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STAFF
Paul Gangarosa........................................................Owner/President of the Board
Rachel Duley...........................................................Secretary of the Board
Jill Hunter Powell....................................................Managing Editor
Moses Brunson........................................................Vendor Coordinator
Kemberle Griffin......................................................Creative Art Director
Lacii Paul.................................................................Marketing Director
Thomas Robertson...................................................Marketing Director
Jenesha Nance..........................................................Staff Writer
Lauren Feder............................................................Staff Writer
Nikki Hill................................................................Intern
Nicole Waleski.........................................................Intern
Shelia Russell...........................................................Contributing Writer
JeremyRussell...........................................................Contributing Writer
John Andrew Reyes..................................................Movie Reviews
2
Written by Lacii Paul
Last month we lost nine members of the city of Charleston to
a senseless crime of hate. These members include Cynthia Hurd,
Susie Jackson, Rev. Clementa Pinckney, Rev. Daniel Simmons
Sr., Rev. Sharonda Singleton, Tywanza Sanders, Rev. DePayne
Middleton-Doctor, and Ethel Lance. Wednesday evening, these
nine, along with three survivors, were worshipping at the Emanuel
African Methodist Episcopal Church. Their church is one of
the oldest historically black churches in the United States and
has been an organization site for many civil rights movements.
This shooting has changed the national climate and has sparked
national debates over gun control, the confederate flag, and the
issue of race as it is portrayed in American media. These issues
are certainly worth talking about, but Charlestonians have
not overlooked the true tragedy: nine friends, brothers, sisters,
parents, and children were taken from us on June 18, 2015, and
our lives are forever changed. Calling this a tragedy does not
begin to explain what we all felt as we heard the helicopters and
ambulances, and switched on the news to find out what might
be the cause of so much chaos downtown. Whether you were on
Rev. Sharonda Singleton’s track team, shared a joke with Ms.
Cynthia Hurd during your library visit, or you simply heard
the aftermath, this tragedy has changed the way we all interact
with our city. As we often do, we are picking ourselves up and
building a stronger city founded on unity, and as Charlestonians,
we must continue to remember and honor the lives that were
stolen from us.
AME Nine
3. 3
T
hough I haven’t been in the beautiful
city of Charleston this summer,
I’ve been busy. Traveling, learning,
and meeting new people were all on my
plate. I’ve even visted a Queen: The Queen
City, that is. Part of my family hails from
Charlotte, North Carolina and for a time,
I hailed from there, too. Charlotte, known
for shopping, speedways, and stadiums
has magnificent sights about. You can’t
drive past the city without noticing the
skyscrapers of uptown reflecting the deep
blue of the sky. And at night, the only things
that outshine the city lights are the eyes of
amazed patrons strutting the streets.
Downtown also makes a beautiful
backdrop for the Bank of America
Stadium. The lights of the stadium reflect
a bright teal blue in support of the beloved
Carolina Panthers. Noteworthy sights
include the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the
NC Music Factory, and shopping malls
galore! Charlotte is also home to celebrities
like Anthony Hamilton and Dale Earnhart,
Jr. Rumor has it, Tiger Woods even golfs
on the greens of the city. Though the city
is majestic, there is a grave truth within
the streets.
While perusing the south side of
Charlotte, I couldn’t help noticing an
abundance of homeless people living on the
streets. All of them had similar signs written
on the back of reused cardboard. Signs that
had messages like “Pregnant and homeless”
or “I’m a daddy.” These occurrences were
far from rare. According to the North
Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness, in
2014, over 2000 households with children
in Charlotte/Mecklenburg County were
deemed homeless, as compared to the 29 in
Charleston County. So it made sense that
an average hour of driving meant being
approached by three different homeless
people at stoplights.
Every time I see one of these people, I
put myself in their shoes. What if I was the
woman forced to panhandle to support
the child I can’t afford to keep? What if
you were the father approaching your
children, who are ecstatic because Daddy
finally has enough food for all of them to
eat? Homelessness is a prominent issue in
both of these cities. What we do to help the
homeless matters. Even the little bit anyone
can give helps. Assisting people is what the
Lowcountry Herald stands for. We do it to
help the people, improve the community,
and spread love and hope.
Sources for data: http://www.
ncceh.org/media/files/page/3438d474/
Mecklenburg.02.19.2014_ Homeless_
Count_Form-v.2-FINAL.pdf http://
w w w. schomeless.org/w p- content /
uploads/2013/06/SCHC-2013-PIT-
REPORT-FINAL-Post.pdf
It Matters to Someone Written by Jenesha Nance
Photo by Annette Shaff/Shutterstock.com
4. 4
P
tophobia is the fear of falling. On a scale of 1 to 100,
I am 100% sure I developed ptophobia today. Not
coincidentally, I also hiked to Angel’s Landing in Zion
National Park today.
All was going well. Sure, the start of the hike included
numerous steep paths, cramping calves, and shortness of
breath, but these were all expected consequences of taking on
a five-mile trek up and down a mountain in Utah. It was when
the elevation started souring and the air started thinning that
the real trouble began.
Strike one was assuming the first landing I got to towards
the top of the trail was the beginning of the end. It wasn’t.
Sure, 2 of the 2.5 miles to the apex of the mountain had been
traversed, but that last half-mile would prove to take double the
amount of time the rest of the hike up had taken. The reason
for this sudden decline in time efficiency was that the path to
the top had changed from walking uphill to scaling up and over
boulders.
