Doctor Makes House Calls and Cuts Ribbon with Chamber

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by Ardie Arvidson

Doctors who make house calls are a rarity in today’s world, but Dr. Charles Louis Edwards wants to change that, at least in the Pee Dee area.

In mid-summer, Edwards opened My House Call Doctor. His office is at 650 Pamplico Highway, Suite C (in front of Food Lion).

“We bring primary care to you,” he told those gathered Thursday morning for the grand opening of his office. A ribbon cutting was hosted by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce to announce his membership in the chamber. Chamber ambassadors, his staff, friends and family joined in the ribbon cutting.

Edwards said he makes house calls as far away as Conway, Johnsonville, Darlington and Hartsville.

“The number of patients we are seeing is increasing every day,” he said. “This is a better way to primary care.”

Edwards said patients receive the best of care in the comfort of their own homes. He said his practice has up-to-date technology available so patients can access their medical records online.

For about six years prior, Edwards said, he worked in the hospital emergency room setting and saw firsthand a need for doctors who make house calls.

Board certified, Edwards specializes in internal medicine.

Home services include flu shots, vaccines, diagnostic testing — ultrasounds, X-rays and lab work.

In-office appointments are also available.

Edwards said his way of doing medicine is embraced by the homebound, mobility insecure, those who shouldn’t be around sick people and people who don’t want to spend a half a day in the doctor’s office.

Charlotte Hanna, PA, and Tammy Huckabee, nurse practitioner, work with Edwards. There five people on the staff, but Edwards said more doctors will be joining him soon.

Born and raised in Dillon, he earned his undergraduate degree from Francis Marion University and his medical degree from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

His wife, Christena, and children, Madison, Paisley and Chase, joined him for the cutting of the ribbon.

Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other times are available by appointment.

To make an appointment or for more information, call 843-619-2280 or visit www.myhousecalldoctor.com.

To view the full story on SC Now, click here.

Wholly Smokin’ Downtown Holds Ribbon Cutting

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by Ardie Arvidson

A ribbon cutting to celebrate Wholly Smokin’ Downtown’s membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce was held Tuesday afternoon at the restaurant. Chamber ambassadors, family, friends and staff joined Jackie Travis, the owner, for the celebration.

The restaurant of “barbecue, ribs and a whole lot more” is located downtown in the 100 block of South Dargan Street.

Travis said she has been open since December 2014 and hers was one of the first restaurants to open in the revitalized downtown.

“I used to be a member of the chamber when we had Travis Jewelers,” she said. “I’ve seen a transition in the chamber. I can see they are deeply committed and involved with businesses and the community.”

Travis said, “It got me excited about being a member.”

Travis said she and her husband opened a little take-out business on Celebration on Boulevard after retiring as jewelers.

She said Andy Jeffords approached them by the invitation of Dr. John Keith, who owned the downtown building, about moving their business downtown.

“It was scary being one of the early comers to downtown,” she said. “But it has been an unbelievable experience. We look forward to the future.”

Travis said she loves being downtown.

“I love the vibe,” she said. “It has been an exciting ride.”

She said the name says everything about who they are. She said everything is smoked. The menu includes barbecue, pulled chicken, wings, ribs, brisket, sides that complement barbecue, and other items.

She said the restaurant is on the South Carolina BBQ Trail map and gets a lot of tourists. She said the events downtown also bring in business.

“We are one of the few barbecue restaurants where barbecue is full-service, order from the menu,” she said.

Wholly Smokin’ Downtown also has a bar with an extensive wine list, craft beers and cocktails.

“We have four flat-screen TVs for watching the game with friends,” she said.

Travis said they have a saying at the restaurant that Wholly Smokin’ is “a place where customers become friends and friends become family.”

The restaurant has a seating capacity of 99 and opens at 11 a.m. seven days a week. It closes at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday.

Travis said she has lived in the Florence area for more than 40 years. She has a daughter, Sarah; who assisted with the ribbon cutting; and a son, Andrew, who lives in New York. Her husband, Bill Travis, passed away in 2017.

To read the full article on SC Now, click here.

The WORx CBD and More Has Ribbon Cutting

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by Ardie Arvidson

The WORx CBD and More celebrated its opening and joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday. Chamber ambassadors joined owner/operator Chris Page in the celebration.

