P.U.L.S.E. Initiative to Quicken Hartsville's Push for Excellence at all levels of education

Harris DeLoach announces that Sonoco will invest $5 million in an initiative to put Hartsville area schools in competition for best in the state and maybe even the nation.




Caption -- Dr. Robert Wyatt announces a cooperative effort between the Yale Comer Project and Coker College to help make significant strides in elementary schools in the Hartsville area.




Caption -- People from many areas of the Hartsville community were on hand at Thornwell Elementary School on Monday (Feb. 20) to hear the major announcement of the PULSE initiative.



Sonoco announced this morning a major investment in an initiative called PULSE whose aim is to expand opportunities for excellence in the Hartsville area schools. This initiative is a major five million dollar investment and a combined effort of the Darlington County School District, Sonoco, Coker College, the Governor's School of South Carolina and the Comer Project of Yale University. It is an exciting innovation for Hartsville whose aim is to put Hartsville on the map when it comes to excellent schools in the State and in the nation.

The following news release comes from Coker College but you will also find a release from Sonoco that discusses their $5 million, five-year investment in this major program to push for Excellence in the Hartsville Schools.

Public-Private Partnership to Implement Comprehensive Scholastic Excellence Program in Hartsville, S.C., Public Schools

Darlington County School District, S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics,
Coker College and Sonoco Join Forces to Launch New PULSE Program

Yale University’s Child Study Center to Join Initiative with Pilot School Development Program in
Four Hartsville Elementary Schools

Sonoco to Support Programs with $5 Million Grant

Hartsville, S.C. – An unparalleled public-private partnership has been formed to implement a comprehensive scholastic excellence program in Hartsville public schools that will expand curriculum opportunities and further improve student achievement through collaborative academic and social development initiatives.

The PULSE (Partners for Unparalleled Local Scholastic Excellence) Program is a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership involving the Darlington County School District, the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM), Coker College and Sonoco. Sonoco will fund the initiative through a $5 million grant that will be paid over five years.
“The P.U.L.S.E. program will set the standard for public school education in South Carolina. Through the opportunities and promise of this new initiative, the Darlington County School District can and will be
counted among the very best school districts our state has to offer,” said Dr. Rainey Knight, superintendent of education, Darlington County School District.


Yale’s Child Study Center to Help Create Pilot Elementary Student Development Program
A key component of the Hartsville PULSE initiative will be the implementation of a pilot School Development Program (SDP) at four Hartsville elementary schools that is focused on improving academic achievement and personal development. The program will be created with the assistance of Yale University’s Child Study Center Comer School Development Program, which was founded in 1968 by Dr. James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry and associate dean of the Yale School of Medicine. The nationally recognized Comer SDP model has been successfully implemented in hundreds of schools in more than 20 states, the District of Columbia, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, England and Ireland. The pilot program will begin in the 2011-2012 school year in Hartsville’s Thornwell School for the Arts, Washington Street Elementary, West Hartsville Elementary and the Southside Early Childhood Center.

In future years, professional development programs for educators and multiple service-learning activities offered at Coker College via the growing Yale-Coker partnership will play a vital role in the continuing process of improvement in Hartsville.

“Development and learning are inextricably linked, but traditionally development is not intentionally addressed,” said Dr. Comer. “The School Development Program enables educators, parents and families, and community partners to support development, integrate learning, and as a result, improve academic and behavioral outcomes.”

Governor’s School, Coker College to Provide Curriculum Excellence Program
The second PULSE initiative is focused on expanding scholastic learning opportunities for eligible students in Hartsville’s secondary and high schools through collaborative teaching programs from the Hartsville-based GSSM and Coker College.

As an example, GSSM instructors will provide qualified Hartsville public school students with enhanced science, math and language classes, such as organic chemistry, advanced physics and Mandarin Chinese.

Coker College, a leading liberal arts private college also based in Hartsville, will provide college credit courses to eligible high school students in such programs as art, design, music, theater and dance.

“GSSM is a statewide residential high school for academically talented students that just happens to be located in Hartsville. As a result, there is no place we would rather make a positive educational impact than right here in our own backyard,” says Dr. Murray Brockman, GSSM president. “As a national leader in science and math education, we are excited beyond words to help implement a program that will advance the students of Hartsville in a way that exposes them to new opportunities and inspires them to reach their full potential.”

Brockman adds, “PULSE will be available to every student who meets the academic requirements, regardless of financial means, and it complements both local and statewide outreach programs already under way. Hartsville schools and our community’s commitment to education will look dramatically different in the next five years thanks to PULSE.”

