Charleston City Paper: Digs - August 2020

August 2020

HOLY CITY

HOME

STYLE

At Home with

FIREFLY’S

SCOTT NEWITT SEVEN WAYS

TO BOOST YOUR HOME’S CURB APPEAL HOW

R E AL E T ESTTA INGS LI S IN SIDE

EPIC CENTER

WILL TRANSFORM WEST ASHLEY a Charleston City Paper publication

Charleston’s Guide THROUGH THE House Hunting Process “Digit” Matheny has helped me sell two homes as of this review. Based on this current experience and my previous one, I would gladly recommend his services to friends and family without reservation. I have absolutely no doubt he is among the best in the business. If he can’t sell it, it cannot be sold. - T. Happe, July 2020

Issue 1, Number 1

Aug. 5, 2020

INSIDE AT HOME IN THE LOWCOUNTRY

Firefly’s Newitt beats to a different drummer

.......... 4

BY ANDY BRACK

DIGGING REAL ESTATE

Properties for sale and rentals in your area

.......... 6

DIGGING YOUR HOME

Seven ways to boost your home’s curb appeal

.......... 8

BY JEANNE DUNN

DIGGING INTO HISTORY

Charleston’s got a lot of firsts in its 350 years

.......... 10

DIGGING SAFETY

Prepare early for power outages, storm impacts .......... 12 David “Digit” Matheny Realtor® 843-737-2549 • digitmatheny.com

THE FINAL DIG

The Ultimate Fix

.......... 14

BY ANDY BRACK

Digs, our new monthly home-focused publication, connects the people who make the Lowcountry special with content they’ve been missing. Digs gets up close and personal with stories on local personalities, home design and remodeling, plants and gardening, home repair and real estate. To learn more about advertising opportunities offered through Digs, contact our advertising team at (843) 577-5304 or send an email to: sales@charlestoncitypaper.com. Dig it!

PUBLISHER Andy Brack

EDITOR WRITER

Sam Spence

Jeanne Dunn

Published by City Paper Publishing, LLC Members: J. Edward Bell | Andrew C. Brack

Views expressed in Charleston City Paper cover the spectrum and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Charleston City Paper takes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. © 2020. All content is copyrighted and the property of City Paper Publishing, LLC. Material may not be reproduced without permission.

Proud member of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia and the South Carolina Press Association.

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES:

CHARLESTON CITY PAPER 08.05.20

sales@charlestoncitypaper.com

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AT HOME IN THE LOWCOUNTRY

Firefly’s Newitt beats to a different drummer

CHARLESTON CITY PAPER 08.05.2020

BY ANDY BRACK

4

There’s a special zen that drummers experience.

On the surface, drumming is a sweaty, draining, physical workout that blends the scientific precision and rigor of snapping sticks on hard surfaces with the artistic expressiveness of improvisation. Below the surface, drumming often offers a zone of something deeper. The soothing stability of a powerful, driving beat becomes a gateway to the emotional and, sometimes, spiritual.

“It’s my meditation,” said Scott Newitt, the Firefly Distillery co-founder who first picked up the sticks at age 7. “It clears my mind.”

His first drum set came from J.C. Penney. Then at age 11, he got what might be the coolest — a brown wooden Slingerland set built the same year he was born, 1965.

“It’s been in the back of multiple pickup trucks to play gigs,” he said sitting at a 13-foot kitchen island in a comfortable Mount Pleasant home with views of a slice of Hobcaw Creek marsh. “I’ve had that set since 1976.”

A few years back, he took off the drum hardware and sent the stripped-down kit to Mount Pleasant craftsman Vern Carter of Chehaw River Woodworks to restore it.

“It looked like it had played at a lot of frat parties, so it was pretty beat up and tattered,” Carter recalled. “It had definitely seen a lot of miles and hard abuse.”

After a restoration that took a few weeks, the set is now a thing of beauty. A

bass drum, floor tom and pair of mounted toms shine with a rich brown Brazilian cherry finish. And they sound sweet.

“I would play an hour a day in junior and senior high school for escape,” recalled Newitt, whose family moved around alot until around eighth grade when they settled outside of New Orleans. “I grew up playing drums in bars.”

And he later played during college, first at Louisiana Tech and then at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. His bands played lots of cover songs by groups like the B-52s and R.E.M. In recent years, he branched out to play some bluegrass music, but lately has had to practice solo, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. And that, he grumbles, isn’t the same as playing live with good guitarists and singers.