Strike two was not splurging on hiking boots before taking
this national parks trip. Consequently, I was climbing in
worn-down tennis shoes.
Strike three was carrying on with this expedition even after
raindrops started to fall from the sky. Sure, it was a steady
drizzle, not a downpour. Sure, I had enough sense to stop if
these conditions worsened. However, my stubbornness and
determination to succeed would not allow me to stop this
close to the top unless it was really necessary. So I continued
to climb.
The stones grew slippery, my palms became slimy, and my
forehead glistened with nervous sweat.
Three strikes, I was out.
All at once, the perilous nature of this expedition dawned
on me. The idea of slipping and falling was an ever-present
threat written in neon at the front of my thoughts. Why was I
doing this? Was I going to plunge to my death today? Would
anyone know what happened to me?
Grasping at straws, my brain turned to morbid humor: this
hike was supposed to end at a place called Angel’s Landing (a
precipice so remote and high in the mountain range that its
discoverers said only angels could reach it), so even if I died
here I’d at least be close to heaven.
It was this ridiculous train of thought that jolted me out of
my downward spiral. My mood stabilizing as humor provided
a counterbalance to panic, I remembered why I wanted to
take on this hike in the first place: I love exploring new places.
I love challenging myself. I love succeeding at strenuous
activities. Calmer now, I reevaluated my current situation:
Yes, it was still raining. Yes, I was still clinging to a three-
foot wide expanse of craggy mountaintop that rose at a nearly
vertical grade. But rocks were not the only things I had to
hold on to. Recently installed pegs, poles, and metal chains
were available on some parts of the half-mile stretch that lay
between me and the top of this cliff. They were there to help
me. They were there to keep me safe. Securing myself to the
nearest chain, I continued taking stock of the positive aspects
of my situation. Other hikers, climbers, and adventurers had
successfully navigated the terrain ahead of me. If they could
do it, so could I! With this in mind, I unlocked my fear-frozen
limbs and continued up into the clouds.
I was back up to bat and ready to swing for the fences! Sure, I
was still wary of slipping and falling, but this was now serving
to keep me cautious and safe, not fearful and frozen. And later,
as I stood at the peak of this mountain, on ground where angels
were rumored to tread, I took a moment to congratulate myself.
I had developed and conquered a fear all in one morning.
Now all I had left to do was figure out a way back down…
Photo of path leading up to Angels Landing at Zion National
Park in Utah by Lorcel/Shutterstock.com
Ptophobia in Park
Written by Laruen Feder
5. 5
I
t has been said that fish and relatives start
to smell bad after three days. I have had
a bad smell in my house for two weeks.
Yes, I have been host to seven people, one
being a two-year-old. Furthermore, it is
worth noting that the two-year-old was the
best behaved.
My husband turned 60 this year, and
his adult children who reside in London,
England, decided that a visit would be
the perfect gift. They first contacted me
in December of 2014 and swore me to
secrecy. To be honest, we don’t normally
communicate very often (the old Second
Wife Syndrome) so imagine my surprise
when they emailed me that they were coming
and planning to stay with us! What could I
say? I am a Southern Belle and my manners
would not allow me to say no. It may have
been one of the few times I wish I had been
raised elsewhere. So for six months I have
had to keep this secret. Well at least I kept it
from my husband. I think every other living
being that I know was forced to listen to
my histrionics concerning what came to be
known as “those people are coming.” Well,
I had to tell someone.
Slowly,the requests began. Could I get
their Dad to take off time from work while
they were here? Now please understand,
my husband lives and breathes work. He
has even emailed me in the house to tell me
something. So asking him to take off time
from work with no destination in mind
was like asking a politician to tell the truth.
It would have been too foreign and too
painful of an experience for him. However,
after several scotch whiskeys, I managed to
convince him that I really needed him to
take some time off from work. I may have
made some enticing promises to help seal the
deal. It had to be done.
So the series of lies began. For the first
visitor, his daughter, I convinced him that
my best friend was coming to visit and
due to all the construction at the airport, I
really didn’t want to drive. This all had to
be coordinated so that when she arrived, she
was able to get his reaction on her phone.
Ok, that was a sweet moment. Remember,
I’m still sane at this point.
The following week, the son, his wife,
and their 2 year old were scheduled to arrive
around lunch time on Thursday. Plans were
made to go out to dinner and downtown to
a show on Wednesday night. Imagine my
surprise when I received an email at lunch
proclaiming that they would be at the house
in time for dinner Wednesday night! Well,
then I had to lie and explain how I had a
really bad day at work and didn’t want to
go downtown, but that nothing would make
me feel better than to cook a big meal. Yes.
He believed that. So around dinner time, the
doorbell rang and they arrived.
I specifically asked ahead of time if
anyone had any dietary restrictions. “Oh,
no”, they all replied. Somehow only eating
gluten-free products or only organic foods
does not constitute as restrictions. Bear in
mind, however, that the gluten-free eater
was only gluten free in my house. She had
no difficulty eating at Jack’s Cosmic Dogs,
5 Guys, Chick-Fil-A, and Ihop twice!
When she asked me to make her one of my
homemade pizzas with gluten free flour, I
tried to explain to her exactly what gluten
does. Alas, it fell on deaf ears. The pizza
was, of course, a disaster, but I did get to
say, “I told you so” (even though it was only
in my head).
It was like an invasion. They were
everywhere, my entire routine disrupted.