The WORx CBD and More opened the first of October at 1749 S. Irby St. in Florence.

“We can help with anything CBD related,” Page said. “We are a passion-driven CBD company.”

He said he has been using and researching CBD since 2016.

“We are here to help others,” he said.

Page said he offers a half to a dozen selected brands.

“We are trying to cover all the bases,” he said.

CBD is one of the cannabinoids found in hemp.

There are many uses for CBD, Page said. He said some of the ways it may help include Alzheimer’s, obesity, diabetes, motion sickness, stress, sleep disorders, epilepsy/seizures, migraines and a host of other ailments.

Treating pain due to inflammation, depression, and anxiety is the most common use for CBD, Page said.

“It works to relax the central nervous system,” he said.

Page said he invites everyone to come by and learn more about CBD. He suggests that people visit more than one CBD store and then come by to see him.

“We’d love to be the last stop,” he said.

Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Page said he is always there.

To read the full article on SC Now, click here.

GEICO Joins Chamber

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by Ardie Arvidson

Geico in Florence has joined the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. To mark the occasion, a ribbon cutting was held Tuesday with chamber ambassadors joining the celebration.

Roger Armfield is the local Geico owner. The insurance company is at 2151 W. Evans St., Suite D.

Geico has been in Florence for approximately 2½ years. Armfield said he was in Sumter for roughly 20 years.

The company offers auto, boat, motorcycle and ATV insurance. Armfield said it insures about anything that moves. He said it also offers homeowners, condo and renters insurance.

“Geico is the second-largest insurance company in the United States and has the highest satisfaction rating,” Armfield said.

There are five employees working in the Florence office.

“I want to be an active member,” he said.

Armfield is a South Carolina native. He lives in Sumter. He is married and has two grown children.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family. His hobbies center on boating and fishing.

The Geico hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment on Saturday.

To read the full article on SC Now, click here.

“Money Saver” Thrift Store Joins Chamber of Commerce

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by Ardie Arvidson

Brenda’s “Money Saver” Thrift Store at 1553 W. Palmetto St. in Florence held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning to celebrate its opening and membership into the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber ambassadors joined owner Brenda Branham and her staff for the occasion.

It is a family-run business with Branham’s sister, Laurie Rutrough, as manager and a niece as her only other employee.

Branham started in the thrift store business in Easley and came to Florence from Pickens. She opened on Sept. 9.

Branham said she joined the chamber at the encouragement of her sister.

Rutrough said the chamber has a great reputation for helping small businesses.

“We also wanted to get involved in the community,” Branham said.

They buy and resales items. Merchandise is acquired from scouring yard sales and auctions. Items include clothing, shoes, antiques, collectibles, jewelry, furniture, wedding dresses, baby items, exercise equipment and more.

“We also take donations,” Branham said.

She said proceeds from donated items go to the Women’s Prison Fund and for a Christmas Party for special needs children through the Waccamaw Tractor and Small Engine Club.

Through Dec. 7, Rutrough said they are running a promotion to give away a television set to someone who purchases items totaling $20 or more.

“We do deliveries and pick up,” Branham said. “And soon we will have lay-a-ways.

For additional information, call 843-702-0061 or 843-861-5179 or visit their Facebook page.

To read the full story on SC Now, click here.

Restaurant Opens on East Palmetto Street

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by Ardie Arvidson

A new restaurant has opened on East Palmetto Street, across from the S.C. Highway Department.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce took place Monday morning for Qulture Bistro at 3027 E. Palmetto St., which celebrated the restaurant’s membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Owner Consuelo Casey was joined by chamber ambassadors for the celebration.

Casey said this was her first day of operation.

Casey said she is the” home of the “deep-fried deviled egg and the fat boy salad.”

Other menu items include Shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, grilled salmon, burgers, beef and turkey; wings and other daily specials.

Casey said she thinks she has a great location and great food.

She said there will be live music every Friday night.

Casey wanted to bring her skills in the entertainment business together with her cooking skills to provide a restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere that represents entertainment, art and food.

