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about us from the lake
PUBLISHER
Vince Johnson
EDITOR
Kayla Green
COPY EDITORS
Rhonda Barrick
Melanie Smith
Linda Pekuri
WRITERS
Deirdre Currin
Adam Flash
Alaysha Maple
Bruce Mills
PHOTOGRAPHY
Adam Flash
Cary Howard
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Janel Strieter
ADVERTISING / GRAPHIC DESIGN
Cary Howard
Janel Strieter
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS
Karen Cave
karen@theitem.com
Devin McDonald devin@theitem.com
Mark Pekuri
markp@theitem.com
Fall fun in Sumter at Aldersgate Pumpkin Palooza.
Photo by Adam Flash
12
For the first time in three decades, the Forestry Commission will have two firefighting planes on hand to help combat wildfires across the state.
18
Behind the magic of South Carolina's largest free light display Soups, Stews & Sweets A holiday ‘sip and stroll’ returns on Dec. 5 in Manning. Fighting fire
Fantasy of Lights
Spread cheer with gifts that light up little hearts with help from Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter and The Toy Insider
Holiday gifts
Custom Taxidermy is coming up on its 40th anniversary, and it got there from “good old-fashioned hard work.”
Custom Taxidermy
& What to do Where to go
CLARENDON • KERSHAW
LEE • FLORENCE • RICHLAND ORANGEBURG • SUMTER
SUMTER COUNTY
Sunday at Sans Souci Farm
Learn about nature and the vital role of local land conservation at Congaree Land Trust's Conservation Celebration, "Sunday at Sans Souci Farm," from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, at the farm at 1935 Sans Souci Road, Sumter. This event is being held on historic protected property in Sumter with views that reach 20 miles into the High Hills of Santee, overlooking the Wateree River Basin. It will be open to the public, and attendees are invited to celebrate the local ecosystem and biodiversity through participating in any of the day’s planned activities: live music and a barbecue lunch; hayrides featuring the history of Sans Souci Farm; a nature walk with a master naturalist; connect with conservationist Billy Cate during a book signing; watch retriever and falconry demonstrations; learn how to fly cast with Orvis staff instruction; and various children's games and activities. Tickets: adult, 18 and up, $35; junior, 10-17, $15; kids, 10 and under, free. Register for tickets by visiting the website, www.congareelt.org/#events.
Sumter County Museum's 26th-Annual Carolina Backcountry Oyster Roast presented by Prisma Health
The event is the perfect chance to have allyou-can-eat oysters, barbecue, chili, collards and more while enjoying time with others. The museum's largest annual fundraiser will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at the museum, 122 N. Washington St. A wide selection of beverages including beer, wine and soft drinks will be available. Music will be provided by HeyBo. Cost is $50 for members and $75 for non-members. Purchase tickets at https:// tinyurl.com/34jznw97.
South Carolina Ballet's Nutcracker
Celebrate the holidays with South Carolina Ballet's annual production of Nutcracker, which will be performed this year at Lakewood High School's theater because of renovations at Patriot Hall. This beloved classical play is perfect for anyone, from children to adults. Matinee is on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 3 to 5 p.m., and the evening show is the same day from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Buy tickets at www.tickettailor.com/ events/southcarolinaballet.
Swan Lake Fantasy of Lights
Don't miss out on South Carolina's largest free Christmas lights display beginning with the opening-night ceremony of the annual Swan Lake Fantasy of Lights at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, at the Visitors Center, 822 W. Liberty St. (in the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Heath Pavilion, 165 Garden St.). Through Dec. 31, visitors to Swan Lake Iris Gardens can see the gardens come alive with more than 1 million lights. The light display will be open Sunday-Thursday until 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. The event is designed as a drive-through, but visitors are allowed to park to take photos. Access to the walking trails is closed after dusk. Lights are displayed along the main parking lot area to the gardens, along Liberty Street and along Garden Street (enter at Liberty Street and exit onto Oakland Avenue). No parking is allowed along Garden Street; however, parking will be available in the lot across from the Heath Pavilion. Santa's Village, located in the Heath Pavilion, is a part of the holiday celebration. Children can write letters to Santa and take photos with the big guy (bring your own camera). Enjoy a variety of holiday music and entertainment each night. Food, hot cocoa and other holiday treats will be available for sale on site. Santa's Village will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6; Saturday, Dec. 7; Friday, Dec. 13; Saturday, Dec.
