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Articles by Rob Byko
Charleston Carifest
Last Saturday, July 1st, Charleston Carifest, an annual event, took place at Brittle Bank Park, marking the beginning of Caribbean American Heritage Month. This vibrant celebration showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean, with a special focus on commemorating The Bahamas' 50 Years of Independence on July 10th. The event attracted a diverse crowd, eager to partake in the festivities and learn about the historical significance of this milestone.
Carolina Day
The Town of Sullivan’s Island celebrated Carolina Day June 24, marking the June 28, 1776, Battle of Sullivan’s Island, when, at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Col. William Moultrie and his troops successfully defended Charleston Harbor against a major British Naval force.
Meet And Greet
Candidates for the Sullivan’s Island Town Council attended a meet and greet event held at the home of Gary Visser and Elizabeth Bjornson April 12. The event was hosted by current Council members Scott Millimet, Justin Novak and Visser. Approximately 35 Sullivan’s Island neighbors attended. The election will be held May 2.
NEW for 12/13: Some news that might surprise you
Charleston Currents #14.07 | Dec. 13, 2021 FINAL ISSUE. Thank you for reading Charleston Currents through the years. Enjoy the kind of writing and community information we’ve been providing by reading the Charleston City Paper online every day.
NEW for 12/6: On education shell game; Protecting democracy; Redistricting
Charleston Currents #14.06 | Dec. 6, 2021 IN BLOOM. It’s the time of year that camellia’s start to bloom, seen here with the marsh of the Ashley River in the background. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo by Andy Brack.
NEW for 11/29: Public comment on 1-526; Knowing, doing, acting
Charleston Currents #14.05 | NOV. 29 2021 IN THIS EDITION FOCUS: Wednesday is last day for public comment on I-526 project COMMENTARY, Brack: Act appropriately (this time) as new surge headed here IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Morris Financial Concepts, Inc. NEWS BRIEFS: S.C. justice leaders react to Brunswick convictions.
NEW for 11/22: On Barbados, henhouse politics, education, Chanukah
Charleston Currents #14.05 | NOV. 22, 2021 PAT ON THE BACK. Hats off to the Charleston Fire Department, which welcomed a dozen new recruits who graduated from its 10-week program of 350 hours of classwork and training. “We welcome our newest firefighters to the CFD family as they enter the next phase of their career,” Fire Chief Dan Curia said in a press statement.
NEW for 11/15: Tax changes; Don’t ban books; New bio; Keb’ Mo’
Charleston Currents #14.03 | NOV. 15, 2021 GRAND OPENING: Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg cuts a ribbon Saturday at opening day of the Port of Call food court on Market Street. At left are owners Thomas Berry (white shirt) and Ryan Kaufmann. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo by Andy Brack.
NEW for 11/8: On Rotary gift; Armory boycott; Flush coffers
Charleston Currents #14.02 | NOV. 8, 2021 LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR. Hats off to the Charleston Animal Society for receiving the 2021 Large Business of the Year Torch Award Nov. 3 from the Better Business Bureau serving Central South Carolina and Charleston. Pictured from left are Charleston Animal Society’s Sean Hawkins and Joe Elmore with the BBB’s Chris Hadley with CAS team members Bryant Taylor, Lisa Pearce and Erin Nosker.
NEW for 11/1: Education race, Johns’s amazing art, DIG SOUTH’s return
Charleston Currents #14.01 | NOV. 1, 2021 VIVID AND MAGNIFICENT. An immense retrospective of the work of contemporary artist Jasper Johns, who grew up in South Carolina, explodes off the walls of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Learn more in Andy rack’s commentary today. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo by Andy Brack. Editor’s Note: Today’s issue marks the beginning of the 14th year of publication of Charleston Currents.
NEW for 10/25: Toxic water; Verify, then trust; Port opportunities
Charleston Currents #13.49 | Oct. 26, 2021 NOVEMBER SHOW. Local artists Brad Carroll of Mount Pleasant and Lee Garrard of Johns Island will be featured Nov. 3 to Nov. 24 in a show at the Park Circle Gallery in North Charleston. Above is a work by Carroll. Check out the Calendar below for more information. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo provided.
NEW for 10/18: New glasses; School-to-prison pipeline; Senate portrait
Charleston Currents #13.48 | Oct. 18, 2021 GOOD MORNING, MORNING GLORY. The rich purple of these morning glories along the West Ashley Greenway enlivened the landscape over the weekend. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo by Andy Brack.
NEW for 10/11: Mattress recycling; Vaccinations; Ariail’s cartoons
Charleston Currents #13.47 | Oct. 11, 2021 IN THE WAY. A telephone pole obviously got in the way of this witch as she was flying around the Byrnes Down neighborhood in Charleston. Area stores are loaded up with candy for Halloween, which will be here before you know it. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo by Andy Brack.
