VIP Magazine

Category: Current Articles

  • Staying Fit

    Staying Fit

    Whitney Robertson Talks Fitness

    story by Jordan Pupa

       Whitney Robertson has been a certified personal trainer for three years and was recently certified in nutrition. She is currently a personal trainer at the Hartsville YMCA.

       “My first true love is the gym. That is where I basically spend my whole day, six days a week. I gained a love for fitness about four years ago when I went through my own fitness journey, losing a total of fifty pounds. I’m glad I had that experience because it gives me a chance to really connect with my clients and understand their struggles and fears. I love seeing my clients gain confidence in the gym. I always have ladies that are super excited about gaining some muscle and definition. The gym doesn’t have to be a scary place, and that is one of my main goals as a trainer, to help people feel comfortable.”

    Tips & Tricks for Staying on Track This Holiday Season

    • Plan Thanksgiving & Christmas dinner as your cheat meal- NOT a cheat day!

    • If you can help it, do not keep excess treats in your house.

    • Do not keep “trigger foods” in your house. (These are foods where you can’t have just one.)

    • Get your workouts in at the beginning of the week so you can enjoy the weekend with family.

    • Keep lots of healthy snacks around, such as apples or mixed nuts.

    • If you plan on drinking alcohol, try a Vodka Selzer Water instead of sugary beverages.

    • Do not go to family get-togethers or parties starving.

    • If bringing a dish to share, spring for a healthy dish that you can also eat.

    • When eating out, pick healthy dishes that aren’t loaded with cheese, sodium, and fatty dressings. (You can always modify some items on a menu. For example, on a salad, ask for the cheese and dressing on the side.) 

    • If your traveling out of town, bring your own snacks, sauces, or pre-prepped meals. Give yourself the opportunity to choose a healthier option.

    At Home Workouts: (Required equipment: dumbells)

    LEG WORKOUT: Repeat Exercise 4 Times

    •  Squat Thrusters- 10 reps

    Accelerate when nearing top of squat, drive dumbbells up off shoulders, and throw weight overhead by extending arms upward. Immediately lower weight by bending arms. As weight descends, bend legs, and catch dumbbells in front of shoulders as knees are bending at approximately 90°.

    •  Walking Lunges- 20 total reps

    Begin standing with your feet shoulder width apart and dumbbells at your sides. Step forward with one leg, flexing the knees to drop your hips. Descend until your rear knee nearly touches the ground. Your posture should remain upright, and your front knee should stay above the front foot. (Don’t ever let knee go above your front toes.)

    •  Calf Raises- 20 reps

    Standing with heavier set of dumbbells at your sides, raise the backs of your heels off the ground.

    • Sumo Dumbbell Squats- 15 reps

    Grab a heavy dumbbell and hold an end with each hand at arm’s length in front of your waist. Set your feet about twice your shoulder width apart, your toes turned out slightly. Lower your body as far as you can by pushing your hips back and bending your knees.

     

    Quick High Intensity Interval Workout: (no dumbells required)

    4 total rounds with minimum rest

    •  High Knees- 24 total reps

    •  Squat Jumps- 10 reps

    •  Jumping Jacks- 20 reps

    • 30 second rest

    •  Mountain Climbers- 20 total reps

    •  Crunches- 15 reps

    •  Leg Raises- 15 reps

    At Home Workout: (Required Equipment: dumbells)

    4 rounds with 30 Second rest in between each set

    •  Over Head Triceps Extensions- 12 reps

    •  Bent Over Together Dumbbell Rows- 12 reps

    •  Alternating Dumbbell Curls- 12 reps

    •  Lying Chest Press with Dumbbells- 12 reps

    •  Shoulder Dumbbell Press- 12 reps

     

    Instagram: whitney_fitxo

    Facebook: Whitney Nicole Robertson

    704-830-4838 | whitneyyynicole1415@gmail.com

  • Lung Cancer Screening

    Lung Cancer Screening

    The Key to Prevention & Detection

    story by C. Eric Wooten, M.D., Carolinas Hospital

        Lung cancer is a disease in which cells arise in the lungs and begin to grow out of control. If undetected and untreated, lung cancer can spread to lymph nodes and other organs. It can be a devastating disease and remains the number one cause of cancer mortality for both men and women in the United States. Recent advances in lung cancer prevention, early detection and treatment are improving survival. 

