Silent but Deadly: A Personal Charleston Opioid Addiction Story

April 6, 2018 by 0 Comments
Read More

By Mackenzie Miller

It has crept upon us, and it’s hard to tell who it comes from. No. It’s not what you think. I am referring to the gradual prevalence of opioid addiction that has traversed our nation. With its rising death toll, it has been declared a national epidemic. Dare I say the “T” word. My addiction crept up over the course of eight months after a knee surgery. At first, my doctor prescribed me bottles of Oxycodone (Oxy) for my physical pain. After a while, that pain diminished. What was left was an emotional pain. An emptiness created by my isolation that needed to be suppressed. Oxy was my solution. My doctor kept prescribing it to me as long as I appeared to be in physical pain.

I tried to convince myself that I could stop whenever I wanted. I told myself I would stop once my knee was back to normal, whatever that meant. But deep down, I knew that was a lie. It wasn’t until my addiction starting affecting my job that I noticed my cavalier habit was a sincere problem. The job is usually what goes first. It’s gone after one blink. Plus, the week-long stint in the hospital was an eye opener.

One lesson I learned from this enlightening experience, aside from the obvious, is to choose your friends wisely. I am lucky to have a great group of friends. These loyal friends of mine sprinted into action once they were aware of my problem. I hid it well. When you have friends here and there that don’t all know each other, it makes it easy to slowly withdraw from them. But it didn’t take them long to put the pieces together, noticing all the red flags along the way.

Choose your friends wisely. The ones who will buy tampons for you in the middle of the night. The ones who will drive you to the airport at four in the morning. Keep those around. They are the ones who will be visiting you in the hospital while you are hooked up to two IVs and pissing in a bed pan.

*The name has been changed to protect the privacy of the author

We would like to thank the author for her courage in sharing this story with us.

Sunset Cruise Added to Second Sunday Experience in Charleston

April 3, 2018 by 0 Comments
Read More
CHARLESTON, SC— The Charleston Peninsula Preservation Trust, the group producing 2nd Sunday on King Street, announced today that fans of the event can board the three-masted Tall Ship Schooner Pride at 6 p.m. for a relaxing evening sail in Charleston Harbor and enjoy tasting several unique wines from Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits.
In this two-hour sail, guests will learn the nuances of different fine wines each month, while enjoying light hors d’oeuvres. They will experience the wonder of sailing with Charleston Harbor Tours while the sun sets on the classic 84-foot Tall Ship.
Guests can help hoist the sails if they wish, then sit back in comfort as the wind moves the Schooner Pride through the waters of one of the oldest ports in the country.
Each cruise will feature a tasting of 4-5 wines hand-selected by an expert consultant. Additional wine will be available for purchase by the glass or bottle. The cruises will run monthly through October with varied departure times determined by the time of the setting sun. Tickets are available at https://goo.gl/yuZjgv. Only 40 seats are available for each monthly sail, making the experience more intimate.
Proceeds will benefit Charleston Peninsula Preservation Trust, a 501(c)(3) corporation that produces 2nd Sunday on King Street.

35 Years Ago, Bill Murray Schooled Sarah Jessica Parker on “Square Pegs”

April 1, 2018 by 0 Comments
Read More

Some of you may remember a quirky little high school show from the 1980’s with Jami Gertz, Tracy Nelson and Sarah Jessica Parker by the name of Square Pegs created by Anne Beatts.  The show aired from 1982 to 1983.

Of course you do and for those that don’t, it was like Saved by the Bell, but with a heavier focus on the female experience in high school.  Before we had Smartphones, Instagram, Facebook, Blackberries or chat rooms, we faced life’s challenges up front.  From popularity, to high school torture, to just fitting in, high school was an experience we will never forget. For many, it was those inspirational teachers that shaped who we have become and got us through the daily trials.

On February 14, 1983, the episode “No Substitutions” aired with a special appearance by Bill Murray as Mr. McNulty.  He plays a substitute teacher that turns the school upside down with his crazy antics.  This was prime Bill with all his weirdness and flamboyant energy.

