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Fishermen line the Folly Beach Fishing Pier on Saturday during the last of the park district's summer fishing tournaments. Top prizes were won for a 3-pound, 3-ounce red drum in the Big Fish category and a 10-ounce bluefish in the King Mackerel category.
| A Classical Encounter Performing works by Faure, Piazzolla, and Rubinstein  Sunday, September 27th, 2009 2:00pm-3:00pm Admission $10.00 The City Gallery at Waterfront Park 34 Prioleau Street Charleston, SC |
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Jonathan Green returns to exhibit his paintings at the 2009 MOJA Arts Festival, twenty years after his first MOJA Arts Festival exhibition was interrupted by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
Included in the exhibition are paintings by three artists mentored by Jonathan Green. The artists, Jean Dornevil, Reynier Llanes, and Juan Diaz each have paintings in the exhibition in addition to several stoneware pieces by Willie Leftwich. Green believes in the importance of giving back to the community and helping other artists improve their careers.
The Post and Courier
Queen Quet stands with a stamping stick, which is used during The Shout and other spiritual rituals of the Gullah / Geechee culture.
Title: Chieftess and head-of-state for the Gullah/Geechee Nation
Residence: St. Helena Island (and Charleston on many work days.)
Hobbies: Reading, writing, dancing and enjoying the beauty of the Gullah/Geechee Nation's people and lands.
Age: Ageless.
Family: All mi Gullah/Geechee peepol.
Q: You became the first chief-tess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation nine years ago. Why did the Gullah/Geechee people need a queen?
A: The Gullah/Geechee people needed a leader and someone that would be an official spokesperson and leader in order to ensure that their needs were discussed. Many people were focusing on civil rights and local laws, but not on human rights and making sure that the language, culture and land were retained so that the culture would be continued from Jacksonville, N.C., to Jacksonville, Fla. People would generally look at an issue where they were when it suddenly came up, but did not try to unify all of our people so that we can work together and sustain ourselves from our own resources. That is actually our tradition. As a result, many families had been and were being displaced by laws that were leading to the displacement of Gullah/Geechees.
Q: How have people, both Gullah and Geechee people and outsiders, responded to you?
A: I have had mixed responses, most of them due to people not being educated on international law or history. Many people do not realize that the right to self-determination is a human right. Nor did they know that there were international laws that are meant to protect linguistic and ethnic minorities. So academics have attempted to incorrectly define the practice of self-determination that Gullah/Geechees took and have written inaccurate analyses of my official position because they are focused on things that they are "used to" and not that which is a precedent.
I also have encountered people that still did not want to accept that their own people could designate and elect their own leader. Most Gullah/Geechees that still practice our traditions have been very happy to know that we have gotten this far and applaud me. There are those that would prefer for our people to be tools of tourism and entertainment only, and they tend to have negative statements to make or inaccurate conclusions that they draw. However, I am thankful that God has had me among many forward-thinking people that are Gullah/Geechee and non-Gullah/Geechee that realize that my focus is for the uplifting of ALL Gullah/Geechee people and the realization of the protection of human rights for ALL people. So if there are those that work against that by not responding well to me, I simply continue to do what God has called me to do, and I pray for those folks.
Q: What would you like people to know about the Gullah/Geechee culture?
A: That Gullah/Geechee culture is a living culture that one has to live to fully understand. We descend from people of intellect and strength that continued to maintain their culture through determined hearts and faith in God. It is those of us that continue to work TOGETHER in that same spirit that are able to keep our global Gullah/Geechee family alive and the culture continuing within the Gullah/Geechee Nation.
Q: What is the biggest threat to the Gullah/Geechee culture?
A: The biggest threat to the culture is miseducation. Those that are incorrectly informed about what the culture is and what is best for the culture are often those put in positions to pass laws that will deeply affect the lands, waterways and traditions of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. These include those in political positions and those in academic positions. Many of them look only to the same incomplete information that has been published on Gullah/Geechees and then relegate Gullah/Geechees to the position of entities for the sake of tourism dollars without focusing on direct methods of assisting the Gullah/Geechees to empower themselves.
Q: Before you were Queen Quet, you were Marquetta Goodwine. How would your life be different if you had never been crowned?
