Mayor Delivers State of the City at Florence Chamber’s Annual Membership Luncheon

by Matthew Christian

Florence City Councilwoman Pat Gibson-Hye Moore said she felt like crying when Mayor Stephen J. Wukela announced he won’t seek a fourth term of office.

Wukela announced his decision at the beginning of the annual state of the city address at the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon held Thursday in the ballroom of the Florence Center.

He was elected Florence mayor in 2008 by one vote over incumbent Frank Willis. Wukela was re-elected in 2012 and 2016. During the 2016 election, Wukela received 14,108 votes or 98.4% of the total.

In Florence, the office of mayor and two at-large city council seats are up for election every four years on the same cycle as the presidential elections, such as 2012, 2016 and 2020. The four remaining members, three district seats and one at-large seat, are elected on the same cycle as the governor, as in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

“I’m very unhappy about it,” Gibson-Hye Moore said. “He did such a great job with the city of Florence during the past three terms he served as mayor. It makes me really just want to bust out into tears.”

Wukela is a wonderful mayor, Gibson-Hye Moore said, and a wonderful friend.

“Florence needs him so much,” she said. “We need him for at least another four years.”

She said she understood Wukela has other obligations to his family.

“Family comes first,” she said.

After announcing his decision not to seek another term, Wukela used his speech to outline some of the challenges facing the city as it moves forward.

Among those challenges are the building and maintenance of hard infrastructure like roads, water, sewer and stormwater public works.

The issue of funding to maintain city roads is something the mayor has frequently spoken of.

Basically, the city has accumulated an estimated 100 miles of roadway since the S.C. Department of Transportation stopped accepting streets into its maintenance system.

There is no current funding mechanism for the city to be able to afford to maintain those roads.

Wukela previously testified in Columbia about the city’s road problem in regard to a proposed municipal capital project sales tax.

There is some degree of frustration from the city that the county’s road maintenance fee and capital project sales taxes are mostly collected in Florence, but the city does not receive all of that revenue, which it needs to maintain the roads.

Wukela then transitioned into the issue of racial divisions, which he called the “single biggest threat” to the future of the city.

“We must recognize and practically address our history of division in this city, black from white, North from South,” he said.

He said that “ a great deal has been accomplished — a great deal remains to be done. We cannot succeed if we are divided.”

Wukela paraphrased Dr. Martin Luther King: “We remain tied together in a single garment of destiny — an inescapable network of mutuality. The success of each of us is inextricably tied to the success of all of us.”

Wukela said he has been fortunate to lead the city “during a time in which opportunity met people of good will.”

“The partnerships — the dear friendships — that have been forged and tested made great success possible,” he said. “We will continue that work in my remaining year. …”

He said he thought it was important to announce his decision so that maybe some young upstart like he was when he first ran in 2008 could have the chance to run.

Other community leaders said they were sad to learn of Wukela’s decision but said they understand his obligation to his family.

S.C. Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. said he is saddened learn of the mayor’s decision.

“Look at downtown, what’s happened down there,” Leatherman said. “He believes in what he’s doing, and he’s done a great job.”

City Manager Drew Griffin said he had some inclination that Wukela wouldn’t be seeking a fourth term.

“It was more of a confirmation of what I had intuitively picked up,” Griffin said. “My feeling is I’m very disappointed. I think he’s done a fantastic job with this community.”

Griffin said he was quoting Francis Marion University President Fred Carter’s views on the community’s success under Wukela.

“I really hate to see him decide that, but I think that it is good for his family, and I know that he needs a little bit of time, a little bit of rest, but everybody will miss him,” Griffin said.

City Councilwoman Teresa Myers Ervin said she has been talking with Wukela for some time to try to change his mind about not running.

“I was hoping that he would consider another term,” she said. “I believe that with the council we have in place now, we have been so successful in developing the city of Florence.”

There are so many changes happening in the city, she said, that she really wished he would have considered another term.

“But, the long and the short, when it comes to your family and your family needs, your family has to be first,” Myers Ervin said. “We’re good because we still have him in the city of Florence. I believe that we can still continue to make progress as long as we have a council that will work together.”

City Councilman George D. Jebaily said he was appreciative of the mayor’s accomplishments and all that he has done for the city. He praised Wukela’s passion and his and his family’s commitment to the city.

“We all owe him and his family a great debt of gratitude and it’s been a privilege to work with him,” Jebaily said.

To read the full article, click here.

To see more picture from the event, click here.

The WORx CBD and More Has Ribbon Cutting

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.

Leadership Held Their Arts & Media Day

The Leadership Florence journey continues, as the class had their session on Tuesday, October 8 highlighting Visual Arts and Media.

The class of 2020 visited Adam’s Outdoor, iHeart Media, Morning News, Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center, Florence Museum and Florence Little Theatre.

Griffin: Great Deeds Have Improved the City

by Matthew Christian

Florence City Manager Drew Griffin stood in the corner of a plaza on South Dargan Street that was named after him and took stock of the city’s revitalization efforts.

Speaking at the dedication of the plaza, Griffin credited the councils he has worked with, his staff, his friends and his peers. Those groups, he said before pausing for a moment, have performed great deeds in their efforts to rebuild the downtown area.

A resident of the downtown area, Griffin walks his dog at night and gets to see the results of the city’s efforts firsthand.

“When you are downtown and other places, you see the joy that comes upon people’s faces, the expressions,” Griffin said before he paused for a moment. “How they interact.”

Those expressions illustrate the change in the culture around the city’s downtown.

