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magazine Publisher Tammy Clark tmclark225@gmail.com Editor Heather Page heather@vipmagsc.com Office Manager Tiffany Skipper jtskipp35@gmail.com Advertising Executives Julie C. Tyler juliectyler@yahoo.com Creative Design Tuesday Taylor Ashley Rogers
Contributing Photographers Jonathan Boatwright Erin Daniel Fred Salley Contributing Writers Kimberly Brauss Mark W. Buyck, III Ashley Elvington Rebecca Giese John Richey, MD Doug Smith Donna Tracy Tommy Spotts John Sweeney
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
We take pride in promoting shopping locally, especially during the season of gifting. With Christmas being a little different this year, we may not be able to see all of our loved ones in person. Shipping gifts may be a popular way of delivering that something special to someone special. You can also support a local business by doing that! Consider shipping all of your items via The UPS Store where you will get the best customer service in the process!
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CONTENTS
ISSUE 61
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DECEMBER 2020 BUSINESS 14 Willcox, Buyck & Williams, PA: 125 Years Young 16 ChocoBella: Sweet Indulgences 18 Indigo Salon and Day Spa: Jamie Kelly 20 Renewal by Anderson 22 Carolina Trading Post 24 Greater Florence Chamber Member of the Month Jones Auto Wrecking 26 Venable's Jewelry & Gifts 28 Florence City Center Gift Guide 30 John Sweeney: Year In Review
32 December 2020 Calendar 34 Around Town: Curt Summerford Benefit
HEALTH + WELLNESS 36 HopeHealth: The Season of Joy 38 McLeod Health: The Whipple Procedure
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HOME 42 Doug Smith: Cranberry Sauce That Build America 44 Rebecca's Corner: Holiday Charcuterie Boards
LIFESTYLE 46 Pastor Tommy Spotts: The Real Gift 48 Henry Noble's Christmas Wish 52 Cultural Conversations: Recap of Conversation #2 52 Santa Claus: Story About The Man In The Red Suit
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58 Artist Spotlight: Andrianna Gardner 60 Drink of the Month: Christmas Mulled Wine
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BUSINESS
125 Years Young The area’s oldest law firm, Willcox, Buyck & Williams, with offices in Florence and Myrtle Beach will celebrate its 125th Anniversary with a dinner on December 2, 2020. USC Law School Dean William Hubbard will make remarks at the dinner attended by the current members of the firm and their spouses. Fred L. Willcox and his cousin, Phillip Alston Willcox, began the firm in 1895 representing the area’s railroad industry and Phillip became solicitor general of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad Company. Members of the firm laid the groundwork for state and national bar associations, the development of the University of South Carolina in Florence, which became Francis Marion University, and the City of Florence. Except for the Equity Partners of Mark W. Buyck, Jr., Hugh L. Willcox, Jr., and Reynolds Williams, all the other members of the firm and the firm’s paralegals are younger professionals. From the earliest days, the firm’s lawyers have engaged in practice for individuals, businesses, and corporations and participated in a wide variety of business and civic enterprises. Apart from the rapid success of the firm, its members were connected in one way or another with most economic and social advances in the region. From railroads, timber, and bright leaf tobacco, both Florence hospitals, International Paper Company, the Florence Air Base, McCall Farms, Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation, and the DuPont Company’s initial entries into Florence, these lawyers were always heavily involved. They have served on city council, university and college boards of trustees and boards of visitors, U. S. Attorneys, and municipal judges, special circuit judges, and today they sit on a wide variety of community, religious, and corporate boards continuing the legacy that began 125 years ago. Since its founding, the firm has maintained a presence throughout the Pee Dee and Grand Strand. In 1900, the firm opened an office in Georgetown to serve the needs of the Atlantic Coast Lumber Co. The firm currently maintains an office in Myrtle Beach mainly engaged in that dynamic real estate market. 14
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Melvin Purvis, who practiced law in the firm after graduating from the University of South Carolina Law School in the 1920s, left the firm to become an outstanding FBI agent and is known as “the man who got Dillinger”; he also nabbed “Pretty Boy” Floyd and others. He married P. A. Willcox’s daughter, Roseanne. The initial name of the firm was Willcox and Willcox and other partners have been included in the name through the years. Other distinguished lawyers practicing in earlier days included D. Gordon Baker, who became Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, Henry E. Davis, who became a United States Attorney and author, Hugh L. Willcox, who served on the Board of Trustees at Carolinas for 20 years, C. Weston Houck, who later became a United States District Judge, Richard A. Palmer, who represented Carolina Power & Light Co., James C. McLeod, a long time McLeod Hospital trustee, and Laurier O’Farrell, specializing in property law. Twenty-five years ago, Roy Talbert, Jr. wrote a book entitled No Greater Legacy, the Centennial History of Willcox, McLeod, Buyck & Williams, 1895 – 1995 to celebrate the firm’s centennial. Quoting from the conclusion of the history, “Five generations of lawyers from this firm have served the Carolinas. They have not only excelled in their profession, but also, they have rendered extraordinary support to their region and their nation. Their record of remarkable and continuing contributions in social service, in economic development, and in advancing the legal profession is a matter of genuine and historical significance. Indeed, the success of this firm is a major part of the development of Florence, the Pee Dee, and the New South. The founders could have wished for no greater legacy.” 248 West Evans Street | Florence, SC | 843.662.3258 2050 Corporate Centre’ Drive, Suite 230 Myrtle Beach, SC | 843.650.6777
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BUSINESS BUSINESS
114 N Dargan St • Florence
Sweet INDULGENCES story by Rebecca Giese / photos by Erin Daniels
Fill your stockings with locally made chocolate bonbons, or take your family out for gelato as a break from shopping this holiday season. There is a new dynamic duo in town bringing gourmet chocolates and gelato to downtown Florence, at Chocobella. Translated as "Beautiful chocolate," it is an understatement for the culinary artwork displayed in each bonbon or scoop of flavorful gelato. Now open, Chocobella is owned by Ranny Starnes and Marvin James.
Ranny, a native of North Carolina, grew up working in her family's restaurant. This influenced her to study Hospitality Management at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. After eight years of working in dining, she moved the pivot towards the coffee business, where she worked in coffee for about 14 years. Ranny and Marvin met while both were working at downtown Florence hot spot, Dolce Vita. Marvin found his passion for baking while helping in his grandmother's kitchen. In 2011 when Dolce Vita was still in the planning stage, Marvin pursued the avenue of fine chocolates. He enrolled in Echol Chocolat Professional School of Chocolate Arts and is now a certified Belgian trained Master Chocolatier. With their knowledge and talents, this partnership is set to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth. Ranny tells the story best on how they transitioned from Dolce Vita to the new business endeavor Chocobella. "It all began in 2013 at Dolce Vita, chocolate and wine tasting room in downtown Florence. The original concept was something new, fresh, and exciting for Florence. With Dolce Vita being downtown, this would create the enthusiasm of people coming downtown while at the same time sparking further business growth and development in the area. I (Ranny) 16
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joined the team at Dolce Vita in 2016 to launch their coffee program. At that time, Marvin was making our chocolates. I became intrigued by the process and began absorbing all the information I could. After taking a class with former chocolatier, Josh Keith, I was hooked. I began following all the chocolatiers and chocolate shops I could find on Instagram. That's when I discovered the art of the painted bonbon. Chocolatiers were creating these beautiful works of art that looked too pretty to eat. My next question was, why aren't we doing that? It spoke to the artist in me and I immediately ordered a set of colored cocoa butter and set out to learn the art. I began making artisan's hand-painted chocolates at Dolce Vita a few years ago, and it quickly became my favorite thing to do. In 2020 I made it official and registered with Echol Chocolat Professional School of Chocolate Arts to become a Professional Chocolatier. I love to watch as people look at the beautifully painted bonbon and wonder what the flavors will be. Then they take a bite and a light goes off in their eyes. "Marvin and I both enjoyed chocolate making, but we had several obstacles to contend with at Dolce Vita. As the business and food menu grew, it was harder to have a temperature-controlled environment. Chocolate making is ideal between 60 and 68 degrees with little to no humidity. This limited our production time frame to early morning hours before the kitchen became too hot. Late in 2019, Dr. John Keith, owner of Dolce Vita, was getting closer to finishing his latest building renovation, "The Eleanor," a block down the street. Just brainstorming, we had the idea of moving the chocolate production for Dolce Vita down the road to John's new building. After talking to John about our idea, he presented us with another one. How about open your own chocolate
shop? With his blessing and encouragement, we began planning the opening of ChocoBella at 114 North Dargan Street in downtown Florence. Our downtown has a beautiful group of businesses that care about our community and it's revitalization. We are proud to be a part of this community and to create a unique destination in downtown Florence for residents and visitors alike." With continued education and a big helping of patience, Ranny and Marvin decided to add gelato to complement their bonbons. Find the perfect flavor pairing to satisfy your cravings, whether it is the delicious bonbon, gelato, or a tasting of both. Ranny gave us details about the options available, "Our chocolate lineup for our launch will include a few staple favorites such as salted caramel and dark chocolate sea salt and flavors for the more adventurous such as ginger lemon zest and honey lavender. There will also be veganfriendly options for our chocolate as well as for the gelato and sorbet." The flavor profiles and options are continuous with 12 different gelatos and sorbets and 1012 bonbons. Grab a couple of bonbons or an 8, 15, or 30 piece box for yourself or a friend.