14; Friday, Dec. 20; and Saturday, Dec. 21.
Admission to both Fantasy of Lights and Santa's Village is free.
For more info, call the Visitors Center at (803) 426-2640.
The Holiday Tour
The Holiday Tour on the 240th birthday of The Ruins in Stateburg on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offers a visit throughout the main floor of The Ruins, with docents on hand to point out architectural embellishments and the many beautiful and intriguing pieces of original furniture. The inside and outside of the house will be decorated with natural arrangements and greenery that would have been used in the 1800s. The grounds will showcase many exhibits from various periods, including Revolutionary-era weapons with periodic mortar firing, a museum of 19th-century tools and household items, a few beautiful Model A cars, Native American dancing by the Sumter Cheraw Tribe, the surprising history of Stateburg and its homes and history exhibits by Sumter County Museum and Temple Sinai. The Ruins is one of the few remaining historic homes in the Stateburg area of Sumter. The land was purchased from Thomas Sumter, a hero of the Revolutionary War. The original 40’x45’ house was built in 1784 by John Mayrant, a sea-faring hero who served with John Paul Jones in the same war. It was expanded several times with the final and most lavish one by Videau Marion Singleton and her husband, Robert Marion DeVeaux, in 1838. The address for The Holiday Tour at The Ruins is 1257 Barnwell Drive, Sumter. There is no admission fee for the event.
Sumter Christmas Parade
The Evening Optimist Club will hold its annual Sumter Christmas Parade at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. The theme for the 2024 Christmas Parade is "Believe."
COLUMBIA
Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo
Join the Riverbanks Zoo for its all-new Wild Lights experience starting Nov. 15. Walk through the zoo from 5 to 9 p.m. and discover nearly 60 larger-than-life handcrafted lanterns inspired by nature, from pollinators and plants to endangered (and even extinct) animals. Enjoy interactive activities, fun photo ops and seasonal favorites including nightly snowfall and visits with Santa (through Dec. 23). Select nights begin Nov. 15. Tickets go on sale Nov. 1. Advance reservations are required for all members and guests. Visit www.riverbanks. org/events/wild-lights.
Fireflies Holiday Lights at Segra Park
The event will brighten the holiday with even more lights, more activities and the return of the Fireflies Express presented by Thermal Technologies. The park will open from 6 to 9 p.m. (with last entry into the park at 8:45 p.m.) Friday, Nov. 15, through Saturday, Jan. 4, at 1640 Freed St., Columbia. Lights will be closed Nov. 18-21 as well as Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day. The lights will operate under different hours on Dec. 31, with special New Years Eve hours of 5 to 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 per person in November and $12 per person in December. Children 2 and under get in free and do not require a ticket. Military members will receive $2 off their tickets with proof of valid military ID. All tickets are general admission and get you access to the view of more than one million LED Christmas lights with themed areas, numerous vendors and visits with Santa Claus. We encourage fans to purchase their tickets online, but you can purchase tickets by calling the Dukes Investigations Fireflies Ticket Office at (803) 726-4487 extension 1, or by visiting the ticket office during the week (Monday-Friday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ticket office will also remain open from 6 to 8:45 p.m. during Fireflies Holiday Lights event days to assist those who did not purchase tickets in advance. To purchase group tickets for Fireflies Holiday Lights, contact the Fireflies sales team at sales@columbiafireflies.com or call (803) 7264487 extension 2. Food and drink choices will be available, as well as holiday-themed drinks and concessions throughout the concourse. Visit www.firefliesholidaylights.com.
Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show
The Columbia Gem and Mineral Society will hold its Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show on
Friday-Sunday, Nov. 22-24, at the Jamil Temple, 206 Jamil Road, Columbia. For sale at the event will be jewelry, beads, loose stones, fossils, minerals, gold, silver and tools. Geodes will also be sold and cut. Also featured will be children’s activities, club members’ rock collections on exhibit and lapidary demonstrations. For additional information, visit www. cgms.rocks/ or call (803) 736-9317.
