Defense Contractor Attorney Near Aiken, SC

GRANITEVILLE — A business that sells a wide selection of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials, along with a variety of rare and unusual plants, will be closing for good soon.

Nov. 30 is the last day Grass Roots Garden Center will be open for business at 111 Holly Meadows Drive.

Owner Ryan Williams couldn’t be reached for comment Oct. 27 because he was out of the country.

The announcement of Grass Roots’ plan to shut down appeared Oct. 26 on the nursery’s Facebook page.

“This decision did not come easily,” the post stated. “Grass Roots has been so much more than a business — it’s been a dream, a gathering place and a living, breathing expression of what can happen when people come together to nurture something special. From the very beginning, our goal was simple: to bring joy and beauty to our community, one plant at a time.

“Over the years, we’ve met countless amazing people — gardeners, homeowners, families, and friends — who helped shape Grass Roots into one of the most beautiful and loved garden centers in the area,” the post continued. “To each of you who has walked our paths, asked questions, planted our trees, or shared your growing stories with us: thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

There are plans to establish another business on the nursery’s site.

“As we look to the future, we’re excited to share that the Grass Roots property will be transitioning into a new commercial operation that will support the continued growth of one of our other companies,” the post stated. “This next step allows us to keep growing — just in a different direction — while honoring the foundation Grass Roots has given us.”

A Grand Farewell Sale will begin Saturday, Nov. 1, and continue through the end of the month. There will be a 50% reduction in prices.

Grass Roots, which made its debut in 2021, originally was known as Grass Roots Garden Supply.

In addition to plants, nature-inspired gifts and landscaping and gardening products are available for purchase.

AIKEN — The City of Aiken Planning Commission on Oct. 14 sent to City Council for approval applications for two developments comprising 339 residences and a 60-bed senior living facility.

One planned development would be on Aiken’s northside, the other on the city’s southside.

The commission recommended approval of Magnolia Run Reserve, a 65-acre residential community development on Aiken’s southside, to be located near Whiskey Rd. between the Powderhouse Connector road currently under construction and Athol Avenue.

The development would contain 118 single-family detached lots, 30 single-family attached lots, and a senior living campus with 60 independent living cottages and a 60-bed assisted living facility.

Magnolia Run Reserve would be adjacent to two other recently-approved developments. The concept plan for Summerall, on the north side of the Powderhouse Connector Road, calls for 167 single-family homes and 163 townhomes. Clifton Place, between the Magnolia Run Reserve property and Powderhouse Road, will have 171 single-family attached townhomes on 34.3 acres.

Joel Pressley, representing the developers of Magnolia Run Reserve, told commissioners during the work session prior to the commission’s regular meeting that the development would be a “golf cartable” senior living campus with amenities for “active adults.”

The commission also recommended approval of a subdivision on 38.8 acres on Aiken’s northside, located on Edgefield Highway, between Williams Lane and Union Church Lane.

The subdivision would be on the southside of Williams Lane across the street from Rivers Crossing, a 200-home development under construction on the northeast corner of Edgefield Highway and Williams Lane.

Local residents addressing the commission expressed concerns about additional traffic in their neighborhood.

Commission member Peter Messina added conditions to the motion for approval, requiring two turn lanes from the development onto Edgefield Highway, a 6-foot-tall solid fence on the western border of the subdivision, and that open space be maintained if its intended use as a water feature is not feasible.

A requested waiver that would allow residences to be less than 20 feet apart was denied.

Final approval of the projects requires two readings by City Council. Once the concept plans are approved, traffic studies would be conducted by the South Carolina Department of Transporation.

GRANITEVILLE, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A South Carolina State Representative is calling for the Aiken County Council to revitalize the areas of Horse Creek Valley and Beech island.

Representative Melissa Oremus penned a letter to the Aiken County Council following a town hall October 6.

In her letter, Rep. Oremus called for the council to adopt a House Creek Valley and Beech Island Revitalization Program centered around public safety, blight cleanup, economic redevelopment, and accountability.

She also gave a proposed timeline with immediate actions and short and long-term goals.

In her letter, Rep. Oremus explains that South Carolina has laws and incentives in place for issues such as the ones she’s listed.

Rep. Oremus ends the letter by calling for a collaborate between the Aiken County Council and people living in the Valley and Beech Island.

In the town hall, several attendees raised concerns about Walking Tall Ministries.

Community members allege the group misused funds intended to support people experiencing homelessness.

“I hope that those who have questions and concerns about the ministry will reach out to me directly and let’s have a conversation about how we can work together and better address these problems as a community and not fight against each other,” said Zak Moyer, director of Walking Tall Ministries.

The town hall included appearances from Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer and Burnettown Mayor Karen Jones.

“I hope that we, as a community, figure out what we can do in regards to the sheriff’s department and helping them, and regarding the judges who keep releasing these people back out on the street,” said Bubba Moyer, lives in Gloverville.

In addition to public concerns about Walking Tall Ministries, local leaders discussed the overall state of the community and shared updates about the Valley’s future.

Sawyer said, “I’ve heard several things ... if they are true, we need to address. If not, we will move on.”

