magazine Publisher Tammy Clark tmclark225@gmail.com Editor Heather Page heather@vipmagsc.com Office Manager Tiffany Skipper jtskipp35@gmail.com Advertising Executives Jordan Pupa jordan@vipmagsc.com Julie C. Tyler juliectyler@yahoo.com Creative Design Tuesday Taylor Ashley Rogers
Contributing Photographers Jonathan Boatwright Erin Daniels Rebecca Giese Phillip Guyton Memories by Liz Ashley Rogers Collin Smith Contributing Writers Kent Daniels Michael K. Foxworth II, MD, FAAP Shane Gebhards Rebecca Giese Zach Hughes Jack Muench Jordan Pupa Allie Roark Doug Smith
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COVER CONCEPT
Summertime is here and the uncomfortably hot days have surrounded us. But with summer vacations, staycations and afternoons spent with family and friends, those hot days are packed with beautiful memories. This month we share some great summer recipes and adventures that help make those lasting impressions. A big thanks to Trey Davis for sharing this photo of his daughter Bailey with us for the cover! If you’d like your photography featured on Vip’s cover, send your entries to heather@vipmagsc.com!
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CONTENTS
ISSUE 44
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JULY 2019 LIFESTYLE 12 Rebecca Giese: Gathering For A Feast 14 Donna & Sarah Isgett: Sharing A Love For Horses 16 Living Local: Favorite Summer Activities 18 Hello Summer, Class is Dismissed 20 Gift Guide: Grillin' & Chillin' Meatgeeks 22 Newsworthy: Something To Celebrate
BUSINESS 24 Wilcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A.: Nuts & Bolts of Qualified Opportunity Zone Investments 26 Down South Sugar Co. 28 WebsterRogers: Emily Hicks 32 June 2019 Calendar of Events
LIFESTYLE 34 Narinee Washington: Taste of Love 36 Florence Chamber: Knight Furniture 38 Fun Facts: National French Fry Day 40 SVG Digital: Internet Retargeting
HEALTH + BEAUTY
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42 HopeHealth: School Year Vaccines 44 The Road to Recovery: Medication Assisted Therapy 46 Gift Guide: Beach Essentials
HOME 48 Doug Smith: The Crowd Pleaser 50 TV + Book Suggestion 52 Did You Know.... Lake City's History 54 Around Town: 2019 Lip Sync Battle 56 Around Town: Cruisin' Downtown Florence 58 Bucket List: Hunting Island State Park
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60 Drink of the Month: Strawberry-Lemon Mojito
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LIFESTYLE
Gathering For A Feast story by Rebecca Giese
One of my favorite things about summer and July especially are the celebrations, BBQs, cookouts, pool parties, whatever you call them! I love the socializing, and memories made during the summer, memories usually centered around the picnic table and the delicious spread on it. This month I thought I would share some fresh, easy sides to switch up your go-to cookout essentials and elevate classic favorites. I love light sides that aren't covered in mayonnaise or loaded with carbs, so each side dish is selected for those hot summer days and gatherings by the pool when you don't want to go into a food coma or take a nap after eating. And while being in such an agricultural area, why not highlight some local produce like corn and watermelon! I loved using herbs and tomatoes from our garden to finish off the dishes. All the recipes do not need an oven or stove so no hot kitchens today! And all can be made easily out camping, at the beach or park picnic. Â
Grilled Watermelon Salad Yes, Grilled! Watermelon has a new sweet and savory taste in this fun dish! 4 Thick Slices of Watermelon Crumbled Feta cheese (To be sprinkled on top so more or less based on preference) Balsamic Reduction (To be drizzled on top so more or less based on preference) 1 Spring of Mint chopped Grill the watermelon by placing directly on the grill. Handle it like a burger and flip over after several minutes. You know it is "cooked" when you have successful grill marks on both sides. Let is cool. Once cooled, cut the watermelon and place in a bowl or on a plate. Then sprinkle the feta cheese and chopped mint before serving drizzle the balsamic reduction.
*All recipes are for groups of 4-6 double and triple accordingly* 12
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Simply Guacamole
Caprese Salad
Grilled Corn Salad
3 Ripe Avocados 1/4 Finely Chopped Sweet Onion 1 Finely Chopped Fresh Garlic Clove 2 Tablespoons of coarsely chopped Cilantro 1/2 Of a Lime juiced Salt and Pepper to Taste
2 Tomatoes Several large Basil leaves Fresh Mozzarella Balsamic Reduction (To be drizzled on top so more or less based on preference)
5 Medium/Small Ears of Corn 1/4 Cup of Chopped Tomatoes 1/8-1/4 Cup of Cilantro (depends on preference) 1 Finely Chopped Fresh Garlic Clove 1/2 Of a Lime juiced 2 Chopped Green Onions Salt and Pepper to Taste
Peel and de-pit the avocados into a bowl and add the other ingredients. Slowly mash all the ingredients together until combined. Serve immediately with tortilla chips.
Slice the tomato and place one on the plate, then layer a thick slice of fresh mozzarella, a basil leaf and repeat until the plate is full. Drizzle Balsamic Reduction over the dish and serve immediately.
Place corn in grilling tray or directly on the grill. Do not use foil because you want the slight char and blistering of the corn. Turn the corn occasionally until cooked all the way around. Let the corn cool and then once cool enough to handle, cut the corn off the cobb and into a bowl. Then combine the rest of the ingredients in the bowl with the corn and serve cold.
What's on My Radar? I love the 4th of July Fireworks and can't wait to celebrate this country! Down South Sugar opened in Hartsville, and I can't wait to try sugaring and her other products for the first time. Beach time and some relaxing fun in the sun! Check out my beach essential on page 47 Currently residing in Hartsville, Rebecca Giese enjoys exploring the Pee Dee area, shopping local artisans, trying new restaurants, and finding inspiration from the history and culture surrounding her. When not out on an adventure, she’s telling stories on her blog, Southern’spirations.
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LIFESTYLE
Sharing a Love for Horses
Donna with trainer Carey Ready & team
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Sarah riding Killarney in Aiken, May 2019
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story by Heather page / photos by Erin Daniel Photography
ork can sometimes consume us, especially when we love what we do. Like Donna Isgett, her roles at McLeod Health as Senior Vice President over McLeod Physician Associates and Chief Quality Officer have provided much substance to her life. Her career has helped define her and her passion to be an exceptional employee have offered a remarkable career. However, when that daily work shift is over, Donna finds herself pursuing a dream that takes her outside of the corporate world and onto a saddle. Donna had an affection for horses very early in life. Her grandfather bought her first pony when she was just three years old. While she grew up around the large animals, her time with them was spent doing casual rides. It wasn’t until she was 21 that she had her first lesson. Donna wouldn’t step foot (or hooves) into the competitive world until much later in life. In 1996, Donna moved to Darlington with her husband John so he could pursue his automotive business. That same year, their daughter Sarah was born and Donna began her career with McLeod. A lot had changed but Donna’s interest in the horse world never wavered. As time progressed, John and Donna welcomed a son, J.T., into the mix. With two kids in tow, the couple bought a 64 acre farm where her first project was to build a barn to occupy her horses. Even before a home was built on the property, the family would spend every weekend there working with the horses.
