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Articles: Preventing Sunburn Spoleto Carolina Girls...Have Careers
Contents From The Editor
4
Don’t Sit Under An Umbrella waiting For It To Rain
8
Preventing Sunburn
9
Spoleto
11
Carolina Girls...Have Careers
13
If You Can Organize Your Kitchen
15
10 Reasons To Plant Trees...Now!
16
No One Realizes How Beautiful It Is To Travel
18
When Twilight Drops Her Curtain Down
20
Bunker Shot Perfection
21
The One Who Holds The Storms
24
Just Let The Wardrobe Do The Acting
26
If I Were Shipwrecked
28
Chandeliers On The Market Now
30
Commerical Real Estate
31
What Is My Loftiest Ambition?
32
Sorrow Can Be Alleviated By A Bath
35
Tim To Refinace Or Buy!?
37
The Bed Has Become A Place Of Luxury To Me
39
Can You Find The Gorget?
41
Carolina Girl Gear
43
How To Make Grits
45
If People Sat Outside and Looked At The Stars
47
How To Set A Table
49
Every Normal Man Must Be Tempted
50
Neighborhoods
52
About Carolina Forest
54
www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 3
From The Editor Buy Local Promoting local business is as simple as having other company’s business cards or brochures posted on a board in your store. In an effort to promote your area, we are distributing decals that say “Check us out at www.Lexington.sc,” in hopes that local shoppers will visit the site to find local restaurants, clothing, specials, coupons and more. We are doing our part, so please join us, and promote your local merchants, and everyone will benefit!
Buy
Top Ten reasons to Think Local Local - Be Local – Help Local Businesses
1. Buy Local -- Support yourself and Lexington. Many studies have revealed when you buy from an independent, locally owned business in the your own area, rather than a nationally owned businesses, considerably more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses. Local businesses continue to strengthen the economic base of the local community. These include case studies showing that local local owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base.
2.Support Local Area Community Groups:
Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller Lexington area business owners than they do from large companies.
3. Keep Your Area Unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind local businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character. Local tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust.
4. Reduce Environmental Impact: Locally owned businesses in your area can make more local purchases requiring less transportation. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
5. Create Additional Jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in the community, provide the most jobs to local residents. 6. Receive Better Service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products and services they offer, and take more time to get to know customers. Cont. next page www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 4
www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 5
7.Invest
in Your Community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, and they are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.
8. Put
your
Taxes
to
Good Use:
Local businesses require a relatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering your area.
9. Buy What you Want, Not What Big Advertising Budgets Want you to Buy: A South Carolina marketplace comprised of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products and services based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, promises a much broader range of product choices.
10. Promote Local Prosperity: An escalating body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. Larry Local Editor in Chief
www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 6
CEO Dennis Stewart Editor In Chief Larry Local Creative Director Daniel Holliday Art Director Amy Coats Web Developers Allen Bayless Matthew Coats Administration & Marketing Vivi Morillo Angie Woods
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carolina media SERVICES
WWW.Lexington.SC oNLINE mAGAZINE
Copyright Š 2009 Carolina Media Services. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. 3290 Ashley Phosphate Road Charleston, SC 29418 Toll Free: (843)720-9604 Fax: (843)725-4734 Info@Lexington.sc www.Lexington.sc
Southern Visions Realty, Inc.
Serving Lexington & Lake Murray
Southern Visions Realty, Inc. markets Lake Murray lakefront homes, new homes in Lexington and resale homes in the Lexington and Columbia areas. Southern Visions Realty offers a wide variety of homesites in the Lexington/Lake Murray and Columbia areas specializing in developing communities such as Crowne Pointe, Spence Plantation VI and Panorama Point on Lake Murray and GreenSide, Sterling Lake, SummerLake and Windsor Courtyards in Lexington. Southern Visions Realty can assist you in buying a home or homesite in all the finest communities. Lexington, South Carolina is a spectacular place to live! We are proud of our community and want to share news from our office with you. If you are moving, we hope you remain in Lexington or make your new home here. Our experienced agents can help you find your dream home or assist you with finding the perfect homesite and a quality builder. Selling your home? Our professional sales agents can give you a listing presentation. We have homes and land listed throughout the Midlands and South Carolina. Imagine yourself living in a community where front porches are abundant, kids are playing at the community park, neighbors are talking in their front yards...life is good. At SummerLake, it’s like the summer--the season when we let ourselves relax. It’s the old fashioned way. Lemonade on the front porch, kids riding their bikes, tag football at the park and laughter at the community pool. Imagine yourself on at the SummerLake pier overlooking 15 acres of peaceful water. And imagine it’s all in Lexington School District One’s award-winning schools! Well, you don’t have to imagine anymore. SummerLake offers the finest amenity package in Lexington, SC.
