Summerton S.C. Blog: January 2018

30.1.18

Personalized ‘Smart Drones’ for Every Home

A couple of years ago the big news was that Amazon was preparing to test the use of drones to deliver their goods to your home – a service known as Amazon Prime Air. Sounded great, but the idea quickly ran into a myriad of technical, legal, and operational issues that will take many years to overcome. Thankfully, that has given us time to reimagine the whole process and come up with other alternatives.

As time has passed, a number of new features and capabilities of drones may have turned the proposed home delivery idea by Amazon on its head. Instead of each company developing a fleet of drones to deliver their products to your home, it now appears more feasible for every home to have its own drone that will do a wide range of things for the homeowner, from shopping to home security.

Think about it! During a typical week, people put together a shopping list of things to pick up sometime during the week from the local supermarket or drug store. Then you set aside an hour or two to get in your car and go buy and pick up the items on your list. Several times each week you might also go to the drive-in window of a fast food restaurant to pick up dinner.

Now, imagine sending your home drone to go do these tasks. Several times a week your personal ‘smart drone’ will be directed to check your shopping list, transmit the list to the local supermarket and/or drug store, then heads over to the ‘fly-in’ platform at the store to pick up your order, then deliver it back home. When the drone returns, it will land on its docking station where it will recharge and also check to see what other instructions you have sent to it.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Now imagine some of the many other tasks your personal ‘smart drone’ can do for you around your home. It could be programmed to fly around your home at periodic intervals for surveillance purposes, e.g. Aire, Sunflower Labs. It could be used to check your roof for damage after storms. It could keep an eye on your children playing outside, and it could … So many possibilities.

Do we really need fleets of drones from every company trying to deliver products to your home? Your personal ‘smart drone’ knows where your home is, will receive its instructions from your home computer system, and will do your bidding based on your orders and daily schedule. It will be interesting to see which approach finally wins out. Learn more about current ‘delivery drones’.

Recent Articles

29.1.18

"Generations: An Exhibit of Local African American Artists of All Ages"

By Vicki Wilkerson, Local Author of The Summerbrook Novels

Portraits from students at Scott’s Branch High School and quilts from the Summerton Senior Quilters cover the walls at The Lake Marion Artisans Art Gallery in anticipation of an exhibition during Black History Month entitled “Generations: An Exhibit of Local African American Artists of All Ages.” The exhibition will encompass artistic creations from teens to seniors.

Mr. Tarlton Blackwell instructs Dae' Sha Green about her work.

Students from Mr. Tarleton Blackwell’s art classes have been working on portraits of famous African Americans who have impacted black history. Blackwell, who is a Manning native, a renowned artist who has shown work in over 350 exhibitions and who has personally contributed to African-American history with his innovative art, said, “I’ve encouraged my students to focus on local heroes, and some of my students are even related to some of the subjects in these portraits.” According to Blackwell, the young artists are using a “grid technique” to create their projects for the gallery exhibit. Blackwell also plans for his students to write accompanying essays to explain why they chose their individual art projects and the relevance of their subjects to history.

Ketrell Nelson works on shading his composition.

Students worked for weeks on their portraits. Ketrell Nelson said he found it challenging to complete the shading in his composition. Another student, Sarah Middleton, said, “I chose Thurgood Marshall because his work was integral in integrating schools.” Students selected young subjects, older subjects, historical subjects and a few contemporary subjects, all people who made a difference historically.
Blackwell was pleased that students were adding these projects to their portfolios and were getting the exposure at the Lake Marion Artisans Art Gallery. He said, “Many of my students receive scholarships to Columbia College, Claflin University and Benedict College, amongst others.”

Mahogany Mulky finishes her composition of Olivia Brown.

Bonnie Gardner, who spearheaded the exhibit for the gallery, explained that the Lake Marion Artisans involved the youth at the high school because they are the future of the gallery. Gardner said, “Mr. Blackwell was extremely supportive of the gallery’s proposal from the beginning and will be showing one of his own works of art.” Nancy Foster, another gallery member working on the exhibit, said that a secondary goal was, hopefully, to draw interest and support for the gallery from all the members of the community as an outreach to grow the gallery.
Geneva Bell, a spokesperson for the Summerton Senior Quilters, said that her group has been meeting every weekday in the Old Scott’s Branch High School, working on projects and will exhibit nine newly-created quilts, which will be for sale and will fund future quilting projects.

Colorful quilts, many from historic patterns, cover gallery walls.

“Generations: An Exhibit of Local African American Artists of All Ages” will run from February 1, 2018, until February 28, 2018, at The Lake Marion Artisans Art Gallery, a non-profit organization, at 108 Main Street, Summerton, South Carolina. A reception for the multi-generational artists will be held at the gallery at, on February 17, 2018, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The public is invited. The gallery’s normal hours of operation are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Any sales from the exhibit will go directly to the artists. For more information, contact the gallery at 803-460-2716 or email the gallery at lakemarionartisans@gmail.com.

