Author: vipmagsc

story by Kelly Parker

    In 1985, a group of dedicated citizens from all around Dillon County came together to form the Dillon County Theatre Board. Their mission was to raise the capital necessary to restore the former movie theatre as a venue to hold performances for the community and to have a building that could be rented by other organizations or individuals for the same purpose. The theatre, built in 1917, is one of the few remaining examples of pure Spanish Colonial architecture in South Carolina and is on the National Register of Historic Places. On January 26-28, 1990 the Dillon County Theatre was opened with a weekend filled with entertainment and activities. The Theatre has been thriving since.

    Most recently, Dillon County and the surrounding community have been chosen by SC Humanities through a competitive application process to host Crossroads: Change in Rural America as part of the Museum on Main Street program—a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. Crossroads: Change in Rural America is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions. The exhibition will tour six communities in South Carolina from September 2018 through June 2019.

    Crossroads offers small towns a chance to envision their futures and engage in discussions about what happened when America’s rural population became a minority of the country’s population and the ripple effects that occurred. Despite the massive economic and demographic impacts brought on by these changes, America’s small towns creatively continue to find new opportunities for growth and development. Many wonderful activities will be held in conjunction with the exhibit, including a writing workshop entitled Communal Pen: A Writing Workshop Celebrating Memories, Stories, and Traditions of Place to be held on June 8 at the Dillon Library.

For more information visit our website www.DillonCountyTheatre.com.

Southside Early Childhood Center 5K Teacher

story by Jordan Pupa | photography provided to Vip

    On May 12th many of us will celebrate Mother’s Day, a special day each year where we can honor and celebrate our mothers, as well as other influential mother-like figures in our lives, for the strong and wonderful people that they are. It is true that mother figures come in all forms, and we should celebrate the many fantastic roles all women out there have on this particular day. Hillary Griggs, a single mother of a three-year-old, also cares for her twenty-three 5k students at Southside Early Childhood Center in Hartsville every day as her own. “Educate” means “lead forth,” and Ms. Griggs does just that.

    Hillary knew she wanted to be a teacher her whole life. She will be completing her seventh year teaching this year, but also goes the extra mile outside of the classroom too. In addition to her primary role as a 5k teacher, Hillary is part of the Academic Leadership Team and is over the Parent Team at SECC, which is the PTO. While caring for her son and full-time job responsibilities may seem time-consuming enough, Hillary is also enrolled in a master’s program in Educational Administration through the University of South Carolina in which she will complete in August. “My goal is to one day become a principal to have a larger impact on a larger number of students,” Hillary shares. “Many times, I will have my laptop on the counter cooking dinner or giving my son a bath while still participating in class. There is a large workload along with this, but because the subject is something I have so much passion for it doesn’t seem like as much work as it is. Balancing work, my son, the house, planning events, sleep, and my personal life has become a little more challenging, but it is all worth it.”

    Family and love are qualities that Hillary strives to focus her classroom around. The emotional aspect of playing “double duty” as both a teacher and mother can sometimes be challenging. Hillary explains how many students face personal situations at home. “Being a teacher, I do get very invested in my students, inside and outside of school. I hug each one of them every morning. I tell them I love them every day.” She explains how many days she comes home emotionally exhausted from putting out emotional fires, but she is only exhausted because of how much she cares. “I lay in bed each night thinking of other people’s children,” says Hillary. “I honestly love it though. I love that my students feel safe enough to tell me anything or to let go of some of the emotions they might be carrying around. I love being their safe harbor and I feel so blessed to be able to be in a career that allows be that opportunity. I also do have an amazing assistant teacher, Easter Arthur, whom I could not be half the teacher I am without.”

    Getting to know students at different levels, not only academically, but personally and socially as well, is important. Hillary builds long-term relationships with students and their families even after they have moved on from her class. A parent of a former student who is now having certain issues in his second-grade classroom recently contacted Hillary for help. Without hesitation, Hillary has picked him up several times since to enjoy some fun quality time, but to also discuss his situation so she can understand and help him to be successful. She has even helped raise funds to help with rent for a parent and collected Christmas gifts for her and her children. Hillary believes that parents are the key to student success, and she has an open-door policy and uses a communication app to constantly keep parents in the loop.