Two Million Dollar Amenities Package!! Here’s what we have to offer you: • 3,800 square feet Architecturally Designed Clubhouse with Covered Porches • 36’ x 60’ Community Pool with Generous Poolside Areas • 15+acre Community Lake • Community Pier with Swings • Nature Park and Picnic Area • Recreation Field • Fenced Boat Storage • Sidewalks and Pocket Parks
955 Old Cherokee Road, Lexington, SC (803)359-9571 Office (803)359-7025 Fax Monday - Friday 8:30-5:00 www.svrealty.com
Preventing Sunburn Spring is here and Summer is just around the corner and with the warmer weather comes an increased risk of sunburn. Whether you are a beachgoer, golfer, jogger, or shopper, long outings in the sun, even when it is cloudy, can cause damage to your skin. Aside from making you miserably uncomfortable, sunburn can also lead to premature aging and skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States. Sunburn early in life increases one’s risk of developing skin cancers later in life such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Improper tanning bed use is also a source of sunburn. When your skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces a pigment called melanin to help protect itself against ultraviolet light.
Sunburn doesn’t just happen in hot weather - reflection of light off the snow can also cause sunburn. It is visible radiation damage to the skin. UV rays are a type of radiation energy, which are given out by the sun and sun beds/tanning lamps. If you feel your sunburn is severe enough, call your doctor. Your doctor will probably ask you how severe your condition is and if you have any other significant health problems. The doctor can then make the decision to treat you at home or in the office or refer you to an emergency center. Conditions that should motivate you to go to an emergency center include the following: • Severe pain • Severe blistering • Headache • Confusion • Nausea or vomiting • Fainting
Treatment
of
Sunburn
Here is list of the methods for treating Sunburn: • Over the counter medications like ibuprofen, may help to relieve pain from sunburn. (Aspirin should be avoided in children who are running a fever.) • If blisters are present, dry bandages may help prevent infection. • To alleviate pain and heat (skin is warm to the touch) caused by the sunburn, take a cool (not cold) bath, or gently apply cool, wet compresses to the skin. • In most cases, prehospital care involves providing simple first aid to treat patient symptoms. • If your case is mild and not life threatening, your doctor may simply suggest plenty of fluids, aspirin, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). Fortunately, skin cancer is largely preventable when sun protection measures are consistently used. These measures include: • limiting exposure to the sun during the hours of 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., when the sun is the most intense • using a sun block with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 year-round • Wearing protective clothing and hats/sun visors • Stay out of the sun!
Spoleto May 22 – June 9, 2009 Charleston, South Carolina, is perhaps the most appropriate place in the United States to stage a festival that celebrates the arts. With its long and rich history of culture, its natural beauty, terrific Spring weather, affordable hotel rooms, and the inspiration it has provided to artists over the years, no place could be finer. Charleston claims many cultural firsts. The very first performance of an opera in the American colonies took place in the city during the first half of the 18th century. While the English Ballad opera Flora or Hob in the Well is no longer
performed, Porgy and Bess – which has often been called the greatest American opera – was written in Charleston over two hundred years later. By the end of the 18th century, Charleston formed the first resident ballet company in addition to regular performances by English and French-language theater companies. The Dock Street Theatre, was built in Charleston in 1734, and it is the first theater built specifically for public performances in the American colonies. The original theater burned down two years later and was eventually rebuilt. Over the next two hundred and fifty years, many other theaters said to rival the best in Europe were built in Charleston. Today, Charleston is a city of
well-preserved stately homes, lofty churches and countless historical sites. You can also visit the Island where the Civil War officially started. Theaters are within walking distance from one another, and a stroll is often rewarded with the glimpse of a lavish garden or of a previously unnoticed architectural detail. Award-winning restaurants and boutique shops add to the city’s eclectic character. Just minutes from historic downtown Charleston, glorious beaches await at Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, and Folly Beach, where Gershwin is said to have composed the music for Porgy and Bess. (The area also has some of the finest golf courses in the US.)