Sarah with trainer Liza Boyd
Not remembering a moment without a horse in the picture, Sarah grew up sharing her mother’s love for horses. However, unlike her mother, Sarah began riding under the guidance of trainers at a very young age. She also enjoyed a different approach to riding; Sarah reveled in jumping hurdles (small jumps) and fences (large jumps), and maneuvering through obstacles with her horse. As Sarah became better at the sport,
she began competing. “We spent most of our time on mother/daughter trips, pulling the horse trailer all over the southeast,” explains Donna. Sarah’s dedication to the sport landed a scholarship at the University of South Carolina, where she rode competitively until recently graduating. “Being an athlete at USC was hard work,” Sarah shared. “Like football players or basketball players, we as equestrians were made to train in the same forms. We had to spend so much time in the gym and meet with the athletic department to make sure our grades were kept up. I look forward to taking a break from the competitive side of riding while working on my Master's at the Medical University of South Carolina.” As one family member takes a break from the competitive aspect of the sport, another dives deeper. Donna is making her way across the United States as a novice amateur in the Quarter Horse division. While Donna has no intentions of jumping fences like Sarah, she finds much joy in flat work. Since she began competing, just two short years ago, Donna has won several titles including Championship Amateur WJ Western Pleasure at the World Palomino Show in Tunica, Mississippi in 2018. “It’s been an amazing adventure,” says Donna. “I’ve had a passion for horses my entire life. It’s nice to take what I’ve learned over the years and apply it to that passion competitively.” With an incredibly busy career, it’s exciting for Donna to get her feet in the saddle on the weekends. As she works hard with trainers, she is sure to soon gain many more ribbons to display at the barn. And while Sarah may be taking a more relaxed approach to the competitive world of riding, she has no plans of quitting completely. This duo along with their large four-legged friends will continue to spread the Isgett name in horse venues across entire United States! July 2019
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LIFESTYLE
W E A SK E D SEV E R A L L O C A L S
"What is your favorite summer activity?" and this is what they had to say... Corey Craig, Marion: "Since breakfast is the most important meal, you can find me starting my day off either at Richard’s Restaurant or Raspberry and Thymes (both on Main Street in Marion) for good food and a morning cup of Joe. I’m all about hunting and fishing, but summertime lends itself more towards the fishing, so there is nothing better than when the banks of the Little Pee Dee are just right. And if my wife is nagging me about working out, I hit up Studio610 for indoor cycling."
Anna Howell, Lake City Grant Huestess, Florence "I love dating my fiancée. We've gone to Addie's Baby for really fun paint sessions. We also do trivia over at Southern Hops most Thursdays. Can't wait to marry you, sweetheart!”
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"Walking down Main Street of Lake City is always a treat. I love to pop into some of the shops like Seven, Main Street Mercantile, and Growing Up Green. There is plenty to choose from at all the shops in town. After a bite at Bakers’ Sweets, my husband and I try to stop in at Olio Studio for a fun art project with our two sons. Making the most of our day is always a blast in Lake City!"
Charlie Abbott, Hartsville:
“My family loves being in Hartsville in the summer time! One of our favorite things to do is pick up food from some of our great restaurants like Groucho’s Deli, Bizzell’s, Hoof and Hound, and Midnight Rooster and take it to Lawton Park for a picnic at the playground. We also love to spend hours and hours escaping the heat at Neptune Island, and then we cool down even more by getting something sweet at sugaRush (or a beer for me at Vintage Craft Beer & Wine). While my wife walks around downtown spending all of our money at Raised Down South, Minnie’s Giftique, and Tommi Mack, I like to sneak in a round of golf at the beautiful Hartsville Country Club. There is just so much to do in Hartsville!
Tiffany Manley, Florence: “As a stay-at-home mom, summers for me mean weekday pool time with my family! I love prepping food for my husband to grill (we love fresh cuts of beef from the local butcher shop Ole Timey Meat Market) and having friends and their families over to swim & play. Popsicles, burgers, and kids’ laughter are what makes Summers so special! When we aren’t by the pool, we can be found cooling off at one of our favorite restaurants in town. We love King Jefe for their yummy tacos and Red Bone Alley for their kids area and ice cream truck!"
Summer Survival Kit Social Media Giveaway Follow Vip Magazine on Instagram and Facebook for a chance to win this Summer Survival Kit from Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau! July 2019
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HEALTH + BEAUTY
CLASS IS DISMISSED story by Allie Roark
Happy Summer, Friends! I don’t know about you, but this is a great time of the year. Being a teacher, I finally have some time where I can shift my focus on other things besides grading papers, creating lessons, signing off on paperwork, or talking with parents. This summer I plan to be a little selfish and focus on self-care so that I can become the best version of myself. A few months ago, I took an online “Back to the Basics” course that really helped me simplify my life. This issue I’d like to share some of the practical lessons I learned so you can simplify your life as well. You don’t have to be a teacher on summer break; maybe you’re retired or maybe you are still working during the summer. Either way, I hope you can join me in simplifying life! Come on, it’s time that we take care of ourselves and search for the things that we can do in our lives that excite us. Here are three easy self-care action steps that we can implement right away. Who knows? Maybe these action steps will turn into lifestyle changes.
Self-care How are you taking care of yourself? When some think of self-care, they immediately think it means massages, bubble baths, facials, etc. Hey, don’t get me wrong, those things are luxurious and well-deserved, but it’s more than that. Self-care has different categories such as physical, spiritual, relational, and mental. This month I will focus on some simple ways to take care of our mental health. 18
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Unplug - This is huge and super hard, but I have
found that when I take time out from social media, I am much more productive and happy. Take two weeks to focus on you. Delete the apps off of your phone, and you will be amazed at how much your screen time will decrease. I encourage you to use the time that you would normally spend scrolling on reading, journaling, having quiet time, calling a friend to catch up, going for a walk with your family, exercising, or being more present in your relationships. Come on, two weeks with no social media. It really isn’t as hard as it sounds.
Create a morning routine and a bedtime routine - This was a
major game changer for me. I assigned myself a bedtime and wake up time and it made a crazy difference in my daily life. My sleep time takes top priority, and there is no negotiating on that. So I decided that if I wanted to wake up earlier to fit in my quiet time and early morning work out in then I need to go to sleep earlier. After you determine your wakeup/bedtimes, think about three things that you are going to do each morning when you wake up and every night before you go to sleep. Maybe you like to start your morning with coffee, stretches, and quiet time. Whatever you choose, pick three things that you can do every morning when you wake up. Do the same for your bedtime routine. Follow this routine for 30 days and you will fall in love with the consistency and routine. It helped me to write mine out.
Plan it - I am known for my Happy Planner. Every
Sunday, I take out my stickers, and I get so giddy at the thought of planning my week. I count this as self-care too. How do you plan out your week? Whether it’s scheduling meals, after-school activities, appointments, or paying bills - take some time on Sunday to sit down and map it all out. You may not be as giddy as me, but I am sure you will feel some sort of relief throughout the week as unexpected events pop up. (Side Note: Hobby Lobby, Joann’s Fabric, and Michaels in Sumter are local places where you can find Happy Planners and accessories. It is a game changer!)
Feeling brave? Here’s a challenge for you… Have you ever been told that it is okay to be multi-passionate? You are allowed to do more than one thing. In fact, you are allowed to try as many things as you want, fail at some, and strive with few. This year I learned that I am more than “just a teacher.” I put myself in a box with a label and felt terrified to explore other passions. Now, I don’t think I will be the next “Girl Boss,” but I did find some direction in what makes me happy. Here’s how you can too. Ask yourself or someone you’re close to “what makes me excited?” This should point you in the general direction of what your passion may be. I love writing and blogging so this was an easy one for me. Find out the direction of your unknown passions and take little steps toward it. We aren’t supposed to be comfortable for too long. That’s boring, right? Let’s make bold steps toward something that scares us a little bit. There is room for improvement no matter what risk you’re willing to take. Maybe you want to open your own antique booth at Palmetto Peddler in Florence, run a 5K, open up a restaurant downtown, or start a small group. I dare you to start exploring your passions and asking yourself questions that will determine the direction that you need to go in. Friend, I cannot wait to hear about the exciting things that you make happen in your life.