NEW for 9/20: Pride Week, Murdaugh case, pandemic milestones
Charleston Currents #13.44 | Sept. 20, 2021 SWEATY WORK. A team of volunteers from JW Aluminum collected about 75 pounds of trash during the 33rd annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep organized by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and S.C. Department of Revenue. These volunteers collected the trash, which included plastic bottles and aluminum cans, at the Wannamaker North Trail of Charleston County Park near Goose Creek.
NEW for 9/13: COVID-19 update; Birthday letter; Tops in travel
Charleston Currents #13.43 | Sept. 13, 2021] ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER. Well, it’s really a pair of smokestacks along Cooper Street that tower over St. Julian Devine Community Center. But the guy on the ladder must have a great view. Wonder what he’s doing on a Saturday morning. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo by Andy Brack.
NEW for 9/6: Mask up; S.C’s yahoos; RiverDogs to playoffs
Charleston Currents #13.42 | Sept. 6, 2021 BUSY MARKET. Hundreds of people, mostly unmasked, crammed the downtown Charleston market over the weekend as Labor Day celebrations went into high gear. The lack of mask-wearing is scary as the number of COVID-19 cases in the Tri-county area rose about 25 percent over the last week, according to MUSC. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along.
NEW for 8/16: Shelter crisis; Courage and pride?
Charleston Currents #13.39 | Aug. 16, 2021 BUSY. If you’ve been on King Street near Calhoun Street lately, you’ve likely noticed a lot of slow car traffic, thanks to multiple road projects, as well as a lot of foot traffic from shoppers and returning students. With all of this interaction, here’s a reminder to be careful on the streets. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo by Ashley Rose Stanol.
NEW for 8/9: Super-volunteer, henhouse politics, more
Charleston Currents #13.38 | Aug. 9, 2021 REDS, GREENS, PURPLES, YELLOWS. Look at how these fresh vegetables pop at the Charleston Farmers Market. Wow. They look great. For a list of area farmers markets, see our Calendar below. And if you see something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along. Photo by Ashley Rose Stanol.
NEW for 7/19: On Rescue Brew, voting, marijuana, more
Charleston Currents #13.36 | July 19, 2021 FADING RAINBOW. Dusk crept up on this West Ashley rainbow as Sunday drew to a close, but you can still see hints of yellow and rose in the refraction. With humid, hot weather and rainy afternoons over the next month or two, you’re sure to spy another rainbow in short order. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along.
NEW for 7/12: On safe swimming, obscene pay hikes, blood needed
Charleston Currents #13.35 | July 12, 2021 NATIVE AIR PLANT. Spanish moss is one of more than 700 air plants that are members of the bromeliad family and the genus tillandsia. It’s a non-parasitic epiphyte that supported not by soil, but by another plant, such as a live oak. Fun fact: It’s in the pineapple family. Look around. It’s all over the place, particularly during this humid time of the year. Learn more about Spanish moss in Wednesday’s edition of the Charleston City Paper.
NEW for 7/5: New survey, Declaration, more
Charleston Currents #13.34 | July 5, 2021 CURIOUS PROMO. How’s this for a contradiction? Marijuana, as you know, is illegal in South Carolina. In fact, it’s one of only five states where the evil weed is fully illegal, according to this site. Just last week, conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said federal marijuana laws may not be necessary. But take a look at the CARTA bus above.
NEW for 6/28: Counting nature; Carolina Day; Farmers markets
Charleston Currents #13.33 | June 28, 2021 TAKING US BACK. Charleston right-fielder Garrett Hiott (8) slaps a ball toward third base Sunday in a 3-0 RiverDogs win over the Augusta GreenJackets at The Joe in Charleston. The RiverDogs currently have a 31-15 record and are at the top of their division. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
NEW for 6/21: Reveling in Charleston; Big spending; Forum
Charleston Currents #13.32 | June 21, 2021 WATERING THE GARDEN. Air Force Reserve Major Ed Sutton, a West Ashley Realtor, snapped this stunning shot of a big rain storm on a June 15 approach to Charleston International Airport aboard a C-17 Globemaster. At the right bottom, you can see the peninsula. (At right top, you can see heat sensors that keep windows clear.) What a photo! Thanks, Ed! See something you think our readers would enjoy?
NEW for 6/14: On flooding, tailgaters, more
Charleston Currents #13.31 | June 14, 2021 WATER, WATER, GO AWAY. Boy, the rain came down on Saturday, leaving cars stalled and people sloshing along the streets, as this woman on President Street. See more photos and learn more below. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
NEW for 6/7: Naming five cranes; Immunization; Nuclear waste
Charleston Currents #13.30 | June 7, 2021 SHOWING THE COLORS. Mackenzie Snell, a graduate arts journalism student from Syracuse University, snapped this photo last week of a flag flying at Fort Sumter. What a great angle! See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. Copyrighted photo by Mackenzie Snell.