24.1.18

Pink Dogwood Garden Club and Selected Links to Gardening News and Blogs

The following are links posted on Summerton’s Pink Dogwood Garden Club web site to selected news and blogs focused on Landscaping, Garden Design, Gardening...

Major Gardening News Site

Major Gardening Magazines

Quick Gardening Facts

Americans spend more than $3.5 billion each year on food gardening alone, and the numbers are increasing.
The number of home gardens has increased to over 37 million households, while community gardens have tripled to more than 3 million.
The $40 billion dollar Do-IT-Yourself (DIY) yard and garden industry is growing at a slow and steady rate, led by millennials.

Major Gardening 'Blogging' Sites

Other Local News Sites

Pink Dogwood Garden Club: Gardening Apps and Online Databases

There’s a brave new world of glistening gadgets out there, readily available for the tech-savvy gardener to embrace. Technology can’t completely turn you into an expert gardener, but it can increase the odds that your plants will survive and make your yard look at least a little bit better.

The following are links posted on the Pink Dogwood Garden Club web site to selected technologies, software, apps, databases, and other free or low cost tools for use in Landscaping, Garden Design, Gardening...

Software & Apps

Online Databases

21.1.18

Local High School Varsity Basketball Schedules, Scores and Stats - Winter 2017/18

High School Basketball Season is coming to an end and playoffs have now begun. Check out the latest Winter 2017/18 Basketball news, schedule, scores, and statistics on your favorite local Clarendon County high school teams at MAXPREPS.Com

Clarendon Hall Saints - Varsity Boys Basketball Team
Clarendon Hall Saints - Varsity Girls Basketball Team

Scotts Branch Eagles - Varsity Boys Basketball Team
Scotts Branch Eagles - Varsity Girls Basketball Team

Manning High Monarchs - Varsity Boys Basketball Team
Manning High Monarchs - Varsity Girls Basketball Team

Laurence Manning Swampcats - Varsity Boys Basketball Team
Laurence Manning Swampcats - Varsity Girls Basketball Team

East Clarendon Wolverines - Varsity Boys Basketball Team
East Clarendon Wolverines - Varsity Girls Basketball Team

19.1.18

An Exhibition of Local African American Artists of All Ages

In celebration of Black History Month, the Lake Marion Artisans will be presenting "Generations - An Exhibit of Local African American Artists of All Ages". The art exhibit will run all month, from February 1 thru February 28, 2018, in the Lake Marion Artisans Gallery on Main Street in historic Summerton, South Carolina.

The exhibit will be showcasing Fabric Art by senior artists from the Summerton Quilters, in addition to a range of Fine Art by gifted young student artists from the Art Department at Scotts Branch High School in Summerton. In addition, new artworks will be on display from Tarleton Blackwell, the Scotts Branch HS art instructor and renowned artist from the Summerton area.

An Artists' Reception will be held Saturday, February 17, from 3-5 pm at the Lake Marion Artisans Gallery. Everyone is welcome to attend! Hope to see you there.

For more information on the Lake Marion Artisans and operating hours for the art gallery, go to the Lake Marion Artisans web site.

14.1.18

Unraveling the Confusion About Blockchain Technology and Bitcoin

Over the past several years I have paid interested, but half-hearted attention, to the topic of Bitcoin and the Blockchain technology it is built upon. It has been very confusing to try and decipher, but seemed important enough to stay attuned to as we head into the future.

I recently bought a copy and read a copy of the book ‘Blockchain for Dummies’ published in 2017. A great book that is a must read for all managers who are going to be around for the next 20 years. The book finally explained and clarified for me, what Blockchain and Bitcoin are all about.

The following is a very high level management overview of Blockchain based on what I learned from the book along with selected links you might want to check out.

Blockchains are a novel approach to the creation of a distributed database that incorporates a number of existing technologies that can now be used in new, innovative ways by individuals and independent organizations to more securely create, transmit and store seemingly permanent records of a wide variety of data transactions.

The ‘Dummies Guide’ mentions three types of Blockchains: Large public blockchains like the Bitcoin network, permissioned blockchains like Ripple, and a growing number of smaller private blockchains typically used by a consortium of trusted members. All three types of blockchain solutions are decentralized peer-to-peer systems that make use of cryptography, secure wallets, smart contracts, protocols, tokens… To better understand the key components you’ll need to do some further study on your own.

Bitcoin – This term is confusingly used to refer to the public blockchain Bitcoin network, as well as to the cryptocurrency token used by the system to exchange value when a financial transaction takes place. Don’t get caught up in the ridiculous obsession about the value of the Bitcoin token.

The open source Bitcoin network was the first and most famous of the blockchain systems to emerge. However it has many limitations and several other prominent blockchain systems have emerged. The key ones include: Ether e um that has a built in programming language and uses a cryptocurrency token called ether; Ripple, that uses a cryptocurrency called ripples; and Factom Inc., which has built a variety of useful tools and apps.

