GREENVILLE JOURNAL

The Local Honeys bring dark Appalachian tone to Radio Room: Upstate Beat

Vincent Harris — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 04:00:15 +0000

Back in 2010, the cable network FX launched a new crime drama called “Justified.” For the next six seasons, Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, played by Timothy Olyphant, stalked through the woods and hollers of eastern Kentucky, searching for criminals and moving deeper into the shadowy history of Appalachia.

The show had a fine enough soundtrack, but if the producers had known about The Local Honeys, they probably would have used their music exclusively.

The Local Honeys is a Kentucky project to the bone. The band is a duo of violinist Montana Hobbs and guitarist Linda Jean Stokley, and their sound perfectly captures the lushness and melancholy of Appalachian culture.

Their most recent release, a 2022 self-titled effort, is packed with keening harmonies, wailing fiddle, and subtle and effective backing from electric instruments.

The largely acoustic album effortlessly struck a chord with this dyed-in-the-wool Southerner, and if you catch the band’s performance at Greenville’s Radio Room Jan 22, perhaps it will for you, as well.

Photo by Roundtable Artists

The Local Honeys have the advantage of both being Southern and having studied Appalachian music in intense detail at Morehead State University; Hobbs and Stokley graduated in the early 2010s with degrees in traditional music.

“We’re deeply moved and inspired by this music, and the history that comes along with it,” says Hobbs, who plays banjo. “Somebody told us a long time ago that traditional music is dead. That’s always been something that we wrestled with because it’s not dead. It’s ever evolving. And we felt a responsibility to add our own pieces to it.”

Interestingly enough, Hobbs herself didn’t start out as a musician. She initially attended Morehead State to study veterinary medicine. But once she saw that she could get credit for a private banjo instruction class, she picked up the instrument and got hooked on old-time music thanks to the music scene surrounding her.

“I advanced pretty quickly because I had this community of people around me who were extremely encouraging and forthcoming with their knowledge,” she says. “I had incredible mentors, and there was no gatekeeping.”

That’s the spirit that Hobbs and Stokley have tried to carry forward as The Local Honeys, and their passion for that traditional Appalachian music will no doubt translate to the Radio Room audience.

“The music has to evolve,” Hobbs says. “It has to keep going. You have to share it.”

Want to go?

Who: The Local Honeys

When: Wednesday, Jan. 22

Where: Radio Room, 28 Liberty Lane, Greenville

Tickets and info: radioroomgreenville.com

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News of the Weird: Unclear on the concept

Guest Contributor — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 02:00:59 +0000

Sam, 22, is an assistant manager at a frozen yogurt shop in Florida, Newsweek reported on Dec. 26, but even at his young age, he is able to recognize cash that might be counterfeit. Unlike his employees, that is, who flagged a $10 bill and a $5 bill as FAKE. “I shed a tear because of the sharpie they scrawled onto the bills,” he wrote on Reddit. Sam said he had to explain that the bills were “just old, not counterfeit.” He admitted that people his age and younger might rarely use cash: “It’s a digital world nowadays, so I would suspect that to be one reason (they flagged the bills).”

Questionable judgment

On Dec. 17, California Highway Patrol officers in Madera County shared a photo on Facebook of a Honda Ridgeline truck they had pulled over, Carscoops reported. With an unintentional nod to “The Grapes of Wrath,” the truck was piled to at least twice its height with random items, some of which were flying off into traffic, officers said. “It is important to always secure your load/cargo and not exceed your vehicle’s load capacity,” CHP cautioned. “Flying debris can make motorists take evasive action and potentially be involved in a traffic crash.”

Saw that coming

The Rockwall County Herald-Banner in Texas reported that Valencia Smith, mother of a former football player for Rockwall-Heath High School, filed a suit on Dec. 23 against the team’s former coach, John Harrell, and 12 other coaches. Smith’s suit stems from an incident in January 2023, in which the coaches allegedly used excessive exercise as punishment for wearing the wrong uniform or failing to show enough “hustle.” Students were forced to perform more than 400 pushups within an hour, which led to at least 26 players being diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a condition that causes muscle to break down and enter the bloodstream. Smith said her son spent seven days in a hospital. The lawsuit seeks compensation for his medical expenses. Harrell resigned in March 2023; he settled two other lawsuits, but this is the first that names the assistant coaches as defendants.