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GIFT GUIDE
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grillin’ & chillin’
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ORIGINAL PAWLEYS ISLAND ADIRONDACK CHAIR This traditionally styled Folding Adirondack Chair offers lifelong comfort and durability. It’s folding variation allows for efficient storage in the off-season, while also making it easier to provide comfort on the go. Fire It Up! 1300 Celebration Blvd # 1, Florence
BONE SUCKIN’ SAUCE A serious barbecue, grilling & marinating sauce for land & sea. Use amply for that Bone Suckin’ flavor! Bone Suckin’ Sauce is sweetened with Honey & Molasses with an irresistible flavor. Gluten Free, Non GMO & No High Fructose Corn Syrup. Sparky’s Country Store 2416 S Highway 501, Marion
ROCKWOOD® PREMIUM ALL-NATURAL LUMP CHARCOAL Rockwood’s pure lump charcoal comes from premium Missouri oak, hickory and maple, so it’s free from chemicals, fillers, binders and other impurities. Its rich wood aroma complements the natural flavor of meats, fish and poultry. It’s that simple. Schofields 155 S Cashua Drive, Florence
YEP! SHAKE ORIGINAL SEASONING Is it good on chicken? Yep! Is it good on fish? Yep! How about veggies? Yep! This unique blend of all-natural seasonings is good on pretty much everything except ice cream and cinnamon buns. Ole Timey Meats 2241 W Palmetto Street, Florence
BILLABONG CATCHING RAYS STRAW HAT This wide brim straw hat is sure to keep the sun out of your eyes. Complete with a two-tone weave and raw edge for a vintage look. COAST on Carolina 124 E Carolina Ave, Hartsville
TRAEGER TIMBERLINE 1300 WOOD PELLET FIRED GRILL Wood-fired perfection, features like Super Smoke mode thanks to the TRU Convection® system. Grill on-the-go with the Timberline’s WiFIRE® controller, by changing temperatures, setting timers, and accessing our recipe arsenal all from your phone. Carolina Supply House Inc 124 E Carolina Ave, Hartsville June 2019
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NEWSWORTHY
Something to Celebrate... Florence County First Steps Awards Elonda Blyther 2019 Center Childcare Provider of the Year BLYTHER
Florence County First Steps awarded Ms. Elonda Blyther with the 2019 Center Childcare Provider of the Year Award. Ms. Blyther is the Director of Sunshine House Early Learning Academy in Florence, SC and has been in the early childhood field for 21 years. She earned an Associate in Early Childhood Education and is currently working on a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies. From an early age, Ms. Blyther knew that she wanted to be an educator; her mother—who started out as an early childcare educator but did not stick with it—was her biggest inspiration. “My mother was my biggest influence as she started her career as an educator of young children. Seeing her passion in how she worked with her students sent the desire to me. Even though her final service was taking care of the elderly, it still bridges her purpose of taking care of others which left a permanent spot etched in my heart for ensuring quality care.” Ms. Blyther’s facility focuses on children's education, accomplishments, growth, and development. Activities are done in small group settings as well as individually. Ms. Blyther says that watching the children’s different growth stages and seeing the children blossom and develop is by far the biggest reward. Although rewarding, it does have challenges. The foremost challenge that Ms. Blyther finds is “bridging the gap” between early childhood and the transition to the public or private school sector. “A lot of times, [children] come from this nurturing environment of love and care, and once they get to school, they hear ‘let’s sit down,’ ‘let’s be quiet,’ and we have a more hands-on environment.” Ms. Blyther states that she is working on making sure that the children who attend her facility are well-equipped for making the transition. The best advice that Ms. Blyhter can give for those who aspire to be in the early childhood field is to love what you do. She says, “Many children are in the care of someone other than their parents for most of their waking hours; so if those individuals are not passionate and see their importance then we do a huge disservice to children and the world.” Ms. Blyther feels that as long as an individual has passion for what they do, they will do fine and go far. “The road has been tough but the outcome has been great! I am in love with being an educator. I will continue to extend my love of learning by teaching others to love learning. My visions and plans have been a huge part of the accomplishments I have today! Most importantly, the people that have rallied in my corner keep me grounded. I am, and I will continue to make a difference because I am walking in my purpose as an educator who leads.”
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MCLEOD HEALTH - Physicians and Hospitals Recognized for Excellence in Healthcare McLeod Health physicians and hospitals were recently recognized for providing excellence in healthcare by national healthcare research leader Professional Research Consultants, Inc. (PRC). Dr. M. Adnan Alsaka, a McLeod Nephrologist, was recognized as a Top Performer for Overall Quality of Physician Care. Dr. Alsaka is ranked at or above the 100th percentile which equates to one of the highest-scoring physicians in the nation. The following 12 McLeod Health physicians and one nurse practitioner were also honored for being ranked in the top ten percent in the nation as 5-Star recipients: Dr. C. Richard Alexander, Dr. W. Brad Campbell, Dr. Gary Emerson, Dr. James S. Garner, IV, Dr. Raymond R. Holt, Dr. William A. Jackson, Dr. Patrick J. Jebaily, Dr. Guy E. McClary, Jr., Dr. Ansel R. McFaddin, Dr. Amy P. Murrell, Dr. Charles Tatum, Dr. Neil W. Trask, III and Teresa A. Yarborough, NP.
Honda of South Carolina Mfg., Inc. Celebrates Team Honda Week of Service Associates from Honda of South Carolina spent a week in June working with local non-profits including the Boys and Girls Club, Manna House, Harvest Hope and Florence Area Humane Society. More than 25,000 volunteers across North America participated in Honda’s fourth annual Week of Service. Honda associates, dealers and suppliers conducted volunteer service activities in the community in an effort to make a positive impact in the places they live and work. Allison Bradley, Honda associate, helped coordinate their work with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Florence and Timmonsville, an organization she feels passionate about. The Honda team worked with students on STEAM activities to give examples of how electricity works in a fun and creative way. Allison was thrilled to offer an opportunity to local children that may not normally be able to have these experiences. Diane Embry, another Honda associate, added, “When you have the Honda white on, kids swarm to you. It makes us feel special and lets us know that what we are doing is making a difference."
If you are celebrating a positive achievement or have been awarded for a newsworthy accomplishment, email Heather Page at heather@vipmagsc.com.
MUSC HEALTH - No. 5 on Inaugural Forbes List of America's Best Employers by State MUSC Health ranks No. 5 on the inaugural Forbes list of America’s Best Employers in South Carolina. Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to pinpoint the organizations liked best by employees in its first-ever ranking of America’s Best Employers by state. The ranking is divided into 51 lists: one for each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. To view the South Carolina list of 49 best employers, please visit: https://www.forbes.com/ best-employers-by-state/#13840e51487a. “It is always gratifying when employees acknowledge our organization as an outstanding employer,” said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., CEO of MUSC Health and Vice President of Health Affairs, University. “No matter how much advanced technology we use, it takes highly skilled, compassionate, caring people to reach a health system’s fullest potential and to consistently deliver our best to patients and families.” To determine the list, Statista surveyed 50,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 500 employees. All the surveys were anonymous, allowing participants to openly share their opinions. The respondents were asked to rate, on a scale of zero to 10, how likely they would be to recommend their employer to others. Statista then asked respondents to nominate organizations in industries outside their own. The number of businesses ranked in each state was dependent on two factors — the number of qualifying employers and the size of the state’s workforce. Those with operations in more than one state had the opportunity to be listed multiple times. The final list ranks the 1,430 employers that received the greatest number of recommendations in each of the 50 states as well as the District of Columbia.
Francis Marion University Offers Certificate in Management of Emerging Technologies The School of Business at Francis Marion University is offering the Certificate in Management of Emerging Technologies in Fall 2019. Our business environment is swamped with sweeping, ever-changing advancements in technology. We are bombarded with buzzwords like Bitcoin, Cloud Computing, Bots, Machine Learning and Cognitive Computing without a clear explanation of what these are and how they would impact our businesses. Business managers are being asked to look through the confusion and create strategies and policies to address the impact of these changes in technology. More often than not, the policies and strategies are implemented after a crisis when it’s already too late. Technology management is too important to be left to people with technical skills. It is people in the line functions who need to be aware of how changing technology impacts their way of doing business. The Certificate in Management of Emerging Technologies at FMU addresses the problem of hype vs. reality. With our diverse panel of experts, we offer you an opportunity to learn about different trends in technology, understand what they are and build policies and strategies to manage the impact.
