BLYTHEWOOD – “It was the best attended event we’ve ever had in the park,” Doko Manor and Event Director Steve Hasterok said of the crowd at the July 3 fireworks event at the Palmetto Citizens Amphitheater in Doko Park. “It was already a huge crowd, then about an hour before the fireworks began, about 1,000 more people converged on the park with lawn chairs, blankets and the kids,” Hasterok said.
Crowd estimates shortly before the fireworks began, according to Town Hall, were between 5,000 and 6,000 people.
The playground was overflowing and the lines at the food trucks were long and steady all night long. The variety of food offerings ranged from barbeque, pizza and homemade lemonade to snow cones, popcorn, donuts and desserts.
With three musical performances, 20 food trucks including Chick-fil-A, Papa John’s, Scotties and Doko Smoke, 20 minutes of fireworks and great weather, what was there not to like about the annual event?
Mike and Gina Tanner entertained with some of their Lunatrix wonders – face and tattoo painting and giant bubbles.
Blythewood Mayor J. Michael Ross summed it up – “This was the best yet! EboniRamm was a great addition to the performers with her poetry and music. Deluxe Blues gave us great blues music and DB Bryant topped it off. Then boom! boom! boom! and the sky lit up. Best yet!” Ross said.
JENKINSVILLE – At approximately 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10, SCE&G will sound the 109 sirens located within a 10-mile radius of V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in Fairfield County near Jenkinsville. All sirens surrounding the plant are usually sounded on the first Tuesday of each quarter for one minute as part of the plant’s regular testing program.
Area residents are reminded that the one-minute sounding of sirens during this time period is only a test. In the unlikely event of an actual emergency at the plant, the sirens would sound for three minutes with no prior notice and would alert area residents to tune in to an Emergency Alert System radio or television station for further instructions.
For more information, log on to www.sceg.com/nuclearpreparedness, or call the Fairfield County emergency management office (803-635-4444) or S.C. Emergency Management Division (803-737-8500).
BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood’s Janette Robinson has been training for months for a charity bike ride she will participate in July 13 – 15. It’s called A Ride to Remember.
“It’s a long, hard, grueling ride from Simpsonville to Charleston,” Robinson said. “But our pain and suffering will end when we cross the Ravenel Bridge. Our loved ones, for whom we are riding, their suffering won’t end until they depart this earth.”
Donations raised by the riders will benefit Alzheimer’s Disease.
Robinson’s mother, Alice Hollis, is one of 89,000 South Carolinians stricken with the disease. Robinson is one of 309,000 South Carolina family and friends who care for the 89,000.
Janette Robinson will bike 252 miles for her mom, Alice Hollis, who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease.
South Carolina ranked number two in the nation for deaths due to Alzheimer’s according to the Center for Disease Control’s latest available figures from 2016. There are 5.7 million people in the US living with Alzheimer’s. It is projected to rise to 14 million by 2050.
By participating in the ride, South Carolinians like Robinson who have family and friends suffering from Alzheimer’s are fighting back.
The three-day bike ride will ultimately take the cyclists on a scenic 252-mile journey through the state. Cyclists can ride for one, two or all three days. On Friday, July 13, the cyclists will ride from Simpsonville to Newberry (65 miles). On Saturday, July 14, they will travel on to Orangeburg (89 miles). On Sunday, July 15, they will ride to Charleston (99 miles).
Twenty-one cyclists rode in the first annual Ride to Remember fundraiser 10 years ago. They raised $15,000. Last year, Robinson joined the 360 riders who raised over half a million dollars toward their goal.
“It’s one of the few things I can do for my mom now,” Robinson said. “Many in the community will recall how, every July and August, my parents sold organic blueberries from their home. They would get up early and spend long hours in the heat every day during the season picking the berries and packaging them. People in the community would call their orders in and stop by to pick them up. My Dad took great pride in his berries and my parents were delighted when customers would tell them that their blueberries were the biggest, sweetest blueberries they’d ever eaten. And they were. My dad, who is gone now, made wonderful wood crafts for friends and family. He was also a machinist who made custom parts for neighbors. They had a wonderful life in Blythewood and I want to do what I can now to make my mom’s life and other Alzheimer’s victims’ lives as good as it can possibly be,” Robinson said.
“This ride isn’t a race,” explained Robinson. “Everybody in it has been affected by Alzheimer’s and it creates such a bond. There is so much love and support knowing we are all there for the right reasons.”