NEW for 5/31: Redux shows open, Heritage Act, big ship
Charleston Currents #13.29 | May 31, 2021 POINTING OUT THE SITES. Local tour guide and historian Damon Fordham, pictured in the red shirt, gives a downtown walking tour to a group of master’s degree students from Syracuse University. The students are working on stories and reviews about Spoleto Festival USA and Piccolo Spoleto Festival that will appear in the Charleston City Paper over the next two weeks. Check out what they’re doing online. See something you think our readers would enjoy?
NEW for 5/24: Mapp wins fellowship; Improve jail safety; Piccolo Spoleto
Charleston Currents #13.28 | May 24, 2021 FUZZY BLOOM.
NEW for 5/17: Tax day; Red snowflakes; More
Charleston Currents #13.27 | May 17, 2021 GET OUT AND SMELL SPRING. Magnolias and all sorts of flowers are blooming. May brings comfortable temperature as we brace for what’s to come — the sweltering humidity that starts with gusto next month. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
NEW for 5/10: Willtown protected; Death penalty; Best of Charleston
Charleston Currents #13.26 | May 10, 2021 A SQUADRON. Charleston photographer English Purcell snapped this photo of this squadron (yes, that’s one of the group terms for these birds) of white pelicans at Bear Island Wildlife Management Area a couple of months back. Learn more about the undeveloped 12,000-acre property in Colleton County. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. Copyrighted photo by English Purcell.
NEW for 5/3: Baseball returns; Governor’s race starts; More
Charleston Currents #13.25 | May 3, 2021 WIDE LOAD. Here’s a picture that shows something often seen around Charleston — a packed wagon of large tourists. We’re happy they’re here. Perhaps they’d be happier — and healthier — by walking. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. Photo by Andy Brack.
NEW for 4/26: Photos of maritime forest; Dumbed-down discourse; More
Charleston Currents #13.24 | April 26, 2021 TAKE A WALK through a maritime forest and you’ll find an abundance of nature’s diversity. Check out the photo essay in this issue by Karen and Rob Byko to see what a now-threatened maritime forest looks like on Sullivan’s Island. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
PHOTO ESSAY: A walk through a maritime forest
Staff reports | With a flash point of the May 4 election on Sullivan’s Island being the future of a maritime forest, here’s a look at nature’s diversity that can be found, day in, day out.
NEW for 4/19: Maritime forest at polls; Thank a teacher; New bridge
Charleston Currents #13.23 | April 19, 2021 RELAXING VISTA. This 2020 photo from Caw Caw Interpretive Center is relaxing, but visiting in person is an even better way to get some mental relief. Learn more about this and other escapes in our calendar below. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. Photo by Andy Brack.
NEW for 4/12: Planting trees; Shame of redistricting
Charleston Currents #13.22 | April 12, 2021 PEACEFUL. Here’s a dock that you can find at a corner of the Penn Center in St. Helena Island in Beaufort County. It’s so peaceful. Nearby is a small cabin built for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But he never saw it because of his assassination in 1968, some 53 years ago. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. Photo by Andy Brack.
NEW for 4/5: On Brookgreen Gardens; Getting a vaccination
Charleston Currents #13.21 | April 5, 2021 DOGWOOD BLOOMS: Easter Sunday is a day you expect to see four-petal dogwood blooms popping in area forests and this week’s holiday didn’t disappoint, as highlighted in these flowers at Brookgreen Gardens in Georgetown County. Check out this week’s photo essay from the gardens in Today’s Focus below. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
NEW for 3/29: Art walk; Vaccinations and virus; More
Charleston Currents #13.20 | March 29, 2021 RELAXING VISTA: Here’s a peaceful marsh scene on a waterway between Wadmalaw and Edisto islands. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
NEW for 3/22: On litter cleanup, open carry, state budget
Charleston Currents #13.19 | March 22, 2021 SPRUNGING. Spring, officially here since this weekend, is popping up all over the place. Despite last week’s strong winds, there is still more pollen — and flowers — to come. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
NEW for 3/15: No-kill grant; Budget reporting; Wienermobile
Charleston Currents #13.18 | March 15, 2021 DOG JOY. Just look at how much the dog in front is enjoying a Sunday night ride through West Ashley. The cyclist didn’t slow down to give us his name and those of the dogs, but the photo seems the perfect tribute to a great spring day. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
NEWS BRIEFS: Wienermobile made Mount Pleasant appearance Thursday
Karen Byko with the Wienermobile. Photo by Rob Byko. By Rob Byko, contributing photographer “THE WIENERMOBILE IS IN TOWN!” Karen Byko shouted excitedly. “One day, if I’m really, really lucky, I will be the driver of this awesomely fabulous vehicle!” For 35 years, my wife’s not-so-secret dream was to one day captain the world-renowned Wienermobile. On Thursday afternoon, the 27’ long wiener with mag wheels and a sports car suspension put in an appearance at Mount Pleasant’s Patriots Point.
