Author: 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.

Food & Bev - James & John's Islands, SC - Mount Pleasant, SC - North Charleston, SC

12 Must Not Miss Charleston, SC Area Food Deals

February 25, 2018 by 0 Comments
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Every day is an adventure in Charleston, South Carolina.  In a foodie wonderland such as we are in this little Southern Slice of Heaven, finding that truly great food deal is a treasure.

Like any great pirate treasure, it must begin with a map.  Your map has arrived.  Here is a list of nine (9) great food days you cannot miss here in Charleston.

Twelve (12) Great Charleston, SC Area Food Deals

Downtown Charleston

  • Fast and French – 98 Broad Street, Charleston, SC – Fondue Thursdays – Choice of 6 types of fondue with choice of soup or salad and assorted breads – $15.50 – $16.00 – Great for sharing
  • Tommy Condon’s Irish Pub – 160 Church Street, Charleston, SC – $12.99 All You Can Eat Fish and Chips every Friday
  • Bay Street Biergarten – 549 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC – Half Price Burger Night on Mondays
  • Rutledge Cab Company – 1300 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, SC – $5.00 Burgers All Day and Night every Monday
  • Edmunds Oast – 1081 Morrison Drive, Charleston, SC – Sundays and Mondays – Half Price Bottles of Wine (Even the Big Bottles
  • Brown Dog Deli – 225 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC – Half Price Burgers Every Friday

North Charleston

  • Sake House – 4952 Centre Point Drive #112, North Charleston, SC / 9770 Dorchester Road, Unit 103, Summerville, SC – Selected Sushi Rolls and Appetizers – Half Price after 3:00 PM every Tuesday

Mount Pleasant

West Ashley

  • Early Bird Diner – 1644 Savannah Highway, West Ashley, SC – $5.00 All You Can Eat Pancakes every Friday (Note:  They are open until 3 AM on Friday, but the special ends at midnight)

Folly Beach

  • Snapper Jack’s – 10 Center Street, Folly Beach, SC – Half Price on All Sushi Rolls and Special Appetizers on Thursday

James Island

  • The Lowdown Oven & Bar – 967 Folly Road, James Island, SC – Half Price wine and half price specialty pizza pie every Wednesday all day long

Summerville

Daily Charleston Deals

Charleston Brunch Guide

Enjoy these great deals, Charleston style

Charleston Spotlight: From History Buff to Carriage Guide – Intimate Interview with John Polk

February 25, 2018 by 5 Comments
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By Juliette Cheatham

“You might not expect someone to say the best place they’ve ever been is a town with a population less than 1000 people. But it’s true, Plains, Georgia was one of the best.” John Polk told me assuredly through his thick southern drawl. Mr. Polk was referring to his opportunity to go to church with President and Mrs. Carter and attend a Sunday school class taught by the former president. “Plains is place a lot like the one I grew up in” he explained to me in response to my quizzical look, “and President Carter was in office when I was born.”

Born and raised in the small town of Hampton, South Carolina just west of Charleston, there wasn’t much around besides stories about ancestors long past and ancient war heroes of the south. “I’m honestly not sure where my love for history originated” Polk confessed “but being from a small historic town with not much to do, I grew up appeasing my boredom by going to museums, monuments, old plantations-I often found myself at the library reading books about war.” Mr. Polk’s infatuation led him to focus his academic studies on history at North Greenville College.

“So how did you end up here, on a carriage attached to a horse on Market Street?” It seems an eccentric career path even for someone with John’s unique character. Mr. Polk saw an ad for a job as a carriage driver in the paper and knew that an amalgamation of his extensive knowledge of South Carolina history and love for sharing it with others would make him an ideal carriage guide.

The carriage company offered on the job training with the horses, how to care for them, and how to steer the carriage it’s self. “You would know in the first day or so if you wanted to do it. Driving the carriages can be frustrating at times because you’re not only giving an “engaging” tour”, he told me with a smirk “but also paying attention to traffic, tourists, and the streets.” Mr. Polk has been lucky enough never to have an incident with a horse getting spooked, but he humbly added that it doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

John Polk has been a historian/carriage guide combo for the past decade at Carolina Polo and Carriage Company and Classic Carriage Works, LLC. A well-known local, you honestly couldn’t miss him from a mile away sporting a wide brimmed straw hat covered in decorative pins and feathers and moving with the same slow confidence he speaks with. He doesn’t go anywhere without the Lieutenant Governor Miss Miley Dog, his noble companion. It was clear she is equally as mellow and well known around the city as she patiently sat next to me on the carriage the entire time I spoke to Mr. Polk with passing patrons stopping by to pet her.

