The Heart of a Champion
April 21, 2021
By Jeff Becraft One of my greatest coaching moments in my life was in a basketball game with a team of 4th-6th grade girls that we lost… by 9 points. …
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life
Scottish Games offering two events this May
April 20, 2021
The Greenville Scottish Games will be offering two smaller events this year in lieu of the traditional May festival. The 2021 Special Invitational Heavy Athletics Event will be held on…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, social-scene
By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
April 20, 2021
By Tom Poland Sunday night the moon hung full and bright over treetops. Like some silver dollar hurled into the night she floated full and beautiful, though pollen gave…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Let’s genuinely love those around us
April 15, 2021
By Jeff Becraft In Youth Corps, what you see is what you get. We recently had a virtual “luncheon.” It was basically 30 minutes of people telling of the impact…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life
A Seashell Tradition
April 14, 2021
By Tom Poland There it was. A grave covered in seashells. It’s as close to a burial at sea as an inland dweller will get. My sister, Deb, told…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Draw your blades! SwordFest is back at Relic Room, on a smaller scale
April 13, 2021
We’ve been hunkered down for the past year, but the time has come to draw swords and come forth: SwordFest 2021 will happen on Saturday, April 24, at the South…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move
The Power of Belonging
April 8, 2021
By Jeff Becraft Even though I had grown up with a dog as a kid, we had never had a dog once I had my own family. Until one fateful…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move
A Chapel and a School
April 8, 2021
By Tom Poland The Historic Sweet Easy Smith Chapel found me Sunday. Though it’s on Smith Chapel Road and sounds like a no brainer, directions for my first attempt…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
100% of local nonprofit staff recognized as Certified Dementia Practitioners
April 6, 2021
Respite Care Charleston (RCC) announced all regular staff have been recognized as Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDP) by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP). Executive Director Sara Perry, Program…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc Category: life, non-profit, on-the-move
The Clothesline
April 1, 2021
By Tom Poland The Gentle Cycle A neighbor suggested I join a community website where people post about restaurant openings and closings, shady repairmen, and snakes. “What kind…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Love and respect
March 30, 2021
By Jeff Becraft This morning I took our recycling bin out to the curb. The reason I knew that today was the day is because my neighbor had his bin…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life
Live out of who you are
March 25, 2021
By Jeff Becraft When I was 15, I was at the baseball tryouts for the little league in our town. It was towards the end of the batting part of…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life
The Flower World’s Beautiful Blonds
March 25, 2021
By Tom Poland Daffodils. They’re the beautiful blonds of the flower world and if it’s possible for a flower to smile, daffodils do. They bring to mind young women…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
The Unumb Center for Neurodevelopment is selling luminaries to Light It Up Blue on World Autism Awareness Day
March 25, 2021
The Unumb Center for Neurodevelopment invites the community to purchase or sponsor luminaries to light on Friday, April 2 at 8:00 p.m. outside of homes or businesses in honor of…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: education, health-care, life, non-profit, on-the-move, philanthropy
Could’ve danced all night!
March 24, 2021
The delightful lifelong recital of South Carolina’s Kerri Grimsley Roberts By W. Thomas Smith Jr. KERRI GRIMSLEY ROBERTS’ FACEBOOK PAGE DESCRIPTOR simply says: “I love Jesus! I love my family!…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Just Say Something hosts 33rd Annual Red Ribbon Classic Golf Tournament – March 29th
March 24, 2021
Just Say Something will be hosting their 33rd Annual Red Ribbon Classic Golf Tournament on Monday, March 29th at the Thornblade Club, 1275 Thornblade Blvd, Greer, SC 29650-4515. Located in…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: education, life, non-profit, on-the-move, philanthropy, sports
Winter’s Lush Green Carpet
March 17, 2021
By Tom Poland It’s an unusual plant. No flowers. No roots, but what a green velvety plant. Green moss mystifies me. When I come across it I stare. Always.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Suffering and perspective
March 12, 2021
By Jeff Becraft Suffering has a way of shifting our perspective. Whether it be an illness, a death of a loved one, a disappointment or whatever it is. Often times,…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move
National Smithsonian traveling exhibition now open in City of Westminster
March 12, 2021The City of Westminster has been selected as the only upstate stop for displaying the SC Humanities “Water/Ways” Exhibit. The Exhibit is now open at the Historic Westminster Train Depot,…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: agriculture, economic-development, energy, environmental, government, hospitality, life, local-industry, media, non-profit, on-the-move, the-arts, utilities
BASF donates more than 2,000 bottles of water to Texas
March 12, 2021
CONVERSE, SC – BASF’s site in Converse, South Carolina donated 2,016 bottles of water (84 cases) to Texans impacted by recent weather events. A week of freezing temperatures in late…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move
A painting as part of a journey
March 8, 2021
A review of artist Dawn Buskard Faber’s “Love Lifted Me” By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Art is a journey. Sounds vague, even cliché. But it’s true. And like music and…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: churches, life, on-the-move, the-arts
A Natural Motown Mystery-Miracle
March 4, 2021
By Tom Poland If you think this story is about Berry Gordy’s 1960’s record label that gave us “Baby Love,” “My Girl,” and “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” you’re…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Harbinger.
