Publisher Tammy Clark tmclark225@gmail.com Editor Heather Page heather@vipmagsc.com Office Manager Tiffany Skipper jtskipp35@gmail.com Advertising Executive Mary Kevin Miller marykevinmiller@gmail.com Advertising Executive Jordan Pupa jordan@vipmagsc.com
Contributing Photographers Walter Priece Steve Roos Fred Salley Judy Quick Sharon Collin Smith Contributing Writers Gray Bostick Kimberly Brauss Pasha Buyck Elizabeth Campbell, EA Ashley Elvington Allison Gray Kristin Nesmith Brian New Jordan Pupa Stephanie Rogers Donna Tracy
Creative Design Tuesday Taylor
Serving Florence, Hartsville, Darlington, Marion, Mullins, Lake City and the surrounding areas 2011-B Second Loop Rd, Florence, SC 29501 FIND US ON FACEBOOK
For advertising rates, call 843-687-4236.
COVER CONCEPT
Seminar Brewing. Now in session. If you haven’t noticed yet, it won’t take long to see that Seminar beer is becoming a staple in restaurants around town. This month we set down with the owners to discuss the fine craftmanship that’s involved in creating the local’s favorite brew. Fred Salley was there to capture the moment.
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ISSUE 28
MARCH CONTENTS 10 Under the Dome Strolling Evans Street
12 Health & Wellness Circle Park’s M.A.T.
24 Fashion for Work & Play
46 Happenings
Naturally Outdoors
26 To Dine For Webster Manor
48 Time to Toast 50 Professionals at Play Travis Allen & Robert McCready
14 Experience Hartsville Taste of Hartsville
28 Florence Community YMCA | Brian New
52 Agribusiness Supporting & Farming Local
16 Advocating Healthcare Colorectal Cancer Screening
30 Pay It Forward Bill Deakin & Bill Valone
54 Health & Wellness The Power of Plasma
18 In The Head Of Robert E. Lee
32-35 Cover Story Seminar Brewing
56 Pay It Forward Night to Shine
20 Try It Local Morgan Atkinson
36 Business Spotlight Kanza
58 Employee Spotlight Jessica Larrimore
22 Upcoming Events Leprechaun Leap
38 Tax Prep Business Expenses
60 In Your State Bolt Farm Treehouse
40-45 Around Town 8
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March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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UNDER THE DOME
Strolling EVANS STREET c. 1955
story by Mark. W. Buyck, III Draw an imaginary line from Charleston to Columbia to Charlotte to Wilmington. From approximately the 1890’s through the 1960’s, there was not a more dynamic and bustling business and commercial area within the areas enclosed by these lines than downtown Florence, South Carolina. The downtown business district centered on the intersection of Evans and Dargan Streets and was the center of a retail and commercial enterprise that was the envy of other communities throughout the State of South Carolina. What would a “walk down” the 100 block of West Evans Street look like in 1955? If one started on the corner of Evans and Irby Streets, you would see the downtown anchored by the 7-story Trust Building where the Francis Marion University Center for Health Services now stands. Across from the Trust Building was the main Post Office, which stands today. The Post Office also contained the Federal Court system and the other federal offices. It’s downstairs was a hub of activity as most Americans relied on the postal service for the majority of their communications. Postal trucks were loaded on the docks at the back of the building for delivery to out of town designations. The Evans Drug Store was across Irby Street from the Trust Building and above the drug store was the law offices of Hyman and Morgan. The fourth corner was the F.W. Woolworth Co. variety store. This building will soon become the headquarters of Carolina Bank. As you walked down the south side of West Evans Street, you would pass Hendrickson’s dress shop, the Newsy Hut,
and Jack Self men’s clothes shop. 176 West Evans Street was the office for Crawford & Co. Insurance Adjusters, Dr. Thaddeus Houck and Dr. Morgan Reynolds, a dentist. The Hat Box women’s clothes shop, Singleton’s men’s shop and Stein’s men’s shop were all adjacent to each other. The Greenberg Building provided offices for lawyers and accountants. The next businesses were Neimans Jewelers and Silversmiths, National Bellas Hess stores, Fram’s Smart Shoes, the Jewel Shop, Warner’s women’s clothes and Furchgott’s women’s clothes shop. The next stop on our trip is the Barringer Hardware Store which has now been renovated and is part of the Victor’s, Hotel Florence redevelopment. As we continue our walk down West Evans, we would come to Ward’s Barber Shop and Baxter’s men’s clothes as well as another 5¢ & 10¢ store, McLellans. JonesSmith Jewelers was located at 124 West Evans followed by Cannon’s Shoes. We have now arrived at the corner building, a large structure facing both West Evans and Dargan Street. This building was originally known as the Barringer Building; however, in the mid 50’s it was referred to as the Nofal Building. The first floor of the Nofal Building contained Phillip’s Shoes, Julia’s Millinery Shop, Robert’s Shoes, and the renowned Gladstone’s women’s clothes shop. Miller’s Bootery was also in the building. On the second floor, there were offices for lawyers, finance companies, insurance companies, and accountants. This building is now the location of the Florence Chamber of Commerce, Key Architecture, and Hotel Florence.
Serving Businesses and Individuals from Florence to Myrtle Beach: the Business Law, Litigation, Real Estate, and Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys of Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A.
willcoxlaw.com
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248 West Evans Street | Florence, SC | 843.662.3258 2050 Corporate Centre’ Drive, Suite 230 | Myrtle Beach, SC | 843.650.6777
If we were then to cross Evans Street at the corner of Dargan, we would be facing the building which now is anchored by the Town Hall Restaurant. The Evans Street side of the building contained Miles’ Shoes, Thom McAn Shoes, and the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company. The anchor tenant for the building was S.H. Kress & Co. variety store which had entrances on both West Evans and Dargan Streets. Heading west, we would come to Lerner’s women’s shoes and the Holly Shop, another women’s clothes store. The next stop on our trip is the former City Hall. This building stood in what is now the parking lot directly across from the entrance of the Hotel Florence. Located in the City Hall was the Florence Chamber of Commerce, offices of the Mayor and the City Clerk. The rear of the building opened out into what is now the County Complex. During the mid 50’s, the County Courthouse along with the jail and police department were all located in the area which is now the parking lot for the Complex. Our continued walk brings us to the Colonial Theater. Theaters were still thriving in the mid 50’s as most households did not have television sets. The next stop is Diana’s women’s shop and the Fashion Center. The recently renovated Rainwater Building was the home of two law firms and next door was the J&J Drug Company and then the Empire Linen Shop. The Schnibben Building provided offices for lawyers, mortgage brokers, and the Pee Dee Area Big Brothers Association. The Florence Shoe Store was next to J.C. Penney Department Store. As we near the return to Irby Street, we will also pass the Darling women shop and Hick’s Barber Shop returning to Woolworth’s. While most of the buildings which housed these shops and offices are still standing, their use has changed over the years. Many of these shops relocated to the Florence Mall when it opened in the late 60’s. Downtown Florence continued as a viable business district for several more decades; however, its preeminence as a retail powerhouse was dimming.
Mark W. Buyck, III
Concentrating in Banking, Business, Civil and Business Litigation and Appeals, Contracts, Employment, Government, Real Estate
March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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HEALTH AND WELLNESS
CIRCLE PARK
INTRODUCES
Medication Assisted Therapy Pam Williams and Matthew Jeffords
The Florence community, as well as many across the nation, has experienced a rapid rise in the misuse of prescription drugs and its negative consequences. Most alarming is the resulting heroin epidemic and the introduction of the even more deadly associated substances such as fentanyl. Circle Park Behavioral Health Services, Florence County’s designated authority on alcohol and other drug abuse services, has also witnessed an increase in admissions to services related to prescription drug and opiate use disorders. In order to aggressively and effectively meet this challenge, Circle Park has recently introduced Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) to its cadre of services. “The opiate and heroin epidemic has certainly ingrained itself in parts of Florence County over the past several years,” Randy Cole, Circle Park CEO shared. “Substance abuse is a community wide issue that requires a community wide response. The addition of MAT will provide a valuable tool in lessening the impact of alcohol and other drugs on our community and its residents.” Medication Assisted Therapy is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a holistic approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. It is considered a best practice treatment approach, but only a small percentage of individuals in need of the resource actually have it available to them. Circle Park’s inclusion of this service dramatically increases its availability to the Florence community. Pam Williams, LPC,CACII,MAC,SAP, Circle Park’s MAT coordinator, views this new service as an essential resource to not only combat the recent surge in opiate misuse but other substance abuse as well. “Many patients delay getting help because of their fears related to withdrawal. MAT offers relief from withdrawal symptoms and cravings and increases your chances of successfully navigating through the early stages of recovery.” Ms. Williams also shared that there are multiple benefits to 12
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story by Stephanie Rogers
MAT including increased treatment retention, decreased criminal activities, increased employment and improved recovery rates. It also is a great benefit to pregnant and postpartum women as it improves birth outcomes and provides relief of withdrawal symptoms in babies born to addicted mothers. “MAT is not only effective in our outpatient services but also with those receiving services at our women’s residential center, the Chrysalis Center. One of the saddest issues we deal with are pregnant women suffering from addiction and their babies born to addiction. MAT offers a great tool to lessen the presence and impact of substance abuse disorders with this most critical population.” MAT is not to be used over a prolonged period, nor be a stand-alone approach. MAT is intended to be part of a comprehensive treatment plan to include behavioral therapy and support services. As part of the MAT program, Circle Park has contracted with a physician’s group to provide on- site medical exams, assessments and prescriptions for therapy medications. This enables the patient to receive their medical, behavioral counseling and support services in one location. Matthew Jeffords, PSS, serves as Circle Park’s MAT Peer Support Specialist and offers direct support services to patients to lessen their life skills challenges in order to focus on their recovery. “The fears associated with addiction and recovery often inhibit the patient’s desire to enter treatment services. By lessening the withdrawal symptoms and cravings through MAT and supporting their efforts on a daily basis, we can now give patients their best opportunity to obtain a successful recovery and improved quality of life. This is an exciting opportunity to positively impact individuals, their families and the community as a whole.”