NEW for 3/8: On truth-telling, S.C.’s economy, more
Charleston Currents #13.17 | March 8, 2021 STACKED UP. A fleet of shrimp boats is anchored along Jeremy Creek in McClellanville in a photo taken over the weekend by the talented English Purcell of Charleston. It reminds us all how important it is to have a local seafood industry to supply tables with fresh fish and shrimp. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
NEW for 3/1: Open enrollment; Travel itch; Lessons learned
Charleston Currents #13.16 | March 1, 2021 A STROLL AROUND CHARLESTON always reveals beauty. Local photographer Cynthia Bledsoe recently noticed stunning window boxes, such as the one pictured above, along the city’s historic streets. See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
NEW for 2/22: New travel book; Power grab; News briefs
Charleston Currents #13.15 | Feb. 22, 2021 MAYBE IT’S ALL of the rain we’ve had this year, but the season’s crop of camellias has been simply stunning. Get a gander before they fade. Photo by Andy Brack. On a related note, Bob Williams, a 15-year volunteer with Magnolia Plantation and Gardens’ camellia collection, cultivated and registered a new camellia variety. He named it for Isaac Leach, the garden superintendent at the attraction.
NEW for 2/15: Local arts winners; National anxiety reduced; Safe Sounds
Charleston Currents #13.14 | Feb. 15, 2021 Safe Sounds is back. The High Divers will perform May 15 as part of the third series of the Safe Sounds concerts at Firefly Distillery. Check out the lineup in News Briefs below. Photo via Charleston City Paper.
FOCUS: Two dozen cute dogs adopted at Pup Bowl IV
By Rob Byko, contributing photographer | Pup Bowl IV, billed locally as “the most adorable football game ever, was held for three hours Saturday at Mount Pleasant’s Towne Centre. Charleston Animal Society suited up 17 rookie free agents and a handful of older veterans – known affectionately as “retired players. They strutted their stuff in front of nearly 250 people gathered at The Oaks to watch part in the action.
NEW for 2/8: Puppies, Santee Cooper, more
Charleston Currents #13.13 | Feb. 8, 2021 CLICKBAIT. Pictures of adorable puppies like those that participated Saturday in Pup Bowl IV are always welcome. Thanks to contributing photographer Rob Byko for sending along this one and others in the story below.
NEW for 2/1: Remembering Jim Campbell and Hank Aaron; More
Charleston Currents #13.12 | Feb. 1, 2021 A VIEW FROM A BRIDGE. Here’s a look at the city of Charleston from the Pitt Street bridge in Mount Pleasant. Photo by Kitty Barksdale. IN THIS EDITION FOCUS: Remembering Jim Campbell COMMENTARY, Brack: Boyhood hero Aaron continues to inspire IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Morris Financial Concepts NEWS BRIEFS: Charleston Animal Society celebrates 8-year milestone FEEDBACK: Send us a letter MYSTERY PHOTO: Interesting wall CALENDAR: Land trust to benefit from Feb.
NEW for 1/25: On Alterman’s new book; DHEC’s problems; Vaccine rollout
Charleston Currents #13.11 | Jan. 25, 2021 TIMES SQUARE. We love this picture in photographer Jack Alterman’s new book, “My Lazy Eye.” Learn more about the book of pictures from throughout his career — and who from Charleston appears in it — in this issue’s main Focus story below.
NEW for 1/18: King’s prescription; Mindless abortion debate; Mitigation
Charleston Currents #13.10 | Jan. 18, 2021 BEAUTIFUL DAY. Several Lowcountry residents commented on Facebook over the weekend about how lovely the beach has been recently despite chilly temperatures that kept away crowds. Photo by Kitty Barksdale.
NEW for 1/11: On bad driving; Tim Scott’s future; Black Ink
Charleston Currents #13.09 | Jan. 11, 2021 THE GIANT LIVES. You can still find some of these old stickers on the backs of street signs around Charleston. Not sure what it is? Send us an email to learn more: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
NEW for 1/4: On Botany Bay, Lowcountry beauty, more
Charleston Currents #13.08 | Jan. 4, 2021 HAPPY 2021! This picture sums up something that unites everyone — thanking the heavens and clouds that 2020 is gone, as this 3-year-old boy did in recent days on an empty Folly Beach. Whew, that was a year. Glad it’s gone. Here’s to a great 2021. Photo by Ruta Smith, Charleston City Paper.
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