March 4, 2021By Cathy Monetti ABOUT MARCH, I HAVE ALWAYS felt ambivalent. This admission comes as a surprise, even to me, for March is the month that relieves us from the coldest…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center shares summer safety tips for parents and caregivers
March 1, 2021
Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center, the region’s leading resource to prevent abuse, protect children and heal families, is sharing safety tips for parents and caregivers to consider as camps, childcare…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc Category: covid-19, life, non-profit, on-the-move
The Stoves Of My Life
February 26, 2021
By Tom Poland Early on, my grandmothers cooked on wood-burning stoves and, later, electric ranges. Cooking with electricity. That must have seemed a marvel to them. I never,…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Get your tickets for the 3rd annual Doko Film Fest. This year, they’ll be free
February 22, 2021
In the second year of the Doko Film Fest, a total of 143 entrees came from across the country, as well as from Canada, India, China and the United Kingdom.…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Just Say Something hosts 33rd Annual Red Ribbon Classic Golf Tournament
February 21, 2021
Just Say Something will be hosting their 33rd Annual Red Ribbon Classic Golf Tournament on Monday, March 29th at the Thornblade Club, 1275 Thornblade Blvd, Greer, SC 29650-4515. Located in…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: education, life, media, non-profit, on-the-move, philanthropy, sports
The Badwell Trilogy
February 17, 2021
By Tom Poland Faint, yet menacing, came the sound. I stood as still as the stones around me and listened. From woods northeast it came again. Coyotes. Well, it…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
The Cayce Arts Guild’s first group show at Still Hopes Retirement Community runs February 11 through March 26
February 17, 2021Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community is the host venue for the Cayce Arts Guild’s (CAG) first group show. The exhibit will be on display through March 26 in the Main…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: hospitality, life, on-the-move
Alzheimer’s Association selects South Carolinians for National Early-Stage Advisory Group
February 14, 2021
The Alzheimer’s Association has selected Greenville resident Maria Turner and Clover resident Laurie Waters to serve on its 2020-2021 National Early-Stage Advisory Group (ESAG). Turner and Waters were chosen from…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, non-profit, on-the-move
Laurens County Conservation District 2021 Earth & Sky Photo Contest
February 14, 2021
There are some pretty places and scenes to capture in Laurens County and the Laurens County Conservation District wants to see your pictures. Their annual Earth & Sky photo contest…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: life, on-the-move
Making Grammar Fun Again – A Book Review; “Woe is I” by Patricia T. O’Connor
February 11, 2021
By Reba Hull Campbell Woe is I. She is going with Margaret and I. Which one is grammatically correct? The first one might sound wrong to the ear but is…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life
Tough Guy, Soft Heart
February 11, 2021
By Tom Poland Jack Palance—A City Slicker The book world brings interesting people my way. Some are nobodies. Some are famous. Jack Palance was famous, a Hollywood tough guy,…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Creating a Budget: Empowerment Over Constraint
January 29, 2021
By Anne Marie E. Ashworth, CFP® For many, budgeting has a lot of negative connotations. Tracking where money comes from and where it goes leaves some feeling frustrated and guilty.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: banking-and-finance, life, on-the-move
See Life In An Old Way
January 28, 2021
By Tom Poland Along A Back Road My sister, Brenda, gave me a cool shirt for Christmas, “Take The Back Roads,” one of those Life Is Good shirts. That…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Laurens County Conversations – A conversation with Laurens Mayor Nathan Senn
January 27, 2021
Welcome to the first edition of Laurens County Conversations. In these conversations we will talk with community leaders, movers and shakers about things that impact Laurens County. In this conversation,…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: economic-development, government, hospitality, life, podcast