Between the two world wars, Charleston experienced a blossoming of urban pride propelled largely by the members of the artistic community and those intent on ensuring the survival of the city’s architectural fabric. Organizations like the Preservation Society of Charleston, the Carolina Art Association (Gibbes Museum of Art) and the Poetry Society of South Carolina emerged during the period now known as the Charleston Renaissance.

The first two of these organizations have remained largely localized, but the Poetry Society has looked over the years to extend its reach statewide. On Saturday, Nov. 1, Jim Lundy Jr., PSSC president, will be in Aiken to host a program to embrace current members and to introduce the general public to the work of the society. In addition, the event will feature a free screening of George Wingard’s short documentary “To Have a Name Worth Owning,” which focuses on the life and work of Aiken-based antebellum poet James Matthewes Legare.

Lundy is the author of the meticulously researched, 358-page “History of the Poetry Society of South Carolina: 1920-2021.” The book chronicles decade by decade the story of the society from its legendary past to its dynamic present.

It all began in the upper crust salons South of Broad where the group met in the members’ homes. Not everyone was of a literary bent — in fact, one wag remarked that the organization was “one tenth poetry and nine tenths society” — but there were enough serious writers to add authorial legitimacy to the enterprise. The first officers included DuBose Heyward (“Porgy”), Josephine Pinckney (“Dinner at Three O’clock”), and John Bennett (“Mr. Skylark”).

The society’s first two decades are often regarded as the group’s “golden years” despite the entrenched conservatism of its members during that early period. Lundy points out, for example, that the society’s second meeting featured a reading by Carl Sandburg at the beginning of his illustrious career and that many members were less than impressed by his free verse. The group was deeply committed to rhyme. The society was also strongly segregationist. When it was discovered in 1923 that Jean Toomer (“Cane”) had somehow managed to gain out-of-town membership, the mixed-race author was not invited to renew his dues.

Despite its initial shortcomings, the society evolved over the years, eventually acknowledging a range of verse forms and celebrating the diversity of the general population. The organization finally settled on an annual calendar of events that included three or four readings per year and two programs featuring the winning entries in various contests sponsored by the group.

The roster of readers is a veritable who’s who of modern American literature, including Gertrude Stein, Robert Frost, Thornton Wilder, and Edna St. Vincent Millay. I was particularly interested in the portion of Lundy’s book devoted to the 1970s, the time of my arrival in Aiken, largely because some of the writers featured in society programming were also guests of the visiting writers series at USC Aiken, including David Bottoms and Alice Cabaniss, whose poem “Inside Orange” is one of my all-time favorites.

Also featured in the pages of Lundy’s volume are the names of local authors past and present, writers like Starkey Flythe, Linda Lee Harper, and Phebe Davidson. The book is full of interesting information about the lives and work of a host of creative people.

Poised now for the 21st century, the Poetry Society of South Carolina welcomes everyone to the free 2 p.m. talk and film screening at the Aiken County Public Library on Nov. 1. Producer and director George Wingard will also be on hand to answer questions about his Legare documentary.

AIKEN — The Savannah River Site Museum’s third annual Fall Fission Festival turned a parking lot into a science-based carnival of fun activities promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math on Oct. 18.

Hundreds of guests convened at the corner of Laurens Street and Park Avenue, steps away from the museum at 224 Laurens St. S.W. for hands-on STEM activities, games, food trucks and a DJ.

Many children dressed for a Halloween costume contest and circulated through the exhibits, learning about science and leaving with candy.

“Those of us who are scientists love reaching out and trying to get people excited about the wonders of science and engineering,” said Jim Marra, board chair of the SRS Heritage Foundation, which runs the museum.

“This is one of the outreach events that the museum does for the community to bring attention to learning about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,” said Marra, who worked at the Savannah River National Laboratory for 26 years.

“It’s a beautiful fall day, and all our partners, all the exhibitors and the food trucks and all the volunteers are pitching in together to have a great day,” he said.

Tom Scott, a workforce development specialist in the College of Science and Engineering at USC Aiken, was costumed as the fish Nemo from the Disney film “Finding Nemo.”

Riffing on the homonyms of fission and fishin’, he’d set up a bucket of water for children aim at with a sponge dangling from the end of a rod and reel.

He also invited them to spin a wheel and answer science-based trivia questions

“It’s a beautiful day, I get to dress up and hang out with cool kids who are going fishing and playing Wheel of Fortune,” Scott said.

Brandon Greene of Aiken said his 9-year old daughter was having a good time, and that they were there “just to come out and learn and have fun.”

Museum director Linda Lindler said the purpose of the Fall Fission Festival is “to get people excited about science.”

“We really just want to reach out to the community and be a trusted partner for them and encourage kids to get involved in STEM activities, introducing them to various career paths they might encounter in the area,” Lindler said.

“We want to reach beyond the four walls of the Savannah River Site museum and be a community resource for education and science and STEM activities,” she said.

Lindler was dressed in 1950s garb as a nod to the 75th anniversary of SRS, which the museum will be celebrating with a special exhibit.

“We are so excited about celebrating the 75th anniversary,” Marra said. “The Savannah River Site has been such an important part of our community in many aspects, not only as an employer,” Marra said.

“Come visit the museum, and next year be sure to put the Fall Fission Festival on your list,” he said.