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

To Keep or To Give

  February 1, 2024

By Amy Coward   I can’t get rid of this bowl. I really don’t know why I’m so attached to it. It’s not very pretty – beige, plastic, divided down…

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

Being Thankful – A Different View

  February 1, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   I did not write today’s Friday encouragement – it was sent to me by a friend of mine named Rick.  It is from The Speaker’s Friend by Leonard…

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

Folk Artist Leonard Jones

  February 1, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   Giving Old Tin New Life During my school days the yellow bus rolled me past chicken houses. In 1972, when I taught creative writing in Lincolnton,…

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

Those who influence us

  January 25, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   It is interesting how we can influence one another.  (Interesting is really not the word… it is deeper than that.)  But someone who has greatly influenced…

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

Clawfoot Tubs Hold Memories

  January 25, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   When I see a clawfoot tub, which is rare, four memories surface. First, I go back to my grandfather’s old homeplace. Next I go back to…

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

The joy of the handwritten letter

  January 24, 2024

  By Reba Hull Campbell When I was growing up, the family mailbox was a magic chamber that delivered cards with good wishes, postcards from interesting places and an occasional…

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

Veteran to speak of role of Army chaplains at Relic Room

  January 24, 2024

One day in November 1967, U.S. Army Chaplain Charles J. Watters’ unit was involved in heavy combat with the enemy in the vicinity of Đắk Tô, South Vietnam. Among many…

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

So what are you going to do now?

  January 18, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   “So what are you going to do now?” That’s what someone said to me one time when I had just described a situation that years ago,…

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

Ron Hagell to tell how he collected intelligence in Vietnam

  January 18, 2024

The movies notwithstanding, intelligence work has little to do with drinking shaken martinis while wearing a designer tuxedo. In the real world, in wartime, it’s about things like sweating in…

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

Ageratum, Wood, & Water

  January 17, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland On a Sunday walk I spotted a splash of blue. Blue wildflowers. They say blue flowers are sometimes difficult to grow in gardens. “They say.” That was…

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

New pediatric dentist opens second office in Chapin

  January 12, 2024

The Town of Chapin will officially have a new Pediatric and Teen Dentist as Chapin Pediatric & Teen Dentistry will host their Grand Opening on January 18, and is now…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: chamber, entrepreneurship, health-care, life, on-the-move

A tale of three vacuums

  January 11, 2024

By Jeff Becraft   We have three vacuum cleaners… and I will try and explain the tale of the three vacuums. Vacuum #1 is a cannister style vacuum.  The kind…

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

Workplace Friends Best Come Naturally

  January 10, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   I stumbled across an old magazine feature of mine and it made me recall stops I’d made along that long, winding road called “Career.” Some memories…

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

SC Green Industry Association Hosts Annual Conference & Trade Show

  January 8, 2024

The South Carolina Green Industry Association will bring together over 100 exhibitors and 17 industry speakers to cover an extensive range of landscape topics during its annual two-day Conference and…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: agriculture, business-services, engineering, environmental, hospitality, life, on-the-move

Footballs, gas stations, and embracing opportunities

  January 3, 2024

By Jeff Becraft One of the highlights of my YC  (Youth Corps) era might surprise some people.  After all the amazing experiences during those 17 years, this one happened at…

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

Like A Scene From An Old Western

  January 3, 2024
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   It was 1985 when I spent three days in Reno. I didn’t shoot a man just to watch him die, Johnny, but I conjured up images…

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

Improv and Idols at Harbison Theatre this January

  January 2, 2024

Improv and Idols at Harbison Theatre This January: Rumours are stirring that you won’t want to miss this! We’re kicking off the new year with some iconic performances headed to…

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

Conifers’ Fragrant Pull On Memory

  December 20, 2023
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   I read that fragrances stimulate recall more so than any other sense. I knew from experience that it had to be true. You and I, we’re…

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

Ring in the New Year with Capital City Fireworks!

  December 19, 2023

The City of Columbia will hold the annual “Capital City Fireworks” display to ring in 2024 on Sunday, December 31st. The fireworks display will begin right after midnight, and the…

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

Oh, Christmas Tree

  December 19, 2023

  By Reba Hull Campbell Christmas trees can gin up pretty strong emotions and opinions in people at this time of year. First, there’s the “live” vs. “artificial” tree debate.…

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