A: My life would only be different in the sense that I may not have as many people inviting me to different countries with official bodyguards and protection and red carpets being laid out literally for me when I arrive and such. However, I still would have been working on behalf of my people to make sure that my traditions continued and to call together others around the world that want to assist with that process. I was doing that before my enstoolment and I do believe that I am purposed to continue. If I were not the Queen Mother and head of state, I might actually have had this thing that people tell me about, too: vacations.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: For fun, I dance! I dance with friends and family, and everyone loves to dance with me until they have to sit down. I then dance with a whole new set of people. It would be wonderful if others could be part of the circle and feel the energy that I do in the dance.
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I am going to answer this the easiest way that the answer is coming:
When asked about my passion, Gullah/Geechee da de fuss ting wha cum ta mi!
Then when given stipulations on the answer, I have to think, "Hummm, let's see ..."
When I dance, I believe that all see the passion that flows
And they connect to the Godly Spirit that flows.
Seeking God is the greatest passion that I have each day.
That is why I do what I do and why I do them this way.
Ultimately all that I do is to uplift my people and make the world better than it was when I arrived.
I am passionate about making the Universal Declaration of Human Rights a living thing for which we all strive.
Most of all, when folks see the passion coming from me,
It stems from daily knowing I am Gullah/Geechee and blessed to be FREE!
- Kristen Hankla
For the first time in Charleston port history, a cruise ship will set sail once a week, every week, from the passenger terminal -- and sometimes more often than that.
Carnival Cruise Lines
The Carnival cruise ship Fantasy will begin weekly service from Charleston in May.
The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy will embark from the end of Market Street for five-, six- and seven-day voyages to the Bahamas and Key West, Fla., beginning in May. As many as 70 calls per year will more than double the current number of cruises and, by some estimates, inject millions of dollars in direct local economic impact with each of them.
Top port and political leaders excitedly shared the news Thursday from a Waterfront Park pier while curious tourists observed from the nearby oversize swings. Onlookers gazed into Charleston Harbor and over at the freshly painted cruise terminal being prepared for a major overhaul.
Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, said Carnival Cruise Line's decision to make Charleston a home port "is like a down payment" on a growing industry.
"It is a wonderful day in South Carolina. It is a wonderful day in the Lowcountry," said Grooms, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. "It's like a fantasy has come true."
Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, took it one step further: "With that, I'm going to declare the recession over in Charleston, South Carolina."
Let's get busy on that terminal, a column by The Post and Courier's Brian Hicks, published 9/18/09
A city-organized task force in 2004 found that a ship stopping in Charleston spends $1.7 million in supplies from local vendors and State Ports Authority fees, while a ship originating in Charleston spends $2.5 million.
Cruise ships historically account for less than 1 percent of port business and carry onboard only about 1 percent of Charleston's annual visitors. But it's an important 1 percent, as Charleston Mayor Joe Riley pointed out Thursday.
"People come here to take a cruise, and they haven't been to Charleston before, they say one thing: We're coming back," Riley said.
FIRST CRUISE: 1990
BUILT: Helsinki, Finland
COST: $225 million
LENGTH: 855 feet
PASSENGER DECKS: 10
NORMAL PASSENGER CAPACITY: 2,056
CREW SIZE: 920
MORE INFO: About the Fantasy and Carinval Cruise Lines, Carnival web site.
Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, D-Charleston, said the new cruise program also presents an opportunity for local families to sail to tropical climes without driving to another state first.
Carnival's president and chief executive issued a statement for the occasion, saying Charleston's central position along the East Coast factored into the company's decision.
The Port of Charleston anticipates 33 total cruise calls this year, including four Carnival calls. The port received 49 ships last year and 44 in 2007.
Its only customer with a contract, Norwegian Cruise Lines, announced last year that its ship regularly calling on Charleston had been sold to a foreign company. The Norwegian Majesty made its final call this spring.
When John Hassell became the port's interim chief executive in January, he listed a revitalized cruise industry as a priority.
SPA chooses design firm, published 09/16/09
That meant dusting off a 13-year-old plan to revamp the passenger terminal and to transform the prime waterfront acreage surrounding it into a two-story system of shops, lodging and dining.
The 30-year-old passenger facility recently received a fresh coat of paint to cover the rust but remains dramatically outdated and fails to meet post-9/11 security regulations. The Carnival announcement came two days after port staff shared with board members that they had selected urban design firm Cooper, Robertson & Partners to revisit and redevelop the master plan.
Former shipping executive Jim Newsome officially took over as Hassell's permanent replacement Sept. 1. Given Tuesday's step toward a better terminal, he said Thursday, "This couldn't happen at a better time."