After college, Newitt put his finance degree to work at an Atlanta bank, where he met his wife, Trish. Soon, though, he was on the move after taking a sales job with Gallo Winery. He learned the wine business, moving to Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina and North Carolina.

When he was offered a big job in Florida, he and his wife decided they wanted to be in Charleston, where Newitt took a job with a wine distributor.

By 2005, he and Jim Irvin of Irvin House Vineyards decided to start Firefly, soon producing its unique and popular Sweet Tea Vodka on Wadmalaw Island.

Carter remembers getting a taste of Sweet Tea in 2006 when Irvin and Newitt were still working on it.

“We had a little prayer group and he was a wine salesman and brought a sample of what he had,” Carter said. “Scott said he was at a crossroads in his life and deciding whether to market this product or sell wine for the rest of his life.

“Of course, we all thought it was really awesome. It was kind of cool to be part of

Newitt pets his three-legged Labrador, Patton, also pictured left in a small painting in his family’s kitchen

THE LOWDOWN ON SCOTT NEWITT Age: 55 Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, Louisiana State University, 1988 Family: Wife, Trish; and three children: Drew, Patsy and Peter Job: President, co-founder, Firefly Distillery, North Charleston Past adult jobs: Banker, wine distributor

Photos by Andy Brack

Pet: A three-legged Labrador named Porter Favorite drink: Firefly vodka and tonic with lime Favorite wine: Pinot noir Something you might not know about me: “I was adopted as an infant.”

Book on bedside table: Anatomy of a Song,

by Marc Myers Hobbies: Playing drums; Cutting grass with a tractor Favorite bands: Dave Matthews Band, Green Day, R.E.M., The Beatles Favorite new music: Billie Eilish Favorite food: Artisanal pizza Favorite day: “A 2016 family trip to Burgundy, France. All five of us explored during the day and had an incredible meal and wines that evening. I will never forget that day.”

Childhood hero: Paul McCartney Your hero now: Howard Stern Three people you’d like to dine with: Paul McCartney, Howard Stern and Ruth Bader Ginsberg Last supper: “Something badass prepared by John Zucker of Cru Cafe and Purlieu."

Pet peeve: Laziness Quote: “Get busy living or get busy dying.”

—From The Shawshank Redemption Philosophy: “Do what you love and love what you do.”

charlestoncitypaper.com/digs

his life at that kind of crossroads.”

This year, Firefly took another leap of faith by opening a modern production facility on 50 acres in North Charleston.

Newitt tells people he’s in charge of everything on the outside of the bottle — marketing, sales, logistics, distribution and more. And he adds, with a twinkle, it’s better that way.

Newitt’s favorite drink is Firefly’s sixtime distilled vodka with tonic water and squirt of lime. But he’s passionate about wine, particularly pinot noir. He still fondly recalls a buying trip from about 20 years ago with a handful of colleagues.

“I went to every single vineyard for 19 days and tasted wines from families that have been there for years,” said Newitt.

“I started studying wine in 1990 and I’m still studying it,” adding that he passed two of four major tests required to be a master sommelier. “I’m a good taster, but others are really good tasters.”

Newitt pairs his wine experience with food. He remembers visiting a Cajun neighbor as a boy and absorbing how to make killer etouffee and gumbos. (The key to a good gumbo, he says, is patience to make the roux. A good one can take 40 minutes.)

Newitt also fires up a grill often to cook meats and uses a Green Egg to grill pizza.

Like drumming, cooking takes practice.

But after you cook a couple of thousand omelettes, you eventually know how to make amazing ones, he said.

When not working, drumming or cooking, you’ll often find Newitt and his family at a McClellanville retreat or delighting in the variety of the Lowcountry’s coast.

“I enjoy doing things with my family and that may be cooking or going out on the boat,” he said. “This COVID-19 thing has hammered that home — there’s not much else we can do.”

First paying job: “Delivering the Detroit Free Press in fifth, sixth and seventh grade. That’s how I bought the drum set. I made 75 bucks a week with all of the tips. That was awesome money in 1976 and in 1977.”

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REAL HOMES. REAL PEOPLE. REAL REALTOR®.

DIGGING REAL ESTATE

Auctions

Downtown

SPOTLIGHT

FRIPP ISLAND LOT

YOUR HOME HERE

Selling at auction at or above $20,000! Online bidding only through Aug 26th at noon. Amazing opportunity to own island real estate on prestigious Fripp Island. Will sell to high bidder at or above $20,000.