Some of the major companies and organizations working on blockchain networks and solutions for industry include Microsoft, Cisco, Google, Hyperledger, IBM, Intel… and they are working with major financial organizations like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and JP Morgan. They are also now branching out into the healthcare, insurance, real estate and many other industries – including the government and ‘smart cities’.

The coming decades are going to be very exciting as blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, robots, and the Internet of Things (IoT) come to pass. It will be interesting to watch what unfolds when governments finally focus on regulating cryptocurrencies.

Selected Links

13.1.18

Information on Flowers and Plants across the South

Do you love Gardening? Do you live in Summerton or around nearby Lake Marion in South Carolina? Then perhaps you ought to consider joining a local garden club.

The Pink Dogwood Garden Club is located in historic Summerton, South Carolina. It was first organized back in 1937 and is open to both men and women who have an interest in gardening, plants, and wildlife. The club is a member of both the National Garden Clubs and the Garden Clubs of South Carolina.

Garden clubs are an organized group of people with a shared interest in gardens, gardening, and plants. The first and oldest organized garden club in the US was the Ladies' Garden Club of Athens, Georgia, that was started in 1891.

As we head into 2018, it seemed appropriate to take a look at some of the more recent published articles focused on flowers and plants across the South. Here are some of the selected articles we thought you might want to read from a variety of sources:

In addition, you might also want to check out these free online databases of flowers and plants that we have found useful:

For more information about Southern gardens, flowers and plants, take the time to visit the PinkDogwood Garden Club web site.

12.1.18

Learn more about the Pink Dogwood Garden Club in Summerton, S.C.

Do you love Gardening? Live in Summerton or around nearby Lake Marion in South Carolina? Then perhaps you ought to consider joining the Pink Dogwood Garden Club.

Garden clubs are an organized group of people with a shared interest in gardens, gardening, and plants. The first and oldest organized garden club in the US was the Ladies' Garden Club of Athens, Georgia, that was started in 1891.

The PinkDogwood Garden Club was organized back in 1937. It is located in historic Summerton, South Carolina. The club is a member of both the National Garden Clubs and the Garden Clubs of South Carolina. The goals of the organization include:

the advancement and understanding of gardening,
the beautification of the Town of Summerton, and
the improvement of ourselves, our homes, and our communities.

Horticulture is the science and art of growing plants – e.g. fruits, vegetables, flowers. It covers the fields of plant conservation, landscape restoration, soil management, landscape, garden design, and more.

The following is a list of just some of the major projects and activities of the Pink Dogwood Garden Club:

Annual Arbor Day Program
Summerton Downtown Beautification Program
Memorial Day Program at the Pink Dogwood Mini Park in Summerton
Veterans Day Program at the Pink Dogwood Mini Park in Summerton
Backyard Wildlife Habitat Certification Program
St. Matthias Montessori Pre-School Landscaping and Playground Cleanup
Magazine Collection and Distribution to the Local Hospital and Nursing Homes.

If you are interested in joining the garden club and need more information, please go to the new Pink Dogwood GardenClub web site or contact the current club President via email at beverlymoberg@yahoo.com

* Don't forget to check out the Pink Dogwood Garden Club Weekly News site.

Get ready for the 21st Annual Great Backyard Bird Count

Launched back in 1998 by the National Audubon Society, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time. Today, more than 160,000 people of all ages and walks of life worldwide join the four-day count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds.

For at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, February 16-19, simply tally the numbers and kinds of birds you see. You can count from any location, anywhere in the world, for as long as you wish. That means you too can participate from right here in Summerton. The GBBC event will take place between February 16-19, 2018. Don’t forget to use the new eBird app designed to help you count and share your findings with the global ‘birding’ community.

Don’t forget to read Bird Watching Around Summerton, Santee, and nearby Lake Marion, S.C.

5.1.18

Rocket Girls Exhibit at 4 MAIN in Summerton SC - Update

‘4 MAIN’ in downtown Summerton, in community partnership with Scott’s Branch High School Junior ROTC, presents the International Women’s Air & Space Museum Traveling Exhibition starting on January 23 [new date after snow storm] through February 28, 2018.

The ‘Rocket Girls’ educational exhibition from Cleveland, Ohio, highlights a number of female astronauts from the Space Program who helped push the gender boundry to serve as role models for future generations. In addition, ‘4 MAIN’ will also feature an exhibit from the South Carolina Airplane Museum.

The opening ceremony for the ‘Rocket Girls’ exhibit will be held on January 9^th at 8:30 am in the Cultural Arts Center at 12 South Church Street in Summerton, SC. The guest speaker will be squadron pilot Capt. Kayla Hill of the 437^th Airlift Wing stationed at the Joint US Airbase in Charleston, SC. The ceremony will also include a slideshow presentation by retired USAF Colonel George Summers, a resident of Summerton.

For more information on the exhibit and directions to 4 MAIN, call the Town of Summerton at 803-485-4385.