Turning passions into lucrative careers is a tedious venture that many are not lucky enough to figure out. Mr. Polk’s passion for the history makes him stand out as one of the most requested carriage guides in town. A true southern gentleman, he is a walking encyclopedia of historical facts. If you want to brush up on some South Carolina history, be sure to hop on a carriage with John and his Lieutenant Governor.

Down to the River to Pray – How Bad is Gun Violence in the United States

February 21, 2018 by 0 Comments
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O sinners, let’s go down; Down in the river to pray; As I went down in the river to pray; Studying about that good old way; And who shall wear the robe and crown; Good Lord, show me the way! – Down to the River to Pray
Yesterday, a Leon’s Poultry and Oyster’s Shop employee threatened to “do a Virginia’s” during altercation, police report says.  Amidst this and the national school shooting in Florida and church shooting in Sutherland Springs, TX, gun control has once again become a hot topic in the United States.  This evening CNN is holding a televised Town Hall that will include representatives from the NRA and anti-gun activists looking at both sides of the debate and enhancing the public sentiment.  We took some time to gather some telling facts that indicates we have a serious concern in the United States and not one that will soon go away.  Whether it is legislation, awareness, family values, religion or something else, fear is alive and well and we need some solutions.
Important Facts Related to Gun Violence in the United States

  • America has 4.4 percent of the world’s population, but almost half of the civilian-owned guns around the world

  • There have been more than 1,500 mass shootings since Sandy Hook

  • On average, there is more than one mass shooting for each day in America

  • States with more guns have more gun deaths

  • States with tighter gun control laws have fewer gun-related deaths

  • Most gun deaths are suicides

  • Support for gun ownership has sharply increased since the early ’90s

The number of school shootings that have happened since the year 2000 around the world:
  • England – 0
  • Greece – 1
  • Netherlands – 1
  • Spain – 1
  • India – 1
  • Argentina – 1
  • Russia – 1
  • China – 3
  • Mexico – 4
  • Australia – 5
  • Canada – 5
  • Germany – 5
  • South Africa – 5
  • United States of America – 212

 

Homicides by firearm per 1 million people

  • Australia 1.4
  • New Zealand 1.6
  • Germany 1.9
  • Austria 2.2
  • Denmark 2.7
  • Netherlands 3.3
  • Sweden 4.1
  • Finland 4.5
  • Ireland 4.8
  • Canada 5.1
  • Luxembourg 6.2
  • Belgium 6.8
  • Switzerland 7.7
  • USA ?? 29.7

UNODC, Small Arms Survey

Global Prison Breakdown

Half of the world’s prison population of about nine million is held in the US, China or Russia.  Prison rates in the US are the world’s highest, at 737 people per 100,000 and the occupancy rate is 107.6% (Almost 8% over capacity).  Of the top 17 nations, 13 are overcapacity (China could not be determined).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southeastern Wildlife Expo sets record in South Carolina

February 20, 2018 by 0 Comments
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CHARLESTON, S.C. –The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition says it had record sales for a second consecutive year in South Carolina.

The annual three-day event wrapped up Sunday in Charleston.

Organizers estimate about 45,000 people attended. That’s ahead of last year’s estimate of 43,000. Last year’s attendance broke the record of 42,000 set in 1993.

Expo Chief Executive Jimmy Huggins said Monday he hopes the event heralds a good tourism season for Charleston this year.

Organizers said there had been a 15 percent increase in advance ticket sales and a 40 percent increase in weekend art sales.

The Getaway: Light, Bright Bites and Cocktails

February 20, 2018 by 0 Comments
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By Cookin’ With Booze – Elise DeVoe

New restaurants are popping up left and right in Charleston, and even though I have barely scratched the surface of visiting the long-established restaurants; one of the new ones usually catches my eye and I have to go check them out (for journalistic purposes). In this case, the Getaway, a Latin American-themed restaurant run by two lady bosses, peaked my interest. They’re answering the call of Charleston locals begging for a break from shrimp and grits and transporting them with bright, authentic cocktails and food from their travels to South America and beyond.  I sat down with the owner Genevieve Mashburn to learn more about the inspiration behind the Getaway and their must-try bites and cocktails.