Annual Holiday Market Fundraiser
Junior League of Columbia celebrates its 100th year of service with its Annual Holiday Market Fundraiser on Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 5-8, at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds inside the Cantey and Goodman buildings. This shopping extravaganza showcases more than 100 unique merchants from across the country. The event raises more than $250,000 to support Junior League’s mission and programs, which include furthering its vision of strengthening the health and well-being of children and families in the Midlands. Dates and times are: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday and Friday; 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday; $10 per ticket, granting access for all four days of the market. Parking is $5. Visit jlcolumbia.org for more information.
FLORENCE
S.C. Pecan Music and Food Festival
The S.C. Pecan Music and Food Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, in Downtown Florence. The all-day, free-admission festival is a one-day outdoor event featuring entertainment across nine stages, more than 250 vendors spread across seven blocks, free kids and family activities, amusement rides, pub for the grown-ups, culinary competitions, artist displays and activities, a classic car show, Run Like a Nut 5K, 10K and USATF-certified half-marathon races and Bike Like a Nut half-century and century bike rides. Visit https://scpecanfestival.com or call (843) 678-5912.
Jingle Bell Market
Get into the holiday spirit and purchase unique gifts at the Jingle Bell Market set for Friday-Sunday, Nov. 15-17, at the Florence Convention Center. Times are Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Disney On Ice
See your favorite characters lace up their ice skates for Disney On Ice, which presents Into
The Magic on Friday-Sunday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, at the Florence Center Arena. According to the center's website, "The show takes families on a high-sea adventure as Moana sets sail on a life-changing quest to save her island with help from the demigod Maui. With the ice floor transformed into the vast oceanic scape, Disney On Ice allows Moana’s strength and determination to take center stage. This engaging atmosphere lets audiences deepen their existing connection to their favorite way finder and discover one’s true identity is never out of reach. Journey across the Marigold Bridge with Miguel from Disney Pixar’s Coco into the magnificent and mystical Land of the Dead and discover a vibrantly colorful performance with skeletons in a beautiful cultural celebration of family. Beautiful production numbers invite audiences into the world of 'Beauty and the Beast,' as Belle shows what it means to be fearless. Along with her new friends in the enchanted castle, Belle is encouraged to step outside the ordinary and find joy in the bleakest situation. As she looks beyond the harsh exterior of the Beast to reach his gentle heart, fans learn there are teachable moments in everyday life. Through the athleticism and grace of Anna and Elsa, Rapunzel and Flynn, and Cinderella, brave heroes from 'Frozen,' 'Tangled' and 'Cinderella' ignite passions to believe." Show times are 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1. To purchase tickets, visit https://tinyurl.com/bdf9sk6e.
ORANGEBURG
Children’s Garden Christmas and Kids’ Walk
The City of Orangeburg invites the public to its free Children’s Garden Christmas and Kids’ Walk from Sunday, Nov. 24, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. The Children’s Garden Christmas, a drive-through display in Edisto Memorial Gardens, 218 Riverside Drive SW, Orangeburg, boasts thousands of lights including still and animated displays such as Old Man Winter, a river boat, Santa and his elves, a nativity scene and more than 60 lighted cherry trees. Kids’ Walk features interactive displays including a hopping bunny, a squirrel running up a tree and colorful Christmas trees. Be sure to visit the Twelve Days of Christmas display. The holiday event is open seven days a week. Children’s Garden Christmas is open from 5 to 10 p.m., and the Kids’ Walk from 5 to 9 p.m. For additional information, call (803) 533-6020.
Fightin Fire
“It’s a game changer for wildfire in South Carolina,” Darryl Jones, fire chief of the South Carolina Forestry Commission, put it simply.
For the first time in three decades, the Forestry Commission will have two firefighting planes on hand to help combat wildfires across the state. The new contract with Dauntless Air, a Minnesota-based aviation company, will ensure two Air Tractor 802A Fire Boss amphibious scooper planes will be in
the Palmetto State for at least 75 days a year during the next five years. They’ll most often be in use in the spring from February to April when the bulk of wildfires happen and will be stationed wherever they’re needed most across the state.
