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November October 2021 2019
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magazine
Publisher Tammy Clark tmclark225@gmail.com
Contributing Photographers Fred Salley Bethany Rau
Editor Heather Page heather@vipmagsc.com
Contributing Writers Megan Adkins Kimberly Brauss Mark W. Buyck, III Brinda Chokshi, MD Scott Daniel, MD Cynthia Ford Brock McCallister Viji Motilal Nehru, MD Rhegan Ortiz Bethany Rau Doug Smith Jackie Smith Skye Tucker
Office Manager Tiffany Skipper jtskipp35@gmail.com Advertising Executives Julie C. Tyler juliectyler@yahoo.com Creative Design Tuesday Taylor Ashley Rogers
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
The McLeod Emergency Department medical teams are here for life’s emergency and trauma situations. Pictured on the cover, left to right: Gary Tod Sanders, RN; Brittany Chandler, RN; Dr. Tom Lewis, Medical Director of Emergency Services; Shaniqua Davis, Medical Surgical Technician; Samantha Bartley, Nurse Extern; and Dr. Michael Ward, Associate Director of Emergency Services. Learn more about their department on page 7.
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CONTENTS
ISSUE 71
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OCTOBER 2021
HOME 10 National Cake Decorating Day: Halloween 12 Doug Smith: Fig Jam 14 VIP's Book Club: Dear Friend
HEALTH & WELLNESS 16 McLeod Health: Advancements in Breast Cancer Treatments
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18 HopeHealth: Let's Talk About Breast Health 20 Circle Park: Mental Health & The Pandemic 22 Carolina Pines: Creating Healthier Families 24 Health Literacy: What is it & why is it important? 24 FloTown Fitness: Community 28 October 2021 Calendar
BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS 32 April Munn 34 Jackie Smith 36 Deloris Brand
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38 Casandra Y. Mack
BUSINESS 40 Mark W. Buyck II: The Stono Rebellion
LIFESTYLE 42 Cultural Conversations Series 44 Trent Hill Center: A Continuum of Care 46 National Retriever Champions 48 Artist Spotlight: Ginger Dail 52 Drink of the Month: Drunk 'N Love
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HOME
N AT I O N A L C A K E D E C O R AT I N G D AY
OCTOBER 10TH Cakes have been around since the 1500s. What better way to celebrate them then by giving them their own day! Local cake art dabbler, Skye Tucker, shares a super simple way to decorate a Halloween cake that is sure to WOW all guests at your Halloween party! images by Bethany Rau
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M A K E A N E A S Y S T E P - B Y- S T E P D E C O R AT I V E H A L L O W E E N C A K E INGREDIENTS Box cake mix
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Bag of white candy melts
1 stick unsalted butter cream
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
Bag of black candy melts
2 cups powdered sugar
Orange food coloring
Sprinkles for decoration
DIRECTIONS 1 For the cake itself, grab a box cake mix from the grocery store, and split it into three round 6-inch pans. Once your cakes are cooled, it's time to move on to the decorating. 2 For the butter cream icing, add 1/2 cup of room temperature unsalted butter to a mixer or use a hand mixer, beat until fluffy. 3
Next, slowly add in 2 cups of powdered sugar.
4 Once the sugar is fully incorporated, add in 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. 5
Lastly, mix in 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream.
6 Now that the icing is finished, add a few spoonfuls on top of each cake layer, spread it evenly. Then stack your three layers. 7 Next, create what is called a crumb coat on the outside of the cake by spreading a thin layer of icing all around the cake. Add a few drops of orange food
coloring to your icing and spread that evenly around the cake. It helps if you place your cake on a lazy susan and use a scraper to get a nice even sharp coat of icing. 8 The next steps are the most fun part! Pour white candy melts in a bowl and place in the microwave for approximately one minute or until evenly melted. 9 Place a piece of wax paper on a tray and use the back of a spoon to spread the candy in a downward motion making little ghost. Melt black candy melts and pour it into a Ziploc bag, cutting a small hole at the tip. Use this to make eyes and a mouth for the ghost. 10 Returning to the cake, mix different types of sprinkles and stick them to the base of your cake. 11 To attach the ghost, add a dollop of icing on the back of each ghost and simply stick them around the outside. 12 For finishing touches, use piping tips to add little swirls on top and add some more sprinkles! October 2021
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HOME HOME Get more from Doug Smith by following him on Facebook and Instagram at "Doug the Food Guy". Find Doug the FoodGuy on Spotify and Apple podcasts @The Pizzeria & Enzo Show
let's make a fall favorite...
Fig Jam story and recipe by Doug Smith
Fig Jam is a southern favorite. It is delicious on a hot homemade biscuit or freshly made toasted bread. However, there are several other ways to spread this sweet treat throughout your daily menu. It pairs perfectly with any creamy cheese, such as Brie or Gorgonzola, and a Ritz cracker; be sure to include it on your next charcuterie board. You can also transform the jam into a glaze to use with pork, lamb, or salmon.
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INGREDIENTS METHOD
Try this simple and oh so delightful Fig Jam recipe. This recipe doesn't require your typical canning instructions, which can be overwhelming and often prevents people from even attempting. Here you will make one 8 ounce jar. You'll have to eat it within three weeks, but we don't see where that will be a problem! Happy cooking!
Homemade Fresh Fig Jam Recipe • 2 lbs. fresh figs quartered • 1/2 cup local honey
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 1 1/2 lemons juiced
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract • Place the figs, sugar, honey, and lemon juice in a large saucepan and heat over medium-high heat, stirring to combine as the sugar melt. • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook until thickened, about 45-50 minutes. Stir often to prevent sticking. • Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Cool completely. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
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VIP'S BOOK CLUB series by Bethany Rau
DEAR FRIEND BY GINA L. MULLIGAN October is known nationwide as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of that, Vip searched out a book dedicated to those fighting this nasty disease. The book chosen is more like a traveling journal! After fighting her own breast cancer battle, Gina L. Mulligan made it her mission to gather a collection of inspirational letters to use in one single book, Dear Friend. Her goal was to offer encouraging words and drawings to inspire others who were also diagnosed with breast cancer. In Dear Friend, there are countless handwritten notes from women all over the world including a few from children, young adults, and men. Each note begins with endearing intros such as “Dear Friend” or "Dear Sister" and then leads into sharing words of wisdom and love, many of which come from women who have fought the same fight. An equally interesting part included in the book is drawings and scribbles from young children. It is a beautiful representation of encouragement coming from anywhere and at every age. With help from her nonprofit, Girls Love Mail, Mulligan was able to collect heartfelt letters. She founded the organization in 2011 after her diagnosis. Girls Love Mail works with individuals who want to send letters to women battling breast cancer. Over the last ten years, they have mailed over 100,000 handwritten letters. Mulligan makes it accessible for anyone who has an interest in writing letters or even drawing pictures to breast cancer patients. All you need is a stamp and you are set! If you are interested in getting involved with this organization and writing letters for them, visit their website, girlslovemail.com, for more information.