“Students who aspire to scholarship at the highest levels can look forward to participating in intellectually enriching experiences in the fine arts under the mentorship of Coker’s distinguished faculty and in our unparalleled facilities, including the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center, a jewel of Hartsville named for South Carolina’s ‘First Lady of Letters,’” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt.

“And, as pleased as we are to welcome our community’s young women and men into Coker’s classrooms, we are humbled by the knowledge that working with Hartsville’s brightest young minds and with one of our nation’s strongest corporations will inspire us to strive for greater achievement as well,” he said.


Sonoco’s Targeting Education Improvement in its Hometown
Primary funding for the PULSE programs will come from a $5 million grant made over five years from Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies. Founded in Hartsville in 1899, Sonoco employs nearly 1,800 workers and has more than 750 retirees and their families living in the Hartsville area.

“We have always had a strong commitment to improving education in communities where we operate, particularly in our hometown,” said Harris DeLoach, Sonoco chairman and chief executive officer. “We believe we must continue to work with our public schools, as well as other centers for learning, to improve local educational excellence to ensure we have the workers we need to be competitive over the next century.

“In addition, we must do all we can to make Hartsville attractive to the others recruited to build our company and other businesses in the area. South Carolina, Hartsville and area businesses will not be able to grow without continued investment in education and economic development. That is why we are making this commitment to our public schools. Together we will all prosper.”

###

About Coker College
Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach. For more information, visit www.coker.edu. For more information, contact Barb Steadman, Media Relations Director: bsteadman@coker.edu or (814) 397-9959

Major fire brings out best in community

caption -- Governor Haley talks about the response to the dramatic fire with Mayor Mel Pennington with Representative Jay Lucas, the chief of the Hartsville Fire Department and others who represent agencies helping to battle the blaze and its impact.



caption -- City, county, state and plant officials watch as the fire crews battle hot spots and the clean up of the fertilizer site is underway on Wednesday afternoon in Hartsville.



caption -- The disaster crew from the Red Cross was on hand for a few days helping to feed the many emergency responders who arrived in Hartsville to battle the fertilizer plant fire. This crew was from Horry County.


The following short tribute appeared on the City of Hartsville site and is just one of the many examples of people who demonstrated caring in light of the major fire at the fertilizer plant the other night:

Kudos to those who helped
by City of Hartsville, South Carolina - official site on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 4:14pm

Tragedy sometimes has a way of bringing out the best in people. According to Phil Gardner, Hartsville’s Parks and City Facilities Director, approximately 73 people stayed at the Coach T. B. Thomas Sports Center on Monday night and into Tuesday morning, February 14 and 15. These citizens were evacuated from their homes due to the fire at the former Agrium Fertilizer plant on Prestwood Lake.



In addition to the prompt response by the City of Hartsville and its employees, others in the community showed their concern as well: the American Red Cross was first to arrive at the Coach Thomas Center with cots and blankets, DSS was on hand to assist as needed, and Hartsville Councilmembers Billy Shirley, Bob Braddock and Johnny Andrews gave their full support. Community businesses of J. Michael’s Restaurant, Walmart Super Center, Coker College’s Aramak Restaurant, and McDonalds Restaurant provided various foods and water to the displaced citizens.



The Hartsville community acted quickly to help their fellow man. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to become involved!

Valentine's Day -- A wish for a day full of love; what would that mean to you?

A wish for a day full of love; what would that mean to you?AND Happy Valentine's Day to you --

Love of a new day as you watch dawn break this morning while walking toward the East,

Love of the continuation of life as birds of several varieties sang their almost-spring morning songs

Love of something interesting around which to twist the brain as the office door opens

Love of the challenge of healthy living in the spin room and weight room later this day

Love of the excitement that's inherent in the mundane life of a sixty-something -

where the learning of the new and yearning for the more

begins to take on the fascination demonstrated by nine-year olds.

a candy treat, a couple of "love ya" and the day is full of love

Coker Establishes “The Last Lecture Series”

Coker Establishes “The Last Lecture Series”



You go on sabbatical and miss all kinds of things. This will be a very valuable series for Coker College students. It is a really great idea.

Hartsville High Dedicates New Gymnasium

Caption -- Standing ovation for Coach T. B. Thomas and Coach Pat Hewitt





Caption -- Coach Pat Hewitt expressing appreciation for her having the new HHS gym named for her and Coach T. B. Thomas.








Caption -- Members of this year's HHS basketball teams.





