Charleston Daily

Charleston Daily is a concept in community. Its mission is to promote, assist, and celebrate in everything Charleston, South Carolina. By partnering with businesses, community leaders, volunteers and events, we are spreading the love that is Charleston. As this city continues to grow and prosper, we want to help spread the message to all about how wonderful this community is. Charleston is about the people, community, water, land, history, heritage and the true southern warmth it brings with each and every day.

Lowcountry

Event.Gives Enables Nonprofits Across the Country to Raise Funds Via Live Video Streaming Fundraising Events

April 29, 2020

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

EVENT.GIVES ENABLES NONPROFITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RAISE FUNDS VIA LIVE VIDEO STREAMING FUNDRAISING EVENTS

DURING COVID-19

Charleston, S.C.- April 29, 2020 – As millions of nonprofits across the world are faced with canceling their fundraising events during COVID-19, software entrepreneurs Patrick Bryant and Sam Staley have found a way for these organizations to easily transition to virtual giving. Bryant and Staley are the Co-Founders behind Event.Gives, a revolutionary event management software that enables nonprofits and other organizations to engage their audiences around the globe by hosting live video streaming events, auctions, and more. Bryant and Staley have enabled over 1,000 nonprofits, ranging from the Children’s Heart Foundation to The ALS Association, to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars and continue their missions to serve others.

“The climate and culture of fundraising has been completely turned upside down in the past month or so,” shares Bryant. “It has been so amazing to see organizations from California to Charleston utilize Event.Gives to host some unbelievably creative virtual campaigns to meet their fundraising goals.”

Charleston Collegiate utilized Event.Gives to host a virtual silent auction this month that engaged attendees across the country, raising over $118,000 for the community’s youth. Dan Whisenhunt, CEO of the California Deer Association, a wildlife conservation nonprofit, was also able to host an event this month with over 300 people, raising over $75,000 and almost doubling their best in-person event to date.

“Event.Gives allowed us to replicate one of our live events with a very quick turn around,” shared Whisenhunt. “We had a great response and are already looking forward to hosting another event with the platform in a few days.”

Event.Gives enables companies to collect data and engage attendees before, during, and after their event with a full suite of automated fundraising tools. The platform makes auctioning items easy with mobile, remote, real-time bidding, and automated outbid notifications that result in increased engagement. The Event.Gives Marketplace also allows event organizers to search for items like travel, gift certificates, event tickets and other experiences to auction off.

Event.Gives takes just three percent of donations (up to a max of $3,000) for each campaign. There are no hidden fees or extra charges. For more information on Event.Gives or if you are an organization wishing to schedule a demo to learn more, visit www.event.gives. Follow Event.Gives on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Lowcountry

Regional Planning Leaders Encourage Greater Census Response

April 29, 2020

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

TRI-COUNTY TOTALS TRAIL NATIONAL AVERAGE

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (April 29, 2020) – South Carolina currently ranks 40th nationally in Census response rate at less than 50 percent, placing future federal funding and Congressional representation in jeopardy if those numbers don’t improve – though there is still time to act.

The national response average through April 27 was 53.7 percent. South Carolina was at 48.4 statewide. Local county figures were:

Berkeley County: 52.6 (8th in S.C.)
Charleston County: 48.3 (16th in S.C.)
Dorchester County: 55.5 (3rd in S.C.)

The Town of James Island had the highest local municipal response rate at 61.6 percent.

“With hundreds of billions of dollars and representation in Congress at stake, it is critical that everyone in our region responds to Census 2020,” said Ron Mitchum, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments executive director. “Transportation projects, community development efforts, critical services, planning funds and more are impacted by Census data. The good news is that the process is very easy.”

Most households received their invitation to respond to the 2020 Census between March 12–20. The Census counts everyone living in the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester region. One person, at least 15-years-old, should respond for each home. They should live in the home or place of residence themselves and know general information about each person who was living there on or before April 1, 2020.

The self-response deadline for online, phone and mailed completions has been extended to Oct. 31. The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect answers and keep them strictly confidential.

How to respond?

Complete forms online, by phone, or by mail when the invitation to respond arrives. Visit my2020census.gov to begin.
Customer Service Representatives are available every day from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. in the following lines:
- English: 844-330-2020
- Spanish: 844-468-2020

Why Complete the Census Form?

Informs billions in federal spending across more than 100 programs, including transportation and education.
Determines the number of seats in Congress.
Mandated by the Constitution and has been updated every 10 years since 1790.