Handwritten Notes From Women All Over The World
about Gina L. Mulligan: Gina L. Mulligan is the award-winning author of two historical novels; Remember The Ladies and From Across The Room, and the Amazon #1 Bestselling non-fiction Dear Friend; Letters of Encouragement, Humor, and Love for Women with Breast Cancer. Gina has been featured on The NBC NIGHTLY NEWS with LESTER HOLT, The STEVE HARVEY SHOW, PEOPLE.com, TODAY.com, O, The OPRAH Magazine, and WOMAN'S DAY'S Magazine.
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Love To Read? Email heather@vipmagsc.com if you would like to share a book review with our readers.
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HEALTH + WELLNESS
Medical Research Continues To Lead To New Advancements In Breast Cancer Treatments story by Dr. Viji Motilal Nehru
The oncology research staff at the McLeod Cancer Center includes Michelle Gandy, RN; Pam Worthy, BSN, OCN; and Jennifer Floyd, RN.
Discovering new ways to treat and prevent cancer is the goal of medical research. One cancer that has benefitted greatly from research is breast cancer. In the 1970s, researchers identified an anti-estrogen drug called Tamoxifen as beneficial in the fight against breast cancer. Originally developed for birth control in 1962, it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1978 for use in breast cancer treatment after research determined the drug actually blocked the effects of estrogen in the body and in breast cancer cells. Over the next two decades, Tamoxifen was used in women who had breast cancer as a prevention for relapse, but researchers wondered if women who had a high risk of developing breast cancer would also be protected by the drug. In 1998, a larger breast cancer prevention study revealed that Tamoxifen also decreased the risk of developing breast cancer in high-risk women by 50 percent. High-risk women include those who had a mother or sister with breast cancer. A follow-up research study comparing Tamoxifen and a drug called Raloxifene or Evista, in 2006, was found to be favorable as well. This study determined that Raloxifene reduced breast cancer risk in post-menopausal women who are high-risk and the drug had a lower chance of serious side effects when compared to Tamoxifen. Additional research in 2013 looked at the use of Tamoxifen in women who had large tumors or positive lymph nodes at diagnosis and had already completed five
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years of taking the drug. These results indicated that an additional five years of Tamoxifen gave women a prolonged decrease in breast cancer risk. Now quite often physicians leave women on 10 years of Tamoxifen. Since these studies, there have been a number of other clinical trials and today there are four drugs available to high-risk women, depending on whether they are pre-menopausal or post-menopausal including Arimidex and Aromasin which have both been proven to be useful. As researchers have continued to study breast cancer there have also been multiple advancements in care. As a result, there are more chemotherapy agents and targeted treatments to help women, such as immunotherapy, which involves using the patient’s immune system to attack the cancer cells. For example, women diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer are now treated with Herceptin, a form of targeted therapy. Effecting 25 percent of patients, this type of cancer used to be very aggressive with poor outcomes. Since Herceptin-based treatments began in 1998, the outcomes for these patients have improved greatly. In fact, some women who were on the first experimental treatments with Herceptin in 1992 are still in remission. In December of 2017, the FDA approved the use of another targeted therapy, Perjeta, in combination with Herceptin and chemotherapy after surgery to treat women with early-stage HER2 positive breast cancer
which is considered to have a high risk of recurrence. Both Perjeta and Herceptin work against HER2 positive breast cancers by blocking the cancer cells’ ability to receive growth signals. Working together these drugs are improving survival in women with high-risk, early-stage HER2 positive breast cancer as well as those diagnosed with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer. In the treatment of triple negative breast cancer, recent clinical trials have led to the approval of three new drugs. For patients with metastatic disease whose tumor express the PD-L1 protein, the addition of immunotherapy drug Tecentriq, an anti-PD-LI antibody, used in combination with chemotherapy drug Abraxane improved progression free survival. This was also the first FDA-approved regimen for breast cancer to include immunotherapy. Two other targeted therapies, Lynparza and Talzenna, are PARP inhibitors that are effective for patients with triple negative breast cancer who have inherited BCRA1/2 mutation. These oral medications have been shown to be more effective and better tolerated as compared to traditional chemotherapy. Another new class of medicines, Ibrance, Kisqali and Verzenio are now the standard of care in patients with certain types of metastatic breast cancer when combined with hormone therapies. These targeted therapies were the first CDK4/6 inhibitors approved by the FDA. The addition of CDK4/6 has been shown to increase progression free survival compared to hormone therapy alone. Thanks to medical research into breast cancer the discovery of new drugs continues to change the lives of patients tremendously and improve survival.
If you would like to learn more about cancer research, please contact the McLeod Cancer Research team at (843) 777-6387 or visit mcleodcancer.org. Dr. Viji Motilal Nehru, McLeod Oncology and Hematology Associates
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HEALTH ++ WELLNESS WELLNESS HEALTH
Let’s Talk About Breast Health story by Brinda Chokshi, MD, of HopeHealth
The leading cause of death from cancer for women worldwide is breast cancer - and second in the United States. It is through patient awareness and a willingness to team with providers that breast cancer can be detected early and treated, reducing the risk of death. Partnering with your provider and regular self-exams can save lives. I often discuss breast health with my patients. So, what do I tell them when discussing breast health? Here are the most common questions I hear, and my recommendations: What can I do to maintain good breast health? I cannot emphasize this enough: develop a partnership with your provider! We rely on you to work with us and provide the bigger picture of your health rather than just the snapshot we see during the office visit. This means doing things like self-breast exams for new or unusual lumps and getting annual mammograms.
When should I start and how often should I do self-breast exams? I recommend women begin getting familiar with their breasts at the onset of menstruation during puberty. Make a habit of checking yourself on the day of your birthday, so for example, if you were born on Jan. 20, then check your breasts for any changes on the 20th of each month. Self-exams improve the likelihood of early detection of issues like cancer, but it is also important
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to note that not all lumps can be felt. This is why it is to your benefit to see your provider annually, as well as do annual mammograms when age appropriate. Cancers can appear suddenly, sometimes within six months of a mammogram with no findings, so regular self-exams and annual doctor visits go a long way towards early detection and treatment when needed.
Should men do self-exams? Yes, men, or anyone with breast tissue should make a habit of examining their breasts. Sometimes during puberty, estrogen, the hormone responsible for breast growth in women, can produce breast tissue in males, which allows for the possibility of breast cancer later in life. I always recommend all my patients get familiar with their breasts/chest and let me know if there are any changes.
What is a mammogram and when should I have one? Mammograms are special x-rays performed on the breasts to visualize any changes to the tissue, such as the appearance of a mass. Mammograms have been shown to identify masses in patients as early as three years before a lump could be felt. Evidence shows that regular mammogram screenings are associated with a reduction in deaths from breast cancer. I recommend that women should have their first mammogram between 35 and 40 years of age and have them annually after that. By ages 70 to 75, I leave it up to the patient to make the decision whether to continue with annual mammograms, and by age 80, if there is no history of breast cancer, it is ok to stop.
I am in menopause and am on hormone replacement therapy. Should I do anything differently? Certain hormone replacement therapies have been shown to increase the risk of developing breast cancer, so I recommend being vigilant with self-breast exams, regular mammograms, and discussing any additional steps you can take with your provider to identify cancer early should it occur.
