Irmo Chapin Life Magazine - March/April 2024

March Madness is here! Yes, the term used to describe the NCAA basketball tournaments has taken over mainstream culture. With the success of the Carolina Gamecocks men’s and women’s basketball programs, our local community is a huge part of the March basketball hoopla.

Madness is the keyword for March, with St. Patrick’s Day and most importantly Easter, it’s a very busy month. In my opinion, Jesus would call his crucifixion “madness” and St. Patrick’s Day in 5 Points is a different form of madness. Add in the presidential primaries, politics in general, and the rapidly changing world we now live in, MADNESS seemingly reigns supreme. None of this large-scope madness even accounts for the personal madness going on within our lives.

Wow! That is a lot to unpack. Personally, I can be overwhelmed at times by the chaotic madness and have been seeking solutions to settle myself down at the end of each frenzied day. The first thing I realized is that I have no set plan to relax and chill. Do you have one? If so, I am open to suggestions. I have tried the “stiff” drink route and found that it didn’t work for me. Currently, I am “unplugging” at night to distance myself from work and the world. I started journaling every few days and that has helped me transition my anxiety from brain to paper. I was skeptical at first, but I must say it works. Anne Frank was on to something. I find it releases my stress in a constructive versus destructive manner. Madness subsides at least until the next day comes.

Thanks for reading the magazine. Enjoy a brief respite from the world. Have a happy St. Patrick’s Day and Easter with those you love. I am thankful God saw the madness and sent His son Jesus to save us. Soon He will come again. Alleluia!

Todd Shevchik

MARCH•APRIL

Friday, March 8 - Sunday, March 10

Carolina Classic Home & Garden Show

SC State Fairgrounds | 1200 Rosewood Dr. Columbia

Turn your dream home into a reality with the finest construction, remodeling, and gardening experts from across the Midlands all at Columbia’s original Home Show. For more information visit homeshowcolumbia.com.

Saturday, March 9

Indoor Yard Sale

Crooked Creek Park | 1098 Old Lexington Hwy.

Chapin | 7 am – 11 am

Clean out your garage, attic, kid’s rooms, and closets, and participate as a vendor or drop by for some great bargains and treasures. Visit icrc.net for more information.

Saturday, March 9

Mary’s Mobile Market

Irmo Community Park | 7507 Eastview Dr.

Irmo | 10 am – 2 pm

Food and Artisan Market featuring locally sourced food and one-of-a-kind artisan creations. A great place to find local artisan crafts and to mix and mingle with the locals. Visit townofirmosc.com for more information.

Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16

Spring Fling

Wingard’s Market | 1403 N. Lake Dr. | Lexington

Stock up on all your spring gardening essentials such as shrubs, trees, flowers, and decorations. See what’s new for 2024. Visit wingardsmarket.com for more information.

Thursday, March 21

Taste of Lake Murray

Doubletree by Hilton | 2100 Bush River Rd.

Columbia | 6 pm

This “Party With A Purpose” fundraiser supports the Fourth of July Celebration at Lake Murray, offering bites from over 20 restaurants and voting for the next chef to join Team Lake Murray Country at the 2024 World Food Championships. For tickets visit lakemurraycountry.com.

Saturday, March 23

Irmo Cherry Blossom Festival

Irmo Town Park | 7330 Carlisle St. | Irmo 10 am – 5 pm

Blooms of colorful cherry blossoms are a sure sign of the arrival of spring in the Southern region. This family-friendly festival features quiet picnicking, blossom-viewing, plein air art, handcrafted artwork, and more. For more information visit townofirmosc.com.

Saturday, March 23

Egg Hunt

Saluda Shoals Park | 6071 St Andrews Rd.

Columbia | 11 am – 1 pm

Bring your basket for an Egg Hunt at the Fields at Saluda Shoals Park. Food trucks and vendors will be available, space is limited. For tickets visit icrc.net.

Monday, April 1 – Friday, April 5

Spring Break Camp - Game On!

Art Smart Academy | 7106 Broad River Rd. | Irmo Campers will experience an art buffet with mixed-media art camp: clay, canvas, and watercolor. Choose half day or full day, ages 5-12. To register visit artsmartacademy.com.

Thursday, April 4 – Sunday, April 7

12th Annual Tartan Day South Highland Games and Celtic Festival 2001 Charleston Hwy. | Cayce

Tartan Day South honors the Celtic culture and heritage in South Carolina’s Midlands region. Proceeds benefit the River Alliance. For an event schedule visit tartandaysouth.com.

Thursday, April 11 – Sunday, April 14

Midlands Spring Plant and Flower Festival

SC State Farmers Market | 3483 Charleston Hwy. West Columbia

Shop spring plants and flowers, gardening equipment, décor, and seasonal produce at the State Farmers Market. Admission and parking are free.

Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28

Leeann Morgan: Just Getting Started

Township Auditorium | 1703 Taylor St. Columbia

Leanne’s style of comedy combines her Southern charm and hilarious storytelling about her own life. For tickets visit thetownship.org.

faithMATTERS

BRIAN ADLEMAN

Campus Pastor

Seacoast Church Irmo Campus

Sundays 9:00 am & 10:30 am www.seacoast.org/irmo

Busy Life, Holy Preparation

Easter is nearly upon us, signaling the arrival of spring and that means a lot of wonderful things: warmer weather, and for me, the return of baseball season—something I love. If we haven’t met, I’m happily married to Angela, and together we’re raising two incredible kids: an 8-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter who thinks she is 13 years old.