Previously offered at $89,000.

Private gated resort community with two championship golf courses, full service marina, tennis courts, pool complexes, restaurants, miles of biking and walking trails and stunning wildlife. Lot is ready for your custom built, exclusive golf villa in popular Ocean Creek. Beautiful home site, backing up to Ocean Creek Golf Course near # 5 tee box and a very short golf cart ride to 3.5 miles of pristine beach. Property is 0.11 ac lot. Parcel #R400 040 00B 0152 0000 Broker participation offered.

Randy Ligon, CAI, CES (803) 366-3535 Commercial Investments | Brokerage | Auctions SCAL1716 SCRL17640 SCAFL4120 NCAL8951 NCRL183864 NCAFL10066 NCRFL28666 www.TheLigonCompany.com

6 FIELDS PLACE

MARSH VIEWS 1822 Telfair Way. 2 BR, 2 BA condo w/ 1120 sf, wood & marsh views, just 7 min to dwntn & 15 min to Folly, community pool & gym, $212,000. Call Sarah Kozlik (843) 936-1504, Carolina One RE. MLS# 20014497, https://bit.ly/1822Telfair

Unfurnished Rentals

Vacation Rentals Jennifer LePage has advertised all of her listings in the City Paper for over 15 years.

Work with her and find your home here!

Specials on Folly Beach available this summer starting at $500/wk.

Visit www.follybeachspecials.com for complete listings visit www.fredhollandrealty.com

WAGENER TERRACE

56 Hester St. 5 BR, 3 BA, 3337 sf, amazing patio & pool, $1.65M. Call Jennifer LePage (843) 478-2600. www.jjlrealestate.com

WESTSIDE

DOWNTOWN

RENT A BEACH HOUSE

Real Estate Services

3 BR, 2 BA, convenient to upper King restaurants & shopping, beautifully renovated with many luxurious upgrades, beautiful front porch, $350,000. Call Annabell Tichy (843) 906-7437, Realty One Group. MLS# 20010988, https://bit.ly/6fieldsplace2

3 BR, 2.5 BA, fully equip kit, living room, den, hardwood floors/ carpet, HAVC, W/D, no pets, Avail 8/1, $4,000. Call Just Rentals (843) 225-7368.

33 Kracke St. Great location for home or investment, 4 BR, 2 BA, split floorpan perfect for live-in w/ RETHINK MOBILE HOMES short or long-term rental, versatile Amazing floor plans & flexibility. spaces, renovated, driveway parkSturdy, well-built models (Wind ing, fenced, private backyard w/ Zone 3) for hundreds of thousands shed & patio, $450,000. Call less than traditional homes. Land/ Susan Arrington 843-324-6165. home packages. Locally owned Carolina One RE, MLS 20009759. and operated for over 25 years. https://bit.ly/33kracke Call (843) 821-8671, www.nandmmobilehomes.com

James Island

JAMES ISLAND

RIVERLAND TERRACE. 2 BR, 1 BA, fully equip kit, W/D, avail now, $1,395/mo. Call Just Rentals (843) 225-7368.

SANTEE LAKE HOME

WAGENER TERRACE 56 Hester St. 5 BR, 3 BA 3,337 sf, amazing patio & pool $1,650,000

ELLIOTBOROUGH

Lake Marion, 4BR Waterfront Home, 2 Acres, Boat Ramp, Pier, Sandy Beach, Screened Porch, Sleeps 14. Fall rates $1600/wk.

3 day weekend $600.

(843) 442-8069. www.lakehousevacations.com/ page-4383.html

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER

Rentals or interested in Buying a Home?

Call us

CHARLESTON CITY PAPER 08.05.20

(843) 608-6832 or visit www.843realestate.com

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259 St Philip St. Lots for sale. $450,000

Jennifer LePage 843-478-2600 • JJLRealEstate.com • LepageJ@BellSouth.net

SOLD IN 3 DAYS! WEST ASHLEY

867 South Colony Dr. 1 BR, 1 BA, condo, fully equip kit, living room, coin operated W/D on site, pool, no pets, available now, $850/mo.

Call Just Rentals (843) 225-7368.

HOUSE FOR SALE? E-MAIL CRIS@ CHARLESTON CITYPAPER.COM

N&M HOMES

Your downtown real estate experts! Get your free home valuation. Text Home Value & your address to (843) 906-7437.

