
Category: Special Features
-

Bottle & Tap – Hartsville’s Craft Beer Destination
It’s a Celebration of Good Beer and Good People.
A few years ago, the City of Hartsville started to boom. New businesses brought new opportunities and Hartsville became a place where people wanted to plant their roots. After enjoying a few craft beers during a brainstorming session with Mayor Mel Pennington, the Wholesale Wine and Spirits team realized there was a void in the area for craft beer for the changing Hartsville population. The idea for Bottle and Tap came along. Shortly after, the guys at West Oil Company brought the vision to life. Fortunately, they had a unique location positioned adjacent to the Shell station on South 5th Street in Hartsville where they could create a quality environment that catered to the craft beer customer with both retail and on-premise products. Bottle & Tap was opened by West Oil Company in June of 2015 under the guidance of its Wholesale Wine & Spirits Division.
The craft beer venture started off by primarily providing packaged products and growlers for take home consumption, but over time the atmosphere seemed to win over the hearts of regulars as it slowly became a place they wanted to stay a while. The business continued to thrive and expand. Today, their concept is simple and is something craft beer drinkers needed in Hartsville for a long time… an inviting atmosphere to explore the world of craft beer with good company, all under one roof.
You can join them at the bar where you can find a draft station with twelve rotating taps of some of the most unique beer available in the area. You can even sample the freshly poured beer on tap before you order. At Bottle and Tap you can grab a pint or flight to enjoy on-premise, or if you stumble on something you love, you can order a growler to-go to enjoy later at home. They maintain over 100 unique packaged craft beers, and you can try out a single bottle from the cooler, which is stocked with 75 options to choose from. You can even customize your selection with a “mix and match” six pack from the cooler, or any size pack for that matter! They also keep a small selection of wine and cider for the non-craft beer consumer and free popcorn with several flavor topping options, which is known to be a serious crowd-pleaser! Their top-notch hospitality doesn’t end there. They will gladly look into bringing in special order beer for customers that they cannot find within the area.
To top it off, they offer happy hour every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 4-7 p.m. featuring discounted draft beer and the famous Hartsville Markette donut holes. (You have to try these local bites!) They host Tap Takeover events inviting local brewery representatives as their beers are featured on tap. Customers are able to try the beer and discuss them on the spot with the people that make them. Food Truck Fridays are also a popular end of the week event. Their newly renovated modern patio features a 60″ television, outdoor speakers and patio lighting creating a relaxing atmosphere. Their interior space includes cozy couches, ample table top seating, music, and two 50″ TVs, with sports on regularly, especially college football!
There is truly something charming and endearing about a small shop attached to a gas station and the experience they are able to provide. When you visit, be prepared to be overwhelmingly pleased with all the available options, talk beer with the friendly staff, and meet some new folks. Bottle and Tap is more than just a bottle shop, more than a craft beer bar, but is a celebration of beer and good people.
Bottle and Tap is happy to offer their establishment as a place for parties and events. They can also provide full kegs for off-site events. For more information about upcoming events, follow them on Facebook at @BottleandTapSC.
621 S. 5th St. Hartsville | 843-309-9522
bt1@wholesalewineandspirits.com | bottleandtapsc.com


-

In the Kitchen
Sweet Potato Salad with Toasted Pecans

Step 1: Roasted Sweet Potatoes
4 medium sweet potatoes, cleaned and cut in 1/2 inch cubes
3 medium shallots diced
3 1/2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tsp. ground coriander
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Toss all together and roast at 375o for 20 mins or until done.
Step 2: Roasted Pecans
1/4 c. pecan pieces
I egg white whipped
3 tbsp. Brown sugar
Salt to taste
Toss all together and toast for 10-12 mins.
Step 3: Dressing
2 tbsp. cider vinegar
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. Smoked paprika
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
Combine all ingredients together. Slowly emulsify oil in with other ingredients.
Step 4:
While potatoes are still warm, toss them in the vinaigrette. Garnish with toasted pecans.
Recipe provided by Local Motive, 123 N Dargan St, Florence
-

