WINNSBORO – “It was the best Ag + Art event we’ve had so far – great attendance, great weather and great Fairfield farms and artisans,” Brad Hoffman, one of the events co-directors, told The Voice.
“We had eight farms on tour and at least 30 artists and artisans creating and selling their work,” Hoffman said.
While most of the farms averaged a little over 300 visitors over the two day event, Christy Buchanan’s She Garden at The Painted Picket at the corner of Highways 321 and 34 boasted almost 500 visitors. She also made a sale to a folk art museum in New York City after someone affiliated with the museum stopped by The Painted Picket during the tour.
Artist Blue Sky also stopped by Hoffman’s Gypsy Wind Farm to observed artists at work there.
“It was really a great weekend,” Hoffman said. “A man saw our ad on Facebook and drove down for the weekend. He also emailed 30 friends in North Carolina who joined him.”
And the visitors didn’t just visit the farms in the countryside. Many stopped into the crowded Cornwallis Tea Room and other restaurants in Winnsboro and Ridgeway for lunch.
Terry Vickers, the other co-director of the event, said all of the farms and vendors who participated this year have already signed on for next year.
“I think it has caught fire in Fairfield. But the event,” Vickers said, “is not actually over.
“All these farmers and many of the artisans are selling their vegetables, frozen chickens, eggs and other items every Saturday morning at Winnsboro’s farmers market. It’s open every Saturday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. next to the town clock. See you there!”
Sex on the Beach? Not for me! I’ll stick with Cuddles by the Pool.
Summertime is synonymous with relaxing, right? We lounge around the pool; go to the beach; gather around the backyard grill. Summer is prime time for girls’ getaways and mancations. With all the traveling, relaxing and partying going on, it seems natural to have a frosty glass of something cool and refreshing to sip.
A cool and refreshing summer drink need not be alcoholic to be delicious. After all, everyone is a non-drinker some of the time. Whether you’re the designated driver, on a diet or never imbibe, you can still enjoy delicious and gorgeous mocktails.
Infused waters are a wonderful way to stay deliciously hydrated this summer. Let’s start with my favorite.
Cucumber Mint Spa Water
Yield: 2 quarts
1 small, fresh cucumber, washed well, unpeeled
2 to 3 large sprigs of fresh mint
½ small lemon, sliced
2 quarts of water
Thinly slice the cucumber and add to a 2 quart container with a tight fitting lid. Tuck the washed mint sprigs and lemon slices. Add the water; cover and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
Stir and strain well. Transfer the water to a serving pitcher and serve over ice. Garnish with cucumber slices and mint sprigs if desired.
Will keep refrigerated and tightly covered for 2 days.
We have Cuba to thank for the mojito. It’s simple, containing only 5 ingredients and in my opinion may be the perfect cocktail. It’s easy to convert a traditional Mojito to a Nojito by eliminating the rum and adding a bit more club soda, but if you’re looking to expand your mojito horizons, give this Pineapple Nojita a try.
Pineapple Nojito
Yield: 1 serving
4-5 pieces of 1-2″ pineapple spears
4-5 fresh mint leaves
1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
½ cup chilled white grape juice
½ cup chilled club soda (no sodium)
1 teaspoon agave nectar or simple syrup (optional, to adjust sweetness. I never add this)
Lime slices for garnish
Place the pineapple in a mixing bowl. Use the back of a wooden spoon or spatula to muddle the pineapple until all the pineapple pieces have been broken up. Add the mint leaves and muddle again for a few seconds to bruise the leaves and release the flavor.
Transfer the muddled mixture to a tall, chilled serving glass. Add ice cubes, grape juice and lime juice; stir to combine. Top the mojito with the club soda.
Adjust the sweetness (if necessary) and garnish with the lime slices.
Who doesn’t like Piña Coladas and getting caught in the rain? But what we don’t like is the hangover associated with having a few too many. This non-alcoholic version of the classic Piña Colada is the love that you’ve looked for, so whip up a batch and escape.
Piña Colada Mocktail
Yield: 4-5 cups
2 cups of pineapple juice
½ cup cream of coconut (shake the can before opening)
Ice
Pour the pineapple juice and cream of coconut into your blender. Add ice until it is up to the liquid level. The liquid should just cover the ice. Blend until smooth.
