Whether in a community garden, at a camp for kids or for serenity on the lake, find it this summer.
Food trucks are rolling right along in Sumter.
Just ask Mi Promesa and The Juice Box.
PLUS: Reliving Clarendon County's TWO softball championships
McLeod Health Clarendon is excited to share our recent achievement in the hospital ratings by Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. Earning the Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ for 2024 places us among the top 5% of hospitals in the Nation. The credit for this prestigious award belongs to our dedicated team whose knowledge and skills enable us to provide the highest quality care and support for our patients.
PUBLISHER
Vince Johnson
EDITOR
Kayla Green
COPY EDITORS
Rhonda Barrick
Melanie Smith
WRITERS
Bryn Eddy
Adam Flash
Tim Leible
Alaysha Maple
Bruce Mills
PHOTOGRAPHY
Adam Flash
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Micah Green
Janel Strieter
ADVERTISING / GRAPHIC DESIGN
Cary Howard
Janel Strieter
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS
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Life on the lake Manning business owner gives tips and advice for making your visit or move to the lake fun and safe this summer
Community gardens give back How Master Gardeners and local community gardens enhance their neighborhoods, plus learn how to get started
10 14 26 40
More than cookies Local Girl Scout troops teach girls life lessons and community service
Taking a look back through photos at Clarendon County's two state champion softball teams
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Clarendon's diamond queens
A summer in nature S.C. Waterfowl Association teaches students about the natural world with camps and field trips
LEE • FLORENCE • RICHLAND ORANGEBURG • SUMTER
Sumter Farmers Market
The Sumter Farmers Market is up and running from noon to 5 p.m. Fridays through Nov. 22 at USC Sumter, 200 Miller Road. Grab some lunch at one of the many food trucks and purchase quality farm-fresh products and unique hand-crafted items all in one place. SFMNP-Senior and WIC vouchers are accepted.
Fourth Fridays
Fourth Fridays has started back up for the summer in front of the Sumter County Courthouse, 141 N. Main St. Every fourth Friday through September, a different band will take the stage at 6:30 p.m., and the event will last until 9 p.m. with food trucks/vendors, beer and free entertainment. The Palmetto Optimist Club will give out free books to kids and have popcorn for sale, and the Sertoma Club will sell beer. Downtown restaurants will also be open during the event. Bands on the schedule are The Live in the Flesh Experience on June 28, Chief Complaint on July 26, Second Nature on Aug. 23 and Too Much Sylvia on Sept. 27. Bring your own chairs. Coolers are not allowed.
Splash around at the Sumter Aquatics Center. The center offers classes and activities and a free water aerobics class. You can also rent the center for parties, which includes use of the new lazy river. Usual admission for all guests is $3, and hours throughout the summer are: Mondays: closed; Tuesday: noon - 5 p.m.; Wednesday: noon - 5 p.m.; Thursday: noon - 5 p.m.; Friday: noon - 7 p.m.; Saturday: noon - 5 p.m.; and Sunday: 1 - 6 p.m.
The Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St., is bringing back its Summer Movie Series on June 4 featuring $2 showings and popcorn and water for just $1. The lineup is as follows: June 11, "Wonka"; June 18,
"Elemental"; June 25, "Wish"; July 2, "Paw Patrol"; July 9, "Under the Boardwalk"; July 16, "Muppet Treasure Island" (1996); July 23, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie"; and July 30, "Ratatouille." Movies times are 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. For additional information, visit SumterOperaHouse.com
Fill the brewery with comics and vintage toys
Sumter Original Brewery invites the community to “fill the brewery with comics and vintage toys” on Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Comic Sanctum LLC is hosting the event at 2 S. Main St.
Krawlin’ for Christ Jeep Show and Shine Jeep lovers, their friends and family will all come together at the third-annual Krawlin’ for Christ Jeep Show and Shine on Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St. There will be Jeep vendors, live music, food vendors, an RC course and the Show and Shine Competition. The indoor/outdoor event is free and open to the public and supports St. Jude Children’s Hospital. To be a vendor or for more information, contact Minnie Sue Ardis or Ashley Ardis at krawlinforchrist@sc.rr.com. Learn more about the event at https://Krawlinforchrist. wixsite.com/my-site-1.
