The Pageland Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony during the grand opening of New Creations Embroidery and Gifts on February 18th.  Mayor Brian Hough and Councilman Joe Clontz were also on hand to welcome the new addition to the downtown business sector.  Located at 115 North Pearl Street, the business is packed with lots of gift ideas.

During the opening, owner Elizabeth Smith treated everyone to homemade goodies and discounted merchandise for the grand opening day.  Special guest were on hand – a friend from church, author Maxine Layne was there to sign copies of her recently published book SEASONS. Other guest included those that have items that are featured and for sale in the store.

New Creations Embroidery and Gifts offers many items, such as:  hand bags, totes, duffle bags, collegiate items, local school spirit gear, ceramics and handmade jewelry.  Elizabeth has been a featured guest during the chamber event – Art at the Center for the past few years.  Her work there proved to be popular with the guest attending.  She was working from her home during that time.  After much consideration and prayer, she decided it was time to move the business into a downtown location for more exposure.  Elizabeth is assisted at the store by family members -Matt, Wesley and Michael – and employee Jessica Leaird.

Elizabeth grew up in Columbia, attended Hammond Academy High School and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina.  She and her husband Matt are dedicated to their children’s academic and sports related endeavors.  They attend and serve at Hope Family Worship Center and they truly believe in the motto:  God First, Family Second and Business Third.

Current Hours of Operation:

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 am – 5:30 pm

Wednesday 10 am – 4 pm

Saturday 10 am – 5 pm

Closed Monday

Visit New Creations Embroidery & Gifts, pick something out for your someone special and let Elizabeth personalize it for you!

Clinic volunteers Kappie Griggs, Mel West and Chamber President Tony Nolan

The Pageland Chamber of Commerce welcomes another new member.  Mercy in Me Free Medical Clinic is a non-profit Corporation located at 32 Foundry Hill Road in Cheraw, SC.  The clinic first opened its doors in September of 2009.

Volunteer Kappie Griggs also serves as Secretary for the corporation.  She sat down with us to explain how the clinic works.  “We are a free medical clinic.  We offer routine medical care for patients who live in Chesterfield County, are over 18 years of age, are uninsured, and have a household income within 200% of the Federal poverty level.”

“All of our services are free to patients who qualify for our clinic.  We survive on donations and non-government grants.  In 2011, we had 437 patient visits!”  Ms. Griggs continued, “all of our staff are volunteers.  We have four doctors, six nurses, six screeners, other medical staff, office staff and cleaning personnel.”

The clinic has two major fund raisers each year.  They host a Banquet in late spring and a Walkathon in the fall.  Their website is:  www.mercyinme.org and it is a great source of information about the clinic.  On that website, you can find information on volunteering, making donations, qualifying for medical care and how to find their office.  You can also  contact them by phone at 843.537.5288.

Our banquet was a night to remember!  The stars were out for our event “Dining with the Stars”.  Who were the stars on hand for the  award winning night?  Why, it was the business owners and employees that came out to join us.

We had beautiful music provided by Satchie Deese to get the night started.  Watermelon Idol winner, Danny Gilmore also entertained us as we enjoyed a meal prepared by Mickey’s Restaurant.   Next up, Jerome Davis delivered a motivating talk on being involved and making a difference.  He is the owner of five McDonald’s restaurants including our Pageland location.  He encouraged us to wake up believing each day will be SUPER FANTASTIC.  That alone will put you in a terrific frame of mind and ready to face the day.

Chamber President, Tony Nolan then informed those present about the events the Chamber sponsored over the past year.  He encouraged members to take a part in as many events as they can, so that we can continue them.  The Watermelon Festival is always looking for volunteers and the Chamber announced big plans for the mony raised through that effort.  Over the next five years the Chamber of Commerce in Pageland has pledged $5000 per year toward Economic Development.  This total of $25,000 will come exclusively from Festival funds.  Membership fees are strickly used for the day to day operations of the office.  With this commitment, the board will be seeking  volunteers to help us with the festival - continuing to grow it and profit from it.

We swiftly moved on to the awards portion of our program.  We are fortunate to have many people to acknowledge each year and a list of accomplishments is below:

5 years in Business:  Goody’s (Peebles) Department Store

10 years in Business:  Priority Health Care Equipment and M & M Leisure Travel

15 years in Business:  Benton Sanitation

20 years in Business:  Bladez Hair Salon, H & R Block, Hospice of Chesterfield County, Marathon Convenience Store and Paul Burch Judge for the State of SC

25 years in Business:  Brock Enterprises

30 years in Business:  Dr. Charles Powell, Jr DMD and Chesco Services

35 years in Business:  Pageland Chiropractic – Ralph Picolet

40 years in Business:  First Citizens Bank, First Palmetto Savings Bank, Merle Norman Studios – Darlene Miles

45 Years in Business:  Pageland Farm Equipment

50 Years in Business:  Gwen’s Salon of Beauty, Inc.

60 Years in Business:  Sandhill Telephone Cooperative, Inc.

70 Years in Business:  Pageland Furniture Company

100 Years in Business:  Pageland Progressive Journal

Business Improvement Awards:  A+ Computers, Pageland Paint, 4K Grill, Ralph Picolet (Sunshine Shop building), National Finance Company, New Creations Embriodery, Pageland Floral & Gift, Adam Foard Law, Tommy Agerton (Nationwide Insurance building), Pageland Pride Partnership Group

Community Improvements Award:  Mack Nicholson

Business Expansion Award:  Screwmatics of South Carolina, Inc., C.M. Tucker Lumber Companies, LLC and Douglas Machine Shop, Inc.

