SCIWAY News No. 60 – October 2008

In This Issue

Save Time with SCIway's 2008 Election Guide
October's Top Ten – Notable SC Websites
Edgefield District Pottery: Origins of Southern Stoneware
SC Picture of the Month
Heads for Turtles, Tails for Butterflies: Two More State Symbols
Upcoming SC Festivals & Events
Beyond the Sombrero: A Trip to Dillon County

1. Save Time with SCIway's 2008 Election Guide

Tuesday, November 4, is election day – we have less than three weeks to go! While most of us agree that voting is important, the hard part is finding the time to learn about the candidates and constitutional amendments we'll be faced with in the voting booth.

SCIway's 2008 election guide can save you time. You can find it at:

https://www.sciway.net/sc-elections/

SCIway's Election Guide is the most complete South Carolina resource of its kind. It lets you compare hundreds of candidates by visiting their actual campaign websites. Our guide covers presidential, federal, state senate, state house, county and school board, and solicitor offices. (If you know of a candidate website we don't yet have, please write service@sciway.net.)

We also link to straightfoward explanations of the three constitutional ammendments (page no longer exists) that will be on our ballot this year, as well as a helpful form you can use to find both your voting districts and driving directions from home or work to your precinct polling place:

Find your voting districts and driving directions to your polling place

Use slashes in birth date and 4-digit year.
Click Submit after completing all boxes.
After results appear, click Get driving directions to the Precinct in upper right corner for directions, map.

Here are some other especially useful 2008 SC election links:

Absentee voting | Curbside voting
Candidate debates from SC ETV – 7 live US House and Senate debates in October – TV, Internet, radio - site no longer available
Winthrop University / SC ETV Poll – October 23rd – Seeks to determine whether Obama or McCain will win in SC, NC, VA – North Carolina and Virginia, in particular, are still described as "battleground" states - page no longer available

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2. October's Top Ten – Notable SC Websites

Aiken County History Archive - Decades of Aiken Standard newspaper clippings and photos - compiled and maintained by USC-Aiken - site no longer available

Charleston Parks Conservancy - Public/private partnership to preserve and enhance 120 municipal parks and playgrounds in Charleston

Edisto Island Preservation Alliance - Works to protect Edisto from overdevelopment by encouraging responsible zoning laws as well as family-oriented eco-tourism

Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission - Provides services and infrastructure development for unincorporated areas of Laurens and Greenville counties

Mercy Medicine Clinic - Free medical clinic serving Florence and Dillon counties

New Ideas for a New South Carolina - Have an idea that can improve SC's economy? Submit it now for a chance to win $12,500 in prize money!

Our Upstate Ancestry - Research census records, schools, cemeteries, and churches in the Greenville County area

Paws Animal Wildlife Sanctuary - Lauren's County group offers wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and outreach, as well as humane "pest" remedies

REDUX Contemporary Art Center - Non-profit contemporary arts center in downtown Charleston houses studio facilities and exhibition space

Remember My Name - ETV's look at South Carolina's startling rank as second in the nation for women killed by abusive partners

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3. Edgefield District Pottery: The Origins of Southern Stoneware

South Carolina is known for having three unique folk-art traditions: Sweetgrass basketry, Catawba pottery, and Edgefield pottery.¹ These historically-significant crafts are not commonly found in any other place. A recent trip to the Town of Edgefield introduced us to the latter of these art forms.


	OLD EDGEFIELD POTTERY STUDIO		POTTER STEVE FERRELL		OLD EDGEFIELD POTTERY

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4. SC Picture of the Month

A fall sun bathes the crimson leaves and still waters of Pinnacle Lake in golden light. One can see Table Rock in the background.

— TABLE ROCK STATE PARK | MORE INFO —

This photo was shot by Willie Harper of Mauldin in November 2007. The leaves in the Upstate have not yet fully changed colors this year, but you can keep an eye on them using the Table Rock State Park webcam.

If you would like to have your photo featured, please submit it to the SC Picture Project. We select photos for the newsletter from the ones we receive, and it is a great way to bring publicity to you or your organization.