Red, White and Blue Celebration
The City of Manning will hold its Red, White and Blue Celebration from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at the Farmers Market, 21 E. Boyce St. There will be music, food and of course a fireworks display. Bring a chair.
The Joanne W. Charles Memorial Annual Charity Golf Tournament
The event will be held Saturday, Aug. 10. Shot-
gun start will be at 9 a.m. at Santee Cooper Country Club, 630 Santee Drive, Santee. Register online at charitygolftoday.com/jwcsantee. Prizes will be awarded for closest to the pin, longest drive and putting contest. For additional information, contact Kenneth Johnson at info@jwcmemorial.org or (803) 410-0976.
Third-annual Watermelon Crawl
The third-annual Watermelon Crawl will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at 5255 Langston Road, Timmonsville. The free family friendly event will include food trucks, 40 local vendors and fun for the entire family.
Evening Skies of Summer
Join Dooley Planetarium, 200 Alumni Drive, Florence, on Sunday, June 23, for the Evening Skies of Summer. This free public planetarium program will provide an overview of the night sky for June and July and showcase constellations, planets and various deep sky objects that are visible this time of year. The program begins at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. for visitors to explore the planetarium. Seating is first come, first served.
YMCA of Columbia water parks
The YMCA of Columbia opened its water parks for summer 2024, one in Orangeburg and one in Santee. Santee Water Park, 1761 Bass Drive, Santee, SC 29142, is open Fridays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Orangeburg Water Park, 2550 St. Matthews Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118, is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for those 48 inches and taller and $5 for those 47
inches and shoter. Free for YMCA of Columbia members. Both parks offer family fun slides, zero-depth pools, tot pools, a lazy river, slides and spray features, group pavilions and snack bars. If you have questions, contact Orangeburg County YMCA at (803) 268-9622.
Lizard Man Stomp
Look for the Lizard Man and celebrate a local legend at the third-annual Lizard Man Stomp event in Bishopville on Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On June 29, 1988, a lizard man, standing 8 feet tall, was allegedly spotted walking in Bishopville's Scape Ore Swamp near Browntown Road, and locals have been fascinated with the legend ever since. There will be a parade, music, arts, crafts, car show and free food for the kids in downtown Bishopville. The Lizard Man Stomp 2024 Arts and Crafts Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at the S.C. Cotton Museum, 121 W. Cedar Lane, Bishopville. Free admission. Vendors can contact Millie Scott at (803) 486-5093.
Dam Boat Run
View the power and performance of powerboats from across the country at the Dam Boat Run Lake Murray on June 21-23. The event benefits the Big Red Barn Retreat and Richland County Sheriff's Department. For additional information or to register to be in the boat run, visit www.lakemurraypowerboatrun. com.
Lexington County Peach Festival
The Lexington County Peach Festival complete with fireworks, will be held Monday, July 4, at Gilbert Community Park in Gilbert. The sched-
ule of events is: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., car show; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., arts and crafts vendors; 9:30 a.m.; peach parade; noon - 9 p.m., live entertainment; and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Visit www. lexingtoncountypeachfestival.com for more information.
The South Carolina Book Lovers Expo and Food Truck Festival will be held Saturday, July 27, at the Gala Event Center, 1801 Bush River Road, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can meet 40 regional authors representing many genres, get writing coaching, get books signed and take your pick of food from among five food trucks. Children are welcome at the event and will be able to explore the newest books, get their faces painted, take part in storytelling and more. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more at www.thebookbutler. com/events.
See S.C.'s Largest Fireworks Show synchronized to music on Lake Murray on Saturday, June 29. Fireworks will be launched at about 9:30 p.m. from both Spence Island and Dreher Island. The best viewing location is from a boat. The best way to watch/listen is to tune your radio to 93.1. If you choose to stream the music, there will be a delay. The fireworks are funded through Capital City/Lake Murray Country's fundraising efforts at the annual Taste of Lake Murray, private donations and support from sponsors. The annual Patriotic Boat Parade on Lake Murray will not take place this year due to the construction at the dam. All normal fees will apply at park sites, all boat launching sites and marinas on Lake Murray. Should thunder and lightning occur and cause a postponement, the fireworks will take place on Sunday, June 30.