Carolina Girls … Have careers
According to the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center, the top most satisfying careers of 2009 are: - Clergy
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
- Firefighter - School Principal
- US Department of Energy
- Artist (fine art)
- Medical University of SC
- Teacher
- Siemens Diesel System Tech
- Author
- Chest Pain Center of Greenville
- Psychologist
- Corrections Department
- Special Education Teacher
- Greenville Hospital System
Careers
- Spartanburg Regional Med Center
- Physical Therapist
Assess
What sort of career would be the most satisfying for you? If you don’t even know where to start, there are endless free career tests available online, including the Myers-Briggs which is one of the most comprehensive assessments available; a simplified version of which can be found online. The complete version, however, should be administered by a professional.
- Nuclear Medical Technologists
Finally, the top employers in South Carolina, offering 3,000 – 15,000 jobs yearly, are:
Why shouldn’t we? Double income houses are no longer a luxury; they’re practically a necessity. But there’s no reason you should have a career you hate just to make the mortgage payment. yourself
- Dental Hygienists
in
South Carolina:
Around South Carolina, jobs are as varied as the colors in a peacock’s plumage. After you’ve taken a career assessment test and/or considered all of your top choices, create a list and look into the requirements and availability of each choice. Be sure to check what education levels/degrees are required and whether or not they are available in your area. If you’re absolutely strapped and have no idea where to start, the top industries in South Carolina that will be growing through 2014 are “travel agent” and pretty much anything in the health industry. Specifically, the top hiring jobs in South Carolina in 2009 are: - Diagnostic Medical Sonographers - Psychiatric Technicians - Surgical Technologists - Dental Assistants - Physical Therapist Assistant - Psychiatric aides
- University of South Carolina - Spartanburg Regional Healthcare Do a little more research: Once you’ve narrowed the list down to a few top choices, feel free to conduct some informal interviews over the phone either with a hiring agent or with someone in the industry. Find out the top job requirements, what you would be doing on a day to day basis, and if you found someone in your chosen industry, ask them their top likes and dislikes about their job. Last step, find an opening and set up a series of interviews. It’s better not to put all your eggs in one basket by only interviewing at one or two jobs. If you happen to find the perfect job at the first interview, great! But it often takes a couple tries, so don’t get discouraged.
SouthernServing Visions Realty, Inc. Lexington & Lake Murray The offices of Southern Visions Realty, Inc. and RPW Development, Inc. are located at 955 Old Cherokee Road and 336 Old Chapin Road in Lexington, South Carolina. Our executive and administrative staff has the knowledge, experience and expertise to operate full-service real estate and development companies and to fulfill our customers’ needs. Developing real estate for more than 35 years under the direction of The Robert P. Wilkins Family, RPW Development has developed 26 residential developments and six commercial office parks. RPW Development, Inc’s. commitment is to setting the highest standards in residential and commercial development. Only the most qualified professionals are involved during the development process for our residential neighborhoods. Incorporating expertise in land planning, surveying, engineering, and design in conjunction with extensive marketing research, our attention to detail makes our communities the best in Lexington and Lake Murray. We are dedicated to making Lexington and Lake Murray a better place to live. • Recreation Field • Fenced Boat Storage • Sidewalks and Pocket Parks
Community Involvement and Association Affiliations
RPW Development, Inc. and Southern Visions Realty, Inc. are active members of: • Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia • National Association of Home Builders • National Sales and Marketing Council • Sales and Marketing Council of Greater Columbia • Lexington Chamber of Commerce • Columbia Chamber of Commerce • Florence Chamber of Commerce • Capital City Lake Murray Country
Scope of Work
Southern Visions Realty, Inc. and RPW Development, Inc. are full-service real estate and development companies. We offer a variety of services and are always expanding. These services include development, management, marketing, selling and leasing for both residential and commercial applications. Southern Visions Realty, Inc. specializes in selling and brokering the finest land and homes in the Lexington area. In conjunction with RPW Development, Inc., we have developed and marketed 26 of the finest subdivisions in Lexington County. RPW Development, Inc. often works with families who are interested in becoming partners in a development or who simply want to sell their property. Specific examples: • 1031 Tax-Free Exchanges: If you have been holding on to your valued piece of real estate in fear of capital gains taxes, defeat Uncle Sam by talking to us about a 1031 “tax-free” exchange. • Asset relocation: Through the sale or development of your property, you can balance your real estate portfolio between income producing properties and undeveloped land. • Government regulations: From handling a bid to sell to a government agency to getting a zoning change RPW Development, Inc. is qualifited to handle all your real estate needs. Robert P. Wilkins, Jr., President, BIC rwilkins@svrealty.com Anne Wilkins Brooks, CSP, VP and Director of Marketing abrooks@svrealty.com Jan Pollack, Office Manager and Sales jpollack@svrealty.com Martha Russ, Marketing Assistant mruss@svrealty.com Dana Peak, Administrative Assistant dana@svrealty.com
www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 16
Southern Visions Realty, Inc.