Veronica Robertson
Going with the Flow
story by Ashley Elvington • photos by Ivana Reay-Jones Photography
Many who happen to meet Veronica Robertson will agree that she is a ray of sunshine, exuberating joy and kindness and warmth that puts a soul at ease. Originally from Colombia, South America, it didn’t take long for Veronica to feel at home as many in Florence welcomed her with the open loving arms of a family, especially in Downtown Florence… But, more on that in a minute.
Veronica and her family moved to Florence almost a decade ago when her husband accepted the position of Medical Director at McLeod Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department. “We have found a home in Florence. Both of our daughters were born here and we are grateful for all of the opportunities the city of Florence has provided us. We are committed to this community and we expect to raise our family here and grow Flow Town Yoga.” Before she opened her own yoga studio, Veronica received 200 hours of yoga teacher training through Charleston Power Yoga in Charleston, South Carolina. Since then, she has completed a 500-hour yoga teacher advanced certification through the Kunga Yoga School at the Wilmington Yoga Center in Wilmington, North Carolina.
She noticed that Florence was missing a yoga space led by trained and certified yoga instructors. Inspired to be the change the community needed, Veronica made plans to open her own studio in Downtown Florence. “I imagined a studio that offered varying formats, reaching individuals from a variety of populations and needs: seniors, children, males, females…from all backgrounds, body compositions and fitness levels. Anyone can find a class that fits their needs, from Senior Chair yogis to the Power Vinyasa yogis.” Doors opened in February 2017 and in less than two years, Flow Town Yoga has grown from offering 12 classes per week to over 32. “We now have two studio spaces in Downtown Florence, a heated room and a cool room. We feel honored to be a part of the development and growth of Downtown Florence.” Flow Town Yoga is now a Kunga Yoga affiliated studio and will soon be a Yoga Alliance registered school of yoga, the first of its kind in Florence. “We will train the next generation of yoga teachers who will share this beautiful practice with our community and beyond.”
For Veronica, work weeks are easy to endure when you love what you do. “Yoga is accessible to everybody. It is not about the pose, but about what we learn in between. As we move through postures using our breath, we can find a place of calmness within ourselves where we can reflect and learn… Discovering tools that we own and can carry with us everywhere we go.” She enjoys teaching beginners, especially seniors. “Witnessing the growth and joy I see in others is amazing. By growth, I do not mean being able to do advanced, intricate yoga poses. It means being able to feel comfortable and powerful in their bodies… Being able to stand up from a chair using one’s own strength, being able to move confidently, to reconnect with your body and the present moment… Watching students walk out of the yoga room renewed, smiling and confident. Knowing we help in any little way to get them to that place, is very rewarding.”

Flow Town Yoga | 152 S. Dargan Street, Heated Studio | 127 N. Dargan Street, Cool Studio | Downtown Florence
To learn more, as well as view a schedule of their classes, visit www.flowtownyoga.com.
These 6 movements Rotate, flex, extend and align the spine, stimulating spinal nerves, toning abdominal and back muscles, and improving breathing. It activates digestion and relieves constipation, increases circulation, and brings fresh oxygen to musculoskeletal system.

Twist:
Find a comfortable seated position, on the floor or on a chair. As you begin to awaken the spinal muscles, allow the movements to be slow and mindful. There is no need to rush. Hold each pose for 3 breaths. Find length in the spine and a neutral pelvis, twist to one side starting the movement from the torso. Lengthening on the inhale and gently twisting deeper on the exhale.
Benefits: Rotating the spine consistently and correctly will help us keep our range of motion healthy and flexible so that daily movement becomes easier and less painful. Twisting hydrates the intervertebral disks and massages the organs within the abdomen supporting digestion.

Lateral Flexion:
Start on an easy seated position with your legs crossed. Inhale reaching up with both arms then on the exhale placing your right hand on the floor and reaching over with the left arm creating a C shape with the spine. Hold for 3 breaths and repeat on other side.
Benefits: Lateral flexion is a movement that bends the body to the right or left side. It helps to open up the side-body, strengthens the obliques, and is helpful in increasing flexibility of the spine lengthening the muscles between the ribs and pelvis, plus parts of the lower back. Lateral flexion also opens up the ribcage, helping to expand the lungs and aid in deeper breathing.

