From Sacred Earth—Catawba Pottery

  October 17, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland On a hot July Saturday I drove to the Native American Studies Center in Lancaster, South Carolina. First chance I got, I abandoned I-20 for U.S. 21.…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz   Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts

Award-winning comics artist Ebony Flowers to speak at USC

  October 16, 2024

One of the country’s foremost African American comics artists, Ebony Flowers, will discuss creative storytelling during a public talk at the University of South Carolina. Flowers, renowned for her award-winning…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: education, entertainment, life, on-the-move, the-arts

Let’s keep the brightness in our eyes

  October 13, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   Back in my final year of Youth Corps, when I was phasing out and turning Youth Corps over to other people, I didn’t know the students…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, on-the-move

Vanilla Flavored Memories

  October 10, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   Springs creaking, Granddad’s maroon Ford rattles down Mom and Dad’s long dirt driveway. Washouts make for a rough ride but that doesn’t stop Granddad. Here he…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz   Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts

Hope from ashes

  October 9, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   Last week, I talked about how hard Black Mountain Home for Children in NC was hit by Hurricane Helene. Right after that, a person who used…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, on-the-move

The Countdown Is On!

  October 8, 2024

The South Carolina State Fair, the state’s largest event, is gearing up for its highly anticipated return Oct. 9-20, bringing 12 days of live entertainment, mouthwatering food and unforgettable experiences to…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: entertainment, food, hospitality, life, on-the-move

Try something new at Everything Outdoor Fest

  October 7, 2024

What you need to know for weekend fest Nov. 2-3 Everything Outdoor Fest, a two-day showcase of the Southeast’s most popular outdoor activities, invites the community outside Saturday, Nov. 2,…

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Posted in: upstatebizsc   Category: environmental, hospitality, life, on-the-move

Helping in devastating times

  October 3, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   Just a little over a week ago, I was driving through Asheville with a friend named Johnny, heading to do a retreat with Black Mountain Home…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, on-the-move

Historic Columbia announces October 2024 events

  October 2, 2024

Historic Columbia is excited to announce programming and events for October 2024. See the full list of October events below and be sure to leave room in your calendar to…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: hospitality, life, on-the-move

Hurricanes, A Personal History

  September 30, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland Growing up in landlocked Lincoln County, Georgia, I never worried about hurricanes. I left that to folks on the coast. Hurricanes were not to be feared. If…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz   Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts

Remembering Ken Burger

  September 26, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   “Don’t forget to be happy. It’s the only measurement of success that really counts.” – Ken Burger I wish I had known Ken Burger for more…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz   Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts

True leadership

  September 26, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   We had a luncheon yesterday at Our Place of Hope with Sheriff Lott as our featured speaker. It was a great event. We had several community…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, on-the-move

JerryFest 2024… Celebrating ten years in Five Points!

  September 23, 2024

A free outdoor concert held annually in Five Points will feature regional music acts on two stages, artisan vendors, a Lil’ Hippie Corner and more. JerryFest, a FREE outdoor concert…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: entertainment, hospitality, life, on-the-move

Rogue Squirrel

  September 19, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   For two summers now I have battled a rogue squirrel, and the score is squirrel 100, Tom zero. He raids my “go to” hummingbird feeder, and…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz   Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts

Beating the odds

  September 18, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   There have been several emails I’ve sent out about my Dad and here comes another one. As I have said, my Dad is 98 now and…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, on-the-move

The freedom of forgiveness

  September 12, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   Just yesterday, I was reviewing a document and I discovered that there was a major error in it. The problem is, it had already been sent…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, on-the-move

A Helping Hand

  September 12, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland Hampton Wildlife Fund Awards 2024-2025 Scholarships When I read about the recent Hampton Fund scholarships, the words of conservationist and writer Aldo Leopold and a thought came…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz   Category: education, life, on-the-move

Wake Up Call Aboard The Pamela Sue

  September 5, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland Shrimping Down McClellanville Way I got up at 4:30 a.m. to go to two Carolina bays in the Francis Marion National Forest. Hours later I left pitcher…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz   Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts

Margin

  September 5, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   If you look at a piece of notebook paper, you’ll see on most pieces the blue lines, which is where we’re supposed to write, and then…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, on-the-move

Judson Mill District adding 181 loft apartments

  August 28, 2024

$60 million project completes historic revitalization of Judson Mill District The Judson Mill District announced the transformation of the remaining two historic buildings known as the Jenny and Westervelt into…

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Posted in: upstatebizsc   Category: life, on-the-move, residential-real-estate

Night spiders

  August 21, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   There are these things we call night spiders. I don’t know what their official scientific name or zoological name or biological name is. We just simply…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, on-the-move

Robert Ariail, Cartoonist

  August 21, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   In the beginning, there was the urge to draw—and inspiration, Saturday morning cartoons. “I’d drawn since I was a boy, spending hours with crayons, pencils, manila…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz   Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts

Our Long Lost Prairie

  August 16, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   As I stood near rattlesnake master, a plant of the prairie, bison thundered across the prairie with a great sweep of fire raging behind them, seemingly…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts

Billfish: Catch & Release

  August 15, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   Billfish Conservation & Record Releases of Blue Marlin I wanted a real-deal Ernest Hemingway long-bill cap to let me see into the depths. One that would…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz   Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts

No reserve, no retreat, no regrets

  August 15, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   This week, my Dad developed the beginnings of aspirated pneumonia. I was already planning on coming to see him, but that phone call caused me to…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, on-the-move

Restaurant Week Upstate begins THIS Thursday!

  August 12, 2024

The tastiest time of the year is almost here! Beginning Thursday, August 15, join us as the top restaurants in Upstate South Carolina show off their culinary skills during this…

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Posted in: upstatebizsc   Category: food, hospitality, life, on-the-move

A Coquina Sunrise

  August 8, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   And Carnivorous Plants At first I thought men had poured cement onto the beach. Protection against an encroaching sea, I figured. The waves had scoured it…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz   Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts

He interrupted me!

  August 8, 2024

  By Ken Gasque There are four rules that are the key to success. We made a poster to illustrate these rules called “The Four Rules of Success.” You will…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

State Museum closed Thursday due to inclement weather

  August 8, 2024

Due to inclement weather, the South Carolina State Museum will be closed on Thursday, August 8th to ensure the safety of our campers, visitors, and staff. We will be monitoring…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: education, life, on-the-move

Love and faithfulness

  August 7, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   Love and faithfulness… the two go together. In fact, it is almost impossible to have the one without the other. Just think about the movies that…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, on-the-move