Each plane, once airborne, can fly for about three-and-a-half hours, carrying 600 to 800 gallons of water at a time, refilling in natural sources
gFire
close to fires while still flying. This allows for quicker refill and response times rather than having to land each time they need more water. In addition, the single-engine air tankers can both take off and land from water but most often will be stationed on land when not in use.
While other states like North Carolina, Georgia and Florida have various firefighting planes and helicopters, South Carolina is the first state in the Southeast to have these particular aircraft that can scoop water and stay airborne rather than having to land and refill,
according to Jones.
“For efficiency and really helping get the water where you need it quickly, they are the best tool,” he said. “For me as the fire chief, for all of my folks, this is a way to keep them safe, let them do what they do and enable them to do it faster with less risk.”
And while the planes won’t put out wildfires by themselves, they will help contain them while crews can arrive in bulldozers to begin work from the ground by removing vegetation to keep fires from spreading.
“My goal is that [the planes] get launched early while the fires are small and we keep them small,” Jones said. “And if we don't get there in time and fires get bigger, they'll help us protect the infrastructure, the houses, the roads and anywhere else where people get threatened.
“Our folks are trained. We don't count on the aircraft. We've done it for the last 30 years with no aircraft every day. However, it's a good tool for us to have,” he added.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission puts out 2,000 to 3,000 wildfires a year, according to Jones, almost all of them human caused. Jones encourages those starting fires on their property to be cautious of weather conditions and never leave their fires unattended.
A holiday ‘sip and stroll’ Soups, Stews & Sweets returns on Dec. 5 in Manning.
If parades do not get you in the Christmas and holiday spirit, then try Soups, Stews & Sweets on for size along historic Brooks Street in downtown Manning.
The event, on Dec. 5 this year, brings together residents in the homes along Brooks Street, local restaurant owners with delicious
Commerce. And don’t forget about the holiday lights.
Soups, Stews & Sweets will be in its fourth year and was actually inspired by the stunning holiday lights along the Christmas Parade route on Brooks Street in the heart of Manning, Lee said.
Participants enjoy a “sip and stroll” experience, sampling the best soups, stews and sweet dishes from the local culinary scene, she added. The event is similar in some ways to Porches of Sumter in the City of
“What truly makes ours unique and magical is because of all of the beautiful lights in the tree canopy over Brooks Street,” she said. The event, which will be from 6 to 8 p.m., actually starts at Weldon Auditorium, and Clarendon County Library is also on the route. Bank of Clarendon is back again as the title sponsor, and Lee said the local restaurants that participate are key to the event’s success.
Featured restaurants generally include The Lily Café, Orchard Café, Lucy’s Traditional Southern Bakehouse, Catering for All Occasions, Eileen’s Café, Burger Chick and Chick-fil-A of Manning.
“Soups, Stews & Sweets reminds people of the businesses in our community and helps them to get to know the owners, who are there serving at the event, so they get to have some really great interaction,” Lee said. “The event reminds participants to continue to support local businesses and restaurants. It helps to bring them to the forefront during the holiday season, or sometimes it is to remind you that perhaps they have different things than you anticipate their menu having.”
Words and photos by Bruce Mills
Where: Historic Brooks Street in downtown Manning. When: Dec. 5, 2024
Tickets : $35, available at the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, 19 N. Brooks St., Manning, or by reaching the Chamber at (803) 435-4405.
Keeping the fantasy alive
Behind the magic of South Carolina's largest free light display
Words and photos by Adam Flash
The week after Labor Day every year, the attention for workers in the City of Sumter’s Gardens Department turns largely to one thing: Christmas lights, Christmas lights and more Christmas lights.
Despite the weather still being hot, fall is on the majority of people’s minds, and the team begins to prepare for Swan Lake Iris Gardens’ annual Fantasy of Lights, using all three months between September and the opening each year on Dec. 1 to set up.
