myflorencetoday.com
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
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Peddle-powered train adds to success of light festival BY BRENDA HARRISON Editor of The News Journal Florence, S.C. The 3rd Annual Florence Festival of Lights raised over $60,000 to support the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “With over 40 sponsors, 2,100 cars and numerous gallons of hot chocolate we are overwhelmed by the support of the community,“ commented Alicia Parsons, executive director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, S.C. Chapter. A new additon in Santa's Village this year was Jack Gause’s FFOL Express, a peddle-powered train. Gause and friends peddled over 1,300 excited children around Santa’s Village during the five nights of the festival. Jack’s train is actually a kinetic bike that he built in 2008 in California and shipped back to Hyman where he now resides. He was born and grew up in Florence. Jack became interested in the kinetic bikes while visiting a cousin in California where they host the Kinetic Sculpture Races. He got
JACK GAUSE AND HIS PEDDLE-POWERED TRAIN ENGINE, COAL CAR involved by helping his cousin build a kinetic bike in 1992 and eventually began racing himself. After building his own bike and getting it back home, he began riding it in parades. About two years ago Jack built the train engine cover for his bike and peddled it in the Pamplico Christmas Parade as the
Iggy Express. He added a coal car and trailer for children to ride and started peddling in many area parades. His plans are to build a caboose covering for the trailer base and add seats. Jack peddled his kinetic bike around this year’s Pecan Festival where he met Susan Pace, who along with Jane and Rex Huggins,
Library announces children’s programs The Florence County Library has planned a variety of children’s programming for Winter/Spring 2017. Registration is required for all programs. Baby Storytimes The Library will offer programs for babies birth to 23 months old on Thursday mornings. The programs will be divided into two groups, walkers and non-walkers. An adult caregiver will need to stay with the baby during the 15-minute program. The programs will consist of music, fingerplays and stories appropriate for these age groups. Baby Storytime will begin Thursday, Jan. 12, at 10 a.m. for non-walkers and Thursday, Jan. 12 at 11 a.m. for walkers. Toddler and Preschool Storytime The library will offer Toddler and Preschool Storytimes on Tuesday mornings. Your child must be two years old to register for toddler storytime and 3, 4 or 5 years old to register for preschool storytime. The library will be having stories, fingerplays, simple crafts and music for these programs. Toddler storytime will begin Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 9:30 a.m. and lasts 20 minutes. Preschool storytime will begin on Tuesday, January 10th at 10:30 a.m. and lasts 30 minutes. Daycare centers may call for a separate appointment for Preschool Storytime. Afterschool Programs The Library will offer programs for children in grades 5K-2nd on Thursday afternoons. The programs will consist of movies, stories, crafts and guest speakers. The program will begin on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 3:30 p.m. and
will last 30 to 45 minutes. Tweens Storytime The Library will offer programs for children in grades 3rd-5th on Wednesday afternoons. The programs will consist of movies, stories, crafts and guest speakers. The program will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 3:30 p.m. and will last 30 to 45 minutes. Sunday Family Movies The Florence County Library will be having popular movies for families on Sundays, beginning Jan. 8, at 2:30 p.m. The movies are rated either G or PG. Please call the Greenberg Children’s Library at 843-2927382 for more information. Movies are funded by the Friends of Florence County Library. Bilingual Storytime The Florence County Library will be having a special bilingual storytime on Tuesday evenings beginning Jan.10 at 6:30 p.m. This 30-minute storytime will consist of bilingual stories, fingerplays, songs and activities for ages 2-5. Bookworms Book Club This is a book discussion group that enjoys crafts and games while discussing the book. The program for grades 3-5 meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The first meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 3:30 p.m. Registration is required and limited. For more information and to register for the programs, please call the Greenberg Children’s Library at 843-292-7382.
helped organize and host the Florence Festival of Lights. After that meeting, Jack decided to take his train in a new direction. “I always wanted to use my talents and creativity to support a great cause, and this is a great cause,” Jack said. “I had more fun doing this than anything I have ever done.”
ELVES, MR. AND MRS. SANTA, JANE HUGGINS Ride in back of the FFOL Express Jack’s bike is a twoseater and has 84 speeds which he said makes it possible for him to peddle the bike and trailer with riders. During the five nights of the festival, Jack, often with the help of a co-peddler, gave rides to 1,345 kids and adults, and occasionally Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, around Santa’s Village.
“It was a huge success,” he said, adding the kids loved it. Alicia Parsons said she was overwhelmed by the support for the festival. “Thanks to all who came and supported the festival. Fun was had by all,” she said.
Live@Central resumes Jan. 4 Live@Central opens the second half of its 12th season on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of Central United Methodist Church with the ever-popular Dr. Mary Louise Nagata. Dr. Nagata is a member of the history faculty at Francis Marion University and the principal violist with the Florence Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Nagata will be playing the violin and viola. As a very
AARP meets Jan. 4 The AARP Chapter 2401 meets on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 at 9:45 a.m. in the Leatherman Senior Center. The speaker will be Brian Gandy, director, Darlington County of the Historical Society.
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special treat, she will also play the Japanese “Koto,” a large stringed instrument. Ann Rogers Chandler will accompany Dr. Nagata on the Schimel piano. Dinner (optional) will be served at 5:30 p.m. The meal cost is $5 for adults and $2 for children (12 and
under). For the menu, visit www. centralmethodist.net/ wednesday. Please call the church office at 843-662-3218 by noon on Monday, Jan. 2, if you plan to attend dinner or need additional information.
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