Friend of the Festival Award:  Gerald Miller

Chamber Service Volunteer Award:  Charles & Anita Powell

Chamber Event Service Awards:  Michael Kee – Tour of Homes and Steve Kirchin – Golf Tournament

Community Service Award – High Point Volunteer Fire Department

Community Spirit Award – Luther Benson – (trees, etc in Petersburg), Central High School Girls 2A Softball State Champs, Conbraco (new flag)

Non-Profit of the Year Award:  Chesterfield County First Steps

Corporate Citizen of the Year Award:  Screwmatics of South Carolina, Inc.

Our table decoration winner:  Douglas Machine Shop

32″ Flat Screen TV winner:  Robyn Horne

Santa was busy on Saturday!  He listened to a lot of request from boys and girls who promised that they had been very good this year.  Here are just some of the kids that came out to Freeman’s Video and Winter Wonderland for a picture.  Click on the picture to expand and enlarge it.

The Pageland Chamber of Commerce recently held the 4th quarter teaching seminar.  This last session for the 2011 year was held at lunch time and titled “Power Hour Lunch”.  And boy, did it live up to its name.  It was a packed and powerful hour of information!

Beth’s Country Kitchen at 12:30 on a Tuesday afternoon is a busy place.  Beth and her staff went all out to accommodate us, reserving a spacious area in the back room for our event.  The lunch buffet was excellent and proved to be a good way to “lunch and learn” in a short amount of time. 

With close to 40 in attendance, Board member Glenda Lee welcomed everyone and introduced our speakers.  Training Officer Troy Timney from the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Department spoke first about safety at home and at the business location.  He suggested that owners step back and take a look at their location from the outside.  Make sure you have a safe and secure environment.  He followed up with several suggestions on how to deter crime at those locations.  Next up, Captain Clarence Francis with the Pageland Police Department spoke about concealed weapons permits, tasers, and pepper spray.  Officer Francis teaches the permit class around the state and offers them in Pageland.

Our group meeting concluded with several questions from the audience and informative answers from the police officers in attendance.  If you would like more information on the Concealed Weapons Permit class, please call the Pageland Police Department at 843-672-2535.

New Release Movie night is every Tuesday!

            While Pageland may not have a movie theater yet, it boasts a video store that has something for everyone.  Freeman’s Video located at 110 East McGregor Street has a vast selection of videos, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs as well as the most popular games for all gaming systems.  The store is owned and operated by Pageland native, Mr. Shawn Freeman.

            Shawn graduated from Central High School in 1985 and went on to earn a degree in business management from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.  After graduating from USC, Shawn began working with his father, David Freeman at the Western Auto store that at the time was also located on East McGregor Street.   While reading the local newspaper one day, Shawn saw an advertisement for a position at a video store in Chesterfield.  After working there for three months, he purchased the Chesterfield store and began to expand by purchasing a video store in Pageland. 

            Mr. Freeman says, “I am just not a coat and tie kind of guy.  I like a more relaxed work environment.  I enjoy talking to my customers, many of whom have become my friends.  I also like to help them network.  It makes my job more enjoyable.”   While this interview was being conducted, Mr. Freeman gave the name and number of one of his customers wanting to work in construction to another customer looking for a carpenter. 

While the video rental business has changed greatly over the years, being a good citizen and helping the community has not changed at all for Shawn.  He is a board member of the Pageland Chamber of Commerce, Pageland Watermelon Festival Committee member, and Pageland Pride board member. Shawn helps brighten the holidays in Pageland too.  He goes all out to decorate his store and make it a treat to all who visit during the holidays. Halloween is not just a day for little ones to enjoy trick or treating, it is a month long experience at Freeman’s Video. The store is decorated with several animated ghouls and is always a favorite stop for those who love the holiday.  

           Shawn gives out free candy to the little goblins and other creatures that visit his store on All Hallows Eve.  During the Christmas season the store is transformed into a winter wonderland full of snow covered and decorated trees.  There is also a four wheel riding Santa to greet those who enter.  Shawn loves seeing the little ones get excited over the decorations.

            Changes are inevitable in any business.  Shawn remembers when he purchased the VHS tapes for $85.00 each. “ If I could provide three or four copies of one movies for rental to my customers I felt really good! In 2006 DVDs became the new standard and the VHS became a dinosaur.  Back then every movie came with two or three promotional posters that were theater quality, now we have to pay for them.  There were promotional dolls, stuffed animals and such things to promote a movie and when you ordered a movie it came with a lot of those items.  Those days are gone.”    Shawn now uses many of the old promotional items to help decorate the store. 

