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New In Charleston

Large Fuel Spill in the Charleston Marsh 

A diesel fuel spill at Dill Creek on James Island has the U.S. Coast Guard involved in the cleanup. Over 3,100 gallons of fuel were spilled from an above-ground tank near Plum Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. 

Immediately 20% of the spill was cleaned up, leaving 80% floating in the marsh. Mike Saia of Charleston Water System says it might take up to a week to clean the entirety of the spill. The leakage began around 7 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15. 

In order to best remove the diesel fuel from the marsh, a vacuum truck has been placed at the site. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is aiding the U.S. Coast Guard in the cleanup. 

The marsh has a strange red tinted color, due to the red-dye diesel fuel. The main concern for the spill is geared toward the many small animals and wildlife that reside there. Baby crabs, shrimp, and fish are all largely impacted by the spill. Long-term effects have yet to be reported.

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New In Charleston

College of Charleston Hopes To Redesign One of Their Buildings

While the College of Charleston along with many other college campuses are without people, improvements are taking place. The CofC staff and faculty have used this time to continue to maintain the historic buildings. As this year approaches, the College looks to renovate the Simons Center for the Arts as well as a revamping of McAlister Residence Hall.

Vice President of Facilities Management, John Morris, weighs in on the matter. “[TheCofC Staff] is doing all of this and also dealing with the personal anxieties we’re all dealing with. It’s a lot to juggle, and I know it’s not easy for them. I’m proud of their dedication and commitment during these challenging times,” Morris tells The College Today.

As COVID-19 continues to delay the reopening of schools, this opportunity to enhance the architecture and design of the school is being taken advantage of. With so many beautiful projects that have ensued, it’s likely CofC will be in its best shape once they choose to reopen. 

Along with the redesigning of the Simons Center and McAlister Dorms, the College is upkeeping all surrounding facilities. These renovations are keeping employees working and getting paid. Safety precautions have been put in place to keep CofC employees that have to be on campus safe. 

“Y’all are going to be amazed when you get back at some of the things that we’ve been doing – campus is looking beautiful,” says Milton Summers, Deputy Director of Central Energy at the College.

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New In Charleston

College of Charleston Freezes Tuition for the 2020/2021 Calendar Year

As of June 9th, the College of Charleston Board of Trustees voted in favor of a tuition freeze. The 2020-21 academic year is the first semester set to be enforced. What this means for Charleston students is affordable and accessible academics. There won’t be any unexpected surges in tuition costs. 

College of Charleston president Andrew T. Hsu comments, “I appreciate and applaud the Board of Trustees for not increasing tuition. While College administrators will need to be even more creative in dealing with rising costs, not raising tuition is the right thing to do.” 

Undergraduate SC residents will continue to pay $6,259 per semester. Out-of-state undergraduates will still pay $16,424. This tuition freeze offers relief for those fearing a high increase in response to COVID-19.

In effect July 1st through Sept. 30, the board will enforce this change. Throughout the 2021 fiscal year, the board will regroup and discuss further changes. This could mean increases in the College’s dormitory halls or an increase in meal plan costs. Both budgets are subject to change in the coming August/September board meeting.

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Events

In Remembrance: 5 Years After the Mother Emanuel Shooting

Just five years ago, the nine members of the oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church in the South were devastatingly killed. As an act of terrorism, a white supremacist attended their bible study before opening fire. He’s said to have targeted Mother Emanuel for its stature and history. This 2015 shooting still holds a large piece of Charleston history, especially for the black community. We remember those lost and affected by the Mother Emanuel shooting.

Today, this issue remains as relevant as ever.

Almost four dozen protesters gathered at the Battery last week in honor of the nine victims in the 2015 shooting. This Wednesday is the official anniversary. The group’s call to action honors those who have lost their lives to white supremacy. They were met by a counter group of supporters of the Confederate flag. 

With many protests around Charleston, this week is expected to especially highlight these issues. Friday the 19th is the celebration of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. The holiday commemorates the ending of slavery throughout the Confederate South. Community members can find numerous ways to celebrate Juneteenth this year. Join Juneteenth Rock Hill on Instagram and Facebook Live for a virtual commemoration.

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Featured

Charleston Digital CEO Says This Will Play A Major Role In Small Business Recovery

Small businesses all around Charleston are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Some are having to shut their doors forever while others are trying to adjust to the “new normal”. According to the National Federation of Independent Business, 92% of small business owners are being negatively affected by the pandemic.

While many are in recovery mode, we spoke to Charleston Digital Agency CEO, Wesley Donehue, on the major role digital marketing can play in this phase.

More than ever, small businesses are flocking to social media to post updates on reopenings, adjusted hours, sales and specials, new menus, and all other updates. The problem with this, according to Donehue, is the average consumer is being overwhelmed by the amount of content being thrown on their social feeds that small businesses aren’t capturing the attention they could be.