For more information about Medication Assisted Therapy and the services offered at Circle Park, call 843-665-9349 or visit www.circlepark.com.
March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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EXPERIENCE HARTSVILLE
5 Reasons To Attend Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of Hartsville presented by Embrace Hospice • You can eat your “HART” out. • Chefs prepare everything from BBQ to pork loin to cheesecake, so you definitely will not leave the event hungry. • You can quench your thirsty soul. • Members serve delicious specialty cocktails, beer, and wine to make sure you won’t leave the event thirsty either. • You can party with your friends. • With over 600 in attendance last year, you won’t leave feeling lonely. • You can meet our members. • See the businesses that the Hartsville Chamber represents.
• You can dance the night away. • With entertainment, you can be sure to have a lot of laughs and memories made. The Taste of Hartsville will be held on May 3rd from 6:30-9:00 PM at the DeLoach Center at Coker College. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 day of the event.
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ADVOCATING HEALTHCARE
Dr. Joseph Hoyle, Family Medicine Physician at HopeHealth
THE IMPORTANCE OF A
COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING story by Donna Tracy, Communications Coordinator, HopeHealth
Colon cancer is the most common cancer for non-smokers and when caught early, is 90 percent curable. This diagnosis can be devastating news for an individual and their family, but early detection can significantly increase treatment options as well as life expectancy. Dr. Joseph Hoyle, a family medicine physician at the HopeHealth Medical Plaza in Florence, is passionate about screening for colorectal cancer, saying that early detection saves lives. “We do a lot of screenings and this is one of the most important ones,” he said. Tests to detect colon cancer tend to provoke anxiety. Patients may have different concerns or fears which prevent them from having this important screening. Fortunately, there are several screening options available for colon cancer, several of which are noninvasive. “Insurance companies have made it possible to access these tests, and we can find a screening test that is easy for individuals and fits their schedules.” Colonoscopies are probably the most well-known screening test but there are several others available that are much less daunting to patients such as:
• Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) • CT colonography (virtual colonscopy) • Flexible sigmoidoscopy • Double-contrast barium enema 16
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The newest test on the market is Cologuard, a noninvasive screening option that uses stool DNA technology to detect cancer and high-risk polyps at rates of 92 percent and 42 percent respectively. Having polyps found and removed drastically minimizes the risk of developing colon cancer. Screenings are recommended for all individuals age 50 and older. However, Hoyle noted that the American College of Gastroenterology recommends that African Americans should begin screening at age 45. “Even though age 50 is the standard, some studies indicate that the rates of colorectal cancer are a little higher and the age of onset a little earlier in African Americans.”
Earlier screening is also recommended for individuals with additional risk factors. According to the American Cancer Society, some of these factors include:
• A personal history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps
• A personal history of inflammatory bowel
disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
• A strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
• A family history of a hereditary colorectal
cancer syndrome such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis
“Screenings are an opportunity to catch cancer before it starts. It’s not something you have to do; it’s something you should want to do,” said Hoyle. Early detection can truly mean the difference between life and death. The five-year survival rate for people with stage 1 colon cancer is about 92 percent. This means that an estimated 92 out of 100 people who have that cancer are still alive five years after being diagnosed. However, many of these people live much longer than five years. Survival rates are only estimates – they can’t predict what will happen to any individual person. Talk to your primary care provider today to better understand your specific situation and determine the best course of action for you and your loved ones.
DID YOU KNOW? • Colon cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancerrelated deaths in the U.S. • On average, 1 in 20 people develop colon cancer • 90% of new cases occur in people age 50+ • People with a first-degree relative who has colon cancer have 2-3 times the risk of developing the disease • There are currently more than 1,000,000 colon cancer survivors in the U.S. Source: American Cancer Society
March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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IN THE HEAD OF
ROBERT E. LEE Helping Solve Problems story Ashley Elvington
Robert E. Lee was raised in Ivory Coast, West Africa. It was here where his parents, Sherwood and Vada Lee, served for 27 years as medical missionaries. He attended school at the Ivory Coast Academy in Bouake, Ivory Coast, a boarding school for missionary children operated by the Conservative Baptist. After moving to the United States, South Carolina to be exact, Robert attended Francis Marion College and graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. By December 1990, Robert had graduated from the University of South Carolina Law School and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1991. Once he graduated from law school, Robert had the pleasure of working with D. Laurence McIntosh in Florence, someone who left quite a lasting impression upon Robert. “Laurence is a master strategist, one of the leading legal minds of the Pee Dee region, if not the state, and is a genuine renaissance man. I learned skills and invaluable lessons from Laurence that serve me and my clients well today. Without Laurence’s mentoring, I would not be where I am today.” Robert then worked for Aiken Bridges, later joining Chuck McLain to form McLain and Lee. “Chuck and I had the opportunity to open an office in Marion, in addition to our office in Florence. We merged our practice with that of Russ Sloan and within a few years, Chuck and I decided to open our own firms in which we both practice today with me electing to remain in Marion.” Choosing to keep his office in Marion was an easy decision for Robert. “What I love about Marion is the sense of community and of belonging. Marion is a special place with challenges, but its people are warm and accepting. It is a place I miss when I am away and feel at home when I am here.” In addition to clients in Marion, Robert also serves those in Florence, Darlington, Dillon, Myrtle Beach, and surrounding areas.
At the Robert E. Lee Law Firm, the main focus is the clients’ needs. No matter if you need help with a DUI charge, representation for a personal injury claim, or if you’ve been accused of a crime while vacationing in South Carolina, Robert and his team are there to help you. They’ve seen it all, from mortgage fraud to HOA disputes, accidents to dog bite cases, as well as alcohol and/or drug charges. If you’re unable to visit the law firm due to hospitalization or incarceration, Robert and his team have no trouble coming to you, day or night. This group of hardworking individuals promises to help you save time and money, receive the best personal service, customize legal solutions, and provide favorable resolutions from professionals. Robert is grateful for his employees who are just as passionate about fighting for clients as he is. “I have an incredible staff that is not only great at what they do, but are also a lot of fun to be with. Pamela Jordan is my senior paralegal and office manager. Pam has been with me for 20 years. She runs the show and is the reason I know the office is running, even when I am not here. Tiffany Sullivan is a paralegal and has been with me for six years. She handles criminal, probate, and HOA matters. Martha Pech joined us two years ago and handles all general litigation. Not only do each of these individuals possess great legal skills, but they also bring caring and compassion to those who visit our office since we all recognize that people seek us out when they are in crisis.”
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What I love about Marion is the sense of community and of belonging. Marion is a special place with challenges, but its people are warm and accepting. It is a place I miss when I am away and feel at home when I am here.
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-Robert 18
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photo by Collin M. Smith
In addition to his professional career, Robert is passionate about the continued growth of Francis Marion University. Quickly after completing his bachelors at the college, Robert knew he would eventually serve the board of the school. Robert is entering his 20th year of service on the Board of Trustees of Francis Marion University since his election by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1998. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1999 – 2003 and is currently the Chair elect. Robert E. Lee and his wife, Amanda Grace, reside in Florence, South Carolina. Amanda Grace is a nurse practitioner in palliative care at McLeod Regional Medical Center. In addition to being a lawyer, Robert is also a father of three – Kailey Grace Collins, Frances Margaret Ann Lee, and Robert E. Lee Jr. (also known as RJ).