In one form or another, the Fantasy of Lights goes back to the late 1980s. It originated as just a single line of trees in the parking
lot local organizations would decorate. After Hurricane Hugo’s destruction of Swan Lake Iris Gardens and much of the city in 1989, the park was closed for a few months. Fantasy of Lights began as a way for the city to say “We're still here. Bear with us, and we'll be back,” Colette Daniels, City of Sumter Tourism Development coordinator, recounted. The rest is history, as the event continued to grow more and more during the last 35 years. While the total number of lights is impossible to track at this point, Fantasy of Lights reached the 1-million-light milestone roughly 20 years ago. This year alone, 100,000 lights were ordered just as replacements for decorations from last year,
according to Ronny Way, Gardens Department labor supervisor.
Fantasy of Lights is the largest light display with free admission in the state and one of the largest in general across South Carolina. And people take advantage of it, traveling from near and far to see the lights. Daniels said that of the 450,000 visitors to the lake each year, a quarter of them come in December, with that likely being a low estimate.
“There is an emotional connection for a lot of people in the area with the Fantasy of Lights. We get many, many visitors during the event, but we also have a lot of people who have lived in Sumter for a long time, and they would not think of letting a holiday season go by without bringing their kids and then their grandkids and coming to enjoy the Fantasy of Lights,” Daniels said.
For Way and his team, preparation begins the week after Labor Day, running seven days a week. Through September and October, the work is primarily in the warehouse going through figurines and making any necessary repairs. The larger trees outside also begin to be strung. The last week of October through November, work installing the figurines occurs. As the event nears and the weather gets colder, more team members join the efforts as other work around the park lessens (like mowing the grass, for example) until it’s all hands on deck in the final sprint to the Dec. 1 lighting.
“It takes an unbelievable amount of [work]. The coordination between Parks and Gardens and the city itself. It’s just a lot of coordinating to be done. A lot of planning,” Way said of the behindthe-scenes effort it takes to put on the annual event.
People come back year after year to enjoy a tradition they can pass down through generations.
“The Fantasy of Lights is an event that many people have watched from the beginning,” Daniels said. “Those people now have grown children and grandchildren, and they have shared this across generations, and it has come to be something very meaningful.”
“I've been coming for 22, 23 years. My son last year, 28 years old, he's sitting in the back seat just like he was 5 years old,” Way said.
Every year, Fantasy of Lights has a few tricks up its sleeve, according to Daniels. She said one thing to look out for in the lights is how many well-known figures are replaced by swans, such as the reindeer carrying Santa’s sleigh.
Santa’s Village at the Heath Pavilion is also back for its second year post-pandemic and is expanding.
“We're just looking to make it more of a festival-type atmosphere or a destination where people can bring their friends and family members to just come and have a great time,” Daniels said.
The village will feature Santa himself as well as a letter-writing station, live entertainment and food and drinks for sale. It runs all three weekends in December leading up to Christmas, Friday and Saturday nights, Dec. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, from 6 to 8 p.m.
“Hopefully again this year, like it has been in the past, it's well worth the trip to come out and ride around,” Way said.
The Fantasy of Lights will open at 6 p.m. on Dec. 1 and run nightly through Dec. 31. It’s open Sunday through Thursday until 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.
“It really has become kind of a family tradition, and I believe it's that way for a lot of families in the area,” Daniels said. “It is very special, and I have such fond personal memories. I remember the little trees down the median that were decorated with ornaments and garlands, and to see it become what it is today has just been an amazing experience to come watch it grow every year.”
Santa’s Village at the Heath Pavilion
The village runs all three weekends in December leading up to Christmas, Friday and Saturday nights, Dec. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Fantasy of Lights
The Fantasy of Lights will open at 6 p.m. on Dec. 1 and run nightly through Dec. 31. It’s open Sunday through Thursday until 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.
HOLIDAY
GIFTS
Words by Alaysha Maple
This holiday season, spread cheer with gifts that light up little hearts.
With
help from Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter and The Toy Insider, this list features some of the season’s most thoughtful toy recommendations that blend fun, learning and imagination to make each gift memorable.
From creative playsets to brain-boosting gadgets and everything in between, these handpicked suggestions offer a heartfelt way to share the joy with the little ones who light up our lives.
