GSSM to the Max

The Hartsville based South Carolina Governors School for Science and Mathematics unveiled their newly constructed, newly named buildings during a ceremony this afternoon inside their new gymnasium.

IMPRESSIVE

This high school is one of the top high schools in the nation and the vision, drive and energy that is powering this institution is moving it toward the next level of being one of the most forward-thinking, high-achieving high schools in the world.

They joked a little during the presentation that maybe it is time to think of renaming Hartsville --- SMARTSville for smart people that represent so many of the areas that make our community so unique as a small city in the U.S.

Of course, part of the SMARTS is represented by the junior and senior students from around South Carolina who do the final two years of their high school work at GSSM. I was talking to one proud parent of an alumn whose son is finishing UGA in three years. His son's girl friend, also a Govvie, is finishing Vanderbilt undergrad in three years. Both are getting ready for graduate school.

The new name they are giving the Governor's School is E=MCsquared. The new name symbolizes Roger Milliken -- as the M. He donated the land on which the GSSM campus is situated. The C-squared = Campbell, former Governor Carroll Campbell, and Coker, Charlie Coker, former chairman, president and leader of Sonoco who joined forces to make the idea of this two-year accelerated, residential high school a reality in South Carolina and Hartsville.

The other major "Champions" of the school who were recognized with parts of the Campus in their name are Senator Gerald Malloy who worked hard to get funds from the state appropriations for the growth of the school; Representative Jay Lucas who provided that same type of leadership in the House of Representatives. The Activities building is named for Senator Malloy and the Academic wing is named for Representative Lucas. The female student living quarters are named for Representative Dennie Nielsen, a Darlington County representative who also worked for this funding. The male residential wing is named for Dr. James Daniels, former president of Coker College, where the Governor's School resided during its first few years.

It was an invigorating afternoon at the GSSM celebration and those of us who play host to this great school in our Hartsville community need to be proud they are with us and understand how this institution brings distinction of a cutting-edge variety to our cosmopolitan small city.

Community Thinking: Veterans Memorial Dedication a Great Event

Community Thinking: Veterans Memorial Dedication a Great Event

Veterans Memorial Dedication a Great Event

Warner DeHart, an Air Force veteran and former director of the Darlington County Veterans Department, was one of the primary movers to get a Veterans Memorial in Hartsville. As he spoke at the dedication on November 11, 2011 he talked about how pleased he was that his efforts and the efforts of others have materialized after 14 years into the tremendous place for Veterans in the heart of Hartsville -- Burry Park.

The story of this memorial is a story of making things happen in a community and that story includes frustration as well as celebration. The key lessons from the Hartsville Veteran Memorial in regard to community building is that almost nothing happens if there is no vision and nothing happens without PERSISTENCE. For all those who worked over the years to make Burry Park happen, THANK YOU. There is no question that today's celebration of Veterans and the families who support them. showed why your hard work and persistence were worth it.

November 10 - Birthday of the Marine Corps

Once a Marine, always a Marine. There is no such thing as an ex Marine, only former Marines. God be with those Marines still in harms way today - November 10, 2010. Hoo-Rah and Semper Fi.

2010 United States Marine Corps Birthday Message
11 min - Nov 2, 2010
Uploaded by OurMarines
youtube.com

I am a believer that you can hate the war but love the Corps.

Hartsville -- The Art of Good Living

And it certainly does help that Hartsville is also a College Town.

Dr. Graham Wood distributed the following email on the Coker campus this morning and I think it pays for Hartsvillians to take note of all that is happening:

This kind of schedule is not happening in lots of small cities!!

Attention performing arts fans, the fall season of shows is only just beginning. Starting Friday 12th and ending Friday 26th November there will be five (count them, five!) performances by visiting dancers, actors and musicians in Hartsville.

Dance:
Doug Varone Dancers
Friday 12th @ 7.30pm in Black Creek Arts Center
Includes post-performance discussion with the company
Free

Doug Varone Dancers (hosted by the Coker Dance Program)
Saturday 13th @ 7.30pm in Watson Theater
Free with Coker ID
http://www.coker.edu/featured-links/4-features/1230-award-winning-choreographer-and-director-comes-to-coker.html
http://www.dougvaroneanddancers.org/comp_about.php


Theater:
National Touring Company Aquila Theatre present’s Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
(hosted by Hartsville-Coker Concert Association)
Tuesday 16th @ 7.30pm November in Watson Theater
6.30pm pre-show lecture by Dr. Ronda Knight, Associate Professor of English, Coker College
12.30pm physical theater workshop (sign up on musical theater notice board)
Free with Coker ID ($7 non-Coker students; $25 non-Coker adults)
http://aquilatheatre.com/


Music:
Barry Salwen, guest pianist from UNC Wilmington will play music by Beethoven, Gershwin, Sessions and Debussy
(hosted by the Coker Music Program)
Thursday 18th @ 7.30 in Watson Theater
Free
http://www.uncw.edu/music/salwenb/index.html

Jacquelyn Culpepper (soprano) and Philip Bush (piano) present a guest vocal recital
Friday 19th @ 7.30pm in Watson Theater
Free
http://www.jacquelynculpepper.com/?pagename=About%20the%20artist


Graham Wood
Associate Professor of Music
Coker College
Hartsville, SC

Darlington County Habitat accelerates buiding

With a great deal of assistance, cooperation and energy the Darlington County Habitat for Humanity has become one of the more prolific home-builidng operations in the State.

There is recent newsletter talking about the how the Welsh Neck Baptist Church Association is going to take on the responsibility of finishing three homes that were begun this summer with a large team down from Maryland the a team from the Hartsville First Presbyterian Church, which has been one of the major church builders in HABITAT.

Have lost the graphics, but here is the copy of the Habitat newsletter:


Welsh Neck Baptist Assoc.
to Complete
Three Habitat Homes

The Darlington County Habitat for Humanity is pleased to announce the adoption of 3 Habitat homes by the Welsh Neck Baptist Association, Hartsville. Church members from the 36 church association have agreed to complete the construction of all three Habitat homes on Heatley St. Completion of the homes will bring Darlington County Habitat’s total to 25 homes. Volunteers plan to work Thursdays and some Saturdays until all the homes are completed.

Mark Haenchen, Habitat Executive Director stated, “We are very excited about joining with the local Baptist Churches and having their help with these homes.”

Construction coordinator, Ray Graham, will be leading the project. “We have lots of excitement about working together to build a home. We plan on doing all the landscaping on a Saturday so all our youth can volunteer.” Over 50 volunteers are expected to participate during the construction.

Home Dedication Scheduled
DC Habitat will dedicate the next 3 homes to to the families of Sheila Bell, Larry DuBose, and Ronald and Betty Coe. The dedication service will be this Sunday, Nov. 7th @ 3PM. Follow this link for more details. This will bring our total to 21 Families served in Darlington County.
Meet Larry DuBose,
One of Habitat's Newest Homeowners.
For several years, Larry DuBose of Hartsville has been seeking indpendence and stability in his life. He believes he has found both in the Darlington Co. HFH Homeowners program.
DuBose, a retired welder, who was badly injured in an auto accident, was accepted into the program last July. His home will be dedicated this Sunday.
" I would like to become independent and not have to depend on anyone but Jesus." said DuBose. He plans to continue working with Habitat after he moves into his new home.
Walmart awards
$1,000 grant
DC Habitat is very grateful to the Hartsville Wal-Mart for awarding them a grant of $1,000. Did you know that one of our homeowners is an associate at Wal-Mart?
You Can Support Habitat Online