Robinson has trained hard to ride again this year. She rides four days a week and accomplished a 100-mile trek in the Brevard, NC, mountains in June. She plans to ride all three days and has currently raised $3,100 toward her $5,000 goal.
While the deadline for signing up to ride was July 1, the push is still on now to meet the fundraising goals. This year the riders have currently raised $411,659.70 with a goal of $750,000 yet to be met. To make a donation to support a specific participant, like Robinson, or for a specific team or to make a general donation toward the goal, log in to alz.org/sc. For additional information contact AundiHunter:rides@alz.org or call 864-699-0623.
The old Ridgeway Post Office is being renovated for the temporary library.
RIDGEWAY – During a special meeting last week, county council voted unanimously to execute a two-year lease on the old Ridgeway post office property at Palmer and Jones streets for a temporary library site in the town.
The deal includes an option to renew for another two years and possibly purchase the property. Rent would cost $850 a month the first year and $892 a month in year two.
Fairfield County Administrator Jason Taylor said at its previous location, the library had already been paying $600 a month out of its millage for operations. The county would pick up the difference, he said.
“[The property owner] wanted to go up in the other two years, and we pushed back on that,” Taylor said. “We looked at a number of locations and did determine this was the best. Others would need a lot more upfitting, or had no parking or would be much more expensive.”
When the time comes to build a permanent site, the county will consider pursuing a Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, to help pay for it.
Eric Robinson, director of the Fairfield County Library has told Council that the library board wants the permanent site to be in the town.
Ridgeway resident Moses Bell, who has announced he is running for the Ridgeway District 1 seat on county council, voiced concerns at the June 25 council meeting that the proposed temporary site is near what Bell said is a liquor store.
Bell told council members he was contacted by a woman who called him, hysterical about the temporary site at Palmer and Jones street.
“She had stated that in many municipalities, they have ordinances stating that liquor stores and bars cannot be located next to a public building,” he said. Bell did not identify those municipalities or the ordinances.
Bell said he wants a library built outside the town next to the county waste and recycle center.
Councilman Dan Ruff, who represents District 1 on county council, said the Palmer and Jones site is only temporary, noting the long-term plan is to build a permanent library elsewhere.
“We’ve looked and looked. I’ve been looking for months for a good location,” Ruff said. “This one became available.”
“We’ve been without a library for a year now,” Ruff continued. “We don’t want to wait two to four years until we can get another permanent site.”
As for the library’s surroundings, Ruff didn’t see any issues.
“Actually there’s a road and a cyclone fence before you get to the convenience store (City Gas) which has a liquor store attached,” Ruff said. “There’s also a church behind the liquor store, directly behind it. We have not had any issues with the store and I just don’t think that would be an issue.”
County administrator Jason Taylor said the county will take over the leased property on July 1, and that renovations should be completed before the start of the school year in August.
The Ridgeway branch of the Fairfield County Library closed in September 2017. It shut down after the building experienced leaks and mold issues.
On June 15, the Ridgeway Town Council considered five proposed sites for the permanent library location.
“[The county] asked us as a council to review some options that have been floating around for a while,” Ridgeway Mayor Heath Cookendorfer said.
Those sites included:
Old Fire Department, Palmer Street
Teacherage, Means Street
First Citizens Bank property, Palmer and East Church streets
Charm Parking Lot, Means and Church streets
Fork of U.S. 21 and S.C. 34.
Ridgeway Council members identified the Teacherage location as the preferred site, with the Charm Parking lot location as the runner-up.
The Town of Ridgeway owns the Teacherage site. Fairfield County would have to purchase the Charm Parking lot site, though Cookendorfer said that when the county leaves a location, the property typically reverts back to the town.
Bunting, left and Peak with the rescued cat. | Photos: James Sims
WINNSBORO – An evening phone call from a concerned CVS customer about hearing a cat down the parking lot storm drain turned into a four-hour, multi-department rescue effort. Fairfield County fireman Jay Joyner lowered the truck’s ladder into the storm drain for Trip Peak, Town of Winnsboro Director of Gas, Water and Sewer, and Mikey Bunting, Gas, Water and Sewer Foreman. The two crawled approximately 150 feet through the storm drains before locating the trapped kitten, which is now at the Fairfield County Animal Shelter awaiting adoption.
BLYTHEWOOD – Approximately 30 firefighters responded to a call around 4:30 p.m. Monday for this Crescent Lake home on Winding Wood Court. Parts of the roof collapsed on the home, but no injuries have been reported. The home was formerly a stop on the Parade of Homes.
