Charleston Daily - Seeking all the beauty that is Charleston, South Carolina

Experience Life One Billion Years Ago Right in the Heart of Charleston (And It’s Free)

January 22, 2017

by Charleston Daily 2 Comments

By Mark A. Leon

Every wonder what the Earth looked like at the beginning or what life would have been like 500 million years ago? Ever really put your life in perspective looking at the big picture? Ever want to be face to face with a Giant Bear or Killer Fish? All these can come true right in the heart of downtown Charleston, SC and the College of Charleston at the Mace Brown Natural History Museum.

In case you didn’t notice in the title, it is free.

From 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM Daily (Except Wednesdays), you can experience 3 Billion Years of Evolution in one remarkable exhibit. Some may think this is great for just the kids and these people will be mistaken. This exhibit caters to children, students and adults alike. It is situated in two rooms on one floor so if you are worried about the attention span of the little ones, you have no need to fret. This is a small museum, but filled with so many fascinating artifacts and knowledge.

If you are a local or a tourist, we encourage everyone to experience one of the greatest collections in the city. This museum will educate, excite and tap into your inner curiosity about existence and co-existence.

If we didn’t peak you interest, follow us through this gallery of images and see for yourself how much fun you can have at the Mace Brown Natural History Museum located at 202 Calhoun Street, across from Addlestone Library

Now go discover your inner Indiana Jones.

GALLERY: Forgotten Charleston – Images of a City Still in Decay

January 21, 2017

by Charleston Daily 1 Comment

By Mark A. Leon

While the peninsula is thriving with record numbers of tourists, new high end retail and restaurant neighbors, robust housing prices and hotels and boutiques popping up annually, it is easy to see that sheltered in the thriving Historic Charleston district is a city that is still suffering from the pains of poverty and infrastructural decline.

There are spots of Charleston that resemble poverty stricken Argentina or Camden, NJ more than the majestic Biltmore Estate.

One of the missions of Charleston is one community. That is a promise made by our leadership and a commitment we stand behind. Sometimes words and actions don’t always find their way to a cohesive partnership.

We wanted to share some images of Charleston that you may not see in your everyday journey’s or perhaps you just turn a dumb eye. It is important to bring attention to the fact that we have serious infrastructure concerns, flooding and a growing separation point between the wealthy and the poor.

Charleston Remembers: Free The Charleston Five! 17 Years Later

January 21, 2017

by Charleston Daily 1 Comment

By Mark A. Leon

On January 20th, 2000, a protest on the Charleston, SC sparked a police riot and got the attention of a nation. Seventeen years later, we remember the five individuals that became the center of the protest, riot and trial. This was an event where class struggles and racism came together for one explosive chain of events. The trial coined a vocal moment called, ‘Free The Charleston Five’.

In January 2000, after a march on Colombia, SC 3 days earlier to lower the Confederate flag from the State Capital, 150 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1422 held a militant picket to protest the use of non-union labor by a small, renegade shipping line on the Charleston docks. The demonstration soon escalated into a violent face-off between authorities numbering over 600 and the workers, five of whom now faced trial for felony rioting charges in what has become one of the most closely-watched Southern labor battles.

Jason Edgerton, Elijah Ford Jr., Kenneth Jefferson, Ricky Simmons and Peter Washington Jr. were tried on federal charges of “felonious riot.” Considered by many as targets of a racist anti-union assault aimed at the heart of labor, as the bosses seek to break a key outpost of unionism in the South: Charleston, the East Coast’s second largest port. At the time, only 4% of South Carolina was unionized.

Freeing the South Carolina dock workers became a national and international cause, and eventually the state backed down, agreeing to release them on misdemeanor charges. ILA Local 1422 has continued to be a vital center for community action in the area, including serving as a meeting ground for the Charleston Black Lives Matter movement after the police shooting of Walter Scott in April 2015.

Today, with the Boeing anti-union activism in South Carolina, Walter Scott, Emanuel AME and smaller unspoken incidents, it appears, we may not have moved much in the last seventeen years, other than becoming a little more peaceful in our feelings and actions.