As the days grow longer and our schedules fill up, it’s easy to get caught in the whirlwind of busyness that seems to define modern life. But amidst the hustle and bustle, it’s crucial to remember that being on the go all the time can leave us unprepared for the blessings that await us.

This brings me to Holy Week, particularly Matthew 21. Holy Week, the period between Palm Sunday and Easter, holds special significance as a time of devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ. It serves as a reminder to pause, connect with God, and make Him a priority in our lives – not just during Holy Week, but every day.

Just as we prepare for our daily tasks—like ensuring we have everything we need for the day especially when caring for our children—our spiritual readiness requires intentional effort. Neglecting this preparation can leave us spiritually ill-equipped to face life’s challenges with grace and understanding.

I vividly recall a time when I went to the store with my daughter and didn’t think to bring the diaper bag – a BIG mistake. What I thought would be a simple outing turned chaotic when she had a blowout (sorry so graphic), leaving me with a literal and metaphorical mess. This experience emphasized the importance of preparation; just as my wife Angela ensures the diaper bag is ready when we go out, we must prioritize our spiritual readiness to receive God’s guidance and support each day.

Being prepared spiritually is like having the diaper bag in hand –it empowers us to navigate any situation with grace. As we strive for a profound connection with Christ, the responsibility lies not solely with Him but also with us. While we express a desire for this spiritual connection, genuine preparation is often overlooked.

Establishing the groundwork involves creating intentional moments for spiritual communion and fostering an environment conducive to building a meaningful relationship. By proactively preparing ourselves, (like setting time to pray, read the word, or worship) we become better equipped to handle unexpected situations, strengthening our ability to connect with Christ even in unforeseen circumstances.

As we approach Easter, let’s not forget to pack our spiritual “diaper bag” with time in the word, times of worship, and times for prayer. The more prepared we are, the more equipped we become to share the transformative impact of God’s work in our lives – a testimony that may just save someone else’s life. n

by Mary Ann Hutcheson

Burke Cromer

Head Golf Pro at Mid Carolina Golf Club

Burke Cromer seemed born to play professional baseball. His father played in the minor leagues and coached the South Carolina freshman team for a year, before coaching the Lake City baseball team for 17 years. Burke Cromer played baseball at the University of South Carolina from 1989-1992, then played with the Atlanta Braves Organization for a year and a half. All three of his brothers played separately on big-league teams like the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, LA Dodgers, Houston Astros, and the Toronto Blue Jays.

So, how did he end up having a very successful career as a golf pro, certified by the Professional Golf Association, and employed as head professional at the Mid Carolina Golf Club? In his case, Cromer says he “…kind of got into golf by accident.” He had a serious injury to his shoulder which changed the course of his life.

Were his parents let down in him? Not at all. Cromer says his parents never really pushed the boys toward baseball; they just gravitated to it. He added that the boys did not get all their athletic prowess from their dad.

“Our mom was an athlete herself. She told us she played defense in basketball back in the day when you didn’t cross halfcourt. She twirled the baton in the band. She was a good dancer. She and our dad went shagging all the time. She was pretty smooth on her feet.”

Cromer had played a little golf in the past. His dad connected him to someone who ran a golf course, where he played until he worked out his future. To become a Class A Head Professional, one needs to take a Player Ability Test (PAT). He signed up and passed.

He first started playing golf “as a cart guy,” where the local pro gave him a set of clubs. He says, “The irons were half Titleist, half Tommy Armour. And the driver had a dent in the top of it. That’s all the

clubs that I had--and a putter.” He used words like “double bogey,” “above par,” and “in the bunker” to describe his early plays. Burke Cromer has some great stories, and his early golf ones are the best.

Cromer has been at Mid Carolina for about a year and a half and sees it growing quickly. He appreciates the great people there and shapes his goal to make it as good a golf course/club as he can. Although he still enjoys playing in tournaments, he especially likes helping other people improve at the sport. He gives about three to five lessons a week. Because he still plays well, people sometimes think there is some magic trick to it. He says, “There is no magic drug to getting better at golf. I have worked extremely hard at it for 20-plus years.”

Cromer enjoys spending time with his wife Monica, their son J.D., 21, and daughter Julia, 19.

As for his golf, Cromer says, “I work as hard as I can. So, when I lay my head on the pillow at night, I know I have done my best.” n

The Ultimate Outsider:

A Passion for Parks

by Kim Becknell Williams

The Ultimate Outsider program is just what the name implies. It’s ultimate and it’s outside. The program is designed for those who love the outdoors and enjoy visiting the S.C. state parks. Participants explore each of the 47 parks with a chance to earn perks. The benefits include the opportunity to participate in planned events and challenges, as well as the gratification of know-

ing you completed the program. Many park explorers continue with the program even after finishing it the first time.

What started a little over ten years ago in 2013 when the first person completed the program has grown to nearly 4,000 members, according to Sarah Pardue, the former operations manager. Pardue worked with the program until a recent

change in roles. She explained that the program is point-tiered with rewards. Official program guides, like booklets, can be ordered online or picked up at a state park. The guides list the parks, show photos of what to expect, and provide information on each of them such as what to see, things to do, and addresses. Once participants complete exploring a park they can get an ink stamp as proof that they have been there, like a passport. There is no specified time limit in which to complete the visits. Once a participant finishes visiting all the parks and has all the stamps, it is verified by a park ranger and the member can get a T-shirt by mail.

Jean Burke-McIntyre has been in the program for about ten years. “I started my journey to be an Ultimate Outsider in early 2014 and completed it in July 2016 at Hunting Island State Park,” she said. “My favorite hike is the Table Rock trail in Table Rock State Park. This is a strenuous hike and I feel quite accomplished when I am done.”