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ABOUT BCDCOG

The BCDCOG is a voluntary association of, by and for local governments, and was established to assist Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester county leaders in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for sound regional development. BCDCOG’s purpose is to strengthen the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate duplication, and make joint decisions. For the latest on BCDCOG, visit BCDCOG.com, like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter at @BCDCoG.

MEDIA CONTACT
Daniel Brock, Regional Strategist
BCDCOG
(919) 820-2612
danielb@bcdcog.com

Lowcountry

R.B.’s Seafood Restaurant on Shem Creek Closes; Property Sells for $7 Million

April 29, 2020

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

R.B.’s Seafood Restaurant Closes; Iconic Shem Creek Property Sells for $7 Million

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. — Iconic Shem Creek eatery R.B.’s Seafood Restaurant has closed its doors, and the property at 97 Church St. has been sold to Geyer Capital Management LLC of Atlanta for $7 million.

Charleston Commercial, a key player in the local commercial real estate market, brokered the deal. The company — led by C. Kendrick and managing director Joshua Schaap — is skilled at handling both high-profile and complex deals in the heart of downtown Charleston and around the region.

Long-time R.B’s Seafood owner Ronnie Boals said leaving the restaurant business after almost 60 years is bittersweet, but he’s ready to retire. Due to some health issues, Boals hasn’t been as active in the daily restaurant operations. Now, he’s looking forward to traveling and some volunteer work. Boals and his wife live in Mount Pleasant.

R.B.’s Seafood already had closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In 1979, Boals opened the original R.B.’s Seafood Restaurant on Shem Creek in an old fish shed. In 2002, fire destroyed Boals’ restaurant, but he rebuilt and reopened in September 2003. R.B.’s Seafood is an icon on Shem Creek, now known as a go-to spot for locals and tourists looking for a mix of restaurants and waterfront dining.

Geyer Capital Management has plans to renovate and upgrade the property before it reopens with a new tenant.

Boals has been a fixture in Charleston’s food and beverage industry. At one point, he owned six restaurants in Mount Pleasant, on Johns Island, in downtown Charleston and in North Charleston. Over the years, Boals built other properties on Shem Creek. About 10 years ago, he got out of all his other business ventures, focusing his attention on R.B.’s Seafood.

He’s already missing the restaurant, but it was time for a change, he said.

“It’s been a great business. We had a lot of dedicated repeat customers,” Boals said. “I’m going to miss seeing them come in and out.”

Broker Kendrick said orchestrating this deal and securing a qualified buyer for Boals was important in protecting such a symbolic Shem Creek property.

“Ronnie has done so much for Mount Pleasant and the Shem Creek area. We are thrilled to find a buyer who appreciates this special area and is committed to adding value to our community,” Kendrick said. “We are confident Geyer Capital will continue Ronnie’s legacy on Shem Creek.”

Charleston Commercial recently developed another space in Mount Pleasant, 1223 Ben Sawyer Blvd. Schaap completely redeveloped two small buildings into one building that now houses two retail tenants: Mulberry & King, women’s clothing, shoes and accessories boutique, as well as Coastal Collective, an aesthetic and wellness medicine practice.

Charleston Commercial’s experience with complex zoning issues, utilities and historic properties makes it uniquely positioned to facilitate commercial real estate sales, acquisitions and developments in historic and iconic areas of the Lowcountry.

While Charleston Commercial has worked on several projects in downtown Charleston, they are looking for additional opportunities in Mount Pleasant and around the greater Charleston region.

Over the last three years, Charleston Commercial has brokered or participated in 19 property acquisitions in downtown Charleston, totaling more than $74 million. The company was part of one of the largest deals of the last decade, consisting of eight properties from six property owners in a landmark deal bordered by King, Society and George streets.

About Charleston Commercial
Charleston Commercial is a fully integrated commercial real estate group located in Charleston, S.C., specializing in commercial brokerage and asset management for a wide range of property types, including retail, medical office, office, multi-family, hospitality, urban infill, and industrial properties. The firm offers a broad range of incorporated services to see assignments through from start to finish. Services range from market prospecting, acquisition, value creation (including entitlements, zoning, approvals, and development oversight), leasing, asset management, and disposition. Reach Charleston Commercial at 843-670-5727.

Lowcountry

Avocet Hospitality Group Brings Over 100 Furloughed Employees Back to work for Phase One of Reopening

April 27, 2020

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

CHARLESTON, SC (April 27, 2020) – Avocet Hospitality Group is bringing back over 100 furloughed employees across its collection of independent Charleston-based hotels and restaurants: The Vendue, Revival, The Rooftop Bar, Tides Folly Beach, BLU Beach Bar & Grill, and Pier 101 Restaurant. Starting Wednesday, April 29th, 2020, most employees will be working from home through online training sessions for the next few weeks until it is deemed appropriate to reopen.

