Building a lasting legacy: Why smart estate planning belongs in every financial strategy
November 4, 2026
By Ellis O’Tuel, CRPC®* Principal, Hammock Wealth Management Estate planning is often misunderstood as a task reserved strictly for later in life or for those with extraordinary wealth. In reality, estate…
Read MorePosted in: georgetown-sc-gazette Category: advice, financial-advisors, on-the-move
Why are you paying more for Medicare than your neighbor?
November 3, 2026
Your retirement income decisions could be triggering higher Medicare premiums—and you may have options if your financial situation has changed. By Amanda Stilwell Imagine discovering that your neighbor pays…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: advice, banking-and-finance, health-wellness, health-care, on-the-move
Why use a local agent for medicare, health insurance and group health plans?
October 22, 2026
By Joel Lourie President & CEO Lourie Life & Health You can hardly turn on the television or open your computer without seeing advertisements featuring celebrities and actors promoting health…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, insurance, on-the-move
Gray Court author AnneDee Watkins, 20, returns to Fountain Inn’s Swanky Steer to sign ‘I’m Walking by Faith’
October 21, 2026
AnneDee Watkins was back in familiar territory last weekend when she held a book signing at the Swanky Steer in Fountain Inn. The 20-year-old Clemson University student once worked at…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, headlines, on-the-move, the-arts
Thinking about buying a home? Let’s talk mortgage rates
October 20, 2026
By Patty Pound, Broker-In-Charge / Co-Owner of Pound Real Estate Partners, LLC If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, you’ve probably wondered, “Should I buy now or wait for…
Read MorePosted in: georgetown-sc-gazette Category: advice, banking-and-finance, on-the-move, residential-real-estate
Breast cancer awareness month: how Golden Strip residents can access early screenings close to home
October 14, 2026
October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and across Mauldin, Simpsonville, and Fountain Inn, healthcare providers and community leaders are reminding residents that the most powerful weapon against the disease…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, headlines, health-wellness, health-care, on-the-move
Dirt on the Strip: Cold-Frame Engineering & Your Winter Salad Bar
October 12, 2026
By Barbara LeForge, Golden Strip News Editor Whoever said gardening season ends at the first frost clearly hasn’t lived in the Upstate. Here is how a little low-tunnel magic and…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, life, on-the-move, outdoors, the-arts
Demystifying Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): A Guide to building a modern portfolio
October 4, 2026
By Ellis O’Tuel, CRPC®* Principal, Hammock Wealth Management With thousands of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) currently trading on public markets, investors face a dizzying array of options. Whether you are just…
Read MorePosted in: georgetown-sc-gazette Category: advice, financial-advisors, on-the-move
It’s officially slow cooker season: Three easy, crowd-pleasing meals for busy autumn nights
September 30, 2026
As morning temperatures dip into sweater weather and weeknight calendars fill with sports practices, band rehearsals, and homework, kitchens across the Upstate are welcoming back the undisputed MVP of fall…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, food, on-the-move, the-arts
Pen a letter to the Pumpkin King: kids can write Jack Skellington for Halloween
September 30, 2026
If your family is full of fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas, there is a special postal route open straight to Halloweentown this season. Parents looking for a fun, festive…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, entertainment, on-the-move, the-arts
Medicare 101: Understanding Your Choices and What You Pay
September 30, 2026
By Amanda Stilwell What you pay for Medicare isn’t just about healthcare—your retirement income decisions can affect your costs, too. For many people approaching retirement, Medicare feels like a milestone:…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: advice, insurance, on-the-move
Dirt on the Strip: The Subcontractor Subsoil Scandal
September 28, 2026
By Barbara LeForge, Golden Strip News Editor I don’t know about you, but there is nothing quite like the giddy rush of closing day on a brand-new home. You turn…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, agriculture, entertainment, environmental, on-the-move, the-arts
What Apple v. OpenAI can teach employers about trade secrets
