Charleston Daily Seeking all the beauty that is Charleston, South Carolina

by Mark A Leon

Something wonderfully unexpected is taking shape along the rivers of Cayce, South Carolina.

The city is moving forward with plans to bring a larger-than-life troll sculpture by internationally acclaimed Danish artist Thomas Dambo to the Cayce Riverwalk — a project that will become the first Thomas Dambo troll installation in South Carolina. Construction is expected to take place in 2027, with the finished sculpture becoming a permanent public attraction along the riverfront. 

And if you’ve never encountered one of Dambo’s trolls, prepare to be fascinated.

Dambo is known around the world for creating enormous, whimsical human-like creatures from reclaimed and recycled materials, often placing them in forests, parks and other natural environments. Rather than simply dropping a sculpture into a landscape, his installations are designed to feel as though they belong there — as if the giant creatures have been quietly hiding among the trees all along.

That’s precisely the vision Cayce is pursuing.

During a recent visit to the city, Dambo explored Cayce firsthand, getting to know its riverfront, history and community while looking for inspiration for the sculpture. He reportedly found what he described as a place with “so much magic” — a fitting sentiment for an artist whose work is all about encouraging people to look at familiar places differently. 

The final troll hasn’t been designed yet.

That’s an important part of the story.

This won’t simply be one of Dambo’s existing sculptures transported to South Carolina. The installation will be created specifically for Cayce, drawing inspiration from the city’s natural surroundings, history, culture and identity. 

And the setting couldn’t be more appropriate.

The sculpture is planned for the Cayce Riverwalk, part of the Three Rivers Greenway — a network of trails and natural spaces that follows the Congaree, Saluda and Broad rivers. City officials see the troll as more than a piece of public art. They see it as a way to transform an already beautiful but largely undevelopable riverfront into a destination people intentionally travel to experience. 

But the troll has already sparked a conversation.

The project hasn’t been without controversy.

Cayce officials estimate the total investment at roughly $400,000 or more, with the project being funded primarily through hospitality and accommodations tax revenues that are legally designated for tourism-related purposes. The city is also pursuing grants, sponsorships, donations and other outside support. 

Supporters believe the sculpture could become a tourism magnet, bringing new visitors who will eat at local restaurants, shop at local businesses, explore the Riverwalk and discover other attractions throughout the Columbia region.

Critics, meanwhile, have questioned whether the city should spend that amount on a sculpture and whether Cayce has enough infrastructure to capture the economic benefits that tourism could bring. Those concerns have been part of the public discussion surrounding the project. 

Still, the project is moving ahead.

The current timeline calls for the design to take shape in late 2026, with fabrication and installation beginning in 2027. The city anticipates unveiling the completed troll in May 2027, according to the project’s official timeline. 

And perhaps one of the most interesting parts is that the community will have a role in bringing it to life. Dambo’s projects frequently incorporate locally sourced reclaimed materials, and Cayce expects opportunities for residents, businesses and volunteers to participate as the project progresses. 

In a state filled with palmetto trees, historic towns, beaches, gardens and centuries-old landmarks, South Carolina is about to get something entirely different:

a giant troll in the woods.

And maybe that’s exactly the point.

The best public art doesn’t simply give us something to look at. It gives us a reason to go somewhere. It creates a story. It gives families a destination, photographers something to chase, children something to believe in and visitors a reason to turn off the highway and see what a community has created.

Cayce is betting that this giant wooden creature will do exactly that.

By sometime in 2027, visitors may be wandering along the river, following the trail through the trees, when suddenly — there he’ll be.

A giant troll, waiting quietly among the Carolina woods.

And South Carolina will have its first.

Learn more about the Cayce Troll project⁠

Sources: City of Cayce, Cayce Troll project, WIS-TV, WCIV

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By Mark A. Leon

Charleston is increasingly becoming a place where people aren’t just coming to live—they’re coming to build careers.

Charleston has earned another spot on a national list, but this one has less to do with beaches, restaurants or historic homes and more to do with something increasingly important to the region’s future: jobs and talent.

LinkedIn has named the Charleston metropolitan area the No. 6 U.S. “City on the Rise” for 2026, placing the region among the nation’s fastest-growing emerging markets for jobs and new talent.

The annual LinkedIn ranking identifies smaller and midsized metropolitan areas where the labor market is gaining momentum. Rather than simply ranking the largest employment centers, LinkedIn looks at where professionals are being hired, where jobs are being posted and where new talent is moving.

For a region that has spent years building its reputation as one of America’s most desirable places to live, the ranking offers another important distinction: Charleston is increasingly becoming a place where people can build a career as well as a lifestyle.