Avocet Hospitality Group furloughed the majority of its employees the week of March 16th as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. Furloughed employees were provided with all accrued Paid Time Off and an additional two weeks of furlough pay. Avocet also agreed to cover all employee health insurance premiums until the end of the furlough or June 30th, 2020.

“Our employees are part of our family and many have been with us since we started in 2006. It’s a breath of fresh air to be able to bring a large part of our team back to work and put money in their pocket. There’s been a lot of uncertainty over the past several weeks surrounding the coronavirus, but we’re finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Jonathan Weitz, owner of Avocet Hospitality Group. “The training courses are designed to make sure we do everything possible to protect our employees and guests. Nobody wins if we open too fast without proper safety training and procedures,” added Weitz.

The online sessions will focus on preparing employees to safely service guests and minimize the risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19. Training will also cover continuing education on systems, customer service, company policies, as well as more fun topics such as cooking demonstrations, Charleston’s art scene, and mixology. However, the overarching theme throughout the entire curriculum revolves around enhancing employee preparedness working in the service industry post-COVID-19.

“It’s important for us to invest in our team members by educating them on proper social distancing, food handling, disinfecting, guest interaction, and other new standards to ensure our guests feel confident staying at one of our hotels or dining in one of our restaurants,” said Amber Hultgren, director of human resources for Avocet Hospitality Group. “As we start reopening each business, we will continue to educate and reinforce the importance of maintaining these standards as we slowly get back to the new normal.”

Each hotel and restaurant will experience a phased reopening to accommodate business levels without compromising the health and safety of both employees and guests. Avocet has developed a comprehensive three-phased set of guidelines for reopening that will be modified as necessary to conform with State or local requirements. All aspects of the plan were carefully thought out with the priority always being the safety of employees and guests.

Tides Folly Beach will reopen once the City of Folly Beach allows overnight accommodations, but in no event before the online training courses are completed. The Vendue is scheduled to open a limited number of rooms and employees on May 1st, 2020 due to a recent uptick in reservation requests, but the majority of employees will be at home taking the online classes.

Lowcountry

A Curious Life – Original Poem

April 26, 2020

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

By Mark A. Leon

I want to remember this moment just as it is
A perfect picture of time
Frozen

It’s funny how the special things in life never last
Maybe they do in this curious life

The picture albums stored in our head
The postcards with words we almost said
A vision of a time when we were so carefree
Birds in the wild flying out to sea

A curious life filled with minutes and seconds
Pressed between the books dried and preserved

In pictures and film and stories we tell
A legacy we will leave for the next generation to tell

There won’t be snow in Africa
Nor rain inside this desert
Children will pray for food while we hope for the sun to shine on our beaches
Guns kill the innocent
Greed destroys the ideals of the generous

In this curious life

Flipped upside down with terror on top
A world of mayhem led by the devil’s own
Jester and joker so wild and free
No sign of superhero to save you and me

In this curious life

We feed our mind, body and spirit with the loins of the Earth
Energy exchanged
A soul to search
A time to hope, a time to pray
Spinning out of control, a world in dismay

Here I stand, a moment so pure
Holding on tight, so secure

In this curious life

Lowcountry

Charleston is asking its residents to save our hospitality industry but did the city and the industry turn on its locals first?

April 25, 2020

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

By Mark A. Leon

You all remember the moment when you saw the first crane over the Charleston skyline. Then another. Then another. Seven years later you don’t remember a moment when every corner of the city and within the metro was nothing more than a constant race up to the sky. That is when the narrative of our city began to change. Our story took a turn and residents no longer became the characters, but the audience as the focus became very clear: Design a city with a single focus, tourism and an economic model focused on the profitability of this new population of travelers.

Eager investors both locally and outside our region saw this as an opportunity while others bore witness to gentrification and a cleansing. The city of Charleston was changing, but not for the betterment or wishes of its citizens. A body of elected individuals turned their backs on its own people to open the flood gates of tourism, spiked prices, rents, and taxes.

Within our local media, there was an opportunity to become ambassadors to speak on behalf of its readers, but they sensationalized the news they knew would sell newspapers and advertising. For every new development, hotel, boutique, and high-end store that opened or came under contract, they promoted it as top news knowing it would stir the emotional pot and sell media.

Today we look upon the empty restaurants and wake up each day to a new reality. Our local leaders are asking its residents throughout the Lowcountry to come in and save the same industry that turned on them over the last five-plus years. COVID-19 may be the symptoms driving this new way of life, but it wasn’t the sole cause of the struggle.

