Lowcountry

Lowcountry

Celebrity Dog Trainer Brandon McMillan on Home & Family to Cook Chili for Charleston Animal Society Virtual Fundraising Event

November 16, 2020 by 0 Comments
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Charleston, SC – Three-time Emmy® winning celebrity dog trainer and host of the Lucky Dog television series Brandon McMillan appeared on Home & Family this Wednesday, November 11th to learn how to cook chili for Charleston Animal Society’s 20th Annual Chili Cook-off.  The live-to-tape episode airs at 10:00 am / 9:00 am Central on Hallmark Channel USA. GET HALLMARK’S THREE BEAN RECIPE HERE!

Home & Family co-host Debbie Matenopoulos envisioned the segment after she heard how charities across America are reinventing their fundraising efforts that have been cancelled due to COVID-19.  Charleston Animal Society is one of the best-known lifesaving organizations in the US – it’s single mission has been the prevention of cruelty to animals since 1874.  From human disasters like animal cruelty and hoarding cases to natural disasters like hurricanes and floods – Charleston Animal Society keeps animals out of harm’s way up and down the Eastern Seaboard (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina – and even Louisiana post-Katrina and post-Delta).

“Charleston Animal Society’s biggest fundraiser of the year, their annual chili cook-off, would normally involve upwards of 10,000 people. I helped them re-imagine their event by working with dogs in their shelter to create interesting content and moving the program to a Facebook Live stream which has created opportunities for anyone anywhere in the United States to get involved and help,” says Brandon McMillan. “I went to Charleston Animal Society to help them train some of the shelter dogs but, like most guys, I have no idea how to make chili.  I reached out to my friends at Home & Family to create a recipe and show everyone how easy making chili can be.  I could not lead the pack for the chili cook-off and not know how to make chili!”

“We are so moved every day about the stories of hope and compassion from across the country,” said Matenopoulos.  “When we learned how so many non-profit organizations that help people and animals are having to change how they raise funds to keep their vital programs going, we wanted to showcase how one creative organization, Charleston Animal Society, moved its biggest event online and created fun ways for everyone to get involved.”

The two-hour virtual chili cook-off will be streamed live November 21st from 5 pm to 7 pm on the Facebook pages for both Charleston Animal Society and Brandon McMillan.  The event includes celebrities, chefs, famous chili recipes, fundraising teams, and heartwarming stories about the lives saved every day at Charleston Animal Society.  Supporters are encouraged to signup, create a team or fundraise at www.CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/ChiliCookOff.


Celebrity Dog Trainer Brandon McMillan and “Home & Family’s co-host, Debbie Matenopoulos, had a ball making chili just in time for the 20th Annual Chili Cook-off for Charleston Animal Society on the set of Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family. The episode will air on Wednesday, November 11 at 10 am ET/9 am CT.

“What’s brilliant about the virtual chili cook-off is that anyone can sign up to participate by hosting a small group in their home to make chili and just ask friends, family, or coworkers to donate online,” says Joe Elmore, President, and CEO of Charleston Animal Society.   “Even with the lost revenue, daily operations to rescue, shelter, and heal injured and homeless animals have never stopped.  Anything goes when you can participate simply by having chili with friends at home or setting up a fundraising page.  From a themed chili-making party to posting videos of families making their favorite dish, anyone can be involved and help raise needed funds for the important work of the Animal Society.”

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Lowcountry

We need your help: Petition – Stop the Chop in Sullivan’s Island Maritime Forest

November 14, 2020 by 1 Comment
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Click Here to Sign

Unique among barrier islands, Sullivan’s Island, located outside Charleston, SC, is accreting land instead of eroding and supports a 190-acre “successional Maritime Forest” of dune grasses, flowers, shrubs, wetlands, and a robust maritime forest.

This incredible gift from Mother Nature is home to nesting sea turtles, butterflies, birds, and the Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station. The diversity of trees, shrubs and wetlands is essential for birds, insects and other species to thrive. Each year, thousands of birds and Monarch butterflies stopover to rest and re-nourish as they make their round-trip journey between their northern homes and the tropics.

The vegetation provides critical protection from the #1 threat to the island: hurricane storm surge, and is a source of incomparable resilience in the face of climate change.
In 1991, just after Hurricane Hugo, the Town put this land into a trust, owned by all Sullivan’s Islanders, to preserve in its natural state for the benefit and enjoyment of this and future generations of islanders and South Carolinians.