If you find yourself in a legal crisis or simply would like to learn more about their services, call (843) 423-1313 or visit www.roberteleelawfirm.com. The Robert E. Lee Law Firm is located at 111 Witcover Street in Marion, South Carolina. March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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TRY IT LOCAL
Morgan Atkinson Preserving Memories through Watercolor Paintings Facebook: Morgan Atkinson; morganatkinsonart@gmail.com Watercolor and painting have always been one of many creative outlets for Morgan Atkinson. She currently resides in Florence, where she was born and raised, with her husband, Wes Atkinson, and two beautiful girls- Nora (2) and Greer (10 months). Her many talents, including shooting photography fulltime for the past eight years, have allowed her to capture and share beautiful memories over the years. Her attention to detail and creative thinking are unique traits that allow her to tell stories through art. Now, she is sharing her artistic talent with others in a new way by creating oneof-a-kind watercolor illustrations that others can cherish forever. Morgan is a watercolorist. This method of painting uses pigments that are mixed with water to create a piece of art. Her watercolor journey began after posting a photo of the painting she created of her and her two daughters on social media. The photo blew up with likes, comments, and requests of viewers wanting their own. Morgan quickly saw an incredible opportunity and jumped at the chance to share her passion with others. Morgan says, “For the most part, people send me photos they have taken of loved ones and I turn those photographs into watercolor
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paintings. I love how it feels to take an ordinary moment captured digitally and turn it into something a little more special and tangible.” In addition to recreating photographs into watercolor illustrations, she creates illustrations of houses, pets, and even silhouettes. “I’ve recently launched a silhouette necklace for Mother’s Day and it’s so much fun to see people actually wearing my art!” Business has been incredible thus far for Morgan. She has only been up and running since January and has steadily been up to her knees in commissions. “Every single time a client commissions a piece from me it truly feels like the greatest accomplishment. The outpouring of support and love my art has gotten has left me in tears so many times. It’s astonishing to watch the way that the Lord is moving through this. I could never have dreamt that I would have the chance to touch so many people with what just started out as a hobby.” Not only has it been fun for Morgan to have a new creative outlet to explore, but it also allows her to be home with her babies where she can love on them and see them grow daily. Morgan feels incredibly blessed and hopes the interest and support
continues. She would like to thank those who have supported her dream. “It is honestly mind-blowing to see the way my family, friends, and clients have rallied around this thing and shown their support. I want to say a special thank you to my husband, Wes. He’s the most supportive person I know and I am so grateful that he believed in this thing even when I couldn’t believe it was even happening. I couldn’t do this without him.” Morgan’s watercolor pieces are the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, Easter, or any upcoming holidays or occasions. Morgan is always looking for new ideas and new ways to share her art. While she has many plans for the future, we will just have stay tuned to see what she has planned next!
March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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UPCOMING EVENTS
SATURDAY, MARCH 10TH story Ashley Elvington
The Leprechaun leap, Marion’s 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival will be held on Saturday, March 10th in Withlacoochee Park. St. Patrick’s Day commemorates St. Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and also celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish. Hosted by Hometown Promotions & Event Planning, the festival will be full of day-long activities with green beer, good food, awesome vendors, and fabulous entertainment. The event will kick-off with a pre-race warm up at 7:15 a.m. with Jessica Herrington of Jess Fit, before the 15K run throughout the beautiful city of Marion. The 15K event, which will be timed by RMS Sports, may be performed individually or as a 3-person relay. Run participants are encouraged to dress in green or in their favorite St. Patrick’s Day attire. Awards will be presented to the overall winners in each age group of individuals competing in the 15K and to the top 3-person relay team. The race will start at 8 a.m. Following the run, the city of Marion will host a St. Patrick’s Day themed golf-cart parade at noon with a prize awarded to the best decorated St. Patrick’s Day cart. During the day long activities, event staff will also scan the crowd to seek out the most festively dressed leprechaun and the best trickedout vendor booth or food truck! But, the fun doesn’t end there! Entertainment, food vendors, and craft displays will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Throughout the day, entertainment will be provided, which includes but is not limited to: dancers from The Emmalyn Davis School of Dance and Bill Caudill, a professional bagpipe player. Plus, Justin Odom will perform at 4:30 p.m. and Hip Pocket will perform at 5 p.m. Hip Pocket is a popular music group in the Carolinas and performs a variety of favorite top 40 hits. Mudflap and Palmer will broadcast live from 12-2 p.m. Be sure to bring a lawn chair to sit and unwind or wear your dancing shoes to dance the night away! The Leprechaun Leap will be sure to put a smile on the face of every lad in attendance. Mark your calendars for this fun-filled day, so that you can help us paint the city of Marion green and fill the town with good cheer!
Good beer. Good Food. Awesome Vendors. Fabulous Entertainment in a Great Town! To follow the event, visit the Hometown Promotions & Event Planning Facebook Page
March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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FASHION FOR WORK AND PLAY
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TO DINE FOR
WEBSTER MANOR story by Gray Bostick / photography by Judy Quick Sharon
Sometimes you have to forsake the beaten path to discover exactly those things that prove it’s worth leaving. And just a few blocks off the well-worn path of busy U.S. Highway 76 thru Mullins, quietly standing and blissfully unchanged by time, Webster Manor provides a lunch-time dining experience guaranteed to make you glad you left that heavily-traveled trail. A rare retreat in these rat-race days, Webster Manor is a true treasure trove of home-cooked Southern vittles – offered up Southern-buffet style and chock full of down-home country goodness – topped off by excellent service in a laid-back casual atmosphere – and some of the best sweet tea you’ll ever wash a bite of fried chicken or dressing down with. No secret to those in the know, Webster Manor has for years been a regular and popular stop for many travelers headed to the Grand Strand – as well as folks who come inland from the coast for a “country” meal, Pee Dee residents who often travel over an hour to specifically feast there, and, of course, lucky locals. But no one’s a stranger at Webster Manor – at least not for long; it might be said that a first trip there would be a newcomer yet to become a friend; the
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second visit, a new friend stopping back in; and, by the third time you sit at their table, you’re practically considered family.
Southern hospitality at its best.
Housed in a 1903 Victorian home, whose top-floor serves as a six-room bed and breakfast, Webster Manor is the pride of Mrs. Ann McDonald and two of her children, William, who works as greeter and cashier, and daughter Missy, who serves as floor hostess and waitress. The restaurant is tastefully decorated throughout, with many golden age crossstitched pieces and other reminders of days long past, such as a portrait of the gentleman who originally built the home. The dining areas are well-laid out and can easily accommodate groups, and outdoor seating is also available. But as with any dining establishment, the ultimate proof is in the pudding. Or in Webster Manor’s case, in their fried chicken – which is rumored to be the best in South Carolina, or the macaroni and cheese – considered by some to be the best on the planet, on down to their signature buttermilk pie, which is beyond description. Or any of the other buffet options, which range from ham, roast beef, stew beef, and pork chops
Off the Beaten Path–and Worth It – even chicken livers and gizzards, and fried shrimp, to a wide variety of sides, including mashed and buttered potatoes, white and brown rice, string and lima beans, okra, rutabagas, turnips, and cabbage, plus desserts including pies, cakes, and cobblers. Webster Manor also makes things simple for their guests by serving a specific menu each weekday, thereby allowing diners to schedule their visit to coincide with the serving of their favorite Webster dish, and even going so far as to designate Thursday’s bill of fare as their “Thanksgiving menu” due its featuring turkey and
dressing, along with other favorites associated with that holiday. Given lunch-time demand, when in excess of 200 may dine, it’s amazing how efficiently and effortlessly the staff handles seating and serving. But that’s not surprising given that most have been with Webster Manor for much of it’s 31-year existence. And while the kitchen crew’s expertise is clearly evident via one’s taste buds, the floor staff is just as impressive, quick to happily deliver a needed straw or napkin or refill a glass. In fact, their credo might be best summed up by the t-shirt worn by one which advised, “Let everything you do be done with love.” And, at Webster Manor, with a smile. It’s also clear the entire Webster Manor operation is a labor of love, from the front door to the kitchen. “We love to meet new people, and I’m always glad to see old friends from other areas come back in,” William says with a quick smile, noting that Webster Manor often serves as a meeting spot for car clubs or motorcyclists, as well as a stop for the occasional celebrity, such as John Isley of the syndicated “John-Boy and Billy” radio show, who recently stopped in after learning of Webster Manor from a guest. “It’s nice to have those folks think so much of us and keep coming back, to have such a good reputation, and to have been recognized on a radio show. We appreciate all that and those good words about us.” “But the fact is it’s the local folks and people in the Pee Dee who supported us from the start and helped us make this what it is,” he continues. “And we’ll never forget them for doing that.”
Webster Manor is located at 115 East James Street in Mullins, and is open Monday-Friday from 10:30 AM – 2 PM; lunch-buffet meals, including beverage and dessert, are reasonably priced at $10 per adult. Take-outs are graciously accommodated and special-occasion reservations are accepted. Webster Manor may be contacted at 843-464-9632; “Like” them on Facebook at Facebook.com/webstermanor.
William notes that, in appreciation, Webster Manor strives to keep costs down as much as possible, while still maintaining high quality, and passes any savings along to their diners, an approach that dates back to his late father. “He knew that people in this area sometimes had it tough, and he always wanted us to be affordable – and we always will be,” he promises. In truth, the only valid complaint noted about Webster Manor is that they’re only open for weekday lunch and not for breakfast and dinner, nor on weekends, times which are dedicated exclusively to tending to the needs of their B&B guests. Or perhaps that they don’t rent rooms for post-lunch siestas. You’ve gotta eat, so do yourself a favor and abandon that same old beaten path, and beat a path to Webster Manor soon instead. You’ll be glad you did.
March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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FLORENCE COMMUNITY
JUST LIKE story by Brian New, CEO, Florence Family YMCA
YOUR GREATER FLORENCE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS SO MUCH MORE!