For best results use GOYA brand Cream of Coconut.
Sex on the Beach is a simple, mild, fruity cocktail. It’s easy going and let’s face it, gives you plenty of opportunities to make ridiculous jokes. A little vodka, peach schnapps, and some orange and cranberry juice and all you need is a tiny umbrella.
For those times when Sex on the Beach is just not a good idea, why not try Cuddles by the Pool. It looks like the real thing, only much wiser.
Cuddles by the Pool
Yield: 1 drink
2 ounces of cranberry juice
2 ounces of grapefruit juice
2 ounces of peach nectar
2 ounces of chilled Sprite
Place the juices and nectar in a highball glass with ice. Stir to combine. Top with Sprite and an umbrella or slice of citrus. Pat yourself on the back for making good decisions.
In 2016, Nielsen announced that the Margarita is the most popular cocktail in America. Unfortunately, because it relies so heavily on tequila, it’s also the hardest cocktail to transform into a mocktail.
Spicy Cucumber Mockarita
Yield: 2 servings
3 ounces fresh lime juice
2 ounces fresh lemon juice
2 ounces fresh orange juice
1 Tablespoon agave nectar (optional to adjust for sweetness)
1 medium cucumber, unpeeled and sliced
1 small jalapeno, thinly sliced (seeds removed if desired)
Add the juices, agave and cucumber to a blender and process for about a 1 minute or until smooth and strain into a cocktail shaker. Add the jalapeno slices and muddle until the margarita has the desired level of heat. The longer the jalapeno sits in the cucumber mixture the spicier the mockarita will be. Remove the jalapeno if you desire a milder drink. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake until the mixture is chilled. Strain into a glass rimmed with Sweet Chili Rim Salt and garnish as desired.
To make a Spicy Cucumber Margarita:
Decrease the lime juice to 2 ounces
Omit the lemon juice
Decrease the orange juice to 1 ounce
Add 4 ounces of tequila
Add the juices and tequila to the blender and blend for 1 minute or until smooth. Proceed with the rest of the recipe.
Sweet Chili Lime Rim Salt
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
1 Tablespoon turbinado sugar
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl with a tight fitting lid. Shake to combine.
To rim a glass: Run a lime wedge around the lip of a serving glass. Dip the rim of the glass in the salt mixture until the rim is coated.
RIDGEWAY – Town Council torched first reading of a proposed burn ordinance during its June 8 meeting. The ordinance, which was proposed by local attorney Robert Hartman at the May meeting, called for a prohibition of any burning in the downtown area of Ridgeway and would restrict burning anywhere in the town within 350 feet of homes unless permission to burn had been granted from the non-burning parties. An exception was made in the ordinance for cooking fires during the town’s annual Pig on the Ridge festival in November. The ordinance set punishment for illegal burns from $250-$500 per occurrence.
Hartman said he recently became concerned about the lack of a burning prohibition in the town when a neighbor proceeded with a rubbish burn within 20 feet of his office, despite winds that he said were over 20 miles per hour. Hartman said he is concerned about the age of the buildings in downtown Ridgeway, some of which date back to the 1800s, and particularly the heart pine material used in the construction of many of the buildings.
“It’s like kindling,” he pointed out.
Councilman Heath Cookendorfer quickly objected to the proposed ordinance.
“To say you can’t burn except for one week a year is kind of like arbitrary,” Cookendorfer said. “It doesn’t make sense to me. It says ‘yes,’ you can but ‘no,’ you can’t.”
The ordinance was met by other critics as well. During open citizens’ comment, resident Dan Martin stated that he could use his propane grill according to the ordinance, but could not take the same propane tank from his grill and use it in his fire pit.
“It (the ordinance) seems to micromanage the entire town with new laws or ordinances when a couple of people have issues or disagreements. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to say we, as an adult community, cannot control ourselves with our fire unless we pass a law to tell us how to do it or not do it. It’s ridiculous,” Martin said. He also agreed with Cookendorfer that excluding enforcement of the burn ordinance for Pig on the Ridge was at odds with the logic of necessitating a burn ordinance in the first place.