Crafted in Carolina: A Celebration of South Carolina’s Brewers and Artisans South Carolina Brewer’s Guild (SCBG) has announced their annual beerfest, formerly called Hop Forward, now known as Crafted in Carolina: A Celebration of South Carolina’s Brewers and Artisans. The festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 12, in Columbia at Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia, from 3-7 p.m. VIP ticket purchasers will gain early access starting at 2 p.m. This year’s festival will feature SCBG breweries serving their beers, nonalcoholic craft beverages from local producers, an artisan market, live music, a family friendly zone featuring activities for children and two breakout educational sessions, “Craft Beer 101” and “Beer Across America,” will be held twice each. Tickets will be available in four tiers: VIP, general admission, market access and child tickets. Tickets can be purchased at https://tickets.coladaily.com/events/crafted-in-carolina-10-12-2024. The South Carolina Brewers Guild is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that works on behalf of South Carolina’s breweries and brewpubs. For more information on the guild, visit www.scbeer.org
Get ready for Jammin’ in July in Historic Camden on Saturday, July 13, starting at 5 p.m. The music starts then with bands including Landslide, Rusty Davis Group, Jim Hayes, Fair Jam, Ten Cent Rich, Melton Moon and Blake Weinbach. The event will be held rain or shine, and drinks, cocktails and food will be available to buy. Bring your own blanket and lawn chairs. Doors open at 4 p.m. at the Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, 222 Broad St., Camden. All ages are invited to come. Buy your tickets at Davis and Son’s Guitar Shop or www. jamminincamden.com.
We understand you and your unique needs. It’s critical to stay connected at home and on the go. And we know how important it is to keep in touch with family, friends and work — and to stay on top of the latest news and events. We get it because, just like you, we value our constant connections and anytime accessibility, too. From unlimited data plans to broad coverage areas, plentiful features and leading-edge devices, you can count on dependable wireless service and clearer connections from your neighbors at FTC.
Imagine waking up to the gentle lapping of waves and the call of birds over the serene scape of Lake Marion. For more than 12 years, Amber Prickelmyer has made this tranquil paradise her home.
ABy Alaysha Maple
s a child, Amber Prickelmyer fondly remembers summers spent at the lake. Her family would pack their small lake house in the White Oak area with relatives and create cherished memories of swimming, fishing, cooking and eating together. Today, many of her family members have moved to the lake, allowing them to continue these beloved traditions – including her.
Nestled in Manning, Prickelmyer, her husband, Mark, and their children, Lyza and Brody, have embraced the unique charm and tranquility of lake life. As owners of The Swimmin’ Hole, a Manning-based business dedicated to building and maintaining swimming pools at 213 E Boyce St. and the 2024 Best of Clarendon winner for Best Pool Company, they have a deep connection to water and all it has to offer.
Here, she offers her tips to Lakeside readers on how to make the most of a summer of fun down by the lake.
Before diving into the fun, Prickelmyer encourages being prepared for the perfect day by having:
• Sunscreen: An essential to protect your skin from strong summer rays.
• Bathing suit and towel: Splish, splash, dry off, repeat. Simple.
• Cooler with snacks and drinks: Stay hydrated and energized.
• Fishing gear : Rods, crickets and worms are a must for a successful catch.
• Boat or jet ski (if available): Travel the lake in style.
Prickelmyer and her family cherish their time spent fishing and boating with friends. Some of their favorite spots to explore by boat are:
• Green Island
• Nelson’s Cut
• Cuddo (where the gators are!)
• Bird Island
A particularly unique spot is the real Goat Island, where you can feed goats and ducks. Whether you’re traveling by boat or on land, this is a must-see stop on your trip.
No boat? No problem! There are plenty of ways to enjoy the lake from the shore:
• Walk the dam: Enjoy a scenic stroll.
• Fish along the water: There are numerous landings that offer great fishing spots.
• Swim and relax: Cool off and unwind from a long day.