Bright idea

Canadian business student Javeria Wasim, 19, was with a friend in Toronto when she hatched the brilliant idea to try to bite into a 3-inch jawbreaker, the Daily Mail reported on Dec. 24. Immediately, Wasim’s jaw began to hurt, and a tooth became loose. X-rays revealed that she had suffered two fractures in her jaw. The following day, she underwent surgery and had her jaw wired shut for six weeks. She said she would “probably never try a jawbreaker again. It hurt really bad, I was crying a lot when the ambulance came,” she said. “All my bottom teeth are messed up. I lost seven pounds in two weeks. It was a dumb idea.”

The foreign press

Belarusian retailer ZNWR, sometimes called the “Balenciaga of Belarus,” is making headlines with its newest line of dresses and jackets, starting at about $116, fashioned from bubble wrap. The Times of India reported on Dec. 30 that the air-filled pockets provide a satisfying, quirky popping experience. The brand hyped the dresses as perfect for those who want to stand out on New Year’s Eve (rather than wear the tired old velvet and satin). At least when you fall down drunk, you’ll be cushioned!

Least competent criminal

In Haines City, Florida, on Dec. 29, Jervin Omar Mendieto Romero, 40, arrived at the home of his former partner, ClickOrlando reported. Romero wanted to speak with her, but when no one answered the door, he crawled into the house through a window, police said. “Once inside,” police said, Romero “confronted … his ex-domestic partner and her new boyfriend.” The boyfriend was shot five times; in the process, Romero managed to shoot off his own ring finger. “This caused (him) to drop the firearm and flee the residence on foot,” police reported. They tracked him down less than a mile away, and he was charged with attempted first-degree murder and armed burglary with assault or battery, along with other offenses. The boyfriend is expected to survive.

Inappropriate behavior

Jude Hill of Plymouth, England, traveled to Thailand a few months ago after a fire at her home in September, Metro News reported. Around 3 a.m. on Christmas, Hill and her boyfriend were seen in the lobby of the Flipper Lodge Hotel in Pattaya, Thailand, consummating their relationship on a sofa. Witnesses said the pair then tried to move to a glass table, but it shattered. “We approached them and discovered they were not hotel customers, so we ushered them out,” an anonymous worker said. Hill ran away but was detained by an armed officer near the beach. The hotel plans to press charges.

That rule doesn’t apply to me

Magnus Carlsen, 34, the No. 1 chess player in the world, dropped out of the Fide World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in New York on Dec. 27 because he didn’t want to change out of his blue jeans, Sky News reported. Officials said he had broken the dress code; Carlsen wasn’t moved. “I didn’t even think about it. … They said I could (change) after the third round today. I said, ‘I’ll change tomorrow if that’s OK’ … but they said, ‘Well you have to change now.’ At that point it became a matter of principle for me.” Carlsen said he’d head somewhere with better weather.

Reunited

A Florida family got just what they wanted for Christmas when they answered a 2:30 a.m. doorbell ring on Christmas Eve to find their missing dog. Brooke Comer, a Green Cove Springs resident whose 4-year-old German shepherd, Athena, went missing on Dec. 15, spent the ensuing nine days receiving tips from neighbors and people in nearby towns about Athena sightings, but the frustrated family would always arrive too late, NEWS10 ABC reported. After several heartbreaking near-misses and with Christmas just one day away, Comer received an early morning notification from her Ring doorbell. “I was kind of like in a daze, and the dog was barking, and as soon as I heard that ring, I looked at my phone and you could see in the video it was Athena and she was jumping at the door, ringing the doorbell,” Comer said. Athena seemed no worse for the wear after her journey, but will receive a full exam (and a microchip) soon.

Lost at sea

A shark caught in the net of a fisherman is nothing new, but when it’s the first Lego shark find since a cargo ship lost its load of nearly 5 million pieces at sea 27 years ago, the news makes waves. The BBC reported on Dec. 28 that hundreds of pieces from the Tokyo Express cargo ship have been recovered this year; the ship was hit by an unexpected wave on Feb. 13, 1997, and lost 62 shipping containers some 20 miles off Land’s End, England. Since then, the BBC reports that the pieces have been washing ashore in southwest England, the Channel Islands, Wales, Ireland and even the Netherlands and Norway, but the shark find in August by fisherman Richard West, 35, of Plymouth, England, was the first of the 22,200 dark gray and 29,600 light gray Lego sharks lost in the incident. “The sharks sink, which explains why so few have been found,” said Tracey Williams of the Lego Lost at Sea project. “There are probably some 50,000-plus still lying on the seabed, some making their way ashore, others heading into deeper waters.”

— distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication

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Jasmine Kitchen hits admirable milestone: Weekly Dish

Tiare Solis — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 02:00:49 +0000

Purpose-driven restaurant Jasmine Kitchen recently announced a milestone for its business.

Jasmine Kitchen is powered by local nonprofit Jasmine Road, a residency program that empowers women who are survivors of drug addiction, sex trafficking and prostitution. Jasmine Kitchen provides career opportunities for the nonprofit’s residents.

On Jan. 13, the restaurant announced on social media that it now employs 11 residents.

“We now have 11 amazing residents employed at one time, the most ever,” the post said. “This achievement is more than just a number; it’s a testament to the growth we’ve worked so hard for and the resilience of these incredible women.”

In addition to the delicious food, patrons of Jasmine Kitchen know their money goes toward helping local women on a road to healing. Jasmine Kitchen is located at 503 Augusta St. in downtown Greenville.

***

Greer’s Riverside Bagels & Deli quietly closed.

The news was announced social media by Gio’s Pastry, Caffe and Italian Market, which used to sell Riverside’s bagels on Saturdays. Gio’s is currently temporarily closed and will not resume Saturday bagel sales in wake of the closure. Riverside is now noted as “permanently closed” on Google.

Gio’s is located at 218 S. Main St. in Fountain Inn.

***

A new Nothing Bundt Cakes held its grand opening in Taylors with a ribbon cutting Jan. 16.

The new location is the bakery’s third in the Upstate. The chain was founded in 1997. Although it is not South Carolina-based or founded, Clemson University football coach Dabo Swinney once helped the then-fledgling business in its first expansion during his days as a real estate agent.

Nothing Bundt Cakes is located at 5314 Wade Hampton Blvd. in Taylors.

***

Photo provided The People’s Tap

Planned and postponed events to look forward to:

Downtown Greenville favorite Sum Bar will host its second anniversary party, jointly celebrating Lunar New Year on Feb. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free and will include lion dancers, food, lantern crafts and drinks from local vendors. Sum Bar is located at 307 E. Washington St.
The People’s Tap will host its two-year anniversary party Feb. 3. It was postponed due to the winter weather on Jan. 10.
Everyone loves when great minds join forces. Potluck GVL and SOL GVL will collaborate on a five-course dinner Feb. 3 at Sum Bar. Drink pairings are available. Tickets can be purchased on Resy.

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January’s adoptable pet: Larry

Tiare Solis — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 02:00:49 +0000

January’s pet of the month is Larry. Sweet Larry has had a bit of bad luck. He came to the Greenville Human Society shelter with his brothers and sisters as a puppy but unfortunately broke his leg as a little guy. The tumble caused him to spend several months of puppyhood in recovery. As a result, adoption became more of a challenge and he has been at the humane society for a year.

Larry’s smile is brighter than the sun, and he’s a pretty whimsical dude. He enjoys long walks and rolling in the grass – almost as much as he would love snuggling up in a warm blanket on a comfy couch in his forever home.

Those interested in adopting Larry should stop by the Greenville Humane Society at 305 Airport Road in Greenville. For more information, call 864-242-3626 or visit greenvillehumane.com.

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Greenville Center for Creative Arts to receive $25K award from the NEA

Staff — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:30:38 +0000

Greenville Center for Creative Arts announced Jan. 14 it has been approved to receive a $25,000 grant for arts projects from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The funds will be used to support GCCA’s 12-month Brandon Fellowship program. Fellows receive studio space, mentorship, professional development and access to GCCA’s resources.

“We are honored to receive our first-ever grant from the National Endowment for the Arts,” said Jess Abbott, chief executive officer of GCCA. “This award is a testament to the impact of the Brandon Fellowship program and its role in fostering emerging talent from historically underrepresented communities. Receiving NEA funding validates the work we are doing at GCCA and elevates the visibility of our mission on a national level. This support allows us to expand opportunities for our Fellows and highlights the importance of investing in inclusive programs that strengthen the cultural fabric of our community. We are excited to continue making a difference with the support of such a renowned organization.”