When people think of the YMCA they think of a swim and gym, a place where they went as a child to take swim lessons or play basketball. While that is true, the Y is so much more than that. We offer programs for everyone regardless of age, race, religion, or gender. The Y is a place for the community to come together to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. Whether you go to the Y for swimming, youth sports, childcare, wellness classes, working out, or just hanging out, the Y has something for everyone. Also, if there are issues in the community where the Y can help fill the gap, we try to find a way to offer programs to overcome those issues. Some areas of concern that need addressing at the present time are childhood obesity, quality affordable childcare, diabetes prevention, and swim lessons for low income families. When the Y sees a need, we strive to take the opportunity in front of us, and be a reflection of what the community can do to help meet the need. As a nonprofit organization, the Y has benefitted greatly from many business relationships formed through our Chamber affiliation. These relationships have aided our fundraising efforts to support the YMCA’s Annual Scholarship Campaign which helps provide childcare, membership, and sports activities for those who may not otherwise be able to participate. This funding also helps under right programs like Safety Around Water and The Coached Approached to Wellness. The Y has garnered sponsorships, donations, and participation through attendance at our annual fundraising events: the Father/Daughter Dance, Mother/ Son Adventure, Penguin Plunge, and Fall Golf Classic. Since becoming more involved with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, I have come to realize that the Chamber is a lot like the YMCA. When people think of the Chamber they think of a place that businesses join for networking or a place people visit to learn more about the city they live in or potentially will call home, but the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce is so much more…
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While the Chamber is a great place for businesses to network and connect to a bigger community, as well as a place to learn about Florence, the Chamber has a lot more to offer. All it takes is a visit to the Chamber of Commerce website, www.flochamber.com, to see how much the Chamber does to make the Florence community a better place for all of us. When you go to the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce website you will find you are connected to Florence and all it has to offer. Discover all sorts of information at your fingertips from area demographics to events and links to any business or organization you can imagine. Once there you will also see what kind of difference the Chamber makes through programs that educate and inform at the local and state levels. Programs like Leadership Florence, the outlook luncheon, the small businessperson of the year award, and the legislative breakfast, just to name a few. Being involved in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce gives you the opportunity to be part of the Building Bridges Diversity and Leadership Summit, ribbon cuttings, and business after hours events (where the networking really happens). So, it is easy to see how being a member of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce would be beneficial to any size business or organization big or small, and how vital it is to anyone who wants to make a difference in the Florence community. I hope next time you think about the Florence Chamber of Commerce you will think of everything they do and the difference they make in businesses and organizations like the YMCA. Together we can make Florence so much more!
100 W Evans St, Florence 843.665.0515 flochamber.com
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PAYING IT FORWARD
Volunteering Time and Talent to Lighthouse Ministries by Ashley Elvington
Bill Deakin and Bill Valone Since August 1996, Lighthouse Ministries has been serving the Pee Dee region in Christian love. The organization’s mission is to help Florence churches organize and administer community resources while extending a helping hand in Christian fellowship, providing relief for emergency needs, and ministering to God’s children and their spiritual needs. Each staff member and volunteer at Lighthouse Ministries wholeheartedly agrees that all people are God’s creation and they deserve to be treated in a manner of respect, compassion, and dignity. They also deserve the access to shelter, basic utilities, food, and medication. These individuals witness to God’s love and work in harmony to reflect His light of hope into the world. Lighthouse Ministries has an endless list of people who show those struggling in the community the true meaning of compassion. Take Bill Deakin and Bill Valone for example. Bill Deakin is originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Due to transfers, he has lived in Florence twice. The first time, his stay lasted five years. The second time was longer, as he has now been here for 15 years. Deakin credits his neighbor, Ed Garand, for getting him out of the house and involved in the community. “Ed told me he was tired of seeing my car parked at my house, so he helped me get involved with Cooks for Christ, then I joined Toys for Tots.” Two years ago, Deakin became involved with Lighthouse Ministries. He began by volunteering 10 hours a week and has now increased his volunteer time to 30 hours per week. Much to Ed’s delight, he no longer has to complain about Deakin’s car being at home! “Between the three charities, I keep fairly busy.”
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At Lighthouse Ministries, Deakin’s main focus is data entry. “Our volunteer interviewers meet with our participants, I key in the information collected on our forms. Other than that, I do whatever is necessary to keep things moving: unload food donations to go into our pantry, tally information for monthly and yearly reports, do some light maintenance around the building with Bill Valone, help set up and clean up after dinner at our Strengthening Families Program meetings, and then there are tasks that require heavy lifting, sweating, or getting dirty. I consider it my job to do anything that makes the others’ jobs easier to do.” While he doesn’t work directly with participants, Bill’s tasks help Lighthouse Ministries run in a more efficient manner. “It gives me a good feeling to be a part of the process. There is a need for what we do and we could do more with additional volunteers and funds. I believe the work force is around 80% volunteers here, so we are limited by the amount of available volunteers at any time.” As for Bill Valone, he grew up in Eustis, Florida. He joined the United States Air Force after graduation and stayed in service for 20 years. During these years, Valone married and welcomed three children into the world. Since then, he has now seen the arrival of eight grandchildren. After retiring from the Air Force in 1989, Valone developed a second career with the Federal Aviation Administration at the Florence Airport as an electronic technician. “I maintained almost all of the electronics that the Air Traffic Controller used on a daily basis.” After 22 years, Valone retired in 2011 to take care of his wife, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.
Unfortunately, Valone’s wife passed away in 2013. He admits that during this time in his life, he felt lost. “I couldn’t figure out what to do next.” Thanks to a dear friend, who was also a Lighthouse Ministries board member, Valone was introduced to the ministry. “I attended a luncheon and after hearing their mission and what was needed to fulfill it, I immediately offered to volunteer.” Valone’s first “job” was data entry. “Because they had a new program that was being used, they were behind on entering the information they gather into the system. That is how it all began.” Since then, Valone has changed light bulbs, fixed furniture and computers, filled a pot hole in the parking lot, loaded and unloaded various supplies and donations, hung pictures on the walls, and completed any task asked of him. “The needs vary every day, but unfortunately I don’t have all the skills necessary to help maintain a building. We need more expertise and resources to help maintain Lighthouse and keep it a very effective and functioning agency.”
“There is a need for what we do and we could do more with additional volunteers and funds.” -Bill Deakin
Both men agree that joining Lighthouse Ministries has been a blessing in their lives…one that showed up at just the right time. Deakin shares, “I have met some really great people through the different charities for which I volunteer. The other volunteers I work with do it because they want to, not because they have to, and it is a pleasure to be around them. Most of them also work with other charities. And, I have never been so appreciated as I am at Lighthouse Ministries. I joke that I have never been thanked so much in my life!” Valone adds, “I think Lighthouse is a very important cog in the wheel that assists the needy in their daily lives. Without them and all of the very important volunteers that make this agency viable, a gap would be missing in the network of all the organizations that strive to provide a better life for everyone. Helping and being part of the wonderful staff that makes this operation run smoothly has been a blessing to me. I actually enjoy coming to Lighthouse and I enjoy doing what I do. Please call today to inquire about being a volunteer and how you can help.”
To learn more about Lighthouse Ministries and how you can help, visit www.lighthouseflorence.org. March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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NOW IN SESSION. photography by Fred Salley 32
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COVER STORY • Seminar Brewing
Seminar Brewing NOW IN SESSION. story by Heather Page
If an opportunity has yet to present you with a path to Seminar Brewing on Lucas Street in Florence, it’s time to pave your own way and enjoy some of the freshest brews the state has to offer. Rich, full, light, heavy, sweet, dry - whatever word best describes your flavor of choice, they are sure to have it. The 13,000 square-feet space is formerly home to Young Plantations Pecans. Along with craft beer, Seminar offers an indoor game space where customers can partake in a classic game of giant Jenga, or ol’ school Donkey Kong and Galaga. They are also home to Kanza, a full-service kitchen opened by Alan Cooke (of Rebel Pie fame). Seminar proudly holds the title of Florence’s first commercial craft brewery. The business is a partnership of four brewers: Bryan Fisher, Travis Knowles, Shawn Steadman, and John Mattheis, along with business partner and project manager Dave Peters. What started as a couple of local guys with a common interest, who brought their individual skillsets to the table, has now made a dream become a reality. Seminar Brewing began in John’s home garage, known back then as the “Garaj Mahal.” John was fascinated with cultivating his very own brews but could only dedicate a few hours during the weekend and afternoon. Also known as Dr. Mattheis, John spends his days as a Medical Doctor at McLeod Family Medicine Center in Florence. Along with beer and family medicine, John also has an interest in seeing Florence progress which further encouraged his pursuit to help open Seminar Brewing, LLC. Since opening their Lucas Street location in October of 2017, John says his favorite project has been the beer garden - a shaded outdoor space to enjoy with family and friends.
skills over the years that came in handy as a homebrewer. Travis spent many hours at Garaj Mahal, helping perfect recipes with his friends. “We had dreamed of opening a small brewery in Florence for many years, and finally began exploring locations for a brewpub in early 2010,” says Travis. The brewery moved from Garaj Mahal to a small rented space at the Florence Mall by late 2013. “In our early years, we all worked on brewing and refining our beers. We did this on weekends, since we all had day jobs. Now that we’ve hired a brewing staff, my primary responsibilities are working with quality control, including laboratory work,” says Travis. He believes his most unique contribution has been assisting with the development of brewery quality assurance protocols, including sanitizing procedures, yeast handling, and laboratory tests for bacterial contamination. Travis continues, “I’ve helped develop some standard procedures
Above: beer garden. Below: 13,000 sq. ft. indoor space.