Annabell & Stephen Tichy, Realty One Group. https://bit.ly/annabelllowcountryhomes

10097 Hwy 78 • Ladson • 843.821.8671 NANDMMOBILEHOMES.COM dl35721

1733 TELFAIR WAY. 1BR, 1 BA condo, 3rd floor, stunning kitchen & bath, renovated w/ granite, laminate hdwds, high ceilings, $173,000. Call Christina Montero Bradford, (843) 331-6548.

Carolina One RE, MLS# 20018837. https://bit.ly/1733telfair

Johns Island VACATION PROPERTY

ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 2.1 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375.

Call Randall Savely at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

Land For Sale Come see why our highest quality-built Wind Zone 3 Homes protects your family better & saves YOU $$$!

POND VIEW

ELLIOTBOROUGH

259 St. Phillip St. (2) lots for sale, $450K ea. Call Jennifer LePage (843) 478-2600. www.jjlrealestate.com

HUGE LOT ON POND

Gorgeous 3 BR, 2.5 BA w/2472 sf, only 4 y/o, loft, office, screened double porches, 2-car garage, $375,000. Call Susan Arrington, (843) 324-6165. Carolina One RE, MLS 20020216. https://bit.ly/2002016

HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER

Sell your house in the Charleston City Paper. Place your ad in the for only $15 per week. Email cris@charlestoncitypaper.com

EVER WONDER IT’S A BOUT THE EXPERIENCE...

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CANE BAY/NEXTON State Road (843) 285-3950

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MT. PLEASANT Long Point Road (843) 884-1622 Coleman Boulevard (843) 884-1800 Hwy 17 North (843) 284-1800 JOHNS ISLAND Maybank Highway (843) 559-0202

ISLE OF PALMS Palm Boulevard (843) 886-8110 Affiliated with: Affiliated with:

EDISTO ISLAND Highway 174 (843) 869-2516 Jungle Road (843) 869-3163 DANIEL ISLAND St. Thomas Isl. Drive (843) 577-9676

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charlestoncitypaper.com/digs

DOWNTOWN Broad Street (843) 577-0001 JAMES ISLAND Folly Road (843) 795-7810

WWW.CAROLINAONE.COM

7

DIGGING YOUR HOME

Seven ways to boost your home’s curb appeal

BY JEANNE DUNN The first impression of your home — its curb appeal — is a big deal. If you’re trying to sell your home, focusing on curb appeal will attract potential buyers. If you want to be a good neighbor, having a well-kept home and yard will add to a neighborhood’s value and show community pride.

Whether you’re interested in selling your house or just trying to improve your home’s look, focusing on curb appeal is important to anyone who passes by. Follow these tips straight from specialists to guarantee that your home looks top-notch and inviting.

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2. ADD CONTAINER PLANTS TO YOUR PORCH If you don’t have much yard space, you can use pots or containers filled with bold plants to enhance your home’s curb appeal.

“A combination of containers, hanging baskets and window boxes can showcase your personal style and add fun pops of color and texture,” said Diandre Sunner of Carolina Landscape in James Island. She suggested experimenting with different varieties of plants and color combinations.

Debbie Davis of the Charleston Horticultural Society added potted plants can be a simple way to ensure any home looks inviting and appealing. “Pots of colored plants placed near the front door or at the garage” are an easy way to spruce up a front yard, she said.

3. PLANT ANNUALS OR PERENNIALS FOR A BUDGET-FRIENDLY OPTION Bright, eye-catching flowers near a home’s entrance are one of the least expensive and effective ways to improve a home’s curb appeal, said Casey Todd, owner of Passiflora Landscape & Design

Photos by Andy Brack

CHARLESTON CITY PAPER 08.05.20

1. HIGHLIGHT THE ARCHITECTURE OF YOUR HOME Since every yard is different, focusing on the particular structure and layout of your property is important, said Garrett Mattes, a landscape architect who owns Ink and Moss in Mount Pleasant.

Accenting your home’s architecture will ensure that the yard looks coordinated, which adds to its appeal.

Flowers offer an “This can be done by framing views from the street, appealing low-cost highlighting the front entry, providing foundation option to make a planting to soften the transition between the built and yard pop, but do natural elements on your lot, and giving planting beds require some upkeep some definition,” Mattes said.

— especially in the Highlighting the design of your home will always cresummer heat ate a balanced and harmonic look, he added.

4. MAKE PLANT BEDS LOOK NEATER WITH MULCH OR PINESTRAW One of the best ways to quickly improve curb appeal is to add new mulch or pinestraw to existing plant beds.