For more information, visit artcentergreenville.org.

Meet the 2024-25 Brandon Fellows at Greenville Center for Creative Arts

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Parkour Mama Yu Hannah Kim on fulfillment, fun, and fitness

Leigh Savage — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 23:07:49 +0000

Yu Hannah Kim has tackled swimming, parkour, and TV—and is taking on a new five-sport challenge.

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Greer advances updated ordinance to include impact fees: City Council notes

Jeannie Putnam — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 21:00:42 +0000

Here’s a recap of Greer City Council’s Jan. 14 meeting.

Initial approval: Ordinance update to include impact fees, canvasser and peddler fees

Council approved an updated ordinance that would establish impact fees and fees for canvassers and peddlers.

If the updates receive final approval, the impact fees would include:

Single family residential – $5,234 per unit, attached or detached
Multifamily residential – $3,089 per unit, like duplexes, apartments and mobile homes
Retail – $3,247 per 1,000 square feet
Office – $2,349 per 1,000 square feet
Industrial – $1,102 per 1,000 square feet
Institutional – $2,319 per 1,000 square feet

Following final approval, solicitors, canvassers and peddlers would have to pay $10 for an ID card and a $25 permit fee.

This item will go before the City Council for final approval Jan. 28.

Held over: Annexation for residential development

Council held over an ordinance annexing a 4.68-acre parcel at 770 Brockman McClimon Road into the city and establishing an initial zoning classification of traditional neighborhood.

The applicant, Carolyn B. Hamby plans to combine the property with four adjacent parcels totaling 20 acres for a mixed single-family detached/townhome residential development. If approved, the measure would pave the way for all five properties to be joined in a 25-acre project involving a projected total of 166 units.

This item will go before the City Council for final approval Jan. 28.

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Simpsonville receives clean fiscal year audit: City Council notes

Jeannie Putnam — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 20:00:54 +0000

Here is a recap of the Simpsonville City Council on Jan. 14.

Other item: Fiscal year 2023-2024 audit

During his presentation to council, David Phillips of Greene Finney Cauley said that his firm found no issues with Simpsonville’s financial records from fiscal year 2023-2024.

The report included various highlights, including:

The general fund increased by $2.8 million from 2023 to $26.3 million in 2024 with $19.7 million of the revenue coming from taxes.
General fund expenditures increased by $1.5 million from 2023 and included $1 million in additional funds to public safety.
Most increased general fund expenditures were primarily related to higher salaries and benefits.
The sewer fund increased $2.6 million over the past year to $23.3 million and included $1.9 million in grant revenues.

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Greenville Jewish Federation to commemorate Auschwitz liberation Jan. 27

Staff — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 16:59:07 +0000

Greenville Jewish Federation staff and Upstate community members will participate in a memorial commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Jan. 27.

Hosted in collaboration with the University of South Carolina’s Anne Frank Center, the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust will host the memorial at the Pastides Alumni Center in Columbia at 10:30 a.m.

The event will feature guest speakers including NBC’s Chuck Todd and Gov. Henry McMaster, a candle-lighting ceremony with Holocaust survivors’ children and spiritual reflections by Rev. Eric Manning of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, Rabbi Erik Uriate of Tree of Life Reform Congregation in Columbia and Rabbi Sam Rose of Temple of Israel Congregation in Greenville.

The memorial will also include the Fort Jackson Color Guard and 282nd Army Band with the national anthem and colors presentation, and music performances by Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim and the University of South Carolina School of Music.

The event will be live-streamed by SCETV at scetv.org/80thliberation.

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Greenville County Council rescinds development ordinance approval

Jay King — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:32:48 +0000

Greenville County Council voted during a called meeting Jan. 14 to reverse final approval of the Unified Development Ordinance and send it back to committee for further consideration.

The action was prompted by Councilman Rick Bradley – a procedural move that was the only matter under consideration at the meeting. Bradley was elected council vice chairman the previous week.

Third — and typically final — reading of the UDO had been approved during the Dec. 3, 2024, council meeting.