Sheila Frame is another member who visited her first park, Table Rock Park, in December 2021. She finished the program in June 2023 at Poinsett State Park. “It took me approximately a year and a half. I am sure some people complete the program quicker, but I tried to spend time at each park to get to know more about what each park had to offer,” Frame said. “Plus, I enjoyed walking in the parks that had trails.”

Each park varies from another based on what it offers. It might be green space, open air, campsites, trails, hilly terrain, historical sites, or coastal views. Activities include paddling on lakes, rivers or the ocean, hiking, bird watching, fishing, picnicking, and geocaching. Or simply curl up with a book under the shade of a giant oak tree. You can look for native wildflowers, photograph a South Carolina sunset, and embrace Mother Nature. “Each park has something different and special,” Frame said. “The parks along the coast have beach areas and interesting wildlife including shore birds and turtle hatchlings.” The list goes on with so much to offer and many ways to make memories while exploring the parks.

Ultimate Outsider members have the benefits of participating in park events, like the first-day hikes and ranger-guided hikes. “I enjoy the first-day hikes held on January 1st of each year, and the ranger-led hikes throughout the year. Typically, the hikes

guided by a ranger are more interesting because they are so knowledgeable about the historical significance of the park and/ or special one-of-a-kind features of the park,” Frame said. “For example, Landsford Canal State Park has the rare spider lily which blooms in May. It is the largest growth of the Rocky Shoals Spider Lily in the United States. Three of the state parks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Table Rock, Poinsett, and Sesquicentennial.”

Parks are located throughout the state. Once all 47 parks have been explored and verified, the fun does not have to stop. A scavenger hunt creates a little adventure and a way to further explore. “Once you complete the program, it is not over. You become eligible to download the Goosechase app where participants have a chance to go for a hunt at parks around the state to find features, people, and animals,” Frame explained. “From finding a picture of a ranger leading a hike, or a reenactment of South Carolina history, to finding a sign in a park, the app gives you challenges that will help you learn more about the parks as you visit. Every time you find and complete a challenge, you submit your proof, either by taking a picture or having your location geotagged via the app to earn points. Once you reach a certain level of points in the app, you receive recognition either by earning South Carolina State Park swag, or credit towards the State Park gift shops.”

Since the parks can be explored at the participant’s own pace and time, it is feasible for anyone who appreciates the beauty of South Carolina’s state parks. Frame suggests not rushing things and taking the time to genuinely enjoy being outside. “Go with friends or family to make it more

memorable. If they like to hike, the trails are not too difficult,” she said. “There are children who have finished the program, and most parks have plenty of recreation for children aside from hiking.” n

Learn more, get directions to parks, and see what is happening at southcarolinaparks.com/ ultimate-outsider.

In its golden era

Riverbanks Zoo celebrates 50 years of wildlife, conservation, and education

by Chesson Merritt

Can you remember a time when Riverbanks Zoo and Garden wasn’t a part of Columbia’s landscape? You would have to go back over five decades to recall an era where it didn’t exist—Back to the late 1960s when Riverbanks Zoo and Garden was known simply as the “Columbia Zoo” and prominent leaders in town were working hard to garner enough support to turn the dream of a small children’s zoo into a reality.

You’d harken back to a time when you’d have to rely on books and photographs to introduce you to the world of African wildlife and to a time when the siamang’s songs didn’t reverberate across the Saluda River and into a beautiful botanical garden.

Fast forward to 2024 when Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is set to celebrate their

50th anniversary in style by remembering their roots as they look forward to another wild and exciting 50 years.

Tommy Stringfellow, named president and CEO of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in August 2017, first came to Columbia in 2002 as the Director of Marketing before becoming the Chief Operating Officer in 2011. In the over 20 years that he has been involved here, he has seen, experienced, and been a part of what makes the local attraction so popular in our community and beyond. What makes it special, surprisingly, is not just the wide variety of animals that visitors can see up close and personal. It’s the people. It’s the team at Riverbanks Zoo, the guests who visit, and the citizens of both Lexington and Richland counties. They have, since 1974, made up the roots

from which the Zoo has blossomed.

Riverbanks Zoo would not be the zoo that it is today without the knowledgeable, experienced, and enthusiastic team of wildlife experts that they have assembled to care for the animals and the property. In addition to the world-class care that they provide, they have also created an atmosphere within the park that welcomes and educates everyone who visits.

“We use our southern charm to our advantage,” said Stringfellow. “From the time you park your car until the time you walk back out the gates at the end of your visit, you experience what we believe southern hospitality should be. We’re talking to you throughout your visit, asking you how your day was, answering any questions you have.”

Each detail of Riverbanks Zoo has been carefully curated to provide optimal experiences for everyone who visits. Being a midsize zoo means that it’s easy for visitors to experience most of what the Zoo has to offer in 3-4 hours. Visitors do not walk long distances between exhibits and the intimate nature of the Zoo allows for more contact points between staff and visitors. This is an area where the staff shines as they use their experience to educate.

“Our staff is so knowledgeable,” said Stringfellow. “Where other zoos struggle to find experienced people to add to their teams, we don’t. Our new Director of Animal Welfare has a background that includes many years at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and time at San Diego Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the country. His goal

was to get to Riverbanks for several reasons, including the reputation that we carry and the culture that we have. We attract a lot of incredible talent from other major zoos. That’s been a huge part of our success—Having the staff that we have for the care of our animals.”

The guests that frequent Riverbanks Zoo are the second group of people that make up the Zoo’s success over the last 50 years.

