New In Charleston

The Largest Cargo Ship on the East Coast Docked in Charleston

Many spectators came out to the Charleston Harbor on Sunday, September 20th to catch a glimpse of the largest cargo ship on the East Coast. The CMA CGM Brazil made its way into the Wando Terminal on Sunday morning, carrying with it over 15,000 containers of retail goods and hardware.

The cargo ship is over 1,200 feet long – the size of two Washington Monuments.

“It’s a big deal for us. It’s something we’ve been working on for several years,” said CEO of South Carolina Ports Authority Jim Newsome.

This docking comes as a result of a new deepening project, which is currently taking place in the Charleston Harbor. At the end of the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2022, the seafloor will be lowered significantly in order to accommodate larger ships.

If you missed the docking of the CMA CGM Brazil, be sure to stay on the lookout for the next big ship to enter Charleston’s harbor!

New In Charleston

Vice President Pence Visits Charleston For Campaign Event

Arriving via plane, Vice President Mike Pence touched down in the Lowcountry on Tuesday, July 21st. His return to town was on behalf of a campaign event held at The Citadel that evening. Rep. candidate Nancy Mace is seeking a seat in the First U.S. Congressional District. Pence came to offer his endorsement for Mace.

While at the event, Pence praised McMaster for his leadership during COVID-19. “I think the American people and people across the state realize that when it comes to a choice between dealing with the pandemic or opening up America it’s not an either-or. We can do both,” Pence said regarding SC businesses reopening.

As well as businesses, Pence believes SC schools can and should safely reopen this fall. On the topic, the VP said, “But we really do believe that is possible to safely reopen our schools. We think that’s in the interest of our kids we think it’s in the interest of working families. And it’s in the interest of America.”

In February 2020, the Vice President visited as a guest of honor at The Citadel 9th annual Patriot Dinner. While there, he received the Nathan Hale Patriot Award.

Featured

South Carolina Lawmakers Scheduled To Meet About New Education Reform

South Carolina’s public education rankings are some of the lowest in the nation.

The Post and Courier recently reported that during the 2017-2018 school year, not even one out of two students in grades three to eight scored “meet expectations” or higher on the state’s accountability test in math or ELA.

This is just one of the reasons why S.C. House Speaker, Jay Lucas, proposed a complete overhaul of the South Carolina school system and made it a top legislative priority.

Some of the changes that were included in the new legislation are pay raises for teachers, the elimination of four statewide tests, and a new “Zero to 20” committee which would monitor and recommend ways to modernize the state’s education system.

While many favor the proposed changes, there are some hesitations. Greenville County superintendent Burke Royster expressed his views on the legislation saying that the “Zero to 20” committee is just another unnecessary level of bureaucracy.

Last week, lawmakers reviewed the legislation and proposed thirteen different amendments of which only five were approved. This week, it will go before the full House, and with an overwhelmingly Republican House, the bill should have no problem receiving a positive vote to move forward in the review process.

After it passes through the House, it will go to the Senate where it is likely to meet more hesitation than in the House. Many Senators agree with Royster and are leaning towards eliminating the “Zero to 20” committee altogether.

To read more on the current state of education reform visit The State.

New In Charleston

Head to Charleston This Weekend for Wine Under the Oaks at Boone Hall Plantation!

Featured Image Credit: boonehallplantation.com

With the holiday season well under way, one of Charleston’s most popular seasonal events is right around the corner. This Sunday, December 2nd, everyone’s favorite antebellum-era plantation is serving up all the wine in the most stunning outdoor setting and we “decant” wait.

From 1pm to 5pm, on the back lawn of Boone Hall Plantation, you’ll find wine samples as well as complimentary bubbles, desserts and oysters at this year’s Wine Under the Oaks event. Boone Hall Farms has even put together a variety of food and wine pairings to be enjoyed throughout the day.

In addition to all the sips and bites, some of Charleston’s finest chefs will be performing wine and cooking demonstrations. Local artists and writers will be represented with artwork displays and local writers will showcase published works at the Authors Village. All the while, you’ll be grooving to live music from local jazz saxophonist Michael Quinn!

Be sure to get a photo in front of the plantation home, as it will be beautifully decorated for the holidays. VIP tables are sold out, but general admission is still available for $55 and includes all of the above festivities.

If the complimentary food and wine isn’t enough, area restaurants will be serving up gourmet selections at reduced prices. Attendees will get access to special pricing on featured wines at the World of Wines retail tent.

It’s the perfect spot to grab that host gift for all of the holiday parties you’ve got coming up. But, if you keep those bottles for yourself, there are plenty of unique gift options from the other specialty vendors.

Keep in mind that this event is limited to guests aged 21 and over. For those of you who are able to attend, this is the perfect kick-off to the holiday season and you’ll likely experience some serious FOMO (fear of missing out) if you are not there!

Tickets are final sale and can be purchased online in advance here or at the gate until they are sold out!

Also, be sure to double check that your tickets are for this event, not regular tours of the plantation! Rain or shine, this is one of the best events in the Lowcountry and the perfect way to kick off the holidays!