“Mulch always helps to make the beds look cleaner and make the plants pop,” Todd said. These additions hide weeds that may have been visible before, which gives a more polished overall look.

“Clean bedlines go a long way,” said Carolina Landscape’s Sunner. Although fresh bedlines may seem like a basic addition, they can truly add a lot of sophistication and appeal to any yard, she said.

5. MAINTAIN YOUR YARD Yards that look clean and tidy will automatically have a better curb appeal than a yard that is unkept and disorderly.

I think quality maintenance is something that is usually overlooked that can be done with a little sweat equity and can vastly improve the look of your yard,” said Mattes.

Neglecting your yard’s needs will quickly lower the charisma and aesthetic of your home. Advice from the experts: Keep your grass cut. Trim edges and trees.

And make sure you have lots of bright, healthy flowers. Follow that outdoor recipe and you’re sure to sustain a lively curb appeal that adds to your home’s value.

6. KNOW ABOUT THE PLANTS YOU’RE CHOOSING The texture, size and quantity of greenery is important to keep in mind when choosing which plants will fill your outdoor space, Passiflora Landscape’s Todd explained. Ask these questions before planting: “How big will the plant grow?

Will it eventually overtake the house or a window? Will the plant be too wide and be too close to the house or grow into a walkway? Can the plant take the lighting conditions in the front? Are the plants going to be over crowded at maturity or will you have to cut some out?”

Also consider the specifics of each plant, such as how large a tree will grow or how much sun a particular flower needs.

MAKE IT GREEN Here’s the contact information for some local garden centers and landscaping companies: LOCAL GARDEN CENTERS Abide A While Garden Boutique 1460 N. Highway 17 Mount Pleasant abideawhile.com (843) 884-9738 Brownswood Nursery 1290 Brownswood Road Johns Island brownswoodnursery.com (843) 559-3425 Hyams Garden & Accent Store 870 Folly Road, Charleston hyamsgardencenter.com (843) 795-4570

Thank you for voting

Zach Volousky

the Best Financial Planner in the 2020 Best of Charleston.* We are committed to delivering exceptional service and financial solutions while investing in the customers and communities we serve. Our local team will provide tailored advice and personalized guidance on your financial plan incorporating your investment, retirement, income and long term goals.

Let us help you plan for what’s next.

Nature’s Garden 1014 Rifle Range Road Mount Pleasant naturesgardensc.com (843) 530-6725

Zach Volousky VP, Financial Consultant (843) 406-2957 Zach.Volousky@SouthStateWealth.com

LOCAL LANDSCAPE COMPANIES Carolina Landscape 730 Up on the Hill Road Charleston carolinalandscape.net (843) 795-4769 Ink and Moss 941 Cottingham Drive, #3501 Mount Pleasant inkandmoss.com (920) 251-2519 Passiflora Landscape and Design 1566 Hidden Bridge Drive Mount Pleasant passiflora.us (843) 345-4677 7. WORK ON THE BASICS FIRST Landscaping can be expensive, so focus on filling your space with the essentials before moving on to more decorative details.

“If you’re working on a budget, think about getting the “bones” of the yard first. This would be your trees followed by shrubbery,” said Moynahan from Abide A While. Covering the basics first can significantly improve your home’s curb appeal and give your property more dimension. After giving your yard a foundation, then you can continue on by adding flowers to introduce color into your yard.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. South State Bank and South State Investment Services are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using South State Investment Services and may also be employees of South State Bank. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, South State Bank or South State Investment Services. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are: Not Insured by FDIC or Any Other Government Agency

Not Bank Guaranteed

Not Bank Deposits or Obligations

May Lose Value

*2020 Best of Charleston award is sponsored by City Paper. Based on unsolicited reader votes.

charlestoncitypaper.com/digs

in Mount Pleasant. “It will attract the eye to that area and distract from other areas that might not be as kept up,” she said. If your yard lacks space, she recommended planting annuals in nice pots for a similar look.

Some suggestions: “Birds of paradise, elephant ears or boxwoods underplanted with bright flowering annuals or perennials are always great options,” said Abide A While employee Eleanor Moynahan.

Although planted flowers offer an appealing low-cost option to make a yard pop, flowers do require some upkeep, experts said, advising people to stay on top of watering — particularly during the Lowcountry’s brutal summer heat.