Excerpt of Article in The Internationalist, June, 2001:

“Three days before the police riot of 20 January 2000, ILA Local 1422 participated in a march of tens of thousands in Columbia, the state capital, demanding that the Confederate flag be taken down from above the statehouse. The brutal attack in Charleston was in good part a “payback” from the racist state government. Yet the protest against the hated flag of slavery and KKK terror was exploited as a vehicle by the capitalist politicians of the Democratic Party – the same party of racism and exploitation that put the flag there in 1962 as a threatening show of hatred of the civil rights movement against Jim Crow segregation. In response to the protests, a “compromise solution” backed by Governor James Hodges and Charleston mayor Joseph Riley, Democrats elected with union backing, moved the racist banner from the top to the front of the building.

South Carolina labor does the legwork for the Democrats, and in return gets kicked in the teeth. After the longshoremen helped elect Hodges governor, he nominated Local 1422 president Ken Riley to the Port Authority, that is, to serve as a “labor statesman” helping the bosses administer port workers’ exploitation. The maritime companies said no way – and the nomination was promptly withdrawn. The longshoremen, together with a range of “progressive” groups, responded by picketing the state Democratic Party in Columbia. Yet in Charleston, the Local 1422 union hall doubles as Democratic headquarters! Now the Republicans seek to ram through a bill, known as the “Riley Act,” banning “card-carrying” unionists from serving on state boards so that, in the words of lieutenant governor Harvey Peeler, “the right-to-work foundation of our pro-business climate is never again compromised by union politics.”

Today, the two Carolinas boast the lowest rate of unionization in the entire United States: just above 4 percent. South Carolina is one of two states that do not comply with the federal minimum wage law. Low-wage, non-union labor has been the attraction for “run-away shops” including from France (Michelin tires) and Germany (BMW and others). Seeing themselves as born-again plantation overseers, the capitalist authorities have a special hatred for black longshore unionists who are a nucleus of labor organization in this state, where attempts to drive workers into virtual slave-labor conditions are cynically called “right-to-work” laws.”

Read more about the history and politics of the Charleston Five Incident: Facing Flag Article ‘Flashback: The Charleston Five and the black struggle for justice’ (2015) and The Internationalist Article ‘Defend the Charleston Five!’ (2001)

Lowcountry AIDS Services Receives Grant to Expand HIV Testing, Education Program in Rural, High-Risk Communities

January 19, 2017

by Charleston Daily 1 Comment

Media Release: NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Over the next 12 months, Lowcountry AIDS
Services will be expanding its HIV testing and prevention efforts into
rural areas of Berkeley and Dorchester counties as well as into
high-risk areas of Charleston. To help fund the program, LAS has
received a $35,400 grant from the Roper Saint Francis Physicians
Endowment.

In a partnership between the Medical Society of South Carolina and
Coastal Community Foundation, the endowment provides annual grants to
nonprofit organizations for the express purpose of improving health,
wellness and access for tri-county area residents. The grants committee
focuses on four community health needs, including access to services and
coverage for uninsured and underinsured. The committee also gives
priority to emerging needs in the community.

Lowcountry AIDS Services’ expansion highlights both of those areas.
The Charleston region has been identified by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention as an “emerging community” for its high rate
of HIV infections and AIDS cases. LAS identified a significant increase
in new HIV infections in 2015 with an almost 200 percent year-over-year
infection rate. Additionally, IV drug use, especially with opioids, has
been increasing nationwide, with rural areas hardest hit and adding risk
for further HIV infections.

HIV testing in rural communities helps LAS reach audiences that are
rarely offered HIV tests through their medical interactions and allow
for dissemination of educational information to help rural residents
make more informed decisions related to their sexual health.
Additionally, targeted, high-risk populations need increased
opportunities for access to testing and educational programming in
communities with reduced access to healthcare, lower income and higher
prevalence, such as jails and homeless shelters.

The funding provided by the Roper Saint Francis Physicians Endowment
will complement and expand LAS’ existing testing, outreach and HIV
prevention education which is funded through Trident United Way, the
S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and private donors.