The new Hartsville High Gym is named for Coach Pat Hewitt and Coach T. B. Thomas. Both of those coaches are long-time educators and extremely successful, you can say legendary, coaches on the basketball courts of Hartsville. Both Coaches spoke during the dedication and there was both a strong sense of history and a strong sense of personal, God-directed mission in their talks. Here is hoping that someone taped the presentations because when we hear the message of Hope coming from the National level in this country, both Coach Pat Hewitt and Coach T. B. Thomas gave life to that dream of hope in acknowledging how far they have seen this community move in their lifetime careers.

Coach Thomas, for example, was the athletic director, head basketball, football and baseball coach at the former Butler High School. I think he got to Hartsville in around 1951. He joined the Butler High School faculty where he stayed for until his retirement. Coach reminded the audience that his time was a different time. Butler, was one of two high schools in the small city of Hartsville. It was a time of segregation, which, truly, many of the people in the audience for the dedication, would not be able to imagine. But those were separate times. Butler, like Hartsville High, graduated students who have made significant contributions to Hartsville, to South Carolina and to the nation -- and Coach Thomas reminded the audience of that contribution. He also borrowed from Coach Pat Hewitt's talk, when he jokingly said, "Who would have thunk I would be in this position today?" Truly, a great deal has changed since 1967, the last time a new gym was dedicated in the Hartsville schools.

Coach Hewitt, who is possibly one of the most successful women's high school basketball coaches of the modern era, fought other battles. When she graduated from Coker College in the early 1970s women were not supposed to excel at athletics. When she took the job as women's physical education teacher and coach, she was not expected to craft strategies to build state champions. She was only supposed to give the girls a little bit of a physical outlet and maybe a small taste of competition. But, back then, no one want to spend any money on women's sports. In her talk at the dedication she mentioned that she lost a good bit in her early years. She had been bitten by the competition bug early and she did not like to lose. So she studied the game of basketball. Then, she worked with her peers to study more about how to develop girls into excellent athletes. She also did some study of what was called "Title IX" and lobbied hard to get more funds for girls' sports. The fact that her name is part of the new gym's name tells a great deal about her success. At one point in her coaching her girls had won 76 straight games at home. She challenged her team, which has a legitimate chance for State recognition this year, to build on the six wins they already have in their new gym and set an even more impressive record.

Truly, this dedication was an emotion-filled event. It is probably an event that can only be appreciated in a small city like Hartsville, where people do know and do care for each other and their histories and where two coaches can vocally, emotionally and faithfully give credit to their God for whatever success they have experienced in helping to develop the character of the students and players they have touched.

Coach Burry, who is also Dr. Charlie Burry, principal of Hartsville High and a native Hartsvillian, capped the event by dedicating the new gym to STUDENTS. He said this new gym is for the students of today because of what has been built by the students from Butler and the students from Hartsville High. In a very real sense he was dedicating this gym to tomorrow's students, who will most benefit by the character that today's students will build as their legacy.

Sometimes, a gym is much more than a gym, sometimes (and today was one of those times) a gym is a reflection of a community that is built as people join together in a team year, after year, after year.

Hartsvillians Pray for the community

Prayer chain stretched far down Carolina Avenue between Fourth Street and Sixth Street on Sunday afternoon as citizens prayed for the community in light of some horrible criminal incidents. The prayer chain is an example of the strength of word of mouth and social media but more importantly of the desire of people to join in making for a stronger community.

Hartsville perceptions -- the good and the bad

Last week I had the opportunity to speak with the Hartsville Kiwanis Club about the Byerly Foundation. I always enjoy being able to update groups on the Foundation and to also talk about Hartsville as part of that type of presentation. The primary mission of The Byerly Foundation is to help make Hartsville one of the best communities,anywhere, to live and raise families. So, you can see why I talk a great deal about this community in such a presentation.

For this particular talk I thought I would use a couple of minutes for a quick survey and I asked those present to give me their immediate thoughts when "Hartsville" comes to mind. I also asked them for what they perceived as the biggest problems we are facing in our community.

What are the problems?

The number one perceived problem in the Hartsville community in this unofficial poll turns out to be crime with youth gangs mentioned often. There were other issues that were at the top of mind like dilipidated buildings - particularly houses in the South Hartsville neighborhood but also some for shopping areas. The Kiwanians also noted the need to extend the city limits, to improve the entrance corridors, to improve education, and pay more attention to street paving in several areas of the city. One person said the most crucial need in the area was for more jobs. Another wondered what would now become of the Bank of American building since the bank has announced it is moving from the center of town. This summary is not exhaustive but it does give some quick idea of what is on the minds of area residents.