Casey said she has been in the entertainment business for approxmately 17 years as a booking agent. She represents all music genres, ghost writers and producers.

“I am a cultural person,” said Casey.

Casey has ties to the Pee Dee. She went to high school in Latta, and her mother, Lutherine Williams, is a judge in Dillon County.

Restaurant hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sunday.

For additional information, call 843-407-6302.

To read the full article on SC Now, click here.

Wild Birds Unlimited in Florence Brings People and Nature Together

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by Ardie Arvidson

Wild Birds Unlimited celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Monday morning with a ribbon cutting. Chamber ambassadors were on hand to help celebrate.

The Florence franchise is owned by Art and Lisa Martin and opened in November 2018.

The couple said they never set out to become part of the immensely popular bird-feeding and bird-watching population. Lisa said bird-watching is second only to gardening in the United States in popularity as a hobby.

Lisa, a pharmacist by trade, was making candles, soaps and lotions under their Carolina Wren label when the couple attended a gift trade show in Atlanta, trying to grow their Carolina Wren business.

Lisa said she was trying to turn a hobby into a business for her retirement.

While at the show, Lisa said, they were approached by several retailers who owned Wild Birds Unlimited franchises.

Lisa said the more they worked with Wild Birds Unlimited franchise owners with their Carolina Wren products the more they noticed how happy the owners all were and how much they loved their work.

Art and Lisa decided they wanted to open a Wild Birds Unlimited franchise in the Florence area. In talking with Wild Birds Unlimited, Lisa said, they were told the company had been trying to get in the Florence market for about 12 years but hadn’t found the right fit.

It took less than a year for the couple to get their shop up and running.

Wild Birds Unlimited carries a variety of seeds and seed blends that have been specially formulated to attract birds in this region. Customers receive only the freshest bird food possible.

“Our food is extremely clean and extremely fresh,” Art said. “It is bagged when ordered.”

They order about every two weeks.

He said there are no fillers in the bird food they sell. He said every seed is edible by the birds.

They also carry bird feeders, bird houses, wind chimes and specialty garden and gift items, along with their Carolina Wren products.

Art said his favorite part of the business is going to people’s homes and setting up the feeders and establishing their bird-watching stations.

“We are all about bringing joy to your life,” Lisa said.

“We bring people and nature together,” Art said.

Wild Birds Unlimited is at 2151 W. Evans St., Suite E, in the West Gate Square.

The store hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

To read the full article on SC Now, click here.

Rescue, Fire Station Dedicated at Florence Regional Airport

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A dedication and ribbon cutting for the new Aircraft Rescue and Firefight Station at the Florence Regional Airport was held on Wednesday afternoon. The event was hosted by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and FBI Construction.

Chamber ambassadors, elected officials, community leaders and staff at the station joined in the celebration of their joining the chamber and dedicating the building.

Florence Regional Airport executive director Connie Anderson welcomed visitors at the dedication. She said the station was a long time in coming and the idea was started with the men and women in the public safety office. She said it was first a dream. Then it was envisioned as the facility that became a reality.

Anderson said it took roughly two and half years to build at a cost of $4.75 million.

The facility opened last October.

“A lot of people stepped up and went to bat for us” to make this possible, Anderson said.

Anderson said the airport didn’t have the money but had the resources to obtain that amount of money. She said approximately 90 percent of the funds came from the FAA, 5 percent from the state and 5 percent from the airport.

The building was constructed by FBI Construction.

She said some people have questioned why the airport needed such a large facility.

“We don’t plan to stay small,” she said. “We plan to grow.”

She said the new facility will allow the airport to purchase and house larger equipment needed for growth.

“We want to be able to help meet the needs of our surrounding communities,” she said. “We are a regional airport.”

Anderson said the new facility is a tremendous asset to the airport.

“It opens a lot of opportunities for us,” she said.

The station at full capacity has eight employees.

Public Safety Chief Robert Norton said his department is responsible for the police and fire protection at the airport. He has been with the department for about 15 years.

He said they answer a lot more calls on the police side than the fire side.

“We don’t want calls from the fire side,” he said, because that would mean “there was something bad wrong.”

Coming from the cramped facility of the past, Norton said, “It feels great to be here.”