• Sunset views: End your day with a breathtaking lakeside sunset.
After a day of fun, good food is a must. While restaurants are few, Amber ensures these local favorites never disappoint.
• Fayz at the Lake (13028 S.C. 260, Manning): Delicious burgers, fries, seafood and ice cream that. Accessible by boat or land.
• Lake House (5321 Dingle Pond Road, Summerton): Features a “made-fromscratch” kitchen using fresh ingredients for recipes handed down through generations. Accessible by boat or land.
• Mill Creek Food and Spirits (216 Lake Marion Lane, Vance): A bit of a journey from Wyboo but worth it for its fantastic food and its proximity to Goat Island. Often features
If it’s your first time to Lake Marion, Prickelmyer shares two tips to keep your trip – and the lake – safe and clean.
• Stay aware: Keep an eye on your surroundings, and respect the wildlife.
• Don’t litter: Help keep Lake Marion beautiful for everyone to enjoy.
If you grow it, they will
Community gardener activists. Master Gardeners. Extension agents. All are united behind one goal: growing the love for getting your hands dirty and giving back.
Words and photos by Adam Flash
As summer heats up, activity at the Friendship Community Garden at 209 Wright St. in Sumter won’t be cooling down any time soon.
The garden, founded in the early 2000s, serves two purposes: as a training garden for the Sumter Master Gardeners program and as a public space for individuals and organizations to grow food for private use or donations.
“It's people that have an interest in plants or want to have an interest in plants, but we also have a heart to give back and want to build community,” said Adam Gore, Clemson Extension consumer horticulture agent for Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties.
Gore runs Sumter’s Master Gardener class, a training course that teaches one just that: how to become an expert in gardening with science-based information on topics ranging from soil fertility to plant physiology, among others. Or simply put, how to keep the roses in your yard alive.
“The whole purpose of this is to educate. It gives people a way to produce raw food
but also to educate people on the benefits of composting, rotational cropping and whatnot,” Gore said. “A lot of the people that come through are retired. People have already done a career's worth of work, but they just have that fire to do something else to build community. They're a volunteer association, but for me, they're a community-building association."
Food from the program’s five beds in the community garden is donated to Emmanuel United Methodist Church. However, they’re not the only ones serving up donations from the garden. Cool Hands – a nonprofit that
I believe we're all called to be caretakers of something." “
“
Plants are like children. If you baby them ... the second you let them go out on their own, they don't know what to do."
feeds children and tackles food insecurity in Sumter – is among other organizations using their plots for good, bringing children in for hands-on experience to grow crops, and the food is donated once harvested.
“I believe we're all called to be caretakers of something,” Gore said. “I think it's a lot easier to have an interest [in gardening] throughout your life if you put your hands on it early.”
As the days get hotter and longer, Gore recommends a few tips on what and how to garden in the Sumter summer heat.
The biggest mistake he says people make is overwatering.
“Plants are like children. If you baby
them and you serve as a helicopter parent, the second you let them go out on their own, they don't know what to do, and they start suffering,” he said. “A lot of people are always just putting water to it constantly when in actuality all they do is encourage that plant to only produce roots that go an inch or two in the ground because they don't have to search for water.”
He recommends watering once or twice a week, depending on rainfall, about an inch of water a week and to do it in the morning when the humid air is thick with moisture.
Be present in the garden, he added. Know what things are supposed to look like, and don’t leave it unattended for too long, say, on
a vacation. Staggering when you’re planting crops to maximize the longevity of the yield is also something worth doing, according to Gore.
“Have fun with it. Don't overthink everything,” Gore said. “You don't have to solve everything with more water and more fertilizer.”
As for what to plant, “your staple crops of what you think of at summer farmers markets holds true here,” he stated, citing corn, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash to start.
Those are just a few of the many plants growing in the Community Friendship Garden; however, as individuals maintain
their plots, they can grow just about anything they want.
“Their food is unique to their origin, which is fun to watch and see it grow,” said Sybil Lee, community garden organizer. “It's fun when we are here that we learn from each other because gardening is something that is always an experiment.”