Ranny Starnes & Marvin James, owner
Currently only available for in-store pick-up, open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 pm to 7 pm. If you desire a bonbon but don't feel comfortable going in the shop, check out the walk-up/pick up window on the left side of the shop. They hope to have the website up and running for preordering soon. Check them out on Instagram and Facebook at @chocobellasc!
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BUSINESS
INDIGO SALON AND DAY SPA story by Rebecca Giese photos by Erin Daniel
While many small businesses have closed their doors this year, some areas have seen growth and new businesses launch in 2020. Hartsville, South Carolina, is a small town that continues to beat the odds with people like Jamie Kelly guiding the way. Jamie is the owner of Indigo Salon and Day Spa and 2020 chairman of the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce. Growing up in Hartsville, she has seen the transformation of this small town first hand. After going to Francis Marion University for a degree in Marketing, she worked for Sonoco before getting her cosmetology degree. About ten years ago, she purchased Indigo Salon and Day Spa. Since then, it has grown immensely and moved to a larger location on Home Avenue in downtown Hartsville about five years ago. Using the knowledge she gained by owning her own business and her marketing background, she has been an essential board member for the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce for about two years. Jamie started her cosmetology career because she loved making people feel better about themselves, but now that same passion has pivoted into helping other businesses and Hartsville grow. 2020 may have changed how businesses operated, but the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce board worked tirelessly to support chamber president Murphy Monk, assessing the local community's needs and educating the businesses to give everyone the best chance of survival and growth during 18
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Jamie Kelly, owner
208 W Home Ave, Hartsville 843.332.3542 indigosalondayspa.com
such a challenging season. Jamie spoke on the unique opportunity in Hartsville, "It is a great place to start and invest in businesses...About 8,000 people live within city limits, but over 30,000 come through every day.� And Jamie says, "Hartsville has more support." Hartsville Chamber of Commerce has a wonderful connection with the City government, local school district, Coker University, and the Governor's School, to name a few. Even with this year's challenges, The Hartsville Chamber of Commerce celebrated a successful class from their Leadership
...where a metropolitan experience meets southern charm! Hartsville program, a nine-month program designed to educate and train emerging leaders around the Hartsville and greater area. The program is focused on growing leadership skills and teaching the class about local history, city, and county operations, even touring special organizations and businesses around the community. Encouraging our community leaders and business owners' growth highlights the passion Jamie has for the community over competition and passion for seeing Hartsville as a whole succeed. When Jamie isn't working on the Chamber of Commerce projects, she grows her own team of dedicated and talented stylists and spa staff. Indigo Salon and Day Spa has a wonderful staff that has continued to grow despite the pandemic. While the doors were shut, she and her team focused on education, their stylist's growth, and Indigo's online presence so that once they reopened, they were stronger than ever. Now they are geared up for the holiday season, available for your personal beauty needs, as well as all beauty-related gift needs. The takeaway message from Jamie is this, "Everybody in the community needs to share their story on how Hartsville is a great place to live, play and grow." Hartsville is a special place doing big things; if you are from here, share it; if you haven't visited yet, come and see this special town for yourself and visit Indigo Salon and Day Spa while you are there!
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LIFESTYLE BUSINESS
Renewal by Andersen donating windows for firefighter training
A Family Owned Business
Treating Every Customer Like Family
Great things come from humble beginnings. Renewal by Andersen of Central North Carolina began with four people in a living room in 2007. Angela and Monty Fuller, CoOwners, are still actively involved in day-to-day operations and continue to infuse their unchanged philosophy that what you contribute to your company and your community will come back tenfold.
Monty and Angela Fuller at a national Renewal by Andersen Cheeriodicals event where boxes of cheer are assembled and delivered to children in the hospital
Renewal by Andersen team bought, wrapped, and delivered Christmas to a family via D.S.S.
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Years of hard work, honest business dealings and superior customer service have resulted in a thriving replacement window and door business that now stretches from Boone to the Albemarle Sound and down the coast to Georgetown, South Carolina. Renewal by Andersen, the start-to-finish custom window and door division of the global Andersen Window Corporation, crafts custom windows (down to 1/16”) with an exclusive, extremely energy efficient Fibrex® material. Our Low E-4 SmartSunTM glass is 70% more energy efficient in summer than ordinary dual pane glass and 45% more energy efficient in winter. It also blocks 95% of UV rays, protecting upholstered furniture, hard wood floors and portraits. Together, Fibrex and SmartSun glass can reduce a homeowner’s energy bill up to 35% and will reduce sound penetration for a quieter, more comfortable home. Renewal by Andersen also crafts custom doors (down to 1/8”) in a vast array of colors, glass options and hardware choices that are equally beautiful, safe and energy efficient.
The real difference between Renewal by Andersen and other window companies is that we are a one stop experience. From your first phone call to schedule a Free In-Home Consultation, through our local Call Center to your post-installation service survey, you will partner with only Renewal by Andersen staff. You will have one Customer Care Representative throughout the entire process who can assist you with any questions that may arise, and a Certified Master Installer Team trained specifically to install Renewal by Andersen windows. The process is professional and seamless from start to finish. In addition, our parent company, Andersen Window Corporation, has been a household name for quality for over 115 years (we are not a fly by night window company). This partnership brings with it opportunities like state-of-the-art research and development, superior finance options, and the industry’s best warranty. The other unique thing about our Renewal by Andersen affiliate is the caring, giving spirit that lives in each and every employee. Our motto is, “We don’t think of it as giving back. We think of it as paying it forward.” Since inception, the Fullers have generously donated to feed the hungry, house the homeless, spiritually nurture the lost, find families for those who dream of one – even sponsor a baseball team for children whose disabilities would prevent them from playing one of America’s most favored pastimes. The Renewal by Andersen team has walked to support for pet adoption, purchased and wrapped gifts to create a Christmas where there was none, and installed windows in homes where families had only plastic to keep out winter’s cold.
" We are a family,"
explains Chief Operating Officer, Darryl Hodge. “Yes, we work together. But it’s more than that. There is a genuine concern for each other and our families that helps our team bond together. Our goal is to respect every customer like they, too, are family. It’s not lip service. It’s just who we are.” Today, we are very excited to serve Coastal Carolina and the greater Florence/Myrtle Beach areas in addition to Central North Carolina. We have grown from four to over 130 people. And we are looking forward to growing with all of you, too!
From the first phone call through installation, one-stop custom windows and doors are now here! Serving Florence, Myrtle Beach, & Coastal North Carolina Call us today! (803) 408-4985 December 2020
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BUSINESS
Talented Local Vendors who have a combined Knack and Knowledge of Antiques,Painting, Handcrafted Favorites and Vintage Goods that exceeds 50+ years! story by Ashley Elvington Kate Rotan has worked a variety of jobs throughout the years, holding the title of everything from waitress to bridal consultant and retail manager. Though her jobs have all been different, one thing has remained the same – her love of history. This eventually turned into a passion for auctions and antique shops which landed her current role, co-owner of Carolina Trading Post, a new antique shop in Florence. Kate explains, “My friend and I would go to the Solina Auction in Darlington every Monday. I loved not knowing what treasures I would find each week.” To this day, she enjoys attending auctions. While traveling, she makes sure to leave time for shopping at local antique stores. When she started working at a local antique mall, Kate met Edward Adams, someone who would not only become a friend but would also introduce her to a friend and now business partner, DeDe Lowder. “Dede and I hit it off from the beginning, but I think Edward knew we would.” As for DeDe, she is a self-proclaimed “old soul.” Since the age of 18, she has been attending auctions and appreciating antiques. DeDe also enjoys painting furniture and is proud of her ability to spot a deal. “I’ve always been entrepreneurial by spirit, as I was raised by a few of the best businesswomen out there. I grew up in family-operated businesses all of my life.” Kate and DeDe have discussed business ideas over the years, but the timing was never quite right. Kate shares, “Life happens and we always put our dreams and plans to the side. However, last October was the perfect 22
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Kate Rotan, originally from Darlington, South Carolina, now resides in Timmonsville, South Carolina. She and her husband Lee have been married for 12 years and share four children: Ashton, Anden, Joseph, and Izabella. DeDe Lowder is a consultant pharmacist from Lake City, South Carolina, who is also the proud mother of girls: Harper Drew, Carlie, and Brinkley. Carolina Trading Post, LLC is located at 4105 South Irby Street in Florence, South Carolina. They are open 10AM-6PM Monday through Saturday and 1:30PM-6PM on Sundays. To learn more, please call (843)799-1134. To view more of what they offer, visit their page on Facebook.