Serving Lexington & Lake Murray
Robert P. Wilkins, Jr. President, BIC rwilkins@svrealty.com
Anne Wilkins Brooks, CSP Vice President abrooks@svrealty.com
Jan Pollack Office Manager & Sales jpollack@svrealty.com
Gary Bozeman, Sales gbozeman@svrealty.com
Reggie Enlow, Sales renlow@svrealty.com
Chris Harris, Sales charris@svrealty.com
Beth Hite, Broker Sales & Development bhite@svrealty.com
Jerrod F. Howard Sales & Development jhoward@svrealty.com
Lloyd LeSuer, Sales llesuer@hotmail.com
Stephanie Mitchell, Sales
John Roof Commercial Sales jrroof16@aol.com
Suzette Scaturo, Sales living@lakemurraysuzette.com
stephanie@ISellLakeMurray.com
www.IsellLakeMurray.com
Southern Visions Realty, Inc. 955 Old Cherokee Road Lexington, South Carolina 29072 (803)359-9571 Office (803)359-7025 Fax Crystal Smith, Sales csmith@svrealty.com
Dana Peak Administrative Assistant dana@svrealty.com
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30-5:00 www.svrealty.com
Southern Visions Realty, Inc.
Serving Lexington & Lake Murray
120 Rustic Manor Court Lexington SC 29072 $1,399,000 Reduced
108 Cherokee Isle Court Lexington SC 29072 Cherokee Shores SOLD
1222 Morning Shore Drive Lexington SC 29072 $1,399,000
1125 Morning Shore Drive Lexington SC 29072 $1,199,000 Reduced!
159 Lake Murray Terrace Lexington SC 29072 $849,900
113 West Circle Drive Lexington SC 29072 $822,000
144 Morning Lake Drive Lexington SC 29072 $799,900 Reduced!
338 Waters Edge Lexington SC 29072 $749,900
1212 Brady Porth Road Lexington SC 29072 $619,900 Reduced!
1303 Misty Lane Gilbert SC 29054 $449,900
125 Cherry Lane Gilbert SC 29054 $599,900
1721 Amanda Drive Gilbert SC 29054 $415,000
Southern Visions Realty, Inc. 955 Old Cherokee Road Lexington, South Carolina 29072 (803)359-9571 Office (803)359-7025 Fax 53 Melrose Place Prosperity SC 29127 $529,000
146 Atlas Drive Leesville SC 29070 $230,000
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30-5:00 www.svrealty.com
Southern Visions Realty, Inc.
Serving Lexington & Lake Murray
2 Panorama Drive Lexington SC Lake Murray Lakefront
Panorama Point Incredible Lake Murray Views! Lexington SC
Spence Plantation VI Lexington SC
140 Kelly Gardner Court Lexington SC 29072 $475,000
Crowne Pointe Only one lot left! Lexington SC Reduced!