Toys, clothes, more toys; stuff was
everywhere. Sadly, my dogs kept looking
up at me as if begging to make it all stop.
I began to cherish every moment at work.
When my boss suggested that we leave early
on July 2nd, I strenuously objected. I even
offered to come in to work on the 3rd, even
though we were closed. The gym became
like a second home to me. I worked out like
I was training for the Olympics.
My husband’s birthday, on the 4th of
July, was rapidly approaching and as if there
weren’t enough people in the house already,
I invited my daughter to come and stay for a
couple of nights. “Glutton for punishment”,
you might be thinking, but I needed someone
on my team.
So in the midst of all this confusion, where
did I find my husband, the guest of honor?
He had retreated into the screen room where
he was calmly reading a book. That’s when
I snapped. Diary of a Mad Housewife had
nothing on me, and within seconds, he was
at the pool with the family while I rested in
my recliner watching Law &Order. Ah, yes,
the sweet smell of victory.
However, as the days went by, I noticed
something very peculiar. I was actually
enjoying myself. One evening I stopped for
a moment and realized that all the women
in the clan were in the kitchen laughing,
preparing dinner, and singing along to the
Temptations. Don’t worry the men were
busy at the grill. And while it may come
off a bit stereotypical, it was somehow very
pleasant. The banter and laughter around
the previouslyquiet dinner table was not
only stimulating but seemed quite natural.
Had I grown to like these people, or was I a
victim of Stockholm Syndrome?
Finally. they began to leave, first my
daughter, then his daughter, then the son,
wife and baby. I had my house back, and I
immediately set about putting things back
in their place. However, as I hurried about
these tasks, I couldn’t help but notice the
silence. Yes, after two weeks of constant
noise, it was pleasant, but I realized
something. I had not just survived the visit
I had been dreading for six months, but I
thrived because of it.
Written by Sheila RussellRelatives
Illustration by Matthew Cole/Shutterstock.com
6. 6
The Great Depression marked some of
the darkest years in United States history.
Out of work and unable to provide for
their families, men and women across the
country were desperate for any kind of
hope, for a light at the end of the tunnel.
Turnsout,thatlightwouldn’tbecoming
from a tunnel. In fact, any light shining
through would mean a devastating leak
must be present; it was a dam that would
provide the push many needed to survive
the Great Depression. Not just any dam,
this structure would become the largest
dam the world had seen up until that
point in history: the Hoover Dam.
A behemoth structure, the Hoover
Dam was built using 3.5 million cubic
yards of concrete. This is the equivalent
of the amount of concrete needed to
wrap a four-foot wide sidewalk around
the world. Costing nearly 49 million
dollars in time of extreme economic
turmoil, this governmental project
helped to bolster a lackluster economy by
providing thousands of people with work
for five years.
This dam’s construction and
competition reaped many benefits. In
addition to the economic bounce it
fostered, this dam formed the largest
water reservoir in the world by blocking
the Colorado River up and creating Lake
Mead. To give perspective to the enormity
of this lake, envision the size of the state of
Pennsylvania, and then imagine a body of
water large enough to blanket this entire
state. During peak performance periods,
the turbines installed in the Hoover Dam
can filter through the amount of water it
would take to fill fifteen swimming pools
per second. These turbines generate
electricity for much of the American
Southwest, and the reservoir is the
major provider of freshwater to this area
as well.
Now, all these facts and figures are
fairly interesting. Sure, the scope of this
project can be conceived in the abstract.
But nothing compares to experiencing
the enormity firsthand.
I was granted the opportunity to visit
the Hoover Dam earlier this summer. I
swear my jaw was hanging unhinged
in shock and awe for the entirety of
my tour. Greeted by a 726-foot wall of
eighty-year old concrete, I was shown the
tunnels the 16,000 workers had to make
and traverse when building the dam. I got
to touch the damp, moss-strewn walls
that lay hundreds of feet underground.
I was given the chance to straddle the
line between two states and two time
zones when my tour took a short jaunt
across the road that runs along the top of
the dam.
The size of such a project during
the Great Depression boggles the
imagination. Visiting the culmination
of such hard work, time, planning, and
extraordinary engineering gave me a
greater appreciation for the strength of
the American spirit. Even during the
darkest of times, American ingenuity
won out. Even in the bleakest of
conditions, a solution to both current
economic disparities and future water
and electrical needs was found. The
Hoover Dam is one of the word’s most
awe-inspiring wonders, and it deserves to
be recognized as such.
Hover Dam photo by Kemberle Griffin
Hoover Dam:
a legacy of hope and help
Written by Lauren Feder
Hoover Dam:
a legacy of hope and help
Written by Lauren Feder
8. 8
A
re you looking for a relaxing get-
away trip from Charleston, SC? Of
course, everyone loves Charleston
but this time of year the heat can be down
right unbearable. Look no further than the
mountains of North Carolina for a cool
respite. Would you trade the 95 degree
Charleston heat for temperatures in the 70’s
in the mountains? South Carolinians have
been doing just that for hundreds of years.
My family and I recently took a trip to a
little town called Banner Elk, NC. Situated
about 5 hours away from Charleston,
the area around Banner Elk is absolutely
beautiful. There’s fishing, hiking, shopping,
dining and best of all, Grandfather
Mountain located in Linville, NC.