Lee is in charge of assigning plots and making sure they’re each maintained by their owners. She and Gore cited the old saying “If you don't use it, you lose it.” Gore encourages people to use him as a resource, for his job is literally to help people grow their plants, “whether it's a single rose bush in your yard or if you have a backyard garden,” he said, and to sign up for the Master Gardeners program that restarts with their next cohort in midAugust. While the program costs $300 to become a Master Gardener yourself, his individual services to help care for your
plants are free.
“The thing that makes my heart the happiest is when people ask me, ‘How much does it cost me to come out?’ It’s nothing," he said.
For more information on volunteer opportunities or getting a plot in the community garden, or if you have interest in the Master Gardeners program, reach out to Gore at awgore@clemson.edu.
“I've always found there's a sense of peace and just being able to focus on the one thing,” Gore said of gardening and something his mom used to tell him while growing up. “There's something about knowing about what she produced from the time it was a seed to the time you eat it. It makes you feel more connected to it.”
“
The thing that makes my heart the happiest is when people ask me, ‘How much does it cost me to come out?’ It’s nothing."
Words by Bryn Eddy
ennifer Hannibal-Felder said it was the good vibes that led her to enroll her daughter in Girl Scouts.
“...And a genuine love for community service,” she said. “We knew then that this was something that we wanted to be a part of. Since then, it’s been positive and uplifting.”
Girl Scouts is more than the cookies, though those are delicious, and it’s more than the badges, though those are rewarding.
Being a Girl Scout is about being kind, respectful and a friend to all, Sumter area troop leader and parent Adrienne Kennedy said.
“A Girl Scout should be courageous and willing to serve in her community. A great Girl Scout should also be determined, goal-oriented and understanding,” she said. “These qualities make for a great Scout, as they are needed to help them set and achieve their goals as they work with their fellow Scouts each year.”
The organization encourages familial ties, too.
During a recent meeting, Sumter area Girl Scouts celebrated Mother’s Day. A group of girls and their mothers all gathered at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church and participated in a series of games that taught the girls more about their mothers.
“What’s something your mother never lets you leave the house without?”
“A jacket!”
“Lotion!”
That question was asked and those answers were given during one game, but some of the games also touched on the deeper parts of motherhood.
“What’s something every mother wants to hear?”
“I love you.”
The Girl Scouts organization, according to its website, has been around since 1912, so one can imagine the organization has changed over the last 100+ years. Through that, it is still working to make the Girl Scout identity surpass cookies and badges.
“I believe that one of the biggest challenges is that people equate Girl Scouts as only about selling cookies when Girl Scouts offers so much more,” Sumter area Girl Scout troop leader Lynette Weeks said. “There is a plethora of skills that Girl Scouts learn/develop, such as confidence, courage, leadership, strong sense of self and financial literacy, just to name a few, that are taught through the various programs that Girl Scouts offers.”
Weeks’ troop’s main focus, she said, is community service.
“We participate in events such as Adoption Day, feed the homeless and litter pickup. Our troop has also had girls earn their bronze, silver and gold awards (the highest awards in Girl Scouts) through various projects in which they identified an issue in their community, researched and devised a sustainable solution to those issues.”
The cookie aspect is hugely important, but taking a look at the whole picture of the impact Girl Scouts has is what will keep the organization thriving,
“Cookie sales are important because that is our main fundraiser, and in doing that, the girls learn important skills such as goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business etiquette, but know that we are much more than just that,” Weeks said.
Parents feel the positive impact the organization has on their daughters.
“As parents, it feels good to know that our daughter is surrounded by such positivity,” Hannibal-Felder said. “Each girl has a different perspective and shares different ways to express their ideas and interests. I would say that being a part of this organization encourages our youth to let their light shine and be a positive influence in the community that we live in. That’s what motivated us and should motivate others.”
Provided
Words by Alaysha Maple
Meals on wheels. Bites on the go. Cuisines on the corner. Whatever you want to call it, the food truck industry is transforming urban dining one delicious stop at a time.
When businesses were ordered closed and social distancing requirements forced us out of our norm during the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants in particular were among the hardest hit. Food trucks, however, flourished.