0-2 YEARS OLD
Barnyard Activity Cube
This five-sided wooden activity center features farm characters, a bead maze, a tractor-trailer, interlocking gears, peek-a-boo pals and more for toddlers to practice fine motor skills.
PRICE: $49.88
Stack & Crawl 4-in-1 Crab
Little ones can use the crab as a rattle and teething product, then sort and stack its shells! The crab also moves in a circular pattern for beginner crawlers and in random patterns for advanced crawlers. Kids can listen to three songs and 15 different sound effects while playing.
PRICE: $30
3-4 YEARS OLD
Baby Alive Crawl ‘N Play Harper Hugs
Harper Hugs features more than 40 sound effects. Kids can watch her crawl, help her fall asleep, feed her and more. The baby doll comes with a sippy cup, a hairbrush and a rolling bee toy.
PRICE: $39.99
5-7 YEARS OLD
3Doodler Start + Essentials 3D Printing Pen Set
Kids can use their imagination to draw anything into a 3D object, teaching them spatial awareness and building skills. Just charge the pen, insert a filament strand and start drawing.
PRICE: $49.99
8-13 YEARS OLD
Say yes! Alphabet bead Bracelet Set
Kids can use more than 1,000 colorful, assorted beads to create friendship bracelets with different messages to wear and share with friends.
PRICE: $14.99
14+
3Doodler Flow 3D Printing Pen Set
Craft DIY solutions to everyday problems, make art, customize a space, and more with this 3D printing pen. Draw freehand or use one of the hundreds of free online projects to make 3D creations.
PRICE: $79.99
Super All-Pro Passer Robotic Quarterback
Nobody else around to play catch? No problem. This robotic quarterback can launch a ball more than 35 yards and features nine passing zones.
PRICE: $79.99
Monster Jam Booster Playset
This playset features a figure-8 loop track and includes two 1:64-scale monster trucks. Launch trucks into super jumps, crash through obstacles and more.
PRICE: $59.99
Barbie Dream Besties
The Barbie Dream Besties dolls encourage kids to share their unique talents with the world and live out their dream. Dolls come with beauty-themed accessories.
PRICE: $19.99
Hello Blink Sticker Maker
This Bluetooth-enabled thermal printer lets kids print their own stickers — no ink required. Download the app, upload custom designs and print customizable, black-and-white stickers that kids can color in.
PRICE: $24.99
Nintendo Switch – OLED Model
This new system in the Nintendo Switch family features a 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, 64 GB of internal storage, enhanced audio, and more. Play on the TV or on the go.
PRICE: $349.99
SUPPORT A PEDIATRIC PATIENT
If you’re looking to expand your gift-giving abilities this year, there are pediatric patients at Tuomey Hospital in need of a little holiday cheer.
Tuomey maintains an Amazon Wishlist that is open to the public. All items purchased will be used to benefit pediatric patients throughout the hospital. Visit prismahealthchildrens.org/locations/hospitals/tuomey-hospital for more information.
Monetary donations to help support pediatric services can also be made by mail to The Tuomey Foundation, 102 N Main St., Sumter, SC 29150, with Tuomey Pediatric Services in the memo or by calling (803) 774-9014. Donations are tax deductible through the Tuomey Foundation.
For questions on the wish list or ways to support pediatric patients,, contact Caroline Erwin, CCLS, at caroline.erwin@ prismahealth.org or by calling (803) 305-6619.
E l l o r e e l l o r e e
S a r d i n i a S a r d i n i a
G a b l e G a b l e
H a r v i n H a r v i n
S i l v e r S i l v e r
W o r k W o r k
W i l s o n W i l s o n
J o r d a n J o r d a n
S t P a u l S t P a u l
Caw Marina Santee Lakes
F o r e s t o n F o r e s t o n
G r e e l
H e i n e m H e i n e m
W e l l s W e l l s
E u t a w v i l l e E u t a w v i l l e
l v i l l e
F o u r F o u r H o l e s H o l e s
S a n d r i d g e S a n d r i d g e
B o n n e a u B o n n e a u
W h i t e s v i l l e W h i t e s v i l l e
Unique holiday gift ideas to cherish Made with l ve
Words by Alaysha Maple
There’s something truly special about giving a gift that’s been made – and chosen –with care and creativity.