Teresa Santiago, center, owner of SPAWS Pet Grooming & Day Care was assisted by Ed Parler, Blythewood’s economic development consultant, during the shop’s grand opening on Saturday.
BLYTHEWOOD – Just in time for lake swims, muddy paws and summer romping, SPAWS Pet Grooming & Day Care has opened at 424 Main St. in Blythewood, in the former Groomadog location. New owner Teresa Santiago, a certified groomer, employs three other certified groomers, with appointments available Monday through Saturday. Spots are already filling up, with clients who are following her from previous grooming locations and 20 new client bookings from the salon’s grand opening celebra bration on June 23. Santiago said she’s thrilled to be starting a new grooming business in Blythewood, and said her highest priorities are making sure the dogs are safe, happy and receive expert grooming.
“In order to work here, you have to truly love dogs, and be compassionate. That’s my policy,” Santiago said. “We don’t have students, only certified groomers – myself, Emily Strange, Lyndsey Crouch and Casey Ororke. I feel that it’s important to do things like making sure your furbaby is with the same groomer every time. That helps to build a relationship – and since everybody cuts a little differently, you know it’s going to be the same haircut. And we always speak to the dogs by name, to help them feel comfortable, like ‘okay, she knows me.’”
Santiago is making a number of changes in the salon, including a gradual process of painting and fixing things up.
“We’ve taken down the window blinds so that visitors and clients can see into the grooming area,” Santiago said. “Now when you come in, you can walk by and see your furbaby being pampered and groomed. Everything is open, you can always just pop in.”
Santiago said she especially enjoys the morning drop-off time between seven and nine.
“That allows me to spend a little time with the dogs and meet the parents,” she said. “We can go over the haircut and really find out what they want. Then at pick-up time, I check each dog out with the parent, and make sure they’re satisfied and happy with the haircut. We take notes about the cut, and if they want something a little bit different, we write that down. I believe in really making it personal, and taking good care of their furbaby.”
She previously worked as a deli manager at Publix, and was with the company for 23 years and loved her job. But she said she wanted to do something different.
“I’ve always loved dogs, so I went to school and became a certified groomer. Then right out of school, I was fortunate to get a position at Groomingdales, a five-star grooming salon in Shandon. I wanted to eventually open my own business, and here I am in Blythewood.”
A viewing window allows visitors to observe the grooming room
Over 30 clients came with her.
The SPAWS grooming team works with a wide variety of breeds – including a 180-pound Alaskan Malemute – and Santiago said they really enjoy getting to know the dogs’ unique personalities.
“Sometimes dogs are nervous when they come in, so we make them feel comfortable while they’re getting their new haircut. I love seeing how happy the dogs are after getting a haircut. They get so frisky!” Santiago said.
In addition to grooming, SPAWS also offers a doggie day care service.
“We have a big room with a couch for them to jump up on, and they can play or just hang out with us. It gets them out of the house, and we love having them around. We’re also planning to install a doggie door, so they can go outside to play, or if it’s hot outside they can stay cool in the playroom.”
To find out more or to book an appointment, call SPAWS at 803-786-2009 or visit their website at spawspetgrooming.com.
About 50 people/pets attended the grand opening, which featured Smooth Move smoothies and MAFIA Pet Rescue
RIDGEWAY – Eddie Baughman, a member of Lake Wateree VFW Post 8346, participates in the Post’s annual flag retirement ceremony on June 14. The Post retired over 160 flags during the ceremony.
BLYTHEWOOD – As a pharmacist by profession, Mayor J. Michael Ross is concerned about proper disposal of all drugs, even those that were prescribed but never finished for one reason or another and are sitting in a cabinet unprotected.
To help break the chain of illicit access and to help curb the opioid epidemic that is both national and Blythewood local, the mayor has contracted with DisposeRx to provide homes in the Blythewood area with a process where families can effortlessly be part of the ‘access’ solution.
DisposeRx has developed a prescription drug disposal solution that both physically and chemically binds medications into a permanent and environmentally safe gel. The packets are formulated to be used with tablets, powders, capsules, patches and liquid medications and are available FREE at Town Hall. Stop by and pick up a packet today or call Julie Emory at 803-754-0501 if you have questions.
WINNSBORO – The Winnsboro Rotary Club president Nicholle Burroughs presented the Rotarian of the Year award to Jim Mullen on Tuesday during the Club’s ‘Face of Rotary’ Banquet held at the Career Center. Mullen serves as treasurer of the Club.