Charleston ranks behind five emerging markets

Charleston came in at No. 6 nationally, behind Augusta, Georgia; Richmond, Virginia; Reno, Nevada; North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The rest of LinkedIn’s Top 25 includes Pensacola, Austin, Portland, Maine, Tulsa, Colorado Springs, Jacksonville, Huntsville, Knoxville, Nashville, Greenville, South Carolina, and several other emerging markets.

LinkedIn says its ranking is based on anonymized and aggregated data from millions of U.S. member profiles and job postings. The analysis examined data from March 2024 through February 2026. To qualify, metro areas had to show strong performance in hiring, job growth and professional migration, while also having positive net migration. Markets with more than 2.5 million LinkedIn members were excluded to focus the analysis on smaller and midsized metros.

That methodology is important.

Charleston isn’t being recognized simply because its population is growing. LinkedIn is identifying momentum in the region’s labor market.

A different kind of Charleston economy

For decades, Charleston’s economic identity was closely associated with tourism, hospitality, the military and the Port of Charleston.

Those industries remain important, but the regional economy has become considerably more diverse.

Advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive production, logistics, health care, technology, professional services and other industries have become increasingly important parts of the Charleston-area economy.

LinkedIn specifically points to Charleston’s thriving port economy, advanced manufacturing and expanding workforce as factors contributing to its position on the list.

That combination may be one of the region’s greatest economic advantages.

Charleston has the infrastructure and industrial base to create jobs while also offering something that many traditional employment centers struggle to provide: a lifestyle capable of attracting workers from outside the region.

The talent equation

Perhaps the most significant part of LinkedIn’s ranking isn’t the number six.

It’s the fact that talent is moving toward opportunity.

LinkedIn’s Cities on the Rise analysis measures professional migration along with hiring and job-posting growth. That means Charleston’s recognition reflects more than employers adding positions. It indicates that professionals are increasingly choosing emerging markets like Charleston as places to develop their careers.

For local employers, however, that growth creates a challenge.

More companies competing for a growing but finite pool of skilled workers can make recruiting increasingly competitive. The same economic momentum that attracts new businesses and professionals can also create pressure on employers to offer better opportunities, compensation, flexibility and career paths.

In other words, Charleston’s success creates its own talent competition.

Charleston’s biggest advantage may be the combination

There are plenty of American cities with strong job markets.

There are also plenty of cities known for quality of life.

Charleston’s appeal comes from combining the two.

A professional can potentially find opportunities in advanced manufacturing, health care, technology, logistics or professional services while living within minutes of beaches, historic neighborhoods, restaurants and one of the country’s most recognizable coastal destinations.

That combination is becoming increasingly valuable as workers reconsider where they want to live and work.

LinkedIn’s 2026 Cities on the Rise list reflects that broader shift. The strongest emerging markets aren’t necessarily the traditional centers of American business. They are places where employment opportunities, population growth and quality of life intersect.

Charleston is increasingly one of those places.

The No. 6 ranking doesn’t mean Charleston has become the next New York, San Francisco or Atlanta—and that’s not really the point.

It suggests something more interesting.

Charleston is developing an economic identity of its own: a growing coastal market where people can pursue professional opportunity without giving up the quality of life that brought so many of them here in the first place.

And as more companies compete for talent and more professionals look beyond America’s traditional business hubs, that could become one of Charleston’s most valuable competitive advantages.