This holiday season, step away from the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary with handmade treasures and unique experiences that speak straight to the heart. This gift guide, filled with one-of-a-kind ideas, will show when and where to create beautifully crafted home décor to unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impression and everything in between.
Celebrate the magic of the season by creating moments your loved ones will cherish for years to come.
LOCK, CLOCK AND PERIL ESCAPE ROOM
Choose from one of four adventures.
$30-$40 per player
MICHAELS
Christmas Jewelry from Polymer Clay Online: FREE
MICHAELS
Holiday Cookie
Decorating With Satin Ice Online: FREE
SIP & GOGH
From pet portraiture to landscapes, choose what subject interests you. Classes $18 to $75. Gift certificates also available.
michaels
Looking for that perfect gift to keep your loved ones warm and cozy from the winter chill? Why not make it? Spend three hours with Michaels instructor Tamara Kelly from Moogly blog learning how to make an ultra plush, soft knit blanket with just your hands. And the best part: no equipment required! This free online class is beginner-
PRICE RANGE: Online classes are free
1116 Alice Drive, Suite E in Sumter
Give a splash of creativity this holiday season with a Sip & Gogh. Perfect for friends, family or anyone in need of a little R&R, this experience is perfect for a girls’ night out or a chance for couples to showcase their artistic charm. The perfect gift that allows for artistic fun in a relaxing atmosphere with a paint brush in one hand and glass in the
friendly and good for all ages. Visit https://tinyurl. com/3rkh948w for information and to register.
Looking for more fun classes take? Michael’s has got you covered. Visit michaels.com/classes to find the perfect class for you – whether online or in person.
other. Visit sipngogh.com or call (803) 972-1250 to find a class for you and your loved ones.
Sip & Gogh also offers gift certificates, only available toward classes purchased online on the Sip & Gogh website, and they never expire. Visit sipngogh.com/giftcards for more information.
PRICE RANGE: $18 to $75, depending on the class. Gift certificates can also range from $20 to $500.
lock, clock and Peril escaPe rooms
5535 Broad St., Suite A in Sumter
Give the gift of adventure with a Lock, Clock and Peril Escape Room gift card. Perfect for thrill seekers and puzzle lovers, this experience will challenge friends and family to solve clues, crack codes and beat the clock together. This
one-of-a-kind gift that is sure to bring laughs, teamwork and unforgettable memories this holiday season begins by visiting https://tinyurl.com/2cwdad6p.
PRICE RANGE: Premium adventures range from $35 to $40 per person, and classic adventures range from $30 to $35 per person.
let's cook culinary studio
305 Assembly St. in Columbia
Spice up the holidays with a cooking class at Let’s Cook Culinary Studio in Columbia. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or curious beginner, this hands-on experience brings culinary dreams to life. Let’s Cook offers classes on how to whip up delicious dishes of all kinds, from Italian to French
to Asian. Perfect for a couple or a couple of besties, you’ll walk away with skills, recipes and memories that can help make every meal a celebration.
To book a class, visit https://letscookculinarybooking. square.site/. Gift certificates are also available.
PRICE RANGE: Class rates are $60 to $80 for individuals and $150 to $160 for couples classes.
Words by Deirdre Currin
Photos by Adam Flash
To owner and master taxidermist Vince Smith, taxidermy is a passion, not just his career. Animals are frozen in time in Smith’s shop, and there is still life in their eyes and the scenes that the artist paints. Just as a painter captures a landscape or a sculptor carves from marble, taxidermy is an art, and Smith is well-versed in it.
Custom Taxidermy is coming up on its 40th anniversary, and it got there, according to Smith, from “good old-fashioned hard work.”
“It’s been a long road for this to be where it’s at now,” Smith said. “A lot of effort, lot of honesty, lot of integrity, a lot of learning to get this far, and we’re here, and we’re known for what we do.”
Clients from as far back as the ‘80s still return to Custom Taxidermy. Word of mouth replaces traditional advertising, and quality time with customers keeps them coming back.
Smith said though most customers expect to see “a bloody mess” when walking into a taxidermy shop, Custom Taxidermy is different. A small wooden lobby full of custom pieces, more pieces than originally meet the eye, greets customers.
