Charleston City Paper 03/13/2026 - 29.33

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News Editor: Skyler Baldwin

Staff: Herb Frazier, Vincent Harris, Maura Hogan, Becky Lacey, Jack O’Toole

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South Carolina’s tax paradox: High rates and low bills

By Jack O’Toole

For the second time in a year, S.C. lawmakers were caught flat-footed by public backlash last week over the consequences of their plan to cut the state’s top income tax rate.

That was the takeaway when the S.C. House stayed in session Tuesday night after passing its $15.4 billion 2026 state budget plan. Members then pushed through a lastminute bill that would insert President Donald Trump’s 2025 tax cuts in the state tax code before next month’s April 15 deadline.

Without the bill, South Carolina taxpayers will owe state taxes on income that is newly exempt from federal taxation, such as tips and overtime pay. In other words, absent a law to “conform” with the updated federal tax code for this tax cycle, state taxpayers would pay old rates for items cut by the feds, leading to confusion and more — particularly for tax preparers.

But despite the popularity of the cuts, S.C. Senate leaders have signaled that the bill, which carries a $300 million price tag, will face an uphill climb in the upper chamber. Why? Because it conflicts with an income tax bill that both houses have already passed to lower the state’s top tax rate from 6% to 5.21%.

And to see why they conflict, experts say, you have to understand the central paradox of Palmetto State tax policy: S.C. has the highest official tax rate in the Southeast but some of the lowest actual tax bills in the region.

How does that work? S.C. is one of only five states that applies its tax rate to what’s called “federal taxable income” — that is, your income after federal deductions, rather than before. Put simply, S.C. is taxing considerably less income at a slightly higher rate. And that’s what keeps taxes low for most taxpayers.

In fact, it’s why the average S.C. filer can

S.C. House passes $15.4B state budget

The S.C. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a $15.4 billion budget for 2026-27 late Tuesday that includes millions of dollars to raise pay for teachers, law enforcement officers and state employees. It also directs millions for infrastructure investments and to pay for health care costs.

“The priorities that this budget represented were well represented in the budget the way it was,” House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, told reporters Tuesday night.

Budget writers included a 2% across-the-board raise for state employees and spending an additional $33.9 million to make sure those on the state health plan don’t see an increase in their premiums for the 13th year in a row.

Other items include beach renourishment grants, bridge modernization, maintaining the state’s Medicaid program and more. — City Paper Staff

“This is too important to leave alone. We have to regulate this, or we have to outlaw it. We cannot allow this to stay the way it is.”

theoretically be in the state’s top 6% bracket while only paying about 2.5% of their real income in taxes — and more than 40% of filers pay no state income tax at all.

But to cut that official top rate without bleeding red ink, lawmakers have decided to apply the new, lower rate to income before federal deductions instead of after.

Which is why the legislature’s first attempt to meaningfully lower the rate collapsed last year when state budget analysts testified that it would raise taxes on 60% of filers — the result of taxing a larger income number at a lower rate.

The case for a rate cut

It’s all very complicated.

Following last year’s initial failure, House budget writers regrouped and produced a new bill that cut the top income tax rate from 6% to 5.39%, cutting taxes for 39% of filers, raising taxes for 27% and leaving

—S.C. Sen. Michael Johnson, R-York, on proposed legislation that would regulate hemp-derived beverages similarly to alcohol. Currently, hemp beverages have no guardrails or age restrictions for purchase. State lawmakers in both chambers say that should change.

Source: WCSC-TV

7th

Charleston’s national rank for happiest city, according to a 2026 study by WalletHub ahead of March 20, the International Day of Happiness. More than 180 of the nation’s largest cities were evaluated using 29 indicators of happiness, including sleep quality, sports participation, employment, marriage, income growth and more. Source: WalletHub

TEDxCharleston returns April 29 to explore ideas, local expertise

By Andy Brack

It’s guaranteed you will learn something — and probably lots of new things — if you attend the coming TEDxCharleston event at the Charleston Music Hall next month.

The April 29 event, which is the 14th session in Charleston since 2013, will feature 11 local speakers, plus a nationallyknown author who has appeared at TEDx events across the country.

“It’s a very diverse group of professionals, innovators, creatives, entrepreneurs and people making a real impact in our Lowcountry community on some serious and important issues,” said organizer Mike Sottak.

Those who speak for about 10 minutes each after undergoing rigorous practice for the last few weeks will explore facets of the conference’s theme — “symphony.” They’ll offer insights into how voices, ideas and technologies converge and blend across society in nature, art, culture, innovation, history and technology. Some examples: Two police-related professionals will look at two aspects of law enforcement. Jerome Smalls, developer of youth programs at the Charleston Police Department, will talk about how to address at-risk juveniles. Later in the show, former Georgetown Police Chief Kelvin Waites, who now directs community engagement for the City of Myrtle Beach, will discuss perseverance in the face of challenges.

Also on tap are three talks from four health care professionals Dr. Leonardo Ferreira, an assistant professor at MUSC Department of Pharmacology and Immunology, will talk on a possible cure for diabetes. Lexi Morgan, a board-certified therapist from West Ashley, will talk about how somatic art therapy can help heal trauma. And husband-and-wife Drs. Brian Kendall and Brittany Bankhead of Mount Pleasant will describe how communication in the operating room can be applied to marriage. He is an emergency room doctor at Trident Medical Center while she is a trauma surgeon at MUSC

“I think one of the beauties of TEDx is its consistency and quality in terms of the format and the delivery and the style of talks,” Sottak said. “People know they will hear and see something interesting.”

Also on the program

The April show will also feature something new — it will be in the evening for the first time.

“We’re hoping to attract an even broader and more diverse audience who normally

might not be able to attend our daytime events that we’ve held in the past,” Sottak said. “I think this adds a new dimension to the event.”

The event, which will be emceed by local radio personality Zandrina Dunning, will also feature Matthew Dicks, an elementary school teacher, novelist and accomplished storyteller who is well-known to fans of the Moth via radio, podcasts and books. Dicks has also worked with companies like Google and Salesforce and institutions like Harvard and the FBI to unlock the power of stories.

Other local storytellers at the April event include (in alphabetical order):

• Andie Edwards, a James Island anthropologist who works at MUSC as a researcher. She’ll discuss how our prehistoric past shapes us today.

• Megan K. Manigault of Ridgeville, founder of I Am Voices nonprofit who will speak about giving a voice to those who are sexually abused and trafficked.

• Luke Shirley, the Charleston nonprofit founder of Quest in Recovery, who will discuss why we get suicide prevention wrong and how one intervention might change the conversation.

• J.T. White, a James Island technology entrepreneur who will talk about parenting in the age of AI.

• Guang Ming Whitley, a former Mount Pleasant town council member who will discuss post-partem childbirth issues through the lens of ancient Chinese techniques.

Three youth performers will provide some entertainment during the show — yo-yo artist Grayson Rhea of Charleston, black belt Treyden McAdams of Atlanta and the Saint Jerome Band of Charleston. Also being showcased during the event is Summerville artist Christine Johnson.

by architect Louis J. Barbot

Past local presenters are YouTube hits

TORESCO: Patient Advocacy: A journey to better outcomes

1.2 million views

Health care executive Matt Toresco outlined in May 2025 how health care can be revolutionized by empowering patients to be central decision-makers.

RASHIDI: Is AI ‘rusting’ our brains?

1.1 million views

Thought leader Sol Rashidi gave a May 2025 TEDxCharleston talk that shared how the real threat of artificial intelligence was about intellectual atrophy.

SPIOTTA: Flow State: Taking your team to the ultimate level of performance

1.1 million views

MUSC neurosurgery Prof. Alex Spiotta presented May 2023 at TEDxCharleston outlined why he is convinced that teams of people can “get in the zone” like athletes often do.

BALASUBRAMANIAN:

The science of yogic breathing

1.2 million views

In May 2015, radiation oncology researcher Sundar Balasubramanian explained what deep breathing can do for people and offered a simple breathing exercise to improve well-being.

Find: youtube.com/@TEDx

IF YOU WANT TO GO: 6:15 p.m., April 29, at Charleston Music Hall. Tickets start at $84. More: charlestonmusichall.com/event/ tedxcharleston

Historic churches to get preservation grants for buildings

By City Paper Staff

Two historic Episcopal churches in Charleston will each receive major grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to make repairs to their sanctuaries.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Thomas Street and St. John’s Reformed Episcopal Church on Anson Street are among 33 historically Black churches nationwide that will share in grants from the Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.

“America’s 250th anniversary is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable legacy of our nation’s historically Black churches,” said Brent Leggs, the fund’s executive director “They are essential civic institutions that have anchored democracy, community leadership, and collective care for generations.”

The Rev. Dr. Michael Shaffer, St. Mark’s current rector, said the $500,000 grant that the church will get will support repair and restoration of the property, which features a prominent portico, Corinthian columns and intricate stained glass.

Founded on Easter Sunday in 1865 and constructed in 1867, St. Mark’s is one of the few all-wood churches in Charleston, he said. The city’s free Black community established the church.

St. Mark’s is an example of the post-Civil War use of the Roman Revival style in Charleston. It is one of the last temple form churches designed by architect Louis J. Barbot, Shaffer added.

Built in 1850, St. John’s will use its $60,000 grant to conduct an assessment of whether the building meets standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and “help us prioritize the repair we need to make,” said church member Patrice Capers, who wrote the grant application. Capers said the church got assistance from the Historic Charleston Foundation and a grant-writing workshop conducted by the Jesus Does Work (JDW) Network.

“I am very excited we got the award,” Capers said. “I am very honored and grateful.” St. John’s was the home church of the renowned blacksmith Philip Simmons. Andy Brack

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Tiger Lily Florist celebrates 30th anniversary

By Alyssa McDowell

After 30 years of flowery hugs, cries and professions of love, 15-time Best of Charleston winner Tiger Lily Florist has seen just about every possible occasion when it comes to flowers

“It’s our highest honor to be trusted with those occasions.” Lisa Holmes, owner of Tiger Lily, told Charleston City Paper in a recent interview “We approach each order with a deep commitment to quality, innovation and service because being part of our guests’ special moments is a privilege we never take lightly.”

Friends and clients can celebrate with the shop in a 30th anniversary event on March 10 at the downtown and James Island locations. The first 50 guests will get free florals and complimentary cupcakes from Almond Dust Patisserie — all as a way to tantalize noses and tastebuds.

The event will also feature gift card giveaways, festive music and photos with the Pink Figgy vintage car. The Spring Street location will also feature a gelato cart from Gelati Moto.

Since 1996, the female-owned business has been an unwavering supporter in many Charlestonian’s biggest moments. The shop has helped blushing brides pick the perfect bouquet, families say goodbye to loved ones with dignity, and graduates walk across the Cistern

Taxes

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

them the same for the rest.

Last month, the S.C. Senate passed that House bill, but further lowered the rate to 5.21%, increasing the number of filers who’d get a tax cut to 43% — and more than doubling the cost of the tax cut to $309 million. Tuesday night, the House voted to accept those changes and sent the tax cut to the governor’s desk.