In September 2020, Town Council voted to settle a lawsuit by beachfront homeowners wanting to cut down trees and shrubs to gain ocean views. This will destroy this ecosystem by removing thousands of trees and shrubs, and remove the island’s hurricane storm surge protection.

We are committed to preserving our island for the benefit of all to enjoy, for our wildlife partners, and our public safety. Please join us by helping to “STOP THE CHOP”!

Click Here to Sign
 
Photo Credit: Station 28.5 Photography

Lowcountry

The Duke Endowment invests $1.25M in the International African American Museum

November 13, 2020 by 0 Comments
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The International African American Museum announced a $1.25 million grant received from The Duke Endowment, one of the largest private philanthropic trusts in the Southeast. The grant includes $1 million for the Museum’s endowment and $250,000 to be used to meet its greatest needs between now and its opening in March 2022.

An endowment is typically made up of charitable donations to a nonprofit organization, which uses the resulting investment income to support its mission. Most endowments are designed to keep the principal amount intact while using the investment income to support the organization’s work. The current principal of the International African American Museum Endowment is approximately $8 million, including the grant from The Duke Endowment. The Museum’s endowment is managed by the Coastal Community Foundation.

“Creating a sustainable institution is essential and building our endowment is part of our plan to do so,” said Dr. Elijah Heyward III, the Museum’s Chief Operating Officer. “Over its 96-year history, The Duke Endowment has shown its wisdom in selecting investments. We are so proud to be in its distinguished portfolio.”

Construction of the Museum is underway, and the exhibitions and programming are in the final stages of development. “The Duke Endowment understands the importance of unrestricted donations,” said Joe Riley, former mayor of Charleston, S.C., and lifetime member of the Board of the Museum. “The $250,000 grant gives us the flexibility to use the funds to continue to build our leadership team, hire experts to help develop programming, create a comprehensive marketing program and more.”
Rhett Mabry, president of The Duke Endowment, visited the site of the Museum earlier this year. “From its historic position on Gadsden’s Wharf, the International African American Museum seeks to share the diverse stories of the African American journey, promote understanding, and provide an educational experience for visitors from the Carolinas and beyond,” Mabry said. “The Duke Endowment is honored to support that vision and contribute to this important endeavor.”

About the International African American Museum 

The International African American Museum strives to foster empathy and understanding, empowering visitors with the knowledge of the past. The journey will challenge, illuminate, inspire and ultimately, will move people to action. The Museum’s exhibitions will share untold stories using classic techniques as well as new approaches driven by innovation, technology and digital interactivity. Themes will include connections across the African diaspora, the spread of African American culture and influence, and the movements for justice and equality. The Center for Family History will enable visitors to trace their genealogy, while changing exhibitions and special events will keep the Museum energized. Educational programs will provide life-long learning opportunities for visitors both young and old. 

The International African American Museum will open early 2022. For more information, visit our website at www.iaamuseum.org or connect with us on social media @iaamuseum on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

About The Duke Endowment 

Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private philanthropic trust that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed more than $4 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but each is a separate organization. For more information, go to https://dukeendowment.org. 

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McClellanville Land Placed in Conservation Easement

November 12, 2020 by 0 Comments
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22-acre parcel is part of important network of protected properties near McClellanville

CHARLESTON, S.C. — About 22 acres in McClellanville will be permanently protected after the owners opted to grant a conservation easement to the Lowcountry Land Trust. Known as Taylor’s Farm, the Pinckney Street property is in the Santee River Focus Area, one of 12 focus areas in the state identified for wildlife protection and land conservation.

“We are happy to have put our property in McClellanville into a conservation easement,” said property owners Charles and Frances Geer. “We are grateful to the Lowcountry Land Trust for enabling us to protect this natural area for the benefit of future generations.”

The protection of Taylor’s Farm expands a network of existing privately and publicly protected lands near McClellanville, including the Francis Marion National Forest, the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, and several other conservation easements. Taylor’s Farm is also visible approaching the Robert E. Ashley boat landing, a public access point to Jeremy Creek. 

