Stooping down to make someone else great
January 6, 2022
By Jeff Becraft Being that this is New Year’s Eve, not even sure if anyone will even see this one. There was no Friday email last week on Christmas Eve…
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Joy in the lack of holiday perfection this year
December 23, 2021
By Reba Hull Campbell I hate to think how many gatherings I didn’t host over the years because I worried that my house wasn’t _______ enough. Fill in the blank…
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Moore Bradley Myers announces Christmas Bike Giveaway in Swansea and Saluda
December 20, 2021Moore Bradley Myers Law Firm (MBM) is excited to announce their Christmas Bike Bonanza 2021 in both Swansea and Saluda. Traditionally held in Swansea, the hometown of MBM Partner Stanley…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: law, life, on-the-move
No Gas, No Batteries, No Electricity Required
December 16, 2021
By Tom Poland All it requires is a steady hand. It doesn’t disturb the peace on Saturday mornings. So quiet is it, I doubt it’d suffer banning in ever-vigilant…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Richland County Recreation Commission holds press event to announce updates and court dedications for the Richland County Tennis Center
December 8, 2021
The Richland County Recreation Commission (RCRC) will hold a press conference to provide a project update and special dedications for the Richland County Tennis Center on December 14, 2021, at 11:00 AM. The…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: education, fitness-centers, government, hospitality, life, local-industry, on-the-move, sports
A Vanishing Coastal Icon
December 8, 2021
By Tom Poland Photographers love to shoot them at sunrise. Riding a glittering golden sea, shrimp boats strike a classic silhouette with that orb of fire rising behind them.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Honor takes time
December 8, 2021
By Jeff Becraft As I was driving to the post office this morning on Broad River Road, there was an ambulance coming the opposite direction. I had to make…
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Speaker to tell the story of the western Civil War through one soldier’s experiences
December 2, 2021
Mike Rucker is a Virginian, and while in high school in Fredericksburg, he and his brother operated a business guiding tours of the surrounding historic sites. The area offered a…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move
Grace that covers our mistakes
December 1, 2021
By Jeff Becraft A couple of weeks ago, I was backing out of my driveway. Across the street, there was a car parked out on the road. Every once…
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That Legendary Everlasting Plant, Rabbit Tobacco
November 30, 2021
By Tom Poland She smoked it as a kid. Said she smoked grapevines too but it was Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium, one of the everlastings, she talked about most. She and…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Relic Room to commemorate 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack
November 29, 2021
This year, we will “Remember Pearl Harbor” three days earlier than usual. On Saturday, Dec. 4, the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum will mark the 80th anniversary…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, military, non-profit, on-the-move
Simple, everyday influence
November 17, 2021
By Jeff Becraft Apparently I use the phrase, “That’s what you got,” on a regular basis. In fact, someone was talking with me this week about doing some podcasts…
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Grandmom’s Fabulous Fried Pies
November 17, 2021
By Tom Poland She dried sliced apple, peaches, and pears on a slanted wooden table facing the sun. Nails prevented the fruit from sliding to the ground. Once it…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Put someone else first
November 10, 2021
By Jeff Becraft As my folks live in Maryland, whenever I go up there, I-95 is still the fastest way to go… but you have to leave at the…
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Above, Not Below, The Jailhouse
November 10, 2021
By Tom Poland Standing in a courtroom, a malefactor dreads a dire warning. “If you don’t straighten up, I’ll put you under the jailhouse.” Uttered by many a judge,…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move
Flock and Rally promotes Mary Kate Korpita to Director of Brand Strategy
November 8, 2021
Flock and Rally, a full-service, women-owned communications and marketing agency based in Columbia, S.C., has announced the promotion of Mary Kate Korpita to director of brand strategy. Korpita, who transitioned…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: conversations, employment, life, media, on-the-move
Elusive Butterfly Of Fall
November 4, 2021