time for both of us.” DeDe called Kate one day, excited that she had found a building for their new business, Carolina Trading Post. Kate recalls, “We took a leap of faith and opened our first location in Darlington. When Edward unexpectedly passed away in January, we were heartbroken but knew he would want us to keep this dream going. And that drove us even more. DeDe and I always jokingly say he left us each other as our inheritance from him.” Carolina Trading Post remained in Darlington until August, eventually moving to its new location in Florence. Currently, Carolina Trading Post has over 80 vendors, most are from the Florence area while a few are from as far as North Carolina. Kate and DeDe are grateful for the many different yet beautiful items brought in by their vendors. “CW and Vikkie Cox are from Brittons Neck and they have been buying and selling since 2015. They specialize in antique furniture, collectible glassware, and antique tools. Bobby Johnson is from Lake City and owns Poppy’s Woodshop. He builds custom farmhouse furniture. Nancy Sechtin is from Florence, she makes beautiful wreaths and other home decor items. We have several boutique vendors as well. They sell the latest fashion clothing in all sizes and accessories to match!” DeDe adds, “I love everything in the store, I never leave empty-handed! We have some of the very best vendors in the Carolinas!” Kate enjoys vintage items the most, as it amazed her how some items have held up so well despite their age. She admits, “It’s hard to choose which item that I’ve either seen or sold in the shop that is my favorite… But, my favorite part of this business is definitely the customer relationships we build. I love when customers purchase items that hold meaning to their lives or it is something they collect for whatever reason. Usually, they say it was something their grandmother had in her house when they were growing up.” DeDe is always on the hunt for something original. “Some of my favorite things to look for are McCoy cookie jars, Fire King China, Coke Cola memorabilia, and oak furniture! I also love to re-purpose old items.”
Stop by and visit Kate and DeDe at Carolina Trading Post the next time you’re in the Pee Dee. Who knows, maybe treasures are waiting just for you! 4105 S. IRBY ST. FLORENCE
843.799.1134 FIND US ON FACEBOOK!
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BUSINESS: FLORENCE CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE MONTH story by Ashley Elvington
Jones Auto Wrecking
1408 W Darlington St, Florence 843.662.4314
Jones Auto Wrecking + Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce Stewart Jones, son of Barry and Charlotte Jones, was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina. As a child, Stewart grew up in a loving home alongside his two brothers and two sisters. “We are a very close family and still spend a lot of time together,” he says. A permanent fixture always remained in the background of their childhood, the family business – Jones Auto Wrecking. Stewart began his career with Jones Auto Wrecking in 1982 after graduating from Clemson University. He shares, “I am the third generation to work for this business. My grandfather, Duco Jones, started Jones Auto Wrecking in 1919, which makes us 101 years old." Prior to creating his own business, Duco had quit school in the third grade in order to help support his family. He found work in a buggy factory and by the age of 18, Duco was the Head of the Refinishing Department. This eventually led to Duco moving to the automotive industry and opening Jones Auto Wrecking. Stewart's father, Barry, followed in his father's footsteps after serving in World War II where he was injured in The Battle of the Bulge. Barry spent a short time studying at the University of South Carolina before his father requested his help with the business. When Stewart moved back to Florence from Clemson, he was fortunate to work under his father’s leadership at Jones Auto Wrecking for six years until he passed away in 1988. “I have so many fond memories of those years and I still use so many of the lessons he taught me today. One of the most vital
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lessons he taught me was that you can’t make a living on one-time customers. Repeat customers allow you to stay in business for many years to come. We have always taken pride in our ability to serve all of our customers and to treat them as we would want to be treated.” Stewart knows it takes a team to keep a community happy and he is grateful for each member of the Jones Auto Wrecking family. “We are so proud of the staff we have. I have managers that I have been working with for over 30 years. I have been blessed with many technicians that have been with me for a long time as well. In an age where many business owners complain about getting and retaining staff, we have had very little turnover. For example, our office manager, Tracy Price, and her daughter work with us. They are the third and fourth generation of the Stidham family to work at Jones Auto Wrecking.” Seeing the hard work and values of this family man and his beloved staff, it should come as no surprise that Stewart and his team at Jones Auto Wrecking is the Florence Chamber Member of the Month. “We are thankful for our relationship with the Florence Chamber. They are such a vital part of the Florence community, as they are always at the front of moving Florence forward.” From all of us here at VIP Magazine, congrats to Jones Auto Wrecking for being the Florence Chamber Member of the Month!
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BUSINESS
For a retail business to be successful for more than 30 years, it takes more than just luck and determination. Putting God at the forefront to help guide and nurture decisions is certainly what makes you the most profitable. At least that’s the case for Marie and Billy Venable, owners of (you guessed it!) Venable’s Gifts! Vip had the opportunity to sit down with Marie and Billy this month to see what makes their business flourish, all while keeping their marriage strong, even amidst one of the toughest years for the retail industry. VIP: Take us back to the beginning. Marie: “Venable’s began in 1991 in a small spot at Magnolia Mall. We had a small shop in Georgetown until Hugo put six feet of water in our store and destroyed it. Billy was offered an opportunity to be the jeweler at Holbrooks Jewelry, this is what brought us to Florence. I (Marie) worked for a law office when first moving here. After 3 years, Holbrooks downsized their Jewelry repair department and Billy needed to find a job. After searching diligently for a job in Florence and becoming very discouraged a friend told Billy to open a store at Magnolia Mall. We prayed about it and Billy went and made his proposal to the mall management. They were extremely skeptical of a repair shop in the mall but gave us a chance.” VIP: Tell us about the changes you’ve experienced over the years. Billy: "Venables started in a 250 square foot store and several years later we moved to a 450 square foot store across the hallway at Magnolia Mall. We started out with only doing jewelry repair and handmade jewelry created by Marie. We then put in engravable gift items. 26
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We added in sterling silver jewelry and became known for having the largest variety of sterling silver jewelry in town. A few years later we added in handbags and costume jewelry. The store was so small that it couldn't hold anything else and at the mall, you were only allowed to sell what was listed in your contract. We wanted a bigger store but the mall rent was extremely high so we stayed in our little store until we realized we were limited on what we wanted to sell because of the lack of space." Marie: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and had to have a double mastectomy and many rounds of chemo. At that point, life slowed down a little for us. My mom died of breast cancer at age 42 and her mother at age 32. I was 45 and a mother of two young boys; Elliott was in the 7th grade and Will was in the 4th grade. The only thing they knew about cancer was that neither Billy nor I had mothers because they had died due to cancer. Telling our boys that I had cancer was the hardest thing I had ever done. The first question they asked was, "Mom are you going to die?” I was determined that with God's help I was not going to die but become
stronger from this terrible sickness. Billy and I had been married for ten years and had tried to have children but were unable to do so. But when we had completely surrendered it to God, he blessed us with two awesome boys. We were much older parents than our friends and not sure why God's plan was for us to be older parents. But during this time of me with cancer and Billy so saddened for me, it was the child-like faith and the joy our boys brought to us that carried us both through that year in our lives. Billy continued to faithfully run the business. I continued to keep the retail part running with the help of our wonderful staff. The Florence community and our customers were so faithful to our family during this time. They helped us out financially, helped take care of the boys, encouraged us, and reminded us that this season will pass and God will see the glory. I was so grateful for Billy during this time, taking care of the business and me and never sharing anything negative that might have happened at the store.” Billy: “This situation also influenced us to begin pulling away from the mall location and it encouraged us to open a free-standing store on Second Loop Road. For several years we ran both locations until we could no longer keep up the pace of two stores. We prayerfully closed the mall store and put all of our efforts into the Second Loop location. Our faithful customers followed us to the new location. This spot was larger so we could sell clothing and accessories along with more gift items. After seven years in that location, we decided to move into an even bigger space which is where we currently are – 1506 Second Loop Road. Now I have my own enclosed area to work on jewelry undisturbed.”
We also have several costume items under $15 that are great for teacher gifts and stocking stuffers. We have several unique sterling silver pieces and can order any gold item you would be interested in. In the apparel area we offer something for every size and shape including plus sizes that are attractive and trendy and can often be hard to find. The scarves and ponchos that came out this season are very colorful and fun. We like having a little of everything for the last-minute shoppers needing a quick inexpensive gift. Such as a touch of home decor, baby gifts, men's gifts, and even a gift for your fur babies.” “We’d like to take a moment to say thank you to everyone that grew up shopping Venable’s and still continues to shop with us in their adult life. You have helped make us successful in what we do. We hope to continue to provide great customer care. But just be patient with that 62-year-old jeweler and his 57-year-old bride. We don't move as quickly as we use too! Love all of you as family! Merry Christmas!”