Business partner Travis started homebrewing back in 1985 when he lived in North Carolina. Travis is a full-time employee at Francis Marion University where he works in the Biology Department. “Moving from southwest Virginia, I accepted a position in 1991 with FMU and had no idea at the time how long I would be in Florence. The job turned out to be a perfect fit for my goals, a combined teaching and research career, so I’ve been in Florence ever since.” Travis specializes in outdoor biology, conservation, and ecology, but has also developed some basic laboratory March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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for sanitizing and microbiological testing for common brewery bacterial contaminants. We’ve also improved our protocols for yeast handling and storage, including cell counts and viability testing, which are important for insuring what we call proper ‘pitch rate.’ This simply means insuring that we have enough healthy yeast cells on hand to quickly and cleanly ferment the beer.” Bryan has also been with Seminar since the very beginning. Originally from San Diego, California, Bryan has lived in many states throughout the country, moving to Florence in 2003. Like fellow partner Travis, Bryan also moved to the area to accept a position with FMU where he currently serves as the Coordinator of Speech Communication. When not speaking to a group of students, Bryan plays the role of Head Brewer at Seminar. As Head Brewer, he takes pride in the beers he has been able to create. He completes the recipe formulation and oversees the brewing process, while also supervising the assistant brewer and cellar man. Bryan is also responsible for quality control, and creates and maintains the brewing schedule. When asked what his favorite beer is at Seminar, Bryan says, “It really changes with my mood and the weather. But I’d say Pixels, Mosaic, and Mugonut are always near the top.”
introduced to the guys through the casual midweek meeting, the original ‘seminar,’ where we got our name. I had been a homebrewer since 1996, so I started brewing with the guys at Garaj Mahal,” says Shawn. In addition to homebrewing, Shawn had a knack for advertising and marketing, with a focus in graphic design. Naturally, he offered his marketing skills to help in the effort of Seminar. Over the years Shawn has contributed to a few of the recipes, including the Porter base and the saison recipes. However, the bulk of his work has been designing the logos for Seminar and each of the beers, including tap labels and can designs. “I love all of our logos, but I’m most proud of Citrocity, Pixels and Crowfoot.”
Travis Knowles, Dave Peters, Bryan Fisher, John Mattheis and Shawn Steadman
The fourth brewer to join the group was Shawn. He and his wife, Allison, moved to Florence in 2011 from Jacksonville, Florida, so she could accept a position with FMU as a professor of Costume Design. “When we moved to Florence, I was
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The final piece to the Seminar puzzle came from Dave, who carries years of experience in business. Dave is retired from Land O’Lakes, where he served as President, Vice President, and General Manager of several companies within Land O’Lakes in the United States and overseas. Dave used his experience to analyze several sites and equipment layouts that resulted in several feasibility studies and business plans for Seminar. Dave states, “I was proud of my efforts to write the business plans and secure the financing for our first and now current locations. Afterwards, I switched to acting as the engineer and project manager of the site renovation
and equipment purchase and installation to get two businesses up and running.” Bryan comments, “Dave was really the one who was able to make our hobby a business. His work ethic and business knowledge are the things that kept us afloat.” Dave now serves as the Business Manager, and runs the day-to-day operations. When sitting with all five partners, there are three things you immediately grasp: (1) they are intrigued by beer, (2) they are proud of their product, and (3) they consider each other family. Though they have their occasional differences, they all share a common goal and passion for offering great beer and a great customer experience. “They are a great group of guys. They are passionate about creating craft beers and bringing them to market. Everyone has different skills and abilities. We all rely on each other to be successful. No one does everything,” says Dave. Seminar Brewing will continue to expand their styles and variety of beer. Travis says, “We want to do some collaborations with our friends at some other fantastic South Carolina breweries, too.” Shawn adds, “We have new beers in the pipeline. We are also looking forward to expanding our distribution to cover Georgia and North Carolina.” The large facility is host to a packed calendar of events, including: Salsa Social, Morning Yoga, and numerous local bands taking the stage on weekends. The team is already planning their next expansion by renovating the adjacent building to become a banquet and event space. “When people ask me about opening a brewery, I usually tell our story, which is just how lucky we are to have acquired a perfect team for making it happen. Each of us has different, complementary skills that contribute essentials to our operation. It’s been a pleasure to work with this group. I don’t believe we’d be here today without everyone’s individual contributions,” finishes Travis.
Seminar Brewing is just one mile from downtown Florence and two miles from Interstate 95, making it a convenient spot for both tourists and locals. Stop by and enjoy a flight or two of their beers on tap, fill some growlers to take home, take a tour of the brewery, hang out with some friends, or enjoy a delicious dish from their restaurant partner, Kanza.
551 WEST LUCAS STREET, FLORENCE (843) 665-9200 WWW.SEMINARBREWING.COM Open: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, 11am-10pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 11am-Midnight See page 40 for more on Kanza. March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Rob Falatovich and Alan Cooke story by Heather Page “I’m just trying to do what we do and do it the best it can be done,” says Alan Cooke, owner of Kanza located inside of Seminar Brewing. Alan has dabbled in the restaurant business since he opened Rebel Pie in Timmonsville in 2011. Rebel Pie moved locations in 2013 but it’s popular menu items and devoted customers followed him to the current Second Loop Road location. Of those customers were the co-owners of Seminar. Their admiration for Alan’s menu items kept their attendance high and soon built a friendship with the owner. When Seminar was in need of having food on-premises in order to offer more beer options, Alan was the first on their list to approach about lending a hand. In the beginning, the guys at Seminar would kid around with Alan about opening an additional restaurant, but gradually it began to be more serious. “They eventually asked me if I’d be willing to lease the kitchen space in Seminar if they up-fit it with a professional kitchen.” Alan was a tad resistant because of his loyalty to the Rebel Pie family. This included all of his regulars that expect to see him when dining at Rebel Pie. “People that frequent Rebel Pie expect me to be there, to greet them at the door.” Luckily, a solution presented itself with Rob Falatovich, now Manager of Kanza. Rob has been in the restaurant industry for five years, and prior to that he was a farmer in North Carolina for 20 years, so he fully understands the importance of using 36
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local products when possible. Alan and Rob have been friends for several years, so when Alan presented Rob with the opportunity of managing his new restaurant, he was excited to get involved. “I couldn’t do it without him,” Alan says of Rob. Alan takes ownership of the menu. “Florence has so many great places to eat but a lot of them offer the similar things. I wanted to bring a menu that you couldn’t find anywhere else in the Pee Dee,” Alan said. A fan of artisan bread, Alan incorporated this into his menu as well. The buns (for the most amazing burger in town) are homemade, as well as the pastries and paninis. With all of the breads made in-house, they can assure using the finest ingredients with no unnecessary additives. When asked what’s his favorite menu item, Alan says, “It’s really hard to say. Right now I really like the Ahi Tuna Platter, the Deviled Eggs, our Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, and our Hotdog.” Speaking of the hotdog, they are made of allbeef purchased from a chef out of Atlanta knowned for making quality charcuterie! The relaxed atmosphere is perfect for a nice evening with friends and family, and the menu certainly sets itself apart from competitors. “It’s the best venue in Florence in my opinion. In the the warmer months we have the beer garden where you can bring your dog and play some games.” Alan continues, “The indoor area is so open, even when we have a packed house it doesn’t feel crowded. There’s just so much to do here.”
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TAX PREP
Business Expenses:
NOT A LAUGHING MATTER story by Elizabeth K. Campbell, EA
After 25 years in the accounting world I can honestly say that what a business can and cannot legitimately deduct is one of the most often asked questions. I have one particular client that writes me a list of deductions he knows he can take and then a secondary “Wish List” of deductions with maybe two expenses that are useful but the rest always leave me laughing. That list is a running joke between us at this point but I do not want you to end up being laughed at by the IRS and getting pulled for an audit. The IRS is relatively generous when it comes to tax deductions for small business. A business expense must be both ordinary and useful per the IRS. This means that the expense must be on something that is common within your industry and appropriate in your business. For instance, a clothing store purchasing over $3000.00 of food per month is not ordinary and necessary for them, but is quite common in a restaurant. The largest expense for most retail and manufacturing businesses are the items they purchase for resale and the items used in creating their product. This particular expense is called Cost of Goods Sold and is deducted straight from your total income to help calculate the gross profit for the year. If you are including expenses in the Cost of Goods, you may not double dip and use the same expense as a below the line deduction. Examples of costs of good expenses are actual products for resale, factory overhead, the cost of raw products and their shipping charges, storage and the cost of labor for the workers creating a product. In businesses carrying cost of goods, a beginning and ending inventory should be taken to properly make the gross profit calculation. If your car is used for business you may deduct the portion of expenses related to its use. You may deduct tracked mileage or actual expenses (repairs, gas and
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insurance) but not both. Simply keep the receipts if you are using actual expenses. Mileage is a bit trickier. You must have a legible log tracking business miles. I suggest simply buying a cheap calendar and using it to document the miles on a daily basis. There are also many free downloadable apps that will take the work out of it for you. Many of my clients use MileWiz. Once the business mileage is totaled, you multiple it by 53.5 cents a mile (2017) to get the deductible amount. If you have a vehicle in your business name and are leasing it, you may deduct the lease payment. If the vehicle is under a purchase agreement you may deduct the interest portion of the payment as well as yearly depreciation. If you are traveling for business, you may deduct 50% of the amount spent on meals for you. Once you are backing home however, you may only deduct the 50% if you paid for dinner for you and a business related guest. This 50% limit also applies to most client related entertainment expenses. A business related gift may be fully deductible up to $25.00 per person per year. Payroll and the related taxes are another deduction for most businesses as well as retirement plans, rental expenses for property and equipment, insurance, advertisement, repairs, bank charges, equipment and continuing education. In general anything you spend in the course of business is deductible. If in doubt, speak with your tax preparer or research the expense online to make an informed decision. If you have to justify the expense in your mind to make it seem more deductible, you should probably put it on your wish list instead of your expense list.