3 Lots on Rocky Cove Road Lexington SC
143 Cherry Lane Gilbert SC 29054 $300,000 Reduced!
El Paraiso, Lot 3 Prosperity SC
Greentree Lane Lexington SC $429,000
1632 Lakewood Drive Prosperity, SC $145,000 Reduced!
Palmetto Cove Lakefront Property
2062 Shull Avenue Gilbert SC 29054 $329,000
Southern Visions Realty, Inc. 955 Old Cherokee Road Lexington, South Carolina 29072 (803)359-9571 Office (803)359-7025 Fax Cedar Cove Trail, Lot 6 Gilbert SC 29054 $95,000
141 Whisperwood Drive Lexington SC 29072 Woodbridge Crossing
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30-5:00 www.svrealty.com
Bunker Shot Perfection: Blast Your Way to a Better Golf Score Bunker shots can be daunting but it’s really all in your head! Use these simple techniques the next time you’re in the bunker and blast your way to a better score. Golf ScoreFirst, don’t change your swing. Use the loft of the club and your back swing to determine your distance. Of course this will take some practice so you know how to shorten your backswing to get the distance you need. You use your back swing to adjust your distance because you always
want to accelerate through the ball. You never want to the club head to decelerate. Also open the club face if needed to decrease the distance the ball will travel. Use the “bounce” on the club to launch the ball out of the sand. Don’t worry too much about the definition of bounce but try this the next time in the practice sand trap. Take your sand wedge and swing at the sand. Vary the angle the club hits the sand. When you bring the club down steeply you’ll take a lot of sand and leave a large “divot” in the sand. Decrease the angle that you strike the sand until you can feel the club almost bounce off the sand. Feeling that is more important than the actual definition of bounce. The key is to have this bounce feel when hitting the ball out of the sand. Open the club face and aim slightly right with an open stance with the ball forward in your stance, slightly off of your left
www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 21
Want to grow your business?
Join the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce! As the unified voice of business, the South Carolina Chamber is working to grow wealth for South Carolinians and businesses in order to improve economic development and quality of life.
We help your business and you by: • Getting your voice heard by our state legislators through our Grassroots Network • Working to pass business-friendly legislation • Keeping you informed on issues and providing solutions for growing your business through our monthly magazine, South Carolina Business • Providing networking opportunities with legislators and other business owners • Training your employees on human resources, quality and management issues • Publishing a legal reference series
Join the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce!
Contact us today at 800-799-4601. Learn more at www.scchamber.net.
heel for right handed golfers. When you swing follow the line of your feet. Keep the weight on your left foot and don’t try to lift the ball, let the club do the work; trust me the club will lift the ball. Hit about 1 inch behind the ball. The key is to get sand between the club face and the ball. This is where that bounce comes in to play. Also, expect more roll on the ball when faced with a down hill lie in the bunker because the ball won’t get as much spin and tend to roll quite a bit. Use and practice these techniques to get yourself off the beach and onto the green. For more helpful tips, advice, or to add some Golf Tips and Suggestions of your own - you are invited to visit the South Carolina Golfers Blog at www.Golf.sc/Blog/
www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 23
In our lives there is bound to come some pain, surely as there are storms and falling rain; just believe that the one who holds the storms will bring the sun.
Just let the wardrobe do the acting Jack Nicholson
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“A lot of people ask me if I were shipwrecked, and could only have one book, what would it be? I always say ‘How to Build a Boat” Stephen Wright
There really are some incredible chandeliers on the market now. The designs are a lot softer and warmer than they used to be. I think the overriding design factor that most homeowners are seeking is something that says their home is warm, inviting and comfortable. Susan Humphress
Commercial Real Estate Renting
in
Today’s Market
First make sure that the area you have chosen is right for your intended business. If you plan on expanding, take that into consideration. Do you need to be close to an expressway, or the local airport? Before you decide, think ahead, because you may be getting into a long term commitment. Make sure that any space you’re considering is big enough for both your current needs, and your foreseeable growth. Be realistic and never over-commit. Do your homework beforehand. Investigate traffic patterns; tour the area and building. Find out who the previous tenant was, and why the business left. Learn what kinds of marketing the location does in support of its tenants (if any) and whether co-operative marketing funds are available to you. Weigh the benefits of guaranteed foot traffic at a mall