9

DIGGING INTO HISTORY

Charleston’s got a lot of firsts in its 350 years CHARLESTON CITY PAPER 08.05.20

BY ANDY BRACK

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As a tribute to 350 years of history since the founding of Charleston in 1670, the staff of the Charleston City Paper has pulled together a bunch of interesting facts for a new book that will be published next month. Its title? How about 350 Facts About Charleston?

As a preview, we thought you’d enjoy some of these Charleston firsts from the Holy City’s past. If you’d like to pre-order the book, visit CharlestonFacts.com.

Birthplace of American golf Golf in America got its start in 1786 in Charleston with the formation of the South Carolina Golf Club, whose members reportedly played on a bustling rectangle of land that stretched between what we know as Charleston and Beaufain streets and bounded by Rutledge and Barre streets. The area,

called Harleston Green, seemed to disappear from historical records as a golf course around 1800. But that makes sense: Around that time, homes started being built in the area. Interesting tidbit: Some 432 golf balls and 96 clubs arrived in Charleston from England in 1743 as the first known shipment of golf equipment into the colonies.

Birthplace of fire insurance The first fire insurance company in America was organized in February 1736 in Charleston with the formation of the Friendly Society for the Mutual Insuring of Houses Against Fire. According to an article from 1893, “John Fenwicke, Samuel Wragg and Charles Pinckney were chosen directors; John Crokat and Henry Peronneau, merchants, secretaries; Gabriel Manigault, treasurer; Gerelt Van Velesen and John Laurens, firemasters.” The company, however, “ceased business some six years later after its inception, as a result of a fire involving $1,250,000 of insurance, which was a very large sum in those times.”

Reportedly, more than 300 buildings were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1740.

City has oldest working fire station in nation The city of Charleston’s fire station at the corner of Wentworth and Meeting streets is reportedly the oldest working fire station in the nation. The city, always under threat of fire in its early days, got its first fire department through the Friendly Society insurance company in 1736. In 1819, fire service became a volunteer effort until Jan. 1, 1882, “when a paid professional fire department staffed with 103 firefighters was formed,” according to the Charleston Fire Department.

Nation’s first public statue Charleston County Judicial Center on Broad Street is the home to an 18thcentury marble statue of William Pitt (1708-1778), first Earl of Chatham, that is believed to be “the nation’s first public statuary, one of the grandest tributes that survives from this nation’s colonial era,” according to columnist Robert Behre. The statue, which has moved at least four times through the years, was one of two commissioned to honor Pitt, considered America’s leading parliamentary advocate before the Revolutionary War. Charleston’s Pitt statue was delivered before a companion piece made it to New York. Interestingly, a British cannonball knocked off the statue’s arm in Charleston. Later, the statue’s head was separated from the torso, only to be reattached.

Oldest public gardens — and first Charleston tourist destination Magnolia Plantation, founded by the Drayton family in the 1670s, is the oldest plantation on the Ashley River.

It also “has earned the distinction as the oldest public garden in the United States,” according to Explore Charleston.

“The Rev. John Grimké Drayton expanded the gardens in the 1840s, opening them three decades later to steamboat passengers. As a result, Magnolia also enjoys being Charleston’s first tourist destination.” In 2019, the attraction hosted “Lights of Magnolia,” a Chinese lantern festival illuminating the gardens for the first time in its history.

So much history in one place Charleston has 42 National Historic Landmarks — more in one county than in 30 U.S. states.

Among the landmarks are the William Aiken House, Miles Brewton House, College of Charleston, Drayton Hall, Fireproof Building, DuBose Heyward House, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, Powder Magazine, Nathaniel Russell House, John Rutledge House and Denmark Vesey House.

Cartoon by Robert Ariail

350 Facts About Charleston is a new book about, well, Charleston. With facts. Lots of them. In fact, there are 350 facts, one for each year that Charleston’s been around.

The staff at the Charleston City Paper pulled together fun and arcane information about the Holy City to illuminate its deep, rich history. Included in the 200+ pages are details on early settlers, the wars (Revolutionary and Civil) and the struggle for civil rights by descendants of enslaved Africans. You’ll learn about food (Charlestonians have loved to drink wine for centuries), books, people, music, culture and much more.

FEAT SOUTH URING CA CARTO ROLINA ROBER ONIST T ARIAIL

Pre-order your copy today for just $20 (plus shipping and handling) at

CharlestonFacts.com You’ll get it in the mail in mid-September. Or pick it up in a favorite local shop just in time for the holidays.

