Montessori Middle School Interest Meeting – Tonight

The Montessori School of Florence invites parents and community members to an informative session on Monday, September 30th, at 5:30 PM to explore the school’s vision for its middle school program. Attendees will learn about the unique approach of Montessori education and how it can empower students during their critical middle school years.

This session will also offer insights into what it will take to launch the middle school program at MSF, providing families with the opportunity to engage with the school’s future plans.

Event Details: Monday, September 30th @ 5:30 PM
Location: Montessori School of Florence, 510 W. Palmetto Street, Florence, SC 29501

For more information, please contact the Montessori School of Florence at 843-629-2920 or admin@msfedu.org.

Accountable Insurance Partners Holds Ribbon Cutting

Erik Marechal with his wife Laura, owner of Accountable Insurance Partners, formerly McLean Marechal Insurance along with his staff cuts his ribbon to usher in their 50th anniversary in 2025. They serve Florence and the Pee Dee with their main office in Florence, SC at 619 South Dargan Street.

The agency was originally founded by Bob McLean in 1975 as a Nationwide exclusive insurance agency. Erik and Laura Marechal moved to Florence to succeed ownership of the agency in 2004 with a vision to expand the footprint of the agency geographically and to include specialization in the areas of business and farm insurance. In 2020, the agency transitioned to become a fully independent agency, representing the largest insurance companies in the United States.

Ownership now includes Erik and Laura Marechal, Billy Early III, and Eli Fowler. Their team of 25 employees customizes risk management and insurance solutions for individuals, families, businesses, and farms. Today they have South Carolina offices in Florence, Darlington, Sumter and Manning. In addition, the agency has expanded to include operations in Springfield, GA and Wallingford, CT.

To read the full story, click here.

Florence Area Literacy Council Announces, “Grown Up Spelling Bee” Competition

R-E-D-E-M-P-T-I-O-N.  The Florence Area Literacy Council will be holding a Grown-Up Spelling Bee on Tuesday, November 12th at the Staybridge Suites at 6:00 PM.   Bee a Friend of Literacy and help us meet our goal this year!

To view the full flyer, click here.

US Air Force Band Coming To South Carolina

Your United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants will be performing free concerts in South Carolina on October 18 & 21.  All concerts are FREE! This is a rare and exciting opportunity to hear great patriotic music, broadway classics and as always a salute to celebrate our veterans! We would love to have your support in forwarding this email and adding it to your calendar of events! FREE tickets are available at the links below:

Florence – Oct 18 @ 7:30 pm and Columbia – Oct 21 @ 7:00 pm

Legislative Update

Multiple special committees appointed by the General Assembly met last week to receive testimony and have discussions ahead of the 2025 legislative session, including: 

  • The Insurance Study Committee, tasked with examining South Carolina’s civil justice system and insurance market, held its first meeting to organize and hear from the Director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance, Michael Wise, who gave an update on the status of the insurance market in the state. The committee will be holding subsequent meetings on this topic over the next few weeks and months and is required to submit a report with recommendations to the General Assembly by January 31, 2025. Watch the meeting here.
  • The Special Joint Committee to Study Childcare met this week to receive testimony from business stakeholders including the South Carolina Hospital Association, Prisma Health and others, and to discuss data compiled about the challenges facing families, childcare workers and childcare providers. The committee plans to continue meeting in the coming months with the hope of generating a report with policy recommendations ahead of the 2025 legislative session. Watch the meeting here.
  • The Senate Special Committee on South Carolina’s Energy Future met to continue discussions regarding the state’s need for increased energy generation. The committee received testimony from a wide variety of stakeholders including industrial energy users, economic developers, and data center companies. Also testifying was South Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey, who shared his belief that South Carolina must bring new energy generation sources online in order to sustain the state’s growth and record economic development success. He also shared additional information regarding the role SC NEXUS will play in helping alleviate South Carolina’s energy shortage through grid resiliency and technological advances, and discussed why data center projects are important to the state’s economy. The committee plans to meet again this week to begin discussing potential legislation. More information on the meeting can be found here.

Register To Win A 2024 Mustang GT

Get your raffle tickets today for a chance to win a 2024 Mustang GT.  Tickets are $100 each and only 1000 tickets will be sold.  Tickets are available at Julia Belle’s Restaurant, Mike Reichenbach Ford or from any Camp Pee Dee Pride Board Member. The drawing will be held on February 14, 2025 at Camp Pee Dee Pride.

MUSC Welcomes New Providers

MUSC Health Florence Medical Center is happy to announce the arrival of Dr. Beth Meloro, Vascular Surgeon; Dr. Abdullah Pervaiz, Cardiologist; Dr. Reem Akel, Hematology/Oncologist; and Natalie Prince, FNP, High-Risk Breast Specialists.

To read the full press release, click here.

AESC Job Fair Set For November 13

Do you want to work in a clean, quiet, safe, temperature-controlled, and highly automated manufacturing facility?  Attend their Job Fair on Wednesday, November 13th, starting at 8AM at SiMT.  8:00 AM-9:00 AM is Veterans Hour with refreshments; 9:00 AM-5:00 PM will be for all other interested applicants.  No experience required. Walk-ins welcome.  RSVP today and submit an online application. Applicants must be 18+.

To view the full flyer, click here.

Elaining Hands Hosting A Tea Cup Brunch On October 12

Elaining Hands is excited to announce their Tea Cup Brunch on October 12th from 12:00 – 2:00 pm. This is a special event dedicated to networking and promoting mental health awareness in our community. This event is about creating a safe space to connect, network, and support one another.

For more information, click here.

Benton House Of Florence To Host Business After Hours

The Florence Chamber invites you to join us for an after-hours event hosted by The Benton House of Florence. Come out on Thursday, October 10th from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. located at 1370 Celebration Blvd for great food, drinks, and networking. Be sure to bring lots of business cards! RSVP by clicking here to register online.