Despite the political and practical difficulties, supporters of the plan say the move is necessary to boost state competitiveness with neighbors like North Carolina at 3.99% and Georgia at 5.19%.

What’s more, they argue, the high official rates can actually reduce individual enterprise, particularly among small business owners, who often file as individuals and wind up paying something much closer to the official rate.

Or as the S.C. Chamber of Commerce summed up the issue in its Roadmap for Tax Reform: “South Carolina is by no means a high tax state in the main, though it can feel that way for certain taxpayers. The problems, rather, come down to questions of tax structure.”

Sam Aaron of the right-leaning S.C.

Lisa Holmes bought Tiger Lily Florist in 2018, the same year the James Island location opened

with roses in hand — hopeful blooms of new beginnings.

Clara and Manny Gonzales founded Tiger Lily in 1996 after moving from

Policy Council expanded on that argument in a Wednesday interview.

“Whenever you decrease your income taxes, you’re freeing up capital for someone to use,” Aaron said. “And you’re going to see an increase in capital investments and spending.”

But the real goal, Aaron notes, is to match Florida’s rate of 0% — a goal the current bill nods at by imposing automatic tax cuts in future years when there’s a budget surplus of $200 million or more.

“In our view, philosophically, yes, that’s where we’d like to end up,” he said of eliminating the income tax. “With less revenue going to state government, you’re going to have to run a leaner machine and adjust your budget accordingly.”

Another measure of competitiveness

On the other side of the aisle, the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) calculates each state’s overall tax rates from every source — income, sales, property and fees — based on income. Its findings for South Carolina’s current tax system? The bottom 20% of state earners pay the highest overall tax rate at 10.1%. Middle-income residents pay 9.5%.

Chicago to pursue floral design and open a small downtown shop. What began as a small boutique grew into one of the region’s most in-demand florists.

Holmes joined the company in 2008 as a wedding designer, became general manager a year later and purchased the business in 2018 — the same year the James Island location opened.

She said the floral industry has changed significantly over the years with the introduction of online click-toorder shops and grocery store arrangements. Tiger Lily Florist has worked hard to differentiate itself by committing to customers.

“Clients value the professionalism, attention to detail and dependable, timely service that define the Tiger Lily experience,” Holmes said.

As Charleston has grown over the years, Tiger Lily has grown, too. From navigating industry changes to expanding to new locations, the floral shop continues to anchor itself in the community that helped build it. The store has partnered with organizations such as Dock Street Theatre, Charleston Symphony, Meals on Wheels, Trident Technical College and the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center to give back to the Holy City.

“Thirty years strong — and we’re just getting started.” Holmes said.

And the top 1% pay 6.5%.

Cutting the top income tax rate and paying for it by breaking with the federal income rules would cut the overall tax burden of those at the top of that distribution and raise it for those closer to the bottom.

“These are pretty deep and regressive tax cuts,” said Neva Butkus, senior policy analyst with ITEP, in a Wednesday interview. “And that money’s got to come from somewhere.”

Specifically, she argued, if lawmakers really mean to move rates toward zero, it will have to come out of the things the state spends most of its money on — schools and teachers, roads and bridges, health care and public safety.

“South Carolina has been growing fast with its current tax code,” Butkus said. “And those are the real competitiveness issues.”

And at the end of the day, she argued, tax cuts are just the wrong investment for a state already struggling with infrastructure, education, health care and more.

“Using the tax code to invest in families and workers as opposed to cutting taxes disproportionately for the top 5% of income earners, that’s where you’re going to see growth,” she said. “For the amount of money that these plans cost, so much more could be done to invest in the people of South Carolina.”

Blotter of the Week

A North Charleston woman on Feb. 28 called city police to help her after she accidentally glued her eyes shut while doing her lashes. The woman told officers she may have used “too much” glue. Dorchester County EMS arrived after the police and removed the glue off without any issues. Lessons learned, we hope.

So many questions

Mount Pleasant police on Feb. 24 stopped to question a man they found lying on the sidewalk along Ben Sawyer Boulevard. According to reports, the man said he walked from North Carolina. He spoke with “exaggerated mannerisms and responses.” Officers told him to call if he needed help, and he reportedly smiled, bowed and said, “I don’t have a phone!” So … we think that man must have been a time traveler.

Bold move

A Charleston police officer on Feb. 23 entered a station’s communal bike storage room, finding the bikes scattered about the floor and several missing — including his own. The officer noted the room is normally locked, so he didn’t actually lock his bike to a rack. We’ve got to acknowledge this thief’s bravery. We never would have thought to steal an officer’s bike at all, let alone several.

By Skyler Baldwin

Illustration by Steve Stegelin

The Blotter is taken from reports filed with area police departments between Feb. 24 and Feb. 28. SPONSORED BY

EDITORIAL

Be dedicated to letting in sunshine Views

Live in Charleston long enough, and you’ll have the experience, no matter how hard you try to avoid it.

You step into a dark room. Run your hand along the wall until it finds the switch. Suddenly, light fills the space. And the cockroaches scatter.

Yeah, yuck. And no, the old Charleston insistence on calling them Palmetto bugs doesn’t actually make it any better.

But there’s a moral to this story — and it’s one our democracy learned a long time ago: Bad things can happen in the dark. And nothing scatters the pests like letting in the sunshine.

That’s why we have sunshine laws like the state Freedom of Information Act that require our elected officials to do public business in public, not the backrooms. And it’s why we expect them to answer serious, sometimes tough, questions about how they’re governing with our money — and in our name.

So in honor of Sunshine Week (March 15-21), the national annual celebration of open government, we’d like to recognize one Lowcountry government that’s clearly moving in the right direction — and another that seems blind.

First, the good news. After decades of bobbing, weaving and occasionally just hiding, Charleston County has spent the past year going from laggard to leader on transparency.

County council now holds most of its substantive debates in public, instead of finding excuses to retreat into executive session. Communications staff members are helpful when reporters call. And leaders are crafting this November’s sales tax referendum in the open with real public input — a complete reversal from the kind of backroom dealmaking that ultimately doomed a similar 2024 referendum.

Sadly, the news is very different in the city that gave Charleston County its name.

For almost 50 years, under Mayors Joe Riley and John

Tecklenburg, Charleston set the standard for openness in the Lowcountry. Interviews were routine. City council meetings featured lively debates on genuinely difficult issues. And staffers were made available to explain the ins and outs of complicated policies to the press and public.

Contrast that with Mayor William Cogswell’s Charleston, which appears to have traded the city’s traditional motto, Aedes Mores Juraque Curat (“She guards her buildings, customs and laws”), for a less high-minded formulation: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Examples abound. The West Ashley redevelopment deal that was cooked up with a private developer in the mayor’s office rather than going through the procurement process. The behindclosed-doors decision last fall to hand over a Confederate marker to the so-called “heritage group” that re-erected it in Marion Square without public review. And there’s a new city policy requiring 30-day Freedom of Information Act requests for public documents that staff used to produce quickly.

It’s a new culture to obfuscate, delay, impede and close doors.

And then there’s the Cogswell team’s attitude toward answering basic questions, which one former staffer described in a recent City Paper cover story.

“They definitely said don’t talk to The City Paper,” the staffer said. “And The Post and Courier. Those were the two big ones that were mostly holding them accountable.”

Again — yeah, yuck.

So like the county, the city of Charleston can and should change course and culture. Part of that requires city council members to be more leaders than lemmings and not put up with the secrecy and motions for executive session.

Now during Sunshine Week is a great time to start turning things around. And in doing so, the city will earn back some of the respect it lost from residents.

CHARLESTON CHECKLIST of community objectives

We encourage community leaders to act on these audacious priorities:

1. Deal with the water. Build a strong resiliency plan to harden infrastructure and make smart climate change decisions about development, roads and quality of life.

2. Fix roads, traffic. Repair and improve roads and reduce traffic. Speed up alternatives, including more public transportation.

3. Be smarter about education. Inject new energy into the broken Charleston County school board by focusing on kids, not national mantras.

4. Conduct public business in public. Be transparent in public business. Stop the secrecy.

5. Invest in quality of life. Build more parks. Have more festivals. Invest in infrastructure that promotes a broad sense of community.

6. Engage in real racial conciliation. If we embark on more conversations and actions on racial reconciliation, our community will strengthen and grow.

7. Develop fewer hotels, more affordable housing. Make Charleston a more affordable place to live for everyone.

8. Develop Union Pier at scale. Let’s not put ship-sized buildings on the coveted Union Pier property downtown. Instead, make what comes appropriate.

9. Build and follow a 50-year plan. Plan for the county’s long-term future and follow the plan.

10. Pay people more. Pay a living wage. Push South Carolina lawmakers to set a real minimum wage.

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Democracy deserves better than what we’re seeing today

By Katrina Shealy

Something has gone wrong in American politics.

The Republican Party I once knew was the party of Abraham Lincoln, who fought to hold a nation together. It was the party of Dwight Eisenhower, who believed in steady leadership and strong alliances. It was the party of Ronald Reagan, who spoke about America as a shining city on a hill. It was the party of the Bush family, who understood that public service meant humility, responsibility, and respect for institutions.

That tradition was built on constitutional principles, personal responsibility and a belief that America leads best when it leads with both strength and character.

Today, that spirit feels dangerously distant.

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Instead of statesmen, we see performers. Instead of debate, we see disruption. Instead of principled conservatism, we often see anger used as a governing strategy. Members of Congress once argued fiercely on the floor and still treated each other with basic respect. They understood that democracy requires disagreement, but it also requires dignity.

We have drifted far from that understanding.

When elected officials refuse to sit through a State of the Union or a State of the State simply to make a political point, it diminishes the institution itself. Respect for the office used to matter even when you opposed the person occupying it. Sometimes leadership is not about applause or protest. Sometimes leadership is about restraint.

The Constitution should never be treated as a political tool. It is not something to be reshaped every time it becomes inconvenient. It is the foundation of our democracy, the guardrail that prevents temporary political passions from doing permanent damage.

Another test of a healthy democracy is how a nation treats those who are different. Immigration is a legitimate policy issue and the rule of law must be upheld. But a government that governs by fear rather than fairness undermines the very ideals it claims to defend. The only people who should fear the law are those who break it. Our neighbors should not have to prove their worth simply because they look different from those in power.

Instead of statesmen, we see performers. Instead of debate, we see disruption. Instead of principled conservatism, we often see anger used as a governing strategy.

Democracy also depends on cooperation. The willingness to work across the aisle once defined responsible leadership in Washington. Compromise was not surrender. It was how a large and diverse nation governed itself without tearing apart.

Today compromise is often treated like betrayal. That mindset does not strengthen democracy. It weakens it.

America should not aspire to be the loudest voice in the room. America should aspire to be the most trusted one. Strength and compassion are not opposites. A nation strong enough to defend its borders should also be strong enough to defend its values. A nation powerful enough to project force should also be wise enough to pursue peace.