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Data Source: LinkedIn

Inaugural Lowcountry Pulse poll provides insight into voter views on growth, infrastructure and affordability.  Charleston, SC – Lowcountry voters want to manage the impacts of growth, not simply stop it, according findings from the inaugural Lowcountry Pulse poll released today by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. The new regional polling initiative measures the opinions of high-propensity voters across Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties on issues impacting the business community, economy and quality of life.  The inaugural poll found that voters favor investing in solutions to the challenges affecting their quality of life over limiting growth, and they want economic growth to help pay for those investments rather than relying on higher taxes.  “Lowcountry Pulse allows us to hear directly from voters and understand what they really think, beyond the most visible voices,” said Kevin Sheilley. “What we found tells a different story. Voters want to manage the impacts of growth through targeted investments that protect and improve their quality of life.”VOTERS STRONGLY SUPPORT INVESTMENT AS THE WAY TO MANAGE GROWTHWhen asked about the best way to manage growth, 59% said investing in infrastructure, compared with 36.5% who favor limiting growth. More than three-quarters, 75.8%, say infrastructure investment is very important to managing growth and 79.7% say investments in drainage and flood resilience are very important.  Voters also expressed strong support for transit, with 71.7% supporting Lowcountry Rapid Transit.  VOTERS WANT ECONOMIC GROWTH TO HELP PAY FOR THE REGION’S NEEDS 70.7% of voters prefer attracting new jobs and business to help fund public services and infrastructure, compared with just 9.7% who favor raising taxes.  At the same time, 86.1% support clear, predictable timelines for permitting and development review. More than half, 55.3% agree growth is creating good jobs for people who already live here, compared with 36.8% who disagree. Three-quarters of voters are also open to creating new revenue streams by legalizing and taxing activities such as gambling.  AFFORDABILITY IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE REGION’S WORKFORCE Housing ranks as voters’ top affordability concern, with the pressure particularly pronounced among younger voters. 48.3% of voters ages 18 to 34 rank housing as their main affordability concern.  Childcare and access to good-paying jobs are also part of the affordability picture. 72% support government policies to expand access to affordable, high-quality childcare, while 38.6% say good job opportunities exist in their communities, but more are needed.  “Together, these findings show a clear demand for targeted investments that address our region’s quality-of-life and affordability challenges, with economic growth helping to pay for them,” said Sheilley. “Lowcountry Pulse provides a new way to understand what voters are experiencing and bring their perspectives into conversations about our region’s future.” Lowcountry Pulse will provide ongoing public opinion data on issues affecting the Lowcountry’s business community and economy, giving the Chamber, business leaders and policymakers greater insight into how voters across the region view the challenges and opportunities facing their communities.  ABOUT THE LOWCOUNTRY PULSE The inaugural Lowcountry Pulse poll was conducted for the Charleston Metro Chamber by First Tuesday Strategies. The survey reached 800 likely general election voters across Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties through peer-to-peer text-to-web outreach. Results were weighted to reflect the demographic and policatical composition of the likely general election voter population in the three counties, including age, gender and race. The margin of sampling error is approximately plus or minus 3.46 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

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By Michael Easler

Rumpty Rattles is dead…

October 25, 1927

The day had been unseasonably warm, even for this late stretch of Fall.  Pushing into the mid 80’s, the heat settled into the city, turning every building into an oversized oven brick – a reminderthat October in Charleston is a fickle visitor.

It was 1:00 A.M. as Frank “Rumpty Rattles” Hogan, local “strong arm” and bootlegger made his way along Market St.  And though the coolness of the early morning hour was trying to take back the day, the lingering swelter must have emanated from every storefront and the very pavement beneath the soles of his shoes. Hogan did not notice.  He was in the grip of a different heat broiling under his collar.  A fever.  It was something personal.  Something dark and violent.  It was business. Tonight, someone was going to pay.  

Perhaps he paused in the glow of a streetlamp, scanning the landscape for movement, lighting a cigarette.  His big hands checking the pistol in his pocket.  A dozen yards ahead, his destination, the Peking Chop Suey restaurant where he will meet his girlfriend, Myrtle Carter, an 18-year-old waitress.  Their afterhours date will have no drinks and romantic conversation.  It will be cut short with gunfire and blood. Frank “RumptyRattles” Hogan is on a rendezvous with Charleston folklore and Eternity.  

The path that led him to his demise was not as straight and orderly as old Market St.  It was a twisted road of hard knuckles with the intersection of shadowy politics and the dangerous pecking order of the illegal liquor machine.   A world of flourish or perish.

Frank started life in Charleston’s 9^th Ward: north of Mary St., west of Nassau St, running through Amherst, Hanover, Boundary and King St. –  a tough, hardscrabble realm known as “Little Mexico.” It was a few blocks away from Charleston’s elite but closer to the stench of the city dump.  It was here he got the nickname “Rumpty Rattles.”  There’s no bedrock intel of its origin or meaning.  Maybe a crib endearment from his mother, maybe a sobriquet from the street.

Frank grew into a formidable figure.  Big, broad, square jawed.  Fearless.  There was a mystique building around him – a dangerous one.  Never backing down from a fight; perhaps also looking for one.  

He had a varied work history: stevedore, dock gang foreman, railroad worker. For recreation he enjoyed baseball and boxing. But as the Prohibition Era (1920-1933) turned into a turbulent, nationwide war between the “Drys” and the “Wets”… and “Uncle Sam”, Hogan was moving toward a new opportunity.  A place where his tough persona would be a perfect fit.  Bootleg whiskey was booming.

(A staggering volume of illegal hooch was brewed in Hell Hole Swamp in neighboring Berkeley County.  An inaccessible and inhospitable, 2,000-acre tangle, it was an ideal spot to avoid prying eyes and noses.  The complex of “giggle water” stills there was vast and profitable. The high-octane product out of Hell Hole became famous across the country.  General Francis Marion bedeviled the British within Hell Hole. Bootleggers gave the “revenuers” the same frustration.)

