Lowcountry Forever: Charleston Planetarium & Swim Across America – May 4, 2025

SEGMENT #1: Charleston Planetarium
GUEST: Paul Gangarosa, Founder, and Thomas Martinez, Director
ISSUE: Science & Technology
This month, the new Charleston Planetarium opens in North Charleston at the Citadel Mall. The Planetarium is a new nonprofit 501©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.

________________________________________________

SEGMENT #2: Swim Across America/Charleston/Kiawah
GUEST: Jana Chanthabane, Event director
ISSUE: Health & Human Services
For the 9th year, individuals have an opportunity to take a swim and help win the fight against cancer. The annual nationwide Swim Across America event is on June 7th with the local Charleston/Kiawah swim happening off Kiawah Island. Jana Chanthabane is the local event director and herself a cancer survivor. Chanthabane explained how she became involved and her motivation to continue to make each year’s event a success in raising money to benefit the local Hollings Cancer Society. While the event is called “Swim Across America,” Chanthabane shared exactly where the swim would take place and provided opportunities for people to assist beyond swimming in the event. She also talked about the unique elements included in the local event and why people should take part.

Recent Headlines

3 days ago in Entertainment

Chevy Chase is under the spotlight in a new documentary, warts and all — and he’s OK with it

Insulting the director who is making a documentary about you might not be the most diplomatic of choices. Then again, Chevy Chase has never been very diplomatic.

3 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Where are the wackiest New Year’s Eve drops in the US?

Why let New York City have all the fun with its Times Square ball drop on New Year's Eve? Dozens of places across the U.S. will ring in 2026 by dropping a quirky assortment of fruits, vegetables, sea creatures and balls of all shapes and sizes. Many have a hometown flair.

3 days ago in Entertainment

Brigitte Bardot’s funeral will be held next week in French Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez

The funeral for Brigitte Bardot will be held next week in Saint-Tropez, the glamorous French Riviera resort she helped make famous and where she lived for more than a half-century, local authorities said.

3 days ago in Entertainment

France grants citizenship to George and Amal Clooney and their twins Ella and Alexander

Call them Monsieur and Madame Clooney. France's government says that George Clooney, his wife Amal and their twins Ella and Alexander have been awarded French citizenship.