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S.C. educator was first black man elected statewide in U.S. Francis Lewis Cardozo (1836-1903), born free in Charleston, founded the Avery Normal Institute in 1865. It was the first accredited secondary school for African Americans in Charleston. Today, its successor, the Avery Institute, is part of the College of Charleston. Cardozo also offered a big political first: He was elected S.C. secretary of state in 1868, becoming the first African American to hold a statewide office in the United States. He advocated for integrated public schools, which was supported by the legislature at the time. He resigned his seat to teach Latin at Howard University, but returned to South Carolina politics in 1872 and was elected state treasurer, serving until 1877 when the federal government began to remove federal troops that protected black participation in politics and daily life. In 1878, Cardozo was appointed to the Treasury Department in Washington, D.C., later becoming principal of the Washington, D.C., Colored High School.

He lived in the nation’s capital until his death in 1903.

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DIGGING SAFETY

CHARLESTON CITY PAPER 08.05.20

Prepare early for power outages, storm impacts

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Soaring summer temperatures can bring volatility that translates into major weather events.

The 2020 storm season could yield an aboveaverage probability for major hurricanes hitting the United States coastline and the Caribbean, according to the annual Colorado State Tropical Meteorology Forecast.

As Lowcountry residents know, property damage and power outages are facts of life during storm season. Being prepared for weather disasters and power outages is critical to protecting property, productivity and well-being. Some things to keep in mind: Assess external threats. Before the storm season arrives, take an inventory of potential problems outdoors that could be exacerbated by bad weather.

For example, trees may need trimming if limbs threaten power lines, the house or other structures on your property. Also examine the house for necessary repairs, such as loose gutters, shutters or shingles that may need to be secured and torn

Be sure to update your stash of storm supplies while everything can still be found in stores

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The number of home appliances and electronics you want to power will determine the size and cost of a standby generator you need to rather than worry about the power outage."

Generators with a smart power management system can help manage high-wattage appliance priority.

Power management technologies allow a homeowner to prioritize the power they need during an outage at a lower upfront acquisition cost.

If you think you might want a standby generator, think about what items your family needs to remain functioning normally during a power outage. The number of home appliances or electrical loads you want to power will determine the size and cost of the three general types of standby generators: Small A select-circuit generator system is a cost-effective way to power your home's basics to get you comfortably through a power outage. These units can power up to 10 electrical loads in your home, including the fridge, some lights, television and the microwave.

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Medium A standby generator equipped with a smart power management solution offers benefits of whole-house power with a smaller, more affordable generator system. These home generator systems should be able to power all your electrical needs, including up to two air conditioners.

Large Whole-house standby generator options are typically used as backup power solutions for extra-large and luxury homes. They power an array of high-wattage appliances, from double ovens to hot tubs with commercialgrade performance.

Story courtesy FamilyFeatures.com

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screens, all of which can worsen in heavy weather and cause more damage.

Another consideration is items that could topple in heavy winds, such as barbecue grills or lawn furniture. When possible, look for ways to secure these items so they don't take flight, aren't destroyed or cause additional damage.

Assemble emergency resources.

An overnight storm is no time to discover your flashlight batteries are dead or you don't have the right size batteries to replace them. Making time to update your stash of storm supplies before weather hits can save some frustration and help ensure you're prepared to safely wait out the storm.

Flashlights in every room. In addition to replacing flashlight batteries and checking that they're in good working order, it's a good plan to place flashlights or lanterns in rooms where you may need to be able to see in an emergency. The idea is to give everyone in the family the ability to illuminate their path and move safely through the house no matter where they are when the lights go out.

Restock medical supplies. Part of your preparation should also include restocking your first-aid kit. Some items in the kit, such as ointments and medications, can expire so you'll need to replenish anything you've used and double-check that the contents are still safe to use. If you don't already have them, be sure to add a battery-operated radio and a portable power bank so you have access to news updates and can charge a low phone battery.

Review your food supply. Take inventory of your non-perishable food items to ensure you have plenty of options on hand in the event power stays off through one or more meals. You may also want to stockpile some books and board games for convenient access to entertainment while your power is down.

Make power plans. Because power outages are a near certainty during severe weather season, reliable electricity is a necessity for powering work, school and daily life. An appropriately-sized standby, non-portable generator can ensure your home power doesn't miss a beat when faced with seasonal storms.

Because standby generators are fueled by natural gas or liquid propane, the tank doesn't require regular refueling with gasoline, which means no last-minute trips to the gas station when your generator runs out of gas.

