None other than Erica Rhodes, most recently seen on American Idol.

A reader emailed me that she saw Erica yesterday in town for lunch. Erica was very sweet and took some pictures.

The music on this page is very good, take a listen!

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

I am enjoying my morning coffee and my newly-subscribed to actual paper. One made of actual paper. Novel concept! Here are a few teasers from this mornings “Morning News” …

Now that I have remembered that lovely memory, I feel good about the day ahead. Time to go to work Flo-town. Email me if you hear something interesting (or even not interesting.)

(Also– today is the day that Aldi gets new specials.)

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

The Morning News will be printing a special section for Breast Cancer Awareness in October for National Breast Cancer Awareness month. They are looking for survivor stories from the survivor or family members of the survivor and how they dealt with this trying time in their life.

I have seen husbands write in the past on how they were affected by their wife having breast cancer. If they have a picture they can submit that would be great. We are also selling ads that will be in this special section so any business in the Pee Dee that wants to advertise in it can email me or contact their Morning News Solutions Consultant.

If you have a survival story, please email cgrooms@florencenews.com for more details.

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

Last year during the summer I struggled with finding content. It seemed as if everyone in Florence packed up and left for three months. This summer hasn’t been as difficult, there has been a good bit going on. It is still slower than the fall, winter, and spring.

It has been nice in some ways. For a while I was trying to capture EVERY event in Florence and be on top of everything. That is pretty ridiculous for me to attempt. I have a job, a family…. and a lot going on. This is an unpaid hobby and I have to remember the word “Hobby” sometimes. I am not a reporter, a full time writer, or a taxi driver that is always cruising town. So, I have been getting back to my original mission. That is to spotlight certain events and encourage people to step outside of the box and do something different. I also will review local businesses and restaurants and help you to discover new places right here in Florence (and the Pee Dee). I ask for and LOVE your emails with events and things to do. I apologize in advance that I can’t post about everything. Sometimes it just doesn’t fit in with my personal goals and wishes for this site. Sometimes it does– there is never any way to tell. I may post about a garage sale, a jewelry sale, or a car wreck holding up traffic. If you email me and I don’t send you an answer? Feel free to email me again. However! Sometimes? I am out of town, just not around, or spending time with my family. (My email is “theflossip@gmail.com”) I especially want any “Flossip Success Stories.” Did you go to the Black Creek Kayak Festival because you read about it here? Did you try out a new store and score big? (Also, if you tell me NOT to use your name I will protect your identity.)

Since I started the Flossip, I have challenged myself, attended events that I normally would not have, and entered businesses I had driven past and wondered about. I have learned about hyperlocal blogging and expanded my knowledge of social media marketing (which I can use in my day job). I am copied on PRESS RELEASES (LOVE THIS) and people send me wonderful emails about their lives and experiences.

I was at a party the other night with some big wig types and I heard about lots of exciting things coming to Florence. People there were EXCITED about opportunities and possibilities. It was one of the first times I remember a large group saying “Its GREAT to live in Florence”! There was no complaining about a lack of things to do– because there isn’t a lack of things to do. You may have to look around a little, but I am here to help you with that.

I LOVE this hobby, I love talking to people about Florence, and I THANK ALL OF YOU for continuing to read! Hopefully we can make Florence a better place to live!

(You may follow me on twitter and I will be maintaining some time with AIM online chat, username: theflossip)

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

From the Morning News:

Florence has been ranked fifth in Site Selection magazine’s 2008 ranking of top metropolitan areas for new and expanding facilities.

The fifth place ranking is for communities in the United States for areas with a population between 50,000 and 200,000.

Apparently Rusty Smith does not read the Flossip, because he failed to mention me in his highlights of why Flo-town is so great…

By the way– have you heard that newspapers are struggling? Media General just CLOSED their Washington office. I know we all sometimes complain about the Morning News… but I can’t imagine life without an actual paper. What will I read while I drink my coffee? What would we complain about? How would we know tidbits like above? SAVE THE PAPER. SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

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

I know the name of the paper is now the “Morning News”, but I still think of it as the “Florence Morning News.” I get a little irritated at the media outlets that want to stick it to Florence and lump us in with the beach. Hello– one hour and ten minutes away! Of course, I will say I prefer being lumped in with the beach than with Columbia. I do prefer WMBF to WIS, very much. WMBF has an active and engaging online presence. THEY TWITTER! I even twittered news to them and got a message back. Score! WIS used to have the calendar of events screen of death that made me crazy. “Hey Florence! We don’t care to give you actual news so we will post this random event you could care less about for the next 93 seconds!”

Wait, what was I talking about? Oh… news! Print media. Another blogger that blogs about her hometown of Winston-Salem has stirred up quite a discussion on the Winston-Salem Journal, and its lack of local stories.

I actually think that this is an area the Morning News excels in. I have never read the Morning News for national and international news– I read it for the local news that I can’t get anywhere else. Lately, even their local coverage has approved. They talk about businesses that are opening, interesting local attractions, spotlight stories. I have actually been enjoying the paper more lately than ever before. Their website still gives me panic attacks, but I can pretty much find what I need. I was sad to hear that Libby Wiersema is no longer with the Morning News. While I hope she is out having a lot of fun, she was one of my first readers and I will miss her writing in the paper and on her blog.

I think the commenters on her site are right– stay local to survive. I also think you have to stay active in the online community. Newsflash to all newspapers: You have WRITERS on staff! The online community is pretty much 100% about writing. The Morning News got this newsflash a while back and the writers have their own blogs, which is nice. (Note to Morning News: Hyperlink the heading “Blogs” so that I can click it and see all the blogs at once.) Not only that, but they read local blogs, stay in check with facebook, and keep their eyes on the local “scene.”

What do you think? I think we are fortunate to have such a successful 7 day a week paper,and I hope that it continues on for many years to come. Kudos to all of the hard working Morning News employees!

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