Elizabeth “Betsy” K. Campbell owns Campbell Accounting Solutions, LLC. Call (843) 662-9700 or email taxinfo@campbellgroupsc.com for your tax solutions.
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AROUND TOWN
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AROUND TOWN photos by Walter Priece Photography
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On January 20th, 400 people visited The Southeast Wedding & Event Expo - Savvy Soiree, at the Florence Center. The Knot, give-aways, and an awesome fashion show from David’s Bridal and Men’s Warehouse wowed the audience. March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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AROUND TOWN photos by Steve Roos - Ashcraft Studio
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Curtis Boyd & Logan Suggs 1st Place Winners for Best Dance Performance & People’s Choice Award
Hunter Jordan & Sarah Floyd 2nd Place Winners for Best Dance Performance
Noah Stanley & Caroline Williams 3rd Place Winners for Best Dance Performance
Dancing With The Stars of Darlington county
The 5th Annual Dancing with the Stars of Darlington County was held on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the Center Theater to benefit the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault. This year’s show was presented by Nationwide Insurance, Walt Peterson Insurance Agency, and McLean Marechal Insurance Agency. Andy Locklair was the Master of Ceremonies again this year. The event’s theme was “City Lights, Broadway Nights” which included music from Broadway favorites. Twelve couples, consisting of a local celebrity and professional dancer, competed for the title of Best Dance Performance and the 2018 People’s Choice Award. The first place winners for Best Dance Performance, as well as, the winners of the People’s Choice Award were Curtis Boyd and Logan Suggs. The second place winners for Best Dance Performance were Sarah Floyd and Hunter Jordan, and the third place winners for Best Dance Performance were Noah Stanley and Caroline Williams. The board is extremely thankful to the local community for supporting this cause. This year’s show was their most successful event to date with well over $100,000 raised towards the cause.
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HAPPENINGS
FEATURED EVENT
Lake City Community Theatre will present
Anything Goes March 15, 16 & 17, 2018 | 7:30 pm March 18, 2018 | 3:00 pm
Blanding Street Auditorium 125 S Blanding St, Lake City, SC
Tickets on Sale March 5 – March 16th, Monday – Friday th
Available at Greater Lake City Chamber of Commerce or by calling 843-374-8611 All tickets are reserved seating. $20 – ADULTS | $15 – STUDENTS 46 VIP Magazine | March 2018
FLORENCE 1............................................................................................................................. Business After Hours, Hilton Garden Inn, 5:30pm-7pm 3............................................................................................................................ Songs & Stories with Graham Nash, FMU PAC, 7:30pm 4............................................................................................................................ Garden Bros Circus, Florence Center, 1pm, 3:30pm, 6pm Masterworks Concert & Children’s Choir, Central UMC, 4pm 5............................................................................................................................ Evening of Hope with Ron Hall, Florence Center, 7pm 8............................................................................................................................ Cooks for Christ, WFFD Pee Dee Kiwanis Pancake Supper, First Pres Church, 5pm-8pm 9............................................................................................................................ Casting Crowns, Florence Center, 7pm Duck’s Unlimited Florence Oyster Roast, SiMT, 6pm-9pm 10.......................................................................................................................... Pacing 4 Pieces Downtown 2018 Mary Dean Brewer Women of Distinction, SiMT, 6pm 14.......................................................................................................................... Lighthouse Ministries BBQ Fundraiser, St. John’s 15.......................................................................................................................... A Choice to M8K 2018 Gala Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser, Central UMC, 4:30pm-7pm 17........................................................................................................................... Pee Dee Heart Ball, SiMT, 6pm 20......................................................................................................................... Spring Begins! Outlook Luncheon, Florence Center, 12pm 23.......................................................................................................................... SCDT – Cinderella, FMU PAC, 7:30pm 24-35................................................................................................................... Annual Reenactment, The Columns Plantation 24......................................................................................................................... Pee Dee Roundup – Mustang & Ford Show Downtown SCDT – Cinderella, FMU PAC, 3pm 25.......................................................................................................................... Harlem Globetrotters 2019 World Tour, Florence Center, 2pm SCDT – Cinderella, FMU PAC, 3pm 27.......................................................................................................................... Empowered to Heal #MeToo Support Group, 525 S. Dargan St. 31........................................................................................................................... Community Easter Egg Hunt, Timrod Park, 10:30am
You Can’t Take It With You, Florence Little Theater Friday, March 9, 7:30 pm • Saturday, March 10,7:30 pm Sunday, March 11, 3:00 pm • Tuesday, March 13, 7:30 pm Wednesday, March 14, 7:30 pm • Thursday, March 15, 7:30 pm Friday, March 16, 7:30 pm • Saturday, March 17, 7:30 pm WEEKLY EVENTS Wednesdays..................................................................................................... Wine Down Wednesday | Dolce Vita 4pm Thursdays.......................................................................................................... Ovis Hill Farmer’s Market | Naturally Outdoors 3pm-7pm Trivia Night | Southern Hops 7pm Live Music | The Dispensary Saturdays........................................................................................................... City Center Farmer’s Market | Downtown 9am-1pm Live Music, The Dispensary
MARCH 2018
HARTSVILLE
10............................................................................................................... Outshyne at Mac’s Lounge, 9pm 13................................................................................................................ Carolina Thunder Basketball Game, TB Sports Center, 4pm 16............................................................................................................... Arsenic and Old Lace, Center Theater, 7:30pm 17................................................................................................................ Easter Eggstravaganza, Coker College, 10am Oyster Roast, Kalmia Gardens, 4pm-7pm 23............................................................................................................... State of Education Breakfast, Butler Auditorium, 8am 24.............................................................................................................. CareSouth Carolina Spring Fling, CareSouth, 10am 31................................................................................................................ Carolina Thunder Basketball Game, TB Sports Center, 4pm WEEKLY EVENTS Thursdays............................................................................................... Centennial Farmers Market | 5th & Carolina 3pm-6pm
DARLINGTON 16............................................................................................................... America Legion Boston Butt Big Plate Lunch, 11am 31............................................................................................................... Community Easter Egg Hunt, GCM, 11am
LAKE CITY 1.................................................................................................................. Auditions for Wizard of Oz, Blanding Aud., 5:30pm 6................................................................................................................. Pee Dee Regional Contest, The Bean Market, 8am 15-18.......................................................................................................... Anything Goes, Blanding Street Auditorium 17-18.......................................................................................................... Hippie Fest, Graham’s Historic Farm, 12pm-7pm 14............................................................................................................... Bulbapalooza, MFBG, 8:30am-3pm 26.............................................................................................................. Yoga in the Graden, MFBG, 6pm-7:30pm 31............................................................................................................... Eggstravaganza, MFBG, 10am-12:30pm
MARION/MULLINS 5................................................................................................................. Art Master Class, The Bad Dog Coffee Company, 6pm 10............................................................................................................... Leprechaun Leap, Withlacoochee Park Caregiver Support Group, Carolinas Hospital, 11:30am
DILLON 3................................................................................................................. Socialite Brunch, Brandis Banquet Hall, 11:30am 23-25........................................................................................................ Myron Mixon BBQ Cooking Class, Buckhead Ranch(Latta) 23-24........................................................................................................ Southern Vintage Nationals, Dillon Motor Speedway March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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TIME TO TOAST
Young Professionals raise $8,000 for Area Youth HopeHealth and Dr. Edward Behling Recognized by CIMS HopeHealth and Dr. Edward Behling, chief medical officer, were recognized Jan. 20 by Community Integrated Management Services (CIMS) for excellent performance in meeting the goals and objectives of the for-profit organization. CIMS is an independent physicians’ association that partners with health centers in order to promote financial and clinical integration across the state in terms of the services health centers provide. More than 14 of South Carolina’s 22 centers are partners. “Partnering with CIMS is a real opportunity for us to bolster our negotiating power in contracts, to learn from one another, to improve clinical outcomes through working closely with other centers, and to meet financial goals as a group,” said Carl Humphries, CEO of HopeHealth. “CIMS recognized HopeHealth as one of the four leading health centers in South Carolina for performance, clinical excellence, and meeting the needs of patients during the first 10 years as a member. It’s an honor to receive an award like this, particularly in light of the excellent health centers we have in South Carolina.” In addition to earning organizational recognition, HopeHealth’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Edward Behling was presented the Outstanding Clinical Contribution award and recognized as one of two outstanding individuals across the state for CIMS over the last two years. The award is presented to individuals who aren’t managing partners or serving on the board of CIMS, but who have been an integral part in the success of CIMS within their communities. Behling received the award for his commitment to quality care and for the goals and objectives set by CIMS. HopeHealth is one of 22 nonprofit, federally qualified health centers in South Carolina and provides quality and affordable health care services to individuals in Florence, Clarendon, and Williamsburg Counties. For questions or more information, email tstraus@hopehealth.org or call 843-245-2291.
