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 9^th 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 7^th 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.