location against premium rent. Some malls require that all tenants stay open during mall hours, and pay for common area usage as well as the store’s own space and upkeep. Stores may also be asked to pay a percentage of sales to the mall. Identify your closest competitors. Also check out neighboring businesses with an eye for complementary products or services. If you are locating in a mall, check the lease agreement for any guaranteed protection against competition. Evaluate whether the physical location and space is a good fit with your product line. Do you need a large, bright space or is an office warehouse sufficient? Investigate any restrictions on signage. Signs are vitally important to retail businesses, yet many landlords decide on what a store can and cannot do. The rules may be even stricter in a mall, which closely monitors its physical appearance. Negotiate the terms of your lease aggressively. Think about consulting a realtor that is familiar with the area. Never accept wording that’s confusing or that leaves you wondering who is liable for what. Ask for the right of first refusal on adjacent space in case you need to expand. Negotiate for free improvements, free rent, and other incentives before signing your lease. Hire a real estate attorney who not only specializes in lease negotiations, but knows your area and, preferably, has dealt with your kind of business before. A lease negotiation can cover tens, if not hundreds, of terms, and you want someone in your corner who has seen it all before. Know who is responsible for maintaining the heating, air-conditioning and other systems, as well as keeping up the parking lot and building exterior. This can be critical in older buildings. Who pays for the utilities and trash pick-up? The time has probably never been better to start a new venture if you have a business that is not being adversely affected by this economy. Just make sure you get the right location…… www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 31
“What is my loftiest ambition? I’ve always wanted to throw an egg at an electric fan.” Oliver Herford quotes (1863-1935)
Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine. Saint Thomas Aquinas
rate with the tax advantages of a mortgage, and you have an incredibly cheap way to build wealth, but you better act now.
Time to Refinance Buy !?
or
Right now, mortgage rates are at their lowest level since 1971. Think about that. Twenty-five years ago, homeowners were paying as much as 18% on a 30-year fixed. Today it’s just a little over 5%.Combine that
Real estate guru Barbara Corcoran has already seen a tremendous surge in refinance applications – more than triple the average – and the number of people getting approved is astronomically higher as well, she says. But that doesn’t mean the low rates are a panacea for the ills of the housing market. It is only once home prices start to go up that we will finally see a light at the end of tunnel, Corcoran says. Until that happens, we are still going to have to crawl out of this mess. “[Low interest rates are] a not a lifesaver,” Corcoran says. “This is just a helping hand.”
David Kittle, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, has this advice to homeowners looking to refinance: Do it. Don’t get greedy searching for another quarter-point. Lock in rates now. He is seeing applications soar over 125% just since Thanksgiving due to the low rates. Of course, you should only refinance if it saves you at least 3/8 on the rate and if you plan on staying in your home for at least four years, Kittle says. Along with good credit, proof of income and money by means of a down payment or equity in the home, there are certain things every homeowner needs regardless of interest rate levels.
www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 37
Visit www.Jobs.sc To Find Your Dream Job!
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www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 38
“The bed has become a place of luxury to me! I would not exchange it for all the thrones in the world� Napoleon Bonaparte
Can
you find
the gorget? The South Carolina State flag is immediately recognizable to native Carolinians, and if you’re spending some time out-of-State, it will probably bring a tear to your eye to see it whizzing by on a bumper sticker or rippling in the soft blue sky of a native license plate. Most folks, however, consistently confuse our flag for a simple representation of a moonlit palm tree. The truth it, the sliver of crescent suspended in the upper left hand corner is not a moon phase: it’s a piece of ornamental armour known as a “gorget”. A holdover from the days of knights in shining armour, the gorget was originally used to protect the throat and block blows from non-projectile weapons such as swords. Since the gorget originally rested
around the throat, the shape was that of a crescent. In formal armour, the gorget was placed beneath the breastplate and backplate set and supported the weight of the armour. They were often equipped with straps in order to attach some of the heavier armours. By the Renaissance, the gorgets had already achieved an ornamental status and by the American Revolution, it could be seen hanging from delicate chains and ribbons around the throats of officers, signifying their rank. The first South Carolina flag, designed in 1765, displayed the dark blue of the American troops’ uniforms and a large crescent with the word “Liberty” written within it. While most historians agree that the crescent is the representation of the gorget, which was also worn as a symbol on the caps of American soldiers, there is some argument that the symbol could also stand
for the river bend on which Charleston sits (the crescent was a common symbol used by early American settlements when their Town rested on the curve of a river), or it was a borrowed symbol from the crest of the Bull family, one of Charleston’s early settlers. The palmetto tree on today’s flag was not included until January 28, 1861, the day of South Carolina’s secession from the Union. The palmetto tree represents the defense of Fort Moultrie from British attack, as the Fort itself was made of palmetto logs: an unexpectedly brilliant construction, as the logs of the palmetto tree are incredibly resilient and absorbed the enemy cannon fire like a sponge. Either way we have a pretty cool state flag, and gorget is hard to pronounce!
www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 40
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www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 41
Get Your Carolina Girl Gear!
