft on the flight deck and in the Hangar Bay. Normal Patriots Point admission fees apply; more information at www.PatriotsPoint.org. Aircraft cockpits to be opened include: SBD Dauntless, H-1 Huey, S-3 Viking, H-3 Sea King, F-9 Cougar and the A-6 Intruder. CALENDAR: ONGOING AND SOON
Art Exhibition: Open now through Oct. 19, City Gallery at Waterfront Park. Special Moments: Works from the Collection of Dr. Harold Rhodes, a 2011 MOJA Arts Festival exhibition. Features art by Leroy Campbell, Arianne King Comer, Tom Feelings, Tyrone Jeter, Cassandra M. Gillens, Jonathan Green, Terry K. Hunter, John W. Jones, Leo Twiggs and others. Admission free.
(NEW)
Charleston
Ballet Season Opener: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 15, and 3 p.m., Oct.
16, Sottile Theatre. Charleston Ballet Theatre kicks off its 25th
Anniversary season with the epic Spanish tale of the Cervantes classic
"Don Quixote." Vivid, colorful costumes, stunning backdrops
and the cheeky humor of the novel all will make their way to the stage.
Tickets: $25 to $45 (military/student discount of $10 off) Box Office:
217 Calhoun St., Suite 2, call 843-723-7334, or visit charlestonballet.org. (NEW)
Mitchelville
Forum: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 22, Westin Hotel and Spa,
Hilton Head Island. African-American history and Civil War scholars from
universities in South Carolina and across the country will discuss issues
and stories related to the lives of Africans at the dawn of freedom. Mitchelville,
on Hilton Head Island, is one such story. Registration is $45, including
lunch and program materials. Register and pay online. (http://www.cf-lowcountry.org/learn/rsvp/23)
For more information, call 843-255-7300 or go
online. (NEW) Blue Jamboree: 5:30 p.m., Oct. 22, Charleston Maritime Center. Guest speakers include Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sen. Vincent Sheheen, and state party Chair Dick Harpootlian. Includes live bands and entertainment, food and beverage vendors and voter registration. Tickets: $10. More Blue Jamboree information. Antiques Book Signing: Noon to 3 p.m., Oct. 23, John Pope Antiques, 180 King St. Antiques expert Judith Miller will sign her book, "Miller's Antiques Handbook & Price Guide, 2012-2013." Tech Entrepreneur Training: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 12 at the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 4500 Leeds Ave. BizBuilderSC, which offers statewide entrepreneur and small business training, is offering the 10-week course "NxLevel for Tech Entrepreneurs." Tuition is $345, and includes materials. For more information or to register, visit online or contact Laura Williams at 843-805-3102. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
FOCUS ARCHIVES
1/9: Greene:
Black male depression DOUG
BOSTICK: 12/27: Defending
Charleston ANDY BRACK 1/9:
Visits
for candidates MARSHA GUERARD 9/1:
Bill
Regan, more ANN
THRASH: 1/2:
Using
leftover bubbly PETER
LUCASH: 8/25: 2
tech companies move here GREG
GARVAN: 12/27: Coal
ash, more LIST ARCHIVES 1/9:
Herrick's
5 winter foods IN OUR SISTER PUBLICATION
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NEW
MURALIST: West Ashley resident Sarah Stewart painted a mural on a
building in the Avondale shopping district. The captivating mural was
the first-every by Sarah, a College of Charleston anthropology graduate
who manages a downtown bake shop. Well done! (Photo by Andy Brack.)
This
year, because it was another terrific year at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park
in terms of attendance and sponsor participation, we and several of our
key backers have donated the following amounts to these worthy charities:
Food
and art will be showcased this Friday, Oct. 7, at the Lambert-Gray Gallery
& Studios downtown when several nationally known visual artists will
be displaying their food-related paintings along with a reception and
book signing for Holly Herrick, a Charleston resident and cookbook author
whose latest book, "Tart Love," has just hit the shelves (
Mount
Pleasant writer and editor Ann Thrash can be reached at: 
Greg
Garvan of James Island is president of Money with a Mission, an 18-year-old,
fee-only financial planning firm that specializes in socially responsible/
'green' asset management. On the Web: 
You
can go to the 
The
Charleston County Public Library is hosting 10 Read for the Record events
Thursday to read this year's book, "Llama Llama Red Pajama,"
by Anna Dewdney. To help promote this community-wide event and encourage
attendance, the Library partnered with the City of Charleston Mayor's
Office for Children, Youth and Families to secure special guest readers
at three branches - Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley, Charleston City Police
Chief Greg Mullen and WCBD-TV 2 News Anchor Carolyn Murray.
The
library's Read for the Record Events on Thursday are:
The
event will be on Oct. 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Primrose House,
332 East Bay St., L.R. Burtschy & Co. Books will be available for
purchase and proceeds will support HALOS, a local nonprofit organization
meeting the needs of child victims of abuse and neglect.
Motorists
traveling on U.S. Highway 17 need to watch their speed. New speed limit
signs will be placed along the corridor beginning Oct. 13. Crews will
begin removing the old speed limit signs and installing new ones between
the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and the I-526 overpass.
The
works of artist Karen Burnette Garner will be on display from Oct. 15
to Nov. 30 at The Treasure Nest Art Gallery, 1055 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.,
Suite 50, in Crickentree Village in Mount Pleasant.
In
1769 Brewton constructed a grand house on King Street and decorated it
in the latest English taste. Still standing in the early twenty-first
century, the structure is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian
architecture in America. During a visit to Charleston in 1773, the Bostonian
Josiah Quincy, Jr., dined at Brewton's town house with several prominent
local figures. He described Brewton as "a gentleman of very large
fortune" and marveled at his host's conspicuous wealth. He pronounced
the mansion "the grandest hall I ever beheld" and its furnishings
"vastly pretty."
Charleston
Magazine has named its annual Giving Back Award Winners, as well as
the five finalists for its nonprofit award. The winners will be featured
in the November issue of the magazine, and the awards will be presented
at 8 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the Charleston Music Hall. The audience
will select the nonprofit winner at that event via text vote. Congratulations
to the nonprofit finalists:
