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Applications open today due by September 30 

Charleston, SC — Beemok Capital last week launched Catalyst, a new initiative designed to fuel early-stage companies across Charleston’s Tri-county area. At its core, Catalyst, is a business pitch competition, culminating in a live event on November 8, 2025, where up to $1 million in potential funding will be awarded. But Catalyst is much more than a competition; it is a dynamic, open-to-the-public gathering designed to provide entrepreneurs with exposure, opportunities to connect with investors, and pathways for growth. The event will feature live pitches from selected finalists, inspiring speakers, including successful entrepreneurs and experienced investors, and serve as a vibrant forum for networking among Charleston’s growing startup community. Whether or not attendees are competing, founders will have the chance to engage with peers, mentors, and potential backers, fostering collaboration and sparking new opportunities for growth.

Company founders can apply online at catalystbybeemok.com, and finalists will be selected to present their business opportunity in front of a panel of experienced investors, business leaders and a live audience on November 8 at the Terminal Building at Union Pier. The expert panel will make investment decisions based on the creativity and viability of the idea and the quality of leadership. Catalyst invites founders based in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties to submit an overview of their ventures by September 30, 2025.  The competition will also include a category for current students who are fostering great ideas while finishing their education.

“So much of what we’re passionate about at Beemok is creating channels of opportunity in our community that don’t otherwise exist,” said Ben Navarro, co-founder of Beemok. “There is so much talent in our region, but even the best ideas and founders need support, and we want to keep the next generation of great ideas here.  I want Catalyst to become a fun and engaging way to connect and support our existing entrepreneurial community while also inspiring the next era of builders and founders.”

Charleston’s start-up scene continues to grow with entrepreneurs launching ventures across technology, consumer goods, logistics and enterprise software. Catalyst by Beemok will help further position Charleston as a destination where high-potential businesses can start and scale. The November 8 event will be a showcase of the Tri-county’s brightest talent and boldest ideas, and a place for the entrepreneurial community to connect, collaborate and help build what’s next. 

Catalyst Applicant Criteria:

• Entrepreneurs who live and work in Berkeley, Charleston or Dorchester County
• Startups that are in the early stages and require meaningful capital to unlock their next phase of growth
• Applicants do not need to be revenue-generating, though early sales, customer validation, or evidence of traction is strongly preferred.

Key Dates:

• Applications Open: July 25, 2025
• Application Deadline: September 30, 2025
• Live Pitch Event: November 8, 2025
• Funding Finalization: Q1 2026

ABOUT BEEMOK CAPITAL

Beemok Capital is the family office of business leaders and philanthropists Ben and Kelly Navarro. Headquartered in Charleston, S.C., Beemok is dedicated to building stronger communities and creating opportunities for others through purposeful investment. 

Beemok oversees a diverse portfolio spanning education, sports and entertainment, hospitality, real estate and health and wellness. The portfolio includes Meeting Street Schools and the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund, Credit One Stadium, the Credit One Charleston Open, the Cincinnati Open, The Charleston Place Hotel, and The Cooper Hotel. Beemok is also leading the development of Union Pier, a 65-acre waterfront property in historic downtown Charleston.

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Tickets On Sale Wednesday, August 6 at 10am ET/7am PT

Presale Access Begins Today at 10am ET/7am PT

August 5, 2025 – WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced three NXT live event dates taking place across South Carolina and Georgia from Friday, September 5, through Sunday, September 7. 

Tickets for each live event will go on sale starting Wednesday, August 6 at 10am ET/7am PT. Fans can purchase tickets during an exclusive presale by visiting Ticketmaster.com starting today at 10am ET/7am PT until 11:59pm ET/8:59pm PT.

This marks WWE’s first return to North Charleston, South Carolina and Spartanburg, South Carolina since 2019.

The events will feature the biggest Superstars from NXT, including NXT Champion Oba Femi, NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jane, NXT North American Champion Ethan Page, NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca, TNA World Champion Trick Williams and more. 

Click HERE for tickets.

About WWE

WWE® is the global leader in sports entertainment. The company creates and delivers original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, The CW and Netflix. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to all premium live events, a variety of original programming and a massive video-on-demand library. Netflix is the exclusive home for WWE programming around the world, other than select international markets. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

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By Mark A Leon

The Dashshunds of Charleston meetup has become a favorite gathering for local dachshund owners and their beloved “long and low” pups. These regular events, like the breed meetups at The Broken Leash Dog Park & Bar and the monthly walks at White Point Garden downtown, give doxie lovers a chance to connect, share stories, and create lasting friendships—both human and canine.

At a recent meetup, dozens of dachshunds scampered around the secure play yard, enjoying the freedom to socialize in a safe and supervised space. 

Owners mingled nearby, exchanging grooming tips, health advice, and plenty of laughter over their dogs’ antics. For new residents or first-time dachshund parents, the atmosphere is welcoming: dogs must be registered and up to date on vaccinations to ensure everyone’s safety.

The community host special events too, like themed meetups and “Weenie Walks,” that celebrate the breed’s unique charm. The group’s social channels keep members up to date and help newcomers feel included, fostering a supportive sense of belonging for both people and pets.

For anyone in Charleston owning a dachshund—or just a fan of their quirky personalities—these meetups offer more than playtime: they’re a chance to join a lively community built on a shared love for one of the world’s most charismatic dog breeds.

The group typically meets the first Saturday of the month at in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The Facebook and Instagram stays up to date on times and location.

Follow on Instagram.

Join the Facebook group.

Interested in learning more? Email: dashshundsofcharleston@gmail.com.

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Community Champions Preservation of Historic Coakley Chapel Park in Hamlin Beach
Grassroots efforts come together to safeguard cultural heritage, natural habitat, and public green space in Charleston County’s newest Historic District

Charleston, SC, August 5, 2025 – Lowcountry Land Trust, a nonprofit committed to preserving Lowcountry landscapes and waterways for current and future generations, is proud to announce the permanent protection of Coakley Chapel Park, a 6.5-acre property located in the heart of the Hamlin Beach settlement community and historic district in Charleston County. The property exemplifies the intersection of cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and access to a central gathering place that has long served the community’s residents.

At the park’s core is the historic Coakley Chapel, originally known as The Meeting House, established by Mr. Sam Coakley in the early 1900s. The chapel quickly became a vital part of Hamlin Beach’s community life, functioning as a prayer house, meeting space, and local resource hub. Moving forward, the chapel will continue to serve as a community gathering space while also providing educational and interpretive programming about the history and culture of the Hamlin Beach Community.

In addition to preserving a part of Hamlin Beach’s cultural heritage, the protection of Coakley Chapel Park secures vulnerable natural habitat, contributes to water quality preservation, and expands open space for public access. The park will serve as a hub for cultural interpretation and education, sharing the history and traditions of Hamlin Beach’s Gullah Geechee roots with residents and visitors alike.

“Coakley Chapel Park represents a rare opportunity to permanently establish community-owned community land in Hamlin Beach by protecting one of the community’s most treasured gathering spaces,” said Sam Seawell, Lowcountry Land Trust’s community lands director. “At the same time, we’re safeguarding important natural habitat and ecological resources for future generations.”

Coakley Chapel Park is the sixth community lands project led by Lowcountry Land Trust, and the fourth within a Charleston County Historic District. When the property’s owners decided to sell, they offered the Hamlin Beach community a chance to purchase the land before listing it on the open market. Understanding its cultural and historical importance, community leaders Cassandra Davis and Myra Richardson reached out to Lowcountry Land Trust for support. The Land Trust led the acquisition to ensure the land was permanently protected and preserved for community use.

The $1.9 million purchase was made possible through the generous support of the Charleston County Greenbelt Program ($1,614,500), the South Carolina Conservation Bank ($300,000), the Gary C. Butler Family Foundation ($60,000), and Atlantic Packaging ($40,000). Notably, members of the Hamlin Beach community—who currently own the land—are donating $85,000 in property value, helping bridge the gap between the purchase price and the appraised value. Lowcountry Land Trust will hold the property during the development phase of the park, after which ownership will transfer to the Hamlin Beach Community Association.

Stay connected by following @LowcountryLandTrust on social media and signing up for their email newsletter to receive the latest updates on conservation efforts and ways to get involved.

ABOUT LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST

Lowcountry Land Trust—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—permanently protects land throughout coastal South Carolina that is foundational to the area’s coastal ecosystem and residents’ quality of life. Having protected over 163,000 acres of land since its founding in 1986, Lowcountry Land Trust is one of the most impactful local land trusts in the United States. More information about Lowcountry Land Trust is available at www.lowcountrylandtrust.org.

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By Mark A Leon

The 1955 Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars stand as a profound chapter in both baseball and civil rights history. This African American Little League team from Charleston, South Carolina, was composed of 14 talented boys—the only all-Black league recognized by Little League Baseball in the Deep South at the time. Their journey to the 1955 Little League World Series intersected with entrenched racial barriers, ultimately leading to a pivotal, if heartbreaking, moment that would leave a permanent mark on the sport and the struggle for racial equality in America.

In the summer of 1955, segregation was still deeply rooted in the American South, despite the previous year’s Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared segregated schools unconstitutional. 

The Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars, under the guidance of President Robert Morrison and Manager Ben Singleton, represented a courageous attempt at integration in youth sports.

When Cannon Street entered the Charleston Little League Championship—composed almost entirely of white teams—all 61 eligible white teams in South Carolina banded together in a massive boycott, refusing to play against the Black All-Stars. 

Officials canceled the tournament rather than allow the team to compete, and similar boycotts followed at the state and regional tournament levels. As a result, the Cannon Street All-Stars were declared city, state, and regional champions by default, despite never being given a chance to actually play on the field against any white opponents.

Little League Baseball’s national leadership, facing what was clearly a public relations and moral crisis, refused requests from white South Carolinians to hold a whites-only tournament. Yet, per Little League’s policy, teams that progressed entirely by forfeit were not eligible to participate in the World Series for the championship title. This technicality prevented the Cannon Street team from officially taking the field at Williamsport, Pennsylvania. 

Instead, the boys were invited to attend the series as honorary guests of Little League President Peter J. McGovern, who poignantly described them as “innocent victims of alien influences that have deprived them of beneficial associations and opportunity to meet and know other boys in Little League Baseball”.

The Charleston community, with support from civil rights activist Esau Jenkins, rallied to raise funds so the team and their chaperones could make the trip north. When the team arrived in Williamsport in August 1955, they were allowed a brief session to practice on the very field where they had hoped to compete. As the All-Stars ran drills before the biggest crowd of their young lives, the spectators—moved by the injustice—started chanting, “Let them play!” But despite the outpouring of support and pleas from coaches and community leaders, the boys were ultimately relegated to the role of spectators, watching others contest a championship that should have included them.

The fallout from the Cannon Street All-Stars’ exclusion was immediate and far-reaching. The following year, seven southern states seceded from Little League, creating an expressly segregated alternative known as “Little Boys’ Baseball, Incorporated,” which eventually became Dixie Youth Baseball. This “second secession”—a reactionary move by segregationists—underscored how youth baseball had become a battleground for America’s racial divide.

The children on that team—Allen Jackson, John Rivers, Carl Johnson, Arthur Peoples, and others—carried the burden of exclusion with them for decades. They were deprived of a fair chance to compete, yet their dignity and composure in the face of injustice became a symbol of the larger civil rights struggle. Major national outlets and historic institutions, from The Boston Globe to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, have since recognized their ordeal as not just one of baseball’s cruelest moments, but also a crucial catalyst in the movement toward integration within American sports.

In the decades that followed, recognition grew. The Cannon Street team was later inducted into Charleston’s Baseball Hall of Fame and, in 2005, was publicly honored for their courage, deferred dreams, and the role they played in the nation’s fight for equality. As the team members grew older, some finally found closure in seeing other Black athletes take the field at Williamsport—doing “the things we could not do in 1955,” as player John Bailey reflected.

The story of the 1955 Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars is not just about baseball, or even just about racism. It is about youth, hope, injustice, and the power of dignity in the face of systemic wrongs. Their journey is a testament both to the pain of deferred dreams and the enduring, inspiring possibility of triumph through nonviolent resistance and community support. Their legacy lives on as a reminder that, sometimes, the most significant victories are not recorded in scorebooks, but in the hearts and minds of those who stand up for justice.

Related: Podcast: 1955 Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars

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CHARLESTON, S.C., June 12, 2025 – Following the success of its 41st annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on February 2, the Charleston Restaurant Foundation (CRF) has donated $125,000 to support local charities and education partners. A check presentation ceremony honoring this year’s beneficiaries was held today at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens. Recipients include Ronald McDonald House, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Coastal Conservation Association, Shriners Hospitals for Children, College of Charleston, Academic Magnet High School, Charleston County School of the Arts and the Culinary Institute of Charleston’s Kathy Britzius Memorial Scholarship.