ShopVenable'sfor ChristmasGiftsforthe Entire Family
VIP: Billy, explain what all you do. Billy: “I repair gold and silver jewelry as well as costume jewelry. I size rings; rebuild and retips prongs on rings; repair broken chains; replace stones; change watch batteries; remove links from watches or replace watch bands; engrave; anything you need that involves jewelry repair, I can do.” VIP: What can we look forward to at Venable’s this holiday season? Marie: “Lots of gift items to make your entire family happy! We have a unique line of recycled aluminum jewelry. I think that’s what people like most about our store, most of our items are very unique! We love our Inis fragrance line. It has a very soft and pleasant smell.
Venable's Jewelry & Gifts! 1506 2nd Loop Road, Florence (843) 676-2708 December 2020
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LIFESTYLE
y a d i l o H Shopping Guide Gift ideas for everyone
Party Essentials
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1. Maypop Farm 2. Angel Crafts Bakery 3. Pepper Patch 4. Doug the Food Guy 5. Sophronia's Farm 6. The Seasoning Lady 7. Not Just Pound Cake 28
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1. Sissy's Boutique 2. Little Southern Blessings 3. Bubble by Bridget 4. Silver Lake Farm 5. The Doe - Home & Floral Mercantile 6. Hurst Farm 7. Black Wolf by Kristen
369 W. Cheves St, Downtown Florence Saturdays • 9am - 1pm Tuesday • 4pm - 7pm
the perfect Hostess gifts
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1. The Doe - Home & Floral Mercantile 2. Altman Farm & Mill 3. Sissy's Boutique 4. Little Southern Blessings 5. Polly's Potted Plants 6. Soul Soup
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BUSINESS: KEEPING TIME, A MONTHLY FEATURE
story by John Sweeney
Mike Reichenbach
Meg Temple
Jason and Jennifer Powers
Melanie and Breedan DuBose
Guthrie Family
Holt Family
Dr. John Keith
Laurie Crouse
Tim Norwood
Keeping Time, conversations in time management with community difference makers, is an interview series with community leaders from a variety of fields discussing their day-by-day pursuit of professional success, focusing specifically on how they manage their time. You can hear the full 30-minute interviews on the “Keeping Time Podcast,� available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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December 2020
Year-In-Review
GET UP IN THE MORNING…AND FAIL! We’ve had the pleasure of hearing from some amazing people this year, and it has been a blast Keeping Time with all of you in 2020! From car dealers to restaurateurs, nonprofit directors to real estate agent podcasters, doctors, artists, printers, and venue hostesses, we’ve run the gambit and learned a ton. Of all the lessons, tips, and tricks we picked up on time management (and life) over the past twelve months, two recurring themes stood out: routines and failure. Routines: “Come up with your own boundaries.” There are just as many ways to organize your day as there are minutes in that day, and we got to hear many philosophies on how to keep your time. The mother-daughter artist duo of Melanie and Breeden DuBose (Ep. 4) may have summed up perfectly how to construct an effective routine. “You have to come up with your own boundaries,” Melanie said. Everyone has different responsibilities and tasks, but making the concerted effort to balance and manage obligation with ambition goes a long way. There are those like Jack Holt of Holt Bros. BBQ (Ep. 6), who has found a kind of secret to a “work/life balance:” just have your family work with you! Still, there are other approaches. Having a very rigid schedule works for Jason and Jennifer Powers of S/W Printing (Ep. 3), who insist that timing things down to the minute gives them the freedom to live how they want. It could also mean going the Meg Temple route. The executive director of CareHouse of the Pee Dee (Ep. 2) tends to favor a less structured approach. “I have pieces of routine, here and there, but I’ve also found that the field that I work in that flexibility really is the most important thing,” Temple said. Michael Parker & Doug Sommerford, the Two Peas in a Podcast (Ep. 9), tend to seek the best of both worlds, given their careers in real estate. “You have to plan and you have to be flexible,” Parker said. “You’ve got to be able to move things to a priority.” Whatever your philosophy, starting the day off on the right foot appears to be key for all. If you’re like car dealer and man-about-town Mike Reichenbach (Ep. 1), that means time for prayer and scripture. Many exercise,
while still others get right to work, but each sets their own boundaries and works hard to get their job done. Failure: “It’s all about partners and a supporting cast.” Everyone we spoke with this season has found their own version of success, and is working hard to take it to the next level; however, every single one of them was quick to admit they have stumbled and fallen in some form or fashion during their career. There are many ways to see and deal with that failure. Sometimes, failure is sort of built into the system, as it is for Chelsea Guthrie and her family at Red Doe Plantation (Ep. 5), who believe the key is to just keep moving forward. “We kind of have a motto in our family of just, ‘Ready, Fire, Aim,’ versus, ‘Ready, Aim, Fire,’” Guthrie said. “We are a ‘course correct’ kind of family. We go with it. We make a decision. If it’s not the right decision at the time, we course correct and learn from it.” There’s also something to be said about admitting when you can’t do something yourself. Dr. John Keith (Ep. 7) may seem like he can do it all, but even the pediatrician/restaurateur/property developer knows when to admit something is beyond his skill set. “I know when to say, ‘No’ to myself or, ‘Hey, pick up the telephone.’ and I need to call someone,” Dr. Keith said. And that’s in many ways the most common theme each person we spoke to in 2020 had regarding their own success: they didn’t do it all on their own. Laurie Crouse (Ep. 9) knows that. She’s quick to thank her staff and amazingly loyal customers for keeping the Top Hat and Special Teas tea room afloat during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Everybody’s success is not in a silo,” Tim Norwood (Ep. 10) summarized perfectly. “It’s all about partners and a supporting cast.” Thank you for giving us a bit-part in your monthly routine of reading VIP Magazine, and a special thank you to Editor Heather Page for letting us onto the cast at the magazine. For the complete Year-In-Review of KTP, featuring some of our favorite clips from 2020, you’ll have to listen to the podcast! The latest episode, along with all our episodes from this year can be found on the Keeping Time Podcast, available at www. sweeneymediaandconsulting.com, as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast fix. December 2020
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Merry Christmas!
DECEMBER CALENDAR
of
EVENTS
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Christmas Sounds and More, Leatherman Senior Center, Florence Giving Tuesday, The Waters Building
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7
Florence Lions Club Toy Run Florence Center, Florence
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Pet Photos with Santa Magnola Mall, Florence
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Legends Holiday Comic Fest, Staybridge Suites, Florence
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National Sangria Day
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Reflect on the Goodness of 2020
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National Brownie Day
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Monkey Day
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Crossword Puzzle Day
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Pledge of Allegiance Day
Lights 4 Paws until 12.26 3251 Mears, Florence
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Trivia (every Wed) Seminar Brewing, Florence
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Cupcake Day
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Chocolate-covered Anything Day
Late Night Shopping & Horse Drawn Carriage Rides Main St, Marion
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Christmas Eve Eve Service Crossroads Church, Florence
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Hero Day
Hanukkah Begins at Sundown
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Get Those Gifts Wrapped!
McLeod Hospice Tree Lighting McLeod Health, Florence
Fireworks Celebration Palmetto Church of God, Florence
Egg Nog Day
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Happy New Year!
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5
Holiday Lights & Music Show begins Downtown Florence
Christmas Open House (5th & 6th), Palmetto Peddler, Florence
Hometown Holidays (4th-6th) Downtown Lake City
SODA Nutcracker with a Twist, PDE Coop Aud, SiMT
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12 Grinch Gift Grab, Carolina Trading Post, Florence
How The Grinch Stole Christmas Movie Moore Farms, Lake City
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Toy Drive, Highland Church, Florence Live Nativity, Lambs Chapel, Florence
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Hard Candy Day
Twin Day
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Merry Christmas!
Great Night for a Movie
Send in your events to heather@vipmagsc.com!