Somewhere along this thorny road, Frank Hogan fell in with Leon Dunlap, another local corn liquor wholesaler/supplier.  Their partnership was stormy and short-lived.  The rancor overthe fallout was so bitter the two hadn’t spoken in years.

Hogan kept his hand in bootlegging, running his own speakeasy, The Mexican Rest and Robbers Inn (it had other monikers: Bucket of Blood and Knock Down and Drag Out.)  It must have galled him to no end that with every drink he poured, Leon Dunlap’s dirty fingers were in his wallet.  To add insult to injury, Leon Dunlap’s right-hand man, David “Country Boy” Riggs was married to Frank’s daughter, Marie. (That must have been awkward at Thanksgiving…) 

“Rumpty Rattles” also maintained his ties to Little Mexico, keeping a small house at 16 Blake St.  And despite his reputation as a hard-nosed brawler, he had a soft spot for the old stomping grounds.  There was always bread and a big pot of soup on the stove for the bums and the hungry of Little Mexico.

Now enter John and Henry Brown. The Brown brothers were the money and brains behind a great wadge of Charleston’s illegal liquor trade.  On October 24^th, the Brown’s drove down from Awendaw to meet with their cadre of suppliers to deliver a business memorandum:  the cost of a gallon of booze was going up by 50 cents.  Since Leon Dunlap was a favored lieutenant, he and Riggs would accompany them on their rounds to break the news along the supply chain.  Frank Hogan’s house was one of their first stops.

Dunlap and Riggs warned their presence was a bad idea.  As a compromise, the Browns would do the talking, Dunlap and Riggs would wait in the back seat of the car.   

Predictably, the conference did not go well.  

Rumpty did a lot of rattling.  He blew a breaker over the price hike and right away saw Dunlap and Riggs.  Frank made it known he had a gun in his pocket then unleashed a string of profanity-laced threats that scorched the pavement of Blake St.  John Brown would later testify that Hogan used words he’d never heard before. 

The gauntlet was thrown down, the fuse was lit.

Fearing Hogan’s melt-down wasn’t dry thunder, Dunlap and Riggs went to a local sporting goods store; Dunlap bought a $55 pump shotgun and buckshot shells.  At evening, the two drove around town, purportedly looking for Hogan.  In the meantime, Frank caught wind of street talk that said Dunlap and Riggs wanted to meet – to shake hands and make peace.  There would be no treaties tonight.

Just after midnight, Leon Dunlap and David Riggs took their own stroll down Market St.  They knew about Myrtle Carter, they knew Rumpty Rattles would be meeting her.   At 141 Market St., across the street from Peking Chop Suey, was a derelict, two-story storefront. Dunlap and Riggs went upstairs, hid in the shadows and waited. 

At 1:05 A.M. Frank Hogan hit the entrance to the restaurant.  In his own court account, Leon Dunlap called out to him, “Mind Hogan, you got your gun?”  What happened next has been debated with only one documented retelling of a living eyewitness available – Leon Dunlap:

“I saw him and at the same time he saw me.  His gun came up and I shot him.”

The blast drove Frank Hogan through the doorway of 146 Market St., half in, half out.  What has never been questioned were Frank’s last words, “Oh Lord have mercy.”

Police foot patrolmen were at the scene in a blink.  Dunlap and Riggs were waiting for them.  Dunlap surrendered the shotgunand in various recounts offered to the effect, “I killed him and I’m glad I did.”

The murder trial was an intense sensation.  It seemed on the surface an obvious act of bad blood eliminating bad blood.  Dunlap and Riggs claimed self-defense.  There were weeks of heated accusations and testimony from an army of witnesses.  At 12:02 A.M., Christmas Eve morning, 1927 the verdict came down.  “Not Guilty.”

When interviewed post-verdict, Frank’s estranged widow and his daughter’s remarks were short. “He was bad.”

The marriage between David Riggs and Marie fell apart. “Country Boy” left town, slipping into obscurity.  Leon Dunlap found himself in and out of prison, dying in 1945.  Hogan and Dunlap are both buried at historic Magnolia Cemetery, a few yards from each other.

99 years, Rumpty – 99 bottles of illegal booze on the wall.  So, we raise a glass and toast to your coming out party.  Welcome to the Hidden City.

Research courtesy of:

* Shannon Duffy, Historic Charleston Foundation

* Thomas R. Waring, Jr., “Self Defense from Ambush”

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By Mark A Leon

Long before his name became inseparable from the story of baseball, Abner Doubleday stood inside Fort Sumter, looking across Charleston Harbor as a nation moved toward war.

Today, Doubleday is often remembered as the supposed “father of baseball.” But that story came much later—and historians have found no credible evidence that he invented the game.

