Enjoying the task
February 12, 2026
By Jeff Becraft Leadership is not about me or any individual. Leadership is about others. Several times I have referred back to the past during the YC era, of…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move
Collard Green Memories
February 11, 2026
By Tom Poland Being the chap I was, collard greens’ smell and similarity to the stringy dark-green algae in fish ponds repulsed me. Mom would cook up a mess…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, golden-strip-news, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Cast Iron Cornbread
February 5, 2026
By Tom Poland Born of fire, master of fire, and survivor of fire, my vintage cast iron cornbread mold fed many a soul. Best I figure it came to…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, golden-strip-news, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Out in the snow
February 4, 2026
By Jeff Becraft The recent snow we had in South Carolina reminded me of a lot of things growing up. I grew up in Maryland and in our neighborhood, this was…
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The Sweetest Smoke A Man Was Ever To Smell
February 2, 2026
By Tom Poland To some, the smokehouse remains a symbol of the impoverished, rural South. Not me. I see it as a rustic savior, and I thank the late…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, golden-strip-news, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
My Lost Geisha
January 28, 2026
By Tom Poland It was the photograph in my father’s war album. Her white kimono. Hair black as onyx. Pale, serene face. Perfect bone structure. Gloss, a sheen upon her…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Going out for lunch
January 28, 2026
By Jeff Becraft One Friday, I decided to go out for lunch. I don’t do this a whole lot; I usually pack a lunch. But lately I have enjoyed…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move
‘Tunnel Rat’ C.W. Bowman to speak at Richland Library
January 27, 2026
Vietnam veteran C.W. Bowman has fascinated audiences at the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum several times with lectures about his war experiences. Last year, in an offsite…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, military, on-the-move, veterans
One step at a time
January 22, 2026
By Jeff Becraft Recently, Brenda was going to head out of town the next day, and so I wanted to do something for her. I told her on her…
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Red Clay
January 21, 2026
By Tom Poland Drizzle drifted and spritzed as if it were January except it was October. Mists coated my camera. In its viewfinder red mud glistened in rain that…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, golden-strip-news, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Here’s to using the “good stuff” in 2026
January 21, 2026
By Reba Hull Campbell Who doesn’t love a good mess after bringing out the “good stuff” we never use … like enjoying dinner using the family china or silver and…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move
The decision to bring joy
January 15, 2026
By Jeff Becraft Back around Christmas time, we went to New Jersey to see Brenda’s mom and sister. In fact, we had Christmas Eve dinner from a travel plaza…
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The Last Open Door
January 14, 2026
By Tom Poland For the first time in my life I was alone in my church. The old Regulator wall clock ticked away as I ticked away the families…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
The good, the bad and the ugly about ‘Light-Horse Harry’ Lee
January 14, 2026
He was the father of Robert E. Lee. And so much more. Mike Burgess, an outspoken, award-winning high school history teacher, will deliver a free lecture about Revolutionary War hero…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, military, on-the-move
Sardis Road
January 7, 2026
By Tom Poland Back roads never disappoint me. Such was the case with a road, paved just a tad, but deliciously dirt the rest of the way. As I…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Cowpens, where the Patriot forces beat Tarleton – Local Talk on Jan 16
January 4, 2026
The year 1780 had seen mostly bad news for the Patriot cause in South Carolina. The British captured one American army in May at the siege of Charleston. The redcoats…
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Building bridges
December 31, 2025
By Jeff Becraft Back when Caroline Children’s Home was still open. I would go over on Sunday afternoons and do some activities with the kids. One Sunday afternoon, I…
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Lizard’s Thicket continues Southern tradition with New Year’s Day meal serving over 10,000 across the Midlands
December 31, 2025
Lizard’s Thicket, a family-owned and operated restaurant rooted in Southern tradition, will once again ring in the New Year by serving the traditional Southern New Year’s Day meal: pork chops,…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: food, life, on-the-move, restaurant, social-scene
Kids Made Toys Once Upon A Time
December 19, 2025
By Tom Poland Christmas is coming. Toys will be high on many a list. My grandsons have outgrown toys but not that many years ago I got them remote-controlled…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move
Beauty out of ashes
December 19, 2025
By Jeff Becraft The Christmas season brings a variety of responses from various people. Some people are filled with joy and gladness… and others feel discouraged and depressed. We…
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The importance of remembering
December 11, 2025
By Jeff Becraft I have two favorite golf gloves. Now I don’t play golf very often. In fact, I’ve only played golf twice this year. But one of those…
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Cold, Cold, Cold
December 10, 2025
By Tom Poland A thirteen-year relationship was dying. Here comes one of those songs that arrives at a hurtful time. The song seemed written for us. You grieve, heal,…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move
The medicine of laughter
December 4, 2025
By Jeff Becraft One of the things that we do at Our Place of Hope is… we laugh. It is a very important dynamic. Now, Our Place of Hope…
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My Fried Chicken History
December 3, 2025
By Tom Poland As evening shadows fell, I made my way home through woods. Overpowering the peppery smell of autumn leaves, the chicken frying in Mom’s cast iron skillet…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
How the night before Thanksgiving became one of the heaviest drinking nights of the year
November 25, 2025The night before Thanksgiving has become known for heavy drinking, crowded gathering spots and increased risky behavior among young adults returning home for the holiday. National traffic safety data consistently…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: education, government, health-care, life, on-the-move
Congaree Land Trust announces conservation of 221 acres in Kershaw County