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AROUND TOWN: A BENEFIT FOR CURT SUMMERFORD
A benefit held to support veteran law enforcement officer, Florence County sheriff’s
Held on Thursday, November 19th at the Florence Farmers Market
Lt. Curt Summerford 3
4
An Oyster Roast Benefit for a longtime Sheriffs’ Department hero, Curt Summerford, was held at the Pee Dee State Farmers Market on November 19th. Friends and family gathered for food, music and fun while celebrating Curt and raising money. Last December, tests revealed that Curt had an AVM on his brain which led to him having a gamma knife procedure. Doctors later noticed swelling on his brain and he was put on a steroid dose. Curt later began feeling tingling sensations in his brain and numbness in his limbs which led to a hospital stay in July. He has a long way to go as this is a very slow process of recovery. This has left Curt unable to work for the past year all while medical bills continue to mount. Curt has served our community for over 33 years and it is a true blessing to be able to help him and his family during this time. If you would like to donate, please visit First Reliance Bank and give to the “Care for Curt” Fund. 34
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HEALTH + WELLNESS
The Season of
JOY
story by Donna Tracy, Communications Coordinator, HopeHealth
It’s the season of giving, and at HopeHealth that means time for one of our organization’s favorite programs: Children of Hope. Created more than 20 years ago by the HopeHealth Ryan White staff in Florence, Children of Hope provides holiday gifts for the families with the most need. For many, these gifts bring joy to not only the recipients, but also those who contribute to our annual campaign. “Part of our vision is to give hope to others,” said Christine L. Gordon, a family nurse practitioner at HopeHealth. “Having an opportunity to give Christmas presents, something that may seem simple to us, can give hope to a child at a special time of the year.” The Children of Hope Program is supported in part by the HopeHealth Compassionate Care Fund, but primarily by a summer employee campaign called Christmas in July, and a grassroots-campaign funded by local donors. “Our staff and community whole-heartedly embraced the program and generously donated more than $75,000 in 2020,” said Scherrie Cogdill, director of development. “These funds help 400 children on the Children of Hope holiday shopping list” The Compassionate Care Fund is used to help provide specialty care and support for those needs that cannot be met directly by HopeHealth providers. These needs can include the cost of health screenings, 36 36
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specialty care, prescription drugs, and emergency assistance. This year the fund has received many community donations to support both the fund and the Children of Hope program, including: • $40,000 from The Aiken Foundation • A monthly contribution from Abundant Life Church • $12,000 from The Grove Luxury Townhomes • $4,500 from Florence Rotary International to help provide gifts Children of Hope Gifts • A $10,000 check from Jebaily Properties for the Children of Hope program • The Toy Shop Florence contributed a portion of the cost of toys “Giving back is everything,” said John Jebaily, who is also a member of the HopeHealth Board of Directors. “We are so grateful for the support of local businesses and community members,” said Cogdill. “The joy of opening a gift on Christmas morning is something every child should be able to experience.” Families participating in the program are selected by the HopeHealth care providers who best know the families’ situations. Once invited to participate, each child writes their wish list of gifts. While some ask for the toys and gadgets that are the dreams of many kids, many ask for unexpected items. “Some of the gifts children ask for really touch my heart,” said Howard Yarborough, practice administrator
in Timmonsville who added the program is one of the greatest things he has ever been a part of. “They ask for toilet paper, toothpaste, basic necessities that every person should have,” said Yarborough. “No child should have to ask for that for Christmas!” The HopeHealth staff and Children of Hope recipients feel it is important for everyone to know importance of the program and to say thank you to our donors for their generosity. Several parents shared the impact the program made for their families. “I never thought in a million years that we wouldn't be able to provide for our children,” said Shawndel Smith, a HopeHealth employee who generously donates to our employee campaigns. Smith’s family participated in the program in the past when her husband had lost his job many years ago. They had four small children at the time, and no way of providing Christmas. “We were blessed to have many fill our hearts and provide presents for our children. That is why we give now every chance we get.” “It was just a blessing,” said David Poston, a single father who was financially struggling when he brought in his three-year-old son for an appointment and was invited to join the program. “If you're thinking about donating a gift to this program, don't think about it; go for it!” Angel Cribb, mother of three foster, now adopted children, credits the program for providing Christmas for her kids. Feeling overwhelmed by finances, and being a single mother, she is certain that there would have not been presents under her tree if it were not for the Children of Hope program. “To everyone who donated, took a moment to get organized, I’d first like to say thank you,” said Cribb. “Christmas would not have been the same without you. It meant everything!” For more information about fundraising opportunities at HopeHealth, contact Scherrie Cogdill at Scogdill@hope-health.com
360 NORTH IRBY ST. FLORENCE 843.667.9414 | HOPE-HEALTH.ORG
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HEALTH + WELLNESS
ADVANCED TREATMENT FOR A SILENT KILLER story by John Richey, MD, Pee Dee Surgical
When considering treatment options for an early stage pancreatic cancer diagnosis, patients and surgeons often look to the Whipple procedure as the best option. The Whipple procedure, also known as a pancreaticoduodenectomy, is a technically complex operation to treat tumors of the head of the pancreas, bile duct, and duodenum (first part of the intestine), complications of chronic pancreatitis and other disorders of the pancreas or bile duct. The goal of the procedure is to remove the tumor, preventing it from metastasizing to other organs. The pancreas secretes insulin and enzymes aiding the body to break down food. Its location, deep within the abdomen and surrounded by the liver, intestines, spleen, and stomach, makes detection of tumors difficult. Pancreatic cancer is often referred to as the Silent Killer because it is aggressive and difficult to detect. Most cases of pancreatic cancer occur in patients over age 60. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, obesity, chronic pancreatitis, a family history, diabetes, and cirrhosis of the liver. Symptoms can include abdominal pain or back pain, unexplained weight loss, nausea, fatigue, yellowing of the skin and eyes, and loss of appetite. Early signs of pancreatic cancer are vague, making early diagnosis difficult. Since pancreatic cancer is most frequently diagnosed in later stages, the cancer has often spread to other organs. During a standard Whipple procedure, we remove the head of the pancreas, the top of the small intestine, the gallbladder, the bile duct, and surrounding lymph nodes. We then reconnect the remaining parts of the pancreas, bile duct and stomach to the intestine to allow food to pass through and digest. Most often performed as an open operation, the Whipple procedure requires an incision in the abdomen to allow for access to the pancreas. 38
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While the Whipple procedure is a complex surgery, it is often the only treatment which can cure or prolong survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. Before the Whipple surgery, we evaluate a patient’s medical condition to ensure they are healthy for a surgery of this intensity. Following successful treatment of any outstanding conditions, we schedule the Whipple procedure to treat the pancreatic cancer. A Whipple can be done several ways. In an open surgery, there is a larger incision in the abdomen. In a laparoscopic surgery, there are several smaller incisions, and the surgeon uses a camera and video monitor to guide the instruments. During a robotic surgery, the surgeon controls the robot from a nearby console. At McLeod, we typically perform the Whipple procedure as an open surgery. Soon, we plan to begin performing this robotically, which will allow for smaller incisions, and faster recovery. After surgery, patients can expect to spend at least a week in the hospital recovering. Most patients can return to their normal activities after four to six weeks. However, depending on the patient’s condition before surgery and how the surgery goes, the recovery time may be shorter or longer.
We are pleased to offer the Whipple procedure to patients at McLeod Regional Medical Center, providing the advanced care and treatment they need close to home without having to transfer to another hospital. Dr. John Richey is a general surgeon at McLeod Regional Medical Center. Dr. Richey cares for patients at Pee Dee Surgical Group in Florence. He is Board Certified in General Surgery and specializes in complex pancreatic and biliary surgery. Dr. Richey received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth, Dominica, West Indies, completed his general surgery residency at Greenville Health System in Greenville, SC and his fellowship training in ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography) and Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery at the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY.Â
Visit mcleodhealth.org to learn more about the Whipple procedure and other surgical options available to cancer patients. John Richey, MD
General Surgeon at McLeod Regional Medical Center
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HOME
Cranberry Sauce That Built America story by Doug Smith
Have you ever asked yourself why year after year we go out and buy a can of this red jelly-like sauce? What is it about the Christmas dinner that requires cranberry sauce? As much as I love the whole berry sauce, I enjoy the story even more. Let me tell you why I think this native fruit played a big part in building America. I realize that’s a bold statement but think about this. Cranberries are reported to be one of only four native fruits in North America. Not only does it have great health benefits, but some would also say it’s even a superfood. They are high in vitamin C and fiber, and also in cancer-fighting antioxidants. When the settlers stepped off the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock, they were met by the natives with gifts of cranberries. These berries were often used as an antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory medicine. This little fruit was also used to dye fabric. Cranberry-dyed petticoats were the most sought after garments of the day. Cranberries were even used to pay debts. New Englanders sent ten barrels of cranberries to King Charles to settle a dispute. With this rich history, it’s hard to imagine how this tiny little crimson fruit has been so overlooked. We only serve whole berry cranberry sauce in our house because we think it is just better. Now you know why the cranberry sauce has earned its spot at the table. Enjoy and Merry Christmas.
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Get more from Doug
Smith by following him on
Facebook and Instagram at "Doug the Food Guy".