Even restaurant proprietors saw the decline in local repeat business and began to franchise outside the city limits to Summerville, Nexton, Mount Pleasant and West Ashley.

As Charleston County began to grow at one of the fastest rates in the country for mid-sized communities, business owners and landlords began to take advantage by raising rents with no sign of rent controls or subsidized support.

Now a $1.75 billion seawall proposal in which Charleston would pay $600 million is being proposed to alleviate the pressures of the flooding. Not only is this 6 years late on a promise made by our current administration, but it is focused on the peninsula only where the tourism and economic drivers lie. For the communities outside of downtown Charleston, this will not address your flooding issues that will remain.

Walking the streets of Charleston is both beautiful and heartbreaking. To see the empty streets gives us the perspective to reflect on the history, architecture, and sincerity of its Southern roots, but to witness empty restaurants, curbside parking signs, blockaded parks, and restless uncertainty is difficult to see.

When and if we return to the life we once knew, it may be time to look at balance. Though tourism is crucial to our economic growth, we have a body of people new and old that have called Charleston home. We have chosen this area for its natural beauty, beaches, dining, countryside, recreation, dining, and sense of family. We have starting to drift away from that. It may take a catastrophic wake-up call, but now is the time to rethink our future.

Lowcountry

Charleston Non-Profit Amor Healing Kitching Announces Seed to Soul Home Dining Experience

April 24, 2020

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Charleston, S.C.- April 23, 2020- Charleston nonprofit Amor Healing Kitchen, which provides healthy meals cooked by teen chefs for locals facing serious health challenges, today announces its Seed to Soul home dining experience. While last year’s first annual Seed to Soul dinner took place under the stars on Johns Island, this year brings a 100% locally-curated four course meal directly to Charleston homes for Mother’s Day weekend. Families can purchase this home dining experience online for pick up at the Counter Culture Training Center (85 ½ Spring St.) on Saturday, May 9 (from 12-3 p.m.), with all proceeds going towards Amor Healing Kitchen’s mission to provide nutritious meals to those recovering from surgery and other medical treatments.

“Having to adapt fundraising efforts to our current times, we invite Charleston families to enjoy a beautiful, nourishing dinner together for Mother’s Day weekend,” shares Amor Healing Kitchen Founder and Executive Director Maria Kelly. “Every Seed to Soul order not only supports our local farmers, but provides healing meals to Charleston residents with severe health issues.”

The Seed to Soul at home dining experience is priced at $60 for one person, $120 for two and $200 for a family of four and includes:

· Four course meal from Chefs Justin Booher, utilizing 100% local ingredients:

1. Crudité, Green Herb Hummus & Crostini

2. Amor Healing Abundant Salad

3. Succotash with Fried Red Pea Patties, Spring Roasted Veggies w. Herb Pesto

4. Assorted Sweets and Cakes

· S.C. Flowers from Roadside Blooms

· Handmade Amor Healing Kitchen Candle

· Amor Healing Kitchen video showcasing table setting tips

Tickets can be purchased at www.amorhealingkitchen.org.

Diners are encouraged to take pictures of their Seed to Soul experience and tag @Amor_Healing_Kitchen on Instagram and Facebook.

Images of last year’s Seed to Soul dinner can be found HERE.

About Amor Healing Kitchen:

Amor Healing Kitchen provides nutritious, healthy food made with love by teen volunteers for people facing health challenges. Amor Healing Kitchen believes: food can be used as medicine to aid in recovery from surgery and medical treatments; educating ourselves and our community uncovers the connection between food and our health; teens can be empowered by teaching them kitchen and leadership skills; supporting our local farmers supports our overall economy; and making connections within our community builds a positive foundation for the future.

Lowcountry

A Message from Mayor Tecklenburg – Your Thoughts Needed (Flooding Related Issues)

April 23, 2020

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 crisis and keeping our citizens safe, we continue to work on important flooding related issues to ensure the long term resilience and viability of our City. One of these first steps was signing the agreement nearly 18 months ago (pictured below) for the City to partner with the Army Corps of Engineers. This important step is crucial as it is the key to unlocking federal dollars for large infrastructure projects related to flooding and sea-level rise.

Just a couple of days ago, the Army Corps of Engineers released its initial plan. The Corps put together a very helpful video that I wanted to share with you by clicking here. In addition to the video, the draft plans and frequently asked questions can be found by clicking here.

I encourage all of our citizens to review this plan carefully and offer comments. The next 60 days of public input will be vital to refining the plan, and helping to ensure that it meets the high standards set by our recent Dutch Dialogues Charleston project.

Again, here is the link to the project’s website to learn more about the project and to have your voice heard on this important project for our City.