How
to make grits
By now, you should know that grits are not only the starch of choice in South Carolina, it’s also the acronym for “Girls Raised in the South”; so if you don’t have your recipe down by now, it’s time to get boiling. Proper grits do not come in an easy to open, plastic-lined paper packet. As My Cousin Vinny put it, “Real grits take at least 20 minutes to cook”. In fact, they take a couple hours, but it’s worth every simmering second.So get rid of the Quaker Instant Grits and mosey on down to the rice isle. Grits can usually be found either here or in the baking isle. If you’re lucky enough to live near a local produce market or farmer’s market, 99% of the time you’ll find more than enough grits in stock. Some local favorites include Anson Mills grits and Charleston’s Favorite Stone Ground Grits.
filling the bowl with water until the water is an inch or so above the grits. Skim off the chaff and drain. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be completely dry, just get it as close as possible. Now, dump the wet grits into a pot and pour in twice as much chicken stock as grits. Bring this to a boil, then reduce to medium-low. Now add equal portions cream and milk up to 2 and ½ times the amount of grits. So, if I was making this recipe for two, I would have used 1 cup dry grits, 2 ½ cups chicken stock, 1 ¾ cups cream and 1 ¾ cups milk. Add salt and pepper to taste, then sit back and let it simmer. The longer the grits simmer, the richer they’ll be. Typical time is 20-30 minutes, but some of the best grits sit for an hour to two hours at low to medium-low heat, just soaking up that cream and milk. Right before you serve the grits up, stir in a healthy pat of butter and, if you’re feeling a little wild, grate a handful of parmesan or cheddar cheese over the top. Play with and perfect this dish to your liking. The recipe is purposefully simple for the sole reason that it’s up to each southern girl to come up with her own special twist on this Southern Classic.
Now that you have the dry goods, make sure you have some fresh chicken stock, milk, cream and butter. Oh yes, you’re making these the way God intended. Measure out your dry grits (1 cup of dry grits makes roughly 2 servings) and clean them by placing them in a bowl and
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“If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently.” Bill Watterson
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How
to set a
table As a lady of the Carolina’s, small shows of simple grace and etiquette should become as second nature to you. Now, this isn’t saying that you have to run out immediately and have visiting cards printed, or go buy a sterling silver tea set, but having knowledge of little things like place settings means a lot to locals and ultimately, shows that you truly care for and respect the civility which is the heart of South Carolina. Even at an informal dinner, it’s a good idea to create a centerpiece. This can be a week-long labor of love or, in most cases, a small setting thrown together about five minutes before the guests arrive. A few snippings from the juniper tree for frilly greenery and aromatic scent, a handful of flowers arranged in a low bowl or small vase, a couple strategically placed pieces of fruit and a candle or two and your centerpiece is complete. A bouquet of flowers from the local florist or, better yet, a nearby farm, would also work, but no matter what, the point is that you have one. Another little pointer:
don’t make the centerpiece taller than eye level. Guests would like to be able to see each other when they speak and it could mess up a lovely arrangement if you’re having to part the sunflowers every time you want to ask a question. As for your silverware, if you have sterling silver, use it. Even, and especially, if it’s your great grandmother’s set that’s been passed down for generations. She never intended for you to keep it wrapped up in crumbling bags of velvet. Silverware and formal china, however pretty and expensive, were meant to be used and this is a great time to show them off. Even if you don’t have formal silverware, though, the point is to have the place settings properly arranged and in the end, no one will really care what the silverware looked like as long as there’s plenty of food and wine. With the dinner plate as the center, silverware should be placed in line, an inch from the edge of the table, and arranged from the outside – in, in order of use. On the right, salad fork (smaller fork), appetizer utensil (or another small fork or none at all if you aren’t having an appetizer between salad, soup and dinner), then dinner fork
(your biggest fork) closest to the plate. On the left, soup spoon, spreading knife for the bread and the dinner knife closest to the plate. Be sure to turn the blade of the knives toward the plate, as an outwardly turned knife is a symbol of aggression toward the other diners (don’t you love these quaint little old world idiosyncrasies?). The dessert fork and spoon for after dinner tea or coffee should go across the top of the dinner plate, with the tines of the fork facing right and the bowl of the spoon facing left. Napkins should be folded either as simply or ornately as you like, and placed in the center of the dinner plate. Glasses are also placed an inch above the knives and in order of use starting from the far right: white wine, red wine, dessert wine and water tumbler. Dinner should be served from the kitchen and ideally, placed on each diner’s plate by the server/host instead of passing bowls and dishes around. If it is Thanksgiving at Grandma’s, none of the above applies.