Fresh Cranberry Sauce Ingredients • ¾ cup sugar • ½ cup orange juice • ½ cup water • 12 oz fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked through • pinch of salt • 1 cinnamon stick • 1 piece of orange peel Method 1. Combine sugar, orange juice, and water in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir to combine. 2. Add cranberries, salt, cinnamon stick, and orange peel. 3. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. 4. Continue cooking for about 10 minutes or until all or most of the cranberries have popped. Let cool for at least 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. 5. Can be made up to three days in advance. December 2020
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HOME
Holiday Charcuterie Boards story and photos by Rebecca Giese
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Charcuterie boards have been on the rise for the last couple of years. Usually, a piece of cut stone or wood, the boards are traditionally covered with an array of meats, cheese, pickled vegetables, and fruits. With their rise in popularity, people have branched out passed cured meats and cheese to boards set with turkey shaped veggie trays or ice cream sundae toppings. One of my favorite recent Pinterest finds it the hot cocoa charcuterie boards. Boards stacked with candy canes, marshmallows, and any sweets or toppings your heart desires. Something about the charcuterie board is fun and fancy at the same time. Which after the year it has been, we could use some fancy hot cocoa. Every Christmas, my mom, the hostess with the mostest, sets out a hot cocoa bar next to the coffee station for easy access during opening gifts and afterdinner sweets. This year though, we are definitely stepping it up a notch and doing a full hot cocoa charcuterie board. In the spirit of shopping local and holiday sweet tooth, we checked out The Sweet Shoppe, now open on College Avenue in downtown Hartsville, South Carolina. And they did not disappoint! They have all the confections you need to elevate your hot cocoa board and more this holiday season; from the trending hot cocoa bombs to caramel apples and M&M Rice Krispy treats, they will satisfy your sweet tooth. Also, take time to stop in for Nathan's hot dog or a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream from this old fashioned sweet and ice cream shop. Be the first to know what is new by following their Facebook page, The Sweet Shoppe of Hartsville.
What you need to make your own hot cocoa charcuterie board: A board, tray, or plater Small bowls and teaspoons Hot cocoa mix OR better yet Sweet Shoppe Cocoa Bombs (see white and brown spheres in the picture) Candy Canes Mini Marshmallows Holiday Sprinkles And all your favorite chocolate and peppermint treats!
Don't forget the festive mugs! Find the Red Truck mug at Fleur De Lis, Booth 23, and the Hartsville for the Holidays mug at The Key, Hartsville's Visitors Center. Place items like sprinkles and hot cocoa mix in the bowls first, then have fun laying out all the other items on the board around them. Create zones for the different items and fill in from there. To make a picture-perfect board, focus on balancing the colors and the shapes as if you were back in grade school, making a photo collage. Then enjoy! If you are hosting or want the board for multiple days, I suggest bagging the items individually at the end of each day/event and placing the bags in the section of the board the sweet was zoned. So the next day, you can unbag without rearranging everything. Of course, please refrigerate any items that should not be left at room temperature overnight. End up making a board or visiting The Sweet Shoppe? Tag us, @vipmagsc! We would love to see the boards and the sweets you pick!
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LIFESTYLE
Real Gift
The
My family has a tradition we’ve done since my children were small. Early on Christmas morning, our children woke us up somewhere between 4 am and 5 am to see what Santa left under the tree. With eyes half opened, I would grab my Bible, open to Luke 2, and read the Christmas story before opening gifts or doing anything else. As parents, we did that because we wanted to show the significance of Christmas to our children and define the real reason we celebrated. Over the years, that became a favorite time for me as we sat to hear the most remarkable story. This year will be different. Much different. Our children are grown and will not be in our house on Christmas day. The COVID Crisis looms heavily on everyone's minds as they try to determine which family members to see this year. Social distancing and Christmas don’t seem to go together. Am I right? It can be discouraging. So what is this whole Christmas thing about anyway? It happened over 2000 years ago and goes something like this… Joseph took Mary, who was pregnant, to Bethlehem to be registered in a census that Caesar Augustus decreed and demanded so that residents could be taxed. You can imagine no one was thrilled about signing up for taxation. Joseph and Mary were not married but were engaged, and she was a virgin. This situation is critical, and I realize it is also confusing, but it was all part of God’s great plan for humanity and it fulfilled a prophecy given many years earlier. She conceived because of the Holy Spirit’s miracle in her life (Luke 1:26-38). They made it to the flooded streets of Bethlehem, and I’m sure all hotels and places to stay had no vacancy signs out to let travelers know there were no available rooms. Mary and Joseph secured a stable, a place meant for animals, not people. I imagine they were thankful for 46
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story by Pastor Tommy Spotts
anything at that point. It just so happened that while they were in Bethlehem, she gave birth to her firstborn son and named Him Jesus (Luke 2:7). Can you imagine the excitement of a new baby? Mary wasn’t worried about COVID. She wasn’t concerned with what to fix for the Christmas family dinner. She wasn’t even concerned about making sure everyone had a gift. Jesus was her only concern. And what about Joseph? Joseph was undoubtedly concerned for Mary and Jesus. I can imagine as he watched with concern, he thought back to a dream God gave him months earlier. The angel came to Joseph and told him that “Mary would bear a Son; and you (Joseph) shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). This was God’s confirmation to Joseph that Mary had indeed been faithful to him, and Jesus would be more than just a baby. God sealed Jesus’ purpose. He would be the Savior of the world. But Mary held the hope of all people in her hands as she fed Him, cradled Him, and rocked Him to sleep. It could have been a restless night, but we don’t know. All we know is that something extraordinary happened that night to a young and obscure couple from the town of Nazareth that would change the trajectory for all humanity. While this was going on in Bethlehem, a group of outcast shepherds watched and cared for their sheep. A shepherd’s job was not highly desired, and I’m sure you can imagine why. They were considered outcasts and not even welcome to enter the temple. They, too, were visited by angels and were told, “Do not be afraid for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:8-14). The shepherds were fearful
initially but then experienced a curious excitement, followed the angels' instructions, and went to find Jesus in this busy town (Luke 2:12). They found Jesus as “He lay in the manger” (Luke 2:16). I imagine you can sense the excitement the shepherds felt as they approached each corner of Bethlehem on their hunt for Jesus. We have to understand that the angels were very specific in saying Jesus’ birth was “good news of great joy which will be for all people…and a Savior was born unto (the shepherds).” Can you imagine those shepherds showing up in the stable area and crashing the birthday party? No gifts. No balloons. No cake. Just Jesus in a manger that someone built for use as a feeding trough. It seems a little rough for the Savior of the world. Before the shepherds left, they told Mary everything the angels told them about Jesus being the Savior of the world. These were great words of confirmation for Mary. When the shepherds left, they responded in the same way we should react when confronted with Jesus. They “went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them” (Luke 2:20). Is this our response to the most extraordinary story ever told? Jesus grew up, lived a sinless life, and eventually died a cruel death to pay the penalty for our sins. The Bible tells us that we must confess our sins, which means to agree with God that our sins disappoint Him. We need to ask for His forgiveness. Second, we must repent of those sins, which means that we turn from them and turn towards Jesus. And third, we must place our faith in Jesus and what He did on the cross to take the penalty for all sins we ever committed or ever will commit. It’s up to you. Will you place your faith in Jesus and commit your life to Him? He will provide for you and guide you into a lifetime of serving and loving Him because He loves you so much. This can be the best Christmas ever, even amid a COVID pandemic. You can receive the greatest gift ever given to humanity.
Jesus.
CROSSROADS CHURCH Join us for our
Christmas “Eve, Eve” Service Wednesday, December 23rd at 7pm. 3203 W Palmetto St | Florence www.crossroadsflorence.org December 2020
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LIFESTYLE
HENRY NOBLE'S
CHRISTMAS
WISH story by Ashley Elvington / photos by Fred Salley
A special child named Henry came into this world on August 19, 2014. A day Stacy and Josh Noble will particularly treasure forever. Stacy recalls, “Leading up to his birth, I had the most perfect pregnancy. I was rarely sick, all of my clothes fit, my feet were never swollen, and I felt great." Like most pregnancies, Stacy had the usual standard health tests performed; results always came back giving her and baby Henry a clean bill of health. On delivery day, Stacy imagined the experience would be similar to the days her other children were born. However, on this day, there was one very big difference – Henry's ears were different sizes. This small detail quickly became a huge importance in their lives.