"Standby generators can power an entire home, and because they are wired to the home's electrical system so there is minimal interruption," said Brian Northway, Briggs & Stratton field service manager. "When a storm knocks out power, the generator automatically takes over to deliver power, allowing you to take care of family and accomplish what

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THE FINAL DIG

Provid

The Ultimate Fix

ed

The Epic Center will host worldclass travel sports championships as well as offer media production and event space, residences and offices

Epic Center will transform West Ashley

CHARLESTON CITY PAPER 08.05.20

BY ANDY BRACK

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James Island native Richard Davis has looked at property differently since he was a 15-year-old summer worker who swept out houses on Seabrook and Kiawah islands. A chance conversation with a Charlotte developer changed his life.

“I saw how the other half lived,” said Davis, who gained national recognition in 2005 with the top-ranked Flip This House real estate show. “I remember asking a gentleman how in the world he could afford four stories DAVIS on the ocean.”

The developer explained the house was his summer place and that he made most of his money in real estate, not just building homes.

“His advice to me was to own your real estate,” Davis recalled. And since then, he’s been a man on a mission — to look beyond the surface so he could figure out for himself the potential higher value of real estate. That way, he’d know what was really there, not just what most people assumed was there. A distressed house on a corner, for example, might be a neighborhood gateway.

First, Davis worked in the county

assessor’s office during summers away from Clemson University. After graduating, he honed his teeth on valuations by working full-time in the office. By 1990, he opened a real estate company, Trademark Properties.

“My competitive advantage was knowing valuation and pure business brokerage,” said Davis, who lives on Seabrook Island today with his wife, Ginger.

In 2003, he came up with the idea for Flip This House, which he pitched fully-produced to three lifestyle networks the next year. It became a wildly popular “docu-soap” in 2005 that blended reality TV with the new business of investing in distressed properties and turning them into something more valuable. A version of the show continued on two other networks in two following years.

The premise of the show — and Davis’ business philosophy — was that it was smarter to buy something that had deteriorated and fix it up to its potential. On television, he showed others how to do it — and how to be financially successful with the upgrade.

“Why would you tear down trees and build new houses when there’s plenty of stuff out there?” he asked. “Let’s use the housing stock we’ve got. If you put some time and effort into it, you can come out

better financially. And we’ve proven it stimulates the neighborhood. If one person does it, the next thing you know, other people are cutting the grass, people feel better, they’re painting the house, redoing the roof. By doing one house, you’re literally helping the entire community, not just one little street in one neighborhood.

Fast forward to 2017 and Citadel Mall in Charleston, which Davis has had his eyes on since 2009. He bought it with investors for something like $50 million to transform it into what’s now called Epic Center, a play on the word “epicenter.” He believes this hub at the intersection of Interstate 526 and Savannah Highway is the center of Charleston for the 21st century.

“To me, this is the ultimate way to fix a lot of problems in a community that were being caused by a distressed piece of real estate that was being hijacked and babysat by institutional money [people] who have never lived in Charleston,” Davis said.

“Local ownership was needed to make a difference in the community in which we live.”

Already, Davis and his team have turned an old J.C. Penney store into a Medical University of South Carolina health campus. A former Sears now is an HBO production studio. Over time, the 1.2 million square feet of old-time retail space will

become a vibrant live-work-play creative destination of more than 4 million square feet. Epic Center will include a team sports complex, offices, dorms, condos, hotels, shopping and affordable housing units to augment the anchor stores already in place thanks to Target, Dillard’s and Belk.

“The design character will be as a dense urban district with new opportunities for gathering spaces and better workability to the surrounding communities,” according to a just-approved memorandum of understanding with the city of Charleston. “The architectural character will be modern and a new network of streets and walking paths will be developed over time.”

Epic Center is going to turn a dead mall into a smart city. And it’s going to take off a lot of pressure to change downtown Charleston’s old homes into short-term dwellings because tourists will be able to rent Airbnb-like, swank accommodations at Epic Center.

“Downtown should be preserved,” Davis said. “A dead mall that is an eyesore and a drain in the community should be transformed, not preserved.”

And he’s just the guy to do it.

Andy Brack is publisher of the Charleston City Paper.

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S O C T H K O C A B 2020 -2021 OL

SAFE RESTART We are working hard to provide the safest and highest quality learning environment for all students, as we prepare for this school year.

For more information regarding our Safe Restart Plan, please visit: https://www.ccsdschools.com/safe-restart for the latest updates.