Visitors flock to Columbia—over 1 million annually—to enjoy one of the Top 10 Zoos in the country. Of course, they’re coming to see the animals. They come for the up-close encounters with rhinos, to see the seals and sea lions swim effortlessly through the water, to catch a glimpse of the tigers prowling through the bamboo of their exhibit, and to spend time wandering through the new Boyd Aquarium & Reptile Conservation Center.

Visitors also go for signature events in the holiday season and fundraising events like Zoofari in the fall. Riverbanks Zoo does a fair share of entertaining and hosting guests each day. They’ve made their park a fun and exciting place to spend time, which is shown by the volume of visitors that walk through their gates.

Their mission extends past simply having a fun place to go. Their mission is to create meaningful connections and inspire actions that will have a lasting impact on conservation. These connections made with visitors are another reason that makes Riverbanks Zoo a treasured piece of the community.

“I like to say that each year, we have the opportunity to make an educational impression on over 1.2 million people,” said Stringfellow. “Visitors can learn from something that they read at one of the exhibits, from watching one of our educational shows, or by listening in to one of our team members.”

Visitors can also learn from watching what Riverbanks Zoo does, as actions often speak the loudest and leave the longest impression.

Every time someone visits the Zoo, they donate to wildlife conservation efforts. A portion of every item sold—from tickets to stuffed animals in the gift shop, concessions, and even the souvenir photos—goes into a conservation fund that is managed by a committee. The committee then, in turn, makes decisions about where the funds should go. Riverbanks Zoo has made generous contributions worldwide and right in their backyard, supporting organizations such as the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources as they work towards conserving local ecosystems and wildlife along the Saluda River.

Stringfellow and his staff have also ensured that they are doing their part, too. They’ve gone green in many ways from solar power to reducing their energy consumption, utilizing recycled material to create permanent structures like the children’s playground, and even replacing their plastic straws with straws made from recycled oyster shells.

If you look past the gates of Riverbanks Zoo and into the surrounding communities, you’ll find the final group of people that have provided the support the Zoo needed to operate for the last 50 years: the citizens that call Lexington and Richland counties home. They set the groundwork in the early days for the support of a zoo coming to Columbia and they have continually provided their encouragement throughout the decades.

“The taxpayer support from the citizens in both counties has been the biggest contributing factor to our success,” said Stringfellow “Riverbanks is the only one out of the 252 zoos in the country recognized by the American Zoological Association that spans two different counties and has a natural river that splits the middle of the campus. This has provided us with two entities, which is better than one, that can give us support.”

As Riverbanks Zoo looks to the future, they have set their sights across the Saluda River to the Botanical Garden side of their campus where the stage is set for their next expansion. Bridge to the Wild is something that Stringfellow is excited to see come to life.

“We met with the staff 2-3 years ago to develop our future master plan,” said Stringfellow. “We asked lots and lots of people what animals we would like to have if we could pick and choose? What could we afford? As much as we’d love to have pandas, I’m not sure that financially we could fit them into our medium-sized zoo. The ones that we chose to bring to our Bridge to the Wild expansion are native species that are on the verge of becoming endangered: black bears!”

“We’re also bringing in red wolves,” said Stringfellow. “They were almost completely extinct but now they’re coming

back. Red wolves are from this area, so it’s a great conservation story to tell. You can’t forget about the bald eagles we hope to include, either.”

The Bridge to the Wild is also expected to give the Zoo a larger footprint, encouraging visitors to stay longer at both the Zoo and in Columbia, giving the surrounding metropolitan area an economic boost through hotel stays, meals out at restaurants, and visits to other area attractions. As much as the community loves and supports the Zoo, the Zoo does its best to offer the same level of each back to the community.

Where would Columbia be without the Zoo’s lasting impact over the last 50 years? It’s hard to tell, but there’s one thing we know for sure: this town, community, and state are all better off having had Riverbanks Zoo and Garden as part of its landscape since 1974. n

KAMINER AND DAIKIN TOGETHER ARE A WINNING COMBINATION.

Fifty years after its founding, the Autism Society of South Carolina continues to improve the lives of South Carolinians

by Erin Bluvas

Across the state, local women are looking out for children with autism and their families. Strategically located in every community, these Parent Mentors have been hired by the Autism Society of South Carolina as part of the nonprofit organization’s Parent School Partnership Program.

Parent Mentors have children of their own who have been diagnosed with autism. They are experienced in advocating for their students to help them reach their full potential within the educational system as they navigate this lifelong, complex developmental disorder. The Autism Society connects families of autistic children with Parent Mentors in their area. Together, they work to build a collaborative relationship between parents and schools.

“These Parent Mentors have walked that walk, and a lot of them have children who are already in college, which gives hope to the parents who use our services,” says Outreach Coordinator Toni Smith, who leads the Parent Mentor Program. “Some of them get called late at night when parents are struggling, and our mentors help them feel understood and figure out how to move forward.”

Becoming a Parent Mentor is often a natural evolution of years of working closely with the Autism Society. One mother volunteered for their annual Strides for Autism Walk for many years before deciding she wanted to take on an official role as a Parent Mentor.

Whether initiated by parents, schools, or the Society, the process begins with introductions and training. Parent Mentor Jill Powell, who provides support for Clarendon, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Hor-

ry, Marion, Marlboro, and Williamsburg counties, has developed parent training related to the next steps after an autism diagnosis, preparing for Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings, and organizing documents related to the child’s development.

Parent Mentors help parents develop strong partnerships with school personnel, who then work together to guide students with autism toward increased independence and academic achievement. They also serve as a resource for schools on issues related to autism, make referrals to other agencies and groups, and facilitate parental involvement in the education process. They help ensure that families understand special education rights and responsibilities.

