‘Always … Patsy Cline’ returns to Florence after 10 years

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Photo/Article Credit: Megan May, Morning News

FLORENCE, S.C. – After 10 years, “Always … Patsy Cline” is back at Florence Little Theatre.

The play tells the true story of country music star Patsy Cline and fan Louise Seger. Segar met her music idol at a honky-tonk bar in Houston, and a friendship developed from then until Cline’s death in 1963.

The two main actors, Oneida Martin as Cline, and Scarlett Knight as Seger, performed in the original cast at the Florence Little Theatre 10 years ago.

“It’s actually ten years exactly,” said the show’s director, Frankie Sullivan, “We’re opening on the night that the original production closed so we’re kind of like continuing it ten years later.”

When Sullivan was approached to direct the show, as a fan of Patsy Cline he was glad to accept the offer.

“I was a big fan of Patsy Cline growing up,” said Sullivan. “My grandmother listened to Patsy Cline all the time; she listened to Elvis, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn. All those rockabilly country singers.”

Sullivan said even when he wasn’t visiting his grandmother, he still heard those songs.

“She lived right behind us and she liked to play her music pretty loud,” he said, “So even when I was outside playing in the summer I heard that music.”

After deciding to direct “Always … Patsy Cline,” Sullivan looked deeper into the singer’s past.

“I knew some stuff about her life and I did some background research, watched some YouTube clips but there’s very little bit on her because she had such a short career.”

One of the aspects of Cline that Sullivan didn’t know about is just how powerful a singer she was.

“She had a cannon of a voice … they had to make her stand back extra feet from the mic because she was so loud,” said Sullivan. “She had a big, huge voice.”

Tickets for “Always … Patsy Cline” are $25 for adults and $20 for those under 18. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.florencelittletheatre.org , calling the box office at 843-662-3731, or visiting the box office Monday through Friday noon to 5 p.m.

SCNow Web Article: ‘Always … Patsy Cline’ returns to Florence after 10 years

SC House Leaders Introduce Plan to Fix Roads

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Photo/Article Credit: Robert Kittle, WSPA

COLUMBIA, S.C. —Leaders in the South Carolina House, including House Speaker Jay Lucas, have introduced a long-term plan they say would fix the state’s roads and bridges. The bill calls for raising the state’s gas tax by a total of 10 cents a gallon, but not all at once; it would go up two cents a gallon over five years.

South Carolina’s current gasoline tax is 16.75 cents a gallon, which is second-lowest in the nation. It hasn’t been raised since 1987.

Rep. Gary Simrill, R-Rock Hill, is the main sponsor of the bill. Rep. Brian White, R-Anderson, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee that writes the state budget, is a co-sponsor. He says the bill will not only fix roads but save lives. “One’s too many, but when you’re nearing a thousand deaths on an annual basis on your highway system, not only do we have potholes and crumbling bridges we have unsafe conditions,” he says.

The plan would phase in the gas tax increase over five years to give the SCDOT and construction companies time to ramp up. “If we put just a lot of money out there at once, there’s no one to really do the job. We’ve got to build our economy and our construction industry, home-grown,” he says.

The House plan would also raise the sales tax cap on vehicles to $500. Right now, someone buying a vehicle pays no more than $300 in sales tax, no matter how much the vehicle costs. The extra money would go to roads.

There would also be a fee on out-of-state truckers who drive through the state. There would also be a new fee on hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, since they use the roads but buy less or no gasoline.

Columbia driver Rob Schiller says, “I like the idea of working on the roads. Getting the roads better would be great, so raising taxes might help.”

But USC student Michael Gritzbach says, “As a college student who’s already struggling to pay bills and things like that, I don’t appreciate the tax at all.”

The state Senate has a separate bill, which would raise the gas tax by 12 cents a gallon. It would also phase it in, but over less time, raising the tax by four cents a gallon for three years.

The House passed a roads plan in 2015 that included a gas tax increase but the bill died in the Senate. Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, filibustered to block that bill because the state had a surplus in 2016 of more than $1 billion. He said there was no need to raise taxes when the state already had that much extra money. Lawmakers passed a plan that used some of that money for roads, but that surplus was one-time money, not a long-term source for the state’s ongoing road needs.”

WBTW Web Article – SC House Leaders Introduce Plan to Fix Roads

Florence may get downtown shuttle service

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Photo/Article Credit: Joe Perry, The Morning News

“FLORENCE, S.C. – A new evening shuttle service connecting visitors staying in the town’s main hotel hub to downtown entertainment and restaurants is in the works.

Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority executive director Chuck MacNeil told board members Thursday evening during their monthly meeting that the authority has been awarded $32,000 from the city’s Accommodations Tax Fund to advance a project he proposed. In the interest of promoting tourism, MacNeil said, the idea is to transport folks from the hotels along Hospitality Boulevard to Florence Mall and new restaurants downtown as well stops like the Performing Arts Center and Florence Little Theatre. A trolley could do so four nights a week, he said, but the total amount needed would be $80,000.

“So how do you bridge the gap?” he asked. “I’m working on it.”

Downtown business owners have shown interest, he said, and he’s encouraged by the responses he’s gotten. He also wants to apply for federal funds to cover the shortfall. Board member Carolyn Gause asked which days the service would run and MacNeil said likely Thursday to Sunday. Some restaurant owners, however, suggested early in the week when they’re slower and more business travelers are in town, he said.

“Therefore I’m not sure when or how many evenings it would run,” he said, and it largely depends on “how much funds are assembled.” The project would be “a great new perspective” for the city to see what the transportation authority is capable of doing, he said, in moving Florence forward. Board member Nancy Finklea asked about whether the days would vary based on events such as the Southern 500 being in town and MacNeil said it could vary, but they might want to consider staying on a consistent schedule so folks know what to expect.

In reviewing the authority’s finances, MacNeil said there were no issues “of great concern,” and “it’s all pretty straightforward,” as revenues were above budget while expenses were slightly higher than expected for November. (The board did not have a meeting in December.) For November of 2016, year to date there was a surplus of $118,000, he said, but he expects it to “swing the other way” the next few months.

Gause asked about variances and MacNeil said some line items reflected a reimbursement that had yet to be received. Printing and advertising spiked, he said, as the authority printed a new downtown shuttle service schedule and changed the Darlington bus schedule.

“We have to educate the public and spread the word,” he said. “And there’s a price tag for that.”

 

Continue reading the article here:

SCNow Web Article – Florence may get downtown shuttle service

Ribbon Cutting: First Presbyterian Church & Child Development Center

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First Presbyterian Church and the Child Development Center located at 700 Park Avenue recently joined the Florence Chamber of Commerce. The Child Development Center recently opened its doors in the fall of 2016. It provides a safe Christian environment for young children to grow and develop. Parents can leave their children knowing that they will be well taken care of in their absence utilizing hands-on activities and experiences. Children from 6 weeks to 4 years old are welcome. To contact First Presbyterian call (843) 662-2583.

Mi Tierra San Jose opens in new location on Celebration Boulevard

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“FLORENCE, S.C. – Mi Tierra San Jose Mexican restaurant has a new home in the new year.

Tuesday was the first “official” day open in a new Celebration Boulevard building, said general manager Jose Perez Jr., just after the restaurant staff cut a ceremonial ribbon with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

“We needed to change a little,” he said. It was October 2005 when Jose Perez Sr. opened a 5,000-square-foot location on the corner of Celebration Boulevard and West Palmetto Street, and 11 years later, the new 6,400-square-foot building boasts a private room for parties and ample outside seating on a covered patio.

“Time flies,” Jose Perez Jr. said.

“It feels good,” said his sister, Brenda Perez, the restaurant’s assistant manager. “It’s amazing.”

Patrons can expect the same popular Happy Hour specials and the same speedy and attentive service, she said.

“We’re fast,” Perez Jr said. They pride themselves on getting the professional lunch crowd fed efficiently. “We get ‘em in and get ‘em out quick.”

 His sister said their success can be attributed to good food, good service and the fact they want to treat customers like family.

“It’s basically the same menu – we’ve added a few new items and look forward to seeing everyone at our new location,” Perez said.

Mi Tierra San Jose is at 1280 Celebration Boulevard and is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 843-629-9903.”

SCNow Web Article – Mi Tierra San Jose opens in new location on Celebration Boulevard

City of Florence provides and update on hurricane clean up.

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The City of Florence is announcing the plan of action for the next phase of the clean up of our city from
the impact of Hurricane Matthew. “Our top priority is to ensure that the needs of our residents and businesses are being addressed timely. It is also important for our residents to know what the City can and cannot assist them with. We hope that the next phase of our disaster relief plan will provide clarification and much needed resources to the people of Florence,” stated Drew Griffin, Florence City Manager.