“For more than 40 years, the Lowcountry Oyster Festival has brought together thousands from across the country to celebrate a distinctive part of Charleston’s rich culinary heritage,” said Charleston Restaurant Foundation President, Jonathan Kish. “But at its heart, the festival is a commitment to giving back – supporting the very community that makes the event possible and ensuring its impact extends far beyond one day each year.”

In addition to the check presentation, festival organizers joined representatives from Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, Lowcountry Land Trust, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Coastal Conservation Association of Charleston and Mount Pleasant Waterworks to expand the commemorative oyster reef behind Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens. Originally established in 2024 on Horlbeck Creek, the reef honors the partnership between the late Willie McRae, longtime owner of Boone Hall, and the late Kathy Britzius, former executive director of the Charleston Restaurant Association, who together helped launch the world-renowned festival more than four decades ago. The reef is part of a broader sustainability initiative to recycle oyster shells in local coastal waters, where they support reef restoration, bolster fisheries, prevent shoreline erosion and help mitigate flooding.

The 42nd annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival is currently scheduled for Feb. 1, 2026. Guests of the world’s largest oyster festival will enjoy over 40,000 pounds of steamed oysters for purchase at market price as well as live music, oyster shucking and eating contests, wine, a selection of domestic and imported beers, specialty cocktails, a children’s area and a food court showcasing a variety of local restaurants. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning in fall 2025.

For more information about the 2026 festival, please visit https://bit.ly/3YlZrTT. 

Charleston Restaurant Foundation 

The Charleston Restaurant Foundation (CRF) mission is to support the charitable deeds of the Lowcountry Hospitality Association, which serves the geographical area of Charleston, South Carolina. Its focus is to advocate for its member restaurants by providing them the resources they need so that their guests can savor and celebrate Lowcountry cuisine. Annual fundraising events enable the CRF to give back to the community that has so generously supported its members. To date, those fundraising efforts have enabled the CRF to donate over one million ($1,000,000) dollars to local charities. 

Photo Credit: Charleston Restaurant Foundation

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Warning Period Begins September 1, 2025

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster today was joined by members of the General Assembly and state agency leaders for a ceremonial bill signing of H. 3276, the South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act. The new law prohibits holding or supporting mobile devices with any part of the body while operating a vehicle.

“Distracted driving has claimed far too many lives and caused countless collisions across our state,” said Governor McMaster. “By signing this bill, we will significantly reduce the number of preventable accidents caused by distracted driving, ensuring more South Carolinians make it home safely to their loved ones.”

South Carolina’s previous texting-and-driving law prohibited composing, sending, or reading text-based communications while driving. The new hands-free law strengthens restrictions by prohibiting a driver from reading, composing, or transmitting any text, email, app interaction, or website interaction on a mobile electronic device. It also prohibits viewing movies, video games, or participating in video calls while driving. 

A “mobile electronic device” includes a cellular telephone, portable computer, GPS receiver, electronic game, or any similar stand-alone electronic device that is used to communicate, display, or record digital content.

“There are life-and-death reasons to hang up the phone. Just a few seconds can lead to tragedy,” said Representative Bill Taylor. “Over the years, education and advocacy have made driving under the influence a cultural taboo, and my hope is that distracted driving will soon be viewed the same way – reckless, dangerous, and utterly socially unacceptable.”

Violations carry a fine of $100 for a first offense. Subsequent offenses within a three-year period will result in a $200 fine and the addition of two points to the driver’s record. 

“We see more injuries and lives lost from distracted driving than from DUIs,” said Representative Tommy Pope. “We must break the habit, because it is taking lives and harming our citizens. If we can deter people from driving while distracted, we can prevent tragedy.”

Exceptions to this hands-free law include drivers who are lawfully parked or stopped, using a device in voice-activated or hands-free mode, using a mobile device for audio content like navigation, music, or podcasts without holding it, or reporting traffic accidents, hazardous conditions, or medical emergencies to a public safety official. 

The bill goes into effect on September 1, 2025, with a 180-day warning period to allow drivers time to adjust before full enforcement begins on February 28, 2026. 

“It is important to know the troopers and officers of the Department of Public Safety, working with our local law enforcement partners, will strictly enforce this law,” said S.C. Department of Public Safety Director Robert Woods. “By requiring people to put their phones down and to keep their eyes on the road, we are confident this law will prevent collisions and save lives.”