Sit back for the next 24 minutes and 48 seconds and enjoy early and rarely seen Bill Murray in “Square Pegs” and watch how he goes toe to toe with a young Sarah Jessica Parker

14 Great Charleston, S.C. Blog Articles You Should Be Reading

April 1, 2018 by 0 Comments
Read More

Whether you are a tourist of local, we have found some of the best blogs celebrating Charleston, South Carolina that you will need to fill your mind with ideas to last you through the weekend, year or years to come.  Celebrate the cultural, historical, beautiful and festive life that is Charleston.

To all the bloggers, thank you for your dedication and providing some great area content.

Happy Reading.

Great Charleston, S.C. areas blog articles

Make the most of your vacation or staycation in Charleston by getting versed with these fantastic blogs focused on the memorable city of Charleston, South Carolina.

 

Charleston finds faith in an unlikely place, The Charleston Music Farm

March 30, 2018 by 1 Comment
Read More

By Mark A. Leon

Charleston, South Carolina, known to so many as the Holy City, is decorated with church steeples throughout its majestic skyline. It is a place of recreation and pleasure, but also where so many come to reinforce or restore their faith.

Sometimes, faith can come from the most unlikely places including a music/concert venue and bar. The Charleston Music Farm has witnessed some of the most powerful forces in rock, rap, punk, funk, bluegrass, folk, pop and country appear on stage over the years. Yet, every Sunday at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, it is converted to a house of worship for families, students, visitors and homeless. It is a haven, without prejudice or judgement. The City Church partners with this venue to create a setting unlike most houses of worship you will ever see.

Across the street at the museum, a daycare is run to keep the young and rambunctious youngsters at bay while the parishioners spend 90 minutes in song, prayer and community.
At the end, they are released to the arms of their loving parents with smiles and warmth.

As you enter the building, you hear a young Christian rock band play music from the heart. At the bar, you are greeted with French press coffee and local pastries.

I have often attended services alone, but have never felt alone. During the early part of the services, we are asked to turn to our neighbors, shake hands and offer a warm greeting. It is a way to remind us that we are all here together and for a brief moment in time, it doesn’t matter if we are rich or poor, happy or sad, married or single, but accepted.

The sermons are human, refreshing and pure. From the NFL playoffs to the tragedy at Sutherland Springs, the words are not about preaching a religion, but understanding our place in this world and how we can work together to make it better.

Often, I will look around and think that only seven short hours ago, these floors were packed with beer drinking music lovers screaming the words of their favorite band playing on stage and now we are in a place of peace and reflection. In a way, both emphasize faith and loyalty to a cause, in just slightly different ways.

As my eyes wander around the hall, I am comforted by the vision of students, elderly, families, couples and homeless sitting together in a harmonious place.

The Sunday services at the Charleston Music Farm at 37 John Street in downtown Charleston reminds us that church is not about the physical structure, but the message. The City Church in partnership with the Charleston Music Hall is a place, regardless of your denomination or level of faith, safe for all to come, listen, pray and belong.

Threshold Repertory Theatre Supplies Ample Belly Laughs with “Hand of God”

March 29, 2018 by 0 Comments
Read More

Puppet-Filled Black Comedy is Hilariously Shocking & Definitely Not For Kids

Click to tweet: The insanely hilarious #HandToGod runs at @ThresholdRep April 19 – May 6. Tickets are on sale now: https://bit.ly/2GS4Ev3 #chsarts #chs #chsnews

Charleston, SC – Five-time Tony Award nominated Hand to God, which enjoyed an extremely successful Broadway run, leaving audiences with sore jaws and stomachs (from laughing so hard), is the next show Threshold Repertory Theatre is producing for the Charleston community. The play will open Thursday, April 19 and run through Sunday, May 6. Tickets are on sale now starting at $15. Visit thresholdrep.org to purchase.