Right now many Americans are worried about the future of our democracy. They see rising division, constant negativity, and political leaders who appear more interested in scoring points than solving problems.

But democracy has always depended on citizens who are willing to demand better.

It is time to reject the politics of outrage and rediscover the politics of responsibility. It is time for leaders who understand that governing is not entertainment. It is stewardship.

We need a return to statesmanship. We need a renewed respect for the Constitution. And we need leaders who understand that strength without decency is not leadership at all.

America has faced difficult moments before. Each time, the nation has eventually found its way back to its principles.

The question now is whether we will do it again before more damage is done.

Democracy deserves nothing less.

Katrina Frye Shealy is a former Republican state senator from Lexington County. Have a comment? Send to feedback@ charlestoncitypaper.com

One way to make America’s story feel really alive

The United States turns 250 years old in July. That alone is remarkable.

Why? Because republics are fragile things. History is filled with empires that rose brilliantly and collapsed quickly. The story of civilization is often the story of the few ruling the many — of conquest, corruption and moral decay. And yet, against historical odds, this American experiment in self-government has endured for two and a half centuries.

A little over a year ago, I’d found myself asking a simple question: What could I contribute to such a milestone?

So I wrote a novel. It’s called The Unlikely Life of Oliver Atkinson

It came out in February — and not because the world needed another book, but because I’ve heard too many adults and children describe history as “boring.” I wanted to prove that it is everything but that!

My story imagines the founding of the country through the eyes of a child — an immigrant, an orphan, an indentured servant — who finds himself swept into the chaos of the Boston Tea Party aboard The Beaver, one of the ships raided that night. He is eventually taken in by Paul Revere and introduced to the world of the Sons of Liberty. The Unlikely Life of Oliver Atkinson describes his patriotic adventure.

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The Charleston City Paper won 31 awards for news and design excellence for its 2025 work in a contest sponsored by the S.C. Press Association. Hats off to the outstanding work done by our team for keeping you informed about what’s happening across the Charleston area.

But the story isn’t really about one boy. It’s about us.

Back then, America itself was young, uncertain and vulnerable. The men and women who shaped it were not marble statues. They were flesh and blood — farmers, printers, merchants, mothers soldiers. Some were free. Some were enslaved. All were living inside a moment that demanded courage.

As I researched and wrote, I rediscovered something I had not fully appreciated before: how much they risked.

The signers of the Declaration of Independence pledged “their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.” That wasn’t poetic flourish. It was a literal death warrant if the Revolution failed.

My own ancestor, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Maryland, signed his name boldly and added “of Carrollton” so the British would know exactly which Charles Carroll he was. He was one of the wealthiest men in America at the time. He had everything to lose and nothing materially to gain. Yet he signed anyway.

Why? Because this is what greatness does. Liberty, self-rule and equality under law are not the natural order of history. They are rare. They must be chosen. And then defended.

Today, many wonder whether the American experiment is in decline. Some predict collapse. Others seem eager for it. And yes, our nation was born imperfect. The Founders knew that.

First place winners:

Jack O’Toole

• Health beat reporting

• Profile feature writing

Robert Ariail

• Cartoons

Scott Suchy

• Info graphics

By David Jones III

Compromise was required to defeat a greater threat. The Constitution they produced was fragile, being dependent on virtue, not just laws.

Two hundred fifty years later, the question is not whether America is flawless. It never was. The question is whether we still possess the character required to sustain freedom.

Gratitude is a good starting point — gratitude for the men who left their families for battle. Gratitude for the women who kept homes and businesses intact. Gratitude for those who argued fiercely, prayed earnestly, sacrificed deeply, and built imperfectly — but built something extraordinary.

As we approach America’s 250th birthday, perhaps the best way to celebrate is not merely with fireworks, but with remembrance. Reintroduce yourself to the story of our founding. Teach it to your children. Reflect on what was risked. Live in a way worthy of what was given.

The American experiment has survived wars, depressions, and internal division. Its survival into a third century is not guaranteed.

Benjamin Franklin famously described the country as “a republic, if you can keep it.”

It is still ours to keep.

David Jones III is a historical fiction writer living in Myrtle Beach. His book is available on Amazon for $19.95. More: davidjones3.com

Ashleigh Keiser

• Use of social media

Emily Rutowski

• News feature writing

City Paper Staff

• Feature magazine

Other winners:

Jack O'Toole

• Single story on cause, 3rd

Scott Suchy

• Inside page design, 2nd

• Mixed media illustration, 3rd

• Photo page design, 3rd

City Paper Staff

• Jay Bender Assertive Award for Journalism, 2nd

• Editorial/column supporting open government, 2nd

• Newsletter, 3rd

• General excellence for digital publication, 3rd

Ashley Stanol

• Feature photo, 2nd

Becky Lacey

• Lifestyle feature writing, 2nd

Libby Wiersema

• Food writing, 2nd

Steve Stegelin

• Cartoons, 2nd

Skyler Baldwin

• Beat reporting, 2nd

• Community service, 3rd *

• Reporting in depth, 3rd *

• Business beat reporting, 3rd

Andy Brack

• Election/political coverage, 3rd

• Obituary, 3rd

Herb Frazier

• Community service, 3rd *

Maura Hogan

• Arts and entertainment writing, 3rd

• Reviews, 3rd

• Reporting in depth, 3rd*

Neil Kinard and Bill Sharpe

• News video, 3rd

*Shared award

What To Do

TUESDAY

1

Aly and AJ — Places to Run Tour

Break out your flip phones and get ready to rock like it’s 2006. Former Disney actresses-turned-pop-stars Aly and AJ are heading to Charleston Music Hall for a nostalgia-fueled concert that will have millennials jumping out of their seats. Set lists include fan-favorites like “Potential Breakup Song” and new hits from 2025 album Silver Deliverer.

March 17. 8 p.m. Ticket prices vary. Charleston Music Hall. 37 John St. Downtown. alyandaj.com

2

SATURDAY

Colonial indigo dying workshop

Visit historic Middleton Place in West Ashley this weekend for a drop-in indigo dying workshop and program. Learn more about the indigo plant and the labor it took to grow, harvest and process it, as well as the importance of indigo and what it was used for throughout the Lowcountry’s history. Guests will hand-dye their own square of fabric to take home with them.

March 14. Noon to 2 p.m. Free with general admission. Middleton Place. 4300 Ashley River Road. West Ashley. middletonplace.org

SUNDAYS

3

Sunday Brunch Farmers Market

Head to the Pour House on James Island for a 100% local market brimming with more than 40 local farmers and artisans, a deck bar, live music, good eats and all kinds of amazing areamade goods. Cap off your weekend by kicking back, enjoying the local tunes and stocking up on unique goodies. This farmers market is open year-round.

Sundays. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free to attend. The Pour House. 1977 Maybank Highway. James Island. sundaybrunchfarmersmarket.com

THIS WEEKEND

4

The Little Mermaid ballet

Head to the historic Sottile Theatre in downtown Charleston for a family-friendly treat for all ages. Palmetto City Ballet presents The Little Mermaid, a world premiere production bringing the story of the daring Ariel to life. Follow the crew on Facebook and Instagram for event information and special offers. Tickets are available online.

March 14 to March 15. Show times vary. Ticket prices vary. Sottile Theatre. 44 George St. Downtown. palmettocityballet.org

ALL MONTH

5

From Trash to Treasures exhibition

This exhibition centers on a powerful collection of works by Patsy Tidwell-Painton that explores the transformation of discarded materials and personal memory through art. Through texture, assemblage and thoughtful composition, the works reflect the belief that what one person sees as refuse can become another’s treasure.

March 1 through March 31. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. Lowcountry Artists Gallery. 148 East Bay St. Downtown. lowcountryartists.com

By

Robert Earl Keen is the nation’s 2026 “Texan Of The Year.” Or at least that’s what a well-known, nonpartisan group of Texas business and political leaders said last year.

And the accolade fits. Because Keen, a veteran Americana singer/songwriter who performs at the Charleston Music Hall on March 18, isn’t just a first-rate writer. He’s a Texan down to his dusty boots. He’s more Texan than an oil well, basically.

So he was pretty excited, though a little bewildered, to find out about being named Texan Of The Year.

“It’s a real honor,” Keen said in a recent interview with the Charleston City Paper. “I would have never thought I’d be ‘Texan Of The Year,’ but I certainly won’t deny it. I feel like I’m a Texan born and bred, and I’m still flying the flag as much as I can.” Keen was given the honor to celebrate his flood relief efforts in 2025, including a benefit concert. Overall, he helped to raise more than $3.2 million.

Keen, who lives in Kerrville, is also Texan to the bone when it comes to his songwriting. While Lyle Lovett, his longtime friend and former neighbor when they both attended Texas A&M University, has a true knack for a surreal punch line, Keen’s writing brings more of a wry smile than a chuckle.

Take his hilarious and horrific holiday tableau, “Merry Christmas from the Family.” It opens with “Mom got drunk and Dad got drunk at our Christmas party,” and heads downward from there, including a visit from an ex-con cousin, margaritaspiked eggnog, a second beer run for Mom and Dad, and Keen receiving the ugliest Christmas sweater in the world as a gift.

None of it is overplayed. Keen recounts the scene as a low-key detached observer, simply shaking his head and saying to his listeners, “Oh, this? This is just a Texas Christmas, friend.” And you grin.

But that’s just the bestknown example of his dry humor. Go check out “Gringo Honeymoon,” a travel story about a guy heading to Mexico after a breakup and quickly getting in over his head. Or listen to “Dreadful Selfish Crime,” the deadpan tale of a man who commits murder largely out of laziness. And there’s always “The Five Pound Bass,” a sort of mini “Moby Dick” tale about a bass fisherman stalking his prize.

5 must-have albums by Robert Earl Keen

If you’re looking to get some prime music by Robert Earl Keen, here are five must-own REK albums.

No Kinda Dancer, 1984

The first Robert Earl Keen album is packed with gems, including a co-written song with Lyle Lovett that became a live staple “The Front Porch Song.”

A

Bigger Piece of Sky, 1993

we’re connected as songwriters, I believe that we pay attention to our surroundings. There’s a lot of color in the work,

“The songs might have a sentimental meaning or some kind of pathos going on. But they’re always built on a lot of local color. I think that’s what we all share.”

Two albums in Charleston

On his current “Then and Now” tour, Keen is playing two of his classic albums in full. Fans at the Music Hall will hear every track on 2001’s Gravitational Forces and 2011’s Ready For Confetti.

Ready For Confetti, he was also the lastever artist on Lost Highway.

“Maybe instead of ‘Then and Now,’ I should have called the tour ‘The Lost Highway Years,’ ” he said.

Regardless of what the tour is called, fans should try to catch this show. Keen still tours occasionally, but in 2022, he announced his retirement from heavy touring. Now, he simply plays the music he loves on his “Americana Podcast,” which is in its seventh season.