“Where I am certainly very proud of downtown, I believe that this community should be equally proud with the work that we’re doing in neighborhoods,” Griffin said.

That work, Griffin continued, meant redefining neighborhoods that have been historically neglected.

“That is as critical as anything that we do as a community,” Griffin said.

He also said he is pleased with the city council’s decision to invest $15 million to $18 million into parks and recreation projects that will result in an investment in each city park of at least $300,000.

Those community spaces, he said, were important to what the city does, because they connect streets to neighborhoods, neighborhoods to the community and the community connects to itself.

“I pray that we will be able to continue to achieve,” Griffin said. “I thank everybody: the [Drs.] Bruce & Lee Foundation, city council, my friends, this community, certainly my wife, my parents.”

When he started working in public service, Griffin received some advice from another government employee: If you make decisions in the interest of the community, then you will always be OK.

Griffin shared that piece of advice as he spoke at the dedication of the Andrew H. Griffin Plaza.

“I have been very blessed to follow those words of wisdom,” Griffin said.

The dedication ceremony also featured a performance by the South Florence Choraliers, directed by Dr. Erick Figueras.

The city-built plaza and the splash pad inside it give parents the ability to take their children downtown for lunch and then have the children play in the fountain or for parents to visit the Florence County Museum and then take their children to play at the fountain. The pad was named after Griffin at the May meeting of the city council.

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

GEICO Joins Chamber

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.

Fall Chamber Classic Was a Success

The Chamber Staff wants to thank all of our sponsors and players who helped make our 2019 Fall Classic a huge success! Especially Raldex Hospitality for being the overall sponsor. We also want to congratulate our winners:

Coming in First Place was Synovus

And in Second Place was Carolina Bank

Chamber Membership Luncheon Set for Thursday

by Ardie Arvidson

The 2019 Business Person of the Year will be revealed and Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela will speak about the state of the city of Florence and its current growth plans at the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce Fall Membership Luncheon on Thursday at the Florence Center.

The Business Person of the Year award is presented to a successful business person with a record of responsibility toward employees, customers and members of the greater Florence community, chamber President Mike Miller said.

Wukela promises to give chamber members a glimpse of what they might experience in the not-so-distant future, Miller said.

“With all that has happened in the last six or seven years and the pace at which the changes are now springing up, Florence seems to be positioned well for quicker development in downtown, surrounding community centers and the Florence Center hospitality and shopping area,” Miller said.

“Mayor Wukela will also touch on what is spurring the continued expansions.”

Last year’s recipient of the Business Person of the Year award was Schipp Johnston, the owner of Crown Beverages in Florence. The award is sponsored each year by Wells Fargo and presented at the Chambers Fall Membership Luncheon. Robert Sasser, the managing director at Wells Fargo, is expected to present the award.

To be eligible for the Business Person of the Year Award, the person must be a business member of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and be associated with a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or professional practice in the Florence area. Elected officials and employees of government or not-for-profit organizations are ineligible unless they are also involved in business and meet all other eligibility requirements.

The Chamber Membership Luncheon will start at noon. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. People from area businesses and the general public are invited to attend. Tickets cost $30 for chamber members and $40 for nonmembers. To register and buy tickets, call the Chamber at 843-665-0515 or visit flochamber.com/events. Seating is limited to 500 people. The event is expected to be a sellout.

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

Big Plans at Sneed as Principal Proposes a STEM Magnet Middle School

by Lauren Owens

Fellows in Education participants heard Sneed Middle School Principal Bentley Oates talk Tuesday about his plans for a STEM magnet middle school at Sneed.

The Fellows in Education program is sponsored by Florence One Schools, The School Foundation and the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. The program allows businesses and community leaders to get an in-depth look into Florence schools.

Oates said he is working with Chris Rogers, the STEM director of Florence One Schools, to move toward becoming a STEM magnet school next school year.

“I want Sneed to have something we’re known for,” Oates said.

Oates said they decided to go this route because the STEM classes have been very successful at the school and the teachers are very good.

After the eighth grade, Sneed Middle students go to West Florence High School, which is a STEM magnet school.

Sneed Middle has two leveled STEM classes: app creators and design and modeling. A modeled STEM class is one where there are two parts of the classes available to students.

Sneed Middle also has two STEM classes that are not leveled: robotics and medical detectives.

Oates also gave an overview of the school’s opportunities for students and spoke about the school’s report card for the 2018-19 school year.

Sneed Middle received an above average ranking in social studies, English language arts and science, meaning students performed higher than the state average in these subject areas, Oates said. The school also saw a 7% increase in the number of students taking high school classes.

After Oates’ presentation, the fellows toured several classrooms, including a science, math, English and STEAM class. The fellows observed classes creating pull toys, working collaboratively on math problems and English assignments and learning about honey production.

The particpants even received sample bottles of honey from the Sneed Middle beehive.

Twana McRae said her visit to Sneed Middle was beautiful, and she thinks the school is doing a fantastic job at what it does.

“Whatever they’re doing here, they need to continue doing it,” McRae said. “Other middle schools and schools should mirror what they’re doing, because they’re doing a fantastic job.”

This is the fifth year the Fellows in Education program has taken place.

The School Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hyler said they started the program to show the community what is truly going on in the walls of a modern school.

“It’s really interesting to me to see the participants’ eyes light up,” Hyler said. “I think they truly are amazed. So many people haven’t been in a modern-day classroom.”

The program consists of eight sessions. The group visits one school each month to learn about the school’s programs and needs.

To read the full article, click here.

“Money Saver” Thrift Store Joins Chamber of Commerce

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

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.