By Missy Craver Izard   The Curb Market has been a local Hendersonville tradition since 1924. What began as a group of farmers bringing their extra produce to town for the “city folk” has expanded throughout the years to include some of the freshest fruits and vegetables, plants, fresh cut flowers, homemade jams, jellies, baked goods and handmade mountain crafts. On June 1, 2024, The Curb Market will celebrate its 100th birthday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with a big shindig. The brainchild of local farmer, banker, author and radio personality Frank L. FitzSimons, Sr. and Noah M. Hollo ..read more

By Peg Eastman Thomas Heyward, Jr. was one of four signers of the Declaration of Independence from South Carolina. His memory is perpetuated mainly because of a house museum on Church St. at the residence he enjoyed in the 18th century, proving once again that bricks and mortar are the most enduring reminders of historical events and people. Born at Old House Plantation in St. Helena’s Parish, Heyward inherited lands on the banks of the Combahee River, which he developed as White Hall Plantation. He studied law in London at the Middle Temple and was admitted to the bar in 1770. When he retur ..read more

By Charles W. Waring III Like than the sentinel bald cypress commanding a gentle rise in the swamp, Roger Pinckney XI was the high-spirited cultural warrior who inspired his people and the curious. He had victories where so many others failed and wrote more than ten books and penned hundreds of essays, especially hunting stories.   Roger was known well beyond our shores as he had a regular gig with the national magazine Sporting Classics and often wrote about his early life out in Minnesota where he built a cabin and dwelled amid the woodlands for 15 years. In his most recent and perhap ..read more

Swamp Kings By Jason Ryan Hardcover 448 pp. $32.00 (Pegasus Crime, New York, 2024) By Charles W. Waring III Jason Ryan’s book has a teaser on the cover; it is not a subtitle but worthy of repetition: “The Story of the Murdaugh Family of South Carolina and a Century of Backwoods Power.” Way beyond the eerie barnyard humor of Bubba and the guinea hen — taken from a cell phone and played during the televised trial and immediately preceding the double murders — the author wisely dives into the stacks and many local sources. He goes far deeper than the nasty business of Alex Murdaugh’s misdoin ..read more

By Thomas R. Ellen I suspended my annual reading of The Odyssey in mid-March to take up the research for and writing of this essay. I just so happened to pause at Book 17, when Argos hears the voice of his master after so many years away. The canine wags his tail with great effort, his nose down, no strength left to muster. Odysseus, the son of Laertes and the gods of old, raider of cities, master of land ways and seaways, of mind far ranging, wearied from years of war and wandering, sheds a tear upon the sight of his old dog on a dung heap. Argos sees then his master, a flicker, moments befor ..read more

By Ford Walpole We have all heard the Lao Tzu proverb: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” This very philosophy may be applied to the South Carolina Wildlife Federation’s (SCWF) Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreat (POWR) — except for the fact that this event is exclusively for women and is less about consuming fish for survival and more about fueling and sustaining a passion for all outdoor adventures including (but certainly not limited to) angling. I actually recall a hunting club breaking up years ago due to what was then a con ..read more

By Robert M. Baldwin   Nearly 40 years ago, my family moved to Charleston. During that time, the Holy City seemed to be a small town, its surrounding communities almost rural. But then came Hurricane Hugo and Charleston was put on the map overnight. Ever since, the city has been fulfilling its growth destiny. The “Charleston secret” got out once again during the pandemic, leading even more people to move to the Lowcountry. With the influx of people, came the influx of business — and business growth. At one time in the not-so-distant past, grocery stores drug stores and retailers were pr ..read more

By Chad Connelly   In many ways, South Carolina is a modern-day success story — a shining example of the things can be achieved under the right leadership. Our state’s reputation for low taxes, reasonable regulations and welcoming attitude towards business has made it one of the top states to move to and a destination for a variety of exciting new business ventures.             This strategic approach has yielded dividends, but it is currently being jeopardized by the rogue actions of some local governments. The city of Charleston’s ..read more

South Carolina is covered in primary dust; it is now one for the books, but our work has not ended:  No matter if you voted for Haley or Trump, the important thing now is recognizing how seriously flawed Joe Biden is, which is why we must communicate facts to our friends. Joe Biden is more than simply not up to the job; he is a strategic drag on our national security. Special counsel Robert K. Hur, who was appointed to investigate Biden’s illegal handling of classified documents, recently decided not to pursue charges. This decision came after the special counsel’s conclusion that the pr ..read more

By Prioleau Alexander The old saying, “They don’t build ‘em like they used to,” certainly seems to apply to Charleston’s regal Francis Marion Hotel, the stately landmark that just turned 100 years old. Although a century may not seem long within the context of the long history of our city, imagine the wear and tear that comes with over 5,000,000 guests — how many times has the grand staircase been climbed? How many millions of gallons of water have moved through its pipes? How many meals have been prepared and parties catered? It boggles the mind. Seated at the corner of Calhoun and King stre ..read more