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…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move
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…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: hospitality, life, military, on-the-move
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…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: life, on-the-move
I watched if from afar (Reprise from 10.25.15 remembering the 1000-year flood)
October 1, 2025
By Reba Hull Campbell (Writer’s note: I wrote this in late October 2015 after reflecting on Columbia’s grace-filled response after the 1000-year flood. It seemed appropriate to revisit this grace…
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Primal Fear
September 30, 2025
By Tom Poland Stumbling Onto A Corpse Besides the solitary confinement of writing, I cut myself off from the world in two places. Hard-to-reach wilderness areas and forgotten churches where…
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Hear a ‘Redcoat’ tell about the Battle of Eutaw Springs
September 30, 2025
The Battle of Eutaw Springs was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War to be fought in South Carolina. Who won? It depends on whom you ask. The battle…
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The City of Columbia shares support resources in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month
September 30, 2025
The City of Columbia wants to remind everyone that you are not alone and YOU MATTER! As we wind down the month of September, which is Suicide Prevention Month, the Office of…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, health-care, life, on-the-move
The Maker’s Mark
September 25, 2025
By Tom Poland The Author’s Signature Is A Commodity I can’t remember who I signed the first book for but I’ll hazard a guess it was a woman. Not…
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The things we take for granted
September 24, 2025
By Jeff Becraft We are in the process of selling Mom and Dad’s house. It has been a long process to get the house ready and it has taken a…
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That others may live
September 18, 2025
By Jeff Becraft Last week was the anniversary of 9/11. My wife, Brenda, and I have lately been watching some documentaries on that fateful day. Even now, years later,…
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The Kerosene Lamp
September 17, 2025
By Tom Poland Readers Respond My September 10th post, “A Whale of a Lamp”, received reader comments that deserve sharing. Who in this era of ultra-dark-defying lighting would take…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: life, on-the-move
Richland Library observes Hispanic Heritage Month
September 16, 2025
Enjoy Live Entertainment, Storytelling and More! Richland Library is honoring the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society. From September 15 to October…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: education, life, media, on-the-move, the-arts
Columbia Chamber honors Sharon Bryant at annual gala
September 16, 2025
Sharon Bryant, First Citizens Bank, named Columbia Chamber’s 2025 Ambassador of the Year. The Columbia Chamber will honor Sharon Bryant at Uncorked, the Chamber’s 122nd Annual Gala, Thursday, October 2, 2025.…
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EPI Center’s Literacy Summit gathers educators to advance innovative teaching strategies
September 16, 2025
The Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation (EPI Center) recently hosted its Literacy Summit and Convening, a premier event that brought together over 200 educators from across South…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: education, life, on-the-move, technology
Richland Two announces 2025–2026 District Teacher of the Year
September 16, 2025
Richland School District Two announced that Jelayne King, a Special Education Teacher at Pontiac Elementary School, has been named the 2025–2026 District Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Dr. Kim D.…
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Blythewood Middle School teacher selected as a Palmetto Citizens Teacher of the Game honoree
September 16, 2025
Blythewood Middle School teacher Jordan Atkinson has been selected as a 2025 Palmetto Citizens Teacher of the Game honoree. The program, presented by Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union in partnership…
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The South Carolina State Museum announces new exhibition titled “From the Vault: South Carolina Art From the Museum’s Collection”
September 16, 2025
New exhibition also marks the re-opening of the Lipscomb Art Gallery The South Carolina State Museum unveiled “From the Vault: South Caroline Art from the Museum’s Collection,” a new exhibition…
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Youth Justice Action Month
September 16, 2025The City of Columbia Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement invites the community for Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM 2025), a dynamic event uplifting young voices and promoting community-driven solutions.…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: conversations, education, government, health-care, life, non-profit, on-the-move, philanthropy
City of Columbia partners with Sistercare for third annual Toiletry Drive
September 11, 2025The City of Columbia is collaborating with Sistercare for the third annual toiletry drive. Sistercare is a nonprofit organization that helps victims and families recover from domestic violence. Please consider donating…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, life, non-profit, on-the-move, philanthropy, social-scene
Prisma Health launches Sickle Cell Lifespan Center to provide comprehensive, systemwide care across all ages
September 11, 2025
Continuity of expert care from childhood through adulthood improves quality of life and prevents gaps in therapy Prisma Health has launched the Sickle Cell Lifespan Center, a newly expanded, systemwide…
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A Whale of a Lamp
September 10, 2025
By Tom Poland I inherited an old Bible, so old I can’t determine its age. I see my ancestors reading that Bible by the light of a my kerosene…
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A Note To My Reader-Friends
September 10, 2025
By Tom Poland Last fall I knew something wasn’t right with me. The feeling worsened over the winter. Then one March afternoon a walk to the mailbox and back…
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The City of Columbia invites YOU to join in the fun during Columbia’s 10th Annual Park(ing) Day
September 9, 2025
