Mount Pleasant history publisher, Arcadia Publishing, has acquired a New Orleans book publisher that specializes in regional books about the city and the surrounding area, the company said in a news release.
Scott Campbell founded River Road Press in 2014 after previously working at Pelican Publishing, which Arcadia bought last year.
He will join Arcadia as the publisher of Pelican Publishing. River Road
Press will merge its catalog with Pelican Publishing’s list.
Remembering Columbia is one of Arcadia Publishing’s titles on South Carolina’s capital city. (Photo/Andy Owens)“
Having previously spent a decade at Pelican, I have the deepest appreciation for its unique role in New Orleans culture,” Campbell said in a statement.
Arcadia President and CEO David Steinberger said he was glad someone with Campbell’s background was rejoining the company to lead Pelican Publishing.
“I couldn’t be more pleased that this innovative company will join with Pelican, which has such an esteemed legacy of publishing in New Orleans and the surrounding region,” Steinberger said in a statement.
Arcadia has been on an acquisition tear. In August 2019, the company also purchased Wildsam, a guidebook publisher based in Austin, Texas. Pelican Publishing is much older than Wildsam, which was founded in 2012. Pelican was founded in 1926 and has a catalog of more than 2,000 titles.
Arcadia’s books can be found nationally in specialty and chain retailers. Many of the publisher’s books rely heavily on historic photographs, publishing images, and information targeted to the local area where the books are sold. Some of the titles focus on specific subjects within a historic context, such as vintage postcards, true crime, military, sports figures, and ghost stories, among others.
CHARLESTON, S.C., May
11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ —Benefitfocus, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNFT),
a technology platform provider enabling rapid innovation for employers, health
plans and consumers, has launched For You SC, an initiative to offer a selection of
health insurance, life insurance, financial services and lifestyle benefits for
residents of South Carolina who have been
impacted by the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.
ForYouSC.com directs South Carolinians to a range of insurance, benefits and
resources, some of which are only available in the state. This offering,
accessible online or via mobile devices, is designed to provide a wide array of
options to those facing unemployment or economic uncertainty during this crisis
through a single digital experience.
“Our mission is to connect consumers to the benefits and services that
improve their lives and, since the onset of this crisis, we have worked
diligently and quickly to help those most directly affected,” said Ray August, president and CEO of Benefitfocus. “We
are now paying particular attention to helping those in our home state. For
You SC is our initial effort to present a state-focused option to residents
who may need them the most.”
Through the end of 2020, Benefitfocus will donate profits generated through For You SC to the One SC Fund: COVID-19 Response. This partnership
between SC Grantmakers Network, Together SC, and the United Way Association of SC will enhance the efforts
already underway in several counties and regions across South Carolina to address gaps in the response
efforts, including support for communities that lack resources or an organized
philanthropic response.
Benefits Options for South Carolina Residents According to the U.S. Labor Department, more than 33 million Americans have filed for unemployment insurance in a seven-week period since the start of the coronavirus crisis. Millions of other self-employed workers have seen their income shrink. Many now have to find benefit plans to replace those provided by their former employers or to revisit their current benefits to determine if they meet their needs, and they will have to do so without the help of an employer.
South Carolina residents visiting
ForYouSC.com will find information to help them easily navigate the process of
choosing specific benefit options that meet their personal needs, many of which
are only available within the state, including short- and long-term health
plans from a local provider. Additionally, Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company,
headquartered in Columbia, is offering accident,
dental and whole life insurance.
“We are proud to partner with other South
Carolina companies to help protect the families, finances and futures of
Palmetto State residents,” said Tim Arnold,
president and CEO of Colonial Life. “It’s important for families facing
unexpected hardships to be able to rely on valuable insurance coverage to
remain physically and financially healthy.”
Both the state-focused health plans and national offerings from Doctors on
Demand provide virtual care, a service of growing importance as more consumers
rely on telehealth as an alternative to in-person care and consultation.
The site will also have access to national offerings, such as: student loan
refinancing from CommonBond; auto and home insurance from Liberty Mutual and
Bristol West; prescription savings through ScriptSave WellRX; and grocery
shopping and delivery services from Shipt.
Benefitfocus plans to offer similarly tailored consumer solutions, such as For
You SC, in other states across the country.