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"I remember the day he was born so vividly. Everyone was smiling while his cries echoed in the room. At this point I hadn’t named him, so he was simply baby Noble. Dr. Emerson wrapped him in a blanket, put a hat on him, and laid him on my chest. He was perfect!” At that moment Josh noticed what appeared to be Henry's right ear "folded" under his hat. When he tried to unfold it, he realized that most of it was missing. A nurse was called in to take a look and they immediately rushed Henry out of the room. “I had to wait for what seemed like a year (probably two hours or less) until I was able to really hold Henry for the first time and see firsthand what his ear looked like. It is hard to explain the different emotions I had... I felt such joy and happiness that he was healthy, but I also questioned if it was my fault his ear wasn’t normal.” The Nobles found themselves in uncommon territory with only one option for reaction – figure out what's going on and how they can help Henry! Stacy called a close friend who also happens to be a pediatric nurse to see if she had any suggestions. She was told to call Henry’s pediatrician immediately. Within an hour, Dr. Thomas Spence with McLeod Health was at her and Henry's bedside. Dr. Spence was able to answer most of their questions and referred them to a specialized ENT in Charleston. There Stacy and Josh learned that Henry was born with Right Side Grade III Microtia and Atresia and Hemifacial Microsomia. To put it simply, Henry was born with a severely underdeveloped outer ear that did not have an ear canal. The right side of his face is also smaller than the left. Henry, although still very new to this world, had severe hearing loss. Stacy explains further, “Microtia and Atresia is a very rare congenital birth defect that affects one in every 20,000 births. Recently, genetic testing was conducted and it is currently unclear as to why and how it happens.” Thanks to Microtia, there have been many lessons learned along the way for the Nobles. Stacy shares, "Our family motto is to always be kind and to never give up." They agree that what they want most for their children is to be known as the "kind kid" in class and every other setting in life. Henry and his older siblings have seen how hurtful others can be just because someone was born differently. The older Noble children don't understand why kids stare at Henry or say mean things. They have even been teased because their bother is different. "Any time they join a new team or a new club, they have to start all over by answering everyone's questions and confront all of the stares; and they do it with such grace and kindness,” says Stacy. As for Henry, he is learning through the help of Stacy and Josh that there is nothing wrong with being different; our Heavenly Creator loves every aspect of us. “Henry and I have had several talks about how God
made him special by giving him a little ear, so that’s what he and his siblings tell everyone. I am so proud of them! It is harder for Henry to handle the comments and stares, though. It has made him very shy and less confident around others outside of his circle. He used to come home and say that a couple of kids were making fun of him because of his little ear, and he would say, ‘Mommy, it’s okay, I tell them what you tell me... I just do my best and that’s okay because God made me special!’” The Nobles have worked hard to make sure Henry doesn’t feel alone in this world, that being special doesn’t cause him to feel isolated from everyone else. One night in December 2019, Stacy was scrolling through a Microtia group she is a member of on Facebook. “I wanted to show Henry that there are lots of kids that have a little ear just like him.” As they were scrolling through the page, however, something else caught Henry’s attention – a one-eared dog named Podkin that was up for adoption. Stacy read Podkin’s story and to her surprise, Podkin not only shared having one ear with Henry, but he too was born with Microtia! “As I read about Podkin out loud, Henry’s face lit up like fireworks! He said,
‘Mommy, that little puppy is just like me! He needs me! I want Podkin because then I can show him that I’m just like him and he won’t be sad anymore!’” The task of getting Podkin wouldn’t come easy as he was all they way in California while the Noble’s lived in South Carolina. However, Stacy didn’t let this defeat her. She immediately emailed the organization that posted about Podkin, Umbrella of Hope. In Podkin’s pre-adoption story, they stated that they wanted to December 2020
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LIFESTYLE
HENRY NOBLE'S CHRISTMAS WISH make sure he went to a family that could relate to his medical diagnosis. “I filled out the application, searched the internet for all emails and phone numbers I could find, and contacted ALL of them! Tish, the sweetest lady EVER, emailed me back asking if we had any questions. Henry did! He wanted to know if Podkin ever got teased or made fun of by any of the other dogs. Tish came back with the best answer - she said that the other dogs don’t even notice that he is different and that he has lots of friends. Henry was so happy and said, ‘Wow, that is so cool! Podkin can come to my school and tell the other kids that I’m not different either!’” Josh and Stacy knew it was a long shot to have Podkin placed with them. Henry would ask his parents to take pictures of him practicing to be Podkin's best friend and send it to Tish. Henry prayed for Podkin every night and even told Santa that was all he wanted for Christmas. In January, Tish called Henry to share the good news – he was chosen to adopt Podkin. The Nobles drove to Atlanta to pick up their new family member. During the five hour trip back home, Podkin sat in Henry’s lap the entire time. The next week, Henry brought Podkin to school to show everyone his new best friend/twin. “Henry told me that when he went to school the next day, the kids said that he has ‘the coolest dog EVER and that they love his little ear!’ I asked Henry what he thought about that and he responded, ‘I already knew I was cool and now they like my little ear!’”
With his new friend in tow, Henry is finding his way in life. But what he wants most is a "big ear." His biggest desire is to be like his big brothers and sisters and have two big ears. Josh and Stacy have spent countless hours researching and meeting with doctors to see how they could make that happen. Although there are several doctors that can create an ear-like shape, they preferred a more realistic ear. Stacy explained, "Henry has asked to have two big ears so that he will be just like his siblings!" Through their research, they found Dr. Sheryl Lewin of Lewin Ear Reconstruction in Torrance, California. Dr. Lewin specializes in Microtia and is currently the only one in the world to create a 3D scanned Porous Polyethylene Implant Ear Reconstruction or P.I.E.R. Getting a “big ear” will be an eight-hour surgery for Henry and will require the family to stay in California for a minimum of two and a half weeks to ensure a safe, successful recovery. “Since the ear is the most challenging and intricate body part to recreate, there are very few doctors qualified to perform an ear reconstruction, let alone create a high-quality realistic ear." During Henry’s ear reconstruction, Dr. Lewin will also implant a bone-anchored hearing aid so that he will be able to hear. “His confidence, his ability to hear, his overall outlook on life will give him endless possibilities. It might sound trivial to most, but with two big ears, you can wear a mask, sunglasses, and regular headphones. And with the bone-anchored hearing aid, he will be able to hear all sound frequencies. He will be able to locate where sounds are coming from, which is really important for his education, and he won’t have to worry about not being able to hear in a crowded room. Most importantly, he will be able to hear out of both ears!” said Stacy. While awaiting his dream of having two ears, Henry and Podkin have become inseparable. They have matching shirts that they wear all of the time and their friendship and love for one another grow stronger every day.
If you are interested in helping fulfill Henry’s Christmas Wish, please contact Stacy by email at: stacy.stafford.noble@gmail.com or visit Henry’s Go Fund Me page: “Henry’s Christmas Wish - Two Big Ears!” 50
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LIFESTYLE
a recap of Conversation #2 of
CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS
story by Kimberly Brauss
Heyward
James-Young
FMU's second Cultural Conversations featured former FMU Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Joe Heyward and FMU assistant professors of Psychology Drs. Erica James-Young and Antonio Cooper. The presentation focused on Changes in African American Race Relations in Florence Over Time and How to Create an Inclusive Environment for People of Color. Dr. Joe Heyward, a Florence native, gave insight into the history of race relations in the city from the 1950s to today. What started as a “very segregated South” with no race relations, in the 1960s and ’70s – as much as some community leaders tried – little progress was made to improve race relations.
Cooper
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“You have to be a member and be a part in order to help make changes,” Dr. Joe Heyward said in the opening presentation of the second Cultural Conversations hosted by Francis Marion University.
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In June 1950, Florence hired its first black policeman for foot patrol on Dargan Street, according to Heyward. The patrol monitored other blacks and businesses in that area. But because it was foot patrol, the policeman had to call another officer to make arrests because he didn’t have the transportation to take the arrested to jail. In 1953, Florence hired its first black firefighters – six men to aid the community. In 1954, there was the Brown v. Board of Education, and it took some years for integration to happen. Florence had its fighters, including Dr. R.N. Beck and prominent church leaders, who helped move the cause forward. Five preachers also formed a committee to try to improve race relations. Two preachers were from Florence and three were from Marion. While progress wasn’t easy, Heyward said, the louder voices helped move race relations forward.
UPCOMING CONVERSATION #3 -Thursday, February 4 On Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, Jamee Hunt Freeman, former FMU director of admissions, and Dr. Kiley Molinari, will provide the third Cultural Conversation presentation, titled Native American Racial Injustices, Issues and SES Disparities. The fourth iteration will be held March 11 and will feature a presentation from FMU assistant professor of Sociology, Dr. Todd Couch, titled Racial Issues and Injustices Facing the Hispanic and Asian American Communities. To register, visit www.fmarion.edu/aafsc/. The presentations can be accessed online by video livestream. Recordings may be watched after the events have concluded.