Every July, the Grandfather Mountain
Highland Games is held at Macrae
Meadows. This gathering of the Scottish
clans is a very popular event attended by
thousands from all over the country. Draped
in tartan, my family and I attended the
games and had a terrific time. We ate scotch
eggs, fish and chips, scones with cream and
even a tad of haggis. We sat in our clan tent
and discussed family history. We shopped at
the many vendors and we listened to the pipe
bands for hours. It was a great adventure.
Open year-round, Grandfather Mountain
boasts amazing wildlife habitats that
include up close encounters with otters,
bald eagles, cougars, deer and even bears!
If you are adventurous, the absolute must-
do at Grandfather Mountain is the mile
high swinging bridge. This bridge is one
mile above sea level and the views are
amazing! Don’t worry it’s completely safe.
It can be very windy and chilly up on top of
the mountain. If you go, take a jacket and
definitely a camera.
After exploring all that Grandfather
Mountain has to offer, hop on the Blue Ridge
Parkway and head south. Along the way,
you will find Linville Falls. While not the
prettiest of waterfalls in NC, the hike is nice
and a little challenging. Travel further along
the parkway to Little Switzerland where
you will find Emerald Village gem mine.
My family had a great time gem mining and
found some really nice stones. From stones
that everyone knows to the more exotic,
all can be found at Emerald Village. My
husband found a very nice piece of sodalite,
which is a blue and white stone. The staff
at Emerald Village offer a stone cutting
service which is quite reasonable. In 6 weeks
time, I will have a beautiful necklace to
remember our time in the mountains. What
better souvenir?
In the winter, Sugar Mountain nearby is a
fantastic place to go snow skiing and tubing.
Our lodging fell through at the last minute
and luckily, we found a condo on Sugar
Mountain. Not only was it convenient to
everything we wanted to explore and close
to restaurants and shopping, there was a
stream out back. We were able to leave our
windows open and listen to the sounds of
nature every night. Ahhhhh!
If you are looking for a nice, relaxing
weekend away then head for hills
of North Carolina!
WeekendTripFtom
WrittenbyJillHunterPowell~ManagingEditor Photos by Hunter Powell
10. 10
Marvel’s ~ ANT-MAN
M
arvel’s Ant-Man is the twelfth
installment into Marvel’s highly-
popular cinematic universe,
which started off with Marvel’s Iron Man
back in 2008. Since then, Marvel has been
rocking Hollywood with their blockbuster,
game-changing, and high-grossing films,
such as their Avengers, Captain America,
and Iron Man series of films. So, when
Marvel announced Ant-Man, many
wondered if this film would live up to the
hype Marvel has generally created with
passed films. But, I’ve been wondering,
as both a fan and moviegoer, “Does it
have to?”
And, the answer is, no. It doesn’t have to.
Marvel’s Ant-Man follows former thief
Scott Lang (Played by Paul Rudd), as he
seeks redemption upon being released from
prison. But, what he doesn’t expect is that
redemption came in the size of an ant as
he is recruited by former SHIELD scientist,
and superhero, Hank Pym, the original
Ant-Man (Played by Michael Douglas), to
help him and his daughter, Hope (Played
by Evangilene Lilly) stop Hank’s former
protégé Darren Cross (Cory Stoll) from
using Hank’s shrinking formula, the “Pym
Particles” as a weapon. So they, along with
Scott’s team of highly skilled thieves, plan
out an elaborate heist to destroy Cross’
work and keep the Pym Particles from ever
reaching the outside world.
Now, from that synopsis, you can tell
this is a VERY different film from Marvel’s
other movies. This isn’t your traditional
superhero movie, but neither are most
of Marvel’s films. Captain America: The
Winter Soldier was a spy thriller, for
example, but this one is a heist film, where
our hero starts off in prison. On that
note, though, let’s look at the characters
of the film, then. Rather than a scientist,
like Tony Stark, or a good guy by heart,
like Steve Rogers, Scott Lang is a convict,
though, a convict with good intentions.
His backstory is that he was fired from a
sketchy company called Vistacorp, which
he retaliated against by giving back a large
sum of money to the people the company
had stolen from. Upon being caught,
though, he was taken to prison, losing
his wife through divorce, and the custody
of his daughter. Coming out of prison,
Scott wants to find redemption, and while
he finds it, he still ends up getting pulled
back into a life of crime, but this time as
the legacy of Hank Pym’s former alter
ego, Ant-Man. Actor Paul Rudd was an
interesting choice by Marvel, and many
were sort of concerned because the actor
tends to not come out of his comfort zone,
typically portraying the same character
in anything he’s in. But, here, it’s sort of
like he was born to play Scott Lang, or
at least felt a better connection with how
he should portray the role of Scott. Rudd
definitely shows off his acting chops in
this film, providing us with a very well-
rounded character, who also has a great
arc in the film with very subtle character
development. The writing for Lang is spot-
on, and Rudd’s deliveries are just what they
need to be to keep him a fun, entertaining
character. Especially one who is entering a
world where he’s the only “99%” citizen
superhero, compared to the pantheon of
heroes who are now all Avengers. Though,
there are a couple of things off about some
of the dialog that do cause some pacing
issues, but I’ll get to that in a bit….
Michael Douglas plays the role of Doctor
Hank Pym, former SHIELD scientist, and
agent, who created a shrinking formula
known as the Pym Particle that allowed
him to shrink to the size of an ant and go
on covert missions to battle the Soviets
back in the 1980’s. Unlike Scott Lang,
most of the characters adapted from the
pages of the comic book are much different
on the big screen, which isn’t a terrible
thing. Much like in the comics, though,
Hank suffers from long-term exposure
to the Pym Particles. In both the comics,
and in the film, the Pym Particles can be
known to cause psychological damage. So,
in the film, we do see a distraught Hank,
but there’s many other things at play that I
don’t want to completely spoil. But, he, too,
is well-written, only with a clichéd line,
here or there, that kinda wrecks some of
the mood sometimes, but overall he may be
a much better written character than even
Scott.