Creating Consumer Access – Benefitplace.com ForYouSC.com is part of the direct-to-consumer benefits offering through
benefitplace.com, which launched in April as a resource for independent workers and
displaced employees to access a selection of affordable individual and family
health plans, as well as a variety of other products and services to support
their well-being through this challenging time.
Benefitplace.com reflects Benefitfocus’ long-term strategy to support
consumers’ health and financial well-being. It is designed to help individuals
who do not have benefits through an employer or have lost their group benefits
and are looking to ensure they and their family have access to health,
financial, lifestyle and other benefits.
Benefitfocus has constructed its benefits platform so that
users receive access to a personal account where they can shop
for individual health plans and voluntary benefits to
support them and their family’s needs for life.
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.
INSURANCE NOTICE
Certain products available on the BENEFITFOCUS BENEFITPLACE™ platform may be
regulated through various state agencies as insurance products. Regulated
insurance products are offered through brokers affiliated with BenefitStore,
Inc. (doing business as 627 Benefits Insurance Agency in California and 627 Insurance Broker Agency in New York), a licensed insurance agency and wholly
owned subsidiary of Benefitfocus, or through your, your association’s, or your
employer’s appointed broker as applicable. Any insurance coverage is subject to
the issuer’s underwriting standards, fees and other terms and conditions
associated with specific offering or services as determined by the issuer or
provider.
DISCLAIMER REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
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; risks related to changing healthcare and
other applicable regulations; the immature and volatile nature of the market
for our products and services; our ability to compete effectively; our ability
to maintain our culture and recruit and retain qualified
personnel; privacy; security and other risks associated with our
business; management of growth; 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.
This morning I walked through a complex near my home where I saw 16 unique state license plates, two kayaks, two surfboards, and a Tesla. Like many, I have spent the last several months ponding about the pandemic and the eminent changes it has made on all our lives, but I am thankful that the Charleston area and South Carolina have truly stepped up in true community form to combat the spread together.
As of this morning:
South Carolina is ranked 30th in
total cases
South Carolina is 27th in total
deaths (331)
We have administered 84,457 tests
Here is another thing we should know that may cloud this positive data:
Rhode Island is ranked #1 with tests per population at 86,102 tests per million population. South Carolina is ranked last with 16,404. Per the population, we have administered the smallest percentage of tests per citizen and that could indicate many more cases remain positive that we are not aware of.
Based on the current U.S. Model, we should not start seeing under 100 deaths daily until after August 1, so we have a long way to go. More importantly, opening our doors now, based on data alone may be a false negative, and here is why.
Opening our doors also opens up one of our largest revenue streams: tourism. With the potential of 40 million-plus visitors coming from out of state by car, boat, and plane, we increase our susceptibility to a massive spike. We know that alone we cannot sustain our businesses and need tourism. Therefore, we must be prepared before the gates open up once again.
Though Charleston does not have the densely overpopulated numbers of a New York or Los Angeles, the infrastructure does force close proximity with our narrow sidewalks, small urban parks, and narrow roads.
Hotels, restaurants, markets, beaches – These are a vital part of our lifestyle and all very difficult to maintain the high sanitation protocols we now adhere to.
The new normal forces a slowing down of everyday life. With limitations on occupancy, increased sanitation steps, and social distancing, are we prepared for large festivals and of course, thee Cooper River Bridge Run?
I have been nothing but impressed with the way we have handled ourselves and the sacrifices we have made, but now is not the time to get angry at one another and have counties threatening lawsuits on towns. We are better than that. We need to ease into recovery for the sake of our children, elderly, loved ones, family, and friends.
Charleston is a proud community who has overcome so much
from natural disasters to the heinous acts on Mother Emanuel. We come through strong because we come
through together.
CHARLESTON, S.C., May 8, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Innovation-driven real estate firm, The Cassina Group, has unveiled a new real estate app designed to help clients easily search for properties from the convenience of their phones. The app is extremely user friendly and has tons of innate features designed to make the mobile search experience quick, efficient, and enjoyable.
“We are very excited to launch our new app,” said Owen Tyler, Managing Broker, and Partner of the firm. “Now more than ever, people are using their mobile devices to search for real estate, and we are excited to present a cutting-edge tool that seamlessly integrates the traditional search experience with geo-enabled features. The Cassina Group continues to invest in technology to ease the buying and selling process for our clients and customers while providing a high touch experience.”