For information on the next phase of the clean up click here.

S.C.-based Sonoco hopes clear cans are the future of food

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Article/Picture Credit: Thad Moore, The Post and Courier

The hot new thing in canned food sits halfway down an aisle at Harris Teeter, flanked by aluminum tins splashed with pictures that show vegetables at their peak. Their wrappers show beans of all sorts neatly piled, piping hot and glistening just so, many set against a backdrop of rolling farmland.

The newcomer cuts the pretense: It’s see-through and plastic, a clear plastic tube with metal ends. You can see the pinto beans jiggle inside when they’re jostled.

It’s just beans and broth, but if one of South Carolina’s biggest companies has its way, that might be enough to breathe new life into the faltering business of marketing and selling canned food.

McCall Farms is using Sonoco’s clear cans at its Florence operation (above). Provided/McCall Farms

Americans, it turns out, aren’t all that interested in eating food out of cans these days. Buying fresh is in vogue, so when shoppers walk into the supermarket, they’re increasingly wandering past the produce section, the butcher or the bakery, not the aisles of shelf-stable packages in the middle.

Sonoco wants to change their minds. The Hartsville-based packaging giant thinks a clear can might make consumers rethink packaged food. If they can see the green beans or the peaches inside, the company figures, maybe they’ll seem fresher.

“We’re never going to be as fresh as fresh, but (we want to) have some level of fresh in the center,” said Melissa Lewis, who’s heading up marketing for Sonoco’s new cans

Read more of the online article here:

http://www.postandcourier.com/business/s-c–based-sonoco-hopes-clear-cans-are-the/article_8b981872-bcbb-11e6-8a3b-73b42afe6eba.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share

BUSINESS YEAR IN REVIEW: Success includes downtown development, plant expansions

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Article/Picture Credit: Joe Perry, Morning News

Third in a series

FLORENCE, S.C. – In the world of business and industry, the biggest wave was felt late this year when Patheon announced it would take over Roche Carolina Inc.’s Florence facility with plans already in place to expand the 300,000-square-foot site.

As Honda and McCall Farms announced plans for expansions, as the retail sector and hospitality industry saw steady growth and as downtown continued to transform, there was still an outlier to all the positive developments: What would happen to Roche Carolina after company officials announced last fall that its Florence operation and three sister sites in Europe were up for sale?

The thorn in the side of 2016’s otherwise stellar successes was plucked by Patheon, which announced in late November that it will take over Roche in Florence, keep 200 jobs and expand its ability to manufacture API, or active pharmaceutical ingredients. An 80,000-square-foot pilot plant also will be brought back to life as Patheon looks to fully realize its Florence investment.

Joe W. King certainly thinks 2016 was a good year. As the executive director of Florence County Progress, he said he doesn’t want to view one aspect of the always in flux world of economic development – Patheon coming to town – as the “highlight” of the year, though he’s quick to acknowledge “it’s big news.”

“And I think Patheon is a good corporate citizen and will bring international attention to Florence,” he said, “which is a great thing.”

Without Patheon stepping in, it was likely Roche’s plant would have been mothballed, he said.

In his line of work, King is careful to give plenty of attention to existing industry and sees a trio of big announcements on the horizon – one probably by the end of the first quarter and the other two in the second quarter of 2017.

“I think ’16 was good and I think ’17 will be as good,” he said, based on “what we have in the pipeline, the inquiries we’re getting.”

With pent-up demand and a pending change in leadership in our nation’s capital, King thinks conditions are ripe for economic growth.

“You’re going to see things happen,” he said.

Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce President Mike Miller sees the continued expansion of the hospitality industry and views Patheon’s deal with Roche as “more of a comforting thing.”

“It could’ve been bad news,” he said.”

Read more of this story online here:

SCNow Web Artcle – BUSINESS YEAR IN REVIEW: Success includes downtown development, plant expansions

Icing Ink joins the Florence Chamber

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Icing Ink recently joined the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and celebrated with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, December 6th at their location on 3360 W. Palmetto. Icing Ink owned and operated by Rebekah Osman is not just a cake shop. Opened initially an upscale Cake shop, Icing Ink has expanded their offerings of the last two years to include cupcakes, pastries and the like. The also offer gluten free and no sugar baked goods as well. This small shop decorated in lively colors provides great offerings. So if you are in the mood for a treat go visit Icing Ink.