His daughter, Hope, though, is sort of
here or there. Her story is that she is the
daughter of Hank Pym, and his late wife
Janet Van Dyne. Sometime ago, Hank’s
protégé Darren was looking to obtain
control over Hank’s company, Pym
Technologies, to which Hope was the
deciding vote, leading to her father losing
the company, and his daughter after years
of tension, after the death of her mother,
which she blamed him for. Upon realizing
her mistake, as Darren came across
Hank’s buried Pym Particle research, and
losing his mind to over-exposure, she goes
back to her father to try and stop Darren
from creating an army of soldiers with
the Pym Particle. This character has her
times where she can be a person, but for
the most part is a cliché all on her own,
being stuck-up and aggressing towards
everyone in the film, and sort of being that
“serious female business type” that tends to
get old. Being a main character, she does
have a substantial amount of character
development throughout the film, though a
lot of her own scenes feel a bit rushed, and
sometimes cause the film’s pacing issues,
as well.
The villain, Darren Cross, is the former
protégé of Hank, and Hope’s boss. He took
over Hank’s company, and when
(continued on page 15)
BY
JOHNREYES
11. 11
U
pon surrendering Fort Sumter on
April 15, 1861, the United States
military developed a methodical
campaign designed to regain control of
Charleston harbor. In 1863 an attack
by Union ironclad ships failed to retake
Ft. Sumter, so Union General Quincy
Gillmore approved a plan to reduce
Charleston with artillery fire. For that
purpose, he ordered the construction of
a battery in the marsh between Morris
and James Islands.
During the summer pilings were
driven into the marsh to create a
parapet, a grillege (crisscrossed logs)
laid on top and covered with 13,000
sandbags weighing more than 800
tons. A platform was built on top of the
sand bags to support a 16,500-pound
gun – an 8-inch Parrot nicknamed the
“Swamp Angel.” The Angel was capable
of firing 200 pound incendiary shells
(authorized by President Lincoln) four
to five miles into the city. The shells were
filled with “Greek fire,” a mixture used
first in 450 BC which included sulphur,
petroleum, quicklime, phosphorus, and
saltpeter. It was hoped that the “greek
fire” would ignite upon explosion and turn
Charleston into a “raging inferno.” The
gun was mounted on August 17.
On the evening of August 21-22, 1863,
Captain Nathaniel Edwards took compass
readings on St Michael’s church steeple
in Charleston for nighttime firing. For
the people of the North, Charleston was
a legitimate military target, as well as
an emotional target. Charleston was the
symbol of the Southern rebellion, where
secession and the first military action of the
War took place. Charleston’s destruction
was considered fair retribution.
On August 21, 1863, Union General
Quincy Gillmore wrote a letter to
Confederate Gen. P.G.T Beauregard: “The
United States government demands the
immediate evacuation of Morris Island
and Fort Sumter within four hours of
this delivery or I shall open fire upon the
city of Charleston.” The note reached
Beauregard’s headquarters at 10:45 P.M.
Beauregard was not at the headquarters,
and since the message was unsigned, it was
returned to Gillmore for verification.
At 1:30 A.M the first shot from the
Swamp Angel was fired into the city, its shell
landed near the present day intersection
of Church and Pinckney streets. British
war correspondent and illustrator Frank
Vizetelly was staying at the Charleston
Hotel on Meeting Street. He described
the first shot “like the whirr of a phantom
brigade of cavalry galloping in mid-air over
the hotel and then a deafening explosion in
the street. At first I thought a meteor had
fallen, but a moment later … there was
another whirr and another explosion. The
city was being shelled. There were terrified
citizens rushing about in the scantiest
of costumes.”
The explosion caused panic and
pandemonium among the hotel’s guests,
whom Vizetelly described as “shady
speculators attracted to the auctions of
goods recently run through the blockade
by unscrupulous characters from whom the
Confederacy expects nothing.”
Over the next hour, sixteen shots landed
in the city. One of the guests wrote that “We
could hear the whiz of shells before
they passed over our heads, and I bet
the Englishman [Vizetelly] a thousand
to one that the next shell would not
hit us.” The resulting flames of the
bombardment could be seen by the
Union soldiers and the fire alarm bells
rang throughout the night.
The next morning Gillmore’s
note, now signed, was re-delivered
to Beauregard’s headquarters.
Beauregard immediately sent back an
enraged reply in which he demanded
time to evacuate the city’s civilian
population. Gillmore gave Beauregard
twenty-four hours.
On August 23 the Swamp Angel
resumed firing, shooting dozens
of rounds into the city. On the
thirty-sixth shot, the Swamp Angel
exploded and fell silent forever, but
history had been made. The firing
of the Swamp Angel was the first
documented firing of an artillery piece
using a compass reading, and the distance
covered by the shells launched into the city
was farther than any previous military
bombardment. Even without the Angel,
the Federal bombardment of Charleston
nevertheless continued until February
1865 when Union troops occupied the
city. The siege lasted 587 days, the longest
suffered by any American city. Charleston
was under Federal occupation for the next
twelve years.