When it comes time to play live, Keen chooses his dates carefully. And he said he’s always happy to include a swing through the South on every tour he does.

“The songs might have a sentimental meaning or some kind of pathos going on. But they’re always built on a lot of local color.”

—Robert Earl Keen

Both albums display Keen’s master of songwriting and reaffirm his status as one of our best “Americana” artists, mixing incisive folky songwriting, country twang and rock muscle.

Keen’s more subtle, but he’s just as funny in his own way as his old neighbor.

Keen said that, whether it’s him or Lyle Lovett or Joe Ely or Willie Nelson, no one writes songs like a Texas songwriter.

“Number one, Texas has a long musical history that dates back to the early 19th century,” Keen said. “But as far as how

Gravitational Forces also includes one of Keen’s most beloved songs, “The Road Goes On Forever,” a cinematic outlaw ballad about drifters, crime and inevitable consequences told with the detail of a short story.

“I was the first artist on (the well-known Americana label) Lost Highway Records,” Keen said, adding with a chuckle that with

“Charleston’s a beautiful city, first of all,” Keen said. “I call it the civilized version of New Orleans. I love coming down there. And historically, we just have great audiences there.”

“I try to play in friendly waters, Vincent,” he added with a grin we could hear over the phone.

But it’s not just Charleston. Keen is a guaranteed sellout show from The Birchmere in Virginia all the way down to the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta.

“Apparently, I speak the language pretty well,” he said of his popularity in the South. “There’s some kind of connection. All I really know is that the Southeast has always been solid for me.”

IF YOU WANT TO GO: Doors open at 7 p.m. March 18, Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St., Charleston. Tickets range from $87-$251: charlestonmusichall.com

Generally considered a career peak, this album takes Keen out of his small-town Texas comfort zone in favor of a more expansive blend of roots rock, honky tonk country and Western back-porch folk. Keen’s storytelling abilities shine here with “Daddy Had a Buick,” “Corpus Christi Bay” and “Crazy Cowboy Dream.”

No. 2 Live Dinner, 1996

Keen spent decades honing a killer live show, and it’s on display here. Forget the studio versions of warhorses like “The Road Goes On Forever” and “Merry Christmas From The Family.” These are the definitive takes.

Gravitational Forces, 2001

Another criticallyacclaimed release featuring a multitude of vivid stories with memorable melodies and superb instrumental backing. Keen delivers his goods early and often, starting with the singalong chorus to Joe Dolce’s “My Home Ain’t in the Hall of Fame.”

Ready For Confetti, 2011

Keen’s release schedule has slowed a bit, and this is one of two new albums that he’s released in the last 15 years. Luckily it’s a late-career winner, piled high with banjos, accordion, mandolins, guitars and layered backing vocals, all of it anchored by Keen’s grainy baritone.

Cuisine

Hugh-Baby’s BBQ and Burger Shop’s veggie burger is a house-made patty with smoked black beans, mushrooms and cashews, topped with Swiss cheese, pickles, lettuce, onion, heirloom tomato and comeback sauce

Enjoy these 8 great Charleston veggie burgers

By Becky Lacey

While traditional beef hamburgers are arguably as American as apple pie, the veggie burger is also big business in the United States.

“The nationwide appetite for plant-based burgers is only growing, with the market share expected to reach $14.9 billion by 2027, notes Globe News Wire, and delivery apps like DoorDash and GrubHub reporting orders for veggie burgers increasing by 433% and 362%, respectively,” according to a 2025 Tasting Table article.

Although plant-based alternatives like Beyond Beef make up a large part of this growing market, there always will be an argument for a burger made of vegetables that tastes like vegetables.

So when you ask vegetarians or vegans in Charleston where to get a good burger they can eat, you’ll probably hear frustration about how hard they are to find. But fear not, we have a list of the best veggie burgers in Charleston, thanks to an unscientific Instagram poll and a lot of chatting with people around town.

One common thread amongst great

“ I believe more than ever that people are leaning into healthier options to stay in peak physical shape and increase their longevity.”

—Jérôme Meyer

veggie burgers in the Holy City is sourcing stellar ingredients. Basic Kitchen’s iteration, for example, uses beets sourced through Bradford Farms, which partners with Clayton Rawl Farms in Lexington, S.C., a restaurant-farmer relationship that has existed for almost seven years. The Basic burger also uses mushrooms from Raven Farms. Traditionally, veggie burgers were an afterthought and were often a bland and dry mix of black beans. Now, chefs are putting much more thought into them. Jérôme Meyer, executive chef at the Post House, is one of those pros.

“I believe more than ever that people are leaning into healthier options to stay in peak physical shape and increase their longevity,” Meyer said. “Butterbeans are a great source of protein without the high fat content and extra additives. We create balance with a side of fries because everybody deserves a little treat.”

Here, in alphabetical order, are eight great veggie burgers in Charleston.

Bangin’ Vegan Eats: This food truck serves 100% vegan food like loaded sandwiches, crunch wraps, fried cauliflower and loaded fries. The Dirty South burger is its signature bean patty loaded with house-made pimento “cheeze,” a fried green tomato, pineapple chutney, lettuce and jalapeños on a toasted bun. You can find the truck at places like Odyssey Bottle Shop, Sweatman’s Garden and the MUSC Greenway. More: Facebook.

Basic Kitchen: Basic Kitchen has been serving a veggie-forward menu on Wentworth Street since opening in 2017.

What’s new

More Italian: V Modern Italian is opening downtown at 465 Meeting St., the former space of The Select. The restaurant’s group is based in Madrid and Stockholm. Its Charleston location will be the group’s second in the States following Nashville. Michelin-starred chef Stefano Ciotti is leading menu development and will offer antipasti, pastas and wood-fired entrees highlighting local ingredients. More: v.restaurant/charleston

A la carte in a la carte: Chef Daniel Humm x The Charleston Place has launched an a la carte spring menu. The new format is available in the dining room and bar area. Menu highlights include dishes like Bibb lettuce with radish and buttermilk; a lobster roll with a lemon aioli and fresh chives served on a buttered brioche bun; and Humm’s take on a hot dog served with bacon, gruyere cheese and a celery-truffle relish. More: chefhummcharlestonplace.com

Bagel madness: Jeff’s Bagel Run is bringing back fan-favorite promotion Bagel Madness. The bracket-style competition is a month-long showdown where sweet and savory bagels battle it out. Tipping off March 16 in all Jeff’s Bagel Run locations, customers can complete and submit their own bracket predictions through the Jeff’s Bagel Run app. People who correctly predict winners will have the opportunity to win prizes. More: jeffsbagelrun.com

What’s happening

Equinox Eve: The Charleston Climate Coalition’s spring celebration and benefit dinner, Equinox Eve, is happening at 6:30 p.m. March 19 at Society Hall (72 Meeting St.). In addition to a light dinner using local ingredients from Chef Maya Morrill, guests will enjoy a night of live music and poetry readings. Cost: $99-135. More: Eventbrite Burgers for a cause: The second annual Smash Homelessness event will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. March 22 at The Refinery. Teaming with Hoops Against Homelessness, the event will feature 24 chefs, each preparing a burger with a creative twist. This year’s participants include The Archer, Kultura, Lost Isle and many others. Tickets: $32 per round. More: ticketweb.com —Becky Lacey

AT CHARLESTON BEER WORKS $12 LUNCH SPECIALS MON - THURS MON & TUES NIGHT SPECIAL 10 WINGS FOR $12 RUN CBW EVERY WED AT 7PM $6 LOCAL DRAFTS FOR RUNNERS BAR BINGO & MUSIC TRIVIA BINGO THURS AT 7PM

Using seasonal, local produce, the menu aims to provide clean food that brings energy. Its Good Burger is a beet-based, house-made vegetable patty with pickled beet slaw and harissa aioli and a side of sweet potato fries. Add avocado, a pro tip courtesy of server Genevieve. More: basickitchen.com.

Big Gun Burger Shop: The Dirty Gardener at Big Gun Burger Shop across from Marion Square is a veggie burger with eggplanttomato jam, fried kale and avocado. While known for beef burgers like the Bungalow (with bacon, caramelized onion, Havarti cheese, tomato and dill mayo), its veggie rendition is definitely worth a try. More: bigguncharleston.com.

Hugh-Baby’s BBQ and Burger Shop: Hugh-Baby’s, founded by barbecue luminary Pat Martin, serves burgers made from a proprietary blend of premium beef, ground fresh daily, as well as slow-smoked pulled pork, turkey and bologna. Much care is also put into its veggie burger, which is a house-made patty with smoked black beans, mushrooms and cashews, topped with Swiss cheese, pickles, lettuce, onion, heirloom tomato and comeback sauce. More: hughbabys.com.

Jack of Cups Saloon: This Folly Beach institution serves a menu laced with Asian and Indian flavors that leans towards vegan and vegetarian (but fear not, it also has dishes with meat). The Big Jack Burger is a house-made lentil and red bean patty on a toasted pretzel bun with provolone, lettuce, tomato and Jack sauce. Newly opened Jack of Cups Trading Post — on Folly Road — also has a veggie burger. Its Harvest Melt is a black eyed pea patty with provolone, caramelized onion, lettuce and maple Dijon on a pretzel bun. More: jackofcupssaloon.net.

The Post House: Tucked away in Mount Pleasant’s Old Village, the Post House offers a seasonal menu, classic cocktails and a stellar veggie burger. The crispy butterbean burger is stick-to-your-ribs satisfying, and is served with American cheese, carrot slaw and comeback sauce on a milk bun alongside golden, salty fries. More: theposthouseinn.com.

The Royal American: For many, mushrooms are the most satisfying replacement for meat when it comes to a veggie burger. And the portobello mushroom burger at The Royal American does not disappoint. Marinated and grilled mushroom is served with provolone, garlic aioli, lettuce, tomato and onion on a sesame seed bun. More: theroyalamerican.com.

Sesame Burgers and Beer’s locations in Mount Pleasant and Park Circle have the most variety when it comes to veggie burgers

Sesame Burgers and Beer: The restaurant’s locations in Mount Pleasant and Park Circle have the most variety when it comes to veggie burgers. Almost 15 preparations of burger can be made with a black bean patty, from the Charleston (pimento cheese, tomato and house-made dill pickle) to the mushroom Swiss (grilled mushrooms, garlic aioli, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion). You can also build your own burger by selecting from a very large list of toppings. More: sesameburgersandbeer.com.

Guinness Stout

Low Tide Tura’Lu Irish Red

Wexford Irish Cream Ale

Smithwick’s Irish Red Ale

Sullivan’s Irish Gold Ale

Westbrook Auspicious Baubles

Green Lager brewed with marshmallow breakfast cereal

Too cute to pinch & beer too cold to resist for over 74 Years!

Culture

North Charleston’s Jubalo salts city with new art show

By Maura Hogan

You may not have yet heard the name Okeeba Jubalo, but you likely will soon.

If you’re savvy on North Charleston’s emerging cultural scene, you might already know of the man with this distinct moniker. He possesses a multi-faceted skill set and the grand ambition needed to amplify the city’s bold new role in the contemporary arts scene.