By Tom Poland December 1965, that’s when a catchy tune debuted. Bob Lind’s “Elusive Butterfly” used a butterfly as a metaphor for love. Some of you survivors of these…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Getting back up
November 4, 2021
By Jeff Becraft One of the most significant quotes I have ever heard comes from the former heavyweight boxing champion, Mike Tyson: “Everybody has a plan until they get…
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What did soldiers drink during the Civil War? Mainly, a lot of whiskey
November 1, 2021
On Nov. 5, history author Tom Elmore will offer a lecture titled “A ‘Spiritual’ Guide to the Civil War.” But you won’t need to bring your Bible or prayer book.…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move
First Reliance Bank and community partners made dreams come true for a Lexington School District Four student
November 1, 2021
First Reliance Bank is a community bank in all aspects of the term. The longtime Florence, S.C. headquartered bank serves communities all over South and North Carolina by providing expert…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: banking-and-finance, business-services, education, life, on-the-move, philanthropy, social-scene
The 2021 Annual Hood Construction Oyster Roast
October 28, 2021
On Wednesday October 27, Hood Construction hosted its annual Oyster Roast at its new office at 1215 Shop Road. The event featured a Lowcountry Boil and, of course, oysters! The…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: construction, life, on-the-move
Lessons from a fun day playing paintball
October 27, 2021
By Jeff Becraft The third year we did our Leadership Weekend, Camp Cooper had the equipment to do paintball. I told them, “Absolutely we are doing paintball.” To be…
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Star Light, Star Bright
October 27, 2021
By Tom Poland Back in the late 1980s and early ’90s, I’d leave on a Friday afternoon and head for the mountains, the Blue Ridge species. My monthly drives…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Wingard’s Market expands Gift Shoppe and announces dates for holiday open house
October 26, 2021
Just in time for the Holidays, Wingard’s Market, one of the state’s most recognizable destination plant and flower markets, is expanding its Gift Shoppe to allow for additional unique merchandise…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: agriculture, business-services, construction, life, local-industry, on-the-move, social-scene
Electric Cooperatives host “Ride Across South Carolina” to raise awareness for heart disease
October 25, 2021
The Electric Cooperative Ride Across South Carolina is a seven-day, 648-mile ride with stops at 18 cooperatives. Starting on October 25th in the Upstate and ending in the Low Country…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: economic-development, energy, health-care, life, on-the-move
A great day to hold the door open for someone
October 21, 2021
By Jeff Becraft No Friday email yesterday… was taking my Dad to the cardiologist. It is my brother and sister-in-law who by far handle the brunt of taking care…
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Magic In Some Alien World
October 21, 2021
By Tom Poland On a hot, windless Sunday, I found a place where wind swept up and over a cliff to pour through pines. The cooling torrent felt like…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, the-arts
Chapin’s Crossland wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Murray
October 20, 2021
Pro Johnathan Crossland of Chapin, South Carolina brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 43 pounds, 12 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by…
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Dickey family announces initiative to provide support and resources to families for #InfantLossandAwareness Day
October 15, 2021
West Columbia City Councilman and attorney, Joseph Dickey, and wife, Kiosha Dickey are announcing today that they have started a non-profit in honor of their daughter, Autumn Rei Dickey. Autumn…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: conversations, life, non-profit, on-the-move, philanthropy
Hope and strength in the middle of the toil
October 14, 2021By Jeff Becraft One time a few years ago I was at one of the hardware stores buying some supplies to plant a garden. I had a couple of bags…
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Understanding COVID-19’s Deadly Delta Variant – Part II: How To Keep Your Body and Mind Healthy
October 14, 2021
By Mike DuBose In the previous segment of this two part-series, I shared current information about the Delta variant of COVID-19, which has swept the US and now makes up…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move
My Last Dog
October 13, 2021
By Tom Poland Should you walk our family land in eastern Georgia, you’ll come across several cemeteries. No, they’re not ancestors. You won’t see headstones. You’ll see wooden crosses…
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South Carolina returns to Texas for Palmetto/Lone Star Day 2021