Between 2018 and 2023, the food truck industry grew at a 9.9% annual rate.
Food trucks have evolved from horse and carriage, with motorized vendors traveling all over to sell their unique crafts.The current popularity of food trucks, however, can be traced back to the 2008 Great Recession. In the United States, public markets were a hot spot for mobile kitchens, as some vendors could not afford stalls to sell food and other items. Over time, as public markets declined and private stores grew, outdoor vending remained popular in impoverished areas.
Food trucks initially became popular in large cities like Los Angeles and New York City and spread to other metropolitan areas over time. COVID-19 amplified the spread, as vendors and consumers were looking for ways to still eat deliciously while adhering to regulations of our “new normal." In 2023, IBISWorld reported a 10% increase in the number of food trucks in the United States, totaling over 43,215 food truck businesses– including these two in Sumter.
It all began in February 2022 with a promise from God – one that included Epigmenio Pimentel, 48, and his wife Dora, 56, sharing their Mexican heritage the best way they knew: through food.
The family comes from what they describe as the “best state in Mexico,” Vera Cruz. It would be in Mexico where the family received their promise from God, delivered by a trusted local. Setting sights on Sumter, the family would work hard –beating obstacles that were meant to set them back and deter their faith – to finally purchase their truck. Wrapped in a colorful, eye-catching pattern, the truck and their business are named “Mi Promesa,” reminding themselves of the promise which started it all.
The family owned food truck is known for their tacos but has a vast menu of sopes, gorditas, tostadas and more – all made to order with fresh ingredients and homemade, well-loved recipes.
Food Located: Traveling Monday-Saturday unless otherwise stated. Posts location a day before arrival. (803) 847-8180
Torrie Chapman, an 18-year-old USC Sumter student, has always dreamed of owning a business of her own – and has for quite some time. From dabbling in photography in high school –including as a freelancer for The Sumter Item – and owning an LLC, she prepared herself for her next big venture. A few days after her 18th birthday in August 2023, Chapman purchased a cozy trailer, previously owned by a mobile coffee shop, to begin her mobile juice and smoothie bar, The Juice Box.
Facebook: The Juice Box
Located: Parking lot of Simpson
Hardware every Monday.
Order: thejuicebox.toast.site (803) 468-5606 juicebox.onwheels@gmail.com
“The juices were researched heavily because I wanted everything to be beneficial,” she said. Opening up shop in October 2023, Chapman felt her business fit into a specific niche that Sumter was missing.
While her smoothies and juices are sweet and smooth, her start to the business was not. There were numerous “hoops” she had to jump through, from city regulations to detailed inspections. Along the way, there were bumps in the road – from refrigerator doors falling off their hinges to her trailer taking a tumble – that have now morphed into funny stories to tell. But the reward for her resilience was quick and well worth it, she said.
A notable trend within the food truck industry, according to McKinsey & Company, is prioritizing healthy eating. COVID-19 spurred over half of consumers ages 18 and older to make major changes in their eating habits, including consuming more fresh produce and less processed food and sugar. Coldpressing juice preserves vitamins, minerals and enzymes that are “lost during the heating and oxidation steps of the traditional juice-making process,” according to Market Data Forest. The rise of health-conscious consumers and awareness of health benefits of organic vegetables and clean-label products likely drives development of innovative products in the market – and Chapman is looking to bring that innovation to locals.
As of May 27, Chapman runs a five-day schedule, venturing
to different areas throughout Sumter. She is set up at Simpson Hardware & Sporting Goods every Monday and the Sumter Farmers Market every Friday it is open during the season; The Juice Box on Facebook has a complete schedule. Though she was uncertain of the public reception to her mobile business or if it will be able to operate on a daily schedule, the support received in the short time span has been a pleasant surprise.
“Just seeing interest has been so heartwarming,” Chapman said. “I was afraid that people are going to be like, ‘Fresh juice, who wants that?’ But being healthy is trendy, and it’s fun, and I’m so happy I get to see interest in something that’s doing better for your body.”
Benefits can be felt on the inside, seen on the outside and appreciated by all who frequent the cube-shaped business on wheels.