After the War, the remains of the Swamp
Angel were transported to Trenton, New
Jersey, where they were used as part of a
Civil War Monument. The gun was restored
in 1994 where it remains on display in
Cadwalader Park.
Mark R. Jones is a Charleston-based
writer, public speaker and tour guide. He
is the author of six books about Charleston
and South Carolina history. He is also
the purveyor of BlackCatTours.com and
CharlestonPrivateTours.com. His “Today
In Charleston History” blog can be found
at markjonesbooks.com
The Swamp Angel Takes Aim at Charleston
Written by Mark R. Jones ~ Photos from the Library of Congress
12. 12
E
very now and then, we
find inspiration where we
least expect it. We’ve all
felt stuck in a situation that
felt hopeless at the time.
Moses Brunson has been
there. A self-proclaimed
“hoodlum in the street,”
Moses spent two and a half
years in prison...time he
spent contemplating and
planning how he would
better his situation. He also
did a lot of praying. His
marriage had crumbled.
After his release, Moses
moved to Charleston with
dreams of a better life.
Before he had taken a
series of unfortunate turns,
Moses had been the best
in his business of janitorial
floor work. Lots
(continued on next page)
Our vendor coordinator,
Moses Brunson. Photo by
Paige Suttle
YOUR AD COULD BE HERE
Contact Advertising@
lowcountryherald.org to place an ad
WE PRINT,
SO OTHERS CAN EARN
Moses Brunson and the
Tiny House Project
Written by
Paige Suttle
13. 13
AM Line Cook/
Prep Cook;
Sweet Water Café
(James Island)
Stop by to fill out application
between 2 and 4 pm.
Bartender;
Charleston Harbor Resort
and Marina
(Mount Pleasant)
Weekend availability needed.
Bellman;
The Lodge Alley Inn
(Downtown Charleston)
Looking for full – time.
Cashier and Server;
Taziki’s Mediterranean
Café (Mount Pleasant)
Hourly pay plus tips. Shifts
are typically 9 am-3pm or
3 pm-9:30 pm, so no late
nights. Send resume to
mtpleasant@tazikiscafe.com
or apply in person between 2
pm and 4 pm.
Cashier;
Murphy USA (Summerville)
Cashiers;
Field & Stream
(North Charleston)
New store opening. Full and
Part time positions available.
Closing Pizza Cooks;
Bucks Pizza
(West Ashley)
Must be able to work until
4 am Friday and Saturday,
and 2 am Sunday through
Thursday.
Delivery Driver,
Warehouse Associate;
84 Lumber (Summerville)
Dishwasher;
The Obstinate Daughter
(Sullivan’s Island)
Looking for someone
clean, organized, and with
his or her own means of
transportation. Benefits
include health insurance,
401K, and paid vacation for
all employees.
Drivers;
Marco’s Pizza
(Mount Pleasant)
Food Service Worker;
Larry’s Giant Subs
(Goose Creek)
Available to work flexible
hours and days of week.
Responsibilities include food
preparation, cashier functions,
and customer interaction.
Training provided.
Front Desk,
Night Auditor,
Room Attendant,
Housekeeping
Supervisor, Laundry
Attendant;
Days Inn (Goose Creek)
Front Desk, Night Auditor,
and Room Attendant are all
full-time positions.
Apply for all in person, or
submit resume online or
fax.
Continued on page 15
of employers wanted him. He was even able
to negotiate a cushy job with a company
car when he didn’t even have a driver’s
license. One thing, however, always
stood in his way: Moses had a felony
on his record. Even though he’d had 37
interviews in a year and a half, 95% of
the floor-cleaning jobs available were in
schools, and that meant a zero-tolerance
policy. Stranded and out of funds, Moses
soon found himself sleeping on a park
bench. It seemed there was only one way
out: Moses had to open his own business,
and that meant he had to get his degree.
So that’s what he did.
Moses got a grant, and he went to
college, where he got degrees in business
and computer technology. At night, he
slept on that park bench.
Along his journey, Moses made some
friends in the homeless community. Many
had become homeless because like him,
their criminal records prevented them
from obtaining gainful employment. A
vision was born. Moses would open his
own janitorial business and he would
only employ others with spotty pasts.
Before that could happen, though, Moses
would bring tiny houses to Charleston
so that the homeless community would
have a place to call home. This goal is
imperative to Moses because at last
Census count, there were 2830 known
homeless people in Charleston. Moses
has been their eyes and ears, of sorts,
because the rest of society has essentially
found them to be invisible.
Moses has started to get some
attention from big names around
Charleston, people whom he says “God
put in my pathway.” He’s getting a lot
of community support from mayoral
candidate John Tecklenburg and his wife
Sandy, Senator Marlon Kimpson, and
city councilmen Mitchell and Whipper.
People want to see the tiny house project
come to fruition. Moses’ vision of a tiny
house community includes a vegetable
garden and a pond stocked with fish. For
practical purposes, it should be located
near a bus line. Unfortunately, Moses has
been told that he needs the support of the
community before he can expect much
help from other elected officials, so until
more people come forward and help get
this project off the ground, it will remain
only a dream.
Meanwhile, Moses has managed to get
The Lowcountry Herald into the hands
of 13 more vendors in the two weeks that
have passed since we had a meeting. He
has been back to pick up more boxes of
street papers and still needs more. This is
definitely a good turn of events.