Should I do my mammogram while COVID-19 is still a risk? Absolutely! Unfortunately, in addition to the many other challenges created by the global pandemic, many people have put preventative care on hold, resulting in more conditions like cancer being detected much later, delaying treatment. I encourage patients to have their mammogram screenings at this time because early detection is key to achieving the best outcomes. Trust that the technicians have been trained to mitigate the risks of transmitting COVID-19 by wearing personal protective equipment for their safety and yours. Additionally, wearing a mask in public has been shown to reduce transmission of COVID-19, and getting a vaccine has prevented or decreased the severity of COVID-19 infections.
What should I do if I detect a lump? See your provider as soon as possible for a more thorough exam and any necessary testing to rule out a serious condition like breast cancer. Like your overall health, eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular exercise can contribute to better breast health. If you have a family history of breast cancer, be sure to discuss it with your provider and develop a preventive care plan. And if you ever have any questions, always reach out to your provider.
360 NORTH IRBY ST. FLORENCE 843.667.9414 | HOPE-HEALTH.ORG Brinda Chokshi, MD Dr. Brinda Chokshi is a primary care provider at the HopeHealth Medical Plaza in Florence and specializes in internal medicine.
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Mental Health and The Pandemic story by Megan Adkins
The COVID-19 resurgence has arrived with a vengeance. The current predominant strain of the virus known as the Delta variant is causing case numbers to surpass those from the height of the pandemic in 2020; the numbers from this year’s Labor Day weekend alone were four times higher than at any point last year. Mask mandates and social distancing measures have returned, along with mounting hospitalizations and escalating uncertainties concerning the upcoming months. This resurgence is a jarring shock to the world after experiencing the encouraging downward trend in infections this past spring and summer. The rejuvenation of the warmer months has vanished and been, understandably, replaced with anxiety and apprehension. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a considerable toll on the population, inducing heightened stress levels and instability, leading to an exacerbation of mental health issues and substance use disorders. The coronavirus has irrevocably disrupted daily life as people learn to navigate inconceivable difficulties. In 2020 individuals were forced to deal with overwhelming and stressful conditions, ranging from unprecedented loss of employment, isolation from loved ones, and increased mental health issues. According to a CDC survey, 40% of adult respondents reported at least one negative mental or behavioral health condition in 2020, with 10% reporting suicidal ideation. Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depressive disorders have been on the rise since the onset of the pandemic, particularly affecting individuals aged 18 to 24. A 2021 study of 240 U.S. adults found that social anxiety symptoms significantly increased during the COVID-19 shutdowns, with many still coping with isolation’s lingering effects on their comfort level in social situations. Researchers predict that the pandemic will have lasting negative impacts on mental health, given the traumatic nature of public health crises. According to the American Psychology Association, social isolation 20
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is linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and poor sleep quality. Loneliness was a mounting concern among psychologists even before the pandemic and has now been further magnified by the current crisis. The pandemic has also had detrimental effects on those struggling with substance use disorders. Overdoses doubled in Florence County during the pandemic, with national numbers surpassing 94,000 according to the CDC. This is the highest number ever recorded for a 12-month period. Synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, have been the primary driver behind the increase in overdoses. Alcohol consumption also exploded in 2020, with a study from the National Library of Medicine reporting 60.1% of participants affirming an increase in drinking since the onset of the pandemic. Unfortunately, an increase in substance use was also found among the adolescent population. According to a Journal of Adolescent Health study, frequency of alcohol and cannabis use increased, with 31.6% using substances with peers via technology. Adolescents were unable to celebrate significant life events, such as graduation and prom, and experienced increased boredom, loss of loved ones, and heightened academic stress from virtual instruction. Another study also showed that parents adapted a more lenient attitude towards underage drinking, with one in six participants allowing their adolescent to drink with family during the lockdowns compared to zero in six before the pandemic. With upward trends in overdoses and substance use disorders, it is crucial that drug and alcohol education be presented to communities and that residents are made aware of treatment and intervention services available in their area.
Given these distressing trends and circumstances, Circle Park Behavioral Health Services remains committed to the residents of Florence County to provide prevention, intervention, and treatment services to those coping with substance use and mental health disorders. Seeking help for these issues can feel like a daunting task, but it is imperative that people recognize that they are not alone in these struggles. Circle Park offers a wide array of resources, including medication-assisted treatment utilizing Suboxone, Subutex, and Vivitrol for those struggling with opioid and alcohol use. We also provide peer-support services, where we capitalize on the support of our own staff who are in long-term recovery and help patients navigate the treatment and recovery process. Our treatment providers implement Trauma-Informed Care, with emphasis on stabilization and a holistic treatment approach. For more information regarding these services, contact Circle Park at 843-665-9349 or visit us on our website www.circlepark.com. We are also pleased to offer a 16-bed residential treatment facility for women diagnosed with a severe substance use disorder located at 1430 S Cashua Dr in Florence County. Designed to provide a nurturing and therapeutic environment, the center offers a unique opportunity for children, up to the age of 10, to continue living on-site with their mothers for 90-120 days. The center offers a wide array of treatment services, including group sessions, medication-assisted treatment, and general medical care. For more information regarding the facility, contact The Chrysalis Center at 843-673-0660 or visit www.chrysaliscenter.com.
Megan Adkins Prevention Specialist Circle Park Behavioral Health Services www.circlepark.com October 2021
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creating healthier families
One Shot At A Time story by Scott Daniel, OB/GYN at Carolina Pines Medical Group Women’s Care
As an obstetrician-gynecologist with Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center, my goal is to always provide the best possible care and medical advice for expectant mothers and females who plan to become pregnant. I love helping moms-to-be stay healthy and prepare to welcome their baby into the world. As you can imagine, one of the most important conversations I’ve been having lately with my patients is around COVID-19 vaccines and their safety for those who are pregnant or who are in the planning stage of their pregnancy journey. First of all, let me say that COVID-19 vaccines continue to be proven safe and effective against serious illness, and being vaccinated is our best defense against this disease. That holds true for pregnant women and individuals who are planning to become pregnant. As a joint statement from a number of leading expert organizations in maternal care and public health just declared, all pregnant individuals, newly pregnant individuals, those planning to become pregnant, those who are breastfeeding and others are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19. These vaccines have undergone extensive research and testing, and there is no known evidence of adverse effects on fertility (for women or men) or fetal development as a result of becoming vaccinated before or even during pregnancy. Whether you are currently expecting, have recently had a baby or are planning to start or expand your family, I sincerely encourage you to get vaccinated if you have not already done so. I also hope you’ll take a moment to review my answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy and that it will help you attain the peace of mind that comes from
Dr. Daniel's Most Frequently Asked COVID-19 Vaccine & Pregnancy Questions Why is it important for pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant to be vaccinated against COVID-19? Pregnant individuals are at a higher risk for severe illness, complications and death than nonpregnant individuals if infected with COVID-19. Also,
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in some cases, pregnancy can come with medical conditions that put women at even further risk. The best way to protect yourself against potential harm from a COVID-19 infection is to be vaccinated. This is especially true with the continued rise of cases from the more contagious Delta variant and new variants as they emerge.
Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause fertility problems for women or men? The simple answer is no. There is no evidence that getting the COVID-19 vaccine affects fertility in individuals trying to become pregnant, including those using in vitro fertilization methods. The safety profiles and the way the vaccines work to prevent infection and illness from COVID-19 do not cause infertility in men or women.