So how can a small business breakthrough all the noise when every small business is trying to get a word in and big businesses are shouting?

Donehue says they can start by cutting unpaid organic content. He says “if your company is still posting organic social content in the 21st century, you are wasting your time and money.” Every piece of content should have money behind it to promote it to a specific audience according to Donehue.

When small businesses post organically, they’re only reaching a small percentage of the people who already like or follow them and are leaving out potential customers who don’t like or follow them yet.

Donehue says he’s been in contact with many small business owners who are paying marketing firms heavy retainers to maintain their content production to create and post MORE content when in actuality they should be paying less for content creation and more on getting the content they have in front of their target audience.

He says, “Instead of spending resources on producing content every day, you should be producing less content and putting resources behind paid content promotion to your target audience.” To unpack that quote, you have to understand the business model of many marketing firms. What Donehue is arguing is that money well spent in digital marketing is toward finding your audience.

Another factor to consider is other ways to talk to potential customers outside of social media. Many small businesses and marketing firms are only thinking of social media rather than standing out and trying to reach people online in other ways, says Donehue.

Donehue, who is already the CEO of the successful digital marketing agency, Push Digital, decided to create Charleston Digital Agency after hearing the concerns of many local small business owners. He said many of them were concerned with the money they were spending on content and weren’t seeing any benefits from it. That’s when he decided to create an agency that models Push Digital’s success with global brands, campaigns, and causes, on a local level.

Officially open for business, this data-driven, audience-focused agency is the solution to all things digital marketing in Charleston, SC.

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New In Charleston

Carnival Won’t Resume Cruises from CHS Until September

Feature Image Source: Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Line’s Charleston-based cruise ship, Sunshine, will not start sailing again until at least September 2020, according to ABC4 News.

Carnival announced earlier in May that all cruises in its global fleet will be canceled for at least the next three months amidst the COVID-19 crisis. This comes after Carnival initially suspended cruises for a minimum of thirty days in mid-March, a suspension that expired on May 11.

The cruise company plans to allow eight ships to cruise again from Miami, Port Canaveral, and Galveston before August, while cruises from most other North American and Australian ports are projected to open on Sept. 1.

Cruises aboard Charleston’s Sunshine are tentatively scheduled to resume Sept. 5, 2020, with a five-day cruise to the Bahamas. Other trips to Bermuda and the Caribbean out of Charleston are now accepting bookings through 2022. All schedules are subject to change in the coming weeks as the pandemic continues to unfold.

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Featured

Sea Turtle Care Center: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release

Featured Image: Massive Science

The South Carolina Aquarium is home to more than just fish. The aquarium’s Sea Turtle Care Center™ encompasses both the original Sea Turtle Hospital and the newer expansion – the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery.

Every species of sea turtle is threatened or endangered, and the SC Aquarium believes that the preservation of these charismatic animals is critical to the health of the marine ecosystem.

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Boop! #scaquarium #aquarium #seaturtle #conservation #charleston #charlestonsc #explorecharleston

A post shared by South Carolina Aquarium (@southcarolinaaquarium) on Aug 13, 2019 at 8:01am PDT

When a sea turtle is found stranded or injured off the coast of South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) brings the animal to the Sea Turtle Care Center for treatment from dedicated staff and volunteers. Sea turtles can arrive suffering from any number of illnesses or injuries. Most commonly, sea turtles are brought in due to either debilitated turtle syndrome, which is a state of shock from being exposed to cold temperatures, or injury from a boat strike or shark bite. These turtles are then rehabilitated and released home to rejoin the sea turtle population.

For 17 years, a team of staff and volunteers has been committed to patients at the Sea Turtle Hospital. The majority of the hospital’s functions have moved to the first floor as a part of the newest addition to the Sea Turtle Care Center, the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery, but the hospital still functions as an intensive care unit for critical patients.

The Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery is both a hospital and a guest experience, allowing aquarium guests to see the full process of rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick and injured sea turtles. Guests are able to get a first-hand view of the real-life rehabilitation. Be sure to stay for a Turtle Talk to hear about the process of rescue, rehabilitation and release from care center staff and learn what it takes to be a sea turtle biologist.

Guests who wish to join in these efforts may become Sea Turtle Guardians by making annual or recurring contributions to the care center. Purchase general admission tickets to the South Carolina Aquarium to get the full Sea Turtle Care Center experience and check out the summer schedule for Turtle Talks.