When Walmart opened its first store in Sumter (though the location has since moved), it allowed Smith to keep 12 to 14 mounts in the sports/hunting area. Eventually, Smith began holding events with Walmart where he taught adults, but mostly children, about hunting, fishing and the art of taxidermy.
Though having his mounts at Walmart helped Smith, his taxidermy mentor, Jesse Singleton of Singleton’s Taxidermy, is who really honed the art of taxidermy into Smith. Smith said he was learning taxidermy in a time when there were no computers, so having Singleton as a mentor made every bit of difference. Especially because taxidermy was a talent that few locals had.
“Jesse took me under his wing. I started to learn more from him and more from him,” Smith said.
A big transition came into the lives of Smith and his family when he became a single father. To be there for his children, he had to phase out his building career and increase his taxidermy to keep up with his income.
Smith was originally a builder who did taxidermy as a hobby, and though he has a passion for woodworking, he wanted to give taxidermy the same amount of attention
Photo provided by Vince Smith
because he enjoyed it so much.
“I’m kind of like an artist with wood, which I’m kind of known for what I do with wood,” Smith said. “And I wanted to incorporate that same [passion] into taxidermy because I had a passion for taxidermy like I did woodworking.”
Taxidermy still gives Smith the chance to do woodworking, as every piece needs a backboard. Smith knows the perfect type of wood for each piece, and he is just as skillful at crafting a piece’s backboard as he is at working on an animal.
If there is something that can be taxidermized, it is likely that Smith has worked on it. Smith has even taught his two sons, Victor and Blake, the art of taxidermy, and Victor still works in Smith’s shop on his days off, having inherited his father’s passion.
“I do everything; there’s nothing I can’t do. A lot of
taxidermists got only ‘this’ that they specialize in, or they specialize in ‘this.’ There’s not too many taxidermists who do it all, and that’s the world I wanted to be in, and that’s where I’m at now.”
Smith and his family still work hard every day, even after making a name for themselves in taxidermy. Smith said he does not keep anything in his shop for more than a year, and he makes sure to be finished as soon as his craft allows.
If you want to speak with someone who truly cares about the craft, who had it passed down by a master and has a lot of knowledge to share, Custom Taxidermy is your place.
Custom Taxidermy is at 2945 Peach Orchard Road in Dalzell and is by appointment only. Schedule an appointment by calling their shop at (803) 499-2971.
Photo provided by Vince Smith
Give this beloved side a tasty twist this holiday season
Pecan- c herry Bread s tuffin G
Hosts have free rein when it comes to planning a holiday menu. Despite that freedom, many hosts feel obligated to prepare some holiday season staples their guests will surely expect when they sit down at the dinner table.
Stuffing is a dish many celebrants can’t wait to see on the holiday dinner table. For hosts trusted with preparing holiday meals, the beauty of stuffing lies in its versatility. A host of unique ingredients can be added to holiday stuffing without adversely affecting the popularity of this beloved side dish. In fact, adding some unique ingredients can make people love stuffing even more. Such could be the case with this recipe for “Pecan-Cherry Bread Stuffing” from Lines+Angles.
Pecan-cherry Bread stuffinG
Makes 8 servings
1 loaf crusty white or wheat bread, cut into 3⁄4-inch cubes
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for baking dish
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
2 large celery stalks, rinsed, trimmed and diced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
1 cup packed dried tart cherries
directions
1 cup roughly chopped toasted pecans
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves
1 tablespoon crushed fennel seed
Coarse salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1⁄4 cup fresh chopped parsley
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Position oven racks in the middle and lower third of the oven. Arrange bread in a single layer on two rimmed baking sheets. Toast until dry and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool.
2. Lightly butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until onion and celery are softened, about 7 minutes. Add cherries, pecans, sage, and fennel seed; cook, stirring for 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
3. Add parsley, eggs and bread to the cherry mixture; stir to combine. Add broth in two additions, stirring until absorbed. Season generously with salt and pepper; transfer stuffing to buttered baking dish. Bake on middle rack until the top is deep golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