Spinal Flexion:
Start on table top on your hands and knees. Hands directly underneath shoulders, and your knees directly underneath your hips. Keep your back flat, and your head in line with the rest of your spine. INHALE. With an EXHALATION tuck your tailbone, round the spine towards the ceiling and gently bring your chin towards your chest. This is called Cat pose.
Benefits: This shape expands the back-body, stretching the back of the lungs, increasing breath capacity, and tones the abdomen with an engaged core. It allows us to turn inward for reflection and calmness.

Spinal Extension:
After Cat pose and exhaling, INHALE, tip the tailbone up, drop the belly and chest toward the floor, and lift your head and chin forward and up. Think about lengthening the spine as you do this movement. This position is Cow.
Benefits: This is a lengthening pose particularly for opening up the thoracic spine and the muscles of the chest and shoulders. It strengthens the lungs and facilitates deeper breathing. When done in a chair, place hands on your thighs and extend and flex the spine with the flow of the breath. Establishing a breathing rhythm. Inhaling deep with the Cow position and exhaling completely with the Cat position.
-

Alzheimer’s Awareness
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated the month of November as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. It is still recognized today. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, at that time there were less than two million people with the disease, however, that number has increased to more than five million. Alzheimer’s disease is now the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.
Many lives change when a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Today, many families are faced with difficult decisions regarding loved ones with Alzheimer’s. Care, financials, and physical and mental health are all of concern. Additionally, the process can also be challenging for caregivers. There are an estimated 16 million caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the United States.
New Generations Adult Day Center located in Florence provides services specifically for those with Alzheimer’s disease or related conditions. They understand that caring for a loved one can take a toll on family members, which is why they provide adult day care services that can give a much-needed break in addition to benefits for loved ones. The Alzheimer’s Activity Center provides programs and support services for individuals in order to keep them engaged with activities while exercising the brain in a safe environment. The staff is trained to understand Alzheimer’s and they work together to create a welcoming, supportive, and enriching environment. Services include enhancing cognitive skills, stimulating interaction on personal and group levels, encouraging mobility and stability, and nutrition and personal hygiene assistance. While South Carolina requires one caregiver per eight participants, New Generations has one caregiver per five participants in order to better provide individualized attention to those who need it.
Vantage Point, a division of CareSouth Carolina, Inc. in Hartsville has a network called Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), which is a local aging program that provides information and services on a range of assistance for older adults and those who care for them. They disperse respite money to families to help with care. Respite allows a person to take time off from caregiving duties while someone else cares for their loved one. John Belissary, administrator and owner of New Generations Adult Day Center states, “If you’ve ever been a care giver, it’s the toughest job there is. If you think about it, an elderly woman has become a full care provider for her husband. She’s withdrawn herself from society. She can no longer go out to eat with her Red Hat lady friends, play Bridge with her friends, or go play golf or tennis. Her life is consumed with medications, doctor appointments, making sure he eats, bathes, and doesn’t fall… it never ends.” Through Vantage Point, a person can qualify for a grant of $500-$1500 per year to get a provider, whether it’s through New Generations or a home care service, in order to take care of the individual and provide caregivers with a break.
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide and is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. The money goes directly to respite to help with the care of many of our loved ones. “We are put on this earth to help one another and to care for one another,” says John. “That’s what we should be doing. I can’t tell people enough to donate to this research fund so they can continue their search to find a cure. It will directly affect so many people in all of our lives. It’s important we show these people compassion.”
New Generations Adult Day Center
2111 West Jody Rd. | Florence | 843.773.2781
www.newgenerationsadc.com
Book Recommendation for those with loved ones faced with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis:

Still Alice is a 2007 novel by Lisa Genova, set in Boston. The novel is about a woman who suffers early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Alice Howland, a 50-year-old woman, is a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard and a world-renowned linguistics expert. She is married to an equally successful husband, and they have three grown children. The disease takes hold swiftly, and it changes Alice’s relationship with her family and the world.
For more info or to purchase, visit lisagenova.com.










