Archive for month: February, 2026

The Florence Area Humane Society, in collaboration with Mint Julep Events LLC, presents the Mad Hatter Tea Party. Don’t miss the enchanting experience of our third annual Mad Hatter Tea Party at St. Luke Lutheran Church! Step into a world of whimsy, where the Mad Hatter himself invites guests of all ages to delight in a splendid array of delectable treats, complemented by a spectacular selection of teas. Join us for this extraordinary fundraiser, where you can show off your creativity and compete for fabulous prizes in categories like Best Hat and Best Costume, among others. Don’t forget to enter our raffle for a chance to win even more exciting prizes! Capture a whimsical photo with the Mad Hatter and meet some adorable furry friends who will also be in attendance. Tea will commence promptly at 3:00 PM, so be sure to arrive on time! With limited spaces available, and last year’s event selling out quickly, we encourage you to secure your spot today.

Last year, H.3430 went into law, changing the requirements for all alcohol service in South Carolina. This law officially went into effect on January 1, 2026, and introduces mandatory alcohol server training for the hospitality industry.

Under H.3430, all establishments that serve alcohol for on-premise consumption—including restaurants, bars, breweries and hotels—must ensure their staff is certified through an SCDOR-approved training program. This mandate applies to:

• Every person who sells or serves alcohol.
• Managers and owners who oversee the sale and service of alcohol

To be properly prepared, find out how by clicking here for more information.

On Wednesday, February 11th we celebrated our annual Ambassador Day luncheon with the naming of our Ambassador of the Year award. The Ambassador group is a group of local businesspeople in the community that help the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce with ribbon cuttings for new businesses, volunteering for events, and being a representative for the Chamber in the community for prospective new members. The Ambassadors gather their points throughout the year with attendance and volunteering at these events.

It was our pleasure to announce Alex Dusky from Community Broadcasters as our winner. She was joined in the picture by Johnny Dunham of TLC Transport – second place and Julie Cord – New York Life with third place.

Thank you to all the Ambassadors for their hard work and dedication.

To see more photos from the event, click here.

After the latest snow and rain events, you may be noticing more litter around Florence.

The weather doesn’t create this trash — it moves it. The heavy rain and all the melted snow create runoff that washes debris from streets and yards toward storm drains and waterways. That’s why litter becomes more visible after storms — and why it matters to act quickly.

Please pick-up any litter you see in your yard or neighborhood, before it ends up in our waterways.

A few small actions from each of us can make a big difference for our community and environment.

THE PALMETTO PARTNERSHIP of All 4 Autism will host the 3rd Annual UNDER THE PALMS on May 7th, 2026. This event helps to fund support programs for those with disabilities and their families in the Pee Dee Region.

Our mission is to increase the quality of life of those with disabilities, and their families, by providing free resources, support and advocacy services, while actively seeking opportunities to partner with others and serve as ambassadors of goodwill in our community.

“This year’s event is incredibly special to us, because we are celebrating 10 years of serving local families in need. I remember taking my very first phone call in March of 2016. Since then, we have provided services and support to over 600 families throughout the Pee Dee. Our hope is that we will continue to advocate for the underserved and provide a place where you feel that you belong.” Jessica Brown, Executive Director

The evening will begin with a cocktail reception, where guests will enjoy a signature drink, open bar and music by David Whatley, with Black Tie DJ Services. There will be a delicious selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres and pasta stations.

Cocktails and dessert will be served during the evening program, which will include a live auction and video presentation. This year’s video will feature the Padgett Family, where they share the beautiful story of their son, Jake.

For more information, click here.