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

8 hours ago in Sports, Trending

Defending champion John Korir breaks Boston Marathon record and Sharon Lokedi also repeats

John Korir outran the strongest field in Boston Marathon history and still had enough energy left to bounce around Boylston Street after learning he had blistered the course record, too.

8 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Singer D4vd charged with murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, found dismembered in his car

Singer D4vd has been charged with murder in the death of a 14-year-old girl who was last known to be alive nearly a year ago and whose dismembered and decomposed body was found in September in his apparently abandoned Tesla, prosecutors said Monday.

15 hours ago in Entertainment

‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’ is no match for ‘Super Mario’ or ‘Hail Mary’ at the box office

"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" and "Project Hail Mary" dominated the North American box office again this weekend, leaving "Lee Cronin's The Mummy" in third place for its debut.

15 hours ago in Entertainment

Amy Winehouse’s father loses legal bid for funds friends made selling singer’s memorabilia

A London judge ruled Monday against the father of Amy Winehouse who sued his daughter's friends for profiting off the late singer's memorabilia.

4 days ago in National, Trending

Severe storms continue to produce heavy rain, lightning and flooding across parts of US

Storms barreling across the heart of the United States continued to threaten rain and pose flooding risks Thursday after causing at least one death when a man apparently was struck by lightning in Wisconsin.