Program expansion provided by this grant will allow LAS to go beyond
performing free testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted
infections at its office in North Charleston four days a week. LAS
expects to reach an additional 20 percent by hosting testing events and
programs in areas outside its office – that equates to about 240 or
more additional individuals who will be tested and more than 1,000
people will receive educational materials and safer-sex materials to
help decrease potential for HIV and STI infections. All newly diagnosed
HIV-positive individuals identified through expanded testing will be
linked to medical care within 30 days.

LAS will add a part-time testing and prevention specialist to perform
off-site testing and prevention services two to three times per week.
These testing events will focus on partnerships with more than 20 rural
health clinics, in-community health providers, wellness clinics and
commercial pharmacies.

“In 2015, our agency identified 33 percent of the new HIV infections
from the entire statewide pool of those found by community based
organizations, even though we only cover about 15 percent of the state
population within our service area,” said Bradley Childs, LAS
executive director. “We know the need is great in our community and we
have to expand our outreach efforts. We are grateful to the Roper Saint
Francis Physicians Endowment for this funding so we can continue to help
even more individuals and connect them to medical care.”

About Lowcountry AIDS Services
Lowcountry AIDS Services is nonprofit organization serving men, women
and children living with HIV/AIDS in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester
counties. LAS provides case management, access to medical care, housing
assistance, financial assistance, nutritional assistance and legal
assistance along with an array of other supportive services to hundreds
in the Charleston area. LAS also works to prevent this epidemic through
education, media campaigns, community outreach and free, daily HIV/STD
testing. For more information, visit aids-services.com .

Lowcountry AIDS Services on Social Media

Facebook: facebook.com/LowcountryAIDSServices
Twitter / Instagram: @LowcountryAIDS

A New Zealand Couple Share Their Special Story of Their Time in Charleston, SC

January 19, 2017

by Charleston Daily 2 Comments

By Jhovaan Reinds

Hello Charleston

And thanks for having us in your town!

Four years ago, in New Zealand, my husband and I got the email. ‘You’ve been selected for further processing for the United States Diversity Visa’. We freaked out, and went to our local bar. We were not big shots. I worked in a picture framers and he manned the phones for a health insurer. We’ll never get this opportunity again, we said. Let’s do it!

Today, I write to you from the beautiful James Island. We’ve been here for one week, staying with some very patient and loving locals. Squirrels chat outside in the warm sun under a gorgeous blue sky. Are we sure its winter here? This is not winter where I’m from!

People wave at us from the road edge while they push strollers and walk dogs. There are no sidewalks here but the residents seem happy to share their front yards with the public. From the trees hangs a beautiful moss, making them look cuddly and inviting. Until my host points out that bugs live in there and to not touch it.

We’ve seen Folly Beach, our first glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a stunningly calm cobalt colour in comparison with the Pacific. I’ve seen my first dolphin in person, hanging out with huge pelicans begging for shrimp from the trawlers at Shem Creek. We’ve walked along the waterfront, admiring the historic buildings and famous Pineapple Fountain. We’ve taken the time to discuss the engineering feats of the Ravenel and Don Holt bridges. The Angel Oak in Johns Island has awed us and provided much quiet contemplation in the company of curious, laughing children.

What has really struck us though, is the hospitality of the people. Whether in Cory’s Grilled Cheese on Maybank, or Queology in downtown, or The Mill in Park Circle, everywhere we go we are treated as friends. That’s different for us, and knowing that a kind, helpful person is waiting to help with coffee and ‘biscuits with grits’ makes waiting at the DMV all the more worth it.

So thank you again, Charleston. We are looking forward to getting to know you more, and contributing to your vibrant community. You have special people here and a care for your heritage like nothing we’ve seen before. In the meantime, we are available for car washing 7 days a week (well, I might send the husband! He’s great with a sponge).

Yours for the indefinite future.

Jhovaan and Nicholas.