His connection to Charleston, however, is very real.

And it began months before the first shots of the Civil War.

In 1860, Doubleday was a captain in the U.S. Army’s 1st Artillery and stationed at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island. Charleston was becoming increasingly tense as South Carolina moved toward secession. Doubleday later remembered a city where talk of secession was everywhere, military companies were drilling, and threats were being made against the federal forts.

Doubleday was not a passive observer.

He was a committed Union officer—and an outspoken opponent of slavery.

When South Carolina seceded in December 1860, Major Robert Anderson, commander of the federal forces in Charleston Harbor, made a decision that would change American history. On the night of December 26, 1860, Anderson moved his men from the vulnerable Fort Moultrie to the unfinished but strategically stronger Fort Sumter, positioned in the middle of Charleston Harbor.

Doubleday led the first detachment of soldiers across the dark harbor to the fort.

It was a small movement of men, but an enormous moment in history.

From Fort Sumter, the Union garrison watched Charleston grow increasingly hostile. Confederate forces surrounded the harbor, while the American flag continued to fly over the federal fort.

Then came January.

A ship called the Star of the West attempted to bring supplies and reinforcements to the garrison. South Carolina artillery fired upon it, forcing the vessel to turn away.

Doubleday was furious.

According to the National Park Service, he urged Anderson to respond to the firing and even advocated using the fort’s guns to close Charleston Harbor.

For Doubleday, this was no longer an abstract political crisis.

The Union flag was being challenged, and he believed it was his duty to defend it.

Then came April.

On April 12, 1861, Confederate artillery opened fire on Fort Sumter shortly after 4:30 in the morning. Charleston awakened to the thunder of cannon fire. The bombardment would continue for more than a day, and the nation would never be the same.

Inside the fort was Captain Abner Doubleday.

At approximately 7 a.m., the Union garrison began answering the Confederate batteries. Doubleday took his position at one of the fort’s guns and aimed toward the Confederate Iron Battery at Cummings Point on Morris Island.

He fired.

The 32-pound shot struck the Confederate position but bounced from the ironwork.

It was not the first shot of the Civil War—that distinction belongs to the Confederate bombardment—but it was the first shot fired from Fort Sumter in response. The National Park Service specifically identifies the gun position from which Doubleday fired.

For four hours, Doubleday commanded the guns.

At one point, Captain Truman Seymour relieved him.

“What is all this uproar about?” Seymour reportedly asked.

Doubleday answered with characteristic understatement:

“There is a trifling difference of opinion between us and our neighbors opposite, and we are trying to settle it.”

The “trifling difference” would become the bloodiest conflict in American history.

Fort Sumter surrendered on April 13. The Union garrison departed the next day, and the Civil War spread across the country.

Doubleday’s story did not end at Charleston.

He would go on to fight in some of the war’s most important battles, including Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and Gettysburg. At Gettysburg, he played a major role in the Union defense during the first day of the battle.

But decades later, another story would begin to overshadow the one he actually lived.

Doubleday became associated with the claim that he invented baseball in Cooperstown, New York, in 1839.

The problem?

There is no reliable evidence that Doubleday invented baseball. The connection emerged from a later investigation and became part of American sporting mythology.

The irony is almost poetic.

The man remembered by millions as baseball’s supposed inventor was, in documented history, something far more consequential: a U.S. Army officer who was in Charleston when the nation fractured, who helped move the Union garrison into Fort Sumter, who witnessed the crisis unfold from inside the fort, and who fired the first Union shot in response when the Civil War began.

Before baseball, there was Charleston.

Before Cooperstown, there was Fort Moultrie.

Before the legend, there was a soldier standing behind a cannon in Charleston Harbor, watching the United States come apart.

And that is perhaps the more remarkable story of Abner Doubleday.

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By Mark A. Leon

A stronger, healthier Lowcountry starts with strong community partners — and the Lowcountry Food Bank is working to make sure those partners have the tools they need to make an even greater impact.

Through its Wellness Pantry program, the Lowcountry Food Bank is helping community food pantries go beyond providing food. The initiative gives partner agencies resources, training and support designed to promote healthier choices and strengthen the overall experience for neighbors seeking assistance.

In 2026, 26 Lowcountry Food Bank partner agencies earned the organization’s updated Wellness Pantry designation, recognizing their commitment to creating food pantry environments that support both immediate needs and long-term community well-being.

The program is built around four key areas: Food for Today, Neighbor Focus, Community Empowerment and Organizational Excellence.

Together, those principles recognize that food insecurity is about more than putting food on a table. Community pantries can also play an important role in helping neighbors access nutritious foods, connect with resources and build healthier lives.