EngenuitySC’s 2021 Midlands Regional Competitiveness Report identifies areas of growth/opportunity in economic competitiveness
January 25, 2021
Columbia MSA maintained or improved rank in all five indicators of economic competitiveness On Monday, Jan. 25, EngenuitySC unveiled its 2021 Midlands Regional Competitiveness Report in an online launch event…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: economic-development, headlines, life, local-industry, non-profit, on-the-move
A Mess of Collards
January 21, 2021
By Tom Poland Last week an email from my friend, Pat Branning, known for her gorgeous Shrimp, Collards, & Grits cookbooks, sent me on a quest. Pat and I…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Finding the “Write Words” Just Got Easier
January 20, 2021
Have you ever been at a loss for words? It seems like the most important occasions call for the perfect message, but you just don’t know where to start. Now…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: business-services, conversations, life, on-the-move, retail
Love and Kindness on Full Display in Laurens County
January 18, 2021
It’s been one month since the fire at the Landau Apartments in Clinton and the house fire in Joanna. People across the county stepped up to help the displaced families…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: life, on-the-move, philanthropy
Parades, programs and presentations: Citadel finds new ways to celebrate MLK Day despite pandemic
January 15, 2021
It may be the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day to be held in the COVID-19 environment, but that won’t stop communities across the country — including The Citadel —…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc Category: education, government, life, media, on-the-move
The Illusion—Looking Young Forever
January 13, 2021
By Tom Poland Late, late afternoon it was. She walked into the restaurant and lit it up. A beautiful woman will do that, light up a place, but she…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Upstate Mediation Center announces 2020 Peacemaker Award
January 11, 2021
The Upstate Mediation Center (“UMC”) is pleased to announce the 2020 Peacemaker Award recipient is Meliah Bowers Jefferson. Ms. Jefferson was nominated for her work in organizing the Lawyers Standing…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: conversations, law, life, non-profit, on-the-move
Lander’s Dean of Nursing Leads by Example in COVID-19 Vaccination Effort
January 6, 2021
Nursing students and faculty from Lander University’s William Preston Turner School of Nursing are among the first people in South Carolina to receive the COVID-19 Vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech. Dr.…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: covid-19, education, health-care, life, on-the-move
Fueling wider circle connections in a COVID world
January 6, 2021
By Reba Hull Campbell One surprising joy of this strange COVID holiday season has been the unexpected reminder of how my wider circles of friends and acquaintances provide necessary threads…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move
Insignificant Treasures
January 6, 2021
By Tom Poland The things we collect. When I am gone my daughters will think their dad was a bit touched. Just why did he hang onto a rusty…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Greenville Venue Crawl promises a unique approach to event planning – February 28
January 5, 2021
On Sunday, February 28th, more than thirteen of Greenville’s most sought after venues will open their doors for the 2nd annual Grenville Venue Crawl presented by Woodford Reserve. Produced by…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move
Smut or Soot? Either Way It’s Dirty
December 21, 2020
By Tammy Davis This dirty little Christmas story happened to a friend of mine, a single mother named Dee. Her kids were young and still believed in Santa.…
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Winter Is Upon Us
December 21, 2020
By Tom Poland As I write it’s 38 degrees and rain is falling. We always seem to be just a few degrees away from snow. This winter a light…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
My Favorite Christmas Books
December 16, 2020
By Tammy Davis Angela and the Baby Jesus, by Frank McCourt, author of best seller Angela’s Ashes Angela and the Baby Jesus is based on the true story…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, the-arts