Reach Allyson Bird at 937-5594 or abird@postandcourier.com.
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Special Events
Moonlight Mixer: Dance the night away under the stars at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier with the popular Moonlight Mixers. From 7-11 p.m. Sept. 4 and 25, local DJ Rob Duren will spin the hottest oldies and beach music around. Advance tickets are $10 and $8 for Charleston County residents. If available, tickets purchased on-site are $10. Only 600 tickets will be sold for this event. No refunds or exchanges. Call 795-4FUN or visit www.ccprc.com.
Concert on the Cooper: From 7:30-11 p.m. Sept. 12, come out to the new Mount Pleasant Pier for the new Concerts on the Cooper series featuring Super Deluxe. Only 800 tickets will be sold for this event. Tickets are $8 and will be available beginning at 3 p.m. the day of the event in the pier gift shop. No refunds or exchanges. Ages 3 and up. Call 795-4FUN (4386).
Dog Day Afternoon: Your dog is invited to enjoy Whirlin' Waters on Sept. 13 from noon-6 p.m.. Large dogs can enjoy the wave pool and smaller dogs can take a dip in Otter Bay to cool down from the summer heat. The two swimming areas will be open only for dogs; owners will not be allowed in the water. Bring proof of your dog's current vaccinations for entry. Tickets are $10 and $8 for Charleston County residents. Tickets are limited, so advance purchase is recommended. Admission ticket (not receipt) is required for event entry. No refunds or exchanges. Call 795-4FUN (4386).
Shagging on the Cooper: Dance the night away under the stars Sept. 19 from 7:30-11 p.m. at the Mount Pleasant Pier while enjoying live classic oldies and beach music. The seven-piece Ocean Drive Party Band will perform soul, funk, Carolina beach and shag, classic rock, country and more. Only 800 tickets will be sold for this event. Tickets are $8 and will be available beginning at 3 p.m. the day of the event in the pier gift shop. No refunds or exchanges. Ages 3 and up. Call 795-4FUN (4386).
Reggae Concert Series: Enjoy the best live Reggae music around this summer at your Charleston County Parks. On Sept. 19, Wannamaker County Park hosts reggae band Ever-G. Bring a chair or blanket and groove to the island tunes. Outside alcohol and coolers are prohibited. No advance tickets will be sold. Gates open at 7:30 p.m., music begins at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $8 and free for children 12 and under and Gold Pass Holders. For more information, call 795-4FUN (4386) or visit the Web site at www.ccprc.com.
September Programs
Early Morning Bird Walks at Caw Caw: The walk through distinct habitats allows participants to discuss birds, butterflies and other organisms. Preregistration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. Meets at Caw Caw Interpretive Center. $5/free for Gold Pass members. 8:30 a.m.-noon Sept. 5, 9, 12.
Local Hikes: Palmetto Trail Night Hike. Pack a flashlight, drink and your sense of adventure as group hikes a beautiful section of the S.C. Palmetto Trail under a moonlit sky. All trails are appropriate for beginners. Pre-registration required. 5:30-10 p.m. Sept. 4. Meets at: CCPRC Headquarters. Age: 16 & up. Fee: $15/$12 CCR Discount.
Moonlight Wall Climb: Full Moon Climb. Climb during the full moon. Climbing at night adds a whole new dimension to the climbing experience. Participants must have previous climbing/belaying experience. Equipment not included in climbing fee; bring your headlamp/flashlight. Pre-registration not required. A chaperon is required for participants ages 15 and under. Arrive before 5 p.m. and pay at The Climbing Wall. 7-10 p.m. Sept. 4. Meets at: James Island County Park. Age: 4 & up. Fee: $12/$10 CCR Discount.
Parent & Child Samplers: Canoe and Kayak Sampler: This hands-on class introduces basic strokes and equipment before giving families a chance to paddle a variety of kayaks and canoes. This program is for children ages 8-16 and their parents. A registered and paid chaperon is required for participants ages 16 and under. Preregistration required. 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 5. Meets at: James Island County Park. Age: 8 & up. Fee: $12/$10 CCR Discount.
Sea Kayak Instructional Classes: ACA Coastal Kayak Basic Strokes and Rescues. This class will spend the day refining some basic strokes, introducing the support strokes and, most importantly, practicing self- and assisted-rescue skills. Add in a little information on navigation, wind and weather, and safety equipment, and you'll be better prepared for your next adventure. Preregistration required. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 5. Meets at: James Island County Park. Age: 16 & up. Fee: $54/$45 CCR Discount.