Parent surveys tell the story best. Respondents report that they value Parent Mentors’ assistance in developing IEPs, sharing their experiences in transitioning from elementary school into adulthood, and their general knowledge and guidance about autism and other special needs.

Another major program offered by the Autism Society South Carolinas is Case Management. Serving the broader autism community, this program deploys case managers in the Upstate, the Midlands, the Pee Dee, and the Low Country areas to help connect individuals with autism and their families to a range of resources and services.

Case Managers serve as independent advocates, assist with residential placement, and day services, address needs and problems, and help identify, and secure appropriate programming. They stay involved in clients’ lives to maintain care and

monitor satisfaction.

At every level, the Autism Society partners with individuals and families to advocate for personal and systems-level changes. They work closely with families and partners to make widespread, lasting impacts.

Approximately one in every 36 children is identified with autism spectrum disorder, according to 2020 data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This prevalence rate is up from one in 150 children in 2000 – a 10 to 17 percent annual increase.

All racial, ethnic, and income levels are affected, though minority communities already facing health disparities experienced a 30 percent increase between 2028 and 2020. Further, boys are nearly four times as likely as girls to be diagnosed.

While the number of individuals with autism spectrum disorder is approximately seven million nationwide, the Autism Society estimates that more than 77,000 South

Carolinians have the condition. Successful intervention and management of autism is largely dependent on early diagnosis, education, and access to services.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control recommends parents utilize a developmental milestone tracking tool provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As part of their larger Developmental Milestone Checklist Program, this tracking tool is available as an app and can help parents recognize signs of a developmental delay or disability and when/ how to act. Once they have received an evaluation and diagnosis, parents can then connect with organizations like the Autism Society of South Carolina for support and resources.

“Autism is different for everyone, and there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to managing it,” says Autism Society Human Resources and Operations Manager Tanaka Long, whose goddaughter was diagnosed with autism in recent years. “Working for a nonprofit organization that assists individuals who have disabilities is a fulfilling endeavor that allows us to make a difference in the lives of many South Carolinians and their families.”

Established in the 1970s, the Autism Society of South Carolina was founded by a group of parents of children with autism who realized there was a lack of accurate and appropriate knowledge and resources surrounding the condition. Fifty years later, this grassroots initiative remains the only statewide advocate for autistic individuals and their families. Their programming and fundraising efforts aim to ensure that these residents achieve a quality of life comparable to their peers and neighbors.

Visit scautism.org/ for resources, volunteer, and donation opportunities. n

The Downing Group

A Beginner’s Guide to

AI TECHNOLOGY

by Brandon Williams

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become not only a topic of conversation in technology circles but a hot-button political issue. Is AI dangerous? What effect will AI have on the economy? Will AI deem humans obsolete? Should AI development be regulated, and if so, how? The general public has a lot of questions that need answers.

Unfortunately, one of the most important questions isn’t being asked: what is AI? This article will avoid the doom and gloom often accompanying discussions of this emerging technology, but also won’t pretend that AI is the best invention in human history. Instead, the goal is to arm people with the information they need to make an informed decision about the current capa-

bilities of AI and what it could do in the future. Exploring what artificial intelligence means makes for a natural starting point.

What Is Artificial Intelligence?

AI represents a machine’s ability to learn, reason, generalize, and infer meaning. The technology has numerous current and potential applications, including

advanced internet search engines, recommendation systems (such as those found on sites such as YouTube and Netflix), understanding human speech (voice assistants such as Alexa and Siri), strategic game systems (Stockfish for chess), and creative tools (ChatGPT).

The name “artificial intelligence” is a misleading term because it encourages people to think of it as the equal of human intelligence. Human intelligence is flexible, allowing humans to tackle any problem. In contrast, every form of AI runs on an algorithm designed to do something very specific. For example, Stockfish is a pow-

erful algorithm designed for chess. As of December 2023, it achieves an Elo rating of 3,546, while the top human classical chess player in the world, Magnus Carlsen, peaked at 2,889 in April 2014.

Stockfish can also solve chess puzzles, offer advice to human chess players, review completed chess games, and calculate running odds move-by-move whether it’s participating in the game or not. It cannot play Go, generate text like ChatGPT, or “think” independently. It’s no more and no less than an exceptionally strong chess algorithm.

You might also see the term “machine learning” used interchangeably with AI, but machine learning is a type of AI, not synonymous with it. Machine learning is defined as the study of computer algorithms that improve automatically through experience. The most common examples are search engine algorithms that provide users with a personalized experience and recommendations on platforms like YouTube.

There are two types of machine learning: supervised and unsupervised. Supervised learning requires a human to feed the machine labeled data, training the algorithm to correctly sort subsequent data into one of the categories it was presented with. Unsupervised learning refers

that. Other types of AI often have a machine learning component to help them improve, but tools like ChatGPT are much more than machine learning.

The end goal of AI development is artificial general intelligence, or the ability to solve arbitrary problems by considering multiple variables as humans can. Every doomsday scenario in a science fiction story assumes general intelligence, but the technology doesn’t exist yet. Furthermore, experts disagree on how general AI could be achieved in theory, leading many to assume that true artificial general intelligence is centuries away.

What Is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is the centerpiece of most contemporary AI discussions because it’s the most famous form of generative AI or gen-AI for short. Gen-AI refers to any algorithm capable of generating text, images, or other media in response to prompts. ChatGPT is a chatbot developed by a firm called OpenAI that can write you a story, an essay, or a legal defense. It can also simulate text-based conversations or facilitate interactive games.