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5. Heads for Turtles, Tails for Butterflies: Two More State Symbols

October brings to a close hatching season for South Carolina's state reptile, the Loggerhead Turtle. Under the watchful eyes of dedicated volunteers, nests could be seen "boiling" along the SC coast as recently as last week. In fact, it is estimated that some 3,000 nests were found on our shores in 2008 alone. Each nest consists of as many as 125 eggs, but sadly only a handful of young turtles survive into adulthood. Because they rely on the moon's reflection to lead them to the sea, they are often confused by man-made lights coming from beachfront homes and street lamps, which lead them in the opposite direction. Loggerheads have been on the threatened species list since 1978.


LOGGERHEAD TURTLE		EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL

On the flip side, this month's issue of SCIway News also introduces our state butterfly, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. From around mid-September through the end of October each year, butterflies flutter over South Carolina in abundance. There are dozens of varieties that flourish here, each adding color to fall's remaining flowers. Take a moment to visit these new state symbols pages, filled with interesting facts and beautiful pictures.

October's Featured Symbols:

SC State Reptile: Loggerhead Turtle – Named for their large, log-shaped heads, males of this species are rarely, if ever, seen on land. Females come ashore to nest each year – amazingly on the exact same beach on which they themselves were born! Learn more about this incredible reptile by clicking the above link.
SC State Butterfly: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail – You have probably seen these beautiful creatures with their yellow wings and bold, black stripes, floating through your lawn or garden. This is the time of year when they come out in droves to sip nectar from the flowers of early fall. Click above to learn more about the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

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6. Upcoming SC Festivals & Events

October is South Carolina's most popular month for festivals, so be sure to check out our complete calendar of this month's SC events. Here are just a few October highlights:

SC State & County Fairs - Fall is perfect for fairs! Check out all the fairs being held in SC this year.

South Carolina Jazz Festival - Cheraw - Celebration of jazz music and history in Dizzy Gillespie's hometown, featuring live music, a juried art exhibit, and a "jazz breakfast" - October 17-19

Oktoberfest - Walhalla - Hot air balloons, crafts, carnival rides, and plenty of sauerkraut. Put on your lederhosen and dance to the familiar beat of the oompa bands! - October 17-19 - site no longer available

Apple Harvest Festival - York - Windy Hill Orchard has all your favorite treats, plus hayrides, scarecrows, a pumpkin patch, and of course, plenty of apples - October 18

Wooden Boat Show - Georgetown - One of the Southeast's finest wooden boat exhibits featuring a boat-building competition, crafts, raffles, live music, and delicious food - October 18

Wine Festival at Lake Carolina - Columbia - Over 100 wines, gourmet food prepared by local chefs, and an art auction to benefit Children's Charities of the Midlands - October 19

Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival - Week-long event featuring local seafood, Lowcountry cuisine, and arts and crafts in Bluffton's historic district - October 20-26

South Carolina Humanities Festival - Lake City - Each year the Humanities Council celebrates the history and culture of a different SC city - Three-day event features lectures, discussions, films, and exhibits - October 23-25

ChazzFest - Charleston - Where else can you see sixteen live bands in one day? Featuring a kids stage, big-screen football, and all manner of Lowcountry crafts - October 25 - site no longer available

Sustainable Agriculture Conference - Anderson - More than 60 workshops to choose from including organic farming, nutrition, seasonal cooking, and humane livestock management - October 31-November 2

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7. Beyond the Sombrero: A Trip to Dillon County

Following a bombardment of campy billboards, a giant sombrero looms above the horizon. No, it's not the heatwaves coming off the asphalt of I-95, it's South of the Border. If the advertisements didn't already work their way into your subconscious, then veer off the interstate and prepare to be amazed ... or disappointed. The theme park started as a modest beer stand in 1949 is one of the more recognizable landmarks on the interminable monotony that is I-95. Today, South of the Border seems a little past its prime, which may add to its quirky draw. The gift shops are still there, replete with a bevy of unique junk, and the amusement rides are still working – when they're open. You can still pay just a dollar to ride up the 200-foot giant sombrero tower. .


	SOUTH OF THE BORDER		DILLON		LATTA

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