Caw Caw Self-Guided Canoe Tour: Relax and enjoy a day paddling historic rice fields. A chaperon is required for participants ages 15 & under. Registration on-site only. For more information, call 889-8898. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 5, 6, 12, 20, 27. Meets at: Caw Caw Interpretive Center. Fee: $10 fee per canoe.
Colonial Rice Plantation: Daily life and practices on a South Carolina rice plantation in the colonial era. A registered and paid chaperon required for ages 15 and under. Preregistration required. 10 a.m.-noon Sept. 5. Meets at: Caw Caw Interpretive Center. Age: 9 & up. Fee: $9/$7 CCR Discount.
Introduction to Climbing: Introduction to Belaying. This three-hour class will teach the fundamentals of belaying. Participants will be prepared to take a belay test upon their next visit to the Climbing Wall. Pre-registration required. 1-4 p.m. Sept. 5. Meets at: James Island County Park. Age: 14 & up. Fee: $24/$20 CCR Discount.
After-School Adventures: After School Paddle. Group will review and learn basic canoe and kayak strokes, play paddling games. Preregistration required. 3:30-6 p.m. Sept. 9. Meets at: Palmetto Islands County Park; 3:30-6 p.m. Sept. 10. Meets at: James Island County Park. Age: 6-12. Fee: $12/$10 CCR Discount.
Folly Beach Bird Walks: Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve Bird Walk. Birding experts from CCPRC and the S.C. Audubon Society explore Folly Beach. Preregistration required. 8:30-10:30 a.m. Sept. 11. Meets at: Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve. Age: 16 & up. Fee: Free, preregistration is required.
The Post and Courier
Michael Morton of James Island glances back while fishing at the northeast end of Folly Beach, a scenic, semi-secluded spot formerly known as the Old Coast Guard Base and on track to become a county park called Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve.
The Post and Courier
Betty Tarnowski of Folly Beach, who for five years has made regular 'turtle patrols' on the island's northeast end, checks a loggerhead turtle nest that she previously marked. Turtle nests are common at this portion of the island, making protection of the endangered wildlife necessary, Tarnowski said.
The Post and Courier
Jim Roberts (left) snaps pictures of his fiancee, Katie Piontek, while on revetment rocks at the east end of Folly Beach. The Charlotte couple were visiting Folly for the first time. They were impressed by the beauty and atmosphere they found, especially at the island's less busy northeast end.
The Post and Courier
Toting a water bottle on a very hot August day, Folly Beach turtle patroller Betty Tarnowski approaches Lighthouse Inlet, which separates Folly and Morris islands. Folly Beach's best view of the Morris Island Lighthouse can be found here.
Gazing at astounding views while absorbing the sounds of crashing waves and calling seabirds, it's hard to believe this serene spot at the northeastern end of Folly Island is so well-connected to war and bloodshed.
People have been coming to this site for decades to relax, fish, crab or just walk the shore in solitude. And now the 80-plus acres across a narrow waterway from the Morris Island lighthouse is getting official recognition: It is being transformed to a park by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission and is now named Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve.
The commission has owned the site, formerly known as the Old Coast Guard Base, since 1989 and plans to maintain it as a passive sanctuary.
It's not yet known when construction will begin, but plans include boardwalk trails, a parking area and open shelters from which nature and the sight of the Morris Island Lighthouse can be appreciated. A large bird feeding area from which ornithological studies can be conducted is planned as is signage to direct visitors to the best fishing areas and to the park's greatest assets: the sites with the most impressive views.
Much of the current park site is marked by signs as off-limits, but a mostly paved trail from the road to the beach accommodates visitors who want to enjoy the beach. The site is somewhat beyond the hustle and bustle of the island's popular beaches and commercial district. Folly Beach Mayor Carl Beckmann said it's one of his favorite escapes.
Julie Hensley, director of the commission's Planning Division, said that while it's hoped the park will continue to serve those seeking some peace and quiet, the park is also envisioned as a centerpiece in a master plan for historic battlefield parks on Folly Island and Morris Island.
A master plan dating to 2007 calls for passive parks at the northeastern end of Folly Island and at Cummings Point on Morris Island.
"Both properties are geographically and historically related to one another," necessitating simultaneous master planning for them," Hensley said.