October 12, 2021
If you’re old enough to remember Will Rogers, or movies from the heyday of Westerns, you know all about the deft artistry of masters of the lasso, although you probably…
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“Here I am. Send me”
October 7, 2021
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. We have all read or heard the words of the Prophet Isaiah who in the presence of God, audibly hears the words: “Whom shall I…
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Understanding COVID-19’s Deadly Delta Variant – Part I: What It Is—and Why It’s So Dangerous
October 7, 2021
By Mike DuBose As we moved into the summer of 2021, I, like many others, had high hopes that the US was winning its fight against the novel coronavirus. Although…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: health-care, life
You never know when the ball is coming your way
October 6, 2021
By Jeff Becraft When I was growing up, UCLA won 7 national basketball titles… in a row. Seven straight years. And from 1964 – 1975, they won the national…
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How to Make the Most of this Year’s South Carolina State Fair
October 6, 2021
The 152nd South Carolina State Fair returns Oct. 13-24, 2021, with a full lineup of traditional favorites and a variety of new rides, foods, entertainment and the return of the…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: entertainment, hospitality, life, media, on-the-move
Tall Tales—Truth Can Be Elusive
October 6, 2021
By Tom Poland The last time I wrote about the nightlife, my late mom gave me a reading. She upbraided me about the evils of alcohol and told me…
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Lecture tells how Thomas Sumter took Banastre Tarleton down
October 5, 2021
Most folks have never heard of the Battle of Blackstock’s Plantation. “Most have heard of the American Revolution,” Charles Baxley ironically acknowledges. But too few of them understand how important…
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Youth advocate to give talk about stopping the criminalization of Black youth
September 29, 2021
Kristin Henning, a Georgetown Law professor, will speak about her new book, “The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth,” on Monday, Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: education, life, on-the-move
You’ve Got To Feel the Food
September 29, 2021
By Tom Poland A few years back on a fall day I attended a wild game dinner on the grounds of Hobcaw Barony’s Bellefield Stables. I sat among folks…
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Being thankful
September 29, 2021
By Jeff Becraft Self-pity is pitiful. And yet I allow myself to go down this trail more often than I would like to admit. Last night, I had to…
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Leaders proactively set the atmosphere
September 22, 2021
By Jeff Becraft We had our first session with this year’s students on Tuesday evening. I had the opportunity to share this principle during the evening. It is what…
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The Good Old Days Are Gone
September 22, 2021
By Tom Poland Last Friday night some grandparents went to watch their grandson play in a high school football game. They were in for a shock. Paying for the…
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Look through the bigger window
September 15, 2021
By Jeff Becraft Something happened this morning that reminded me of a lesson I learned a few years ago. I am at my father’s house and when I first…
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Who’s The Queen Of Flowers?
September 15, 2021
By Tom Poland Orchids. There were days I wore them in my lapel for formal events, but those days are gone. I’ve not seen many in the wild, but…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Show Love and Compassion to Someone Today
September 8, 2021
By Jeff Becraft Is it safe to say that there are a lot of heavy things going on in the world right now? Late yesterday afternoon, our oldest daughter,…
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Where They Sleep, While They Sleep
September 8, 2021
By Tom Poland I visit old cemeteries quite a bit. Lest you think death thoughts consume me, understand that readers tell me of near-forgotten cemeteries. It’s my duty to…
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Lecture to cover what ladies wore in the 1860s, and why they wore it
September 3, 2021
A lot of people have misconceptions about what women wore in the 1860s. For instance, folks have some odd ideas about corsets. On Sept. 24th at noon at the South…
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We Really Do Need Each Other
September 2, 2021
By Jeff Becraft In my address book for my email is a folder labeled: BROTHERS. It is 9-10 guys whom I have known for about 40 years. They are…
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