The Vibes

When you walk into the Getaway, your eyes are drawn to the bar and the shelves bursting with exotic liquors. The setting is intimate with ambient lighting and small tables fit for sharing bites with friends. Although I loved the inside of the Getaway, as the weather warms up I am more drawn toward their patio. They have a movie night out there every Monday, as well as ½ off piña coladas for fellow F&B folks. Drinking one of their refreshing cocktails while enjoying some sunshine sounds like the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

The food

Executive Chef Emily Hahn is the brains behind the operation in the back of the house, and she is given freedom to create dishes inspired by her travels on a daily basis. Genevieve explained that Chef Emily’s style of cooking was the perfect match for this concept, and she proves it with the food she’s producing.

Usually when I take my first bite of a dish, it takes a second to register the flavors. With the Chilean fish soup, I was immediately hit with the bright, acidic, broth that kept me coming back for more. From the tender shrimp to the crispy crust on the fish, each protein was cooked to perfection. It was served with Chapa bread, which was like biting into a fluffy biscuit, but that biscuit was filled with bread. It was bread-ception people. This dish encapsulated Chef Emily’s style of cooking, which is local, light, bright, and comforting.

The second dish I tried was Chef Emily’s signature empanadas. She is known as the Empanada Mama, so I knew they were going to be authentic and tasty to boot. The fillings of the day were sweet potato and goat cheese and Tamarind Barbecue chicken with saffron rice and peas. The crust on the empanadas was like biting into a flaky and buttery pie; filled with savory goodness. The sweet potato and goat cheese was my favorite of the two because the creamy filling mixed with the crispy crust was a great combination.

Authentic cocktails with a twist

The Getaway has classic cocktails that we all recognize, such as a frozen piña colada, but they also have options where you won’t even recognize the names of the liquors. For me, this is exciting because I love learning about new liquors almost as much as I love drinking them!

I decided to try the Davy’s Sail, which was a Gin-based drink with Gran Classico bitters, lime, and coconut water. Their drink menu is seasonal, and this drink was suited for winter with its warm spices from the Gran Classico bitters. Although it was crafted for winter, this drink could carry on into spring because the coconut water lightened up the warm spices, making them subtle and refreshing.

add the getaway to your list!

If you haven’t stopped by The Getaway yet, get yourself over there ASAP. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere to get a drink or trying to shake up your usual restaurant routine, they have you covered. They’re bringing their international flavors to Upper King; nestled where you normally wouldn’t find them. Stay tuned because Genevieve and Chef Emily have plans to continue to push the boundaries and represent as lady bosses in the Charleston community.

Cookin’ With Booze Official Website

Photography

Smile, You Are on Instagram: Great Charleston Instagram Accounts to Follow

February 17, 2018 by 1 Comment
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Are you taken away every day by the incredible beauty and artistic canvas of Charleston, South Carolina.  From the sunsets to the architectural decor, this is a city with a foundation that would make any artist blush.  Some amazing photographers and observers have been helping to document this for all the world to see.

We would like to invite you to follow some of the finest Charleston based Instagram accounts and become part of Charleston.  Come with me as we Feel Charleston together.

You may already follow some of these visual historians.  If not, show you love and support and add them to your daily slideshow.

Explore Charleston – explorecharleston

Charleston Lowcountry – charleston_lowcountry

Charleston Daily – charleston_daily

Around Charleston – AroundCharleston

Charleston Baker Gal – charlestonbakergal

Historic Charleston Foundation – historiccharlestonfoundation

Official Account Charleston SC – charlestonsc

Charleston Pictures – charlestonpictures

Mark Swick – mnswick

Daily Charleston – dailycharleston

Charleston Magazine – charlestonmag

Charleston SC Tour – charlestonsctour

College of Charleston – collegeofcharleston

Sailing Charleston – sailingcharleston1

Ellis Creek Photograpy – Ellis_Creek_Photography

Walt Baker Photography – WaltBakerPhotography

Margaret J – mfoard01

Em Thompson Photography – emthomp_photography

Justin Falk – justinfalkphotography

Taylor Franta Photography – TaylorFrantaPhoto

Wendy Mogul Photography – wendymogulphotography

Nicholas Skylar – nicholas_skylar

Kevin Holliday Photo – KevinHollidayPhoto

Billy Ellison – billy_ellison

Featured Photos from @ellis_creek_photography (Edisto Island) and @g_heaton (Pineapple Fountain Sunrise)

Lowcountry

10 Ways Charleston, South Carolina has changed for the worse

February 16, 2018 by 59 Comments
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By Mark A. Leon

Charleston, South Carolina has taken on a new face.