Hand to God is written by Robert Askins and directed by Pure Theatre core ensemble member Erin Wilson. After the death of his father, meek Jason finds an outlet for his anxiety at the Christian Puppet Ministry, in the devoutly religious, relatively quiet small town of Cypress, Texas. Jason’s complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door, and—most especially—his mother are thrown into upheaval when Jason’s puppet, Tyrone, takes on a shocking and dangerously irreverent personality all its own. Hand to God explores the startlingly fragile nature of faith, morality, and the ties that bind us.
Show schedule – April 19-21, 26-29, and May 3-6. Performances at 7:30 p.m. (Sundays at 3 p.m.) Box office opens one hour prior to curtain. Tickets available at thresholrep.org or by calling the box office at 843-277-2172.

Media are invited and encouraged to attend and review the show. To RSVP or for more information/artwork, please contact Darryl LaPlante at thresholdrep@gmail.com.

About Threshold Repertory Theatre

Threshold Repertory Theatre exists to inspire and excite the public through the shared experience of boldly visionary presentations of classic and contemporary theatre. We hope to enrich our community by offering creative, challenging and entertaining productions featuring the collaborative work of the talented performers and artists who have chosen to make Charleston their home and by providing participatory theatre-related educational experiences and programs. Through a commitment to excellence, innovation, experiment, and affordable cost Threshold Repertory Theatre hopes to discover and develop a new audience of passionate and engaged theatre-goers.

Crooked Crown Reminds Us of the Way Charleston Used to Be

March 24, 2018 by 0 Comments
Read More

By Mark A. Leon

This story will be a little anecdotal, but will paint a picture of the way life in Charleston was less than a decade ago, when locals wore nothing more than a tee-shirt, jeans and flip flops on Upper King, your best friend was your neighborhood bartender, rent, beer and food were reasonable and faces on King Street were always familiar to you.

Many of us remember the peninsula being void of heavy regulations, sidewalks were not paved with tourists clustering the walk ways, traffic was bearable and a friendly greeting from a neighbor always made your day.  That was a time I remember fondly and last week I was reminded of that once again.

As the newbies know, that world no longer exists, nor have they ever had a chance to experience that small-town intimacy that used to be the staple of Charleston.

On Spring Street, the incredible folks that brought bring us King of Pops opened a small local neighborhood restaurant and bar called Crooked Crown.  We were fortunate not only to dine on Wednesday night, but become a part of a revolving door of friends coming in to celebrate with Sean, our server and bartender who turned twenty great (28) on this very day.

With two rounds of homemade birthday cake, friendly dogs, and neighbors stopping by from upstairs, we felt like extras on the cast of Cheers.

With strangers and new friends toasting one another celebrating the life and times of Sean, I began to reflect, with fondness, a different time when I first moved to Charleston.

Early in the evening, as Sean was sharing a story of a date gone wrong, I noticed one of my favorite Instgrammer and her beautiful dog walking by.  I quickly ran out to say hello and thus, making each other’s day.  This once again, fueled my nostalgia seeing a very familiar face on the street.

The night carried on passed midnight as Sean and I spoke candidly about life, relationships and goals for the future.

We sat outside while Sean had a cigarette and we both indulged in the quiet peacefulness of downtown Charleston.  This was just the right way to end the night.

Seeing a familiar face in the street greeting me with a smile, sharing stories with strangers who truly felt like friends, singing “Happy Birthday” in the bar like a scene in the “Piano Man” video by Billy Joel and just feeling like a true Southern small-town was enough to yearn for the Charleston life so many of us fell in love with, now so long ago.

 

 

 

Earl Grant, College of Charleston agree to 5-year contract extension

March 24, 2018 by 0 Comments
Read More

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — College of Charleston coach Earl Grant has agreed to a contract extension that will tie him to the school for five more seasons.

The school said Friday the contract still must be finalized. The deal will run through 2022-23.

Grant led the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 19 years this March. Charleston hung with Southeastern Conference champion Auburn in the tournament’s opening round before falling 62-58.

Grant led College of Charleston to a 26-8 mark and a Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title this season. The Cougars were 14-0 at home this season.

Athletic director Matt Roberts said Grant has brought excitement and championship basketball back to the school.