“We are glad that we can be a whole lot safer for our traveling public,” he said. “And we are at a level where we need to be.”

To read the full story on SC Now, click here.

G&W Equipment Joins Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce

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G&W Equipment Inc. celebrated its membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday morning.

Chamber ambassadors joined the staff of G&W for the event.

The business, located at 2530 Melon St. in Florence, joined the chamber to become more involved in the community, said Lisa Whitney, the corporate ambassador for G&W.

“We have found that in our smaller communities, the chamber is very involved,” she said.

She said that is evident in Florence by the support shown for their ribbon-cutting ceremony.

G&W is a family-owned full service lift trucks and material handling dealer.

“We service, sell, rent and lease fork lifts,” Whitney said.

She said they also sell parts.

The company was started in 1963 as a “mom-and-pop” operation in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, Whitney said. It has been a part of the Florence business community for three years.

G&W now has 10 locations: four in South Carolina, four in North Carolina and two in Georgia.

The company services all makes and models of lift trucks and is an exclusive Cat lift truck distributor.

“We do rentals and have our own delivery trucks,” Whitney said. “We go out and fix equipment on site.”

She said they have eight technicians in the Florence location and 160 overall.

She said they do on-site technician training and operator safety training. She said the company is getting ready to connect with Florence-Darlington Technical College.

The Florence location has 12 employees, and the company overall has about 300 employees. Tim Thurston is the branch manager in Florence, and Blake Butler is the territory manager.

Whitney said they are growing fast and would like to say they care about their employees, customers and the community.

Chamber ambassadors were given a tour of the Florence facility.

To read the full story on SC Now, click here.

Mercy Medicine Cuts Ribbon, Prepares for October 17 Gala

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by Ardie Arvidson

Mercy Medicine Free Clinic celebrated its membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning and held an open house throughout the afternoon.

Chamber ambassadors, friends, clients and staff participated in the event.

Angela Robinson, healthy options program coordinator at Mercy Medicine, said they wanted to commemorate their 25-year anniversary, which is in October, and celebrate their chamber status while acquainting the community with their services.

“We want to get the word out that we are open for services and here for the community,” Robinson said.

“Mercy Medicine Free Clinic believes that in supporting the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, the clinic benefits from its large network of corporate and nonprofit members,” said Wayne Jackson, executive director. “The chamber supports Mercy by always being willing to publicize our public relations and fundraising events and by offering various educational and networking opportunities for Mercy and its employees and volunteers.

“Also, the chamber officers are always willing to offer tangible advice on ‘how to get the word out’ and best ways to integrate into Florence’s corporate community. It is a great organization that strives to help our community grow economically and socially, and Mercy is proud to be a member.”

Robinson said Mercy Medicine is a nonprofit medical and dental clinic that serves the homeless and uninsured.

‘Unknown to many is that the Mercy Medicine Free Clinic does a very substantial amount of basic dentistry services for its clients,” Jackson said. “Mercy’s geographic focus for medical care is Florence and Williamsburg counties and several other counties in the Pee Dee area for dental pain or infection cases.”

The clinic operates without any funds from patients, insurance or federal programs.

“Mercy Medicine Free Clinic is funded solely by generous donations from individuals and local corporations and from various local and state grants such as the United Way of Florence County, the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation, and the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Department,” Jackson said. “The clinic also receives hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in in-kind services and cash support from the two large health care systems in Florence-McLeod Health and MUSC-Florence.

“Mercy does not receive any funding from private health insurance reimbursement nor from any of the federal government’s health care funding programs. Most important is that Mercy never asks or accepts any payment from any patient regardless of the quantity or complexity of the services rendered.

“Mercy first and foremost is a Christ-based organization and accepts patients in the age range of 18-64 that must meet certain income thresholds and not have or qualify for any other health insurance to include Medicaid.”

Mercy Medicine has planned a 25th anniversary gala for Oct. 17. The gala is a major fundraiser for Mercy Medicine. It will be held in the Waters Building in downtown Florence.

Tickets are $75 each. Various sponsorship levels are available from $500 to $10,000.

There will be music, food and fun for a good cause.

For more information, contact Mercy Medicine Free Clinic at 843-667-9947.

To read the full article on SC Now, click here.