The Lowcountry Food Bank’s Nutrition Team works directly with partner agencies to help make that possible. Support includes pantry coaching and training, resource materials and on-site programming designed to strengthen the services each pantry provides.

The goal is multiplication: By strengthening the organizations already serving neighborhoods across coastal South Carolina, the Food Bank can extend its reach and help more families and individuals access nutritious food and wellness resources.

The Wellness Pantry designation also recognizes the work happening behind the scenes at these organizations. From how food is selected and presented to how neighbors are welcomed and connected with additional resources, participating agencies are demonstrating a commitment to creating more supportive and wellness-focused pantry environments.

For communities throughout the Lowcountry, that work can have a meaningful ripple effect.

Food pantries are often among the most accessible community resources for families facing difficult circumstances. By equipping these organizations with nutrition education, practical tools and best practices, the Lowcountry Food Bank is helping its partners address immediate food needs while also encouraging healthier choices.

The 26 agencies recognized this year represent what can happen when community organizations work together toward a shared goal: ensuring that neighbors have access to food today while building stronger, healthier communities for tomorrow.

The effort reflects a broader philosophy at the Lowcountry Food Bank — that solving food insecurity requires collaboration. Food banks, food pantries, nonprofits, volunteers and community members each have a role to play in creating a more nourished Lowcountry.

And the Wellness Pantry program is one way that collaboration is becoming action.

For residents interested in learning more about the program, the Lowcountry Food Bank provides information and resources explaining what it means to be a Wellness Pantry and how the program supports partner agencies.

As coastal South Carolina continues to grow, the need for strong community resources remains critical. Through programs like Wellness Pantry, the Lowcountry Food Bank is helping ensure those resources are not only available, but equipped to make a lasting difference.

Learn more about the Lowcountry Food Bank’s Wellness Pantry resources: Lowcountry Food Bank Wellness Pantry Resources

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By Mark A. Leon

Charleston has always been a city built around preservation. Now, a new medical spa on King Street is taking that idea in a different direction — applying it to the way people approach aging, skincare and aesthetics.

The Society of Preservation Med Spa officially debuted in August at 263 King Street, Suite C, bringing an upscale, provider-led approach to medical aesthetics to downtown Charleston. The concept is straightforward: enhance what is already there rather than dramatically change it.

The Society describes its philosophy as “preserved, never altered,” with treatments designed to help clients look refreshed rather than visibly treated. The practice says each plan is built around a patient’s anatomy, lifestyle and long-term goals, rather than simply selecting procedures from a menu.

That philosophy is reflected throughout the business, which combines medical aesthetics with a boutique, hospitality-focused experience.

From Botox to lasers and “glass skin”

The treatment menu covers four primary areas: injectables, facials and skincare, laser and light treatments, and medical skin health.

For injectables, The Society offers Botox, Dysport and Daxxify, along with dermal fillers and biostimulators. The practice emphasizes facial balance and proportion, describing its approach to filler as one focused on refinement rather than adding volume simply for the sake of volume.

The skincare side is equally extensive. Services include the Society Signature Facial, GLACE Glass Skin Facial, GLO2 Preservation Facial, microneedling, dermaplaning and chemical peels.

Laser and light treatments include MOXI laser resurfacing, Lumecca Peak IPL, DiolazeXL laser hair removal, Geneo RF skin tightening and Celluma LED therapy.

The Society also specifically addresses some of the skin concerns that are particularly relevant in the Lowcountry, including melasma, rosacea, redness, acne, sun damage and pigmentation. The practice notes that Charleston’s humidity, salt air and substantial year-round sun exposure can create unique challenges for local skin.

A more personalized approach

The Society’s provider team includes Casey Bourque, NP, lead aesthetic provider, and Olivia Mascitti, NP, with founder Kim Drake leading the business. The practice says consultations begin with a facial assessment and discussion of goals, medical history, anatomy and treatment options before any injectable treatment is performed.

That provider-led model is an important part of the brand. The goal isn’t to convince every client to have a procedure, but to create a longer-term aesthetic plan.

For clients who want to make aesthetics part of their regular routine, The Society has also introduced The Society Circle, a membership program offering a monthly signature treatment, priority booking and member benefits. Founding memberships are priced at $369 per month, while the standard Society Circle is $489 per month, with a six-month commitment.

There is also The Reserve, a membership concept specifically designed for men, and The Society Social Club, which offers student pricing for students at the College of Charleston, MUSC and The Citadel.

More than a med spa

The King Street location is designed to feel more like a private club or gallery than a traditional clinical office. The practice features rotating exhibitions of work by local female artists, with artwork available for purchase. The Society also selects a product each month whose proceeds benefit a Lowcountry 501(c)(3) organization.