The 1960s brought the sit-ins. Following students sitting in at a Woolworth’s in Greensboro, students and activists in 13 states took up the cause, and Florence was no different. In March 1960, Heyward said Wilson High School students marched and sat in at the lunch counter at Kress. Police made them leave. The next day, they planned to picket and as they started, they were arrested for having a parade with no permit. Kress continued to shut down any race relations – the counter was closed instead of allowing blacks the opportunity to bring their business there. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the lunch counter was reopened. More biracial committees were formed in Florence to try to improve race relations as schools started becoming integrated. The importance of these committees came at critical times – with school integration also came “white flight” and the creation of “academies.” And black community leaders pushed for representation on the Florence County Council. Representation also came with the first black police chief. With representation, the black community was given a voice, where the community got to be involved in part of the conversation and bring some harmony. In 1970 Francis Marion University was created and it served a need for public education in the region. It provided opportunities to give students a level-playing field, where the community could gain positions of importance, which also would improve race relations. “If we are going to improve race relations, then first of all, we must agree that racism is still alive and well and is a part of today’s culture,” Heyward said. In 2016, Helping Florence Flourish was created. One of its goals is to improve race relations. The group brought Tony Evans to restart the needed conversation. Evans is a Christian pastor, speaker, and author with widely syndicated radio and television shows. A couple of years later Neddie Winters was brought in with Mission Mississippi to continue the racial bridging. Winters says racial reconciliation is about grace and humanity.
“Each person must look within themselves if they want to make a difference. And they’ve got to work toward it. …and that is something to work toward every day.,” Heyward said. “It doesn’t hurt us to talk with each other.” Echoing Heyward’s word on racism, Young and Cooper agreed that acknowledging the existence of racism is key to improving race relations. The two FMU assistant professors of Psychology spoke to recognizing racism, being honest with ourselves or it will continue to plague our community, and how to start being intentional with our relationships. “It’s the start of a conversation…You have to get uncomfortable to get more comfortable,” Cooper said. The assistant professors stressed the need for diversity, cultural confidence, and acts of inclusion to progress in cultural confidence. “We have to be willing to recognize other people’s skills that they bring to the table,” Young said. Diversity is needed to enlighten the community – to understand there are different ways of thinking. Every person has a responsibility to act and to work on race relations every day. “Diversity is having a seat at the table. Inclusion is having a voice in the conversation. Belonging is having that voice heard, accepted, and respected,” Young said. In his last words to the group, Heyward imparted with: “I’ve learned not to use the words all and always in your conversation because nothing is always. Because the minute you use those words, you’ve excluded someone. We must at some point get out of our comfort zone. I was going to jokingly say ‘Always vote,' and I hope you did because that does make a difference.” There will be two more in the series. The two remaining events will broach subjects such as injustices against Native Americans, and inequalities facing Hispanic and Asian American communities. To watch the second part of the four-part series, visit: https://youtu.be/1zSQMRaWgak December 2020
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LIFESTYLE
THE STORY ABOUT THE MAN IN THE RED SUIT story by Ashley Elvington Christmas is, without question, the most wonderful time of the year. The giving, the songs, the lights, Santa… all of it makes life a bit more magical than usual. But when it comes to the big guy in the red suit who visits us once a year, do you know where he came from? Most would be quick to say the North Pole; however, the legend begins in what is now modern-day Turkey, way back in the fourth century AD. Santa, known then as Nicholas, became the bishop of a village called Myra. Later on, Nicholas would be known as Saint Nicholas, becoming rather infamous for his kindness and generosity towards children in a world full of dark times. As for the Santa we see today, we have the Netherlands to thank for that image. Each year, Saint Nicholas was honored during Sint-Nikolaas (The Feast of Saint Nicholas). It was here where parents would leave gifts out for their children who believed they had been visited by Saint Nicholas himself. The Dutch had an interesting take on Santa’s appearance, as they believed he rode a donkey and wore a tall, pointy bishop’s hat. Instead of leaving milk and cookies, Dutch children would fill their clogs with straw and leave them out for Santa’s donkey to eat. The next morning, the straw would be gone, replaced by presents. In 1664, the legend of Santa Claus spread across the Atlantic to New Amsterdam, known today as New York City. They would come across the writings of Washington Irving, who published a book called The Knickerbocker’s History of New York, which contained satirical versions of Dutch traditions and stories. The Knickerbockers were a group of Dutch intellectuals; Irving was a prominent member. New Yorkers believed in the Knickerbockers’ depictions of Santa Claus, known as Sinter Klaas, which illustrated him flying across the sky in a wagon, dropping
presents down chimneys for good children. English settlers in New York welcomed the traditions of the Dutch, celebrating St. Nicholas’ Day. This celebration would eventually be combined with their own traditions for Christmas and the New Year. Clement Clarke Moore, a friend of Washington Irving’s, was another key player in the vision of today’s Santa Claus. In 1822, Moore penned a Christmas poem for his children, The Night Before Christmas. This poem became so popular with children and families, it became canon with the legend of Santa. In the poem, Moore made some alterations to the Dutch version of Santa, changing it from clogs to stockings, something all children could relate to. As for the wagon, it became a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer. Using reindeer instead of horses added a bit of a mystery to Santa, as it presented an image that he was from an ice-capped land up North, where very few have traveled to, if at all. A nice little snow globe secluded from the rest of the world. In the mid-1800s, print depictions of Santa showed a man in a bishop’s robe or with a pointed hat, long coat, and straight beard. He was also tall and gaunt. This changed in an 1863 edition of Harper’s Weekly when Thomas Nast illustrated Santa bringing gifts to Civil War troops. Nast’s Santa was jolly and round, wearing a star-spangled jacket, striped pants, and a cap. Nast was allegedly inspired by Moore’s depiction in The Night Before Christmas, mixed with the image of Uncle Sam. This image inspired many, especially the soldiers, as it made them feel as if the spirit of Christmas had come to the Civil War. Every year for 40 years, Nast was asked to draw Santa for the magazine. Eventually, Nast dropped the patriotic attire for a wool suit. Although the suit was sometimes green, Nast made the red suit quite popular. In 1820, stores began to advertise Christmas shopping. By the 1840s, newspapers had separate sections for holiday advertisements, most featured images of Santa Claus. In 1841, thousands of children in Philadelphia visited a local shop to see a life-sized model of Santa. It didn’t take long for stores to attract the attention of children and their parents, hoping to take a peek at a “live” Santa. In the early 1890s, the
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Salvation Army needed funds to cover free Christmas meals they provided to families in need. They started the tradition of dressing unemployed men in Santa suits, sending them out into the streets of New York to gather donations. Even still to this day, you can find a Santa ringing his bell for Salvation Army donations. One of the most iconic depictions of Santa Claus is attributed to the 1947 film, “Miracle on 34th Street.” In this film, a young girl believes Kris Kringle when he tells her he is the real Santa. Macy’s, the well-known department store chain, has had its own Santa in almost every Thanksgiving Day Parade since it began in 1924. People of all ages still line up to meet Macy’s Santa in New York City and at various other stores and malls around the country, as children love taking photos with Santa and telling him what they would like for Christmas. Today’s Santa resides at the North Pole with his wife, Mrs. Claus. His reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and that beloved one with the red nose, Rudolph. Santa visits all children on Christmas Eve, often entering through the chimney if one is present, filling empty stockings with toys, candy, and other treats. Children write letters to Santa and can now track his Christmas Eve journey online. Milk and cookies, and even carrots for the reindeer, are left out for his liking. He keeps a naughty list and a nice list; those on the nice list are guaranteed a visit each year. He can also be seen in many advertisements and commercials. If you find yourself worrying as to whether you’re on the naughty list this year, it’s not too late! Besides, Santa is probably more forgiving this year due to everything else that has occurred in 2020. So dust off your jingle bells, hang your favorite lights, and be kind to one another this season. Remember, “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake!”
Merry Christmas!
1881 illustration by Thomas Nast who, along with Clement Clarke Moore's poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, helped to create the modern image of Santa Claus.
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Adrianna Gardner, Artist Mother, wife, educator, and artist – just a few of the things that describe Adrianna Gardner. She earned a degree in art education at Francis Marion University and now works locally at a public elementary school sharing her passion for art with children. As a teenager, Adrianna was inspired by her art teachers who encouraged her to create pieces she loved. Their kind words and constant encouragement in turn made her want to also inspire young artists. When not teaching, Adrianna is creating her own masterpieces. Her most recent obsessions are to work with acrylic paint, creating textured seascapes and using gold-leaf. In fact, Adrianna recently released the Golden Horizon Collection on her website, agardnerarts.com. Check her out for a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift most anyone will love! 58
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DRINK OF THE MONTH
'tis the season for
MULLED WINE
Ingredients
1 Bottle of red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah 2 Oranges 3 Cinnamon sticks 5 Star anise 10 Whole cloves 3/4 cup Brown sugar
Directions • Place all ingredients except the oranges into a medium sized pot. • Using a sharp knife or peeler, peel half of one orange. Avoid peeling as much pith (white part) as possible, as it has a bitter taste. • Juice the oranges and add to the pot along with the orange peel. • Over medium heat, warm the mixture until just steaming. Reduce the heat to a low simmer. Heat for 30 minutes to let the spices infuse. • Strain the wine and serve!
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