The Hartsville Young Professionals (HYP) will be presenting an $8,000 check to the Hartsville Boys & Girls Club on Thursday, February 1 at 5p.m. The HYP and Sonoco Young Professionals (SYP) organizations hosted the second annual Mingle & Jingle event on December 8. With help of gracious sponsors and attendees, the event surpassed the goals set and will provide much needed assistance to the club. Raising $3,000 more than last year, this year’s event was a very exciting accomplishment. The evening raised awareness of the needs of the Hartsville Boys & Girls Club, while also celebrating all of the successes that the group has had impacting youth in our area. Local youth from the Club performed as carolers at the event. With over 120 attendees, it was a great night of networking and fun. Hartsville Young Professionals provides social, networking, and professional development opportunities to new and native Hartsvillians, making Hartsville a city where young professionals want to live, work, and play. The Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based business advocacy organization founded in 1910. The Chamber provides a voice for local businesses, supports economic development, and promotes the vibrant and personal community that makes Hartsville appealing to businesses and residents.
2018 Best of Home Care Award The 2018 Best of Home Care Award.....David Coker, owner of Comfort Keepers offices in Florence, Sumter and Columbia is proud to receive this award. Provider of Choice Award is given to home care providers who receive the highest satisfaction scores from their clients. These providers are best-in-class for providing quality in-home care Nation-wide. This recognition reassures you that your home care provider is dedicated to your satisfaction, and will provide you with quality, trustworthy care.
Small Works 2018 Art Competition Winner Announced Three South Carolina artists and one North Carolina were recognized at the opening reception for the Small Works 2018 Competition at ndc Photography Studio in downtown Lake City. Competitions winners included artist Adrian Rhodes from Hartsville, for first place for her piece titled, “Bee”. North Carolina artist, Caroline Edwards (Winston-Salem, NC), second place for her portrait “Harry Wade” and third place went to Myrtle Beach artist Ariana Sellers for “Jupiter”. An honorable mention award went to Columbia artist Greyson Smith for “Transition #2”. Juror of the Small Works 2018 Exhibit, Wim Roefs commented, “The number of accomplished artworks in this competition was a pleasant surprise. The 30 artworks in the exhibition amount to a show worth seeing. There were several more candidates for awards and honorable mention aside from the four winners, and while that made my task harder, it sure beats having to scrape to find artwork worthy of an award. Greyson Smith’s Transition #2, is a vibrant work with an unpredictable but fine balance and a lovely pallet. Ariana Sellers’ Jupiter, is at once refined and raw and generates a lot of energy from a tiny space. Second Place Harry Wade, by Caroline Edwards, is a striking and intriguing portrait, its face beautifully painted. The First Place winner, Adrian Rhodes’ Bee, is simply an exquisite and inventive woodcut, doubling as sculpture, by an expert printmaker.” This year’s exhibition host is ndc Photography Studio. Owner, Nancy Devon Carsten of the NDC Photography Studio commented, “We’re thrilled to have the honor of hosting Small Works 2018. It’s a great way for us to be involved in our community. We are grateful to use our venue to showcase their work.” Carsten’s signature work captures those life moments, like walking down the aisle, bringing home a new baby, or sitting with three generations in one living room. She has made it her brand to create photographic heirlooms, “that are as cherished as a mother’s pearls being passed on to a daughter.” For more information visit ndcphotogrpahy.com Organized by the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, the competition is underwritten by a generous gifts given by The Citizens Bank, South State Bank, Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union, and Marshall’s Marine. NDC Photography Studio hours are Thursday to Friday 11am to 5pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. Commission sales of the artwork will help support this new arts business. The studio address is 105 East Main Street, Lake City, SC. The show runs February 2 – February 24.
Ribbon Cutting Held at CHS Women’s Center Carolinas Hospital System employees, board members and Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors get ready to cut the ribbon at the newly renovated Women’s Center at Carolinas Hospital System in Florence.
Carolinas Hospital System Welcomes Gregory R. Palutsis, M.D. Dr. Gregory Palutsis provides a range of diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitative services for injuries and disorders of the skeletal system and associated bones, joints, tendons, muscles, ligaments and nerves. From sport injuries to sprains, strains and fractures. Dr. Palutsis specializes in total join replacement for both the knee and shoulder, including partial knee replacement and reverse shoulder replacement. He also specializes in arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgery, including rotator cuff repair, instability surgery, ACL and meniscus repair and cartilage growth surgery. Non-operatively, Dr. Palutsis treats ankle, shoulder, knee, elbow and other sports injuries. Dr. Palutsis is certified by the Ameriican Board of Orthopedic Surgeons and is fellowship trained in orthopedic sports medicine. Dr. Palutsis at Carolinas Medical Alliance- Orthopedics is dedicated to helping you return to your active lifestyle.
New Florence Soccer Complex Opens The city of Florence held a grand opening to celebrate the completion of construction of their new Florence Soccer Complex. The 14-field facility is located at 3701 West Palmetto Street on Soccer Way. The Florence Soccer Complex has begun play with recreation league games.
PROFESSIONALS AT PLAY
EDUCATORS
with Hobbies
TRAVIS ALLEN
Cinema Chop Shop: Watch/Chop/Retrofit Travis Allen - originally from Silverton, Oregon – moved to South Carolina in 1996 with his family. Graduating from Francis Marion University in 2005, Travis has been teaching visual art in the Pee Dee region for the past 12 years. “Teaching young people about the amazing possibilities of art and giving them an outlet for creative expression is not just my career, but also my primary joy in life.” When he’s not in the classroom, Travis hosts a podcast called “Cinema Chop Shop.” He explains, “It is a movie podcast that concedes that remakes are going to happen, so why shouldn’t movie buffs like us decide who is re-cast in those iconic roles? It was born out of a love of film, the fact that I see a great many, and I love to talk about them.” At the suggestion of friend Andrew Té, who is now the podcast’s producer, Travis decided to give it a try. He continues, “With this show, we are not advocating remake or reboot dependent culture in filmmaking. In fact, quite the opposite. All of the re-casts we do are simply a hypothetical experiment of the mind. It is a satirical approach in response to our bafflement at the sheer volume of films being released that are contrived
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from previously existing material. We discuss these issues to encourage up-and-coming filmmakers to maintain their artistic creativity. We also try to have some laughs along the way.” The show’s tagline is “Watch, Chop, Retrofit,” which is what Travis and his team do. “We watch older movies, sometimes classics with iconic actors, and sometimes real tire fires. Then we chop ‘em up and retrofit the design with new parts, in the form of contemporary actors.” Travis and his team record and release content each week. In addition to Travis’ commentary, there’s also Andrew, Travis’ co-host, Shawn (“The Brew Boss”), and a rotating panel of guests and friends. So far, they’ve completed 26 full length episodes and have begun season two with new recording equipment. Travis Allen resides in Florence, South Carolina, with his wife Michele (from Pamplico, South Carolina). She, like her husband, wears many hats - she is an art teacher, a bartender, and a Lyft driver. Travis and Michele met during their college years in 2004 and were married in 2008.
To listen to Cinema Chop Shop, visit https://cinemachopshop.podbean.com/.
ROBERT McCREADY
Sharing Poetry through YouTube Robert McCready is a writer and adjunct English instructor at Florence Darlington Technical College and Coker College. Creative expression is a way of life for Robert. In December of 2017 he started a YouTube channel were he recites previously published poems. Robert’s goal is to provide positive web content that edifies and enlightens. Robert graduated from Coker College, then Queens University with a MFA in creative writing. Since the ninth grade he has always memorized poetry. An idea came to him to recite poetry on YouTube in order to share quality literary content with others. He started acquiring things to make it happen, such as a camcorder, tripod, and backdrop. What makes his venture unique is that he is the only person currently on YouTube who recites poetry aloud from memory. His channel is all about sharing something that someone else created and making a place where there is no specific point of view, but where everyone can feel safe. Robert uploads one new video per week. Robert’s YouTube channel is called Robert Reads Poetry and he can reached via Twitter, @myspecialmagic.
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AGRIBUSINESS
the Significance of
SUPPORTING & FARMING LOCAL story by Jordan Pupa
Agriculture is very important in the state of South Carolina, but also in the Pee Dee area. William Kirven is a fifth-generation farmer in Darlington, SC where he works alongside his father, William III, and brother, Caid, at W.W. Kirven Farms. They raise 1,500 acres of row crops and grow cotton, corn, soybeans, small grains (wheat, rye, oats), peas, popcorn, and pumpkins. They, just like many others in the agriculture industry, contribute to what we eat and wear every day. Increasing awareness about the contributions farmers provide to society is important, as they play a vital role in our lives. William states, “Although I am very proud of what we do here on our own farm, we are a very small part of something much larger. Agriculture is very important to the Pee Dee region and our state as a whole. Agribusiness is South Carolina’s largest economic sector, contributing nearly $42 billion and over 200,000 jobs to our state’s economy. And yet, when you tell you someone that you are a farmer, most people have no idea what you are even talking about.” Agriculture is the backbone of our country. Farmers grow the food that we eat and the fiber that we wear. There is a disconnect between knowing what we eat and what it takes to get it to the table. In fact, less than 2% of our population is involved in agriculture, and that tiny percentage feeds everyone else. With this does not come sympathy for farmers, but more so the need to educate the public and to gain their support. In the Pee Dee area, agriculture is very dynamic, diverse, and dominates our rural areas. Depending on the time of year, you can see all types of crops growing including cotton, corn, peanuts, tobacco, and soybeans. You might even see fields full of sweet potatoes, watermelons, collards, or strawberries, or even peach orchards and pastures full of beef cattle. While it is easy to think farmers are affluent, that is not necessarily the case. The average age of a farmer in our country is 59 years, which proves that fewer and fewer young people are pursuing careers in agriculture. Additionally, the
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prices of seed, equipment, and fertilizer are steadily rising, while commodity prices over the past few years have been steadily on the decline. Margins are tighter than ever, and one hiccup in the weather can be the difference in making a profit or losing money for the entire year. The flood in 2015 and the hurricane in 2016, combined with a depressed agricultural economy nationwide, has left many farmers in our area in poor financial shape. With these conditions, farmers have found it difficult to make a living and provide for their families. A stable, safe food supply is essential for all of us to live healthy, prosperous lives, which cannot be accomplished without the American farmer. “There are many out there who seek to demonize farmers and draw negative publicity towards us. Much of what you read or hear is one-sided, uninformed, or simply untrue. Get to know farmers in our community and buy the local things we produce. Stop by your nearest farmer’s market and see what all we have to offer. Demand that our elected officials devise sound agricultural policy that allows agriculture to thrive.” Young farmers, like William, will lead agriculture into the future. “We have to be innovative and willing to embrace change while holding on the fundamental truths that got us to where we are. We have to educate and inform the public while at the same time being good stewards of the land that provides for everyone. And, as we sit here as farmers asking for your support, we have to give back to our communities as well. Whether we realize it or not, we are all in this together.”
