Lowcountry Forever: Charleston Memorial Stair Climb & Charleston Planetarium – May 18, 2025

SEGMENT #1: Charleston Memorial Stair Climb
GUEST: John Cole, Director and Rachel Cole, Coordinator
ISSUE: EMS/First Responders
Each June, an event takes place to both remember and make certain we never forget what happened on September 11, 2001. That event is the Charleston Memorial Stair Climb, being held this year on Saturday, June 21. The director of the Climb, John Cole is a former firefighter who talked about where he was on 9/11, his experiences as a fireman, and why he was inspired to create the event. Rachel Cole is the Climb coordinator and broken down the event, explaining the significance of starting at 8:46AM and why the climb is 110 flights of stairs. The event, at the North Charleston Coliseum, will include participants from the New York City Fire Department. The Climb is a benefit event and Cole explained how the money was being raised and who the funds would go to benefit.

________________________________________________

SEGMENT #2: Charleston Planetarium
GUEST: Paul Gangarosa, Founder, and Thomas Martinez, Director
ISSUE: Science and Technology
This month, the new Charleston Planetarium opens in North Charleston at the Citadel Mall. The Planetarium is a new nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to science education. Paul Gangarosa, the Charleston Planetarium founder, shared his reasons for bringing the Planetarium to the Lowcountry and why he feels this is an important addition to our community. Thomas Martinez, the Planetarium Director, explained how the facility would operate in terms of when there would be shows, and how people could purchase tickets. Both expressed excitement for their May opening and explained how the shows would be constantly freshened, so a visit the following month would be different from the current month. Plus, they discussed the partnerships they were hoping to create with area schools.

Recent Headlines

6 days ago in Sports, Trending

Ex-NFL star Antonio Brown to accept plea deal on attempted murder charge, his lawyer says

Former NFL star wide receiver Antonio Brown plans to accept a plea deal on an attempted murder charge in Miami that avoids prison, as part of an agreement that his lawyer said Wednesday was too good to turn down.

7 days ago in Entertainment

Robert Pattinson brings ‘To Catch a Predator’ to life in new film ‘Primetime’

When Robert Pattinson first got the script for "Primetime," a dramatization of NBC Dateline's "To Catch a Predator" and the controversial sting operation that would lead to its cancellation, he was amazed it hadn't been made into a movie already.

1 week ago in Entertainment, Music

How Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ became the longest-running No. 1 hit of all time

Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas," a simmering, midtempo, country-and-then-some heartbreak song released last October, is indisputably 2026's biggest hit.

1 week ago in Trending, World

New book by Princess Diana’s brother prompts war of words with King Charles III

A book published Tuesday by the brother of the late Princess Diana has made headlines around the world with its damning allegations about Diana's ex-husband, now King Charles III, and reopened decades-old wounds within Britain's royal family.