September 24, 2026
By David Dubberly On July 10, 2026, Apple filed a trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI and two of its employees who previously worked for Apple, accusing them of taking…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, law, on-the-move
Dirt on the Strip: Ditching the Plastic for an Upstate Harvest Porch
September 20, 2026
By Barbara LeForge, Golden Strip News Editor I don’t know about you, but I am READY for that fall weather. I’m talking a cool breeze, falling leaves, CARDIGANS, boots, a…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, on-the-move, the-arts
Senior Matters workshop helps residents plan for aging
September 20, 2026
Local professionals shared guidance on care, housing, finances, insurance, estate planning, relocation and real estate. When Zane Meadors learned his father was battling Alzheimer’s, he had to make life-changing decisions…
Read MorePosted in: georgetown-sc-gazette Category: advice, financial-advisors, health-wellness, health-care, law, on-the-move, residential-real-estate
The Inside-Out Effect: How Internal Communication Breakdowns Shatter Your External Brand
September 16, 2026
By Chelsea Bennett Founder and CEO of Ivey Palmer PR When executive leadership teams discuss brand reputation, the conversation almost immediately pivots to marketing budgets, public relations strategies, and customer…
Read MorePosted in: beaufortcurrent, lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, golden-strip-news, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Dirt on the Strip: How to rewild your bed edges without getting an HOA violation
September 14, 2026
I have a confession to make: I am a certified, unapologetic plant nerd. While normal people unwind with glossy home decor spreads, romance novels, or murder podcasts, I am the…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, life, on-the-move, outdoors
Out on the Strip: Finding sweet salvation inside Mauldin’s Chocolate Artworks
September 9, 2026
Between juggling deadlines, tracking municipal meetings, and racing from one end of the Golden Strip to the other covering local events, my daily schedule usually looks like a runaway freight…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, food, headlines, on-the-move
Keeping more of what you earn: Smart tax strategies for long-term growth
September 9, 2026
By Ellis O’Tuel, CRPC®* Principal, Hammock Wealth Management Every year, millions of Americans fulfill their civic duty by filing Form 1040 before the April deadline. Yet, behind those routine filings lies…
Read MorePosted in: georgetown-sc-gazette Category: advice, financial-advisors, on-the-move
Gloria Steinem, My Mom & Opening Windows
September 9, 2026
By Lane Byrum Director of Corporate Accounts & Emotional Intelligence Coach SHIFT Company When I learned that Gloria Steinem had died, an unexpected memory came rushing back. I remembered my…
Read MorePosted in: georgetown-sc-gazette Category: advice, conversations, on-the-move
Dirt on the Strip: the science of soil, serotonin, and sassing your spouse
September 7, 2026
By Barbara LeForge, Golden Strip News Editor Honey, listen to me: we have got to stop blaming Aunt Janice’s green bean casserole, the credit card statements, and the holiday madness…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, health-wellness, life, on-the-move, the-arts
Out on the Strip: beat the heat and find sweet relief at Dillard’s Ice Cream
September 2, 2026
The Sweetest Exhale in Town Lord have mercy, y’all. When that late-summer Upstate humidity wraps around your shoulders like a wet, steaming wool blanket and the Mauldin asphalt feels like…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, food, on-the-move, restaurant, the-arts
Dirt on the Strip: How to design a backyard sanctuary for paws, pint-sized humans, and pretty petals
August 31, 2026
If your idea of a backyard garden involves manicured English boxwoods, museum-grade floral displays, and delicate white gravel paths where nobody breathes too hard, I have bad news for you:…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, health-wellness, on-the-move, outdoors
The Light Dolly Left Behind
August 26, 2026
By Lane Byrum Director of Corporate Accounts & Emotional Intelligence Coach SHIFT Company When I learned that Dolly Parton had died, my reaction surprised me. It wasn’t simply sadness over the…
Read MorePosted in: georgetown-sc-gazette Category: advice, life, on-the-move
Out on the Strip: your weekly guide to local produce, southern staples, and what to find at the Mauldin Open Air Market
August 26, 2026
By Brenda Stewart Golden Strip Publisher There is a particular kind of quiet that settles over a person somewhere between the parking lot and the front counter at 699 E.…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, food, headlines, on-the-move