Charleston, SC Named #1 for 5 Beautiful Cities for a Valentine’s Day Getaway – Southern Illinoisan

January 16, 2017

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Southern Illinoisan and Cassie Sheets has recently published an article on the five beautiful places to spend a Valentine’s Getaway. On this list is Sedona, AZ, Napa Valley, CA, Nashville, TN, Naples, FL and number 1 on the list is Charleston, SCIf you want to do something special for your significant other this Valentine’s Day, an extended weekend trip in a romantic city is the perfect gift. Whether you’re celebrating decades together, you’re ready to pop the question, or this is your first Valentine’s Day as a couple, these beautiful cities are full of romantic spots.

1) Charleston, SC

Charleston’s historic antebellum houses, cobblestone streets, and Southern charm make this beautiful city the perfect Valentine’s Day getaway. Take a Palmetto Carriage ride through downtown Charleston, see a show at Dock Street Theater, stroll under centuries old oak trees draped with Spanish moss in Battery Park, or drive to Sullivan’s Island to watch the sunset. Downton Charleston has a bustling restaurant scene, with fresh from the dock seafood, high-end steakhouses, and casual outdoor cafes to suit any taste and budget. Charleston’s numerous boutique hotels and inns are the most romantic places to spend a long weekend.

Check out Charleston lodging options.

2) Sedona, AZ

The scenic city of Sedona is known for its surreal red rock formations, gorgeous hiking spots, boutique shopping, art scene, and restaurants. Nature loving couples can spend their Valentine’s Day hiking through the breathtaking Oak Creek Canyon. Book an evening with professional astronomers at Sedona Star Gazing, or see the city from above in a hot air balloon. Sedona is also packed with day spas, winery tours, and art galleries. Visit the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village for outdoor shopping clustered between a collection of Spanish-style buildings, or stroll through The Gallery District for more restaurants and world-class galleries. Affordable and mid-range hotels as well as luxury resorts are available for travelers.

Check out Sedona lodging options.

3) Napa Valley, CA

What could be more romantic than vineyard tours and wine tastings on Valentine’s Day? The town of Napa is the most cosmopolitan in the 35-mile-long Napa Valley, and boasts a walkable downtown with shops, restaurants, and over 200 wineries. For foodies, the tiny town of Yountville is a must, with restaurants by Thomas Keller, Bob Hurley, and more. Soak in the hot springs in Calistoga, or shop chic boutiques in St. Helena. Travelers have their pick of budget friendly hotels, five-star resorts, and unique bed and breakfasts. With a handful of quaint towns surrounded by gorgeous scenery, a romantic getaway to Napa Valley is the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day.

Check out Napa Valley lodging options.

4) Naples, FL

Escape the cold this Valentine’s Day with a beautiful beach vacation in Naples. Watch the sun set along the warm gulf waters, enjoy a sailing trip, or stroll through an ancient cypress forest in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. For shopping, dining, and nightlife, hit Fifth Avenue South. Naples also boasts dozens of spas where you can relax together with a couples massage. Book a room at a luxury resort just steps away from the beach, or plan a budget friendly getaway at an affordable hotel.

Check out lodging options in Naples.

5) Nashville, TN

Nashville is the idea city for music lovers on Valentine’s Day. With over 150 live music venues, couples are sure to find something they love. Start with a stroll down Broadway, called Honky Tonk Highway for the dozens of clubs and lounges that line each side of the street. On Lower Broadway, you’ll find more live music and drinks, and a turn onto 2nd Avenue will place you in the middle of the city’s best blues and jazz clubs. Buy tickets for a concert at the Ryman Auditorium, or see a show at the legendary Grand Ole Opry. Nashville is also packed with art galleries, boutique shopping, and restaurants. Couples will find a range of great dining options, from hip brunch spots to barbecue joints. Travelers can book a room at affordable, mid-range, and luxury hotels in the middle of all the action.

Check out Nashville lodging options.

Complete – Original Publication

Everybody has a dream…What’s your dream?

January 16, 2017

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

There you have it.

As working class adults you are witnessing unprecedented times. As many of us are parents, the fear that times may get worse and our children will be suffering the same or worse fate than us a frightful thought. The world in a period of extreme concern. Civil unrest, terrorism, unemployment, poverty and personal struggle have put our dreams on hold.