For Jubalo, the elevation of the city’s arts crosses all disciplines, and draws from his skills as a fine artist, musician, curator, gallerist, publisher, graphic designer and videographer — not to mention as the owner of a branding and marketing agency, NobleSol Art Group, whose clients have included the City of Atlanta and WNBA.

On March 14, Jubalo will flex his facility in the visual arts to gatherg a crowd at Okeeba Jubalo Fine Art Gallery in the Park Circle Communiy Building for a new group exhibition — The Dirty Dozen: SALT. A reception that starts at 7 p.m. launches the show at the gallery, which is otherwise by appointment only.

“

Salt, one part of it means looking at the salt of the earth and the people behind the scenes who actually make the city and make our society move forward.” —Okeeba Jubalo

The Dirty Dozen: SALT

“New people will be shocked at the diversity of art,” he said of the works in the show.

They are Southern artists ranging from Patricia Coleman-Cobb’s sculptural mixedmedia pieces to Darrien West’s abstract collage work reminiscent of Jean-Michel Basquiat to the vibrant, neo-expressionist oil and acrylic paintings of Damon Mescudi.

The Dirty Dozen: SALT exhibition is the latest in a yearslong series that has in the

Arts+Music

Citadel’s Silverman tapped for state honor

Charleston’s Tiffany Reed Silverman is among the six winners of the South Carolina Governor’s Award for the Arts. The Citadel’s first director of fine arts, Silverman is recognized in the individual category for revolutionizing arts engagement with the military school’s cadets and championing high-profile public art initiatives. More: SouthCarolinaArts.com

CLASSICAL MUSIC

• March 13 and 14 , 7:30 p.m.: Charleston Symphony presents An Evening with Emanuel Ax, performing two pieces written by Johannes Brahms 25 years apart: Symphony No. 3, written at age 50, and Piano Concerto No.1, composed in 1858 at just 25 years old. More: charlestonsymphony.org

DANCE

past focused on solo exhibitions of Jubalo’s own work. This year, the gallerist elected to focus on the voices his gallery represents, to underscore his full belief in them.

Along with Coleman-Cobb, West and Mescudi, featured artists include Vando Davis, Tosh Fomby and Margaret Warfield, along with culinary artist Alexis Mungin.

The March 14 reception centers on a cultural conversation moderated by Dr. Ed Garnes and Johnny Clarkson, both of Altanta.

The name of the show guides the curation, and perhaps Jubalo’s overarching vision.

“Salt, one part of it means looking at the salt of the earth and the people behind the scenes who actually make the city and make our society move forward,” he said, observing that “too often it’s without any kind of real recognition.”

The curator’s aim is to bring in a level of contemporary African American art rooted in the Lowcountry and often pulling in from other places and states, while also providing the wider reach of Obalo’s own techniques and approaches. Provided

CONTINUED

• March 14 , 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and March 15, 3 p.m.: Palmetto City Ballet presents The Little Mermaid, with all-new sets and costumes, and choreography by Jonathan Tabbert. College of Charleston Sottile Theatre, 44 George St. More: palmettocityballet.org

MUSIC

• March 14 , 8 p.m.: Mad Hatter’s Ball with Out On A Limb, Music Farm

• March 14 , 5 p.m.: Dr. Bacon, Pour House

• March 17, 5 p.m.: Dan Kelly (of Fortunate Youth), Pour House

• March 17, 7 p.m.: Aly and AJ, Charleston Music Hall

• March 18 , 4 p.m.: OHM Jam with multiple artists, Awendaw Green

• March 18 , 7 p.m.: Robert Earl Keen, Charleston Music Hall

• March 19, 5 p.m.: Chatham Rabbits, Pour House

• March 19, 7:30 p.m.: Brian Sella , with Emperor X, Music Farm

• March 20, 7 p.m.: Sparrow Blue/ Mike Freund Band/Whiskey Revelation, Tin Roof

• March 20, 8 p.m.: Eggy, Pour House

• March 21 , 7 p.m.: Bernadette Peters, Charleston Music Hall

Awendaw Barn Jam still offers musical variety after 15 years

By Vincent Harris

Music trends come and go. Venues open and close. But the Awendaw Green Barn Jam just keeps chugging along.

The weekly Wednesday night jam session at the space near Awendaw does, in fact, take place in a big barn on the property, as it has for the last 15 years.

The Barn Jam isn’t strictly a jam session, though. If you go to the next two editions on March 18 or 25, you won’t see a circle of dudes sitting around with acoustic guitars. The Barn Jam is more an exercise in eclectic booking. It’s an opportunity to sample a variety of musical styles in one evening.

On March 25, for example, you can catch the old-school folk blues Nick Andrew Staver, the acoustic-electric Americana of Austin Miller, the harmonyvocal drenched rock of the trio Gale Bird, Southern roots-rock from the Cody Marlowe Band and fresh new alternative rock from Private Violet.

It will be all in one night through a firstrate sound system — and all for $10. The acts on the schedule are local and national, it’s BYOB and you can even bring your dog, if he or she is friendly.

It’s a low-key, low-stress environment, and the vibe is, for lack of a better phrase, “very chill.”

And that’s exactly how the founder and organizer of the Barn Jam, dentist and passionate local music supporter Dr. Eddie White, likes it.

“It’s like a backyard barbecue with a

“

It’s just all about the music. We do bluegrass, singer-songwriters, rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, spoken word and occasionally a jazz set.”

—Eddie

White

built-in PA,” White said in a recent interview with the Charleston City Paper. “It’s about a half-acre, and we have a great covered stage. There are around 300 chairs and 25 picnic tables. We have a beautiful pond beside us. We have a wood-fired pizza oven and a restaurant called The Roost that has been our food vendor for over 10 years.”

“It is, as they say in Pawleys Island, ‘elegantly shabby,’ ” White added.

While not a musician himself, White devours music like it’s a free buffet.

“It’s just all about the music,” he said. “We do bluegrass, singer-songwriters, rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, spoken word and occasionally a jazz set.”

And if you attend a Barn Jam, you’ll note that the lineup is never five artists from the same genre. If there’s a blues act onstage, there’s not another one waiting in the wings.

“I always like to mix it up,” White said.

The City Paper is my favorite way to kick off the weekend and learn about everything that’s going on in the Holy City. I love that I can pick it up easily at my favorite coffee shop. I also love that it is a local, independent news source!”

GRACE MCNALLY LAREAU CHARLESTON JAZZ

Live in Concert Marty Appel

PURCHASE TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE

Festival Hall • Wednesday, March 25 • 7:30 PM-9 PM

FEATURING JOE TAYLOR, JEFF FRANZEL ON PIANO, PAUL ADAMY ON BASS, AND RAY MARCHICA ON DRUMS

“ROWS

11. Space pioneer Gagarin

12. Elton John achievement

14. Hamilton, when focused on molecular particles?

21. Time period for Taylor Swift

23. Put cargo on

25. Like ___ from the blue

26. Cartoon spun off from “Beavis and Butt-head”

30. Elevator company

31. Challenge

32. Jazz singer Fitzgerald

33. Rap’s Snoop ___

34. Wicked (and not for good)

35. Coffee

37. Marbled stone

38. “Twilight” author Stephenie

43. State home to Blank Park Zoo

47. “___ Wiedersehen!”

49. Tortilla-based sandwiches

51. “Boot” of Europe

52. “Hyperbole and a Half” writer/illustrator Brosh

53. 1930s DuPont fabric invention

54. “The Last ___”

55. Unadulterated

56. Jigsaw starting point, maybe

57. Release

61. Incoming train stat

62. When it’s light out

maybe

54. Undeveloped expanse

58. In a suitable way

59. Bugs Bunny antagonist Elmer

60. Energetically excited

63. Reach by phone 64. Compulsion 65. Michelangelo work in St. Peter’s Basilica

66. 2025 Pixar film 67. One with

West Ashley

1561 MONTCLAIR STREET

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HOPPERS

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JASMINE

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MILLIE

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SABINE

4 year old female. For more information, call (843) 871-3820 or email adopt@dorchesterpaws.org

ARLINGTON

5 year old male. For more information, call (843) 871-3820 or adopt@dorchesterpaws.org

BERYL

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Catherine Dobbins

SOUTH: By lands of Alton Darby; by lands of John C. Dangerfield & L. Butler Ware

EAST: By lands of Heirs of Helen Freeman

WEST: By lands of Fred Wilson, Jr. & Linda Darby, with Right of Survivorship

BEING a portion of the same property conveyed to Carrie Darby by C. N. Clarke, Deed Book Q-5, at Page 112, in the Berkeley County Register of Deeds Office.

TMS No.: 026-00-01-109

s/Willie B. Heyward S. C. Bar No. 11063

BERKELEY COUNTY

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF BERKELEY IN THE FAMILY COURT FOR THE NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT DOCKET NO. 2026-DR-08-0024

SOUTH CAROLINA

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

VERSUS AJA WILLIAMS PRIOLEAU, STEPHEN FRANCOIS, JAVONTE AMES AND CHARLOTTE WILLIAMS, DEFENDANTS. IN THE INTERESTS OF: MINOR CHILDREN BORN IN 2010 AND 2011.

TO DEFENDANT: AJA WILLIAMS PRIOLEAU

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action filed with the Clerk of Court for Berkeley County on January 7, 2026 at 10:55 a.m. Upon proof of interest, a copy of the Complaint will be delivered to you upon request from the Berkeley County Clerk of Court, and you must serve a copy of your Answer to the Complaint on the Plaintiff, the South Carolina Department of Social Services, at the office of its Attorney, Jason D. Pockrus, Legal Department of the Berkeley County Department of Social Services, 2 Belt Drive, Moncks Corner, SC 29461, within thirty (30) days of this publication, exclusive of the date of service. If you fail to answer within the time set forth above, the Plaintiff will proceed to seek relief from the Court.

Jason D. Pockrus, SC Bar #101333, 2 Belt Drive, Moncks Corner, SC 29461, (843) 719-1080.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF BERKELEY IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

CASE NO: 2026-CP-08-00272

HELEN DOBBINS BRYAN Plaintiffs, vs. HELEN MURRAY, JASPER MURRAY, CATHERINE DOBBINS, PETER DOBBINS, RUDOLPH

DOBBINS, JR., CONSTANCE FLIPPINS, and JOHN DOE AND MARY ROE, fictitious names used to designate persons in the military service within the meaning of Title 50 US Code commonly referred to as The Service Members Civil Relief Act of 2003, as amended, if any, and the unknown heirs at law, devisees, widows, widowers, executors, administrators, personal representatives, successors and assigns, firms or

corporations and all other persons claiming any right, title, estate, interest in or lien upon the real estate described in the complaint or any part thereof, Defendants.