    Hillary implements many important and unique lessons throughout the school year. While she welcomes and encourages students, she also works to guide and push them. Hillary shares, “I love teaching Black History Month lessons. Not just because it is such a very important part of our history, but it also teaches my students about racism, bias, the importance of kindness, and most importantly, that no matter who they are, they can make a huge impact on others.” Hillary uses two eggs during this lesson to teach the value of character and what is in the inside; that the color of our skin does not define us. She uses a white egg and a brown egg in which they crack open to find that the yolk is the same. “I know that in this world we live in it is an unfortunate truth that my students may be judged or discounted because of their outer appearance, but I try to teach them to rise above and to know their importance. We talk about ways they can change their world right now, just by simply playing with a student alone on the playground or being kind to others.”

    Play is also an important aspect in Hillary’s 5k classroom. The classroom consists of six dramatic play centers including a Veterinarian Clinic, Grocery Store, a Diner, Post Office, Construction Site, and Dino Dig. All while playing in the centers, students learn reading, writing, and math skills, as well as social, language and real-life skills. “I am doing a large push to bring play-based learning back into kindergarten,” says Hillary. “We do units on each center before we open them, so the students have the knowledge to be able to correctly interact in the centers. They each sign up for a job whether it be paleontologist, receptionist, clerk, construction worker, architect, or vet. They know the jobs of each role and they thoroughly enjoy learning this way.” The district and the state department have come and observed Ms. Griggs’ students as they interact within their centers. She was also recently contacted by another school within the area asking if they could come observe the centers to implement within their own classrooms.

    It is true that “It takes a village to raise a child.” It is clear that a strong teacher-student relationship helps shape the way children think and act in school and beyond. Teachers that care can make the most impact. Take a moment to thank an influential mother-like figure in your life this month. On Mother’s Day, we have the opportunity to thank our entire village!

Significant Improvements to Its Historic Downtown

story by T.D. Rykard | photography provided by Visit Lake City, SC

    Ongoing downtown building renovations and façade repairs spearheaded by the Greater Lake City Community Development Office, plus the creation and continued cultivation of multiple downtown “floral scapes” by Moore Farms Botanical Garden have positively transformed downtown Lake City’s once dated appearance. In Lake City, “revitalization” means more than physical improvements to downtown. With the birth of exciting events such as ArtFields, Fiesta Fridays, Hometown Holidays, and the upcoming inaugural Rhythm & Q’s BBQ and Live Music Competition, residents and visitors alike appreciate that revitalization is also about a cultural shift from the agricultural prosperity of the past to a vibrant, arts-centered downtown atmosphere.

    The successes surrounding Lake City’s revitalization are not going unnoticed. Seth Kines, Visit Lake City SC’s Executive Director, says that he feels that “Lake City has arrived on not only the national stage but the international stage as well!” Coming on the heels of being named the “Best Small Town Cultural Scene” by USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice in 2018, Lake City has recently been named one of the best places to visit in May by Travel + Leisure magazine! Mentioned along with notable international locations like Botswana, Monaco, London, and Stockholm, Kines says “It’s thrilling to see Lake City gain international recognition as a recommended travel destination. This clearly demonstrates the power of small-town revitalization to create powerful positive change, both economically and culturally.” Another indicator that Lake City has hit the international radar came with early April’s new transatlantic flights between Charleston and London. Kines lured a group of a dozen members of the British Guild of Travel Writers to Lake City for a tour of historic downtown, and a traditional southern BBQ lunch at Piggyback’s BBQ and Catfish. This fun, enthusiastic group of travel writers couldn’t resist posing in front of the latest public mural in downtown Lake City’s ever-growing collection, an untitled creation by artist Donald Walker. Kines also offered an update on some of the most recent developments with Lake City’s continuing progress.  