CELEBRATING ARTFIELDS VOLUNTEERS! “Thank you to all of the amazing volunteers who participated in the ArtFields 2019 festivities. Without these amazing people our events wouldn’t be as wonderful or successful. We appreciate all that you do!" -Sincerely, Anna Moore Howell and ArtFields Team
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BUSINESS
The
Nuts & Bolts QUALIFIED OPPORTUNITY ZONE INVESTMENT Introduction. Late in 2017, as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Congress enacted Internal Revenue Code Sections 1400Z-1 and 2 (the “Legislation”). As our last article discussed, the income tax breaks created by these provisions require long term, relatively illiquid investments in new businesses located in qualified opportunity zones. As we pointed out last month, investments in non-publicly traded entities require careful attention to a significant number of business and investment particulars. The purpose of this article is to discuss, in broad terms, the tax breaks themselves and to identify some of the more significant issues in this novel and far-reaching Legislation. The novelty and complexity of these rules have been widely discussed. Although two sets of regulations have already been issued by the United States Treasury Department, they are essentially new and complicated (or, at least, extensive). This novelty requires careful analysis by potential investors and their advisors. The Legislation is directly relevant to Florence investors because the Secretary of the Treasury has designated parts of Florence as qualified opportunity zones. These zones are located in the following census tracts in Florence: 45041000700, 45041001000, 45041002000, 45041002201, and 45041002500. The Internal Revenue Service’s frequently asked questions document on opportunity zones, which you can find on its website, lists the mechanism for determining whether an address is located in a particular census tract. Compared to existing programs designed to encourage private investment in low-income areas, the tax-advantaged qualified opportunity zone program is less restrictive, less costly, and less reliant on government agencies to function. Existing programs, which generate tax credits, are more limited in supply and subject to annual Congressional approval and/or tax credit allocation authority. Further, and unlike existing programs designed to stimulate private investment in low-income
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communities, opportunity funds can self-certify their “qualified” status without the need for approval from the IRS. Again, the IRS's frequently asked questions site describes how to initiate the certification process. Overview. After selling an appreciated capital asset, an investor must invest the gain from the sale into an opportunity fund within 180 days of the sale and elect deferral treatment. Thereafter, for an investment in a qualified opportunity zone fund held longer than five years, there is a 10% exclusion from income on the deferred gain. If the investment is held for more than seven years, that 10% increases to 15%. As a separate matter, fund investments held for ten years will not be taxed on gains earned from selling the interest in the fund. Note that this is a deferral and partial elimination of gain on the sale of the taxpayer’s capital asset—it is not a tax credit. As the law is written, the investment must be held until December 31, 2026, when investors must recognize and pay taxes on the deferred gain regardless of whether they are still holding the fund investment. These timing issues are discussed below. Form of Investment. The investment in a fund must take the form of investment in stock or in a partnership interest in a fund, or in real estate located in qualified opportunity zones. The stock or partnership interest must be in a domestic entity and acquired after December 31, 2017. The stock or partnership interest must be original issue and must be acquired solely for cash.
Underlying Fund Investments. Essentially, opportunity funds can only invest in the construction of new buildings and the substantial improvement of existing unused buildings which are located in a qualified opportunity zone. If the fund invests in an existing building in order to improve it, it must invest more in the improvement of the building than it paid to buy the building. And, whether the building is constructed from the ground up or improved, the development or improvement must be completed within 30 months of purchase. Qualified opportunity zone business property is tangible property used in a trade or business in a qualified opportunity zone. To qualify for the tax advantages discussed in this article, that property must be acquired by purchase after December 31, 2017; the original use of that property must commence with the qualified opportunity fund or the qualified opportunity fund must substantially improve it. All of the use of the property must occur in a qualified opportunity zone during all of the fund’s holding of the property. Here we see the policy behind this legislation: to encourage real estate development in low-income communities. The Importance of Timing. As noted above, the tax deferral and basis increase features of the Legislation are determined largely by the investor’s holding period in the fund. Given the 2026 cut off, the most tax advantageous investment will have to be made this year. This will require the fund to be formed this year. Investing in later years, under current law, may diminish the tax benefits. By way of example, the investor holds the interest in the fund for at least five years, the investor receives a basis increase in the invested funds equal to 10% of the deferred gain. If the investor holds her interest in the fund for seven years, she receives an additional increase in basis in five years. However, as the current law is written, if the investment is held until December 31, 2026, the investor must recognize and pay taxes on the deferred gain, regardless if they are still holding the investment, subject to the increase in basis that she has received. If the investment is held past ten years, the step up in basis for the investor is the fair market value of the property. In order to receive these step-ups in basis, the investor must invest in the fund by 2021 to receive the 10% increase, and by 2019 to receive the additional 5% increase.
Someone who reinvests a capital gain worth $100 in an Opportunity Fund in 2019 gets a 15% "step up in basis," which means she has to pay the federal capital gains tax on only $85 of that original income. At a tax rate of 23.8%, that comes to $20 — and she doesn't have to pay it for ten years as long as she owns the stock or partnership in interest. On top of that, if she holds the investment for at least 10 years, she pays no capital gains taxes on the proceeds from Opportunity Zone investment. The Economic Innovation Group calculated that would result in a net after-tax profit of $76, compared to $36 if the original capital gain were invested in a regular stock portfolio, assuming 7% annual rates of return for both. Looked at another way, if a stock market portfolio generated after-tax returns of about 2.8% per year, the Opportunity Zone incentive amounts to an extra 3 percentage points on top of that if held for 10 years, which can add up to a lot for larger deals — especially for projects that already looked good to begin with. Note, however, that the rate of return assumption is critical to this analysis. Conclusion. Qualified opportunity zone investments present a welcome change from the many complexities and restrictions existing in tax credit programs. However, the Legislation is new and presents somewhat of a definitional thicket as one analyzes the law. The IRS has issued a frequently asked questions site which sets out some of the issues facing an investor (including some rather surprising examples on what constitutes a “disposition” of the stock or the partnership interest in the fund). The Department of the Treasury has issued extensive and generally well thought out regulations. However, for service businesses or for businesses that involve personal property that will be used outside of the opportunity zone, uncertainties still remain. Investor attention to detail, strong tax and financial advisors, and finding deals that make good business sense are essential to seeking to utilize the tax breaks created by the Legislation. story provided by
Jack Muench Concentrating in Corporate Law, Tax Law and Estate Planning
248 West Evans Street | Florence, SC | 843.662.3258 2050 Corporate Centre’ Drive, Suite 230 Myrtle Beach, SC | 843.650.6777
Business Law, Litigation, Real Estate, and Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys July 2019
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BUSINESS
Down South Sugar Co.
A Beauty Bar Focused on Enhancing a Woman’s Natural Beauty The beauty industry is constantly changing and evolving. Today, beauty bars, which specialize in a variety of beauty services under one roof, are taking over and there’s no slowing down the trend! Twenty-two-year-old Hayden Snyder believes in the well-rounded customer experience that beauty bars can provide. Her drive and ambition led her to open Down South Sugar Co., a beauty bar with hair, skin, and nail services, in beautiful downtown Hartsville. Down South Sugar Co. has been open and running since June and the full journey only began a month prior in May. Hayden is the sole owner of Down South Sugar Co. LLC and this is her first business. She shares, “I have always been surrounded by business from my mom selling Usbourne Books for a long time and then starting her own business, Mixed Metaphor Photography. It really helped me get the skill of running a business under my belt with years of experience helping her.” Hayden explains that the most challenging part has been making sure she has completed all the tasks she needs to. “Some days it feels like you could make a million lists and you still are somehow always missing one or two things,” she says. “It has been a stressful whirlwind rollercoaster, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. There were lots of other stressful factors that came into play like planned vacations, pulling my MCL in the knee and being brace ridden for six weeks, and losing a beloved pet, but they never slowed me down!”
The beauty bar focuses on enhancing a woman’s true, natural beauty. A variety of hair, skin, and nail services are offered. Hayden attended the Esthetics program at Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology in Florence from September 2018 to February of 2019. As a licensed esthetician, Courtney Ghoens (licensed she handles “all things skin” hair stylist), Hayden Snyder, owner (licensed esthetician), including facials, body Conner Freeman (licensed nail treatments, full body waxing, technician) or sugaring. Courtney Ghoens, a licensed hair stylist, offers cut and color services by appointment only and Conner Freeman is the licensed nail technician, offering manicure and pedicure services featuring gel polishes. Retail wise, they carry sought after brands such as Dermalogica and Circadia, as well as SunBum Sunscreen, Mailroom Barber Co, and SuperNatural Handmade products. Hayden will use Down South Sugar Co. as an opportunity to educate people through consultations and “Sip and Learn” events, which will be promoted on the Down South Sugar Facebook page. “I feel that, at least with skin, people should be more informed as to WHY things work, and to help them better understand why they need it. I also want people to be knowledgeable when it comes to taking care of themselves because it’s better to be done the right way than the wrong way!” Confidence comes from looking and feeling your best and Down South Sugar Co. can assist with just that. Hayden thanks her parents, family, and all of her followers for the ongoing support. “I am so lucky and thankful to have had to opportunity to be welcomed in Downtown Hartsville and to make it a brighter more sugary downtown!”