Another sticking point for Council was the proposed distance of 350 feet from any other structure.
“That’s far,” Councilman Don Porter said.
“That’s too much,” Council Don Prioleau said.
“By reading this ordinance, I can’t have my grandkids over in my backyard for a cookout because of how close my residence is to houses, you know, definitely within 350 feet,” Cookendorfer said. “It’s too restrictive.”
“Instead of adopting this ordinance, we could take our current ordinance and maybe tweak it for things like making sure people call (the fire station) and give their phone number and contact number before they burn,” Mayor Charlene Herring suggested. “Then if you want to consider a certain distance for burning, we can come back at the next meeting with that.”
The town’s current burn ordinance does not address setbacks for rubbish burning, but makes it unlawful for anyone to burn combustible materials and gives the Town the right to fine or jail anyone who does not remove fire hazards from their properties within 10 days.
Council voted to consider making changes to its current ordinance at a later time.
Richland School District 2 has announced several recent promotions, including Dr. Marylin Ross Frederick to take over as principal of Blythewood Academy, and Cleveland Smith, a former principal at the Academy, has been named chief administrative services officer effective July 1.
The promotions were put forward at a board meeting on Tuesday, June 13, by Superintendent Debbie Hamm and Superintendent-Elect Baron Davis who recommended that the Richland School District Two Board of Trustees approve these and other personnel recommendations for the coming school year.
Moments after this photo was taken, the pig was humanely euthanized. Veterinarian Robbie Chappell estimated the once 300 pound animal had lost about 175 pounds over one to two months from starvation and neglect.
WINNSBORO – Lirhonda Butler, 41, was arrested March 27, 2017, and charged with ill treatment of animals, in general, overworking, first offense.
Acting on a tip from a citizen that Butler was abusing a hog in her care, Fairfield County Animal Control Director Bob Innes called for a Fairfield County Sheriff’s Deputy to meet him at Butler’s 133-acre property on Richtex Road between Highway 215 and the Broad River. They were also joined by Veterinarian Robbie Chappell.
According to the incident report, Innes found a severely malnourished hog lying on its side, unable to move, in deep mud and feces in the corner of a brick room of an outbuilding. The only door opening to the room had been boarded up with screws from the inside of the room so the hog could not get out. The only access was through an open window high above the ground.
Innes reported that there was no food in the room, but there was a barrel cut in half with “rusty water with algae present, very polluted.”
Innes reported that he could see through the window that the pig was not moving and had labored breathing. He stated that the pig could only make noices and appeared to be suffering and dying. Innes reported that the pig appeared not to have been cared for in a very long time.
The report stated that Butler told the deputy that she had owned the pig for four years, since it was nine weeks old The deputy reported that Butler initially said she fed the pig daily but that she found it in bad condition that morning and that it refused to eat.
Unable to enter the room through the boarded doorway, the deputy and Innes climbed through the window and walked on boards they laid across the mud floor to reach the pig who, Innes reported, was covered in feces and cold to the touch. He advised that the pig was very malnourished and that it could not have gotten in to that condition over the course of a few days.
Veterinarian Robbie Chappell assessed the pig, reporting , “I examined a severely malnourished hog. The body condition score was a 1 on a 1-5 scale. This indicates severe starvation. The hog was unable to rise, had severe white dysentery, subnormal body temperature and dehydration. This indicates prolonged starvation at least three to four weeks to two months.”
Chappell reported that the pig should have weighed 300 pounds but weighed about 120 pounds.
The report stated that Chappell said it was pure neglect and cruelty. He reported that the pig would probably not survive the night and, with Butler’s permission, humanely euthanized the pig with a rifle shot, the report stated.
The charge of ill treatment of animals, in general, overworking, first offense, Section 47-1-40 (A), is a misdemeanor punishable upon conviction by up to 90 days in jail or a fine of less than $100.
A court date has not been set for Butler who was released on a $5,000 bond.
A controversial request by the Blythewood Chamber of Commerce for increased funding continues to be a topic of dissension as Council’s budget talks wind down toward final reading.