            After you have enjoyed browsing the movie aisles, checking out the “Chucky” and “Freddy Kruger” dolls and old movie posters, you may want to consider a quick tanning session.  Shawn also offers a tanning service with several tanning beds available.  You will find a wide array of tanning products to chose from to make sure you get the best tan.  The private tanning rooms are comfortable and roomy.  You can compliment your bronze tan with a pair of Rainbow Sandals that Shawn sells.  You will find some of the hottest new styles of the brand name shoes available in the store. To personalize your Rainbows you can add a pair of “Wrapaboutz” for just a couple of dollars.

            Shawn’s life motto is, “Live and let live.”  His motto is evident by his easy-going attitude. You may go in as a first time customer and come out feeling as though you have made a new friend. 

            Renting a movie is a real bargain in today’s economy. There is no membership fee at Freeman’s Video and DVDs rental is $3.00 per night. It can cost a family of four over $85.00 for movie tickets, snacks and transportation. In contrast, you can rent a movie and sit in the comfort of your home, eat your favorite snack, and watch it again and again to see how you could have possibly NOT known that Dr. Malcolm Crowe of “The Sixth Sense” fame was a ghost!  Yes, you have to admit, renting a video is a great bargain. 

Store Hours

Monday – Thursday 12:00 pm-10;00 pm

Friday – Saturday     12:00 pm-12:00 am

Sunday                       2:00 pm-10:00 pm

Location

110 East McGregor Street

Pageland, SC  29728

Phone

843-672-2362

The Pageland Chamber of Commerce welcomes Hidden Treasures Used Furniture and Home Decor to our membership.  Owner Doug Hinson and fiancé Aieral Joyner offer a wide variety of items in this historic building on the corner of Pearl and McGregor Streets.

Doug began as a delivery man, taking purchased items to homes for his grandfather Richard Carnes.  He liked the family atmosphere and loved the job.  Little did he know how his life would change.  Richard passed away suddenly in October leaving a store full of items and a broken hearted grandson.  Doug then decided to take on the challenge of business ownership and filling some big shoes.   They reopened the doors two weeks later.   ”Doug’s grandfather would be so proud and we’re so glad we could carry on in Richard’s footsteps in the heart of Pageland,” Aieral commented.

Are you looking for a specific item?  Just let them know.  They will keep an eye out for you.  You can find pre-owned furniture, small appliances, dishware and many decorative items.  And not only that, but Aieral is very creative and crafty.  She makes many items herself, for instance holiday wreaths.

Recently, the store has had a face lift.  Doug and Aieral have painted the inside, added curtains and some personal touches.  The landlord, Mack Nicholson has added a beautiful awning around the perimeter.  All of these improvements have certainly made this one of the most beautiful locations in town.

Check out these pictures!  Click on the image to expand and enlarge it.

The Pageland Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome Rivers Graphics to our membership.  Owners Stephen and LaVonna Rivers have been in business since 2007 and are located at 100 North Pearl Street in Pageland – right on the corner.

Chamber board members welcomed them recently and asked LaVonna about the business.  “Rivers Graphics has dedicated its efforts to providing exceptional designs on quality prints since 2007.  We are a family owned and operated business.   Family and friends Nicole Miller and Brigid Edgeworth-Nivens play a role in helping out whenever they are needed.  We have a friendly and welcoming environment in which everyone enjoys taking a part.”

Rivers continued, “Whether you’re looking for family reunion tees, church apparel, business cards, wedding invitations or baskets and balloons, we can meet your every need.  We provide you with the highest quality graphic design at competitive prices.  Our goal is to reach the highest level of customer service and product quality in order to retain customer loyalty and meet all of our customers’ needs for self-promotion.”  Some of the services they offer include:  screen printing, customer tee shirts, “In Memory” photo tee shirts, vinyl letters, customer banners, business cards, baskets, balloons, wedding invitations, booklets, personalized cups, Christmas ornaments, mouse pads, copies, faxes, etc.

LaVonna was born and raised in Pageland.  She is the granddaughter of David Crawford.  She moved away and graduated from Central Piedmont Community College.  After working 13 years in health care, she returned to Pageland and opened the graphics store.

The family is very active in the community and the school system.  Stephen is also employed by Conbraco Industries and enjoys being an Assistant Coach for the Central High Girls Basketball team.  LaVonna and Stephen are the proud parents of three children.  Daughter – Chavonne, the oldest is a student at Lander University and will graduate in December with a degree in Health Care Administration.  Their son, Devonte is a student at CHS and play JV and Varsity sports.  The youngest daughter Malia is currently playing for the CHS varsity basketball team – and was the first 7th grader to make a varsity squad.  She also enjoys playing travel ball for the AAU Palmetto Lightening girls team with her dad as Assistant Coach.  The Rivers attend McClain Grove Church in Cheraw.  Stephen serves as Chairman of Deacons Ministry and LaVonna serves as Deaconess.

Rivers Graphics and the Chamber of Commerce invite you to come by and check out all the products they have to offer.  They are currently running a Pre-Thanksgiving Day Sale with 15% off all Christmas ornaments.