The app allows users to search for
property throughout the tri-county area. Highlights include a map view search,
detailed search parameters, robust property information, the capacity to save
properties or searches, and the ability to easily connect with a Cassina agent
through the click of a button. To gain access to the app, please reach out to a
Cassina Group REALTOR or visit their website, https://www.TheCassinaGroup.com.
The Cassina Group has a proven
reputation for delivering stronger results though leading-edge technology and
building lasting relationships. The company had an extremely successful first
quarter of 2020, closing the quarter as the No. 1 boutique firm for home sales
over $1 million*. The company also ranked as the
No. 1 boutique firm for home sales over $500,000
and $750,000 during the same period. So far this
year, The Cassina Group has closed or placed under contract over $142 million worth of real estate.
For more information on The Cassina Group or their new app, please visit https://www.TheCassinaGroup.com or call 843.628.0008.
About The Cassina Group
The Cassina Group is a boutique real estate brokerage with offices in Mount Pleasant, SC and Charleston,
SC. The firm is managed by Owen Tyler,
partner and managing broker, and founding partners Jimmy
Dye and Robertson Allen. Recent awards include top honors from
Charleston Magazine, Inc. 5000 and SC Biz News. For more information, visit
https://www.TheCassinaGroup.com or call 843-628-0008.
CHARLESTON, S.C., May 8, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Just
in time for Mother’s Day, Charleston Oral and Facial Surgery has helped one
Charleston-area woman smile again. Due to years of decay, 31-year old Chelsea
Carter was referred to the practice by her dentist, Dr. Kent Griffin, as a
prime candidate for guided full-arch dental implants.
As a child, Chelsea wasn’t taught about oral hygiene; in fact, she didn’t
have a toothbrush. The result was a smile Chelsea made a point to cover with
her hand when she laughed. She became used to looking away or grinning without
showing teeth.
“It definitely brought my confidence down a lot,” said Chelsea. “I don’t
feel beautiful as a mother, I don’t feel beautiful as a wife.”
Enter Charleston Oral and Facial Surgery and Dr. Edward R. Strauss, who was
approached by Chelsea’s dentist. Chelsea met Dr. Strauss at their
Summerville-Ingleside location for a preliminary meeting during which he told
her the good news: The dental-implant procedure would be entirely free of
charge.
“Chelsea’s story of being a young wife and mother moved us and we wanted to
help restore her smile and her confidence,” said Edward R. Strauss, DMD, MD.
“We use cutting-edge digital technology to eliminate the guesswork in the
full-arch implant procedure, so we knew she would have an absolutely perfect
result.”
Dr. Strauss utilized the GM system by Neodent, a new generation of implant
systems that boasts high-level engineering. The surgery went seamlessly, and
when Chelsea woke up, she had a brand new smile.
“Now I can look at people and be confident…it definitely boosted my
self-esteem a lot,” Chelsea said. “They turned me into a confident, strong
woman that I knew I was always meant to be for my kids.”
Charleston Oral and Facial Surgery is committed to pro bono cases and has
remained open during the COVID-19 crisis to treat emergent dental cases. With
six Lowcountry-area locations, they are open and ready to serve the people of
Charleston with both in-person and virtual appointments.
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Coronavirus pandemic drastically affected
service sector jobs in Charleston County and South Carolina. Workers in
industries such as restaurants, hotels, childcare services, retail trade and
transportation services have taken a hard hit. Loss of incomes impact the
ability to provide necessities such as food, medicine, shelter, and housing.
A recent Pew Research Center analysis of government data found nearly 1
in 4 U.S. workers – 38.1 million out of 157.5 million – were employed in
industries most likely to feel an immediate impact from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Among the most vulnerable are workers in retail trade (10
percent of all workers), food services, and drinking places (6 percent).
In total, these two industries employ nearly 26 million Americans.
Though the outlook has been dire, there is good news to share. Our Workforce
Development Team compiled a list of foundations offering grant assistance to
restaurant workers as well as gig, and low-earning contract workers. Check
the information below to see what grants you qualify for and how you can apply.