The Folly park also fits well with commission's role in preserving the iconic Morris Island Lighthouse, she said.
Hensley said planned signage will illuminate the park's rich history, which dates to the Colonial era as well as pivotal roles in the Civil War. The site remained militarily significant until after World War II.
According to www.follysurfcam.com/follybeach/history, on Sept. 9, 1696, Folly Island was given as a royal grant to William Rivers. The land changed hands multiple times, and before the Civil War was secluded from the civilization and control of Charleston government and known as Coffin Land. The island earned a reputation as a hideout for pirates, with minimal interference from Charleston, and the few adventurous people of the island basically governed themselves.
In the Civil War, Folly, which was then described as "a fascinating, strange and uninhabitable jungle-like place," became a campground from which Union forces eventually launched the siege of Charleston, the Web site indicates.
Folly Beach City Council last month unanimously enacted ordinances, recommended by wildlife experts, intended to better protect the park site's birds and loggerhead turtles, which have been making homes or nests, or both, at the park site long before any people were around.
The new law bans dogs from the park. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species biologist Melissa Bimbi, in a recent presentation to council, said that even if they are only behaving playfully, dogs harm nesting and migrating birds when they chase or otherwise frighten them.
Beckmann said the city intends to enforce its new and older laws. The park has long attracted youths and others who party there after dark, build fires and camp out, and Beckmann said the city hopes to put a stop to that.
"We are going back and forth on patrols there, and (the S.C. Department of Natural Resources) is starting patrols there," Beckmann said. He predicted that a few arrests made for fires and for camping will have a dampening effect on those activities.
Several rather large concrete foundations remain from former Coast Guard buildings no longer standing at the site.
The foundations are proving to be attractions to graffiti artists. Beckmann said the foundations probably will be removed eventually.
Beckmann said he's eager to see the park developed, and hopes the commission can keep its long-range plans to launch boat tours from the Folly River side of Folly Island. Beckmann said Folly and the commission both had wanted to include Long Island, an undisturbed marsh island targeted for preservation that is adjacent to Folly, in park plans.
But Long Island is privately held and officials were unable to arrange its purchase, Beckmann said.
Reach Edward C. Fennell at efennell@postandcourier.com or 937-5560.
Michael Furlinger, owner of the Terrace Theatre on James Island and the new Hippodrome Theatre downtown, sits at his desk at the Terrace.
Michael Furlinger, owner of the Terrace Theatre on James Island and the new Hippodrome Theatre downtown, is a real fan of going to the movies.
Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Furlinger has lived in Charleston for more than two years. He bought the Terrace in 2007.
Furlinger discovered his passion for movie-going in high school.
"I had an after-school job at age 15 as an usher," he said, laughing. "I just worked my way up after that. I love the point of the movie theater -- the whole experience of being in the building. When I bought the Terrace in 2007, I renovated the whole thing: new seats, new sound and projection. We even put up the old curtain. Now it's the only theater in Charleston with a curtain, and I think that's what the Terrace offers: the old showmanship."
The Terrace Hippodrome opened in May in the former IMAX Theatre space near the S.C. Aquarium.
"We gear it towards really big pictures since it seats 450 people," Furlinger said. "The seats are the same leather used in BMWs and the screen is 75 feet."
Furlinger takes special care to pick out films that he thinks his audiences will enjoy. "I love it when I feel the success of picking the right film," he said. "It still gives me a rush when the theater is sold out and everyone loves the film. My job is really about picking what you want to see."
The process of selecting, and obtaining, films can be complex.
"You can choose your own, but it's hard to get what you want, especially when you're competing with bigger chains," he said. "I have a film buyer in New York, and that's how I get my hands on the artsy stuff that comes to the Terrace. I also go to conventions twice a year. The next one is in Florida. I'll be watching movies all week and deciding what I want for the Christmas lineup."
A typical day for Furlinger is extremely busy.
"I've gotten good at marketing the brand, and I probably work around 16 hours a day," he said. "We're the only locally owned theater, so part of what I do is making sure that we're on people's radar: MySpace, Twitter, Facebook and news outlets. I also have to make sure that our movies get reviewed."
Furlinger isn't afraid to do a little grunt work.
"I'm very hands-on," he said. "I'm always at one theater or the other, whichever is busiest. There's always plenty of paperwork to do, but I'm known for being in the lobby, always meeting and greeting customers. I sell tickets and concessions alongside my employees, and if I have to clean the theaters, I will."