Grant said he was honored by the show of support from Charleston and looked forward to keeping the program’s rise going.

CARTA to Launch Hospitality on Peninsula (HOP) Park-And-Ride Lot and Shuttle Operations – April 15

March 22, 2018 by 0 Comments
Read More

CARTA TO LAUNCH HOSPITALITY ON PENINSULA (HOP) PARK-AND-RIDE LOT AND SHUTTLE OPERATIONS APRIL 15

Service will offer extended hours and $5 all-day fee

CHARLESTON, S.C. (March 21, 2018) – The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) Board of Directors today announced that the transit system will launch the Hospitality on Peninsula (HOP) Park and Ride Lot and Shuttle on Sunday, April 15 at 999 Morrison Drive.

The park-and-ride program is the first of its kind on the peninsula and was brought to fruition via a collaborative partnership with the City of Charleston, Charleston County, the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments.

The HOP is targeted at workers in the area’s booming hospitality and food-and-beverage industries – though it is open to all commuters – as way to mitigate downtown parking challenges. There will be approximately 170 spaces available in the lot.

“The HOP park-and-ride service is an important way we are addressing an obvious need of workers in downtown Charleston,” said CARTA board chairman and Charleston city councilman Mike Seekings. “This lot and shuttle, essentially a pilot program that has been developed from scratch, is the first step in a regional strategy to tackle a number of pressing transportation issues, namely parking and congestion.”

Key details regarding the lot and shuttle service include:

  • Hours of Operation: The shuttle will operate from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily, with bus service every 15 minutes. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Cost: The cost to park in the lot is a flat fee of $5 all-day. Once a pass is purchased and displayed on a parked vehicle’s dashboard, commuters can board a HOP shuttle for free.
  • Route: The HOP shuttle will exit 999 Morrison Drive, turn left onto Romney Street, left onto Meeting Street, left onto Broad Street and left onto East Bay Street as it returns to the lot. There will be eight HOP-specific stops on the route, each denoted by a white bus stop sign.
  • Bus Transportation: CARTA will operate the shuttles and the lot itself. Commuters are encouraged to download the Transit app in order to track buses in real-time.
  • Lot Features:

    • Parking attendant on location during all hours of operation
    • Enhanced lighting and security cameras
    • Holy Spokes bike share on site
    • Bike racks available

“We certainly would like to thank the City of Charleston, Charleston County, the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the BCDCOG for their collaboration on this project,” Seekings said. “We’re confident the service will be well-used and look forward to seeing it expand to other locations.”

In addition to the HOP service, Seekings said commuters are also encouraged to explore reduced after-hours fares in City-owned garages and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Government’s recently launched Lowcountry Go commuter services program that offers rideshare matches.

ABOUT CARTA
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) 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 and the CARTA Bus Tracker.

 

FDA issues two-year recall on Piggie Park Enterprises “Maurice’s Southern Gold Honey BBQ Sauce”

March 22, 2018 by 0 Comments

CHARLESTON, SC – The Food and Drug Administration has issued a two-year recall on a notable South Carolina BBQ sauce.

Piggie Park Enterprises Inc. is recalling Maurice’s Southern Gold Honey Sauce manufactured between March 11, 2016 and March 11, 2018.

The FDA says the product included undeclared wheat and soy, which may cause deadly reactions for those who are allergic. It was distributed nationwide and also sold through retail in South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina.

It comes in an 18oz, clear plastic bottle with an expiration date before 3/12/18 with the expiration date on the bottom of the bottle. The bottles have a UPC of 0 75616 54332 6.

The recall began Tuesday after it was found the powdered honey in the sauce contains wheat and soy, and it was not properly disclosed on the ingredients labels.

Consumers who have purchased the sauce are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a refund.  Consumers with questions can call 1-800-628-4273.

Maurice’s father, Joe Bessinger, began the Piggie Park company in 1939 when he opened his own BBQ joint in Holly Hill, according to the company’s website. Maurice’s Piggie Park later opened in West Columbia.

The Bessinger family also has a number of restaurants throughout South Carolina.