Foundations & funding programs offering grants:
Samuel Adams Restaurant Strong Fund
This fund offers grant assistance for full-time restaurant employees. 30 hours,
for purposes of this grant, is full-time. Employees working at multiple
restaurants for time that equals to 30 hours per week qualify.
Restaurant
Workers Community Foundation
RWCF’s Board of Directors has approved directing funds raised in the following
ways: 50% for direct crisis relief to individual restaurant workers; 25% for
nonprofit organizations serving restaurant workers in crisis; and 25% for
zero-interest loans for restaurants to get back up and running.
The Workers Fund (The Workers Lab)
Provides funds for gig and low-earning contract workers who do not qualify for
employer-based benefits.
If you would like more information, assistance in finding resources, tips on how to get the job-hunting process started, or more, please reach out to us at CCPL by email, chat, or text. You may also call us at 843-805-6930, leave a voice message, and a library staff member will return your call. Remember, you are not alone.
We
hope you’re healthy and doing well during this difficult time. We want you to
know that we’re here for you and are taking extra precautions to keep you and
our care team safe, so that you don’t have to wait to address your medical
needs. Since our state has seen a significant flattening of the curve, we’re
able to safely proceed in providing care for you and your loved ones. Here’s
what we’re doing to keep you safe.
In an emergency In an emergency situation, every minute matters. Call 911 or visit the ER. Here’s a list of Roper St. Francis Emergency Room locations. Please don’t suffer at home during this crisis. We’re keeping ER patients whose symptoms are consistent with COVID-19 separate, isolating them from everyone else and performing intense cleaning to ensure your safety.
Routine
medical care
Your doctor is still available for your routine medical care. If you have an
appointment, the practice will contact you to determine if your visit can be
done virtually. If your provider thinks that it’s necessary for you come to the
practice, we’ve introduced a few new guidelines for your visit. They include:
A
pre-screening phone call for COVID-19 to include you and a support person,
if you have one (must be 16 or older)
Limiting
time in our waiting rooms, which have been rearranged to optimize social
distancing
Waiting
rooms are disinfected throughout the day using recommended CDC & EPA
disinfectants and cleaning chemicals (like Sani-Cloth Bleach wipes)
Our
entire team is wearing masks, and those who are delivering care are also
wearing gloves
Imaging
services
Remember to keep up with your regular preventive screenings. Detecting problems
early increases the success of treatment. If you’re scheduled for a CT scan,
MRI, X-Ray or any other imaging service, please visit rsfh.com/coronavirus to
learn about how we’re keeping you safe.
If
you have questions about safety, please give us a call at (843) 402-CARE. We’re happy
to address any concerns and direct your next steps for care.
James Beard Foundation Announces 2020 Nominees and Media and Restaurant & Chef Awards have been announced.
This year, Charleston, South Carolina was selected in 5 categories. Congratulations to all for receiving these prestigious nominations.
Health and Wellness Media
•“The AGEs Puzzle: How We Cook Food Is Killing Us. Scientists in SC Know Why.”; “9 Easy Ways to Eat Fewer AGEs: A Stress-Free Guide” – Tony Bartelme – The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)
Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award
•“Forget Democratic Votes. Which Presidential Hopeful Will Eat 16 Iconic SC Foods First?”; “A James Island Meat-and-Two Secretly Switched to Carolina Gold Rice. Here’s What Happened.”; “In Prisons Across South Carolina, It’s Not a Birthday Without Cake Made by a Fellow Inmate” – Hanna Raskin The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)
Outstanding Design of Alternative Eating & Drinking Places
Firms: Studio Dewberry and WorksteadProject: Citrus Club, Charleston, SC
Outstanding Restaurant (Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water):
A restaurant that demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, service, and operations. Eligible candidates must have been in business 10 or more consecutive years.
•FIG, Charleston, SC
Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer:
A beer, wine, or spirits producer who demonstrates consistency and exceptional skill in his or her craft
.•Scott Blackwell and Ann Marshall, High Wire Distilling Co., Charleston, SC
Public invited to celebrate the year’s conservation milestones with at-home picnic
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Lowcountry Land
Trust’s Annual Picnic may have been canceled but that doesn’t mean you can’t
picnic for a good cause. Instead of hosting its annual fundraiser and
conservation celebration at Sheldon Farms on Wadmalaw Island this year,
Lowcountry Land Trust is encouraging supporters to Picnic in Your
Backyard.