SUMMONS (SET-ASIDE DEED)

TO: THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer upon the subscriber, at his office situated at 27 Gamecock Avenue, Suite 200, Charleston, South Carolina, 29407, within thirty (30) days after service thereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

LIS PENDENS

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that an action has been commenced and is now pending in Court of Commons Pleas for Berkeley County, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 53, Title 15, South Carolina Code of Laws for 1976, as amended, commonly known as the “Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act”, Chapter 67, and of Articles 1 and 3, Chapter 67, Title 15, and Chapter 61, Title 15, South Carolina Code of Laws for 1976, as amended, for the purpose of obtaining a determination of this Court that the plaintiff is an owner of the below described parcel of real estate; to determine adverse claims thereto, if any; and to quiet title thereto in the name of the Plaintiff and others, as tenants in common, and with fee simple title thereto pursuant to the provisions of Rule 71, South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.

THE BELOW DESCRIBED parcel of real estate was at the time of the filing of this Lis Pendens, and at the time of the commencement of the action, situated, lying and being in the County of Berkeley, State of South Carolina, and is more particularly described as follows:

ALL THAT CERTAIN piece, parcel of land and improvements situate, lying and being in the 1st St. Stephen Parish, County of Berkely Sate of South Carolina, in a plat entitled “Division of Survey of TMS 026-00-01-015 owned by Heirs f Carrie Darby, containing 15.25 Acres, Tract “A” 3.00 Acres being conveyed to Helen Murray and Jasper Murray, Tract “B” 4.50 Acres, being conveyed to Catherne Dobbins, Tract “C” 3.00 Acres being conveyed to Orrie Dobbins, measuring and containing Three (3.00) Acres, more or less, butting and bounding as follows:

NORTH: By Tract “B”, to be simultaneously conveyed to

and required to answer the Amended Complaint in the Action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you and to serve a copy of your answer to the said Amended Complaint on the Plaintiff, through his Attorney, J. Chris Lanning, at his office, 12 Carriage Lane, Suite A, Charleston, South Carolina 29407, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof exclusive of the day of such Service; and, if you fail to answer the Amended Compliant within the time aforesaid, the Plaintiff in the Action will apply to the Court for the relief demanded in the Amended Complaint.

Attorney for the Plaintiffs 27 Gamecock Ave., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29407 843-225-8754 Wheyward80@gmail.com

February 5, 2026

CHARLESTON COUNTY

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHARLESTON IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FOR THE NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CASE NO.: 2025-CP-10-06443

Gideon U. Brown, Jr., Akiliah G. McKelvey and Fekerte L. Brown Plaintiffs, v. Geneva McNeil, Tracy Tolliver, Lorie A. Brown and John Doe and Richard Roe, as Representatives of all heirs and devisees Ralph Brown, Josephine McNeil Brown, Gideon U. Brown, Sr. and Loura Jean McNeil a/k/a Laura Jean McNeil a/k/a Dorothy McNeil, deceased, and all persons entitled to claim under or through them; also, all other persons, corporations or entities unknown claiming any right, title interest in or lien upon the subject real estate described herein, any unknown adults, whose true names are unknown, being a class designated as John Doe, and any unknown infants, persons under disability, or person in the Military Service of the United States of America whose true names are unknown, being a class designated as Richard Roe. Defendants.

YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that should you fail to answer the foregoing Summons, the Plaintiff will move for a general Order of Reference of this cause to the Master-inEquity/Special Referee for the aforesaid County which Order shall, pursuant to Rule 53, South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically provide that the said Master-in-Equity/Special Referee is authorized and empowered to enter final judgment in this case. An appeal from the final judgment entered by the Masterin-Equity/Special Referee shall be made directly to the Supreme Court.

YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Amended Summons, Amended Lis Pendens and Amended Complaint in the above entitled action were filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Charleston County on November 26, 2025.

Dated at Charleston, South Carolina on November 26, 2025.

AMENDED LIS PENDENS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an action has been commenced and is pending in this Court upon Amended Complaint of the above-named Plaintiffs against the above-named Defendants, that said Action is brought under the provisions of South Carolina’s Clementa C. Pinckney Uniform Partition of Heirs’ Property Act, Sections 15-61-10, et seq., Code of Laws of South Carolina, for partition of the said property.

That said property affected by said Complaint in this Action hereby commenced was, at the time of the commencement of this Action, and at the time of the filing of this Notice is described as follows:

All that piece, parcel, or lot of land, situate, lying, and being in S. Andrews Parish, Charleston County, State of South Carolina, and being a part of Hillsboro, called Maryville, and known as LOT NO. 10, OF LOT C, as shown on a plat made by A. L. Glen, Reg. C. E. Dated December 30, 1953, entitled, “A SUBDIVISTION OF LOT C, HILLSBORO TRACT, MARYVILLE, ST. ANDREWS PARISH, CHARELSTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA AND SURVYED FOR NAT G. PEEPLES,” the original of which plat is recorded in Plat book J, at Page 121, in the R. M. C. Office for Charleston County. Said lot having such size, shape, dimensions, buttings and bounding, as will by reference to said plat, more fully and at large appear.

TMS # 418-05-00-108

Property Address: 919 Diana Street, Charleston, SC 29407

GUARDIAN AD LITEM NISI

Carolina, 29407, by Order of this Court Common Pleas dated February 19, 2026 and filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Charleston County, South Carolina has been appointed Guardian ad Litem Nisi for such of the Defendants herein as may be unknown infants, persons insane, or otherwise incompetent or under legal disability, claiming any right, title, estate claim, interest in, or lien upon the property described in the Amended Complaint herein, such appointment to become absolute unless they or someone on their behalf shall procure an Order appointing a Guardian ad Litem for such persons within (30) days after past publications of the Summons herein.

BRUSH LAW FIRM, P.A. s/ J. Chris Lanning J. Chris Lanning 12-A Carriage Lane Charleston, SC 29407 Phone – 843-766-5576

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHARLESTON IN THE FAMILY COURT FOR THE NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT DOCKET NO. 2026-DR-10-0124

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES VERSUS Nicole Lafayette, Brandi Wallace, and Antwan Chaplin, DEFENDANTS. IN THE INTERESTS OF: MINOR CHILD BORN IN 2012.

TO DEFENDANT: Nicole Lafayette

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Summons in this action filed with the Clerk of Court for Charleston County on January 15, 2026, at 10:21 am. Upon proof of interest, a copy of the Summons will be delivered to you upon request from the Charleston County Clerk of Court, and you must serve a copy of your Answer to the Summons on the Plaintiff, the South Carolina Department of Social Services, at the office of its Attorney, W. Tracy Brown, Legal Department of the Charleston County Department of Social Services, 3685 Rivers Ave, Suite 101, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405 within thirty (30) days of this publication, exclusive of the date of service. If you fail to answer within the time set forth above, the Plaintiff will proceed to seek relief from the Court.

W. Tracy Brown, SC Bar # 5832, 3685 Rivers Ave, Suite 101, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405, (843) 953-9625.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHARLESTON IN THE FAMILY COURT FOR THE NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT DOCKET NO. 2025-DR-10-3251 SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES VERSUS Lashonda Sims, Kenyeil Mitchell, and Jamall Frazier, DEFENDANTS. IN THE INTERESTS OF: MINOR CHILDREN BORN IN 2015, 2020 & 2023.

TO DEFENDANT: Lashonda Sims

Court, and you must serve a copy of your Answer to the Summons on the Plaintiff, the South Carolina Department of Social Services, at the office of its Attorney, W. Tracy Brown, Legal Department of the Charleston County Department of Social Services, 3685 Rivers Ave, Suite 101, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405 within thirty (30) days of this publication, exclusive of the date of service. If you fail to answer within the time set forth above, the Plaintiff will proceed to seek relief from the Court.

W. Tracy Brown, SC Bar # 5832, 3685 Rivers Ave, Suite 101, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405, (843) 953-9625.

***********

Estate of:

THEODORE JULIUS BOWERS

2026-ES-10-0268

DOD: 12/8/25

Pers. Rep: LAURA TEAGUE BOWERS 668 STERLING DR., CHARLESTON, SC 29412

***********

Estate of: RAMSES N. SHENOUDA 2026-ES-10-0270

DOD: 1/27/26

Pers. Rep: MONA MULLINS 2 WHARFSIDE ST., #3A, CHARLESTON, SC 29401

Atty: JOHN KACHMARSKY, ESQ. 171 CHURCH ST., #330, CHARLESTON, SC 29401

***********

Estate of: NELSON NORMAN HAWN 2026-ES-10-0278

DOD: 1/18/26

Pers. Rep: STEPHAN MICHAEL HAWN 613 WEYMOUTH RD., BUENA, NJ 08310 ***********

Estate of: LOU BANISTER CHANDLER 2026-ES-10-0281

DOD: 1/28/26

Pers. Rep: CAITLIN C. BROWN 1919 ENCLAVE DR., MT. PLEASANT, SC 29464

Atty: M. JEAN LEE, ESQ. 115 CHURCH ST., CHARLESTON, SC 29401 ***********

Estate of: LUCIA ANN CHILDS 2026-ES-10-0283

DOD: 11/22/26

Pers. Rep: CHRISTOPHER PLAUT 35 WILLOW AVE., LARCHMONT, NY 10538

Atty: M. JEAN LEE, ESQ. 115 CHURCH ST., CHARLESTON, SC 29401

ESTATES’ CREDITOR’S NOTICES

ESTATES’ CREDITOR’S NOTICES

All persons having claims against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the Personal Representative indicated below and also file subject claims on Form #371ES with Irvin G. Condon, Probate Judge of Charleston County, 84 Broad Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401, before the expiration of 8 months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors or one year from the date of death, whichever date is earlier, or else thereafter such claims shall be and are forever barred.

Estate of: LILLIAN EDNA GREEN NESBITT 2026-ES-10-0255

DOD: 8/20/25

Pers. Rep: JOHNATHAN NESBITT 1944 CULVER AVE., CHARLESTON, SC 29407

***********

Estate of: RAYMOND NESBITT 2026-ES-10-0260

DOD: 12/16/25

Pers. Rep: JOHNATHAN NESBITT 1944 CULVER AVE., CHARLESTON, SC 29407

***********

Estate of: NANCY ESTES COBB LILLY 2026-ES-10-0263

NOTICE OF SALE CIVIL ACTION NO. 2025CP1002827

BY VIRTUE OF A DECREE of the Court of Common Pleas for Charleston County, South Carolina, heretofore issued in the case of Mepkin Condominium Association, Inc., v. DAVID M. JACKSON, the Master-in-Equity will sell on April 07, 2026, at 11:00AM, at the Charleston County Courthouse, 100 Broad Street, Courtroom 2A, Charleston, South Carolina 29401, to the highest bidder:

ALL that certain condominium unit known and designated as UNIT 1024, (formerly known as Unit C-4), Mepkin Condominiums Horizontal Property Regime, a horizontal property regime established pursuant to the South Carolina Horizontal Property Regime Act, Section 27-31-10, et. Seq., South Carolina Code of Law, as amended, and submitted by Master Deed dated August 18, 2006, recorded August 25, 2006, in Book A596, page 470, in the RMC Office for Charleston County. Said unit is shown on the Exhibit attached to the Master Deed.