The new modernized Charleston, with a focus on increasing tourism, corporate infrastructure, increased pricing, more crowded streets, cranes owning the skyline, traffic bottlenecks in all directions and inflationary spikes may be helping this booming economy, but it isn’t what everyone wants.  There are a great many that miss the local first, charming historic appeal of the old Charleston.  We wanted to share some of the ways Charleston has changed for the worse based on social chatter and mood indicators of those that live and breath the Lowcountry air.

10 Ways Charleston, S.C. has changed for the worse

  • Folly Beach is modernizing and monetizing – In case you blinked, there have been some significant changes to our favorite area beach.  We would like to emphasize a few:  1.  Folly Beach is now charging entrance fees to its street festivals including this weekend’s Folly Gras.  2.  Arctic has implemented paid parking on the streets.  3.  The beach entrance parking lots no longer accept money in an envelope.  You must use a phone app to pay for your parking.  4.  New construction is spiking around the area of Center Street.  5.  Finally, a digital sign has been added on Folly Road.
  • Local First in downtown Charleston is a thing of the past – Remember:  Bluestein’s Clothing, Morris Sokol Furniture, Bob Ellis Shoes, King Street Grille, Piggly Wiggly and Hughes Lumber – If you are a local and have been for a number of generations, you are seeing familiar businesses close faster than we can keep count.  There is a simple explanation: the percentage of tourists is growing year over year and the percentage of local patrons is shrinking due to the overcrowded conditions caused by this spike in tourism.
  • Corporate billboards are taking over the city – You need not have lived here long to see the rise of corporate foundations in downtown Charleston and beyond.  Let us highlight some of the big entrances into our charming community:  Starbucks and Whole Foods (West Ashley), Starbucks (James Island), Walgreens (Corner of King and Calhoun), 5 Guys Burgers, Moe’s Southwestern, 3 Starbucks on King Street, West Elm, Louis Vuitton, IHOP, Publix, Vans, Aldo, Forever 21, H&M and more to come in downtown Charleston.
  • Church steeples beautifying the skyline is becoming a thing of the past – Cranes, construction, cranes, construction – That has been the look of our skyline for five plus consecutive years with no indication of a slowing in development.  With the massive projects in the medical district, the corner of Crosstown and Lockwood, across from Joe Riley, Upper King Street and Upper Meeting Street, Charleston is changing forever and rapidly.
  • Charleston is more becoming more known for breweries than the churches of the Holy City – Don’t commit to this number, but we now have over 30 breweries in the Lowcountry and it is estimated there is a brewery for every 10K – 12K citizens in the county.  I am not sure if that is worth celebrating or very alarming.  Charleston is now becoming more known for its craft beer than its history and Holy City architectural charm.
  • Tourism first, local second – We had another record year of tourism.  It is estimated 4.2 million people came through the Charleston International Airport in 2017.  That does not even factor in car traffic.  That is a big number.  It is great for our local economy, but it is a pain point for locals who are fearing the inconveniences of spending time in Charleston.  This truly is a shame.  It is one thing to pledge “Buy Local”, but another to take action to ensure it is happening.
  • Reasonable commutes have vanished – There isn’t much to say here.  You just need to live it every day to understand.
  • Taxation is disrupting local commerce and recreation – I was recently in Minneapolis and Philadelphia where restaurant food and alcohol tax are 6.0%.  I was pleasantly shocked.  For those that have never been here and plan a trip in the near future, this is a key piece of information:  Charleston County sales tax is 9.5%, restaurant food tax is 10.5% and restaurant alcohol tax is 15%.
  • Increased parking rates and penalties have crippled locals ambition to spend time on the peninsula – It was only a few years ago, you could park in a garage on a Sunday and pay a flat fee of $5.00.  It was just over 10 years ago, that a parking ticket cost $10.  Some even remember $7.00.  Now that fine is $45.00 and a garage will cost you $20.00 or more for just a few hours.  There is opportunistic greed and it is very active in our community.
  • Shem Creek has lost its coastal appeal – There is now a parking garage with office suites on the grounds of Shem Creek, a place once known for fishing, kayaking, shrimping and a local coastal hangout.  Times have changed on the Creek.
  • Bonus:  Timeshares in Charleston – If you did not hear the latest news, the Charleston city council approved the development of a 100 unit timeshare on the corner of Calhoun and East Bay in downtown Charleston.