    Risk

        Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in the body. It’s also the number one risk factor to cause lung cancer and is linked to 80-90% of lung cancer deaths. Other tobacco products such as cigars and pipes also increase risk. Quitting smoking at any age can lower the risk of lung cancer, COPD, heart disease and many other diseases. Secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous and is known to contribute to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory infections, asthma attacks, heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. 

        One of the leading causes according to the American Lung Association (ALA) of lung cancer in non-smokers is radon gas and has been found in homes all across the US and the world. Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless and odorless gas that comes up from the ground and gets trapped in houses or structures. It is estimated that 1 in 15 houses in the US has high radon levels and testing your home is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. Other exposures such as asbestos and a family history of lung cancer also contribute. 

    Prevention & Detection

        Public education about the link between smoking and lung cancer has reduced the incidence of lung cancer in the US. Radon testing your home is also an import preventative measure. Other important ways to lower your risk of developing lung cancer is to avoid secondhand smoke, exercise, eating healthier foods and limiting alcohol intake. The single best preventative method to avoid lung cancer is to quit smoking.

        One of the tools used for early detection is a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan. Many symptoms of lung cancer are not specific to the disease so it can progress to advanced stages before detection. A recent method of screening dramatically improved survival in current and former smokers, detecting the disease early when the chance of cure is greatest. This method saved 1 in 5 people diagnosed with lung cancer based off comparison to a control group. The screening also has shown to reduce the overall risk of death from lung cancer by almost 7%. 

        To put this into perspective, lung cancer screening exceeds survival benefit of screening for prostate, breast or colon cancer. As an Oncologist, it is exciting to imagine the benefit of yearly exams throughout a patient’s life.

    Yearly screening is recommended for those meeting the following criteria:

    •  Have a history of smoking 30 pack years* or more (A pack year is smoking an average of one pack per day, per year.)

    •  Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years

    •  Are between 55 and 80 years old.

        Unfortunately, despite the overwhelming benefit of screening, rates remain very low. Research presented at this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting revealed that in 2016 only 2% of a 7.6 million eligible population were screened in the US. For many, screening simply hasn’t become a regular practice or a successful early detection program isn’t available to either physicians or patients. 

        At Carolinas Hospital System, our administrators, Oncologists and Pulmonologists have come together to create a screening protocol and lung clinic for primary providers to easily refer patients for treatment and follow-up. 

        The Pee Dee region has shown a high rate of smoking and lung cancer. Raising public awareness about the importance of screening can potentially save many lives.

        If you, or someone you know meets the criteria, encourage them to contact their primary care provider or call Carolinas Hospital System Lung Nodule Clinic (843) 673-7529. Screening is covered by most insurance providers. 

    Dr. C. Eric Wooten is the Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Carolinas Hospital System. He is board certified in radiation oncology. For more information call Carolinas Hospital System Radiation Oncology at (843) 674-2470 or go to CarolinasHospital.com.

    If you, or someone you know meets the criteria, encourage them to contact their primary care provider or call Carolinas Hospital System Lung Nodule Clinic (843) 673-7529. Screening is covered by most insurance providers. 

  • Show Your Love

    Show Your Love

    The Importance of Shopping Local This Holiday Season

    story provided by The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce

        The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Florence Downtown Development joins the Coalition for the Ninth Annual Small Business Saturday® to help drive commerce to small businesses.

    Today we are announcing that we have joined the Small Business Saturday Coalition and that it will, together with American Express, support this year’s Small Business Saturday celebration, which takes place on November 24 and will run throughout the holiday season.

        Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting the independent businesses that make our communities unique and provide invaluable contributions to our economy.

        The Chamber along with Downtown Development will be contacting local businesses in Florence and the surrounding community to celebrate Small Business Saturday. Various banners, bags, and other items will be passed out to the local businesses to display the Small Business Saturday event.

        Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday serves as the ceremonial kickoff to the holiday shopping season for small businesses across the United States. In 2017, an estimated 108 million consumers reported shopping or dining at local, independently-owned businesses on Small Business Saturday, according to the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey. The most reported reason for consumers aware of the day to shop and dine at small, independently-owned businesses on the day was to support their community (64%), according to the 2017 Small Business Saturday 50-State Survey.

        Small Business Saturday celebrates the diversity of small businesses across the U.S. and both The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and Florence Downtown Development recognize the importance of supporting small businesses, the jobs they help create, and the culture they foster in local communities. According to the U.S. Small Businesses Administration, small businesses accounted for 61.8% of net new jobs from the first quarter of 1993 until the third quarter of 2016 and represented 99.7% of firms with paid employees.

    What is Shop Small?

        Shop Small is a movement — fueled by individual shoppers, business owners, and organizers who encourage shopping small all year long because they know it matters. Shopping small is more than just the act of shopping at small businesses. It’s a feeling — of walking into that corner coffee shop where they always know your order or of settling in at that tiny theater your dad used to take you to. And it’s a cause — one that supports local economies and promotes vibrant, diverse communities.

      As you set out to find the perfect gift for your loved ones this holiday season, consider shopping small. Because “When you buy from a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance!”

  • De Baz

    De Baz

    A Fair Trade & Ethically Sourced Boutique

    story by Jordan Pupa

     

        De Baz, a quaint boutique in downtown Hartsville, is packed with a multitude of eclectic artisan products.  Many shoppers don’t realize that there is so much more to this store than the unique items they carry. Dedicated to fair trade and ethically sourced products, they are connected to the livelihoods of others and each sale makes a direct impact on a better world. De Baz is where style and purpose collide.

        When De Baz first opened their doors three years ago, they represented 16 countries. Today, the store carries clothing, jewelry, baskets, pillows, gifts and so many other one-of-a-kind items from over 40 countries around the world, including the USA.  They recently doubled their size, giving them the room to double their impact. With the store expansion, they have grown to reach 125 artisan groups and small businesses. To date, De Baz has made nearly a quarter of a million-dollar financial impact globally. Owner, Lindsey Dowling says, “When we look at the portraits of the artisans on our walls, we are reminded every day that De Baz is bigger than us and bigger than Hartsville.” Through their partnership with one of their first artisan groups in Kenya, De Baz was able to help bring a ten-year goal of purchasing nearby property to build a school for artisans’ children to fruition in a matter of months.

        De Baz’s heart and mission is that of “people over products” and you will only find items in the store from those that operate under shared values- fair trade certified and small businesses who follow fair trade practices. While many believe that fair trade and charity are one in the same, that is not the case. Fair trade is a hand up, not a hand out; it empowers entrepreneurs, both globally and domestically. Lindsey shares, “Really, the goal of fair trade in America is to raise awareness and to explain that it is not limited to third world practices. We stand for ethical standards and for artisans being fairly paid. While charity is usually specific-cause oriented or short-term, fair trade’s goal is self-sufficiency and long-term provision for the artisan or small business owner.”

        Because nothing comes from big box manufacturers, every handmade piece carried in De Baz has an extraordinary story of an artisan who made it and with whom it impacts. For instance, Starfish Project, rescues women from trafficking and reintegrates them back into society with sustainable skills and income. Ten Thousand Villages and Elegantees offer similar stories of restoration and hope. These are just a few of many life-changing products proudly carried in-store.