When asked about opening his own
business to employ the downtrodden,
Moses says the tiny house project is his
primary focus now, and that it will be the
launching pad for Mr. B’s Janitorial Svcs.
2. His goal will be to keep people off the
streets, put money in their pockets, and
build them back up.
How can you help? Donations can be
sent to Tiny House Project of Charleston,
P. O. Box 20203 Charleston, SC , 29403.
Donations are tax-deductible as this is a
501C3 business.
14. 14
T
he term “social media” refers to
the type of computer program that
allows you to share information,
ideas, images and pretty much anything
else (sound, video) with a network of
contacts. There are a myriad of social
media tools – the best known, Facebook,
had almost 1.5 billion users in the first
quarter of 2015, more than the entire
population of China. And that’s just one
example of the social media phenomenon
– Wikipedia lists 209 other social
networking websites and comments
“This is a list of major active social
networking websites and excludes dating
websites”. You could spend your entire
life interacting virtually online, without
ever needing to see a real person again.
Why do people seem so entranced by
social media? A survey by OnePoll cites
several reasons, from the obvious “social
interaction”,to“relaxation”ortheblatant
“being nosey”. Whatever your reason,
there is no denying that social media is
here to stay, that it’s addictive to use and
– let’s be honest – it is fascinating to
know what’s going on in the minutia of
other people’s lives.
Addiction to anything isn’t good and
the e-addiction often induced by the ease
of use is just like other addictions. There
can be side-effects that can go unnoticed
until too late. Amongst younger users,
the potential anonymity afforded by
some websites can lead to cyber-bullying,
and there have been extreme incidents
reported recently leading to successful
suicide attempts. Kids can be cruel;
untraceable, anonymous kids can be very
cruel.
The ubiquity of computers in the
workplace and the simplicity of getting
online from your desk can be both
useful and counter-productive. Useful,
because small and large companies
are relying more and more on being
able to target consumers and potential
consumers directly through this new
medium. Counter-productive, since the
effortlessness of clicking and clicking to
view your friend’s lives, their cats, the
things they bought and favorited will
occupy more of your working day than
your work does.
But the biggest downside of all the
different social media outlets around is
the trust that so many of us put into the
hands of the conglomerates that own the
websites and the content. Things that
you would never dream of telling to a
stranger are out there in public for the
world to see. Facts and statistics about
your personal lives, and the photographs
to prove them, are routinely shared with
friends, acquaintances, casual contacts
of a friend of an acquaintance and so
on. Who controls what information you
share online? Why, you do. Don’t you? Or
is that large company, that small website
owner, that friend of a friend of a friend
that happened to see something you
posted on your little corner of the web
that got shared without your knowledge
or consent. It’s out there forever, you
know … think before you click!
It’s not all bad, however – social
media can be a force for good also. The
worldwide nature of the web (that’s the
first two WW’s, you know) can lead to
forming new relationships or business
connections anywhere on the globe.
The immediacy of the communication is
bringingnewpeopletogetherandallowing
old friends to remain in close contact in
this international community we now
live in.
The same speed of communication also
favors news dissemination. Compare
and contrast the message possibilities
of one hundred years ago; in 1915, the
first transcontinental telephone line
(New York to San Francisco) and the
first transatlantic radio call (Arlington,
VA to Paris) were both celebrated. Now,
just 100 years later, we can receive live
images and sound, in real time, from
anywhere in the world. Events as they
happen are recorded, publicized and
memorialized via new media. Twitter
and its counterpart’s means we can
interact directly with the originators of
news events, comment and discuss their
stories, share our views with the world
and all from our office, home, car or even
from the beach.
1
http://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly-active-facebook-users-
worldwide/
2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites
Social Media & You
WrittenbyJeremyRussell
15. 15
(continued from page 10)
finding Hank’s long-buried
Pym Particle research, Darren
sets out to create an army of
soldiers called “Yellowjackets”
that will wear special suits
that’ll allow them to shrink,
and grow, in combat. While
testing the particles, though, he
manages to lose his mind due
to over-exposure. And, aside
from all of that, there’s not
much more to the character.
Unfortunately, Cross sort of
falls under Marvel’s typical
“forgettable villains” category.
If anything, the third act is the
most memorable with him,
but otherwise, he is sort of a
cookie-cutter Lex Luthor-type.
The story, overall, is well-
handled and straight-forward.
As far as its plotting, there’s a
couple of pacing issues between
dramatic scenes, comedic
scenes, and action scenes. And,
in a couple of cases, some of
them become the same scene,
and it’s sort of bumpy to watch,
and even sometimes hard to
soak in. Some of the actions
in the film are a bit forced, to
help carry on the plot, but that’s
only in two minor cases that
can be easily forgotten. Luckily,
everyone’s motivations are very
solid, along with the characters,
and it’s completely enjoyable.
The visuals were impressive,
and the action was top-notch
and full of fun. High praise to
the creativity of the final fight
scene, by the way. They took
this silly concept and made it
a much more fun spectacle to
watch on the big screen, and
that really shows in the third
act.
One of the unique things
about this movie, also, just
for being a Marvel Studios
production, and a new part
of this ever-expanding film
universe, is just how stand-
alone it feels. There’s PLENTY
of connective tissue in this
movie, to other movies, and
it even sets up a lot of future
possibilities for up-coming
films, or even its own sequel. An
Avenger even shows up during
the film’s main plot, which is by
far one of the best parts of the
movie. But, strangely enough,
and refreshingly enough, it
feels highly stand-alone, and
could easily be watched without
knowing anything about the
other movies. This is sort of
a fresh departure from past
movies, such as Thor or Iron
Man 2, where the film set up
TOO MUCH to a point where
the movie wasn’t even its own
entity, but, rather, another
piece of a puzzle that included
several other films that were,
almost, completely mandatory
to watch to understand. And
that really impressed me, and
set this movie apart from the
rest. That, and the fact that the
events were even self-contained.
