I talk a lot about the “City” of Florence. City is a geographic term, describing where we live. However, today I want to talk about the community of Florence. The heart and soul of this town. The heart and soul of Florence are the people that live here. Yesterday Florence lost a native son– a person so known and loved in the Florence community that of my almost 5000 facebook friends, 4000 are openly grieving his loss. Some of those didn’t even know him, but they knew of him or knew his family.

I didn’t know Chris Deaver well, but I knew him well enough that I always got a wave and a smile and quick conversation. I knew him through friends, and never heard an ill word about him. I know his family and his extended family, and they are all a part of the Florence Community. In life, he brought people together with his music. In death, he brings everyone together again through the fabulous song of life he spent his 33 years creating. As this town mourns, they also come together. I have no doubt that his family has the support, love, and prayers of this entire community. I have no doubt that the people of Florence will do everything they possibly can to move his family through the most difficult days they have ever faced. It is that conviction that makes me proud to live here.

Today, I dedicate this site and my facebook status to Deaver. Rest in peace my friend, you have left a legacy of happiness and light in our town.

Here are two posts that I wrote in the past that exemplify what it is about living here that I love.

Welcome to Florence
What Community Means

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I am going to update this post as places open, places close and rumors bounce around and I will update when they become reality (if they become reality). By reality I don’t mean that your mama’s cousin works for the XYZ Company and they know for a FACT that it is a Buffalo Wild Wings. I mean, there is actually a sign on the door, wait staff is hired and I can go in and order a meal. Or buy something. Please comment about any rumors of new businesses you have heard or openings or closings. Don’t just comment about any rumors you have heard– this isn’t that type of website!

OPENINGS

PLANNED OPENINGS

RUMORS

CLOSINGS

(I need your help to keep this post going! Comment away! I will put a permanent link in the sidebar.)

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

CBS has a great article about how restaurants are turning to twitter to help fix complaints. Every day with the Florence Twitter and Facebook crowd I see praise and complaints about local establishments. Honestly, one reason I won’t eat at certain places is because of the negative feedback I see online.

Example:

“Big Roach in my bread basket at XYZ today. Major fail.”

Rest assured– that is going to keep me away.

I saw one today that said Fat Boys was excellent for lunch. Awesome– I need to eat there again.

Even if YOU don’t want a twitter account, you need to be searching twitter for your business name. See what people are saying about you and your place of business. You may learn an important lesson.

I can honestly tell you that if Fireside had been reading what people were saying, they might still be open today.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

(From Press Release)

THIS is so cool!  Party at Creek Ratz on August 26 at 6:00 p.m. to celebrate with ESAB!  (They are not paying but will have fun prizes throughout the event.)

ESAB Supplies Equipment for New Season of American Chopper;
Plans Party at CreekRatz to Celebrate

Florence, SC – When American Chopper premieres its new season August 12 on TLC, the show will have a new local tie-in: all the welding equipment and filler metals for the Orange County Choppers design shop featured in the show has been provided by ESAB Welding & Cutting Products. The welding equipment used to create custom motorcycles on the show was manufactured right here in Florence.

ESAB entered into a partnership with Orange County Choppers, the custom motorcycle shop founded by Paul Teutul Sr, to be the exclusive welding equipment provider for OCC, providing the equipment and filler metals used in the shop and featured on American Chopper. As part of the deal, OCC designed and produced a custom OCC chopper for ESAB.

The episode airing on August 26 focuses on the creation of theESAB custom motorcycle and ends with its delivery on June 21 at Paulus Hook Pier, New Jersey, in front of the 9/11 memorial. The pier is located across from Manhatten Island with an amazing view of the NYC skyline, including a perfect view of where the Twin Towers once stood and where the new Freedom Towers are now under construction. Two of those new towers are currently being constructed using ESAB filler metals.

The custom motorcycle will travel to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta in November, where it will be on display at ESAB’s booth at FABTECH International, North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, finishing and welding event. After FABTECH, the bike will make its home at ESAB in Florence and will be available for special events.

ESAB is very excited and pleased to be associated with Orange County Choppers, according to ESAB North America President Andrew Masterman. “OCC is the premiere custom motorcycle design shop in the country with a long history of excellence in its workmanship,” Masterman said. “Like ESAB,

OCC has been praised worldwide for its innovation and leadership. Like OCC, ESAB is dedicated to providing top quality product and exceptional customer service. We think this sets the stage for a perfect partnership. ESAB prides itself on our ability to partner with our customers to provide the best solutions for their needs. We are especially proud to welcome Orange County Choppers to our family of partners worldwide and to be able to support Paul Teutul, Sr. in this upcoming season of American Chopper.”