PARK(ing) Day is an annual open-source global event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public places. The mission of PARK(ing) Day…
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City of Columbia host second “Sistercare Saturday” on Saturday, September 13 at Boyd Plaza
September 9, 2025This is the last Sistercare Saturday event of the season. This is a fundraising event for Sistercare, which helps victims and families recover from domestic violence. Join us in Boyd…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, life, non-profit, on-the-move
City opens registration for the 2025 Mayor’s Walk Against Domestic Violence
September 9, 2025The 2025 Mayor’s Walk Against Domestic Violence will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Page Ellington Park, 2220 Gregg St, Columbia, SC 29201. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and for the 19th year,…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, life, non-profit, on-the-move
Lexington’s inaugural Week of Restaurants set for September 11–21, 2025
September 8, 2025
The Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center, in partnership with the Town of Lexington, is excited to announce the inaugural Lexington’s Week of Restaurants, September 11–21, 2025. This 11-day initiative will…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: food, life, on-the-move, restaurant
A conversation with my GPS
September 4, 2025
By Jeff Becraft There are several things I like about my phone. I like the camera… I really enjoy being able to just pull it out of my pocket…
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The Hometown Weekly
September 3, 2025
By Tom Poland In my youth we had a daily newspaper, The Augusta Chronicle. What we didn’t get every day was local news. That’s what made The Lincoln Journal…
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Caffeine
August 29, 2025
By Tom Poland “Cocaine,” JJ Cale wrote it. Eric Clapton sung it. Clapton described the song as anti-cocaine and that seems to be the case, if you read between…
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The freedom of forgiveness
August 27, 2025
By Jeff Becraft There is no freedom in unforgiveness. We may try to talk ourselves into that our attitude and actions are right, and this is what we should…
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Learn about the M16 at West Columbia library – Sept 12
August 27, 2025
If you’ve served in the U.S. military in the last 60 years, you are quite familiar with the M16 rifle – intimately so, if you were in the Army or…
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The Fun Is in the Action: Lessons from Fairway Outreach
August 21, 2025
By Jeff Becraft Back in the Fairway Outreach days, when we were reaching out to inner-city kids and kids from children’s homes (abused backgrounds), one of the things I…
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Lonely Lone Star
August 21, 2025
By Tom Poland I’ve long felt that two South Carolina community names ascend to prettiest—Silverstreet and Lone Star. Those names, evocative and wistful, charm the ear. One conjures up…
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A Lesson in Leadership from a Genuine Friend
August 13, 2025
By Jeff Becraft When I was a freshman, 18 years old, at Virginia Tech, I met a guy by the name of Rick Harman. Going in as a freshman,…
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Grandma’s Petunias
August 13, 2025
By Tom Poland A Short and Sweet, Fragrant Memory Vintage petunias, those flowers my grandma loved, I saw them in youth. As I sort through my memory album they…
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Queen Of The Shoals
August 7, 2025
By Tom Poland Her May-June reign approaches. The rocky shoals spider lily, Hymenocallis coronaria, will soon flaunt her crown of white, green, and gold. Exquisite, ephemeral, and periled. Much…
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Twelve No’s and a Yes: One Man’s Journey to Building a Business
July 30, 2025
By Jeff Becraft I have mentioned before that years ago I was with an organization called Fairway Outreach. One of the kids that was part of Fairway Outreach was…
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Highway 13, Cemetery Road
July 30, 2025
By Tom Poland Pot holes pockmarked the old road. She promised a bumpy ride, but rivulets of tar stitched her together, and that was good enough for me. I…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts
Regional leaders unveil unifying riverfront brand for Midlands
July 27, 2025On Thursday, July 24, regional leaders from the Midlands Business Leadership Group (MBLG) and the River Alliance gathered at the Saluda Riverwalk to unveil a new brand identity designed to…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: economic-development, life, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Focus, Interrupted
July 24, 2025
By Tammy Davis What a Former Mobster Taught Me About Going After What You Want Chaos tends to follow me around. I like to blame my unmedicated ADHD brain, but…
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What’s Vital Is Often Missed
July 24, 2025
So I needed to get a new driver’s license. This is one of the REAL ID driver’s license… because without it, I couldn’t fly. Now we don’t fly very often.…
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My Love Affair With Miss Zebco
July 24, 2025
By Tom Poland I fished many a farm pond as a boy. When I left my red-varnished cane pole for Miss Zebco, I fell in love. I filled my…
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Blink Book Review: “Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism” by Sarah Wynn-Williams
July 17, 2025
By Reba Hull Campbell For anyone who hates social media – and Facebook in particular – you’ll get a real satisfaction from reading this book and all the awfulness surrounding…
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My Southland, Maybe Yours
July 16, 2025
By Tom Poland April, along a back road to Athens, G-A, I saw ghosts. Amid new homes a shed and barn cast blue shadows across brilliant-green grass. Then I…
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Sequins at 3 AM and My First Night Alone in Vegas
July 16, 2025
By Tammy Davis Departure For years—maybe even decades—my college roommate invited me to join her family’s annual Vegas getaway, but I always had an excuse: too broke, too single,…
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Something to be glad about
July 16, 2025
By Jeff Becraft I have no micro-motor skills. Or if I have any, it’s very little. It takes me forever to get the key into a keyhole and to…
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