Sincerely,

Mayor John Tecklenburg

Lowcountry

Palmetto Goodwill Opening its Retail Stores on April 25, 2020

April 23, 2020

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Palmetto Goodwill is committed to the health and safety of our employees, donors, shoppers, and program participants. As we continue to monitor the current situation and news coming out of our governor’s office, we want to make sure you all are kept informed with any new developments for our organization.

Beginning this Saturday, April 25, our retail stores will re-open with modified hours of operation and added safety precautions. Thanks to our generous donors, our stores will be full and able to support our valuable mission of getting people back to work.

Additionally, seven of our Career Opportunity Centers will reopen with limited hours and added safety precautions beginning Monday, April 27. Our virtual career center will also continue its operations to assist those unable to travel or prefer online services. Click here to learn more.

Even after our retail stores re-open, you may still choose to shop Goodwill from the convenience & safety of your home. Follow this link to visit Palmetto Goodwill’s online store and thrift great items at amazing Goodwill prices – all without getting up from your couch!

For more information on our re-opening, updated safety precautions, social distancing guidelines & other information please click here.

Lowcountry

Benefitfocus Launches Benefitplace.com Providing Lower Cost Health & Benefit Options for Displaced American Workers

April 22, 2020

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Platform offers essential benefit alternatives for people in a time of transition

Charleston, S.C. – April 22, 2020 – Benefitfocus, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNFT), a technology platform provider enabling rapid innovation for employers, health plans and consumers, has activated the next phase of its recently announced “For You” initiative to support employees of customers who have lost their job in these challenging economic conditions. Today the company launched www.benefitplace.com, a new website that makes accessible a variety of affordable individual and family health plans for employees who have been offered COBRA by their employers and are seeking lower-cost alternatives, as well as a variety of other products and services to support the well-being of displaced workers through this time of crisis and beyond.

“Connecting America’s workforce to the products and services that improve their health and financial well-being is at the core of what we do, and this is more relevant today than perhaps any time in the past 50 years,” said Ray August, president and CEO of Benefitfocus. “We are in a period of severe economic crisis and many workers fear for their continued health and other benefits coverage. With the launch of benefitplace.com, we’re here for our customers’ employees and their families to continue access to affordable and quality options.”

Now, with BENEFITFOCUS BENEFITPLACE™, as employers are faced with a cycle of workforce transition, affected employees have ready access to high-quality, cost-effective benefits. Within Benefitplace, workers who have been displaced and need options will be able to access:

· Health Plans: Flexible options for employees to purchase short- or long-term health plans for individuals and families in addition to ACA exchange policies or COBRA offered by their former employer

· Supplemental benefits: A comprehensive catalog of discounted benefit related products and services, such as dental, vision and accident coverage

· Year-round access: As affected employees transition into new job opportunities, or as family needs change, Benefitplace offers a range of options for them to make changes and select new benefits that will meet their life needs

· Employment Resources: Access to temporary or freelance employment opportunities with Benefitplace partners and customers

· For Life: Ability to maintain individual plans regardless of employment status, and stay connected to their prior employer for possible re-engagement when the business climate improves.

The launch of Benefitplace.com furthers the company’s mission to connect people with the benefits that improves their lives. As employers deal with this period of crisis, Benefitfocus offers tools and support to enable future return-to-work initiatives. To learn more, the business community is invited to join the ongoing series of webinars to discuss employee well-being, the national relief effort, business continuity strategies and HR best practices to inform employers’ pandemic response.

Connect with Benefitfocus

Access www.benefitplace.com

View webinar series

Like Benefitfocus on Facebook

Follow @Benefitfocus on Twitter

Follow Benefitfocus on LinkedIn

Follow Benefitfocus on Instagram

About Benefitfocus

Benefitfocus (NASDAQ: BNFT) unifies the entire U.S. benefits industry on a single technology platform to protect consumers for life. Our powerful cloud-based software, data-driven insights and thoughtfully-designed services enable employers, insurance brokers, health plans and suppliers to simplify the complexity of benefits administration and deliver health, wealth, property and lifestyle products through a world-class benefits experience. Learn more at www.benefitfocus.com, LinkedIn and Twitter. 

Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results or performance might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: the need to innovate and provide useful products and services; privacy; security and other risks associated with our business; the immature and volatile nature of the market for our products and services; risks related to changing healthcare and other applicable regulations; our ability to compete effectively; management of growth; our ability to maintain our culture and recruit and retain qualified personnel;  and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in our SEC filings, copies of which are available free of charge within the Investor Relations section of the Benefitfocus website at http://investor.benefitfocus.com/sec-filings or upon request from our investor relations department. Benefitfocus assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. 