The other list about what comes to mind when you think about Hartsville was a positive list that includes ideas of a little city with a metro environment and progressive people willing to cooperate and collaborate. Several institutions including Sonoco, Coker College, the Governor's School and the Nuclear plant were noted in the poll. Generally these Kiwanians were positive about the resources available to continue building a great community.

What are you thinking about the issues and the resources we have for building our community. Would love to get some comments to begin such a discussion.

Professor Foster urges awareness to complete the revolution

Coker College was back to class on Monday, January 17, 2011, and took some time during the night-class hours to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

Professor John Foster borrowed from the school's theme of "Redefining Ready" as he asked faculty and students to pay more attention to the need for continuing the revolutions begun with the words and action of Dr. King and those who joined him in seeking justice, equality, and inclusion in the American Dream for citizens of African descent.

Professor Foster used portions of Dr. King's final sermon about the "Man who slept through a Revolution" to urge continuing action to keep the dream of a country free of racism alive and continuing research, study and discussion so that as we continue to remember what happens when man is more concerned about what he wants and not at all concerned for what his neighbor needs. (I will admit to paraphrasing here and I know Professor Foster would love to discuss the thoughts he shared in the Watson Theater this evening in more depth with any who ask to talk.

MLK Day is about Community Building

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE of Hartsville,SC. put on the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative service at the First Baptist Church on Monday, January 17. Those in attendance were moved through words and song to look upon Dr. King's legacy as a dream in progress.

From this citizen's perspective, it is uplifting to be reminded of this dream in progress. First Baptist hosted the event this afternoon something that back in Dr. King's days would not have been possible and probably not even imagined. It did not matter the color or the creed -- those who were there were connected by the dream. All of us, from youngest to eldest, have been changed because of Dr. King. As Reginald Alford led GOD BLESS AMERICA at the end you could feel how we can now all truly come together as Americans.

There are still things to be accomplished. It is a dream in progress. That is why there are organizations like People to People of Hartsville, whose mission is to "initiate, encourage and cooperate in efforts to promote multi-racial and multi-ethnic understanding by drawing together individuals , agencies, and organizations committed to working for the betterment of the entire community." If you would like to be part of such an organization, the group meets at Florence Darlington Tec - Hartsville campus on Swift Creek Road the first Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. Clayton Richardson is one of the forces keeping this group moving forward. You may reach him at 332-3420.

Dr. Luns Richardson, president of Morris College, and native of Hartsville was the guest speaker for the commemoration.

Discussion of the power of words is interesting

There has been a lot of discussion over the rhetoric that has been used over the past several years to tear our country apart. People on both sides pretending that their words were not meant to inspire action. Give me a break. The whole purpose of rhetoric is to inspire action. The problem is that rhetoric can inspire but often times it cannot control. The shooting of Congressional Representative Giffords is horrible and there is no one cause but I think we can all agree the shooter did not just wake up in a social vacuum one morning and decide to kill. He is responsible for his thoughts, his actions and his schema but there were a great many people whose unquestioning self righteousness helped him form those ideas. Those who have rhetorical power should understand this power and take some responsibility for the way their audience understands the words, symbols and frameworks those words help people construct.

This coming week we are honoring a Community Builder whose rhetoric helped to change the direction of our nation. He had the power of rhetoric and he used the power of rhetoric. But, the reason I am using Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as an example is that the rhetoric of Dr. King stood in direct contrast to the rhetoric of several other major civil rights activists and civil rights opponents. One of the major phrases in the speeches of many who were fighting for civil rights were words to the effect of "by any means possible." The reason white men as well as black men will honor Dr. King this Monday is that he cautioned against such "Means" and allowed people to see another way. His non-violent perspective did not make him popular in many civil rights groups. Contrast Dr. King's "Dream" with what we hear today and you can see and feel how rhetoric can build instead of destroy. On Monday, when we honor Dr. King, there may be more to our celebration that we might at first understand.

Welcome to BCAC

Organizations that help build community can come from all areas of our lives. The Black Creek Arts Council is one such organization and this is the connection to their new web site.




Welcome to BCAC

Thoughts on community building

This semester (from not until May)I am on sabbatical from teaching at Coker College to work and think more about community building ideas. I will be using this blog to surface some of this discussion through the months.

In Hartsville, SC, we are unique in that we have an ongoing process of community building. Sometimes the community building works and sometimes it doesn't. We are a small city that I often describe as cosmopolitan in nature. But our core, our culture, our community is at risk in this changing world.