Then again, some of us never pursue our dreams. We get comfortable in knowing a pay check is coming every week and lose sight on what our true passions are because of the risk. The risk of losing money and falling out of our comfort zone.

As a child, we all dream about being something amazing. Then we grow up, work 9-5 Monday through Friday and drink beer watching our athletes achieve all their goals. Is that the legacy you want to leave behind?

Why are we holding back our dreams?

There are many success stories I have heard in the last few years about people leaving their jobs and starting their own businesses or moving to remote locations to starting something amazing. One of the things that makes every human unique is the talents, courage and the compassion we are all dealt at birth. Harnessing these qualities and translating them into something that is fulfilling, memorable and reflective is what so many of us lack.

We take comfort in:

1. Income – The ability to pay our bills
2. Following – Living vicariously through the lives of our favorite celebrities and trends
3. Routine – Having the comfort of going to the same places and seeing the same people
4. Low risk – Not taking too many chances or risks in our lives
5. Technology – Why would I put that in there? Easy: Technology makes life easier and more efficient.
That does not always mean better.

What would it take to throw it all away?

I hear stories of people traveling around the world, moving to Alaska and starting a band, climbing to the clouds, writing the great novel, helping children around the world find homes and families, run community gardens so everyone can have a nutritious meal or volunteering so that everyone has a fair chance at life.

That is only the tip of the iceberg.

Unfortunately, these are isolated stories. Stories of inspiration for us to glance over on our social communication channels but not absorb and understand.

Life is a continuous path of education and learning. Through shared experiences we become stronger. In this strength we find personal fulfillment and greatness.

What are you waiting for?
I’m talking to all of you.
Find it in yourself. Do not hold back. Never look to your past and say to yourself, “I never tried”.

Is that what you want?

Take some time and think really hard about your life and if you can answer the question, “Am I happy and where I want to be?” with a positive answer, then you are on the right path.

If not…..

James & John's Islands, SC - Photography

Amazing Aerial Drone Photography and Video of Charleston, SC

January 14, 2017

by Charleston Daily 9 Comments

We have compiled some of the finest in drone photography and video of the Charleston area to share with you. Enjoy these remarkable looks from up above.

Photography

Kiawah Sanctuary - East Coast Aerial Productions — Kiawah Sanctuary – East Coast Aerial Productions

Cooper River Bridge - Nicholas Skylar — Cooper River Bridge – Nicholas Skylar

West Ashley Bridge - East Coast Aerial Productions — West Ashley Bridge – East Coast Aerial Productions

Seabrook - Lowcountry Aerial — Seabrook – East Coast Aerial Productions

James Island - East Coast Aerial — James Island – East Coast Aerial Productions

St. Michael's Church - Vanessak — St. Michael’s Church – Vanessak

Marion Square - Indagare.com — Marion Square – Indagare.com

St. Philips Church - Fololia — St. Philips Church – Fololia

Middleton Plantation - Onlyinyourstate.com — Middleton Plantation – Onlyinyourstate.com

Morris Island Lighthouse - Vive-Media — Morris Island Lighthouse – Vive-Media

Charleston - Vive-Media — Charleston – Vive-Media

Video

Charleston Aerial Provided by Bat Aero

Westfall Fun Videos Presents Aerial Charleston

DJI Phantom 3 Charleston Aerial Footage

Will Milz Aerial Drone Charleston, SC Footage

Kiawah, Summerville and Charleston Drone Over – Unique of Charleston

Charleston, SC Family Photo Album – Turning Back Time

January 13, 2017

by Charleston Daily 3 Comments

The First Baptist Church of Charleston - Early 1900's — The First Baptist Church of Charleston – Early 1900’s

By Mark A. Leon

Once again, we sprinkle the fair dust and say the ancient prayer for time travel. If that doesn’t work, we can enjoy the next installment of Charleston, a look back at yesteryear. We have dug deep and we mean deep in the annuls of time to uncover these historic images of our home. Enjoy family pictures, postcards and we even slipped in a celebrity high school yearbook pictures.