Trial Lawyers Are Your Neighbors
August 25, 2026
By Tom Killoren Partner KD Trial Lawyers When people hear the words “trial lawyer,” they often picture television commercials, courtroom dramas, or headlines about million-dollar verdicts. Too often, we’re…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: advice, law, on-the-move
The 10 decisions that matter most in the final stretch to retirement
August 25, 2026
By Amanda Stilwell Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor Clarity Financial Solutions The five years before retirement may be the most important of your financial life. For many professionals, retirement…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: advice, banking-and-finance, on-the-move
Dirt on the strip: letting the dirt sleep (so you can too)
August 23, 2026
Putting the garden to bed (because Lord knows we need the break too). I’ve had folks stopping me left and right lately asking the same thing: “Barbara, what if I…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, on-the-move, the-arts
Beyond the Glass: The Day Trip That Actually Silenced My Entire Backseat
August 21, 2026
By Barbara LeForge, Golden Strip News Editor If you have a herd of kids spanning the chaotic gap between kindergarten and the pre-teen eye-roll phase (ages 5 to 12 in…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, education, entertainment, history, on-the-move, the-arts
Out on the Strip: your weekly guide to what’s happening, where to eat, and what to do at Mercato Cafe
August 19, 2026
Have you ever opened a doorway and immediately felt the rush of the outside world simply melt away? That is the exact magic waiting for you at 1101 Via Corso…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, headlines, on-the-move, retail
Twenty six thousand small things
August 19, 2026
By Brenda Stewart, Publisher I let my inbox get to 26,000 emails. That is a humbling number to print in my own publication. I am doing it anyway, because I…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, headlines, on-the-move
Twenty six thousand small things
August 19, 2026
By Brenda Stewart, Publisher I let my inbox get to 26,000 emails. That is a humbling number to print in my own publication. I am doing it anyway, because I…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, headlines, on-the-move
Continuous Protection: Updating and maintaining your continuity plan
August 18, 2026
By Karen Owens Publisher This article concludes our four-part series on business and nonprofit emergency preparedness. By identifying risks, building and testing your plan, and keeping your procedures updated, your…
Read MorePosted in: georgetown-sc-gazette Category: advice, business-services, on-the-move, public-safety
The SML Leadership Mailbag: how can I be sure I am ready to be promoted?
August 17, 2026
Editor’s note: The SML Leadership Mailbag is a recurring column. In each installment, leadership consultant Jon Antonucci answers a question from a reader navigating the realities of managing people. Have…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, on-the-move
The SML Leadership Mailbag: how can I be sure I am ready to be promoted?
August 16, 2026
Editor’s note: The SML Leadership Mailbag is a recurring column. In each installment, leadership consultant Jon Antonucci answers a question from a reader navigating the realities of managing people. Have…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, headlines, on-the-move
Dirt on the Strip: Trading the Tiller for an Upstate Food Forest
August 16, 2026
If my grandfather were around to see my garden blueprint this year, he’d probably check my forehead for a fever and call the preacher. Around here, traditional southern gardening wisdom…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, environmental, life, on-the-move, outdoors, the-arts
Out on the Strip: your weekly guide to what’s happening, where to eat, and what to do at Gio’s Pastry Shop, Caffe & Italian Market
August 12, 2026
By Barbara LeForge, Golden Strip News Editor There is a moment right around 8:00 AM in Downtown Fountain Inn when the front door of 218 South Main Street opens up,…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, food, headlines, on-the-move, restaurant
BofA tips for parents in the Upstate navigating back-to-school spending
August 12, 2026
Ellie Perry Bank of America Upstate South Carolina Back-to-school season is here, and the financial pressure on local families is real. From supply lists and school fees to new clothing…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: advice, banking-and-finance, on-the-move
What Fascinates You?