We have to continue a focus on community building because 1)small communities are not for everyone but to grow and build you have to attract those who will choose small 2)Like so much in our lives the major strength can be a major weakness. We are home to a multi-billion dollar global packaging company that gives us a major cosmopolitan advantage but recruiting to small-town America (Hartsville) is not easy 3)we like a certain standard of life and standard of service from our government but in this age there are not many who enjoy taxing themselves for this quality we expect.

The list could probably go on as to why we need to continue to focus on building. We are good, we have a history of good but I often use the quote from a former boss -- "When you stop getting better, you stop being good."

Rich Harwood of the Harwood Institute has devoted his life to helping community builders think about community building. His current blog discusses five major ideas for rebuilding America and I think his blog is worth the read.

His five points are:
1 -- Turn outward toward community.
2 -- Focus on people's shared aspirations, not the community problems.
3 -- Get people doing actual work together.
4 -- Move in a common direction that adds up to something real in the community.
5 -- Tell stories of self trust and hope.

He has a solid grasp on these ideas and anyone thinking of community building should be reading Rich's ideas -- even if you end up not agreeing.

Protect the Urge to Build

Rich Harwood of THE HARWOOD INSTITUTE has a very interesting Podcast for the holidays. His advice in this short discussion is to people who have the urge to build their communities. His advice in this short discussion is motivating to those who want to make changes to better their communities. His words in this discussion are an admonition to not let the forces of negativity overcome the urge to join with others to make real differences in our communities. I listened to this podcast twice and hope that readers will listen to it at least once -- because all of use need to remember that building community and building our communities is important for our present and our future. Not everyone wishes for community yet nearly all of us do realize we get more done together than we can ever accomplish divided.

Walter Edgar interviews Greenville Mayor

The interview that is currently airing between Walter Edgar and Knox White is inspiring from a community building perspective. The major lesson remains, nothing happens overnight but nothing happens if people do not join together to make things happen. That is a lesson we learn over and over again in Hartsville but it is also lesson we have to keep teaching ourselves. Hartsville is good but right now - not great. Hartsville can be great -- if we want to be great. We are a small city. We will not be for everyone but we can be much more enticing and attracting that we are right. We have to keep working. (Hartsville was just mentioned in a sentence with a number of other progressive cities -- it is the company we want to be in. We have to keep ourselves in this company.

This week I was speaking with a high school student from Long Island. His father had been in Greenville many times on business. The prospective Coker student and Coker lacrosse player, described the downtown as "cute." Not a bad description coming from a teenager. His father also mentioned that Hartsville did remind him of Greenville, even if on a smaller basis. We have the basics but we need to work much harder, doing much more to become a totally attractive place to live and visit. We have lots of people working on this. We have lots of ideas percolating. We need to find ways to continue working together from all our areas (divided any way you might want to think about it) if we are going to survive the set of challenges that are now facing us.

Knox White just said the first time he saw someone taking pictures of downtown Greenville was in 1999.Today cameras and tourists swarm downtown Greenville every weekend and often during the week.

Walter Edgar's Journal will air again on Sunday evening and I hope others will listen. Mayor White had a short paragraph about the need for inclusion and the difference inclusion makes. He said when you do not include you run into lots of problems. I think his quote was, "You pay for it dearly."

Monday, we welcome a new city manager, Natalie Zigler. She will be walking into some amazing challenges as she moves into her office on the first day. I hope those of us who have been living and growing in Hartsville continue to rally and help her and our current City Council become those people we look back on in five, ten or fifteen years with a pride for the positive changes they were able to help us develop as a community.

List some challenges --

We have some beauty spots -- Coker College for example but one look at our entire city and you know we need real emphasis on beautification.

We have high-achieving schools -- but try to prove any of our schools are high achieving to a first-time visitor who (with the exception of the Middle School) sees buildings that have been and look like they have been around for five or seven or ten decades. You want to know what difference a nice looking school makes -- talk to the people who work and learn at the middle school or to the people who teach and learn at GSSM or to the Coker College students who inhabit the new library and information center.

We have some unique retail experiences -- but if we are going to be a mecca for shoppers, we need a lot more unique retail experiences.

We have a cosmopolitan atmosphere -- that we often keep hidden from outsiders. In the arts -- you won't find many communities of our size with our offerings -- but many who live in Hartsville are not aware of a portion of what is offered.

One person for whom I used to work had a saying that I have used in many group discussions having to do with community building. His admonition was "When you stop getting better, you stop being good." We have lots of room to get better.

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