TMS No.: 353-13-00-077

Property address: 1826 Mepkin Road Apt C4, Charleston, SC 29407-3034

TERMS OF SALE: FOR CASH. The Master-in-Equity will require a deposit of 5% of the bid amount in cash or certified funds, which is to be applied on the purchase price upon compliance with the bid. Interest on the balance of the bid at the rate of 7.25% per annum shall be paid to the day of compliance. In case of noncompliance within thirty (30) days, after the sale, the deposit of 5% is to be forfeited and applied to Plaintiff’s judgment debt and the property re-advertised for sale upon the same terms at the risk of the former highest bidder. Purchaser to pay for deed recording fees and deed stamps.

All persons having claims against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the Personal Representative indicated below and also file subject claims on Form #371ES with Irvin G. Condon, Probate Judge of Charleston County, 84 Broad Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401, before the expiration of 8 months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors or one year from the date of death, whichever date is earlier, or else thereafter such claims shall be and are forever barred.

Estate of:

LAVINIA COCHRAN GRANT

2026-ES-10-0302

DOD: 12/11/25

Pers. Rep: GARITH JAJUN GRANT SNYPE 302 BIBIANA LN., GOOSE CREEK, SC 29445

Atty:

CHARLES S. ALTMAN, ESQ. 575 KING ST., #A, CHARLESTON, SC 29403

***********

Estate of:

JARICO MYRON NELSON

2026-ES-10-0328

DOD: 7/14/25

Pers. Rep: SHERRA WITHERSPOON

1956 ARBUTUS AVE., NO. CHARLESTON, SC 29405

Atty: KEVIN C. CORRIGAN, ESQ. 1629 MEETING ST. RD., CHARLESTON, SC 29405

Deficiency judgment being specifically waived, the bidding shall be final on the date of the sale.

Should Plaintiff, Plaintiff’s attorney, or Plaintiff’s agent fail to appear on the day of sale, the property shall not be sold, but shall be re-advertised and sold at some convenient sales day thereafter when Plaintiff, Plaintiff’s attorney, or Plaintiff’s agent, is present.

The sale shall be subject to taxes and assessments, existing easements and restrictions of record, and any senior lien(s) identified in the Complaint and the Order and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale. Plaintiff does not warrant its title search to purchasers at foreclosure sale or other third parties, who should have their own title search performed on the subject property.

Mikell R. Scarborough Master-in-Equity, County of Charleston _____________________, 2026 Charleston, South Carolina Clarkson McAlonis & O’Connor, P.C.

Sean A. O’Connor, Esq. 753 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 100 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 (843) 885-8005

Attorney for Mepkin Condominium Association, Inc.

SUMMONS FOR PUBLICATION

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Conrad Falkiewicz, Esquire, 6 Carriage Lane,, Charleston, South

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Summons in this action filed with the Clerk of Court for Charleston County on December 15, 2025, at 9:16 am. Upon proof of interest, a copy of the Summons will be delivered to you upon request from the Charleston County Clerk of

DOD: 1/18/26

Pers. Rep: STEVEN C. LILLY 612 SCOTLAND ST., RALEIGH, NC 27609

Atty: EDWARD G. R. BENNETT, ESQ. 115 CHURCH ST., CHARLESTON, SC 29401

***********

Estate of:

LEO STEVEN URBANSKI

2026-ES-10-0334

DOD: 11/20/25

Pers. Rep: EDWIN D. KOSAK

118 EVENING SHADE DR., CHARLESTON, SC 29414

STATE

COURT CASE NO: 2026-ES-10-00024

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF: ALICE JOSEPHINE SIMMONS CHOICE (Decedent)

ALFRED CHOICE Petitioner, -vInez C. Choice, etal Respondent,

NOTICE OF HEARING

TO: THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENTS AND ALL HEIRS AND INTERESTED PARTIES:

YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the above captioned action was filed on December 22, 2025, in the Probate Court for Charleston County. This action seeks determination of heirs for the late Alice Simmons Josephine Choice, who died on April 7, 1998. A hearing has been scheduled in connection with this matter on April 27, 2026 at 10 A.M. in the Probate Court for Charleston County on the 2nd floor at 84 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401.

Dated this 26 day of February, 2026, at Charleston, South Carolina.

Ken Edwards Law Office

Kenneth Edwards, Esquire P.O. Box 1563 Hollywood, South Carolina 29449 Phone: (843) 437-5798 Attorney for the Petitioner

Facility 3: 8850 Rivers Ave

3/24/2026 10:45 AM

Anthony Shelton Couch, Chair, Boxes

Derrick Coakley Chest, Ent. Center, TVs

Facility 4: 208 St. James Ave, Ste C Goose Creek, SC 29445 3/24/2026 11:00 AM

Fernando Rivera Household items, outdoor stuff, tv & tv stands, small furniture

Wendell Haynes Tables, cooking stuff, box

Pamela Durant Furniture

Antoine Heyward 2 bedroom, boxes

Facility 5: 3781 Ashley Phosphate Road North Charleston, SC 29418 3/24/2026 11:00 AM

Woodrow Sole Appliance Furniture Boxes Motorcycle

Aida Palma Household furniture, TV, Beds

Malyka Wims 12 Totes, Small sectional

Facility 6: 434 Orangeburg Road Summerville, SC 29483

3/24/2026 11:15 AM

Robert Washington Furniture, moving from apt, king and queen beds

Anyae Stroman Household Goods

Facility 7: 2130 N. Main St Summerville, SC 29486 3/24/2026 10:00 AM

Derrick D Richardson Household Goods/Furniture

Karen Dickerson 20 boxes of personal items, clothing, dolls, etc.

Richard Waring Furniture

Karen Dickerson Furniture, household goods

Jessica Long Furniture, misc

Facility 9: 1055 Beech Hill Rd. Summerville, SC 29485 3/24/2026 11:00 AM

David Stevenson Garage items, seasonal, boxes

Facility 10: 1205 Central Ave. Summerville, SC 29483 3/24/2026 11:15 AM

Tiffany Brown Clothes, dishes, furniture, and shoes, and stuffed animals, and HotWheels.

Thomas Owens Household Goods

Tarone Jacobs Household Goods

Facility 12: 344 Nexton Creek Circle Summerville, SC 29486

3/24/2026 11:45 AM

Victoria Dyer

Tool box washer dryer king size bed and boxes

Facility 13: 9670 Dorchester Rd Summerville, SC 29485

3/24/2026 10:15 AM

Michael DeSilva Household goods

Thomas Tyler Bedroom set

Deborah Curry Household goods

Regina Parker Furniture, boxes

Quinci LaFromboise Furniture

Ariel Grace Furniture

Michael DeSilva Household goods

Facility 14: 6941 Rivers Ave North Charleston, SC 29406 3/24/2026 12:30 PM

Donald William Household goods

Dana Grimsley 2 dressers, 2 bicycles, coffee table, 30 boxes

Jimmy Wayne Slagle Household items

Brantley Meier Tables, dresser

Tor Gregory Clothes, shoes, tv’s, beds, couches, purses

Natassja Ross Household items

Facility 15: 5146 Ashley Phosphate Road North Charleston, SC 29418

3/24/2026 12:00 PM

Antenette Murray Sofa, loveseat, kg bed, dresser, 2 armoires, table, boxes, tv

Dwayne Simmons Furniture

Brittany Manigault Household goods

John Greene Household furniture, clothing, equipment

Keith Williams Household furniture

The auction will be listed and advertised on www. storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its affiliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated:

Facility 1: 1108 Stockade Ln. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466 4/2/2026

10:00 AM

Neulogics Wellness and Medical Boxes, medical equipment, furniture

Jake Cronin

Jon boat, brown

Facility 2: 1904 N Hwy 17 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

4/2/2026 10:15 AM

Brandon Gotts Household goods

Tyler Piller Couch and clothes kitchen stuff

Facility 3: 1426 N Hwy 17 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

4/2/2026 10:40 AM

Peter Noce Household Goods

Peter Noce Household Goods

Peter Noce Household Goods

Facility 4: 2343 Savannah Hwy Charleston, SC 29414

4/2/2026 10:30 AM

Jay Blair Household Items

Facility 5: 45 Grand Oaks Blvd Charleston, SC 29414

4/2/2026 11:15 AM

Paula Enciso Household goods/furniture

Sean Cantrell Cleaning products, machines

Facility 6: 810 St Andrews Blvd Charleston, SC 29407

4/2/2026 11:45 AM

Laurie Burke 1 bedroom tv stand 65 inch tv

Facility 7: 1533 Ashley River Rd Charleston, SC 29407

4/2/2026 12:45 PM

Susan Keenan Christmas items

Boxes Patrica Nicotera Clothes, Kitchen items

Facility 8: 2118 Heriot Street Charleston, SC 29403

4/2/2026 12:15 PM

Balessia Ravenel

Boxes, household goods, furniture

The auction will be listed and advertised on www. storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHARLESTON IN THE COURT OF COMMON

PLEAS FOR THE NINTH JUDICIAL

CIRCUIT

CASE NO.: 2026-CP-10-01056

GERALD B. COAXUM, Plaintiff, vs. KATHY E. SMITH, RICHARD R. COAXUM, KEISHA COAXUM SIMPSON, JOHN DOE, adults, and RICHARD ROE, infants, insane persons, incompetents and persons in the military service of The United States of America, being fictitious names designating as a class any unknown person or persons or legal entity of any kind who may be an heir, distributee, legatee, widower, widow, assign, administrator, executor, creditor, successor, personal representative, issue or alienee of JACOB COAXUM AND BEATRICE COAXUM aka Beatrice Foreman Coaxum, CAIN BUTLER, PEGGY BROWN, LILLIE JONES, LUCILLE MELVIN, all deceased, and any all other persons or legal entities, known and unknown, claiming any right, title, interest or estate in or lien upon the parcel of real estate described in the Lis Pendens and Complaint filed herein, Defendants.

SUMMONS

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer upon John J. Dodds III at his office located at 858 Lowcountry Blvd., Suite 101, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, 29464, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the date of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF FILING

YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Summons, Complaint, Certificate of Exemption, Lis Pendens and Notice were filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Charleston County on February 27, 2026.