Notably, ChatGPT doesn’t have any comprehension of the text it produces.

to algorithms attempting to find patterns in a stream of inputs without human involvement. The algorithm can only sort data into the buckets it was programmed to “see” and will never advance beyond

Instead, it simply strings words together and tries to produce something that meets the prompter’s needs. Likewise, ChatGPT is not the only or most powerful form of gen-AI. OpenAI has already moved on to

something more powerful called GPT-4, and other companies, including Google, have launched more powerful alternatives as well.

That said, ChatGPT is among the most accessible gen-AI tools. Since the phrase “generative artificial intelligence” doesn’t have a place in the public consciousness, ChatGPT is sometimes used as a proxy for any form of gen-AI.

What Are the Limitations of Current AI Technology?

While many breakthroughs have been made recently in the AI field, the technology is still considered emerging. Here are three big issues that AI has yet to solve.

Hallucinations

A hallucination is the AI industry’s term for when an algorithm makes a mistake. Some of these hiccups are relatively benign, such as a head-scratching Netflix recommendation or ChatGPT mixing up two proper nouns in its prompt. Others are more serious, such as making up court cases to support a legal argument or spreading misinformation that looks real.

Many AI vendors downplay the existence of hallucinations, claiming their algorithms either don’t make them or portray them as so rare they’re not worth thinking about. Both are lies, especially in the field of gen-AI. Mistakes are unavoidable with current technology, and their ramifications are only greater when people don’t realize how imperfect the technology still is.

Outdated Information

While most AI applications are capable of machine learning, their initial data set will still determine their performance moving forward. Most AI applications stop crawling the internet eventually, meaning that machine learning is the only way for them to get more info. If users start noticing dated responses, they’ll take their requests elsewhere. The lack of inputs renders machine learning impossible, leaving the tool with no means to update its information.

For instance, Elon Musk limited the number of Tweets that could be viewed per day in July of 2023 to prevent AI applications such as ChatGPT from “scraping potentially valuable data” from Twitter. His efforts were too late, as ChatGPT hasn’t scraped anything from the internet

since 2021. GPT-4 and other gen-AI applications are still scraping the internet, but the fact that Musk called out ChatGPT by name underscores how little the general public understands about AI.

Costs

ChatGPT is free to the end user, so you may be surprised to find out that gen-AI is extremely expensive. Whenever somebody types in a prompt, the AI converts the request to tokens. You might think that one word would be one token, but that’s not how it works. The most common example is “hamburger.” It’s only one word, but gen-AI reads it as three tokens: “ham,” “bur,” and “ger.” OpenAI charges by token, so many vendors limit their search parameters or impose restrictive rules to keep their token costs under control.

Gen-AI also requires a ton of energy, so companies such as OpenAI run up massive utility bills. Likewise, the computers need constant access to water and air conditioning to prevent overheating, further adding to the hidden costs of gen-AI. Most experts believe these costs will be passed on to consumers eventually, potentially impacting the role of AI in the economy.

In conclusion, AI offers the potential to change the world, but most people assume it’s more powerful than it currently is. Persistent problems such as hallucinations and costs must be solved for the tech-

nology to reach its full potential, and the public needs to be educated on what AI even is. Only time will tell if AI becomes the world-changing phenomenon it has the potential to be. n

5 Proven Tips to Get a Great Night’s Sleep

by Jessica Philipps

Sleep is essential for both physical and mental health. Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep to feel fully rested, but this varies with age and health. You can get away with the odd late night or early start if required, but missing sleep over extended periods will eventually impact you. Lack of focus, reduced productivity, lack of energy, and poor judgment are signs you may be sleep deprived.

If you regularly find yourself tossing and turning all night, it’s time to make some changes. Over-the-counter drugs can help with sleep problems, but they aren’t always necessary or advisable as long-term solutions. The following tips can help you get a full night’s rest.

1. Avoid caffeine five hours before bedtime

Caffeine is excellent for keeping your mind sharp and enhancing mood during the day, but it can interfere with sleep patterns if consumed too close to bedtime. As well as making it harder to fall asleep, caffeine can reduce the length of time you sleep and make it feel less satisfying. If you enjoy a hot drink before bedtime, look at caffeine-free varieties or try alternatives such as rooibos tea or hot water with lemon.

2. Create a relaxing bedtime routine

Most young children have a set bedtime routine to help them relax at the end of the day, and the same can work for adults. Consistency is vital, so starting at the same time each evening is a smart step toward improving your sleep pattern. Turning down lights and reducing the temperature in the bedroom help to set the body’s natural rhythm to sleep mode. Spending time slowing down and relaxing makes you look forward to bedtime and reduces anxiety after a busy day.

3. Avoid screen time before bedtime

Light emitted by smartphones, laptops, and televisions stimulates the body’s internal clock and can inhibit sleep. Switching off electronic devices with screens half an hour before bed -

time is another step towards a better night’s rest. Some families go as far as banning computers and gadgets from the bedroom. Watching YouTube videos and episodes of Netflix in bed may seem like a good way to relax, but it can have the opposite effect.

4. Check your physical environment

Many sleep hygiene experts suggest that environmental changes in the bedroom are key to improving the quality of your rest. Exposure to light can trick your body’s natural hormone processes into staying alert and delaying sleep, so darkness is key. Curtains or blinds are a sound investment for the bedroom. Blackout window shades can also be worthwhile if you need to rest during daylight hours.

Noise is another barrier to rest, affecting valuable deep sleep cycles. If you live in an environment where noise exposure can’t be avoided, try using earplugs. They can also provide relief if your partner snores or suffers from a sleep disorder. The physical environment of your bedroom can also impact how many hours of rest you benefit from each night. The distraction of clutter, including clothes, stacks of books, and paperwork, can make it hard for your brain to switch off.