November 25, 2025
Preserving Birthplace of South Carolina’s State Dog KERSHAW COUNTY, SC — The Congaree Land Trust (CLT) announced the conservation of an additional 221 acres of land in Kershaw County. Pine…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: agriculture, environmental, life, non-profit, on-the-move
Love involves sacrifice
November 25, 2025
By Jeff Becraft My best pair of jeans have a hole in each knee. Lest you think I am that hip, they are not skinny jeans. And I did…
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Highway Song, Part II
November 25, 2025
By Tom Poland A Sunday Drive Highways 321 and 301 meet my criteria for back roads. Little traffic. Lots of abandonment. Old stuff getting older. Those 1950 snowbirds heading…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Learn about German POWs in South Carolina
November 20, 2025
You’ve seen movies about Americans in German POW camps during World War II — “The Great Escape,” “Stalag 17,” and so forth. But did you know that more than 8,000…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, military, on-the-move, veterans
Highway Song, Part I
November 20, 2025
By Tom Poland A Sunday Drive I hadn’t seen him in 10 years. Him would be the preacher who buried Dad and Mom. He was preaching down South Georgia…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move
Johnny
November 20, 2025
By Jeff Becraft We recently moved Hannah from Maryland down to Charlotte. As Hannah and I were heading to Charlotte, I said, “We need to get some help unloading…
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Finlay Park grand re-opening – Saturday & Sunday, November 15-16
November 14, 2025
As excitement builds for the Grand Re-Opening of Finlay Park, the City of Columbia has released important details on parking, shuttle transportation and safety guidelines for the celebration set for…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: entertainment, festivals-special-events, food, government, headlines, hospitality, life, music, on-the-move, social-scene, the-arts
Where The Dead Live On
November 12, 2025
By Tom Poland On a sultry August Sunday I drove up on Shady Grove Methodist Church. Seeing it resurrected James Agee’s “Shady Grove, Alabama, July 1936,” his description of…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Learn what soldiers ate during the American Revolution
November 11, 2025
Most of us are looking forward to a fine feast on the 27th of this month – turkey and all the trimmings. That’s our way of celebrating something that happened…
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The 34th Annual Toy Soldier Show is Saturday, Nov. 15
November 11, 2025
Heads up! The latest intelligence indicates that tiny armies are scheduled to invade Columbia on Saturday. They will establish a beachhead at S.C. Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum. There’s…
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Don’t Let the Tricycle Horns of Life Scare You
November 6, 2025
By Jeff Becraft I don’t know what kid the car manufacturer took the horn off his tricycle and stuck it in my car is, but I’m sure that kid…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move
Winter’s Rainy Windows
November 5, 2025
By Tom Poland I have long admired the work of a fighter pilot turned writer. He wrote under the pen name James Salter. James Arnold Horowitz volunteered for combat duty…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, georgetown-sc-gazette, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Learn more about the little-known Rohna tragedy of World War II
November 2, 2025
You’ve heard about Pearl Harbor, where 2,403 American servicemen – including 1,177 aboard the USS Arizona alone – perished on Dec. 7, 1941. You may even have heard of Exercise…
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Living out of vision
October 30, 2025
By Jeff Becraft As I mentioned last time, Adam and I at Our Place of Hope were working on the flowers (getting rid of the good to make room…
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Wingard’s Market releases details on Jingle Bell Bash and Christmastime festivities
October 30, 2025
Wingard’s Market, one of the top 100 Garden Center’s in the country that is located in the heart of Lexington, announced the details of their Jingle Bell Bash! The weekend-long…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: agriculture, entertainment, festivals-special-events, food, hospitality, life, local-industry, on-the-move
Storing the treasures of history – thousands of them
October 30, 2025
Most people have problems storing all the stuff they’ve collected over the years – unless they’re the types who are able to ruthlessly throw most of it away. But your…
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Return To Pawleys
October 28, 2025
By Tom Poland Sunday lunch at the Sea View Inn. Forty-five years it had been since my daughters and I were together at Pawleys. While eating I thought about our…
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Choosing the Best Over the Good
October 23, 2025
By Jeff Becraft The other week, one of the members of Our Place of Hope named Adam and myself were out pulling up flowers and planting new ones. (Adam…
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Notes From The Road
October 22, 2025
By Tom Poland June 29, 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Interstate Act. Nigh 70 years later a grid of steel, cement, and asphalt makes it impossible to see…
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Ghosts of the Relic Room go a-haunting
October 20, 2025
The ghosts of the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum are on the move. For years, Joe Long – curator of education at the museum – has presented…
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The Dejected, Rejected Playwright
October 15, 2025
By Tom Poland May 2011. Jennifer’s email cut to the chase “We want you to write a play for Georgia’s Official Folk Life Play, Swamp Gravy.” “Me, write a…
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Heart and soul
October 13, 2025
By Jeff Becraft I think I might want to be a smartphone when I grow up. That way I can say whatever I want, do whatever I want,…
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The Plague of Little Things
October 9, 2025
By Jeff Becraft There are many times I will run into what I call “the plague of little things.” Now this applies to a lot of different situations, but…
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Southern Exposure—The Fly Swatter
October 9, 2025
By Tom Poland Grandmothers’ Weapon Of Choice The New Oxford American Dictionary defines “fly swatter” as “an implement used for swatting insects, typically a square of plastic mesh attached…
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What the old heads know
October 1, 2025
By Jeff Becraft From the ages of 13 to 16, I played on the same little league baseball team in the town baseball league. (I turned 16 before the…
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