August 11, 2026
By Lane Byrum Director of Corporate Accounts & Emotional Intelligence Coach SHIFT Company A colleague asked me a question this morning that I haven’t been able to shake. “What fascinates…
Read MorePosted in: georgetown-sc-gazette Category: advice, business-services, life, on-the-move
The official Golden Strip News back to school checklist
August 10, 2026
In the quiet days of summer mornings in the Golden Strip are officially coming to a close. Backpacks are stuffed, lunchboxes are waiting by the door, and alarm clocks across…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, education, festivals-special-events, on-the-move
Struggling to figure out what to pack for your kids’ school lunch? Here are ideas for each age group
August 10, 2026
It is one of the most persistent daily challenges of the school year: packing a lunch that actually gets eaten, stays fresh until noon, and doesn’t take an hour to…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, food, on-the-move
Dirt on the Strip: Confessions of a First-Time Winter Gardener
August 10, 2026
I have a confession to make: I want a pepper tree. If you know me personally, you already know that jalapeño peppers are practically their own essential food group in…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, on-the-move, outdoors
Navigating the Aftermath: Resources for rebuilding and reopening
August 10, 2026
By Karen Owens Publisher Disasters and severe storms can disrupt a business in minutes, but the right preparation ensures your doors stay open. Following insights shared by local and state…
Read MorePosted in: georgetown-sc-gazette Category: advice, business-services, government, headlines, on-the-move, public-safety
Clarity Financial Solutions helps women plan for long-term care with innovative planning technology
August 6, 2026
By Amanda Stilwell Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor Clarity Financial Solutions Women are often the caregivers in their families, helping aging parents, spouses and loved ones navigate long-term care decisions.…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: advice, banking-and-finance, financial-advisors, on-the-move
Out on the Strip: your weekly guide to what’s happening, where to eat, and what to do at Warehouse at Vaughn’s
August 5, 2026
By Barbara LeForge, Golden Strip News Editor There is a moment right around sunset when the string lights flip on over the turf at 109 West Trade Street, a live…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, food, life, on-the-move, outdoors, restaurant, retail, social-scene
Squeezing Out the Last Drops of Summer: The Ultimate Golden Strip Pre-School Bucket List
August 5, 2026
The countdown clock is officially ticking. With Greenville County Schools opening their doors for the new school year on Tuesday, August 11, local families are facing that annual late-summer reality…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, education, on-the-move
Bumper-to-bumper: the busiest intersections on the Golden Strip’s first day back
August 5, 2026
Here are the major traffic bottlenecks across the Golden Strip to watch out for on the first morning of school, along with the impacted campuses and key choke points: 1.…
Read MorePosted in: golden-strip-news Category: advice, headlines, on-the-move, public-safety
Don’t wait for the flood: Testing your plan with simulated exercises
August 5, 2026
By Karen Owens Publisher Disasters and severe storms can disrupt a business in minutes, but the right preparation ensures your doors stay open. Following insights shared by local and state…
Read MorePosted in: georgetown-sc-gazette Category: advice, business-services, headlines, on-the-move, public-safety
The Hidden Tax of Inconsistent Communication: Why great organizations get overlooked
August 5, 2026
By Chelsea Bennett, Founder and CEO of Ivey Palmer PR Great organizations rarely fail because of a flawed product, a weak mission, or incompetent leadership. They fail because they suffer…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Blink Book Review: “Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences” by Anne Lamott and Neal Allen
August 5, 2026
By Reba Hull Campbell I’ve never met an Anne Lamott book I didn’t love. Most I’ve read multiple times. Anne’s writing is saucy, insightful, sometimes a little edgy, and…
Read MorePosted in: beaufortcurrent, lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: advice, life, on-the-move, the-arts