If I’m trying to become pregnant, do I need to avoid pregnancy for a specific period of time after being vaccinated? No. Whether you are trying to have a baby now or in the future, it is safe for both parents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. There is no need for a waiting period. Additionally, if you become pregnant after your first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you should still receive your second dose as indicated and recommended (three weeks after your first dose of Pfizer and four weeks after your first dose of Moderna).
Do I need to take a pregnancy test before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine? No. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend routine pregnancy testing before getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
What if I am currently pregnant or breastfeeding? Is it safe for me to get the vaccine?
Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized or approved vaccines contain the live COVID-19 virus, so the vaccines do not present a risk of COVID-19 infection for you or your baby. If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, there has never been a better or more urgent time to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if you have not yet done so. With the ongoing spread of the virus and the increased risks for severe illness and pregnancy complications that can arise from a COVID-19 infection in pregnant individuals, it is vitally important to get vaccinated to help protect the health and safety of both you and your baby. If you have any concerns about being vaccinated, I encourage you to discuss them with your provider and make the choice to be a Vaccine Hero. Let’s work together to put an end to this pandemic and help create a healthy future for our families.
Yes. Whether you are currently pregnant, or breastfeeding your new baby, it is safe for you to get vaccinated against COVID-19. None of the Food and
If you would like to speak with a provider about COVID-19 vaccination concerns or any aspect of your pregnancy journey, call 843.339.9222 or visit the Find a Doctor tab at cprmc.com to find a provider and get connected with the care you need.
Scott Daniel,
OB/GYN at Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center
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HEALTH LITERACY What is it and why is it imporant?
Philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated, “The first wealth is health." Nowadays, you will hear others say, “Health is wealth." Being healthy spills over into wealth investment in so many ways. If you chose to live a healthy lifestyle, you may benefit in areas of financial wealth, physical wealth, or even a wealth of knowledge. It is essential to establish a healthy balance in all areas of your life. Helen Osborne founded Health Literacy month in 1999 in an effort to ensure that patients and providers have a clear, mutual understanding of the patient’s health. Since that time many organizations have joined together to ensure that patients understand that their awareness and health actions impact their personal health. The goal is to ensure patients not only find the information they need but understand it and know how to use it. Health literacy is promoted by workshops, health fairs, displays, and literacy programs. Even those who may be considered as being highly skilled or intelligent can still benefit from health literacy. When thinking of literacy, one may automatically think of the ability to read or write. However, health literacy expands past the basic abilities of reading and writing. Healthy literacy involves gaining knowledge, interpreting the knowledge, and understanding how to use the knowledge gained. This clear communication provides access to a person’s well-being and can be a link to many solutions. It is easy for a healthcare provider to get into a routine when providing services to patients, even though patients may present different ailments.
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story by Cynthia Ford
Their role is to address the chief complaint of the patient by using clues presented by the patient, research, and knowledge from years of experience. Medical professionals may also consider consulting others to address a patient’s ailment. Medical professionals must remember to ensure the patient has a better understanding of the ailment to properly resolve the problem. The professional must have empathy and compassion yet have the forward-thinking mindset to help the patient move forward. The patient must understand their role in the healing process and what actions must occur after they leave the medical professional. Patients must understand that their health is not the sole responsibility of the medical provider. The patient also has a role in maintaining their health. There are four areas of health literacy that patients should explore. These four areas could transform a patient, community, or even a region if implemented properly.
FOUR AREAS OF HEALTH LITERACY EXPLAINED
1. Patients should have a deeper understanding of their body and how it functions. We know how our body functions outwardly by using our outward extremities daily. However, a deeper level of understanding of the central nervous system, respiratory system, and cardiovascular system can dramatically shift a patient’s actions. When a patient understands how the food they consume is broken down as nutrients, and how oxygen is carried, or how blood flows through the body, their actions, and health changes. Human anatomy is not just for health professionals, it’s for patients too.
2. As you began to understand how your body functions, you will have a better experience when communicating with health professionals about your ailments and how the presented solutions may work. Know where to go when you have health concerns. All ailments do not warrant a trip to the emergency room. The emergency room should truly be saved for emergencies.
3. It is okay to ask questions. Literacy involves learning and communication. Communication is a two-way platform. If you are prescribed medication. Go beyond reading the directions of when to take the medication and how much to take. Understand why you are prescribed the medication and how it will benefit your ailment. This will also help you with not just taking something because it is offered to you. Be aware, if the medication does well for you or if the medications caused further conditions of concern.
4. Change your mindset about health. Some generational ailments continue to be passed on because of the mindset with the family, community, or culture. If the ailment can be controlled or stopped by changing an action such as eating differently, seize the moment and break the cycle. As a whole, health literacy should involve promoting total health. Our bodies are complex masterpieces. For example, physical health affects mental health, mental health affects emotional health, financial health affects mental health, and oral health affects cardiovascular health. There is often a chain reaction as it relates to our total health. Changing our mindset about health requires action. Outward change cannot occur until an inward change is activated. As we acknowledge health literacy month this year, we must go beyond displays, fairs, and pamphlets. We must reach everyone where they are. Help individuals unlock the mysteries of health. Total health is not a secret or a second language. True health literacy is a doorway or bridge of transformation that allows individuals to live life abundantly.
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HEALTH + WELLNESS
COMMUNITY How does your community affect your success? When it comes to fitness, the environment means everything! Surround yourself with people that are moving in the right direction and they will help ensure your success, along with their own. If you had the things listed below, how much of a difference do you think it would make? • Having someone to share your experience with • Having a coach teach you the right way to do things • Having someone come up with your workouts for you • Having a positive environment • Having a consistent time you can get your workout in • Having someone to help you come up with goals that fit with your lifestyle Do you have these in place to ensure you are going to find success? If not, you should really be trying to find a way to make it happen! Think of these points as your yellow and white lines on the road, they keep you on the right course. They will tell you which direction is good and which is bad, as well as when it's your time to choose the direction. Now imagine what will happen when you stay between those lines, not just for the next month, but the next year! I promise you, you will be in a very different place when you include these markers in your life. Fitness is something that is meant to be shared and enjoyed with others. Let's make working out something you GET to do and not something you HAVE to do!