Orange County Choppers shares similar sentiments. “ESAB makes the best welding equipment and filler metals on the market today,” says founder Paul Teutul, Sr. “They have led the industry in innovation for quite some time and have contributed so much to make welding easier, safer and more profitable for welders around the world. ESAB cares about the little guys in the shop, whether you’re welding for business, art or just to have fun. We love the feel of welding with quality ESAB equipment and filler metals, and we are looking forward to creating some beautiful new bikes with the ESAB advantage.”

ESAB wants to celebrate the premiere of the American Chopper episode featuring the ESAB bike with the Florence community. The company will host a premiere party at CreekRats on August 26 at 6 pm. The party is open to the public, and ESAB will provide prizes throughout the event.

With more than 100 years of experience, ESAB Welding & Cutting Products is one of the world’s largest and most skilled manufacturers of welding and cutting equipment and welding filler metals. Ensuring customer satisfaction, a wide range of ESAB products carry the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Recognized as the technological leader in the industry, ESAB is committed to providing customized solutions for their customers. For more information on the company, visit www.esabna.com or call 1-800-ESAB123. For more information on Orange County Choppers, visit www.orangecountychoppers.com.

I am Flossip and I love Creek Ratz and when Flo-town makes the news in a good way.  Tomorrow I will be shopping for a dream house in Florence on a budget.  be sure to read that at http://www.theflossip.com  and follow me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/flossip

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

Now it is even uglier. (The building… not the car that happened to be driving past).

It was all black the last time I posted on this new paint job.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I often get emails from people that are moving and relocating to Florence, SC and have searched google for something related to Florence, SC. I have found that I LOVE these emails. I love helping people understand neighborhoods, schools, things that they may be interested in. This is all done on a one to one basis as I need to know more in depth information about their particular circumstances. However, there is some general information that I am happy to pass along to anyone searching.

A while back I did a post called “Welcome to Florence.” That post deals with how to meet people and how to get involved in Florence.

I have also added a “Realtor” section to the Florence, SC links page. You will need to email me to get added to this list.

The City of Florence and Florence County have two of the best websites I have seen for municipalities. When I look at the websites of other places, I am amazed at how far behind us they are.
There is also information on the Florence, SC Chamber website.

The Florence County website has a section providing general information on Florence, including Climate, population, etc. I also learned that:

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007 FLORENCE COUNTY recycled:

71.95 Tons of Glass
393.64 Tons of Metal
4,914.59 Tons of Paper/Paperboard
279.29 Tons of Plastics
104.41 Tons of Used Oil
3.25 Tons of Used Oil Filters
678.67 Tons of Waste Tires

They won’t take my glass though, so I need to research that issue further.

If you are moving here, please email me and ask any questions. I want Florence to grow and be successful and I am happy to give you names of realtors, information on neighborhoods, and any other information that I know.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

The Florence County Planning Department has a blog with updates on issues affecting planning in Florence. They currently have a post up about the widening of Highway 51. If you have questions, you may be able to have them answered there, so check it out!

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

The South Carolina Dance Theater is a wonderful part of the Florence, SC community. Their 32nd season opens with “The Nutcracker” which will be performed at the Florence Little Theatre from Friday, November 13th to Sunday, November 15th. Friday night and Saturday night performances are at 7:30 pm with matinees on Saturday at 2:00 pm and on Sunday at 3:00 pm. Information about memberships and sponsorships is here.

Now is the time that the arts need all the help we can give. Your presence, your purchase… your support is needed in all aspects of the arts. I know that times are tough and the temptation is to cut back, but we have got to build this community to make it better and bring more employers here.

Their first event for the Season will be a Halloween Brunch presented by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The party will take place on Saturday, October 31st, at All Saints Episcopal Church and the themes of Nutcracker and Halloween will be combined to make for a very fun and entertaining party.

I know that I will be doing everything I can to take my daughter to the Nutcracker. I love this ballet, it is a classic that I can watch over and over again. I also want her to learn to find the culture around her– regardless of where she may be.

If you have any questions, all of the contact information is located on this page. Please do not hesitate to contact them for information– they are very open to questions!

(In the spirit of full disclosure this post is in addition to a paid ad in the sidebar.)

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

Reader Joel recently emailed me about this event, a party to support our troops.
From the website:

The US Army Pathfinder Company of the 101st Airborne has been serving in Afghanistan since December last year. For those who know Joel and Connie, you know that Connie’s brother-in-law is the 1st SGT for the company. Some of us here in Florence have been supporting these guys with care packages since they left. He wants to do something special for his soldiers when they return this December and we want to help and want everyone to come join, have fun and help as well.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

The City of Florence Comprehensive Plan kicks off this week! If you have no idea what that means, here is an explanation. The meeting is tonight at Poyner Education Center at 6:00. Everyone that has an interest in the future of Florence should try to attend!

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.