Mike Switzer, Executive Director of the Chamber, originally asked Council for more than $70,000 in April that included funds to renovate and update the offices the Chamber is renting in McNulty Plaza, $5,000 for a new website and $750 for a new computer. When Council rejected that amount, Switzer came back, asking for an increase in the Town’s annual economic grant from $12,500 to $15,000 and $18,500 to hire an employee for the Visitors’ Center.
Because Mayor J. Michael Ross and a partner own the offices the Chamber rents, he recused himself from voting on the $33,000 request, but has taken part in all other discussions concerning the matter
“What concerns me is that there’s no apparent accountability attached to this money. There are no measures of effectiveness. No measures of implementation,” Councilman Malcolm Gordge told fellow Council members during a budget workshop on June 13. “It’s just like throwing money into a pond and it disappears completely. That’s my impression. If we’re going to have this relationship with the Chamber, there ought to be some accountability where this money is going.” Gordge said.
“Certainly, one of the things that really peeves me is that they are setting up this additional website for the Visitors Center which seems to be a completely unnecessary expense, and wanting a new ($750) computer and other things, when they have a website and we have a new website. The two sites could be linked for effective coverage and save costs,” Gordge said. “That’s a discussion worth having, but if you give them the $15,000 now, then we’ve lost the opportunity to reduce it. I want to stick with $12,500 for now,” he said.
But Ross defended Switzer’s request.
“We don’t ask others what they do with money we give them,” Ross said. “We have to trust what they do with it.”
“I understand that,” Gordge said, “but there is at least some visible indication of a service provided.”
“I don’t want to sell the Chamber short,” Ross said. “We see their presence here and what they do. I do see that the mom and pop businesses in town are missing, but they (Chamber) have gone out of the Blythewood area and brought a lot of businesses in. Someone from Columbia joined today. I think we need to be careful. I see a tremendous amount of exposure from the Chamber about breakfasts and speakers they bring,” Ross said.
Ross said he felt the Chamber’s request is reasonable.
“I don’t want to be negative about the Chamber,” Ross said. “They have a new location now (in the McNulty Plaza offices).”
“We gave them a 33 percent raise last year and now they’re asking for 20 percent more,” Councilman Tom Utroska said. “To your point, Mayor, some of the biggest businesses in town are not members of the Chamber. I don’t know why the Chamber can’t convince them, but they can’t,” Utroska said.
Councilman Larry Griffin said he didn’t have any trouble with the $15,000 but wanted accountability from the Chamber.
“Let’s not just throw it out there. If we’re going to give them money, I think we should be able to say, ‘This is what we expect. This is what we’re looking for,’” Griffin said. “Let them understand that they have to be accountable. The Chair of the Chamber was not even aware of how this works. So how is she the Chair and representing these funds, but doesn’t even know the process,” Griffin asked.
Ross defended again, saying that it is the Executive Director (Switzer) who is in the stronger position, that the Chair has a full time job.
Finally, Ross called for a consensus of what Council wanted to put in the budget for the Chamber for third and final reading.
“Do we keep it at $12,500 or give them $15,000?” Ross asked. ”One of the disappointing things is that they said at the meeting they are down in membership. They did not even come up in membership this year.”
Griffin and Gordge went for the full $15,000 amount with conditions. Utroska and Councilman Eddie Baughman said they wanted to keep it at $12,500 for now.
Ross broke the tie on the side of the Chamber, giving them $15,000 this year. It is that amount that will be presented for vote Monday evening when Council takes its final vote on the FY 2017-18 budget.
Clerk of Court of Fairfield County Judy Bonds and her husband Don, left, and Fairfield County Council woman Bertha Goins and her husband James and others at their table enjoy a dinner prepared by caterers George King and Norma Branham from local farm ingredients during the Ag + Art Farm-to-Table dinner held at Ruff Hall in downtown Winnsboro Tuesday evening.
WINNSBORO- Last year it was ‘dinner in the street,’ on Tuesday evening it was dinner at Ruff Hall to kick off Fairfield County’s Ag + Art Tour which is part of the nation’s largest free self-guided farm tour that will be held this weekend, June 24-25.
Ingredients for the farm-to-table dinner were provided by the local Ag + Art farm sites, and entertainment was provided by The Time Pirates.