For nail and hair appointments, call the shop at (843) 951-0000. For skin services, you can easily use the “Book Now” feature on Facebook, @ DownSouthSugarCo.LLC. Be sure to give them a follow to stay informed on upcoming events!
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With one deadline behind them, WR is still working diligently on client projects. Given the new tax laws, they have been planning with many of their clients since late last year as there are a myriad of changes impacting individuals and businesses. Taxpayers are impacted in different ways. Fortunately, WR has the expertise and experience to navigate the most complex issues.
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EMILY HICKS Meaningfully Contributing story by Heather Page
Emily Hicks has a somewhat non-traditional path to public accounting. She graduated from Francis Marion University with a degree in biology with an interest in the medical profession. Due to her uncertainty of what career she wanted to fully pursue, she took a year off. During her gap year, she recognized how much she enjoyed her own financial management and began taking accounting classes. She completed the accounting classes, sat for the CPA exam, got married, and moved all within the same year! Fast forward to today, Emily has been with WebsterRogers for 14 years. She started off with the firm as an intern in 2001. Right after Emily married her husband Ryan, they moved to Richmond, Virginia for his job. When they were facing a potential transfer to Washington state, Emily remembers thinking it was the perfect time to move back home. Initially, she was working in Hartsville. However, as soon as she had her first son, Luke, she knew she wanted to be back in Florence. About that time, WebsterRogers’ now CEO, Amy Urquhart, had just started with the Firm. “I’ve known Amy since junior high school,” says Emily. “I even worked at Fisher Jewelers and Silversmiths, Amy’s family’s business, in high school and college. Not only was she a natural first call, but I also trusted her opinion.” Soon after, Emily joined Amy at WebsterRogers. While Emily didn’t use her biology degree to go into medicine, she is very invested in the medical profession. She specializes in working with medical practices. Emily shared that many people may not realize WebsterRogers’ foundation is in healthcare. “It represents a significant portion of our firm across lines of business,” explains Emily. WebsterRogers offers healthcare consulting, bookkeeping, tax compliance and consulting, and assurance to many practices across the region. “My goal is for there to be no surprises at tax time. We partner to help our doctors maximize their income, prepare for retirement, and limit their tax liability, but as everyone knows, the healthcare industry has been a hot topic for many years, and this has impacted medical clients. Medical practices have certain nuances that set them apart from other industries.
Not only is WebsterRogers there when everything is routine, but we are also there when our clients are facing change. We support our clients during mergers or acquisitions. We can advise them during the recruitment of new physicians or starting up a new practice. The list goes on.” Emily is grateful to have a great team of healthcare consultants that she relies heavily upon. “I often call them when I know a practice is having some issues. Slow reimbursements from insurance immediately creates cash flow concerns. Our healthcare team can take a deeper dive behind the scenes to determine the root cause.” While Emily often helps clients overcome obstacles, a memorable moment dates back several years ago when a new client came to WebsterRogers because he was having cash flow issues.“We knew he was in a specialty that should have been experiencing strong collections and reimbursements. By using some benchmarking statistics and asking a few key questions, we quickly realized something wasn’t right. We advised the doctor to call a forensic accountant and it was discovered that an employee was stealing from the practice!” When asked what she enjoys most about working for WebsterRogers, Emily said, “The people and the flexibility the Firm has provided for me and my family have made WebsterRogers ‘home' for me. I am very involved in my kids’ lives. All three play sports and we are constantly on the go. It’s my goal to be at every game, every event, and every ceremony. WebsterRogers has worked with me to allow that to happen. Despite being on a ‘parttime flexible’ schedule, I have been able to grow as a professional and meaningfully contribute to our clients and the Firm. I don’t know how many other places would have afforded me that flexibility. It’s attributable to the people and leadership.”
Emily and her husband, Ryan, both grew up and Florence and graduated from FMU. They have three children: Luke (15), Elise (12), William (9). Ryan is a partner with Equipment Rental Services and Emily keeps the books for the company. As a hobby, Ryan is also a part-time caterer where he specializes in oyster roasts and low country boils during the months of October - April. The catering has evolved into a family activity! July 2019
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BUSINESS
TASTE OF
LOVE story by Jordan Pupa
For Narinee Washington, baking is all about knowing that what she is making will make other people happy. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Narinee is both a veteran and a baker. She joined the U.S. Army for three years and now runs her own local baking business out of her home in Darlington. At Taste of Love, all the desserts are made with love! Narinee was stationed at Fort Riley Kansas and completed basic training at Fort Jackson and advanced individual training at Fort Lee in Virginia. “The military was a great decision,” says Narinee. “My job was a 92G food service specialist. While serving, I did mostly night baking which was where all the cookies, cakes, and pastries were prepared for the next day. I really enjoyed the experience and learning new things.” Taste of Love has been in business for a little over a year. When Narinee first moved to Darlington, she did not know anyone except for her husband’s family. Through Taste of Love, she has had the opportunity to meet many great people from all over the Pee Dee area. Taste of Love has also helped strengthen her bond with her mother-inlaw who is very helpful and hands-on with the business “I love to bake and make desserts,” explains Narinee. “I have been baking since I was eight-years-old. My first cake was a soy sauce cake which was by accident. I thought it was vanilla! My Aunt Annessia taught me how to bake and explained to me the difference in what I should use. I would bake stuff and post pictures on social media and that’s really how Taste of Love started.”
To place an order, message Taste of Love on Facebook (@TasteofLove317) or Instagram (@OfficialTasteofLove). Delivery and pick-up options are available. Website coming soon! 34
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When asked what the most popular item is that Taste of Love offers, Narinee explained that all of the cakes are very popular, especially on the weekends. Last winter, Taste of Love added Cheesecake Stuffed Apples to their menu which quickly became a top seller! There are about ten cheesecake stuffed apple flavors offered including Apple Strawberry Crunch, Oreo, Pecan, White Chocolate, Glaze, Milk Chocolate, Butterfinger, Snickers, Pineapple, and Fruity Pebbles. “I think everything we offer is different and unique in its own way because it’s mostly customized to the person placing the order,” says Narinee. “Everyone loves something special made for them and that is what we do. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the people that have supported us so far.”
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BUSINESS
Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce Member of the Month
History of Knight Furniture Knight Furniture opened in November of 1969 as Stuckey Brothers and Knight Furniture, owned by Dexter Stuckey and Thomas Knight. Thomas’ son Rick came into the business in 1971 and Rick’s sister-in-law, Miriam Culberson, joined the business in 1974 as a sales representative; she recently retired. In the mid-nineties, the business was renamed Knight Furniture Showrooms after Rick bought out the Stuckey family. In 1993, Rick’s son Dickie joined the family business and then in 1996, his daughter Joy got involved. Dickie and Joy represented the third generation of Knights with the company. While Rick still owns the company, Dickie manages the website and out of state sales, and Joy handles all in-house sales and buyers.
Family Owned & Operated “Working with family has been a blessing,” says Joy. “Most families don’t get to spend as much time together as we do, so it has made us very close.” On most days you will find Rick, Dickie and Joy behind the counter, loading furniture to be delivered, or adding the finishing touches to their newest display of quality made furniture and home accessories. Each family member has a very specific role within in the company and they value the importance of working together to see that business gets done. As a family and business, they also work closely with The Habitat for Humanity Restore with furniture donations and many other charitable organizations throughout the community.
Products & Service
100 W Evans St, Florence 843.665.0515 flochamber.com
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Knight Furniture carries quality furniture to fit any budget. “Though we have been known as the higher-end furniture store in the Florence area, we try to incorporate all price points so we can cater to every customer’s budget.” The team of Knights stand behind everything they sell. Customer Service is a priority as customers are the most important thing in running a business. The Knight Furniture staff also offers complimentary inhome design services.
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LIFESTYLE
July 13
National French Fry Day How Are French Fries Eaten All Over The World?
Each year on July 13, many people will participate in National French Fry Day by enjoying one of the
many varieties of the classic food. Curls, waffles, crinkle, or wedges; We’ve seen it all! It is no question French Fries are loved by adults and kids in America, but they are actually popular all over the world, with each country putting a unique spin on the crispy classic.