Need a Last Minute Gift, How About a Poem – Original Love Poems to Impress Your Special Someone

February 14, 2018 by 1 Comment
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Need a list minute gift for your special someone, how about surprising them with a poem.  Here are four that will show how much you love them.

Happy Valentine’s Day Charleston.

Original Poem For Your Loved Ones

 

The Smile On Your Face

The smile on your face says it all
Let’s me know you’ll be there when I fall

When I slip off this cloud and gravity takes hold
My will remains bold

I know you will be there
In my heart, the words flow and in flight I swear

Til the end of time, I will be there
Always to bear
You and me babe
Taking on the world with style and grace

Through the tears, I’ll dry your eyes
Through the sorrow and the long goodbyes

In the heat of passion
With a fierce beating heart
The burning flame kindles this night

To the cold winters days
Safe by the fire and warm soothing light

Without words, you speak to me
Unspoken chapters
Acts played out in our minds

I dreamed of you last night
I dreamed of us flying, guided by the moonlight
Serenaded by the doves
Whistling songs of love

I awoke to the smile on your face
Looking at me as the night erased

Another day with you
A blessing, a gift

My love, my saving grace

 

Love is Everything

Love is everything
Everything
Without it, we are invisible

Invisible to the sound of a morning rain
Invisible to the smile of a rose blossoming in Spain
Invisible to the sight of long slow kiss
In this life, there is so much we can miss

Love is enchanting like a warm summer breeze
A tingle, a wink, a sigh, a touch of a cool spring day

It is the reason we rise
The struggle to survive
The euphoria of time
The essence of rhyme

Love breathes
It protects
A blanket so safe

A song
A whisper
A kind eye

With the simplicity of words
Words spoken in the air
Linger, journey, invite you near

Take hold
Take flight
Find meaning
Stop thinking; just be
A disease infecting my very soul

Love is everything
Meant to be lost
To be found

Hold for a second
A risk
Take a picture
Keep it for all time
It will last forever
With the winds of change, I will be reminded of the smile that has stopped in time

With the strength of a thousand “I Love Yous”
I feel so alive now
So alive with you

You are the escape I have dreamed about
An imaginary world come true

With you, love is everything

 

I Love You

I woke up and something was missing
The air was a little crisper, but that wasn’t it
The sun was shining bright, but that wasn’t it
A chill filled my senses leaving goosebumps behind

The trees, clouds, wind all spoke to me
A plea
A request from the stars

In soft spoken chords, I heard a collective song of terror asking for help

We have lost our way
That line echoed over and over

Lost without direction home

Innocence engulfed by lust
Sharing shattered by greed
Compassion, a fleeting memory
Acts of kindness trampled by arrogant selfishness

Our bubble of beauty has popped
Bleeding out, short of breath, praying for a miracle

Today, I say to you, without fanfare, without expectation, without reward

I love you
I love you all
Each of you has blessed me with a life of meaning

For each hand I touch, I am inspired
Each voice, a new life lesson
Each act of giving, a reward so priceless

I love you
I don’t say it enough
I don’t say it with all the vigor in my heart

Now, I have awoken

I want today to begin a quest to regain that love around the world

I ask kindly
Say it today
Say it everyday
With zest and passion and vitality

I love you

 

The Greatest Love Story

We’re gonna be the greatest love story this small town has ever seen

To the highest mountains we will climb
Tasting the soft wet crystals of snow on the capped tip overlooking the heavens
As you lay your body up to mine, the smell of your worn denim feels like home
Sun setting into the night sky; your face a bright ball of love

Right now, I ain’t scared of dying as long as I spend every breath with you

Down by the river up on the tree together
Hoping the strength of the branch will win the battle against gravity
Watching the bark drift with the current
Kids splashing away their worries
Clouds giving the sun a temporary bed

On the open road, your hair blowing in the wind
With the spirit of a thousand horses, you rejoice with grace
Scenes of Americana racing at 85 miles per hour
The most beautiful picture in my mind
Forever branded in technicolor

In a crowed bar
In a world with no rhyme
Blues and greens mixed with black and white
You picked me
In the briefest of insane clarity, your heart took hold of mine

You looked me in the eyes
Two strangers in a strange land
Without direction; without a home

You looked deep past the cloudy mist of uncertainty and said this simple phrase, “ours will be the greatest love story”.