Unlike Captain America: The
Winter Soldier, or Avengers:
Age of Ultron, Ant-Man opts
to keep all the events within
the parameters of the film, and
keep the stakes personal to the
characters involved. Really,
excuse the terrible pun, this
movie has a much smaller scale
than most of Marvel’s films.
And it still manages to be great.
So, I say no. It does NOT
have to live up to the same
standards as Marvel’s other
films. It manages to do pretty
well on its own, and I’d even
go so far as to say it deserves a
chance to be recognized as one
of Marvel’s great achievements.
Just the prospect of bringing a
character like Ant-Man to the
big screen was a challenge, and
they manage to pull it off.
I give Marvel’s Ant-Man a
8/10 rating.
With some minor pacing and
dialog issues, Marvel’s Ant-
Man doesn’t fail to deliver on
the Marvel charm, and another
great, and completely unique
superhero and story.
Hoping we get a sequel,
eventually…!
NOW HIRING continued
form page 13
Groundskeeper;
ASRC Federal Primus
(North Charleston)
Full time. Must have a high
school diploma or GED.
Host/Hostess;
Five Loaves Café
(Mount Pleasant)
Apply in person Mon-Sat
between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Must be available during
the day and weekends
Hotel Front Desk
Agent;
Holiday Inn Express
(Downtown Charleston)
Less than a high school
diploma accepted. Must be
able to lift up to 50 pounds.
Line Cook, Expo,
and PM Dishwasher;
Daniel Island Grill
(Daniel Island)
Line cook must be able to
work nights, weekends, and
most holidays. Looking for
long-term employees
full-time.
Expo positions is great for
those starting out in the
business and want to learn
more. Must be available
some morning and nights as
well as weekends.
PM Dishwasher is a full-
time position, with night,
weekend, and some holiday
availability required.
Apply for all in person.
PM Cook;
Ristorante Lidi
(Daniel Island)
Apply in person 12 – 4 pm
and ask for Butch.
Sales Associate;
Hairy Winston Pet Store
(Mount Pleasant)
Part and Full-Time needed
Sales Associate;
All Seasons Hardware
(James Island)
Full time and Part time.
Must be able to work Sat.
Sales Associate;
TMobile
(North Charleston)
Bilingual employees needed
ASAP. Must have high
school diploma or GED.
Server;
Bay Street Biergarten
(Downtown Charleston)
Part-time and Full-time jobs
available, with weekday
and weekend availabilities.
Email resume to rich@
baystreetbiergarten.com.
Welder;
Leatherwood
Manufacturing
(North Charleston)
Benefits package available.
Blueprint reading is a must
Pep Boys on Rivers
Ave. hiring ASE certified
mechanics, apply in person
If you have a job opening
and would like to post it
in the Lowcountry Herald,
please email advertising@
lowcountryherald.org
We Print,
so Others can Earn
16. 16
August Calendar
August
1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
Summer Concert Series at the
Sanctuary
Enjoy live music at the
Kiawah Sanctuary beginning
at 5pm.
August 4, 11 & 18
Children’s Discovery Tours
Weekly historical tours
that are designed for kids.
Children must be between
5-10 years old. All tours
begin at 3:30pm at either the
Nathaniel Russell House or
Aiken-Rhett House.
August 5
Splash Days at Memorial
Waterfront Park
FREE! Large water
inflatables set up for
small children. Memorial
Waterfront Park in Mt.
Pleasant from 10-2pm.
August 6
Rockin the River
Summer concert series held
at Riverfront Park in
North Charleston
Yappy Hour
Bring your furry friend to
James Island County Park
from 4-8pm for live music
and cold beverages
August
7, 14, 21 & 28
Movies in the Park
FREE movie night on
Cinebarre’s large movie
screen, held at Memorial
Waterfront Park in Mt.
Pleasant. Movies will start at
sunset – around 9pm.
August 13
Thursday Night Boogie
Series
Shagging on the Mt. Pleasant
Pier beginning at 6pm. Must
be 21 and up to participate.
Shaggin on the Cooper –
8/15
August 21
Moonlight Mixers
Come out and dance to
oldies and beach classics on
the Folly Beach Pier!
August 23
Bazaar at the Point
Shop from local art, crafts,
and product vendors at the
Outlook Pavilion from
11am to 2pm.
Crossword
Solutions to all puzzles can be found at:
http://lowcountryherald.org/puzzle-solutions
Across
1. Road Illuminator
7. Santa’s Little Helpers
8. Largest Bible Book
9. Camping
10. Throw this at a ___
Board
11. Pop__ is eaten at the
movies
13. Another Bible Book
17. Light Purple color
18. Women’s Triangular
Scarf
19. To react, respond
Down
1. Another word for
amazing
2. Black Bird
3. Not Hard
4. Spill, less an L,
backwards
5. Sweet, tropical fruit
6. Put this on pizzza, hot
dogs (6, 5)
12. Old Artifact
14. Main ingredient of
Cadbury’s Products
15. Southern Atlantic Fish
16. Disco Hairdo