Belgium (The birthplace of the fried potato!): Frietjes
Canada: Poutine
Britain: Chips
Served smothered in brown gravy and cheese curds. Best enjoyed with a fork!
Served with fried fish. Chips are traditionally eaten with a sprinkling of malt vinegar and then salt.
Spain: Patatas Bravas
Japan: Furaido Potato
France: Pommes Frites
Served cubed, covered in aioli and spicy tomato sauce.
Served in a bag with flavor packets of powder which are dumped in the bag and shaken up. The powders come in a variety of flavors including seaweed.
Served thin-cut, crispy and alongside a main course. Although a variety of sauces are available, rémoulade, a sauce with a mayonnaise base, with the addition of pickles, horseradish, curry, anchovies, or other flavorings, is very popular.
Served hot in cardboard cone with a variety of sauces to make them easy to eat as you stroll. Belgian fries are the centerpiece of a meal, not just a side dish.
How do you prefer your fries? 38
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#NationalFrenchFryDay
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BUSINESS
Internet Retargeting Learn about the ads that follow you around the internet. story by Shane Gebhards, SVG Digital
How do businesses make ads that follow me around? This is a question we get asked quite a bit as a digital marketing agency. Websites like Amazon, EBay, and Zappos are notorious for using retargeting in their online strategy. We have all been on Amazon looking at that new product we want but for some reason or another did not make the purchase. You may have been distracted or had to park your shopping cart with plans to come back to it later. Next thing you know, you are back on your computer or your phone and you’ve forgotten all about your plans to make that purchase. You’re scrolling through Facebook and all of the sudden you see the exact product you had in your shopping cart in a Facebook ad right in front of you. Boom! You click the ad, jump back over to Amazon and finish the purchase.
How does retargeting work? Retargeting uses cookies to stay in front of previous site visitors. When someone visits your website, a few lines of code will drop an anonymous cookie on to their browser. This cookie is a small file that stores information. The cookie will store the site visit, but does not store any sensitive information, such as the site visitor’s name, address or any other piece of information that might personally identify the visitor. When someone comes to your site, a cookie is dropped,
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and eventually, they leave and visit another site. The cookie lets you know when one of your bounced visitors appears on another site such as Facebook or any other site with ad space. This entire process is automated and occurs within a fraction of a second. By the time the page loads, the ad space will have been purchased and your ad will appear alongside the page content.
Who does it work for? Any business can benefit greatly by using retargeting. Retargeting is very commonly used by e-commerce companies, and rightfully so, as it is one of the most effective ways to bring back bounced traffic and combat shopping cart abandonment. However, e-commerce companies are certainly not the only businesses that can benefit from this technology. B2B companies, local businesses, schools, and event venues – these are all businesses that can benefit from staying in front of their target audience as much as possible. And these are just a few examples. Ultimately, any website that does not see 100% conversion rates is a great candidate. For most websites, only 2% of web traffic conversion the first visit. Retargeting is a tool designed to help companies reach the 98% of users who don’t convert right away. Imagine being able to reach those 98% percent of people on a regular basis who visited your website but didn’t make a purchase, set up an appointment, or take any sort of action.
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HEALTH + BEAUTY
story by Michael K. Foxworth II, MD, FAAP, HopeHealth Pediatrics
SCHOOL YEAR VACCINES
Just as your child begins to settle into the celebration of freedom that is summer, slightly frazzled parents may suddenly ask themselves if there is something that they will need from their child’s doctor to successfully reenroll them in the fall. Planning well child visits during the summer is a great way to ensure that your child not only gets the preventive care that they deserve, but also to make certain there are no surprises when registration time approaches.
These visits should take place in a medical home, not in an emergency department or urgent care clinic. Your child deserves a patient-centered philosophy that drives primary care excellence; the essence of a medical home. Partnering with your child’s school and pediatrician, you can help ensure that she has a successful and productive school year. After age 3, preschool children, school-aged children, and adolescents should be seen by a physician every year for a well child visit. This is when any concerns can be discussed, sports physical exam forms can be completed, and other important anticipatory guidance and vaccination needs reviewed. Vaccines are one of our greatest medical achievements. It is estimated that among children born in the US during the last 20 years, vaccines will prevent 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths. Worldwide, vaccines prevent 2-3 million deaths every year. Because vaccines have been so effective, the dangers of the diseases they prevent have been forgotten. Therefore, some parents don’t recognize the real threat involved with their children contracting them. Unfortunately, a small but vocal few have made negative claims about vaccines which lead some parents to be hesitant or refuse vaccines altogether. However, the abundance of scientific evidence continues to support the fact that vaccines are safe. Vaccines are effective. Vaccines save lives. 42
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The recent increase in measles cases is a great example. Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, however, due to poor vaccination rates in some areas, the US has seen the greatest number of reported measles cases since 1994. This is especially concerning given that: • 1 in 4 patients with measles will be hospitalized • 1 in 20 will develop pneumonia (the most common cause of death from measles in young children)
• 1 in 1,000 will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain) that can lead to seizures, deafness, or intellectual disabilities • 1-2 in every 1,000 will die from respiratory and neurologic complications Measles can also result in premature birth or a baby with a low birth weight, and patients who recover from measles can have long term. A rare, but fatal disease of the central nervous system, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), may develop 7-10 years later. Fortunately, we have an extremely effective and safe vaccine to prevent measles that is given at 12 months with a booster dose at 4 years of age. The first MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine may be given earlier for infants traveling abroad or to states where there have been outbreaks. Certain vaccines are required for daycare and school attendance and South Carolina generally follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidelines which can be found on the scdhec.gov website. Changes for the 2019-2020 school year include: • 5th grade has been added to the requirement for (2) doses of varicella. A child with a positive history of the disease is considered immune and is exempt from this requirement.
360 NORTH IRBY ST. FLORENCE 843.667.9414 | HOPE-HEALTH.ORG
• 7th grade has been added to the requirement for three (3) doses of oral and/or inactivated polio vaccine with at least one (1) dose received on or after the fourth birthday. • The MMR vaccine requirements are: 1 dose of MMR vaccine on or after the first birthday for childcare and 2 doses of MMR vaccine on or after the first birthday for school. In SC, rising 7th graders are required to have received one dose of Tdap. This vaccine is a booster dose that provides protection from bacterial infections: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). While you may have received a letter from your child’s school that they need this vaccine, always check with your pediatrician first. It may have already been given at an earlier well child visit, as this vaccine is frequently administered beginning at age 11. Along with the Tdap vaccine, vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is recommended for preteen boys and girls beginning at age 11, with a booster dose in 6-12 months, so they can be protected from HPV infections that cause cervical, penile, anal, and head and neck cancers. Eleven-year-olds should also be vaccinated with a meningococcal conjugate vaccine to prevent a bacterial infection in the spinal fluid (meningitis) and in the bloodstream (meningococcemia). A booster dose is recommended at age 16 years. I recommend that teens and young adults (16 through 23-year-olds) also be vaccinated with a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine. So, while you’re planning the fun you’ll have together during summer vacation, remember to schedule your children’s well visits so that all vaccination and other wellness needs are met to be ready for the new school year.
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HEALTH + BEAUTY
The Road to Recovery
Circle Park Provides Medication Assisted Therapy story provided by Circle Park Behavioral Health Services story by Michael K. Foxworth II, MD, FAAP, HopeHealth Pediatrics The Florence community, as well as many across the nation, continue to experience high rates of prescription drug misuse 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 provides Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) as a most valuable resource to address the issue. Medication Assisted Therapy is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies including peer support, 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. To successfully infuse MAT into its overall services, Circle Park has partnered with OVP Health to provide a combination of medical and behavioral services in one location to assist patients in receiving services. The recently opened facility is located at 251 West Palmetto Street in Florence, which is adjacent to Circle Park’s main campus located at 238 South Coit Street. Patients receiving MAT services can now receive their medical services, behavioral counseling and peer support in one convenient stop.
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Pam Williams, LPC,CACII,MAC,SAP, Circle Park’s MAT coordinator, views MAT 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
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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 MAT services have also shown improved employment outcomes 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. Since including MAT in our Chrysalis Center services last year we have had 15 infants born healthy and drug-free to mothers residing at the facility.” 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. To initiate and remain in the program, patients must consistently attend counseling sessions and engage in peer support services.