        As the holidays approach, it is a great time to consider purchasing from a fair trade dedicated business.  Many people have the perception that fair trade items are expensive, but De Baz intentionally prices items so that every shopper can be a world changer. “Our goal is not for you to change your entire lifestyle to fair trade, but to work fair trade into your lifestyle. If even ten percent of everyone’s Christmas shopping was a fair trade purchase, the impact would be massive.”

    Shop In-Store at  108 East Carolina Ave in Hartsville, SC

    Shop Online at www.DeBazStyle.com

    Facebook & Instagram @debazstyle

    Phone: 843-309-9643

    #PowerInYourPurchase

     Owner, Lindsey Dowling

    “Because nothing comes from big box manufacturers, every handmade piece carried in De Baz has an extraordinary story of an artisan who made it and with whom it impacts.”

  • Yogi Bear’s Honey Fried Chicken

    Yogi Bear’s Honey Fried Chicken

    A Family-Style Business

    story by Jordan Pupa | photos by Viridiana Photography

        If you mention Hartsville, SC to anyone, it is likely they will ask if Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken is still around. The establishment is, of course, known for its crispy, tender fried chicken with honey, but the overall experience comes with so much more. The only existing Yogi Bear establishment has a sense of family pride that is unlike any other quick-service restaurant today. The nostalgic draw has brought in visitors from both near and far for years, making the restaurant a popular Hartsville hot spot.

        Back in 60s, Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken originally was going to be Minnie Pearl’s Honey Fried Chicken, but she wasn’t interested in the opportunity. A new idea came along with the popularity of Yogi Bear during that time. Eventually a chain of fast-food fried-chicken restaurants licensed by Hanna-Barbera Productions started. Yogi Bear was a popular chain with a total of 20 restaurants up and down the east coast. The first ever restaurant was located in Myrtle Beach with others nearby in Charlotte, Rocky Mount, and even various locations in Florida. Unfortunately, they all eventually shut down after going broke, except for the location in Hartsville, which is still in business today.

        George Atkins took over Yogi Bear about 15 years ago when the current owner approached him ready to sell. George was the owner of Chick A Ray Poultry where he sold chicken to Yogi Bear for many years, developing a relationship with the previous Hartsville Yogi Bear owner. George was familiar with the business and agreed to buy, keeping the historic landmark alive. Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken has been given permission to continue to use the character, but only for the remaining Hartsville establishment.

        While chicken is what started the restaurant, the menu has diversified over the years. The menu includes boxed fried chicken meals such as the commonly known “Boo Boo Basket” and “Picnic Basket,” but also offers wings, chicken strips, seafood, pork chops, livers and gizzards, and soups. But, that’s not all. They also offer a plethora of sides and desserts including batter fried corn on the cob and apple turnovers. In fact, Yogi Bear’s online ordering system and drive by pick-up window makes the dining process more convenient for everyone. Of course, the family-friendly setting makes for a great place for a sit-down meal as well. “People come from out of town just to eat,” explains George. “We have a lot of Charlotte business and people stopping in on the way to beach. Most know about us, and some even remember the other locations. We’re an institution around here.”

        The food isn’t all that the people come for. Yogi Bear wouldn’t be what it is without its dedicated, friendly staff. While there may be some changes here and there as time goes on, many of the restaurant’s employees have been long-term, providing customers with a sense of comfort and familiarity every time they enter the doors. With about thirty employees, George’s values revolve around running the business family-style. Angie Johnson, Yogi Bear employee, describes George as “Papa Bear” and says he is a great boss that really makes the Yogi Bear team a true family. “Some employees have been here over 30 years,” says Angie. “There are many sisters who work here, and some that we may as well call sisters because they’ve been working side-by-side for so many years.” Yogi Bear is also grateful for their loyal and returning customers who they consider to be like family. Angie shares, “We had a fire once and closed down for twelve weeks. People were going into shock and once we opened back up, we had record sales for weeks!”

        Visiting Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken is a “must do” for friends and family in town for the holidays. You can’t miss the large, iconic sign featuring Yogi Bear on South Fifth Street in Hartsville. In fact, George even has the sign from the old Charlotte location stored in the warehouse. It’s a simple place, but a Hartsville specialty and tradition, the only remaining Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken restaurant!