With approval of the move to reconsider, the UDO was effectively returned to second reading status and referred to the Committee of the Whole.

In a statement at the close of the called meeting, Chairman Benton Blount said the move was aimed at addressing some of the shortcomings in the UDO.

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Greenville Symphony plans Empire Strikes Back concert, screening on May 4

Staff — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 20:00:05 +0000

The Greenville Symphony Orchestra will present “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” May 4 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Kicking off at 7 p.m., the event will feature a screening of the complete film with composer John Williams’ Oscar-winning score performed live to the film.

GSO held a similar performance in May 2024 featuring “Star Wars: A New Hope.”

Tickets start at $29.50. For more information, visit bonsecourswellnessarena.com or ticketmaster.com.

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Greenville begins work on Grove Road lane reduction

Megan Fitzgerald — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:30:29 +0000

The city of Greenville recently began work on a lane reduction project along Grove Road.

The four-lane roadway will be reduced to three lanes from Augusta Street to Henrydale Avenue near the Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital. The city’s neighborhood infrastructure bond will fund the project which aims to slow traffic and enhance pedestrian safety.

Roadway repairs began Jan. 14. According to the city, lane closures will occur over the next three to four months as the work is completed. In the spring, the entire roadway will be repaved and high-visibility crosswalks and other safety enhancements will be installed.

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North Greenville names former NFL lineman as head football coach

Staff — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 18:45:28 +0000

Former NFL lineman Nate Garner has been named as North Greenville University’s new head football coach, the university announced Jan. 14.

Garner will assume the role Jan. 15 after having served as Limestone University’s offensive line coach since 2022.

Garner has coached at high school, college, and professional levels since 2018 following a seven-year career with the Miami Dolphins.

He takes over from long-time NGU Head Coach Jeff Farrington, who stepped away from the program in early December after 12 years at the helm.

Following Farrington’s departure, NGU Athletic Director Will Lowrey worked with a search committee of athletics staff, faculty, administrators, and alumni to narrow the field of candidates for the position with the NCAA Division II program.

Garner will lead NGU into the first season of Conference Carolinas competition, as the football team completes a move from the Gulf South Conference. The Trailblazers’ 2025 season begins at Delta State University on Sept. 6, with a home opener against conference foe Barton College on Sept. 13.

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Swamp Rabbit Cafe chef chosen as 2025 SC chef ambassador

Tiare Solis — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:00:22 +0000

Jeanne Koenigsberg of Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery was selected as a South Carolina chef ambassador for 2025.

Koenigsberg has been with the trailside cafe and grocery since 2023. She serves as kitchen general manager.

Each year, a handful of chefs across the state are selected to serve as chef ambassadors. Gov. Henry McMaster announced this year’s selections on Jan. 13.

Also selected were Darren Smith, owner and executive chef of Rivertown Bistro and Bonfire in Conway, and Shuai Wang, chef and owner of Jackrabbit Filly and King BBQ in Charleston.

The program is a combined effort by the state’s Department of Agriculture and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism but the ambassadors are appointed by the governor. The program was launched in 2014. The chefs will attend food festivals and others events in their year as ambassadors.

Mike Sibert, owner of White Wine & Butter in Greer, was the Upstate’s chef ambassador in 2024.

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Remote Area Medical to host free health care clinic in Greenville

Megan Fitzgerald — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:00:17 +0000

Remote Area Medical will host a free health care clinic Feb. 15 and 16 in Greenville.

Community members can visit the clinic to receive free dental, vision and medical care. Insurance or identification is not required to receive care at the clinic. Services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

As a nonprofit, Remote Area Medical hosts pop-up clinics across the county to offer health care services to those in need. The clinics are funded by donors and operated by volunteers.

The clinic will be held at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville at 607 Grove Road. The parking lot at the clinic site will open no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14.

Clinic doors open at 6 a.m. Those wishing to receive services are encouraged to arrive as early as possible. The clinic closing time may vary based on daily capacity.

For more information, visit ramusa.org.

Available services

Remote Area Medical will provide free medical care at its clinic in February. The services provided include:

Dental care

Cleanings
Fillings
Extractions
X-rays

Vision care

Complete eye exams
Eye health evaluations
Prescription glasses made on site

Medical care

Physical exams
Prescription consultations
Women’s health
General exams

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