For more information about Medication Assisted Therapy and the services offered at Circle Park, call 843-665-9349 or visit www.circlepark.com.
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HOME
The Crowd
PLEASER story by Doug Smith
I look for any excuse to have a get-together - holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, we survived the week - anything to say "Come on over and let’s hang out in the kitchen!" This is how Jackie, my wife, and I got the reputation of “Party in a Box.” On any given day, our home could break out into a kitchen full of people enjoying food and fellowship. One thing I have learned over the years is that you must have a few quick and easy dishes you can just throw together with little effort that’s also a crowd pleaser. To me, it's important to start with what’s fresh and local, and right now I’m loving fresh corn! When selecting your corn always look for it to still be in the husk. Look for small brown holes in the husk, especially towards the top. Those are wormholes and naturally, worms are best avoided. Feel the kernels through the husk. You want to make sure that they're plump and plentiful; if you can feel holes where kernels should be, then choose another. Look for tassels that are brown and moist or sticky to the touch. If they're dry or black, then it's an old ear of corn. Check out the color of the husk. If it's a bright green and tightly wrapped against the cob, then the corn is fresh. In some cases, it will even feel slightly damp. Now that you have the perfect corn cobs selected, its time to decide how to prepare. Everyone loves corn on the cob, it's delicious yes but can be a bit challenging to eat. This month I have my new favorite, Jackie’s Sautéed Corn. This will be your new go-to fresh corn recipe. It’s not fancy, it’s just easy. You’ll love the creaminess of this flavorful corn and will get showered with compliments by everyone who eats it. 48
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Jackie’s Sautéed Corn INGREDIENTS 4 Fresh Corn Cobs 2 Fresh Green Onions 1/4 Stick Butter 1 Chili Pepper (optional) 1 Lime
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Instagram at "Doug the Food Guy".
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METHOD The only hard part of this recipe (and it isn’t that hard) is shucking the corn. Start at the top using your fingers and separate the tassels in one half and pull downward. This will remove the shuck and most of the strings. Now get a large mixing bowl with a wide opening and a smaller cereal bowl turned upside down inside of it. Place one end of the ear of corn on top of the smaller bowl and use a sharp knife to cut off the kernels. They’ll fall into the big bowl. Turn the corn cob until all the kernels are cut off. (Set aside.) Chop the onion, make sure to use all of the green tops. This is where the big flavor hides. (Set aside.) Dice the chili pepper into very small pieces. (Set aside.) Using a heavy frying pan (I like to use my cast iron pan), melt 1/4 stick of butter. Add the onions and peppers (if desired) and allow to cook on high heat until the onions are translucent. Next, add the corn seasoned with salt, pepper and the juice of the lime. Stir occasionally. To make this dish even better, transfer to the grill and cook for about 10 minutes alongside the burgers and hot dogs.
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LIFESTYLE
Streaming platforms offer thousands of movies and show options and sometimes it can be tough to know what to choose. Looking for recommendations? You no longer have to #askfacebook because we’re here to help!
Gather At The River
Twenty-Five Authors on Fishing Contributors include New York Times Bestselling Authors Ace Atkins, Ron Rash, Leigh Ann Henion, Eric Rickstad, M.O. Walsh, and #1 Bestseller C.J. Box. From editors David Joy and Eric Rickstad comes Gather at the River, an anthology of twenty-five remarkable essays on fishing from an ensemble of contemporary authors. Their experiences explore the ways we come to water, for renewal and reverie, or to simply stand waist-deep in a river and watch the trout rise. Gather at The River is more than a collection of big fish stories; it’s Ron Rash writing about the Appalachia of his youth and New York Times Bestselling author C.J. Box revealing the river where he wants his ashes spread. It’s Natalie Baszile on a frogging expedition in the Louisiana Bayou and a teenaged Jill McCorkle facing new realities of adulthood on Holden Beach, North Carolina. This is an anthology about friendship, family, love and loss, and everything in between, because as Henry David Thoreau wrote, “it is not really the fish they are after.”
Hulu Documentary Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie Barbie has become a fashion icon, a lightning rod and a topic among feminists. For decades, Barbie has been a debated figure among women. Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie, features newly discovered footage and unprecedented access to the inner workings of a toy giant during Barbie’s biggest reinvention. How women should think about the iconic doll is a debate explored in the film. The documentary features the progression and regression in the fight for gender equality and answers questions, giving Barbie lovers — and sure, even her haters — a look into possibly the most significant transformation in Barbie history, let alone pop culture.
Recommended by Burry Bookstore Wall of Books 130 W Carolina Ave • Hartsville • 843.332.2511
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Did You Know...
story by Kent Daniels
Lake City's History Lake City’s Early Citizens recall the Early Days
The lake... As three of Lake City's oldest native-born citizens, a couple of friends and I wish to start by giving our recollections of the time when we had a lake. Before our new beautiful lake was created, visitors would ask, "Where is the lake?" To answer this question, Lynch’s Lake (1) was a stream which formed two lakes. The lakes were bridged over just above the Red Hill (2) which has now been cut to widen the road. These lakes were used for boat riding, fishing and as a place for baptizing. At a short distance from these, Long Lake was a rendezvous of fishermen. Often fish were eaten at breakfast that were caught that morning.
The name... Another popular Lake City topic is the reason for changing the city's name. Once known as “Graham’s Cross Roads,” this was changed because mail was so often missent to a place in the lower part of the state. That name came from Grahams J. D. Rodgers who was postmaster at the time. The name Lake City was suggested by Mr. C.C. Bristow and accepted as the name of the town.
The businesses & citizens... The first industry here was the stilling [sic] of turpentine by three large stills (3). The operators were some of the first settlers of the town. One of them, Elias Sinclair Jones (1824-1878), was the first person to be buried at the Baptist church. Other early settlers were Murphy, Rodgers and Perkins. The next industry was raising strawberries for market, pioneered by Henry Horace Singletary and Samuel M. Askins. On what is now John street (named for John M. Sturgeon) lived some of the oldest citizens - the McAlisters, the Murphys, the Pikes, and the Woods.
Tom Woods was the first railroad agent, followed by B. O. Bristow who was also a telegraph operator. The McAlisters owned most of the land west of the railroad and gave the site for the Methodist church. The first pharmacist was Dr. Frierson Graham who kept a few drugs. He was of the family for whom “Graham’s Crossroads” was named. Dr. Middleton Kelly was Lake City's first physician. Calomel, castor oil, turpentine, Winslow’s soothing syrup, cathartic pills, teething powders and blue mass were the medicines used mostly. A store on the southwest corner of Acline Avenue and Main Street was a two-story building belonging to Mr. McAlister and later rebuilt by John M. Sturgeon. Other stores were built on Main Street by Jim Murphy and S. M. Askins. On the north side of Main were the building of J. D. Rogers and the first store run by a Jew, a Mr. Levin. On the southwest corner of East Main Street and Church Street stood the old Singletary home, in front of which stood the old well with pole and bucket that slaked the thirst of many a traveler and school child. The building was later removed and made into an apartment house. James Madison Thomas was a merchant who was the first Sunday school superintendent of the Baptist church. He was also the local toothpuller with forceps that were laid on the shelf until the next patient arrived. No sterilization was thought necessary.
(1) Lynch’s Lake ran west to east just north of town, between the hospital (on Highway 52) and Church Street, where the swamp is today. (2) Red Hill is a narrow, elongated rise of land bounded by the railroad track, Lake Street, Church Street, and Lynch’s Lake, the swamp. The soil there is red clay, hence the name. See footnote nine. (3) The three large stills were located in the one block long area of Lake Street. (4) The original Presbyterian Church site and building were about midway on the south side of the first block of East Main Street, adjoining the two-story structure now doing business as the Darla Moore Foundation and Kirby’s Reality.