Throughout the month of May,
celebrate the work Lowcountry Land Trust does protecting the region’s natural
resources with a picnic at home. The public is invited to pack a picnic and
head outdoors to their backyard, balcony, favorite neighborhood greenspace or
front porch. Host a family picnic to celebrate Mother’s Day or turn your picnic
into a graduation ceremony.
Be sure to share your picnic photos on social media. Tag @LowcountryLandTrust and use hashtag #LLTPicnic for a chance to win four tickets to the 2021 Annual Picnic. If you don’t use social media, send your photos to events@lowcountrylandtrust.org or text them to 843-608-9369.
“For 33 years, we’ve hosted a
springtime picnic on a protected property to celebrate the previous year’s
conservation milestones and the beauty of a Lowcountry spring. Of course, it’s
disappointing we can’t gather with friends and supporters this year, but that
doesn’t mean we all can’t soak up some spring sunshine,” said Ashley
Demosthenes, president & CEO of Lowcountry Land Trust. “We encourage
everyone to have a family picnic in their backyard and take a moment to reflect
on what a beautiful and special place the Lowcountry is.”
In 2019, Lowcountry Land Trust
completed easements on seven properties in four counties, totaling 3,402 acres
of protected land. Last year, the Land Trust was involved in some significant
conservation projects, including the protection of Boone Hall Plantation in
Mount Pleasant, Big Snooks in the Savannah River watershed and two properties
in the ACE Basin. In total, Lowcountry Land Trust has protected more than 147,000
acres of land across 17 South Carolina counties, including more than 50 miles
along Lowcountry rivers.
For more information on Lowcountry Land Trust or Picnic in Your Backyard, visit www.lowcountrylandtrust.org.
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 more than
147,000 acres across 17 counties in South Carolina. More information about the
Lowcountry Land Trust is available at www.lowcountrylandtrust.org.
May 1722, Naturalist Mark Catesby Arrives
in South Carolina
In February 1722, Mark Catesby sailed for
the Carolina colony. With funding from a
group of Fellows of the Royal Society of London, he planned to spend the next four
years examining the natural world of Carolina, Coastal Georgia, and the
Bahamas. He landed in Charleston on May 3rd. This
was Catesby’s second trip to North America.
He accompanied his sister to Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1712 and stayed
for seven years. During that time, he
collected botanical samples and seeds and sent them back to England. When
Catesby returned to London, the Royal Society was inspired by what he had
gathered and worked to finance a return visit.
Catesby stayed in Carolina for
approximately four years. He later
wrote: “As I arrived at the beginning of the Summer, I unexpectedly found this
Country possessed not only with all the Animals and Vegetables of Virginia but
abounding with an even greater variety.” He travelled throughout the colony,
documenting reptiles and amphibians, fish, birds, and mammals along with their
natural habitats. The second year of
this adventure took him to the “upper uninhabited” country near the mountains
where he hunted “Buffaloes, Bears, Panthers, and other wild Beasts.” Combining science and art, he frequently
added notes to his sketches, and made a point to illustrate plants immediately
after they were gathered. He also
portrayed birds with “those Plants on which they fed, or have any relation to.”
The watercolors that Catesby produced as
a result of his trip were published in two volumes titled The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and
the Bahama Islands. The
set is one of the most significant accomplishments in natural science during the
colonial period and gave Europeans their first view of the flora and fauna of
the new world. Catesby was not a trained artist, but his illustrations of
animals, particularly birds, were beautifully detailed and lifelike. He later boasted that he had missed very few species
of birds, but he did admit that he preferred to sketch “Males of the Feather’d
Kind,” as they have brighter plumage.
Once he
returned to London, Catesby found it difficult to obtain sponsors for his
publication. He was determined to complete
the project and learned to engrave the copper plates required to print the
images. He made all but two of the final
plates and painted them himself in order to guarantee that the details and
colors were correct. Few artists have
been so personally involved in the publication of their work. To finance the publication, Catesby took
subscriptions. The final product was
well received and, although it never brought him a great fortune, it did
provide an income for Catesby until his death in 1749. Purchased by King George
III of England in 1768, the original plates are now housed in the Royal Library
at Windsor Castle.
Brought to you by the South Carolina Historical Society.
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