A food truck can go wherever there are people who want to eat – a huge selling point for the Pimentels. For firsttime restaurant owners, food trucks offer the opportunity to experiment, be creative and see great returns both financially and socially.
“Being able to basically bring a piece of Mexico here” has been the biggest reward for the family business. With Sumter’s diverse demographic and Shaw Air Force Base hosting people searching for comfort food from out West and from South America, “it reminds them of being home,” Epigmenio said.
While a brick-and-mortar is the end goal, the ability to pick up and explore different ventures, meet unique people and broaden their horizons is a benefit they’re not looking to give up any time soon. Mi Promesa has traveled across Sumter County into Clarendon and even Columbia, taking savory dishes from their kitchen to the hands of consumers from all walks of life.
Epigmenio and Dora are often joined by family and friends at their daily stops, posted to the Mi Promesa Authentic Mexican Food Facebook page a day ahead of time. Working with family, though it may be difficult at times, is another benefit the food truck affords. Its flexibility allows them to make a manageable living without sacrificing quality time. Together, they get to travel and help each other through the growing process.
In the two years they’ve been mobile, Epigmenio and Dora have taken pride in upholding a reputation of integrity and consistency with their service and food. It takes time to build a successful business, and it’s all in God’s timing, they believe. Which is why the Pimentels believe being a two-time Best of Sumter winner for Best Food Truck was led by God, as He “motivates people to vote for us.”
By being mobile, they are able to share their cuisine and culture with people from all over, and it returns tenfold, as Epigmenio said, as “God uses them to bring us joy."
Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, are three of the top social media platforms food truck owners use to connect and cast their business to hungry consumers, according to the Pew Research Center. Owners are able to post hours, locations, announcements and events and even open an online ordering portal.
Chapman recently announced on Facebook that The Juice Box will accept online orders via its website and that customers can either have their week’s worth of juices picked up or handdelivered. The Pimentels have allowed customers to order ahead via Facebook to provide more convenience to the experience. These digital means of connecting have allowed these owners to expand their reach and connect with the community, including other food truck owners.
It's a two-way street, this partnership between food trucks and the surrounding community. The ability to easily set up at festivals, fairs and other community gatherings makes them an attractive option for event organizers and attendees by drawing larger crowds and boosting the overall economic impact of these gatherings, according to Food Truck Club.
And while many food trucks may offer delicious eats and drinks, there is a secret ingredient needed to stand out among the rest: love.
“Everybody can have a food truck, but If you don’t put the love – and the love of God – in what you’re doing, it’s not good,” Epigmenio said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s one or 100 birrias tacos, they will all be prepared with love. That’s all we do. That’s the secret.”
This heartfelt approach not only enhances the flavor, but creates a special connection with customers.
“[I’m] very blessed, and [I] thank everybody that comes out here all the time,” the couple’s niece, Naidelyn Paz, translated on Dora’s behalf. “[I] feel happy that we’re able to bring not only the flavor, but also the love [I] put in all [my] cooking.”
And that same gratitude can come from aspiring food truck or restaurant owners anywhere. Chapman, though thankful for the locations that do allow her to set up shop for the day, said she thinks more can be done for food truck owners – setting aside a specific location with ample space and parking for them, similar to Florence County’s “Eats on the Creek.” Aware that it would take time for such provisions to be made, she encouraged those out there to not be deterred, but rather determined.
“There’s so much room in Sumter for more of us, for sure,” she said. “Be creative when opening something new because there’s always something that’s not being covered; you can find another little niche.”
A benefit of highlighting these local businesses is sampling their delicious food. These items from Mi Promesa and The Juice Box are some of Alaysha Maple's and Adam Flash's favorites.
Alaysha’s recommendation: Mi Promesa’s birria tacos –
Slow-cooked meat marinated in a blend of chili peppers and spices placed on a warm, crispy corn tortilla dipped in broth, topped with fresh cilantro, diced onions and a squeeze of lime and served alongside consommé.
Adam’s recommendation: The Juice Box’s Love Bug –
A fresh-pressed juice, made to order, that includes beet, pineapple, carrot and Gala apple, making for a vibrant and refreshing drink.