The property is primarily used as a residential retreat and is managed for passive recreational and forestry purposes. It offers protected views from the Intracoastal Waterway and Pinckney Street, in McClellanville, further protecting the rural character of the village of McClellanville.

With about 615 feet of creek frontage, the protection of Taylor’s Farm promotes scenic viewshed protection, biological diversity, and preservation of downstream water quality in the Intracoastal Waterway and Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. 

“We’re incredibly grateful to the Geers for donating a conservation easement on this significant property,” said David Ray, acting CEO & chief conservation officer of Lowcountry Land Trust. “Taylor’s Farm is an important addition to the network of existing protected lands in the McClellanville area. We are actively working to protect places like this that preserve views and water quality for Lowcountry communities like McClellanville, particularly where they intersect with nationally significant places like Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.”\

Lowcountry Land Trust has protected nearly 148,000 acres of land across 14 South Carolina counties. In 2019, the Land Trust protected seven properties in four counties, totaling 3,402 acres of protected land, including the protection of Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant and Big Snooks in the Savannah River watershed. 

About Lowcountry Land Trust 

Founded in 1986, the Lowcountry Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to honor the relationship between people and land by protecting irreplaceable Lowcountry lands and treasured places. Lowcountry Land Trust has protected nearly 148,000 acres across 14 counties in coastal South Carolina. More information about the Lowcountry Land Trust is available at www.lowcountrylandtrust.org.  

Lowcountry

South Carolina Department of Education purchases $15.3M in online resources

November 10, 2020 by 0 Comments
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The S.C. Department of Education has purchased digital learning resources from Charlotte-based digital textbook and education resources company Discovery Education to support teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The department purchased four Learning Management Systems, a Learning Object Repository, and a suite of digital learning resources, according to a news release.

Funding for the programs, totaling more than $15.3 million during a three-year period, is being provided through federal pandemic relief. Advertisement

“The purchase of these three platforms and the seamless ability for every South Carolina teacher to access them and incorporate high-quality content into their classroom instruction can be a game-changer for our state,” S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said in the release. “COVID-19 has presented enormous challenges to teaching and learning but this digital platform will help level the K-12 education playing field this school year and beyond.”

A Learning Management System is a software framework through which education content is delivered and managed. Students and educators are assigned licenses to access content and complete assignments. The education department presented four platform options: Canvas, Schoology, Blackboard, and Google Classroom, with student and staff licenses, fully funded by the state for the next three years.

A Learning Object Repository serves as a digital library of educational content, including Bill Nye: The Science Guy episodes and National Geographic documentaries, that can be shared through the learning management system. The education department chose SAFARI Montage, with access for every teacher paid for through 2023.

“The South Carolina Department of Education is providing every school district with a state Learning Object Repository chock full of high-quality digital educational video resources to support teachers, students and parents at home and in school during these challenging educational times,” Andrew Schlessinger, CEO and co-founder of SAFARI Montage, said. “This will go a long way to supporting educational equity throughout South Carolina by providing all public school students with easy access to the outstanding digital content they need for meaningful remote learning. All school districts will be able to customize the LOR for their own district to make sure many of their procured course digital resources are also accessible in one place.”

All S.C. students and teachers will also receive access to Discovery Education Experience, a collection of high-quality content, professional learning resources and digital lessons.

“Discovery Education is honored to be selected by the South Carolina Department of Education to support the education of K-12 students statewide,” said Anna Strassner, Discovery Education senior manager of education partnerships. “With our headquarters in nearby Charlotte, many of us at Discovery Education call South Carolina home and send our children to the state’s excellent schools. We look forward to working in our own community to bring our powerful, engaging digital resources to teachers and students statewide.”

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Charleston Local Escape Spotlight: Stono County Park

November 10, 2020 by 0 Comments
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In the heart of Johns Island, just off of Savannah Highway and adjacent to the long beautiful Stono Bridge is Stono County Park. This scenic walking and biking path will offer sun-filled and shaded paths of exercise and relaxation. You may even find a few great photo opportunities.