Flo-Town Fitness 612 S Irby St, Florence www.flo-town-fitness.triib.com Brock McCallister
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OCTOBER 2021 CALENDAR of EVENTS sunday
monday
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4 Gospel in the Park Series Finale Pride Park, Hartsville
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National Taco Day
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Pasta Day
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Trunk or Treat, 4pm-6pm Highland Park Church, Florence
31 Halle"Boo"Jah - Trunk or Treat + More, 6pm-8pm Compassion Church, Florence
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
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Pee Dee State Farmers Market, Florence
Chamber's Fall Golf Classic Traces Golf Course, Florence
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Legging Day
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Andrea Cheeseman FMU PAC, Florence
Columbus Day
October 2021
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Greasy Food Day
FMU Concert Band FMU PAC, Florence
Evening Wine Walk Moore Farms, Lake City
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Wellness Walk Amazing Grace Park, Marion Wonderful Wednesday Marion County Museum, Marion
20 Create A Mason Jar Doorhangers Marion Co Museum
thursday
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Growing Hobby: Succulent Pumpkin Centerpiece
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wednesday
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2021 Eastern Carolina Agricultural Fair (12-16) Florence Fairgrounds
World Mental Health Day
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tuesday
Taste of Darlington Darlington Raceway Marion Cty Library Read Aloud Amazing Grace Park, Marion
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Chicken and Waffles Day
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Pumpkin Cheesecake Day
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Black Cat Day
Chamber After Hours Hampton Inn, Florence
Send in your events to heather@vipmagsc.com! friday
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saturday
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Free #downtownflow Yoga Amazing Grace Park, Marion
Fall & Plant Show (1-3) Pee Dee State Farmers Market, Florence
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Pamplico Cypress Festival Saturdays on the Square Downtown Darlington
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Pig Pickin' Festival Downtown Kingstree
SC Sweet Potato Festival Downtown Darlington
Pierogi Day
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Oktoberfest Downtown Florence
16 Jam Fest, 9am-4pm
Youth Mentors of the Pee Dee Charity Golf Tournament Traces Golf Course, Florence
22 Kickin' Chicken Wing & Chili Festival Downtown Florence Seniors Got Talent Show Leatherman Senior Center, Florence
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Friday After 5 Downtown Florence
City Center, Florence
Pee Dee Back Country Day Whitehead Infirmary, Lake City Flo-Town's Kid's Got Talent Barnes St Activity Ctr, Florence Toss N Taste 23 Southern Hops, Florence Farm to Table Day City Center Farmers Mrkt, Flo Screen on the Green Burry Park, Hartsville Dem. Women's Council Pop Up Virgil Wells Stadium, Darlington
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Peachbelt Esports Conference Florence Center
Flo-Town 5K Run/Walk Wastewater Management, Florence
Trick or Treat Trail & Movie Amazing Grace Park, Marion
BOOtanical Garden Moore Farms, Lake City
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BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR
story by Rhegan Ortiz & photo by Fred Salley
April Munn's Story
Moving Foward and Taking Chances “Now, I see life with new eyes,” says April Munn, Admissions and Promotions Director and International Coordinator at Trinity Collegiate School, mom of two talented young adults, and friend to many, as she describes how breast cancer transformed her life. On March 17, 2020, just as the pandemic began to alter society, April’s world spiraled further. She was diagnosed with HER-2 Triple-Negative Stage 3 Breast Cancer. April commented, “I never knew there were so many different kinds of breast cancer.” Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for 10 to 15% of all breast cancers. “The term triplenegative breast cancer refers to the fact that the cancer cells don’t have estrogen or progesterone receptors and also don’t make too much of the protein called HER2,” as stated on cancer.org. April found a lump in her breast by accident. However, she ignored it and thought it would go away. “I do not advise ignoring what you find while doing a self-exam,” said April. “My cancer was fast-growing and cancer is nothing to play with.” Even though she had regularly scheduled mammograms, cancer didn’t show up until December of 2019. April was in shock at her diagnosis. She has no family history so it never occurred to her that this could be her life. The team at McLeod showed April great care through her journey. From diagnosis to chemo, surgery, and finishing with radiation, they were a constant encouragement. Her son, Carson, and daughter, Grace, became her rocks. “My son was actually the one that encouraged me to shave my head and take control once my hair began falling out from the chemo treatments.” Her family, friends and faith also helped them through the experience. “We had meals brought every night while I was going through chemo. I had such love and support around me, it truly made me appreciate Florence!” “Cancer changed me for the better,” says April. “It is an experience that I have learned to appreciate. Before, I was cautious and afraid of taking chances; I was guarded about everything. Now I see life with new eyes. It is a rebuilding year for me after cancer. I have learned through therapy to not be scared of things in life, to move forward and take chances, to love life and all that is ahead of me. The mental impact of chemotherapy is extreme, but it does build you into a stronger human.”
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Now that April has walked this journey, she looks forward to the day she can help someone else. “I have had people touch my life that I would have never met had I not experienced cancer.” April encourages others who are faced with this diagnosis to find someone that has walked this path before them. “There’s a special bond shared through those that are diagnosed with cancer.”
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BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR
photo by Fred Salley
Jackie Smith's Story
My Story For His Glory As we recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, I am blessed to be able to still be here 14 years later to share my experience with you. In the years since my breast cancer diagnosis, I have met many other women that have gone down this same road. We are members of “the club." A club that we really don’t want to see others join with us. To me, the saddest thing in the world is to think that someone would go through what I’ve been through alone and without hope. Breast cancer is not a death sentence. There is always hope. Jesus Christ is my hope. God has taken what Satan had planned to destroy me with and brought healing and peace into my life on so many levels. Death and the fear of death have lost their sting. Doing a self-breast exam in the shower one November morning in 2007, I felt a lump in my right breast. Surely this isn’t anything to worry about I thought so I neglected to tell my doctor until my December visit. I had the mammogram scheduled for my day off in January so that I wouldn’t have to miss work. I was a third-grade teacher and didn’t like to miss school so I wasn’t in a rush to have this done sooner. A few days later a magnified mammogram was scheduled and then on February 4, I had a core needle biopsy. On February 7, 2008, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. Our daughter was in my third-grade class at this time and our son was in the ninth grade. We had two other teenage brothers living with us also; an eighth-grader and a senior in high school. I was 39 years old and never thought I would be told that I had breast cancer. After meeting with my oncologist, Dr. O. Sitti, the plan was to have a port-a-cath placed to allow the chemo to be administered to replace the need for repeated needle sticks. Because of the size of my tumor, chemo would be first and then mastectomy followed by radiation treatments. The chemo drugs administered were Adriamycin and Cytoxan beginning on February 27, 2008. These were known as the “red devil” and were given every other week. After this, twelve treatments of Taxol and Herceptin were given. On September 16, 2008, my Mom’s birthday, I had a radical mastectomy. My Mom said that hearing I was now
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cancer-free was the best birthday present she had ever gotten. I started radiation in November and was also still having Herceptin treatments until April of 2009. CT scans, PET scans, MUGA scans, bone tests, MRI’s and lots of blood work lasted for a year before everything showed that all was well. I chose delayed reconstruction, TRAM Flap, two years after treatment. Chemo brain, fatigue and not having my hair were some of the most difficult issues for me. Not being able to take care of the things that I had been able to do before or able to walk across a parking lot to go grocery shopping was really hard for me mentally. As the Lord provided care in all the right places I needed, I learned to just rest and say thank you. People were praying and God was providing what I needed just when I needed it. I tell people that I am so thankful that I had breast cancer because it saved my life. After experiencing lots of unpleasant stomach issues and then a dream one night that made me wake up my husband and tell him that I needed a colonoscopy while he mumbled, “that’s nice, sweetheart. Now go back to sleep.” I listened to that still small voice and I am so thankful that I did. Breast cancer prompted me to seek and desire more from the voice of God in my life. On April 7, 2009, I was diagnosed with a signet ring cell carcinoma, stomach cancer. This cancer has a poor prognosis because as I have learned the symptoms often develop late and are therefore usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. In May of 2009, I underwent a gastrectomy that removed the lower part of my stomach. This cancer was stage zero and completely unrelated to the breast cancer. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, Doug, amazing children, praying friends, and church family. Because of His blessings, I have been there for my children’s high school and college graduations. I danced at my son’s wedding four years ago and just recently became a grandmother to precious Sadie and Lael. Each and every day of life is truly a gift and I am thankful to be able to share with others my journey and God’s grace and mercy through the difficult times as well as good.
Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
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BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR
story by Rhegan Ortiz & photo by Fred Salley
Deloris Brand's Story Helping Others Along Their Journey While the color pink signifies many things, to some it is a color of survival and hope. Did you know that one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime? On average, every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. Deloris Brand became part of this statistic in October of 2005. However, through early detection and extensive treatments, she is also blessed to be called a survivor. Deloris has been diligent in doing self-exams since 1992 in addition to yearly mammograms. Her journey began with fibrocystic breast disease, commonly called fibrocystic breasts. It is a benign (noncancerous) condition in which the breasts feel lumpy. Deloris’s doctor, the late Dr. Ed Lee, removed the lumps one after the other but they would resurface. Deloris continued to administer self-exams through the entire experience, and luckily she did. Like many have encountered, a routine mammogram didn’t catch a lump. While Dr. Lee was explaining the negative results from the mammogram, Deloris asked him to take a closer look at a lump she believed she felt. He immediately did additional testing and the results were positive. Upon the findings, Deloris was told surgery needed to be done right away. The next week Deloris had her right breast removed. “I tell everyone to please do self-exams,” Deloris explains. “Machines are great but they aren’t perfect. If we continue to do self-exams, we can help our doctors see what the machines may miss and can help catch potential threats in earlier stages.” Deloris was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. Deloris’s life immediately took a turn. “I kept my faith and continued to pray,” she says. Before her diagnosis, no one in her immediate family had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Deloris was caught blindsided. “My family was also not prepared for what was coming but they became my biggest supporters. My husband, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren were all by my side
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“I tell everyone to please do self-exams,” Deloris explains. “Machines are great but they aren’t perfect. If we continue to do self-exams, we can help our doctors see what the machines may miss and can help catch potential threats in earlier stages.”
through the entire experience.” In addition to the physical effects cancer has on your body, the emotional trauma is exasperating. “My husband was my rock. He continued to encourage me, saying I would beat this!” Deloris also sought out a support group called Toni’s Tigers’, a breast cancer support group at MUSC Health Florence Medical Center. The group was named after MUSC Florence cancer patient navigator Toni McGiboney. “I encourage others to find someone who is going through the same situation you are going through. This was the best support for me because I could sit and talk to others about the experiences I was having and things that my family might not understand.” Before cancer invaded Deloris’s life, she was more laid back. Today she is proactive and not taking life for granted. “I try to live every day to the fullest. Cancer doesn’t stop so we can’t stop. My goal now is to help others along their journey. Trusting and knowing the Lord will be by our side is what helps us put one foot in front of the other.”
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BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR
"I'm a Survivor!" Cassandra Y. Mack Cassandra Y. Mack has experienced many trials in her life. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009 after fainting in church one Sunday morning and was later diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. Through it all, she finds solace in her faith. Follow along as Cassandra shares her journey with breast cancer.
Q. When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?
Q. You have a large family, what was their response?
A. “I was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in my left breast during a routine mammogram in April 2016.”
A. “The children were disturbed by the news but I reassured them that I was going to be fine. The youngest, Jadea, took it the hardest but did what needed to be done to assist me through yet another journey. My family support was truly awesome. Not a treatment day went by that I was alone. My husband, mother, and two daughters made sure of that. In addition to my family, my radiation team was awesome as well! My BCBS case manager kept in touch to make sure all of my needs were being met.”
Q. What was your initial impression? A. “I was shocked and a little overwhelmed. I have no family history; my family dealt with heart conditions, not breast cancer. However, having a brain tumor in 2009 helped me be more prepared for the unknown and once again my faith increased.” Q. What treatment did you undergo? A. “With my breast cancer being stage one, I had two options - a mastectomy (total breast removal) or a partial mastectomy. After receiving all information, I chose option two, a partial mastectomy, and my surgeon, Dr. Keith Player, was in agreement. After surgery, I took eight weeks of radiation.”
Cassandra ringing the bell
Cassandra with her radiation team at McLeod
Q. How has this experience changed your life? A. “My faith in God, my Savior, has matured. My journeys have shown me that life is precious and should not be taken for granted. That my trust should always be in Jesus Christ, regardless of how big or small the issue may be. I’ve enjoyed the new relationships I’ve built through this experience. Now it’s my turn to be an encourager. I enjoy being able to use my experience as a testimony.”
Cassandra is 60 years old and married to her precious husband, James. Together they share a daughter, Jadea. She is also blessed with four stepchildren, 13 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren with another on the way. Cassandra is a state retiree where she taught in different areas and supervised in disabilities and special needs. After retiring, she continued to teach 2K at Temple Christian Academy in Darlington where she is serving her ninth year.
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BUSINESS BUSINESS
The
STONO REBELLION
E
arly Sunday morning, September 9, 1739, two dozen slaves gathered near the Stono River 20 miles south of Charleston. From that gathering began the Stono Rebellion, the most deadly slave uprising in the British North American colonies. As consequential as this event was there is not a generally accepted account of the event. There is one surviving eyewitness account; however, its author is unknown. Several elements of the story have been passed down orally through generations of the slave participants. Regardless, this was a real event with deadly consequences.
As with so many events in colonial South Carolina history this one is rooted in Spanish and English rivalries. Throughout the 1730s the Spanish governors of Florida issued edicts that encouraged slaves from the British colonies to escape to Florida in return for their freedom. These proclamations were mainly directed to the South Carolina low country plantations as colonial Georgia was only created in 1732 and forbade slavery until 1751. Slaves also greatly outnumbered white colonists who feared for their security. It is generally accepted that the two dozen slaves who began the march south on September 9, 1739, were from the African Kingdom of Kongo. The Catholic Church had established a strong connection with the Kingdom of Kongo and many of the North American slaves from Kongo were Catholic and spoke Portuguese. Some have theorized that these rebels were captured soldiers who were forced into enslavement and 40
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story by Mark W. Buyck, III
relocated to South Carolina. The anonymous account writer clearly blamed the Spanish for inciting the rebellion. He mentions the offers of freedom as well as secret visits from Spanish Catholic priests to South Carolina encouraging the slaves to escape to Florida. The leader of the group was a literate slave named “Jemmy” (some accounts refer to the leader as “Cato” and the event as “Cato’s Rebellion.”) The first victims of the Rebellion were two white storekeepers at Hutchenson’s Store where a warehouse containing firearms, ammunition and other military supplies was seized. The band then set off on a trail of destruction led by banners flying and drums beating, all the while shouting “Liberty.” Over the next day, the original group encouraged and coerced other slaves along their route to join them. Various accounts confirm the burning of plantations and the death of white settlers. One account mentions the burning of six plantations and the killing of 23 to 28 colonists. The band eventually encountered Lieutenant Governor William Bull and five of his friends on horseback. Bull, appreciating the danger, escaped to warn other settlers and raise the militia. On Monday afternoon the militia caught up with the slaves, numbering about 100 by this time. One account claims the rebels stopped at a large field and “set to dancing, singing and beating drums to draw more Negroes to them.” By the time the militia arrived, the group had grown to 90 slaves and a battle ensued. By sunset, 20 militiamen had perished as well as 40 rebels. Ten of the rebels were caught by the militia the next day. A week later, a larger group of about 30 rebels engaged in a final battle with militiamen and cooperating Indians about 30 miles south of the initial battle. Most accounts claim that all but a few of the rebels were executed shortly after capture. One account claims that several were beheaded and the severed heads placed on stakes alongside the roads to Charlestown to intimidate other slaves.