Ruff Hall is Winnsboro’s newest event center, located at 120 N. Congress Street in Winnsboro, across from Cornwallis Tea House.
The dinner on Tuesday evening was tbe the don’t-miss event of the summer in our County,” Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce president Terry Vickers said.
The tour will follow on Saturday and Sunday, with nine farms on the tour this year. Besides farm sights and animals, there will be eggs, garden produce and other farm products for sale. Artists and artisans will have their work on display and on sale. Most sites will have refreshments and food free or for sale.
Tour hours on Saturday, June 24 will be 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m. The Tour is free. Visitors will be provided a passport at the first stop that will list all locations. See AGrandARTtour.com for more information or call 635-4242.
WINNSBORO- Two weeks ago, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office responded to a one-vehicle accident about 8:45 a.m. on Hwy 34 East near Mood Harrison Rd, just east of Ridgeway. According to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s department, this vehicle was stolen from another jurisdiction and the juvenile occupant fled the scene on foot. The Sheriff’s Bloodhound Tracking Team was deployed and the juvenile was apprehended in a wooded area near the incident location at about 12:15 p.m.
Many residents in the incident location were kept informed as the drama unfolded and even as the capture occurred, thanks to the County’s Emergency Alert Program, according to Major Brad Douglas of the Fairfield County Sheriff’s department.
“This is a very important tool can keep area residents informed of incidents that have occurred near them and keep them in the loop about what’s going on,” Douglas told The Voice. “It’ a tool similar to Reverse 911 that we use to give residents information about incidents that may have occurred near them and to keep them informed as these situations play out.
“The service is free, and all residents in the County can take advantage of it,” Douglas said. “It’s the most efficient mechanism we have for keeping citizens informed about evolving situations such as this one,” Douglas said. “But, it is only useful if residents have registered for it.”
For information about the service or to register, contact the Fairfield County Sheriff’s office at 635-4242.
Andrew Beckwith on the mound against CWS foe Arizona.
BLYTHEWOOD- One of Blythewood’s native sons has been drafted to the majors. Andrew Beckwith, a former Blythewood High School Bengal and College World Series Most Outstanding Player for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, was drafted in the 32 round of Major League Baseball’s June 14 draft, by the Kansas City Royals.
Beckwith had a season for the history books during the 2016 Coastal Carolina Championship run. In 2016, he finished the season 15-1, which set a single season Coastal Carolina wins record and tied the Big South record, to go along with a 1.85 ERA.
He made three starts in the College World Series as a junior, and he was one of only 12 players in CWS history to win three games in Omaha. Two of his three starts were complete games, including a 98-pitch complete game against top-seeded Florida. He also held opposing teams to an 0.76 ERA.
During his senior year, Beckwith finished up 8-2, with an 8-0 record in conference play, a 4.34 ERA and led the Chanticleers to a regular season conference title. Off the diamond, Beckwith made the Big South Presidential Honor Roll in 2014-15 and 2015-16, and was named to the Dean’s List in 2015.
Beckwith has won numerous awards over his Coastal Carolina career including the Gregg Olson Award, Big South’s Howard Bagwell Male Athlete of the Year, Big South Pitcher of the Year and was a HERO Sports All-American. He finished his college baseball career with the most ground outs in school history, fourth most appearances, fourth most wins, sixth most innings pitched and second fewest walks allowed per nine innings.
As a Bengal, Beckwith led the team to the 2013 4-A State Championship, but fell short to the Lexington Wildcats, and during his career he was named first-team All-State twice and set a school record with nine saves on his career. He also swam competitively and even won an Ultimate Frisbee State Championship.
Even though an article appeared in the May 25 issue of The Voice explaining the future of Fairfield Memorial Hospital following the construction of a new Emergency Room in the County by Providence Hospital, there seems to be some who thing the hospital is on the verge of closing. I am on the FMH Board of Directors, and I can assure the citizens of Fairfield County that the hospital is not closing. As was explained in The Voice article, Providence Hospital is going to build a free-standing Emergency Room that will relieve FMH of its most expensive service, the ER. When the new Emergency Room is opened, Providence has offered to lease X-Ray, MRI and Cat Scan equipment to FMH to help it both survive and prosper.