That emphasis on Charleston extends to the business’s own skincare offerings. Among them is Throwing Shade, a signature Lowcountry sunscreen created with an outdoor-oriented Charleston lifestyle in mind.

For those wanting to check it out, The Society of Preservation Med Spa is located on the third floor at 263 King Street. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The practice also validates 90 minutes of parking at the 69 Wentworth Street garage.

In a city where preservation is part of the identity, The Society of Preservation is betting that the same philosophy can apply to beauty: don’t change what makes you unique — preserve it, refine it and let it age well.

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By Mark A. Leon | Charleston Daily

More than $6 trillion in federal spending flowed across the United States during the past 18 months, but a new study shows that those dollars are anything but evenly distributed.

A new analysis from SmartAsset examined federal spending from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, across more than 3,100 counties and county equivalents. The study found that some communities received hundreds of billions of dollars in federal obligations, while others received comparatively little.

And South Carolina — particularly Columbia — stands out.

SmartAsset found that Richland County, home to Columbia, received approximately $122.2 billion in federal spending during the 18-month period, the highest total of any county in South Carolina. On a per-capita basis, Richland County also ranked first in the state, at approximately $281,025 per resident.

That puts Columbia in some impressive company nationally.

The biggest recipients

At the top of SmartAsset’s national list is Hennepin County, Minnesota, which includes Minneapolis. The county received approximately $286.1 billion in federal obligations during the study period — roughly 4.7% of the nearly $6 trillion tracked by SmartAsset.

Marion County, Indiana, home to Indianapolis, followed with approximately $217.8 billion, while Jefferson County, Kentucky, which includes Louisville, received approximately $196.9 billion.

Other communities posting extraordinarily large totals included:

• Cumberland County, Pennsylvania: $162.3 billion
• Cass County, North Dakota: $138.5 billion
• Richland County, South Carolina: $122.2 billion
• Los Angeles County, California: $118.9 billion
• Dane County, Wisconsin: $82.7 billion
• Hillsborough County, Florida: $77.6 billion
• Maricopa County, Arizona: $84.1 billion

The numbers demonstrate that federal spending is not simply concentrated in Washington or the nation’s largest coastal cities. Health care, defense, infrastructure, research, government contracts and other federally funded activities can make smaller or mid-sized communities major beneficiaries of federal dollars.

Columbia’s surprising position

For South Carolina, the Columbia area is the clear standout.

Richland County’s $122.2 billion in federal spending is more than five times the amount recorded by many other major South Carolina counties. The county’s position is tied to the region’s role as a major center for government, health care, infrastructure and other federally supported activity.

Charleston, Greenville and the state’s other major population centers do not approach Richland County’s total in the SmartAsset data.

That distinction is important because the study is measuring where federally funded activity takes place, not necessarily where the federal government sends money directly to local governments. SmartAsset’s methodology includes contracts, procurement, grants, direct payments and other forms of financial assistance. Federal employee payroll is excluded.

What about Charlotte?

Just across the state line, the Charlotte area presents an interesting contrast.

Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte, recorded the lowest federal spending per capita among North Carolina counties, at approximately $6,930 per resident.

Meanwhile, Wake County, home to Raleigh, had the state’s largest total at approximately $16.1 billion.

That creates a notable divide between North Carolina’s two largest economic centers. Charlotte’s economy is heavily driven by banking, finance, corporate headquarters and private-sector activity, while Raleigh and Wake County benefit from a larger concentration of government, research and other federally connected activity.

The per-person numbers tell another story

Total spending is only part of the story.

Some of the most eye-catching numbers appear when federal spending is divided by population.

Brewster County, Texas, recorded approximately $700,181 per resident, the highest per-capita figure in the country. SmartAsset attributes much of that spending to border security and related infrastructure.

Cass County, North Dakota, home to Fargo, ranked near the top at approximately $686,338 per resident.

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, recorded approximately $585,185 per resident, while Los Alamos County, New Mexico, reached nearly $488,000 per resident.

Those figures do not mean individual residents received that amount of money. Rather, they reflect the amount of federal funding committed to activity occurring within the county.

Why it matters

The SmartAsset study offers an unusual look at the economic footprint of the federal government.

A federal contract for infrastructure, a major health care payment, a defense project or a research grant can dramatically change the amount of federal money attributed to a community. In some places, that spending can represent a significant piece of the local economy.

For South Carolina, the standout is Columbia.

For North Carolina, Raleigh’s Wake County leads the state in total federal spending, while Charlotte’s Mecklenburg County sits at the bottom on a per-capita basis.

And nationally, the lesson is clear: the federal government’s economic reach extends far beyond Washington, D.C.From Minneapolis and Indianapolis to Columbia and Fargo, federal dollars are helping shape the economies of communities across the country.