Location: 3644 Moonglow Dr, Johns Island, SC 29455

Here are a few highlights:

Approximately 2 1/2 miles of paved, dirt, and boardwalk (FYI – Bikes cannot we rode on the boardwalk. They must be walked

  • Dog friendly
  • Single user restrooms
  • Water bottle filling fountain
  • Beautiful views of the marsh and Stono Bridge
  • Benches throughout to rest or take a scenic selfie or family picture
  • There is a kiosk for a $1 honor system entrance fee

Here are some visuals to help motivate you

Happy Hiking, Walking, Biking, or just enjoying the beauty of the Lowcountry.

Lowcountry

Dear Young Woman – Original Poem

November 9, 2020 by 0 Comments
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By Mark A. Leon

Dear young woman, you are the future
Dear young woman, you will shine in the midst of darkness
Dear young woman, you will hold the torch that will guide the path to a new and amazing tomorrow
Dear young woman, you are the voice that will sing a chorus of love

That is the song that we hear
You are the footsteps
You will never walk alone
Two steps; hundreds, thousands, millions, billions together hand in hand
You will embrace the struggle; united together as one
Coast to coast; ocean to ocean;

In the schools
The workplace
The playing field
The homes
The limitless places defying gravity

Dear Young Woman

You are the inventors, the scientists, the athletes, the dreamers, the visionaries and the leaders

Dear Young Woman

You inspire through compassion
Empower with unstoppable force
Change through the power of unification

Dear Young Woman

You will do good
Goodness; kindness; hope, perseverance

No longer will you look to the stars and only dream
You will touch them and smile
And look down upon a world you have shaped

Dear Young Woman

The gift of responsibility is upon you
Take hold and instill a new day we can all be proud of
Change is gradual, but change is real and now

It is your mind
Your body
Your emotions
Your strength

Dear Young Woman

We are so proud to see the future in your eyes
Seeing a world we have yearned and fought for and oh what a beautiful place it will be



Lowcountry

Tecovas Charleston Grand Opening (King Street – Charleston) – Friday, November 6, 2020

November 5, 2020 by 0 Comments
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We are thrilled to welcome you to the Grand Opening of our Charleston store.

Official Event Page

Everything kicks off on Friday, November 6th at 10 AM. Swing by and have a drink on us, enjoy live music, complimentary drinks, boot shines, and receive a free gift if you’re among the first 50 folks in the door each day!

Friday, 11/06: 10 AM – 7 PM
Saturday, 11/07:- 10 AM – 7 PM
Sunday, 11/08: – 12 PM – 6 PM

Address: 288 King Street, Charleston, SC 29401

As always, we’re committed to the safety of our employees and customers and will continue to take precautions. Don’t forget, masks are mandatory. We’ll have them available if you forget yours.

We hope to see y’all (safely) there!

Lowcountry

CARTA Board Approves Free Student Fare Program

November 4, 2020 by 0 Comments
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MAKES NO-COST FARES FOR K-12 STUDENTS A PERMANENT FEATURE

NORTH CHARLESTON (Nov. 2, 2020) – The Charleston Area Transportation Authority (CARTA) Board of Directors voted at its most recent meeting to implement a permanent policy allowing students in grades K-12 to ride at no cost as part of the system’s Free Student Fare initiative.

The fare structure had previously been in place as a pilot program since early 2019 and has seen monthly ridership surpass 7,000.

“The Free Student Fare initiative permanently eliminates a mobility barrier for students, sets the stage for the next generation of transit ridership, and offers relief to parents whose children ride CARTA,” said CARTA Board of Directors Chairman Mike Seekings. “Getting to school, recreational activities or a part-time job is easier than ever for students, and making those connections for free today allows kids to get comfortable with public transit.”

The Free Student Fare program is available to all public and private school students and applies to all CARTA services. Children under 5 also ride for free. Student IDs are recommended when boarding.

CARTA buses can be tracked in real-time by downloading the Transit App. Trips can be planned and details on CARTA routes and services can be found at RideCARTA.com. Questions regarding the program should be directed to CARTA marketing and communications manager Michelle Emerson, who can be reached at memerson@bcdcog.com or (843) 529-0333.

ABOUT CARTA
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority is a public transportation system dedicated to providing affordable transit in the Charleston community through local fixed routes, on-demand paratransit service, and express commuter routes. For the latest on CARTA, visit www.ridecarta.com, like us on Facebook, or follow on Twitter at @RideCARTA. All customers are encouraged to plan rides and track buses with the CARTA-endorsed Transit app.