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Health and Wellness

Downtown Charleston’s Top Yoga Studios

Featured Image: Charleston City Paper

A full-body workout that helps with strength, flexibility and mental health is hard to come by. But yoga has been, and continues to be, a fitness outlet that provides all three. So it’s no surprise that in the past few years, studio after studio seems to be popping up in Charleston. Take a peek below at five of our favorite local yoga studios all located downtown, and get ready to book your next class!

Urban Yoga

Located on King Street and open seven days a week, Urban Yoga offers a range of classes for all levels. Check out their Candlelight Yin class every Sunday evening for some relaxing flow or their Inferno Hot Pilates class offered a few times a week to really feel the heat.

 

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“Slow down, rest & heal!” . The message my body has been telling me for some time now, and for the first time in a long time – I listened. ? . Waking up a few months ago, on the last morning of my amazing Portugal retreat with @erinharrington1 , my body had raised her volume on this message – heard in the way of debilitating neck pain, making the rest of my trip and travel home quite difficult and keeping me off my mat for some time now. . Since that time, I’ve been upping my self care game, seeking medical care and trying to allow my body to come back to some version of healthy.? . Factor in a move and some west coast travel to celebrate my 40th bday, I’ve been a bit MIA. I’ve truly missed seeing the tribe and practicing next to all my students and fellow teachers, so I’m happy to say I’ll be back in action – on my mat very soon! ?‍♀️ . Lesson learned: our bodies give us signals, but if we don’t listen when they tell us that they are tired or stressed, then the imbalance increases and a stronger message is required, one that is generally expressed by illness and/or pain. The first step to regaining equilibrium involves slowing down, nourishing your body, getting more rest, and seeking treatment if necessary (acupuncture, massage, chiropractic work, etc.). Once we have nurtured ourselves with these things, we can begin to examine our illness for the message. Only you have the knowledge of your thoughts and choices that will allow you to interpret the messages from your body. All it takes is time and attention. Your body has all the answers to restore itself to the best it can be. ??‍♀️ . See you in child’s pose very soon, friends! ❤️XO Meg . . . #yoga #charleston #charlestonyoga #yogacharleston #chsyoga #urbanyogachs #yogateacher #yogaeverydamnday #urbanyoga #urbanyogi #practiceandalliscoming #selfcare #slowdown #listentoyourbody

A post shared by Urban Yoga Charleston (@urbanyogachs) on Aug 9, 2019 at 6:22am PDT

Charleston Power Yoga

The instructors at Charleston Power Yoga are here to “share the sweaty, challenging and empowering practice of Baptiste Power Yoga” with anyone who comes into the studio. Recently voted Charleston’s Best Yoga Studio, Charleston Power Yoga is also located on King Street, and is giving new clients the opportunity to book as many classes as they would like for just $29 in their first two weeks.

 

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Power Yoga is a path to strength, flexibility, focus and endurance. And it’s also a path to connect with what’s really important-You, Your Why, Your Purpose, Your Possibility. Yes you’ll sweat, get flatter abs, and strong biceps. That’s a given. The best part is finding self love, your breath, and that you are More than enough. See you on the mat #whyicpy #comefindyourwhy #strengthsoulsweat #poweryoga

A post shared by Charleston Power Yoga (@charlestonpoweryoga) on Aug 12, 2019 at 7:52am PDT

Mission Yoga

Holding their core beliefs of movement, meditation, inquiry, creativity and community at the heart of everything they do, Mission Yoga studio is located on Spring Street. With classes starting at just $12 for students, it’s no surprise that Mission Yoga is a well-loved Charleston studio.

 

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So much connection happens here. In this space you’ll connect to your body, mind, and heart. You’ll connect the dots between your dreams and the next most right steps. You’ll connect with your neighbors. You’ll connect with people you may assume are nothing like you but you’ll share the desire to practice yoga and from there you’ll connect more. You’ll connect to your breath and as you do you’ll connect to ease or energy reserves or deeper strength. Connection happens here. Every da in so many ways. Come practice. #wearemissionyoga #connect #rebelyogis #charlestonyoga #trueyoga #realyoga #wisdom #community #connection

A post shared by Mission Yoga (@wearemissionyoga) on Jul 24, 2019 at 8:51am PDT

The Works

You can find The Works on Meeting Street, where they blend vinyasa yoga, meditation, breathwork, plyometrics, core and strength work into their five signature classes. Even as a newer addition to the downtown yoga studios, The Works is already making an impact and garnering a loyal following.

 

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Looking for some motivation to GET IN THE ROOM? Let’s kick off September with the SWEATEMBER CHALLENGE! 30 classes in 30 days because we can do hard things. Visit our website and click events to sign up! ?: @sami.fuentes #soulfulfitness #theworkschs #getintheroom

A post shared by The Works (@theworkschs) on Aug 15, 2019 at 4:54am PDT

These are just a few of our favorites, so be sure to let us know here if we missed your go-to studio!

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