Long Lost Lisbon

  April 24, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   “The oak was so big, five men could link hands and not reach around it.” On a clear December day I walked where about eight feet…

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

The Million Dollar Quartet

  April 18, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   I go back now, back to August 1, 2012. That’s the day the University of South Carolina Press published Save The Last Dance For Me. Strange…

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

Today is a day we have never seen

  April 18, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   One morning last year, I came into the living room. It was only 6:00 in the morning… it is still dark outside. Brenda is sitting in…

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

If A Photo Is Worth 1,000 Words …

  April 10, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   Why do we need cutlines? Simple. To better serve the reader. A cutline needs to be right. Long after the writer is gone, his work will…

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

The Wrong Trousers

  April 10, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   I have this one pair of pants that at some point, a blue ink pen blew out in my back pocket. So now there’s this big…

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

BEE Collective announces two Town Hall Events

  April 10, 2024

The BEE Collective announces two community town hall events anchored by Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17, 2024), in response to the release of a sobering report addressing South Carolina’s crisis of discriminatory…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc   Category: conversations, life, on-the-move

Love lays down its life for another

  April 3, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   The word passion literally means “to suffer.” As with many words, there can be more than one definition. You have to go down to definition #5…

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

Surprise At Surrender Rock

  April 3, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   A Sunday before Christmas it was. With the gifts all wrapped, I had a bit of time. I wanted to see the monument where Mayor T.J.…

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

Furman to open Taco Bell Tower in iconic landmark

  April 1, 2024

Students get chance to learn fast-casual restaurant business first-hand, adding value to their already valuable Furman degree Furman University announced, April 1, that it will soon open a taco stand…

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

It is a great day to be thankful

  March 27, 2024

By Jeff Becraft I was just recently up in Maryland. My Dad will turn 98 this Sunday. He’s still a part of a Monday night men’s group that I got…

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

Running With Ghosts

  March 27, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland I dreamed I was in a football game again. Then I awoke. Such disappointment. Other than playing in a game again, the next best thing would be…

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

A stampede of Showoffs are heading to Harbison Theatre

  March 25, 2024

Annual MTC talent competition featuring students, alumni, faculty, and staff returns! Midlands Technical College Mavericks will compete in MTC’s annual talent competition, the MTC Showoff, this Saturday, March 30. Auditions…

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

A Way To Receive And Give Back

  March 21, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   You reach a point in life where you look backwards a lot. I recall my days studying Journalism at the University of Georgia. Turns out I…

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

The Golden Gloved Artist

  March 14, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   During my not quite 10 years at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources I worked among talented illustrators, filmmakers, designers, photographers, and artists. I watched…

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

Why I Don’t Text

  March 14, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   People have asked me over the years, “Why don’t you text?”  Some people even get aggravated with me about it.  There are various reasons, but one…

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

Overdue: Curated for the Creative set for Friday, March 15th

  March 13, 2024

Join Richland Library for This FREE, After-Hours Program WHAT: Overdue WHEN: March 15 | 7-11 p.m. WHERE: Richland Library Main(1431 Assembly St., 29201) WHO: Adults, ages 18 & older Experience a night of creativity and…

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

Let’s be that ‘someone else’ today

  March 7, 2024

By Jeff Becraft Back in the YC era, during Orientation for new students and families, I would always bring up the importance of little things.  I would ask them, if…

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

Bring Back Honest-To-Goodness Screen Doors

  March 7, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   With winter knock, knock, knocking on their door, people are thinking of storm doors and weather stripping. Well, drafty old screen doors occupy my mind. Recent…

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

Family-Friendly Frights and Feats at Harbison Theatre

  March 5, 2024

Family-Friendly Frights and Feats at Harbison Theatre: Action-packed performances that are sure to give you goosebumps! 360 ALLSTARS Variety Show 4 PM | Sunday, March 24, 2024 Tickets: $40 Launching…

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

Feathers Fit For A King

  February 29, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   I wanted to hunt birds when a boy. Problem was no one would take me hunting. Dad tried but hunting wasn’t in his blood. And so…

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

One View, Two Civilizations

  February 22, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   On a November Saturday, I drove to the geographic heart of Georgia. The cool breath of autumn and a blue-sky day had pulled people outdoors. I…

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

Áróra

  February 21, 2024

Closes February 29 It’s the last weekend to explore the beauty of the Northern Lights with the museum’s newest planetarium experience. The South Carolina State Museum is offering guests one…

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

The things we take for granted

  February 21, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   Now, I am someone who actually likes to go grocery shopping. But I am a dangerous grocery shopper. I can go in to get two items…

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

What message are we sending?

  February 14, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   One time, I was going to be speaking at a retreat for Black Mountain Home for Children, and our son, Josiah, was also going to be…

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

The Luck Of The Draw

  February 14, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   December 1, 1969, was no ordinary Monday. It was a day when your birthday was your destiny. In Athens, Georgia’s Benton Apartments my roommates and I…

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

Cayce’s Soiree on State returns on March 23

  February 14, 2024

The ‘Party in the Street’ will feature local artists, local vendors, and live music in the Cayce River Arts District The Soiree on State will return to Cayce’s State Street on Saturday,…

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

My Dad is the greatest man I have ever met

  February 7, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   And the thing is, I’m not the only one that would say that. And even further, it’s not just family members that would say that. There…

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

Ordering Please, One Big Boy

  February 7, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   Daddy set me straight. “If you want some spending money, get a job.” Thus did I work two jobs while going through college at Georgia. I…

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