For additional information on the law, visit scdps.sc.gov/handsfree. 

Source: South Carolina Office of the Governor

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) unveiled designs for the state’s new driver’s licenses and identification cards.

The updated cards, which will begin rolling out this fall, showcase the Statehouse, the Palmetto Tree and Crescent from the state flag, the state flower – Yellow Jessamine, state bird – Carolina Wren, and state reptile – Loggerhead Sea Turtle.

The new design features more than 40 advanced security features and a new production process that incorporates laser engraving technology. These updates enhance durability and provide greater protection against counterfeiting and identity theft.

Because of the significant enhancements reflected in the new card, the SCDMV is transitioning to a centralized card issuance process using facilities certified for secure credential production — a method already used by 45 other states, the District of Columbia, and several federal agencies. 

While customers will still visit SCDMV branches in person to apply, test, and provide documentation, they will now receive a temporary certificate on-site, instead of receiving their license or ID card at the branch office. Customers will subsequently receive their license or identification card in the mail in seven to fifteen business days.

Temporary certificates are valid for up to 30 days and can be used for driving, voting, and identification where accepted. Expiring cards will be returned with a hole punch and can still be used as photo ID, where accepted, until the new card arrives. A QR code on the temporary certificate allows customers to track the status of their new card through production and mailing. 

The SCDMV will begin piloting the new cards and issuance process in late August at two Midlands locations: Columbia (Shop Road) and Lexington. A full statewide rollout is expected later in the fall.

The agency wants to stress the following points with customers:

• No action required for current cardholders — all currently issued South Carolina licenses and ID cards remain valid until their listed expiration dates.
• Applies to all SC license types – the new card design applies to all current types and classes of South Carolina licenses and ID cards which will still be offered as both REAL ID compliant cards and Not For Federal Use (non-REAL ID compliant) cards.
• Don’t wait until the last minute to get your new license — allow time for mail delivery when renewing. SCDMV sends customers renewal notices by mail 90 days prior to the expiration of their current card to help with timely renewal and customers can continue to renew their license or identification card online if eligible. 
• No price change — the cost of new licenses and ID cards remains the same and is among the lowest in the Southeastern U.S.

For more information and to view a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the new card design and process, visit the SCDMV webpage at https://scdmvonline.com.

Charleston, South Carolina is one of five cities where Netflix’s hit reality show “Love is Blind” is currently casting singles. Other cities in the search mix include Philadelphia, PA, Austin, TX, St. Louis, MO and New Orleans, LA.

Kinetic Content Casting announced announced earlier this week where they are seeking willing participants for the massively popular love experiment. 

“Attention all singles!! The Love is Blind casting team is actively accepting applications in five new cities! Tell your friends, family and loved ones who are ready to take the ultimate leap of faith to apply at the link in our bio!” the Instagram post reads.

Click HERE to complete an application of interest.

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When Libby inherits a wrecked 1961 Rolls Royce, she sets off on a journey to reassemble the car and pieces of the past her father left behind. In honor of her Alabama roots, she names the car after Zelda Fitzgerald. A little broken herself, Libby finds herself with a new understanding of marriage and family. Based on the real-life experiences of Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, Zelda in the Backyard is a story of love and loss, and all the roads in between.

Zelda in the Backyard is powerful tour de force that will take you on a spectrum of emotion and enjoyment as you follow Libby through her Southern roots with a little help from a 1961 Rolls Royce named Zelda.

The following dates are available. Click HERE for tickets. For one night, Saturday, August 9 you can purchase a streaming ticket for $18.00 and watch from the comfort of your home. Click HERE to purchase a streaming ticket to the August 9th performance.

• Thursday, July 31 at 7:30pm 
• Friday, August 1 at 7:30pm 
• Saturday, August 2 at 7:30pm 
• Thursday, August 7 at 7:30pm 
• Friday, August 8 at 7:30pm 
• Saturday, August 9 at 3pm 
• Saturday, August 9 at 7:30pm 
• Thursday, August 14 at 7:30pm 
• Friday, August 15 at 7:30pm 
• Saturday, August 16 at 3pm 
• Saturday, August 16 at 7:30pm

Reminder: Pure Theatre provides FREE off-street parking in downtown Charleston, SC

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