    Sauls Street, which runs parallel to East Main Street, has become a target for downtown revitalization with last year’s opening of TRAX Visual Art Center. This “Sauls Street Renaissance” popped into high gear with the February 2019 opening of downtown Lake City’s newest restaurant, Piggyback’s BBQ and Catfish, located at 116 Sauls Street. Piggyback’s was the winner of the first annual Lake City Launchpad business competition, with a grand prize of $55,000 towards opening a business in an identified building in downtown Lake City. After years of serving as vendors on the local festival and event circuit, Piggyback’s owners Mitchell and Shannon Sims decided to enter the inaugural Lake City Launchpad to make their dream of owning a “brick and mortar” restaurant become a reality. They are currently serving plenty of happy customers in their new location. Another recent addition to Sauls Street is A’bloom Florals and Events, Inc. A’bloom’s services include event planning, event rentals, and floral design. Downtown Lake City is well-known for its historic venues, and now owner Merry Floyd and the A’bloom staff make throwing a successful local event that much easier! Finally, opening in April 2019, just in time for the 7th annual ArtFields, Lake City’s 9-day art competition and festival, will be a brand new restaurant that sports the whimsical moniker, Snax. Snax will offer ice cream, frozen yogurt, and hot dogs for fun family dining. Located at the corner of Sauls and North Acline Streets, Snax is sure to be a hot spot with penny candy days, “Kids Eat Free Tuesdays,” and Saturday Night Shagging. ArtFields Marketing Manager Roberta Burns might be on to something when she said that Sauls Street is soon to be famous for “Snax, TRAX, and Piggyback’s!”  

    Downtown Lake City’s historic venues have also seen needed improvements during ongoing revitalization efforts. The Stables at The Inn at the Crossroads has been renovated to include new flooring throughout the 8,000 square foot venue that was once the McClam Livery Stables, a dance floor, and a full audio-visual system. The Inn and its in-house restaurant, Crossroads on Main, have recently reopened after a full-scale renovation that included all guest rooms, and expansion and redesign of the restaurant and bar so more customers may be comfortably served. Crossroads on Main’s “facelift” is particularly impressive. The restaurant and bar have a stylish, modern appearance, and folding glass doors in the bar area now open to the outdoor Courtyard at The Inn, which features outdoor dining and several sofas and chairs available for guests to sit and enjoy cocktails and conversation under the stars! To accommodate future growth and continued improvements, unoccupied buildings adjacent to The Stables have been acquired to expand the meeting and event rental opportunities available at The Inn at the Crossroads, located at 128 West Main Street. Approximately 80 parking spaces will be added as well. Downtown’s largest venue, the 22,000 square foot Ragsdale Old Building (affectionately known as The ROB) will sport a brand new parking lot that, in addition to over 250 parking spaces, will include 35 RV parking spots that will soon be available for rental. The ROB is the go-to event venue for all large-scale events in Lake City, whether that be a private function to include weddings, receptions, and reunions, or public events like trade shows, art exhibitions, and the upcoming Rhythm & Q’s BBQ and Live Music Competition scheduled for October 18 and 19, 2019.      

    The old Lake City Plaza on West Main is being transformed into The Continuum, a 46,000 square foot facility that will serve as a regional center for education and training in innovative, technical skills and workforce development. The Continuum is a collaborative effort from Francis Marion University, Florence-Darlington Technical College, and the Darla Moore Foundation. Jeanette Altman, former Principal of J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet School in Lake City, has been named Executive Director of The Continuum. Courses offered will lead to two- and four-year degrees, and classes are slated to begin in fall of 2019.

    Finally, the staff at ArtFields has moved out of their space on Main Street, and are settling in at their new office space located on Sauls Street next to TRAX Visual Art Center, one of two art galleries currently located in downtown Lake City. This has opened up the opportunity for a brand new Visitors Center to move into the old ArtFields space at 110 East Main Street. This May, visitors to Lake City will have a place to inquire about area attractions and enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee! Hours for the Visitors Center are Monday thru Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Executive Director Seth Kines and the Visitors Center staff cordially invite you to visit Lake City to see what all the buzz is about!

Contact the Visitors Center at 843-374-0534 with questions about your stay in Lake City, or for assistance in crafting a travel itinerary. Stay informed about attractions, events, and festivals in Lake City at visitlakecitysc.com.    

British Travel Writers with Lake City Creative Alliance staff members, photo by Colleen Troy