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Lynch Lake Bridge
The site of the Presbyterian church (4) was given by Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Singletary, situated near where the “Ladies Shop” now stands. The first preacher was the Rev. G. H. Garris who also taught school. The first Methodist pastor was the Rev. J. S. Beasly. The Rev. Mr. Anderson, pastor of the Baptists, was the first we remember. John Hutson was the first teacher. The school was a “pay school” taught in the Methodist church, Baptist church and later in the new one-room school house near the Baptist church. Other teachers were Mr. Garris, E. H. Williams, John Nelson and the Rev. J. W. Shell. The “Williamsburg Tattler”, the first newspaper, was edited by E. H. Williams. Dr. Asbury H. Williams, who followed Dr. Middleton Kelly, owned the first drug store with a soda fountain that served the only cold drinks to be had except at an allday picnic. First millinery store was run by Mrs. Cul Bristow and the first hotel (5) was opposite the depot (6). The first warehouse (7) was built at the site of the old still over a dross pile. It was run by Messrs. Gray and Moore. Our remembrance of builders were Dr. Williams, Mr. Green and Mr. Nachman, each of these with sons as citizens today. We had no autos, so Sunday afternoon entertainment was a walk to the trestle (8) or Red Hill (9). (5) The first hotel, named the Lake City Hotel, was on South Acline Avenue, across the railroad track from the train depot, in the area of Richardson’s Insurance Agency. (6) The Lake City train depot has always stood where it now stands. (7) The first warehouse occupied the block bounded by the western side of the railroad track along North Acline Avenue. (8) The trestle was and is a small railroad bridge crossing the water just north of town. (9) Red Hill is just east of the railroad trestle. See footnote two.
Kent Daniels Lake City native, retired teacher, and now Director of the Lynches Lake Historical Society
Continue to follow Kent in future issues of Vip as he sheds some light on the history of Lake City. Parts of this article was written for the Charleston Evening Post in August 26, 1949 Dunham Singletary (1873-1953) Livie Stack (1871-1963) Ida Joyner (1873-1953)
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AROUND TOWN: LIP SYNC BATTLE
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Lip Sync Battle 2019
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On Thursday, June 13th, representatives of various organizations performed at the Florence Area Literacy Council’s annual Lip Sync Battle. The Battle is a fundraiser for the Florence Area Literacy Council where they help an adult “Turn the Page” to the next chapter in their lives. The nonprofit works to fight adult illiteracy throughout Florence County.
Pictured: 1. Charlotte Smith, center, accepts the First Place award with emcee’s JaiJai Spann and Chad Patterson 2. Emily Griffin, Bennie Reed and Jessica Mullin representing Honda of SC 3. Niesha Miller representing Raldex 4. Brad Richardson representing Florence Place 5. Dr. Brenda McKinley of Palmetto Animal Hospital 6. Charlotte Smith of St. John’s Church 7. Sabre Knight, Heath McMullen, and Tiffany Mixon of SPC Credit Union 8. Claire Hanson, Julle Suarez, Frankie Humphrey, Grace Hinson, Samai Bhojwani and Roshni Patel 9. Kevin Deaver of Black Mule Print 10. Joshua Cohoon and Dr. Brenda McKinley of Palmetto Animal Hospital 11. JaiJai Spann, Les Echols of Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, Chad Patterson, Jenna Wallace, Kristin Nesmith, Charnique Fairley and Nicole Echols photos courtesy of Memories by Liz
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AROUND TOWN: CRUISIN’ DOWNTOWN CAR + BIKE SHOW
Cruisin’ Downtown Florence
Florence Downtown Development in partnership with the Eastern SC Mustang Club and Black Jack Harley Davidson presented the Cruisin’ Downtown Florence Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Attendees enjoyed DJ Dan E. Lockemy in the afternoon and live music by The Entertainers in the evening. Food and auto vendors were on-site with tasty treats and auto-affiliated goodies. The event was a big hit for the whole family! photography provided by Phillip Guyton
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BUCKET LIST
HUNTING ISLAND STATE PARK story by Zach Hughes
As we make our way southeast towards the low country, the roads gradually become covered by a canopy of lush greenery and old growth oak trees. Almost as if you are driving through a tunnel that transports you into the past. Now my wife and I have been on many trips to Pawleys Island, Mount Pleasant, and even Edisto, but this weekend our curiosity pushed us further down into the low country. This trip would involve going way down the coast to one of South Carolina’s Barrier Islands, and it just so happens to be South Carolina’s most southern state park - Hunting Island. To get to Hunting Island, which is right next to Fripp Island, we got the chance to pass through Beaufort for the first time. Our drive towards the islands landed us on Bay Street in old historic Beaufort and we were instantly
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mesmerized by the moss-draped live oak trees that lined the breathtaking view over the Beaufort Harbor. Then as we passed through the historic downtown area, we knew we had to make a point to come back to Beaufort for dinner. As we passed over the Woods Memorial Bridge, I remembered how my dad told me that one of Forrest Gumps running scenes was filmed on this bridge. But that was overstated by the beautiful view of our drive over the blue, sky-drenched water. After a relatively short drive over Saint Helena Island, we found ourselves on a flat bridge that drove over what seemed like miles of inlet marsh. At this point, we knew we were getting close. As we landed back on flat ground, one of those iconic brown South Carolina State Park signs directed us left. What we drove into was a
surprisingly dense maritime forest of pine and palmetto trees, along with various others. Normally when most of us see palmetto trees, they are lining someone's driveway or overlooking a coastal area such as Charleston. But here on Hunting Island, there is something beautiful about seeing naturally growing palmetto trees all of which are dwarfed by consistently tall pine trees. Driving through the trees along a path wide enough for one car, you can see beneath even the palmetto trees that the forest floor is littered with palm bushes. With slight ups and downs in the path, the signs lead you towards the lighthouse. After parking within proximity to the beach, we made our way to the lighthouse. Surrounded by a white picket fence and historical markers, you see the black and white lighthouse peak through the coastal trees.
HUNTING ISLAND STATE PARK is located on a barrier island located 15 miles east of Beaufort, South Carolina, United States in between Harbor Island and Fripp Island.
Once inside the fence, you learn many things from the markers. One of these facts includes that the lighthouse was once moved due to the erosion of the land. Another is that a caretaker was once responsible for carrying a 50-pound bucket of oil to the top of the lighthouse every day just to keep it lit. For good reason, they would not let us carry Christopher to the top of the lighthouse, so my wife and I had to scale the lighthouse separately. After entering the lighthouse, the way up is via a spiral staircase made of iron. The further you climb, the skinnier the stairs get. Once I reached the top, what I found was a view of the coast that I could have never imagined. I was as high up as a Grand Strand high rise, but instead of my view being a concrete jungle of tourists, I was surrounded by maritime forest, a view of the Saint Helena sound, and a panorama of some of the most natural beach I have ever seen. Across the Saint Helena sound, a distant hazy view of Edisto Island is visible.
After making my way back down, and then letting Alexis take her turn scaling the lighthouse, we made our way towards the beach. Closer to the shore the tree line begins to thin, down to mostly oak trees and palmetto trees. To the left, you can see how the beach is lined with a boneyard of driftwood that litters the beach, while to the right you see a clearer beach, but a much more visible meeting of dune and forest. As we walked towards the right, it was nice to let Christopher, our newborn son, feel the ocean breeze and hear the ocean again. From here you can see the lighthouse peak through the trees as it overlooks the ocean. It almost seems that after it being there for 130 years that the trees were beginning to engulf the lighthouse as part of the forest. Growing up, my dad would tell me how much better the beach was before all of the hotels and houses littered the shoreline. Standing here on the shore of Hunting Island and looking back into the forest, it's easy to imagine our coasts looking something like this as far back as 100 years ago or more. This summer, make sure to take a deep trip into the low country and check out one of South Carolina’s time capsules that we have held onto from hundreds of years ago.
Zach Hughes resides in Florence with his wife Alexis and their newborn son Christopher (pictured left). Zach is a local entrepreneur, and has spent most of his time working around the automotive industry. In his spare time, Zach enjoys discovering South Carolina and dabbling in journalism
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HOME
Strawberry-Lemon Mojito
INGREDIENTS:
8 lemon wedges 24 mint leaves, plus 4 mint sprigs, for garnish 4 strawberries, plus 2 halved strawberries, for garnish Ice cubes, plus crushed ice 8 ounces gold or aged rum 3 ounces fresh lemon juice 2 ounces prepared sugarcane syrup or agave nectar In a cocktail shaker, muddle the lemon wedges with the whole strawberries and mint leaves. Add ice and the rum, lemon juice and sugarcane syrup; shake well. Strain into crushed ice–filled highball glasses. Garnish with the berry halves and mint sprigs.
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