    514 S 5th St, Hartsville (843) 332-7031

    Facebook: @yogifriedchicken

    Open every day from 10:30am-9pm.

    Check out the menu and place your order now at www.yogifriedchicken.com.

  • ADP Honors Veterans

    ADP Honors Veterans

    ADP Holds Veterans Day Brunch Celebration

        On November 9th, ADP held a Veterans Day Brunch to celebrate local veterans. Captain Lakecia T. Griffin, Florence native, was the guest speaker. She is an alumni of Trident University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business. After serving 15 years as an enlisted soldier, Captain Griffin attended officer candidate school in 2008. Captain Griffin has completed multiple assignments in Ft. Bragg, NC with the 188th Brigade Support Battalion to include:  Alpha Company Fuel/Water Platoon Leader, Battalion Maintenance Officer and Executive Officer.  Captain Griffin’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon and the Drill Sergeant Badge. Employees and friends of ADP were honored to pay tribute to Captain Griffin and her journey in protecting our freedom.

  • Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A.

    Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A.

    The Tipping Point

    story by Mark W. Buyck, III

        As noted last month, South Carolina was an overwhelmingly Democrat state from the end of Reconstruction through the Second World War. In the 12 Presidential elections from 1900 to 1944, no Republican ever carried a single South Carolina county. During that time, the Democrats won every gubernatorial race and there were no Republicans in the State Legislature. Democrat dominance in the state began to crack in the 1948 Presidential race when the state overwhelmingly supported Governor Strom Thurmond and the Dixiecrats. Republican Dwight Eisenhower nearly carried the state in 1952. Democrat Adlai Stevenson carried the state in 1956; however, the majority of the voters supported either Eisenhower or an independent slate of electors opposed to the national Democrats.

        In the run-up to the 1960 Presidential election, South Carolina Democrats generally supported fellow “Southerner” Lyndon Johnson for the party’s nomination. The eventual Kennedy-Johnson ticket was not embraced by South Carolina Democrats. Vice-President Richard Nixon generated interest in the urban areas of the state, particularly Columbia and Charleston. Textile and industrial business owners who had moved to South Carolina from states with competitive 2-party elections openly supported Nixon and the Republican Party platform. Many of the supporters of the 1956 independent slate supported Nixon. Former Governor Byrnes endorsed Nixon. Strom Thurmond did not endorse either Kennedy or Nixon; however, he publicly opposed Kennedy and the Democrat platform. Kennedy won South Carolina in 1960, however, his margin of victory was less than 10,000 votes, 198,129 to 188,558. Nixon carried 21 counties, including Florence, Charleston, Greenville, and Richland.

        By the early 1960s, the Republican Party in South Carolina was aspiring to become viable at the statewide level. The Party decided to seriously contest the 1962 U.S. Senate election. The incumbent was Democrat Olin Johnston, a veteran politician who had served two separate terms as Governor as well as 18 years in the United States Senate. He was an economic populist and in his last years of office supported LBJ’s Great Society programs. Johnston easily won the Democrat primary in 1962 defeating former Governor Fritz Hollings by a 2 to 1 margin. The Republican nominee for the seat was W. D. Workman, a noted conservative political journalist. Workman ran a spirited campaign staking himself and the Republican Party as the conservative alternative to Johnston and the liberal national Democrat Party. Drake Edens, a Columbia businessman and entrepreneur, managed Workman’s statewide campaign. Workman finished with 133,390 votes (42.8%) to Johnston’s 178,712 (57.2%). Although defeated, Workman and Edens proved the viability of the Republican Party statewide in South Carolina.