5. Invest in a comfortable mattress

Choosing the right mattress can be confusing but getting it right can significantly improve the quality of your sleep. As well as the type of mattress and material it’s made from, the firmness can affect how well you sleep. Pocket spring mattresses consist of individual springs housed in their own fabric pocket. Each spring moves independently, providing more support than traditional spring mattresses. Memory foam varieties help to maintain posture and align your spine when sleeping horizontally, but they can get warm due to the lack of airflow.

Just like a healthy diet and physical activity, getting enough sleep is critical to maintaining physical and mental health. n

Vintage VINYL SC

by Betsey Guzior

Wayne Mullins picks up the album by folk singer Karen Dalton titled “In My Own Time.”

This was the last album she recorded, which was released by Paramount Records in 1971. Since a movie about her tragic life and death was released in 2020, interest has renewed in Dalton’s music. “It’s constantly selling for over $100 online,” he said, as he carefully put the record back into a case at Vintage Vinyl SC, the shop he’s owned for eight years.

Mullins, 57, has taken his love for music to amass hundreds of vinyl records for sale in his Augusta Road space. He sells new and vintage vinyl records, some for as little as a couple of dollars, and others worth much more.

In an era in which music can be found anywhere in so many different formats, vinyl is having a moment. Taylor Swift, Lana Del Ray, and Billie Eilish led the sales of vinyl in 2023, which increased for the 16th straight year, according to Music Week.

are reissuing vinyl in special editions.

There’s also a revival in finding older music on vinyl, offering a sound unlike that of a CD, the best online streamer, or a cassette. And finding a rare record, well, that’s a collector’s dream.

Mullins pulls out Jethro Tull’s “Thick as a Brick” out of a case reserved for his rare finds. Thousands of the ‘70s rock band albums remain in circulation, but this one contains all the inserts, including a mock newspaper. A Pat Benatar album with a “hype sticker” also has a postcard for her fan club. Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” still contains the posters originally sold stored in the album sleeve. It’s these kinds of touches that make older vinyl records more valuable.

Mullins, who moved to Lexington in 1988, had been a fan of music even before he went to his first concert, watching Elvis Presley perform in Charleston, West Virginia.

“Growing up in West Virginia, there was hunting, fishing, and music,” Mullins said.

When he opened the shop in 2017, he stocked the store with a lot of country music, thinking he was speaking to the market. Instead, he found that his clientele wanted more classic rock. And he found many of his younger customers looking for singers such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the Rat Pack of the 1950s.

Classic rock continues to sell well. Elton John, Grateful Dead, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Allman Brothers also do very well.

Mullins offers tips on beginning a vinyl collection:

• Invest in a good turntable. Many of the turntables sold have basic parts that could damage a record. A fully manual turntable

can sound the best, but it requires paying attention to when the record is over. Playing records is intentional; it’s not just putting on background music and hoping for the best, he said. “So, sit back with a glass of wine or whatever you want to do and just relax and drop the needle and look at the album cover, read the liner notes.”

• Store records in a rice paper inner sleeve. Regular paper inner sleeves have an off-gassing effect that could stain the record.

• A good album cover doesn’t have frayed edges, so those albums you loved as a teen might be too worn out to be valuable.

Mullins and his daughter, Anna, run the shop together. She orders and keeps inventory and maintains their Facebook page.

She and her father bond over music, a “universal language,” Anna said. n

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Recipes for your watch party

Munch Madness

Baked Chicken Nachos

2 sweet red peppers, diced

1 can (15-oz) black beans, rinsed and 2 ¼ cups rotisserie chicken, shredded 8-oz pepper jack cheese, shredded ¼ cup green onions, sliced ½ cup fresh cilantro, minced

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large skillet, sauté peppers in 1½ tsp oil for 3 minutes or until crisp-tender and transfer to a small bowl. In the same skillet, sauté the beans, garlic, oregano, and cumin in remaining oil for 3 minutes or until heated through. Meanwhile, combine the chicken, lime juice, salt, and pepper. In a greased 13x9 baking dish, layer half each of the tortilla chips, pepper mixture, bean mixture, chicken, cheese, onions, and cilantro. Repeat layers. Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until heated through and serve with sour cream.

Roast Beef Sandwiches

1 (12-ct) package King’s Hawaiian Rolls ¾ lb deli roast beef, thinly sliced 3 tbsp creamy horseradish sauce, divided 8 slices white cheese

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Split each dinner roll and spread a small amount of creamy horseradish sauce on the bottom of each roll. Make a sandwich of roast beef, cheese, and dinner rolls. Arrange the sand-

wiches in a 9×13 pan. In a small saucepan combine butter, brown sugar, 1 tbsp horseradish sauce, Worcestershire, and poppy seeds. Bring to a boil and pour over sandwiches. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the tops are brown and crispy.

Sausage and Beer Cheese Dip

14-oz cooked sausage, crumbled 4 cups cheddar cheese, shredded 5 green onions, thinly sliced

1 packet ranch seasoning

¾ cup beer

2 packages (8-oz) light cream cheese

Dipper options: pretzels, corn chip scoops, bread, pita chips

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Brown sausage in an oven-safe pan on medium heat. Add cream cheese, ranch packet, ½ chopped green onions, and 2 cups of shredded cheese. Stir frequently with a spatula to melt, then slowly pour beer into the pan, and mix into cheese. Top with remaining cheese and green onions. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown.