In the 1930s George Cato, describing himself as the great-great-grandson of Cato, the rebel leader, gave an interview to the WPA Federal Writer’s Project (full interview can be found at nationalhumanitiescenter. org/pds/becomingamer/peoples/text4/ stonorebellion.pdf). “I reckon it was hot, ‘cause in less than two days, 21 white men, women, and children, and 44 Negroes, was slain. My granddaddy say that in the woods and at Stono, where the war start, there was more than 100 Negroes in line. When the militia come in sight of them at Combahee swamp, the drinking, dancing Negroes scatter in the bush and only 44 stand their ground. Commander Cato speak for the crowd, he say: ‘We don’t like slavery. We start to join the Spanish in Florida. We surrender but we not whip yet and we is not converted.’ The other 43 say: ‘Amen.’ They was taken, unarmed, and hanged by the militia.”
The Stono Rebellion Historical Marker Located in Rantowles, SC
The South Carolina legislative response to the Spanish edicts and the Stono Rebellion was the Slave Code of 1740. Reasoning that the rebels were recent arrivals from Africa, all slave importation to South Carolina was banned for ten years. The law also prohibited slaves from meeting in large groups and playing drums. The law made it illegal to teach slaves how to read and write. There is a Stono Rebellion historic marker on Highway 17 South of Charleston just outside the town of Rantowles. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Business Law, Litigation, Real Estate, and Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys 248 West Evans Street | Florence, SC | 843.662.3258 2050 Corporate Centre’ Drive, Suite 230 Myrtle Beach, SC | 843.650.6777 October 2021
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LIFESTYLE
A series of discussions regarding cultural and racial issues...
CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS story by Kimberly Brauss
Francis Marion University’s African American Faculty and Staff Coalition brings back its community discussions on ethnic understanding and diversity this fall in its effort to “stimulate and enhance cultural awareness.” “The program is a vital part of continuing the discussion of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The last two years have taught us that this is still a needed continued dialogue, amongst us all,” said Kayla Duncan, vice president of the coalition. “AAFSC and FMU want to be at the forefront of those discussions to provide researched information for individuals within our community to access and review,” Duncan said. “The motto of AAFSC is ‘together we can,’ and we feel that continuing this series annually is a way to ensure that we’re continuing that not only in the FMU community but the Florence community as a whole.” The free series will start in October with historians Dr. Erica Edwards and Dr. Louis Venters delve into “Slavery’s Legacy, Past and Future” at the FMU Performing Arts Center located at 201 S. Dargan St. in Florence. “We’ve added slotted speakers from various fields to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion. We feel it is pertinent to discuss the fullness of how race/ ethnicity impacts various parts of individual’s lives,” Duncan said. “I’m so thrilled that we get to showcase other amazing professors here at FMU, who also share a passion for discussing diversity. The series this year will have speakers from the history departments, political science department, biology department, as well as the psychology department. Additionally, CEU(s) will be available again this year for those in the community that would like to participate in receiving them.”
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CULTURAL CONVERSATION SERIES Session 1 Speakers: Dr. Erica Edwards and Dr. Louis Venters Topic: “Slavery’s Legacy, Past and Future” Monday, October 18 Noon to 1:30 p.m. FMU Performing Arts Center, 201 S. Dargan St., Florence DR. ERICA EDWARDS Erica Johnson Edwards is an Associate Professor of History at Francis Marion University. She is author of Philanthropy and Race in the Haitian Revolution and co-editor of The French Revolution and Religion in Global Perspective. She has published articles in Studies in Religion and the Enlightenment, The History Teacher, Southern Quarterly, Journal of Transnational Studies, and The Journal of the Western Society for French History. She is an editor for Age of Revolutions, an open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal. DR. LOUIS VENTERS Louis Venters began teaching at FMU in 2007. He is a co-author of the award-winning public history study, “African Americans in Camden, South Carolina (2006), No Jim Crow Church: The Origins of South Carolina’s Baha’I Community (University Press of Florida, 2015) and A History of the Baha’I Faith in South Carolina (The History Press, 2019).
(DR. LOUIS VENTERS cont'd.)
He is particularly interested in the history of race, religion, and social change in the United States, as well as issues of rural and urban planning and the intersection of cultural and environmental stewardship. A Pee Dee native, he has lived and traveled extensively in Africa, Central America, and Europe.
Session 2 Speakers: Dr. Jennifer Titanski-Hooper and Dr. Dillon Tatum Topic: “Bordering Democracy: Racial and
Class Inequality in Access to Political and Public Spaces” Thursday, November 18 Noon to 1:30 p.m. FMU Performing Arts Center, 201 S. Dargan St., Florence DR. JENNIFER TITANSKI-HOOPER Jennifer Titanski-Hooper is an Assistant Professor of Geography at Francis Marion University. She specializes in feminist political geography with a focus on the relationships between nationalism and political economy. She has written and published on issues of identity and belonging in Croatia and is currently working on a paper examining the relationship between sports and social protests. DR. DILLON TATUM Dillon Stone Tatum is an assistant professor of Political Science at FMU, where his research and teaching focuses on international relations and contemporary political theory. His book, Liberalism and Transformation: The Global Politics of Violence and Intervention is out this year with University of Michigan Press.
For more information and to register for the free events, visit www.fmarion.edu/aafsc.
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LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE
A Continuum of Care Trent Hill Center prepares to launch new program
Scottie Hill, Executive Director of the Trent Hill Center for Children & Families in Hartsville, S.C., remembers with acute clarity the day when the Center accepted its first two residential foster placements in April of 2018. “When the first children showed up, we were excited, nervous, and eager to meet them. When the car pulled up in front of the house with the children in it, I stepped out on the front porch to greet them. As soon as the brother of the sibling group stepped out of the car, he just started bawling. I took him in and held him in my arms as if he were my child crying like that,” she recalls. She says of this inaugural moment for the Center: “It felt surreal that what had been theory for so long was becoming reality. It felt like a prayer had been answered, like the opportunity to care for this child had been placed in front of me. It just validated the reason for creating the Center.” Three years and 90 residents later, Trent Hill Center’s leading ladies—Scottie and her sister, Becky, THC’s Residential Services Director—will be the first to admit that the work of the grassroots nonprofit has only just begun. Currently, the Center provides two main services: residential care for youth in the foster care system and mental health counseling for residential and community clients. On any given day, the residential home is a bustling epicenter of activity housing up to 13 teenagers. “There’s never a boring day,” laughs Becky. Even in the early days of the Trent Hill Center, when the organization and its leaders were still working out the kinks of what was then a brand new operation, the Hill sisters and THC board were already looking out past the existing services and into the future trajectory
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The SIL Program equips youth in foster care ages 18-21 with skills and knowledge to be self-sufficient. Here youth are taught how to cook hamburgers.