        By 1964, the Republican Party was ascendant in South Carolina. W. D. Workman’s unsuccessful Governor’s race proved that Republicans could be competitive statewide. 1962 also saw the first Republican elected to the General Assembly since 1901. Drake Edens was elected as Chairman of the Party in 1963 and his organizational and fund-raising prowess brought energy to the party. Lyndon Johnson had become President in November 1963 following the assassination of President Kennedy. While nominally a Southerner, Johnson’s embrace of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and promotion of other Great Society programs was not popular with the majority of South Carolinians. The competitive balance in the State reached a tipping point in 1964. Early South Carolina Republicans were admirers of Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater.  Goldwater was fiscally conservative, anti-Communist, pro-defense and fiercely libertarian; all characteristics appealing to South Carolina Republicans. Goldwater was an opponent of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 believing it to be an overreach by the Federal Government, while Johnson was largely responsible for the Act’s passage. During the Fall campaign, Strom Thurmond declared that not only would he support Senator Goldwater but that he was changing his party allegiance to the Republicans. Democrat Congressman Albert Watson of Lexington then announced his public and active support of Goldwater.   

        Nationally Goldwater lost in a landslide; however, he won 6 states; Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. In South Carolina, Goldwater received 309,048 votes (58.9%) to Johnson’s 215,700 (41.1%). This was the first time that the Republicans had carried the State since 1876. He also carried 33 of the State’s 46 counties. After the election, the U.S. House Democrat Caucus censured Watson for supporting Goldwater. On February 1, 1965, Watson declared he “would not sit around to be bullied by Northern liberals,” and resigned from Congress. He announced that he would run in the special election for his seat as a Republican. Watson won the special election with 59% of the votes becoming the first Republican to represent South Carolina in the United States House of Representatives since 1896. By 1966 the Republicans were prepared to compete statewide, not just in Presidential elections, but also for Congress, the Senate, state legislature, and local offices.

    Business Law, Litigation, Real Estate, and Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys

    248 West Evans Street, Florence, SC | 843.662.3258

    2050 Corporate Centre’ Drive, Suite 230, Myrtle Beach, SC | 843.650.6777

  • Staying Home for New Years

    Staying Home for New Years

    10 Fun Ways to Bring in 2019 While Staying Home

    story by Jordan Pupa

    Exhausted from the holiday season and looking to stay low key this NYE? Here are a few ways to get you staying home!

    • Countdown to the new year by popping a balloon every hour with fun activities or quotes inside!

    • Create a photo booth backdrop with wrapping paper or streamers. Print free props online and use your smartphone for easy social media sharing!

    • Get cozy outside by the fire pit and roast some s’mores and hot dogs!

    • Create a “NYE Resolution Wall” with giant paper and sharpies for everyone to share their goals!

    • Wait until the next day, then host a traditional New Year’s Day meal or brunch that will guarantee good luck throughout the year!

    • Pick up a board game and interact without technology. You may even find traditional board game favorites at your local Habitat for Humanity or thrift shop!

    • Make fancy “mocktails” for the kids with sparkling grape juice!

    • Set up “Prosecco Pong” with plastic champagne glasses and ping pong balls!

    • Create your own ball drop event with a bunch of balloons, some painters tape, and plastic table cloth. Release the balloons when the clock strikes midnight!

    • Plan a fun meal with chocolate or cheese fondue or themed favorites like Good Luck Black-Eyed Salsa!

     

  • World AIDS Day

    World AIDS Day

    Did You Know?

    story by Donna Tracy, Communication Coordinator, HopeHealth

        More than three decades have passed since AIDS first captured global attention and put a name to the epidemic that terrified communities. No one knew what was causing AIDS. No one knew how it was transmitted. Task forces set out to determine risk factors. Specialized treatment clinics opened. Congressional hearings were held. Legislation for research was drafted. And people continued to die.

        In May 1983, researchers discovered the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, that destroys immune cells, known as CD4 T lymphocytes or CD4 cells. Healthy individuals typically have 500 to 1,600 of these cells in a single milliliter of blood. Below 200, the HIV infection has progressed to AIDS. At this point, the virus has so weakened the body that opportunistic infections and cancers can rapidly take hold.