Buffalo Chicken Crescent Rolls

1 cup cooked chicken, shredded 4-oz cream cheese, cubed

½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded

2 tbsp prepared ranch salad dressing

2 tbsp Buffalo wing sauce

2 tubes (8-oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls

⅓ cup crumbled blue cheese

Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a small saucepan, combine chicken, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing, and wing sauce. Cook and stir over low heat until the cheeses are melted, about 5 minutes, and remove from the heat. Unroll tubes of crescent dough; separate into 16 triangles. Place 1 tbsp chicken mixture in the center of each triangle; sprinkle with 1 tsp blue cheese. Bring corners of dough over filling and twist; pinch seams to seal (filling will not be completely enclosed). Bake on ungreased baking sheets until golden brown, 15-20 minutes, and serve warm.

Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

16 chicken wings

½ tsp salt

¼ cup honey

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp ginger, grated

1 tbsp water

1 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Wash wings in cold water and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels. Lay wings onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, leaving at least an inch of space between each. Sprinkle half the salt and bake for 20 minutes. Flip the wings over, sprinkle the remaining salt, and bake for 20 more minutes. In the meantime, add the following ingredients to a skillet – honey, garlic, ginger, and water. Over medium-high heat, whisk the ingredients together and allow them to come to a low boil until the sauce has thickened. Remove the wings from the oven and add to the skillet with the sauce and toasted sesame seeds. Toss together, cooking over medium-high heat until the wings have absorbed all of the sauce, and the wings start to char.

S’mores Dip

1 bag milk chocolate chips

1 bag mini marshmallows

Graham crackers

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Pour chocolate chips into an oven-safe casserole dish until they are covering the bottom. Sprinkle marshmallows evenly over the top of the chocolate chips until the chocolate chips are covered. Bake for 4 minutes, or until the marshmallows are nicely golden on top. Serve with graham crackers for dipping.

Pull-Apart Pizza Bread

2 cans refrigerated biscuits

8-oz pepperoni

2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

1 tbsp Italian seasoning

½ tsp garlic powder

⅓ cup olive oil

2 cups marinara sauce

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cut biscuits into ¼ pieces. Combine biscuits, pepperoni, mozzarella, Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, and olive oil in a large bowl and toss together. Add mixture to a non-stick sprayed bundt pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. If the biscuits start to turn brown, cover the pan with aluminum foil. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.

Party Bars

1 1⁄2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1⁄4 cup cocoa

1⁄4 cup sugar

1⁄4 cup butter, melted

1(14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated

12-oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup Reese’s peanut butter cups

3 1⁄2 oz flaked coconut

1 cup nuts, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Combine crumbs, co coa, sugar, and butter. Press firmly on the bottom of a 13x9 baking pan and pour the condensed milk evenly over the crust. Top evenly with remaining in gredients in the order listed and press down firmly. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool, chill thoroughly if desired. Cut into bars, and store loosely covered at room temperature.

Ranch Oyster Crackers

⅓ cup vegetable oil

1 tsp dried dill

½ tsp garlic salt

1 (9-oz) package oyster crackers

1 (1-oz) package ranch salad dress ing mix

Preheat the oven to 250°F. Place the vegetable oil in a large bowl and stir in the dill, garlic salt, and ranch dressing mix. Add the oyster crackers and toss gently to combine. Spread the oyster crackers onto a large sheet pan, and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until golden. Serve on their own as a snack, or on

Mysterious and Real

We’re all born with a broken heart after being separated from our Mama.

Then Ol’ Doc whoops our butt and off we go.

Fast-forward through childhood heartbreaks to seemingly endless battering rams slamming into our hearts.

Next thing you know, we gain gray and wrinkles and lose youthful abilities. We look around and cry: “What is the point to all this, exactly?”

I began having “issues” with my chest last fall. Ol’ Doc says: “Welp, you’re probably having heart problems. We’ll get you checked out.”

About this time, I changed restaurants. After eating raw onions every meal of my adult life, I began eating cooked onions only. Then I switched to another restaurant, and they used no onions at all. I gave this no thought at the time.

Christine and I began attending a nearby church at about this same time. The people are nice, and the preacher is a great teacher who’s really lived. I haven’t been involved in a church in decades. We joined this church at the beginning of January. It was humbling to realize a

sizable number of people were glad we joined. I had built a pretty stout wall made of stones chiseled from the hard examples of nobody caring much about others. Once I removed some of those stones and looked out, I saw I was wrong. A big chunk of my old, cracked heart healed up.

I had a chemical stress test in mid-January. Beforehand, several people said: “Welp, you ain’t gonna like where this leads.” I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing, but I knew people were praying for me.

Christine and I had discussed getting married in the past but hadn’t yet gotten around to it. We had a long talk in early January and talked about onions and getting married. She said: “What have you been doing differently that might have affected your heart?” After careful thought, I realized I hadn’t eaten raw onions in five months. Then we decided to get married on the first pretty Saturday. I immediately began eating raw onions daily and also began walking every day.

Last Thursday, I went for a follow-up with the Ol’ Doc. He says: “Well, sir, I

have good news. You have no blockages. There’s nothing at all wrong with your heart.” I hadn’t expected that news. Christine and I cried and prayed together in the parking lot. A little more of my old, cracked heart stitched back together.

The weather forecast predicted the following Saturday would be perfect. The forecast was correct. Christine and I were joined in Holy Matrimony in front of her Mama and a few others. The last few stitches were looped through my old heart’s cracked place, and the casual observer would never know I’d ever had a broken heart to begin with.

I’m the luckiest man I know. I don’t deserve any of it. Thankfully, deservin’s got nothing to do with it.

God’s Ways are mysterious.

And God’s Grace is real. n