of the Center’s programming potentials. Supervised Independent Living (SIL) is the manifestation of this visionary outlook, which has consisted of years of research and brainstorming, field trips and phone calls. SIL is a residential program designed to equip youth in foster care ages 18-21 with the skills, resources, knowledge, and relationships necessary to achieve self-sufficiency and independence in adulthood. Scottie describes it as “the bridge between foster care and independence” that will intervene in a critical time in the lives of youth in foster care, providing an alternative to the dismal plights that threaten to plague these youth: homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, addiction, and poverty, to name a few. As with the Center’s existing programs, SIL will rely heavily on the involvement of the community and its dedication to the Center’s mission. Scottie describes the relationship that has formed between the Trent Hill Center and the surrounding community: “Because the community has wrapped itself around us in so many tangible ways, we feel confident that we can help youth participants accomplish their SIL program goals
“Because the community has wrapped itself around us in so many tangible ways, we feel confident that we can help youth participants accomplish their SIL program goals because we know we are not doing this alone. Our community has come together and will come together to see each child through their transition from foster care to independence.”
because we know we are not doing this alone. Our community has come together and will come together to see each child through their transition from foster care to independence.” In preparation for the launch of Supervised Independent Living, Trent Hill Center is hosting a fundraiser on Thursday, November 11, 2021 that will benefit the startup costs associated with the program. “I Dreamed a Dream: A Night of Broadway with the Trent Hill Center” will feature a selection of local and professional performers, each of which will take the stage at Hartsville Center Theater to bring top Broadway hits to a crowd of THC’s supporters. Tickets are available through the Center Theater at thecentertheater. com or by calling or visiting the Theater. Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are available upon request.
522 W. Bobo Newsom Hwy • Hartsville, SC 843-917-4674 | 843-309-5502 www.trenthillcenter.org
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LIFESTYLE
H COOPER BLACK
National Retriever Championship NOVEMBER 13-20, 2021
story by Kimberly Brauss | photographer Molly Schlachter
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Loyal, smart and determined. The best of the best retrievers will be competing at an incredibly prestigious event in Cheraw come November. H Cooper Black will be hosting the 2021 National Retriever Championship from November 13 to 20. “It’s the culmination of a year’s hard work and campaigning to qualify for the event in the AKC (American Kennel Club) performance event calendar for Retriever Field Trials,” said Mark Menzies with the Field Trial Committee. About 100 of the best retrievers in the country and their handlers – mainly professional and some amateur – who’ve qualified during the past year are coming to compete in over a week of testing, including 10 different scenarios, with the winner to be named the National Retriever Champion. The outdoor competitions are designed to showcase hunting instincts in the retriever breeds, which principally will be made up of Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. These canine athletic events originated in England in 1866. Dogs are judged on four hunting components: accurate marking of multiple fallen game ability to handle on blind retrieves efficiently, style, and the ability to work together with their handler as a team. The week of testing at H Cooper Black is designed to show their superior performance level. “The event is being held at H Cooper Black Sporting Dog Facility, a SC State park facility between Patrick and Society Hill. Extending to some 7,000 acres, it is a jewel in the Crown of South Carolina Parks system and for that matter Nationally as there are very few similar state-owned parks of this nature in the country. It is used for retrievers, bird dogs, and gets much use from residents and visitors alike, with stables, arena, kennels, camping sites, bath houses club house, etc. The facility is a boon for Hartsville, bringing tourism to the city and providing amenities for the residents and visitors alike. “Having said that,” Menzies continued, “We are very pleased to be hosting the 2021 National Retriever Championship, which is finally returning to HCB after 8 years. This will be the fifth time the Championship has been held at HCB. The
photos from past championship days
Championship is back again this year in the Eastern time zone. It was last held in Cheraw in 2013, and before that in 2005, 2001, and 1997.” Having celebrated its 80th anniversary last year, the event originated in Quoque, Long Island, New York, in 1941, so has plenty of history, and Hartsville will be the headquarters this year. There will be many specialized dog trucks and dogs in the area for several weeks, so don’t be surprised at the activity. The opening ceremonies start at 6 a.m. November 13 the trial grounds. The championship begins at 7 a.m. “After each test, the dogs that don’t measure up are dropped,” Tina Styan, managing editor and vice president with Retriever News. “The others go on to the next test. The winner is rewarded with the title “NFC,” National Field Champion. The requisite stud fees and future progeny is where the reward comes from and the winner if a male will likely have an impact on future generations of hunting and competition dogs for years to come..” There will be a food wagon on the grounds from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the trials. The grounds are located at 279 Sporting Dog Trail, Cheraw, SC 29520.
For more information and to follow the trials, visit Retriever News at theretrievernews.com for record keeping and reporting.
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Interview & Images by Bethany Rau
Ginger
DAIL
VIP had the pleasure of getting together with Ginger Dail for this month’s Artist Spotlight. She is someone you may describe as well-rounded and that might even be an understatement! Ginger started her Etsy shop, The Crafty Pharmer, nearly nine years ago and has since sold over 6,500 scrub hats. Follow below to learn more about Ginger's journey in sewing.
Do you remember how you first knew you were interested in sewing? "My grandmother managed a fabric store in my hometown. I grew up surrounded around fabric, notions, sewing patterns, and sewing machines...doesn’t everyone? I enjoyed making some of my clothes and decorating the window displays at the fabric store. My first sewing project (at age five) was a reversible wrap skirt that took over eight hours to complete and produced a few gray hairs for my mother."
Tell us about your family history in sewing. "My mom, aunt, and grandmother all sewed. My grandmother managed the fabric store and my mother was the assistant manager. My first paying job, at age 13 with parental approval, was at this fabric store - Mill Fabrics in Hopewell, Virgina."
What inspired you to start selling your products? "I made a few scrub hats for my husband who works in the medical field and a few friends. Business exploded when I started selling on Etsy. I sell my scrub hats all over the world. Recently, I shipped a large order to France, Croatia, and Australia. I am humbled, amazed, and speechless that someone would purchase my scrub hats from so far away." Shop Ginger's Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/thecraftypharmersc
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What are your favorite things to create? "I enjoy making projects for nursing units or large groups. I recently made 32 breast cancer scrub hats for a Nursing Unit in California. The unit wanted to support their co-worker that was undergoing breast cancer treatment. The entire staff wore the hats for her surgery. Definitely a humbling experience to be a part of."
Do you have any other hobbies besides sewing? "I love working in the yard planting, weeding, cutting limbs, edging, etc. I just enjoy being outside and working with my hands in the dirt. I am also a collector of critters."
Tell us about your family? "I have been married for 25 years to my favorite person. I'm also a mother of three talented, creative, and independent young women - a chef turned nursing student, a hairstylist, and a welder."
October 2021
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AROUND TOWN: 2ND ANNUAL ADVENTURE RACE
photos by Phillip Guyton, True Light Photography
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2nd Annual
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October 2021
Keep Florence Beautiful hosted it’s 2nd Annual Adventure Race at Lynches River County Park on September 18, 2021. Proceeds from this event will benefit Keep Florence Beautiful and Lynches River County Park. In addition, a portion of the proceeds is also being earmarked to help keep parts of Lynches River clear of debris so that everyone can continue to enjoy the river.
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November October 2021 2019
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November 2019
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November 2019