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“Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands & hoist the black flag� Henry Louis Mencken
Neighborhoods 1. Neighborhoods are where we all grew up a long time ago. Today, because of golf courses, shopping areas, subdivisions, jobs, schools, and a transient society, a neighborhood means different things to different folks. 2. Neighborhoods can be as small as a dozen or so houses, and be as many as thousands of homes. 3. Neighborhoods are common, and perhaps close to universal, since most people in urbanized areas would probably consider themselves to be living in one. 4. Neighborhoods are convenient, and always accessible, since you are already in your neighborhood when you walk out your door. 5. Successful neighborhood action frequently requires little specialized technical skill, and often little or no money. Action may call for an investment of time, but material costs are often low. 6. With neighborhood action, compared to activity on larger scales, results are more likely to be visible and quickly forthcoming. The streets are generally cleaner; the crosswalks are painted; the trees are planted; a festival draws a crowd. 7. Visible and swift results are indicators of success; and since success is reinforcing, the probability of subsequent neighborhood action is increased. 8. Because neighborhood action usually involves others, such actions create or strengthen connections and relationships with other neighbors, leading in turn to a variety of potentially positive effects, often hard to predict. 9. Over and above these community advantages, neighborhood activity may simply be enjoyable and fun for those taking part. But in addition to these benefits, considerable research indicates that strong and cohesive neighborhoods and communities are linked –quite possibly causally linked – to decreases in crime, better outcomes for children, and improved physical and mental health. The social support that a strong neighborhood may provide can serve as a buffer against various forms of adversity. Sometimes a neighborhood isn’t a neighborhood until an event occurs, which draws people together, to become “neighbors”. www.Lexington.sc Online Magazine | 2009 51
“It is the nature of the strong heart, that like the palm tree it strives ever upwards when it is most burdened.� Sir Philip Sidney
About Carolina Forest Carolina Forest is one of the more popular communities for people living and working in the Myrtle Beach area in South Carolina.
Recent Development Carolina Forest boasts one of the top school districts in the state, and is an unincorporated town made-up of numerous neighborhoods communities and new commercial developments conveniently situated between the beaches Myrtle Beach and the historic city of Conway. The Carolina Forest community enjoys residential family-friendly neighborhoods and businesses, as well as top schools and preserved natural foliage and wildlife create a master-planned community in Horry County and a unique and sought after place to live.
Master Planned for the Communities Benefit
Golf! Residents are afforded with recreational opportunities in the Carolina Forest area. There are two golf courses in Carolina Forest, Man O’ War and The Wizard golf courses. Both are situated beside Windsor Green and Waterford Plantation. The River Oaks neighborhood, which borders Carolina Forest, also features numerous golf courses as well. Carolina Forest has plans for ten golf courses, but the slight decline of the golf industry in Myrtle Beach has not permitted this.
Future Plans Upcoming recreational plans have been set aside in Carolina Forest. International Paper initially planned parkland, roadway easements, reserves, and animal corridor land, some of which has not been started and for now remains virgin forestland. Lewis Ocean Bay Preserve, a gigantic tract of land reserved by the state of South Carolina, borders Carolina Forest and is easy to get to through International Drive and Highway 90.
Carolina Forest is an one-of-a-kind, master-planned, unincorporated area of Horry County SC that’s an example of how excellent neighborhoods, family-friendly businesses, and superior schools mix to form one of the most desirable places to live.
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Final Words
We think too small. Like the frog at the bottom of the well. He thinks the sky is only as big as the top of the well. If he surfaced, he would have an entirely different view. Mao Tse-Tung
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