LIS PENDENS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an action has been commenced by the Plaintiff against the Defendants to clear title to the parcel of real estate hereinafter described and to establish ownership of said parcel in the name of the lawful owners, free and clear of all adverse claims, liens and encumbrances whatsoever, saving and excepting outstanding real property taxes. The parcel which is the subject of this action was at the commencement of this action and is now situate in the County of Charleston, State of South Carolina, and id more fully described as follows: ALL that certain piece, parcel or lot of land, together with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate, lying and being in Christ Church Parish, County of Charleston, State of South Carolina, and containing one-quarter (1/4) of an acre. The above mentioned Lot having the following boundaries and dimensions-On the Northeast by a small road leading to Highway 17-112.5 feet-On the Southeast by lands of Mabell and Ike Coakley-100 feet-On the Southwest by lands of the Grantor (Irene Foreman)-107.5 feet-and on the Northwest by lands of the Grantor (Irene Foreman)-100.5

feet. The said Lot is shown and designated as “A Portion of Tract B Beatrice and Jacob Coaxum TMS 580-00-00-050 10890 SQ. FT. 0.25 Acre” on a Plat by E.M. Seabrook Engineers/Surveyors, dated August 31, 2017, and recorded in the Register’s Office for Charleston County, South Carolina (“ROD”) on October 17, 2017, in Plat Book L17, Page 0561.BEING the same property conveyed to Beatrice Coaxum and Jacob Coaxum by deed of Irene Foreman, recorded in the Register’s Office for Charleston County, South Carolina on February 17, 1967, in Book F-87, at Page 360.

T.M.S. #: 580-00-00-050

NOTICE TO APPOINT A GUARDIAN AD LITEM NISI

You will please take notice that by Consent Order filed in the Clerk’s Office on March 2, 2026, Walter R. Kaufmann, Esquire, PO Box 459, Mt. Pleasant, SC 294650459, was appointed Guardian ad Litem Nisi for such of the unknown Defendants whose true names are unknown and fictitious names designating infants, insane persons, incompetents and persons in the military of The United State of America, being fictitious names designating as a class any unknown persons or legal entities of any kind, who may be an heir, distributee, devisee, legatee, widower, widow, assign, administrator, executor, creditor, successor, personal representative, issue or alienee of Jacob Coaxum, Beatrice Coaxum aka Beatrice Foreman Coaxum, Cain Butler, Peggy Brown, Lillie Jones and Lucille Melvin, all deceased, and any and all other persons or legal entities, known and unknown, claiming any right, title, interest or estate in or lien upon the real estate described in the Lis Pendens and Complaint filed herein; such appointment to become absolute unless the said Defendants or someone on their behalf shall procure the appointment of a Guardian ad Litem on or before the thirtieth (30) day after the last publication of the Summons herein.

John J. Dodds, III 858 Lowcountry Blvd., Suite 101 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 (P) (843) 881-6530 john@cisadodds.com

Summerville SC 29483 intends to hold an Auction of storage units in default of payment. The sale will occur as an online auction via www.storagetreasures. com on 4/1/2026 at 12:00 PM. This sale is pursuant to the assertion of lien for rental at the self-storage facility. Unless stated otherwise the description of the contents are household goods, furnishings and garage essentials.

Yolanda Lowery; Oschiah Hall; Kim Scriven.

This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply.

MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY:

YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem to represent said minor(s) within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by the Plaintiff(s) herein.

/s/R. Brooks Wright Rogers Townsend, LLC

ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF

John J. Hearn (SC Bar # 6635), John.Hearn@rogerstownsend.com

Brian P. Yoho (SC Bar #73516), Brian.Yoho@rogerstownsend.com

Jeriel A. Thomas (SC Bar #101400)

Jeriel.Thomas@rogerstownsend. com

R. Brooks Wright SC Bar #105195)

Brooks.Wright@rogerstownsend. com

1221 Main Street,14th Floor Post Office Box 100200 (29202) Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 744-4444

Columbia, South Carolina

NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED:

YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Summons and Complaint, of which the foregoing is a copy of the Summons, were filed with the Clerk of Court for Charleston County, South Carolina on November 12, 2025.

/s/R. Brooks Wright Rogers Townsend, LLC

ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF

John J. Hearn (SC Bar # 6635), John.Hearn@rogerstownsend.com

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHARLESTON IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

DOCKET NO. 2025CP1006343

PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, Plaintiff, v. Brian William Judski; Rebecca Derrick Judski; Stonoview Homeowners Association, Inc., Defendant(s).

(016487-01866)

SUMMONS

Deficiency Judgment Waived TO THE DEFENDANT(S), Brian William Judski: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to appear and defend by answering the Complaint in this foreclosure action on property located at 2422 Hymes Ct, Johns Island, SC 29455, being designated in the County tax records as TMS# 345-00-00-393, of which a copy is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer on the subscribers at their offices, 1221 Main Street, 14th Floor, Post Office Box 100200, Columbia, South Carolina, 29202-3200, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to do so, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND/OR

Brian P. Yoho (SC Bar #73516), Brian.Yoho@rogerstownsend.com

Jeriel A. Thomas (SC Bar #101400) Jeriel.Thomas@rogerstownsend. com

R. Brooks Wright SC Bar #105195) Brooks.Wright@rogerstownsend. com

1221 Main Street, 14th Floor Post Office Box 100200 (29202) Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 744-4444

Columbia, South Carolina

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY

Please take notice SmartStop Self Storage located at 701 Wando Park Blvd Mt Pleasent, SC 29464, intends to hold an auction of the goods stored in the following units to satisfy the lien of the owner. The sale will occur as an online auction via www.selfstorageauction. com on Wed March 18, 2026 at 2:00 pm. Contents include personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below.

1C08- Granite, Joshua: Household goods; 2A12 Hill Justin: Household goods.

Purchases must be paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. SmartStop Self Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property. Please contact the property with any questions (843) 213-7903.

Free Will Astrology

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In theater, “breaking the fourth wall” means acknowledging the audience. An actor steps out of the pretense that what’s happening on stage is real. It’s a disruptive moment of truth that can deepen the experience. I would love you to break the fourth wall in your own life, Aries. It’s a favorable time to slip free of any roles you’ve been performing by rote and just blurt out the more interesting truths. Tell someone, “This isn’t working for me.” Or say, “I need to be my pure self with greater authenticity.” Breaking the fourth wall won’t ruin the show; it will be more fun and real and entertaining.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): English speakers like me use the terms “destiny” and “fate” interchangeably. But a scholar of ancient Sumer claims they had different meanings in that culture. Nam, the word for “destiny,” was fixed and immutable. Namtar, meaning “fate,” could be manipulated, adjusted, and even cheated. I bring this to your attention, Taurus, because I believe you now have a golden chance to veer off a path that leads to an uninteresting or unproductive destiny and start gliding along a fateful detour.

By Rob Brezsny

at seeing everyone’s perspective that you sometimes lose track of your own. Here’s the antidote I recommend: Practice the revolutionary act of having strong opinions, of preferring one thing over another without immediately undercutting your preference with a counter-argument. I guarantee that your relationships will survive your decisiveness. In fact, they will deepen as people locate the real you beneath your exquisite balance.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): New love cravings have been welling up inside you, Scorpio. These cries of the heart may confuse you even as they delight you and invigorate you. One of your main tasks is to listen closely to what they’re telling you, but to wait a while before expressing their messages to other people. You need to study them in detail before spilling them out. Another prime task is to feel patient awe and reverence for the immensity and intensity of these deep, wild desires.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The coming months will be a favorable time for you to shed the fairytale story of success that once inspired you when you were younger and more idealistic. A riper vision is emerging, calling you toward a more realistic and satisfying version of your life’s purpose. The transformation may at first feel unsettling, but I believe it will ultimately awaken even deeper zeal and greater creativity than your original dream. Bonus: Your revised, more mature goals will lead you to the very rewards your youthful hopes imagined but never quite delivered.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Even if you’re not actually far from home, Cancerian, I bet you’re on a pilgrimage or odyssey of some kind. The astrological omens tell me that you’re being drawn away from familiar ideas and feelings and are en route to an unknown country. You’re transforming, but you’re not sure how yet. During this phase of exploration, I suggest that you adopt a nickname that celebrates being on a quest. This will be a playful alias that helps you focus on the pregnant potential of this interlude. A few you might want to consider: Journey Seed, Threshold Traveler, Holy Rambler, Map-Edge Maverick or Wanderlust Wonderer. Others? Choose one that tickles you with the sense that you are being born again while you travel.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Love is more than a gentle glow in your heart or a pleasurable spark in your body. When fully awakened and activated, it becomes a revolutionary way of being in the world that invites you to challenge and rethink all you’ve been taught about reality. It’s a bold magic that alters everything it encounters. You can certainly choose a milder, tamer version of love if you wish. But if you’d like to evolve into a love maestro — as you very well could during the next 12 months — I suggest you give yourself to the deeper, wilder form. Do you dare?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Octopuses have neuron clusters in their arms that enable them to “think with their limbs.” Let’s make them your spirit creature for now, Virgo. Your body’s intuitions are offering you guidance that might even be as helpful as your fine mind. This enhanced somatic brilliance can serve you in practical ways: a creative breakthrough while doing housework, a challenging transition handled with aplomb, a fresh alignment between your feelings and ideas. I hope you will listen to your body as if it were a beloved mentor. Trust your movements and physical sensations to reveal what you need to know.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I love your diplomatic genius: the capacity to understand all sides, to hold space for contradictions, to find the middle ground. But right now it’s in danger of curdling into a kind of self-erasure where your own desires become the one thing you can’t quite locate. Another way to understand this: You are so skilled

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you are fulfilling your birthright as a Sagittarius, you are a philosopher-adventurer with a yearning for deep meaning. As you seek out interesting truths, your restless curiosity is a spiritual necessity. You understand that wisdom comes from collecting diverse, sometimes contradictory experiences and weaving them into a coherent worldview. You have a fundamental need to keep expanding and reinventing what freedom means to you. All these qualities may make some people nervous, but they really are among your primary assignments now and forever. They are especially important to cultivate these days.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In traditional navigation, “dead reckoning” means finding your position by tracking your previous movements. Where you have been tells you where you are. But it only works if you’ve been honest about your course. If you’ve been misleading yourself about the direction you have been traveling, dead reckoning will get you lost. I bring this to your attention, Capricorn, because I really want you to rededicate yourself to telling yourself the deepest, strongest, clearest truths. Where have you actually been going? Not where you told yourself you were going or where other people imagined you were going, but where your choices have actually been taking you. Look at the pattern of your real movements, not your stated intentions. Once you know your true position, you can chart a true course for the future.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’re entering a rambling zigzag phase. Each plot twist will branch into two more, and every supposed finale will reveal itself as the opening act of another surprise. Fortunately, your gift for quick thinking and innovative adaptation is sharper than ever, which means you will flourish where others might freeze. My suggestion? Forget the script. Approach the unpredictable adventures like an improv exercise: spontaneous, playful and open to the fertile mysteries.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Can you compel acts of grace to intervene in your destiny? Can bursts of divine favor be summoned through the power of your will? Some spiritual scholars say, “Absolutely not.” They claim life’s wild benevolence arrives only through the mysterious tides of fate — impossible to solicit and impossible to predict. But other observers, more open-minded, speculate that your intelligent goodness might indeed attract the vivid generosity of cosmic energies. I bring this up because I suspect you Pisceans are either receiving or will soon receive blessings that feel like divine favor. Did you earn them, or are you just lucky — or some of both? It doesn’t matter. Enjoy the gift.