This was a spring to remember for the softball teams from Laurence Manning and Clarendon Hall. For LMA, the season was a cycle breaker. For the Lady Saints, it was a symbol of continued dominance.
Words by Tim Leible
Photos by Adam Flash
After falling to their biggest rivals, Wilson Hall, in two consecutive SCISA state championship series, Laurence Manning put on a show in a 2-0 sweep of Hammond to finally take the SCISA 4A title. The series started dramatically, as LMA pulled out a 5-4 win thanks to Lyza Prickelmyer’s left arm. She fired home a missile from centerfield for a game-ending double play in the eighth inning to clinch the victory. Game 2 was the perfect way to cap their season. The Lady Swampcats
dominated 9-0 as Kayleigh Parmenter-Avins tossed a complete game two-hit shutout, and senior Karly Bjork capped off her high school career with a two-run homer. LMA finished their fairytale season with an 18-4 record with their only losses coming against West Florence in a tournament to open the season and three losses to the two teams that played for the SCISA 3A crown, Orangeburg Prep and Pee Dee Academy.
Cwitha 2-0 sweep of Colleton Prep. After a relatively comfortable 6-1 win in their series opener, the Lady Saints dramatically pulled out a 3-2 road victory to retain their crown. Senior Colleen McIntosh and junior Calli Yount split time in the circle, while Mandy Wells provided heroics at the dish with a two-run homer. Yount then delivered the game-winning hit on an RBI single that scored Wells in the sixth. The CH senior class played for a state title in each of their four years of high school, winning one 1A crown before claiming the last two SCISA 2A titles. They finished their latest title defense
S.C. Waterfowl Association’s Wildlife Education Center continues to grow
Words by Bruce Mills
Photos courtesy of S.C. Waterfowl Association
A$1.5 million grant will allow the S.C. Waterfowl Association to grow its Wildlife Education Center through the construction of a new 90-person lodge.
At its Wildlife Education Center, the Pinewood-based state Waterfowl Association hosts on-site field trips for South Carolina students during the school year and also weeklong summer camps to connect youth with nature, and the new lodge will help those programs continue to grow.
Association staff members
Mark Copley and Jami Lisenby spoke recently on the construction process and the agency’s two main outreach
programs to youth, Camp Leopold and Camp Woodie, which sit near Lake Marion.
Established in 2012, Camp Leopold increases students’ awareness of the natural world through in-school sessions from
$1,460,000
November through January and then on-site field trips throughout the other months of the school year.
Field trips are offered for students throughout K-12 but with a focus on third- through
BY THE NUMBERS
T otal grant value to fund construction of new 90-person lodge
13,440
Y outh impacted through school-based Camp Leopold program
seventh-graders, according to Lisenby, who is the Camp Leopold director.
Staff environmental educators expose students to ziplines, canoeing and various team-building exercises to expand their social-emotional learning. A nature exploration emphasis includes wetlands and ecology to include various birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. Finally, with an applied science emphasis, camp curriculum on environmental topics is correlated with South Carolina state standards.
Field trips are generally one to three days with overnight stays.
Because the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on
Source: S.C. Waterfowl Association
2,400
Y outh impacted through summer Camp Woodie program
1,375
A cres for S.C. Waterfowl Association’s Wildlife Education Center
camps, it’s their first field trip and first time away from their parents for many students, Lisenby said.
“Many of our Camp Leopold students have never seen frogs before, and some have never seen stars,” she said.
Corporate sponsors often help with funding for the field trips, she added.
Camp Woodie is the summer version of Camp Leopold for campers ages 7 to 16, and week-long stays run Sunday through Thursday from June through mid-August.
Core activities are similar to Camp Leopold but with the addition of fun swimming activities and rifle and shotgun shooting, Lisenby said.
At both camps, youth are “unplugged” without devices, and hands-on learning is an emphasis.
The S.C. Waterfowl Association’s Wildlife Education Center also operates a heritage program for families during duck season and on weekends.
S.C. Waterfowl Association Wildlife Education Center
www.wildlifeedcenter.org