        An AIDS diagnosis in the 1980s was a prognosis for death. Available treatments were harsh on the body and required a rigid regimen that included a minimum of 18 pills per day. For many, it also meant rejection from and abandonment by their communities and families.

        Today, much has changed, both in prognosis of the disease and in treatment, and an individual diagnosed with HIV and in compliance with their treatment plan can expect to live a full, typical life. The development of rapid HIV testing allows for fast, accurate HIV-status test results without a specialized clinical setting, and improvements in medicine has reduced treatments plans to a single pill a day. These pills are a combination of three medicines from more than 20 drugs, including antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, in about eight classes. Each attacks the HIV virus in different ways and the specific combinations prescribed to an individual are based on a genosure test that determines their specific HIV strain’s drug resistance.

        Even though treatment for HIV/AIDS has come so far, access and awareness remain hurdles for many communities. To combat the fear and stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS, World AIDS Day was established in 1988 with a three-fold goal: to unite communities, to celebrate and support people living with HIV/AIDS, and to honor the more than 35 million people who have lost their lives to the disease. World AIDS Day is held Dec. 1 each year to bring awareness about the disease and HopeHealth commemorates the day with the annual AIDSWalk in Florence.

        HopeHealth was established in 1991 as a grass-roots support group to help those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and combat the fear and stigma surrounding the disease. HopeHealth continues to organize awareness events to increase the dialogue about HIV and AIDS, decrease stigma, and provide support to individuals living with the disease. Our Infectious Diseases Department works closely with our community health programs to allow for coordinated care across specialties, including pain management, substance abuse, dental care, mental health, and primary care.

        Open conversation on the HIV epidemic still has a long way to go, especially in southern states, which, according to the CDC, have the highest number of people living with HIV and account for 44 percent of all people living with HIV in the US. Nationwide, more than 1.2 million in the US are living with HIV infection and, of those, one in eight (150,000) do not know they have the virus.

     

    The fastest growing population rates for HIV infection is young men having sex with men, and college age kids.

    •  HIV has claimed more than 35 million lives globally since 1981.

    •  In 2015, 1.1 million people died from HIV-related causes globally.

    •  There were approximately 36.7 million people living with HIV at the end of 2015.

    •  2.1 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2015 globally.

    •  There is no cure for HIV infection. Effective antiretroviral (ARV) drugs can control the virus and help prevent transmission.

    •  With effective treatment, people with HIV can enjoy healthy, productive lives.

    •  Global estimates indicate only 54% of people with HIV know their status.

    •  Between 2000 and 2015, rates of new HIV infections fell by 35%, and AIDS-related deaths fell by 28%.

    •  Expanding ARV to all people living with HIV and expanding prevention choices can help avert 21 million AIDS-related deaths and 28 million new infections by 2030.

    •  In South Carolina, 20.7 people per 100,000 are living with HIV and the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with HIV ranks 10th in the nation

    •  Columbia, South Carolina, ranked 13th in the nation for highest infection rates per capita

  • Raisin Pecan Cake

    Raisin Pecan Cake

    Recipe provided by Savannah Robinson

    “This is my great grandma Pauline. She was such a sweet woman who loved baking, fishing, gardening, and her family. Whenever we bake this cake, it brings back fond loving memories of her.” – Savannah Robinson

    Raisin Pecan Pie Recipe:

    1 lb. of butter

    2 c. of sugar

    4 c. of Cake Flour (Swan)

    6 eggs

    1/2 c. molasses

    1/2 tsp. of baking soda (if plain flour)

    1 tsp. of baking soda (if plain flour)

    1 1/4 c. of pecans

    1 pkg. of seedless raisins

    dash of nutmeg

    1 c. of grape juice, wine or brandy

    2 tsp. baking powder

    Directions:

    Creme butter and sugar. Add slightly beaten eggs. Sift baking powder, soda and flour. Combine remaining ingredients. Bake in tube pan for 1 1/2 hours at 325o degrees.