Remembering Charleston – The Way It Was

Look Closely - Charleston Free Library — Look Closely – Charleston Free Library

Beautiful Black and White of the Old Cooper River Bridge

Couple Kissing at IOP - 1973 — Couple Kissing at IOP – 1973

Family at Isle of Palms - 1977 — Family at Isle of Palms – 1977

July 4, 1976 - Isle of Palms — July 4, 1976 – Isle of Palms

Morris Island - Civil War — Morris Island – Civil War

St. Michael's Church - 1864 — St. Michael’s Church – 1864

Summerville, SC - 1830's — Summerville, SC – 1930’s

Charleston Map Cover Page - 1862 — Charleston Map Cover Page – 1862

Western Sizzlin Ad - 1980's — Western Sizzlin Ad – 1980’s

College of Charleston Women - 1920's — College of Charleston Women – 1920’s

Willton Bluff Plantation (Charleston County) - 1920's — Willton Bluff Plantation (Charleston County) – 1920’s

African American Workers in Charleston - 1879 — African American Workers in Charleston – 1879

Darius Rucker - High School Yearbook — Darius Rucker – High School Yearbook

St. John Hotel - Meeting Street — St. John Hotel – Meeting Street

4 Wheel Parts New Store in Charleston, South Carolina Staging Grand Opening Celebration

January 12, 2017

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Press Release: 4 Wheel Parts, the global leader in
off-road performance product sales and installation, will hold a Grand Opening celebration this
Saturday, January 14 at its new store location in Charleston, South Carolina. The all-day event is
free to the public and will cater to area off-road, truck and Jeep enthusiasts with exclusive discounts
on top aftermarket products, trucks and Jeeps on display and hourly giveaways culminating in a $1,000
4 Wheel Parts shopping spree grand prize.

Charleston will be the first 4 Wheel Parts location in the state of South Carolina. “We’ve posted on social media and with our around the area letting folks know that 4 Wheel Parts is coming to Charleston, people have been excited to hear the news,” said Steve Baxster, Assistant Manager of the Charleston store.

Attendees will experience a family-friendly atmosphere with access to premium truck, Jeep, SUV and UTV products from prominent manufacturers including MHT Wheels, Fab Fours Bumpers, Rigid Industries and ARB 4×4 Accessories. ASE-certified 4 Wheel Parts technicians will be onsite performing installations with exclusive pricing on select products purchased at the Grand Opening celebration.

“We have door crasher specials on 4×4 parts and accessories, local truck and Jeep clubs attending, with 103.5 WEZL Country station broadcasting live in the morning and then Classic Rock station Q-104.5 afterwards,” said Charleston Store Manager Vance Bruce. The state of the art facility features an innovative design with hands on access to popular products along with service bays for installations and repairs.

“4 Wheel Parts is excited to have our first new store of the new year open in the Charleston region,” said 4 Wheel Parts President and CEO Greg Adler. “Expanding our retail footprint and developing our relationship with the off-road community in South Carolina is a win for our company and the avid off-road enthusiasts along with those who are looking to customize their Jeep or truck there.”

The new location joins 4 Wheel Parts’ lineup of retail stores across the United States and Canada, which currently total 77. The Transamerican Auto Parts’ Jacksonville, Florida distribution center will serve the Charleston store.

What: 4 Wheel Parts Charleston, South Carolina Grand Opening Celebration
When: Saturday, January 14 from 9 a.m. 5 p.m.
Where: 1804 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407

About 4 Wheel Parts
4 Wheel Parts is the global leader in truck, Jeep, SUV and off-road performance products. With 77 locations across North America and growing, 4 Wheel Parts Service Centers install all the products they sell. Maintaining the nation’s largest inventory of off-road all-terrain tires, wheels, suspension products and light bars for trucks, 4 Wheel Parts serves customers across the country and around the globe. Life is Better Off-Road”. Visit them at 4wheelparts.com or call toll-free 877-474-4821.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/Rigid_Industries/light_bars_for_trucks/prweb13977941.htm