Former Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. Honored with the James F. Barker Ethics in Action 2018 Award

February 13, 2018 by 0 Comments
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By Mark A. Leon

A leader is not defined by his/her contributions, but the influence in creating a better life for future generations.  Fifty years ago, Joseph P. Riley, Jr. walked into the realm of public office, just two years out of law school, as a devoted ambassador to the fine people of South Carolina.  In that turbulent year of 1968, the country was torn by racial tensions highlighted by the Orangeburg massacre, Resurrection City in Washington, D.C., under the leadership of the Reverend Ralph Abernathy and the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr, and Presidential hopeful, Robert F. Kennedy.

Joseph P. Riley, Jr. never waived from his commitment to bring social justice to South Carolina.  Nearly 50 years later, in June 2015, on the steps of Mother Emanuel, the world witnessed a man of vision, nobility and strength lead a city and a country out of the trenches of evil to once again overcome, as he uttered the words, “Our hearts are broken”.

On Saturday evening, February 10, 2018, the Rutland Institute for Ethics at Clemson University, honored Former Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. with the 2018 James F. Barker Ethics in Action Award.  In the four years this honor has been bestowed, this is the first year the recipient came from the Lowcountry and what a deserving individual.

As The Post and Courier columnist and author of The Mayor Brian Hicks noted in his introduction, one of the challenges he faced writing the biography on Former Mayor Riley, was conducting research on the history of a politician who has always been so ethical.  That brought a laugh from the audience and set the tone for an evening of emotionally driven shared stories and reflection.

The forward for the biography, The Mayor was written by the beloved and late author Pat Conroy, who described Charleston as “One of the most magical places on Earth” and credited Mayor Riley for the city it has become.

One of the most emotional speeches was provided with articulation and transparent warmth by law partner and best friend to the Former Mayor for fifty years, Capers G. Barr III.  His anecdotal look at the public life of Former Mayor Riley through his own eyes was a poignant tribute, outlining the courage and unwavering dedication Mr. Riley has given to the city of Charleston and its people.

As Former Mayor Riley took the stage, the entire room stood up and applauded for nearly a full minute expressing their gratitude for the lifetime of service of a man who has left a legacy that will continue for centuries to come.  In his humbled manner, Mr. Riley accepted the award with grace and spoke with eloquence and warmth as he did so many times before.  His presence, with passion and energy, was felt throughout the room.

As he reflected on his childhood, he shared to the audience that his parents never taught him about ethics, it was just the way they lived every day.

In his soft humble Southern voice, Mr. Riley spoke on the evolution of Charleston, its lessons in architecture, the nature warmth and the Southern pride that is the cornerstone of the Lowcountry.  In his words describing the expressionism of Charleston, the Mayor said, “the city teaches you lessons in architecture and design you might not ever know.”

(L-R) John Wareham, Assistant Director, Rutland Institute for Ethics; Robert Rutland, Founding Benefactor of the Institute; The Honorable Joseph P. Riley Jr., Scott Dishman, 2015 Recipient of the Ethics in Action Award; Clemson University Provost Robert H. Jones.

As a true educator, the most important reminder came at the end of his speech when Former Mayor Riley declared, that in all his years of leadership and education, it was all of us that were in that room and living in this community that represent what Charleston has become.

I found myself thinking during the evening, how does one transform a city that was saturated in decay and waste, where going North of Calhoun was dangerous to a city thriving in culture and one of the top vacation destinations in the world?  My answer came in the words of the individuals that spoke praise and Mayor Riley himself.  It takes risk, vision and a partnership with the people.

His bold partnership with the African American community and tactics of diplomacy helped bridge the gap of racial tension in the South and set the stage for a new generation of socially accepting citizens.

It is fair to say that not many cities have witnessed such a transformation as Charleston in the last forty and even notably the last ten years.  Today, Charleston is thriving with Spoleto, SEWE, a newly renovated airport that hosts 4.2 million visitors annually, Boeing, Volvo, Benefitfocus, a flourishing tech community and an economic renaissance that is exploding.  All this from the leadership of a man, short in stature, but larger than life.

The Rutland Institute chose a worthy advocate for their 2018 James F. Barker Ethics in Action Award recipient in Joseph P. Riley Jr..  He is a man that has solidified his legacy and there are no signs of slowing down.

Photo Credit:  Matt Crump