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HEALTH AND WELLNESS
The Power of Plasma story by Edward O’Dell, M.D., FACOG
As a new year begins, Genesis Cosmetic Laser Center is proud to introduce our patients to a new technology in skin tightening and resurfacing. Enter J-Plasma, soon to be called Renuvion. For years in doing our Signature Lipo Sculpting we have used laser energy under the skin to promote skin tightening as part of our combination of techniques to help you achieve a slimmer look and tighter skin. The laser treated skin does require several weeks to accomplish that tightening. In the last two years research has been
done on a newer approach using what is known as cold Helium plasma. Yes, I said Helium as in that balloon gas. When a stream of helium is exposed to an energy source, in this case RF energy, a small stream of plasma energy is produced that has been shown to be very effective in tightening the small structures under the skin that hold the skin to the underlying tissue. By using this tool I have seen the skin begin the tightening process on the procedure table in my patients. One study estimated about a 25% tightening at the time of the procedure with a lot more to follow in coming weeks. So far that has proven to be the case in my practice. The laser is still selectively incorporated in my work as indicated and may be used in cases where the plasma may not be appropriate. Additionally the Renuvion plasma is being used on the skin surface of the face for facial rejuvenation and has proven to be a game changer. After numbing the skin, much like when doing Fraxel treatments, the plasma is used to resurface the skin, getting rid of years of wrinkles and tightening the skin. We do require you to follow a prescribed post procedure care plan for the first week to ten days so that your skin will look its best as you heal. Genesis is the first cosmetic center in South and North Carolina to use this revolutionary new technology. After researching everything that is new in the field of skin tightening, I feel the power of Plasma will prove to be the next level to help you look your best and achieve a slimmer, youthful you.
For more information, please visit
genesiscosmeticlasercenter.com or call 843.669.2220. 54
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PAYING IT FORWARD
West Hartsville Baptist Church Hosts
Night to Shine Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation story by Jordan Pupa
Red carpets, glamorous dresses, dancing shoes, and smiling faces all describe the evening of February 9th. Prom season has already kicked off in the Pee Dee area with the Night to Shine, an event hosted by the Tim Tebow Foundation that creates an unforgettable prom experience centered on God’s love for people with special needs. West Hartsville Baptist Church was one of over 537 churches nationwide and in 16 countries that hosted the event, and the only church in the Pee Dee area. The purpose of the event is to honor young adults with special needs and disabilities, ages 14 and older, with an extraordinary evening of fun and joy. West Hartsville Baptist Church hosted the event for the first time this year with a total of 76 guests. Guests came from the Saleeby Center, The Scott Center, and several high schools in the county and surrounding counties. The event was complete with over the top decorations, limousine rides, a DJ and dance floor, red carpet and photo opportunity, tiaras and crowns, a shoe shine station, a hair and make-up room, delicious food, and so much more! The Tim Tebow Foundation provided grant money to help sponsor the event, but the heart of the event consisted of the many dedicated volunteers. The church asked for 100 volunteers when starting the planning process and was blown away with 50 signing up within the first week, then even more after that. An astounding 110 volunteers stepped up to the plate to make the event a success. Volunteers helped with preparation work that consisted of collecting dress donations, purchasing decorations, and the creation of floral corsages and boutonnieres. At the event, volunteers became buddies with attendees, welcomed and cheered guests on at the red carpet, assisted with parking and registration, took photos, served food, helped with shoe-shining, and the list continues. Louis Commander provided the music. Claire Bergwerff, who grew up at West Hartsville Baptist Church, traveled all the way from Murrells Inlet, SC to 56
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provide hair and makeup services for the prom guests. Bizzell’s catered the delicious meal and Grigg’s Circle Bakery provided cupcakes, brownies, and cookies. The red carpet posts and ropes were borrowed from the Center Theatre. Ben Huffer, Scott Huffer, and Leslie Mincey were the photographers for the evening and were able to capture all the magical moments. A security team with radios was in every section of the church and outside for guest safety, and the local EMS volunteered to be on hand just in case they were needed. Lori Huffer cannot imagine not hosting the event. She states, “It was one of the most beautiful nights I have ever experienced watching our church serve this community and celebrate those with special needs that way our Savior celebrates them every day, as Kings and Queens. As the night unfolded I was buoyed by every smile that walked the red carpet and every tender heart speaking of how very excited we were to celebrate them.” Over 90,000 guests were in attendance nationwide for the 2018 Night to Shine event. West Hartsville Baptist Church plans to host the event again next February and will be looking for local sponsors to help with different items such as limos, extra red carpet, 100 crowns and tiaras for each guest, catering, videography, and much more. For more information on Night to Shine,
www.timtebowfoundation.org March 2018 | VIP Magazine
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
JESSICA LARRIMORE FLORENCE LITTLE THEATER OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Tell us about your career with Florence Little Theater.
What upcoming FLT shows are you looking forward to?
“I began at FLT as an intern during my senior year at FMU. After graduation, I was contacted by a member of the board to help fill in during a transition period. When the position came available, I applied and I have been with FLT full-time now for almost five years as the Operations Coordinator.”
“I’m excited to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat opening in April! The music is wonderful, as most Andrew Lloyd Webber shows are, and the cast is so talented. The director, Shaw Thompson, has a great concept of the show!”
What has been your favorite FLT performance? “My favorite show was Les Miserables. FLT was the first community theatre in South Carolina to produce Les Miserables.” FLORENCE LITTLE THEATER 417 S DARGAN ST, FLORENCE, 843.662.3731 | florencelittletheatre.org
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What can you tell us about FLT that we may not know? “FLT could not operate without volunteers from the community! All of our actors, directors, designers, ushers, stage crew, coordinators, costumers, and so many more are all volunteers. We could not do anything without the many talented individuals from our community. FLT is a family of individuals from all walks of life who are bound together by the love of theatre.”
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IN YOUR STATE
PLAY IN NATURE Break away from your busy everyday lives and rest, relax and reconnect with nature at Bolt Farm Treehouse in Walhalla, SC. story by Kimberly Brauss Once you set foot on Bolt Farm, you’ll see why the Bolt family decided to build a remarkable treehouse on their 40-acre property in the small, charming city of Walhalla, tucked in the northwestern part of South Carolina. A couple years ago, Seth Bolt envisioned retreat, where he and the family could stay to unplug, rest, and relax. In talking with his father, Larry, a licensed builder, the two decided to make the vision a reality. The pair spent Father’s Day 2015 building the Bolt Farm Treehouse together. The creative partnership built an inspirational place, where Seth, a bass player and founding member of NEEDTOBREATHE, could create music, connect with God, and spend time in nature. It’s also a place where his friends and fellow musicians could stay when they visit South Carolina. “When we realized how special this place is and how important it became to us to have a place where the pace of life is slower, we decided to open it to the public in hopes that other busy people would experience it as a sanctuary of rest,” Seth said. 60
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The inspirational scenery and breath-taking views along with the standard of building excellence captured what Seth was looking to accomplish in the luxurious one bedroom and one bathroom treehouse. He said he wanted it to be worthy of his wedding day. In fact, Seth and his wife, Tori, were married at the Bolt Farm in May 2016, and they had their first look inside and stayed for part of their honeymoon.
an outdoor grill, shouldn’t look further than time on the farm in the treehouse. A favorite feature at the treehouse is the window wall, from floor to ceiling is a wall of antique windows that make a spectacular view of the forest. There’s plenty of hiking trails such as Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls in the area as well as exploring the trails at Bolt Farm. And there are plenty of options to dine out.
“Being in the treehouse on our wedding day was like a fairy tale! Standing there with my soon to be husband, admiring every little perfect detail knowing that he had this day in mind as he created it was such an overwhelming beautiful display of his love,” Tori Bolt said. The treehouse experience set apart from most vacation rentals begins the moment you step onto the farm and walk up the wooden ramp to the treehouse. Guests are in control of their experience.
“There is a lot to discover and enjoy here from the hammock to the double deck to the swinging bed and outdoor shower. We recommend our guests turn off their phones and place them in our ‘5-star phone hotel’ next to the bedside. They’ll get the most out of this experience when they let their inner child run free and play in nature,” Tori Bolt said.
Travelers looking for all the small details to be taken care of, including homemade meals delivered to them upon request, enjoying vintage records, board games, coffee, and