Lowcountry Forever

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

In this May 4, 2025 episode, we talk with Paul Gangarosa of the Charleston Planetarium and Jana Chanthabane of Swim Across America - Charleston/Kiawah. Photo: 92.5 Kickin' Country/Saga Communications

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

1 day ago in Sports, Trending

Ohtani has grand slam, 5 RBIs as Japan routs Taiwan 13-0 in its WBC opener

Shohei Ohtani doubled on the first pitch of the game, then hit a go-ahead grand slam and an RBI single in a 10-run second inning to lead defending champion Japan over Taiwan 13-0 Friday night in its World Baseball Classic opener.

1 day ago in Entertainment

After 5 years, Sarah J. Maas returns to ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ with 2 untitled books

Romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas has given her millions of fans a plot twist they had long been waiting for — two more books over the next 11 months in her blockbuster "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series.

2 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

Britney Spears arrested and released, California sheriff’s records show, though charge is not clear

Britney Spears was arrested Wednesday night in Southern California and booked early Thursday, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's office, which didn't say what charge she faces.

2 days ago in National

Dow drops 1,000 points after oil spikes to its highest price since the summer of 2024

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1,000 points Thursday after the price of oil spiked to its highest level since the summer of 2024 because of the war with Iran.

2 days ago in National

Savannah Guthrie makes offscreen visit to ‘Today’ show, first since her mother went missing

Savannah Guthrie made an off-camera appearance Thursday at NBC's "Today" show studios to thank colleagues for their support since her mother Nancy went missing from her Arizona home a month ago.

2 days ago in National

Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Noem after mounting criticism over her leadership

President Donald Trump on Thursday fired his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, after mounting criticism over her leadership of the department, including the handling of the administration's immigration crackdown and disaster response.