As federal budget priorities continue to evolve, where those dollars go — and which communities depend on them — could become an increasingly important economic story.

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FOLLY BEACH, S.C. — Mermaids, mateys, and sea-loving adventurers are invited to gather their crew for the Mermaids & Mateys Festival on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 10am-4pm. This year, the event will have FREE Admission as a welcome back to Center Street after the recent construction. Center Street will transform into a seaside celebration with live music, 80+ local art, craft, and fashion vendors, costume contests, a dunk tank, and plenty of family fun.

Guests are encouraged to dress as a mermaid, matey, or their favorite under-the-sea character for a chance to take home prizes in the family and adult costume contests. The Under the Sea Kids Area, presented by Good Clean Fun, will feature mermaids, sand crafts, stilt walkers, free inflatables, games, jumping fun, and more. Additional live music lineup details will be announced soon. Mermaids & Mateys will once again partner with the Alzheimer’s Association – South Carolina Chapter for Paint Folly Purple, encouraging attendees to wear purple and help raise money for this special local charity.

Registration is FREE but required and does not guarantee entry. Admission is first-come, first-served up to capacity. A BIG thank you to our sponsors, The Best Rentals, Dunes Properties, and Tito’s. Tickets, sign-ups, and sponsorship information are all available on VisitFolly.com.

Gather your crew, dust off your mermaid tail or pirate gear, and get ready to celebrate the sea in true Folly fashion!

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By Mark A Leon

August 29, 1952 — April 16, 2026

Today would have been Don Schlitz’s 74th birthday.

Born on August 29, 1952, in Durham, North Carolina, Schlitz grew up to become one of the most accomplished songwriters in the history of country music—a man whose words found their way into the voices of Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, The Judds, Keith Whitley, Alison Krauss, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tanya Tucker, Reba McEntire, George Strait and countless others.

Schlitz died in Nashville on April 16, 2026, at the age of 73, following a sudden illness. But his songs had already given him the kind of immortality that only great songwriting can provide.

And it all began in North Carolina.

Growing up in Durham, Schlitz absorbed music from everywhere. He later recalled hearing Motown, Johnny Cash, Roger Miller, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan on the radio. He also developed an early fascination with words, reading and song structure. As a child, he studied hymnals for their rhythms and rhyme patterns and became fascinated with language.

At 20, Schlitz left North Carolina for Nashville, arriving with little more than ambition. He worked nights as a computer operator at Vanderbilt University while spending his days trying to get his songs heard. For years, the doors of Music Row remained stubbornly closed.

Then came “The Gambler.”

Kenny Rogers recorded Schlitz’s song in 1978, and suddenly the struggling songwriter had written one of the defining songs of modern country music. The song became a No. 1 hit, won the Grammy for Best Country Song and the CMA Song of the Year, and ultimately became part of the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

But “The Gambler” was not the end of Schlitz’s story. It was the beginning.

His songwriting catalog reads almost like a history of country music itself.

With Paul Overstreet, he co-wrote Randy Travis classics including “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “On the Other Hand,” “Deeper Than the Holler” and “Heroes and Friends.” “Forever and Ever, Amen” became another Grammy-winning landmark.

Then there was “When You Say Nothing at All,” first made famous by Keith Whitley and later recorded by Alison Krauss, becoming one of the most enduring love songs of the modern country era.

Schlitz also helped give Mary Chapin Carpenter some of her signature songs, including “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” “I Feel Lucky” and “I Take My Chances.” He wrote hits for The Judds, including “Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain,” “I Know Where I’m Going” and “Turn It Loose.” His catalog also includes songs recorded by Alabama, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Tanya Tucker, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Michael Johnson and others.

The numbers are remarkable: Schlitz amassed more than 50 Top 10 country hits, including 24 No. 1 songs. He won two Grammy Awards, three CMA Song of the Year awards and two Academy of Country Music Song of the Year awards. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and, in 2017, the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Yet perhaps the best measure of Don Schlitz’s legacy isn’t a trophy, a chart position or even a Hall of Fame.

It’s recognition.

You hear the opening of “The Gambler” and know the story.

You hear “Forever and Ever, Amen” and think of lasting love.

You hear “When You Say Nothing at All” and remember that sometimes the deepest feelings don’t require many words.

And somewhere in all of those songs is the voice of a boy from Durham who grew up listening to the world through a transistor radio and eventually learned how to turn what he heard—and what he felt—into songs that millions of people could call their own.

Don Schlitz once described all those musical influences as filling the “jukebox” in his head.

On his birthday, the jukebox is still playing.

And for a songwriter, there may be no better legacy than that.

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