Town Launches Third Thursdays

Get ready for a night out on the town, Cheraw! Beginning May 16, The Town of Cheraw will launch Third Thursdays, a new summer entertainment series.

The first event in this new series will be a downtown street festival on Thursday, May 16. From 5-8 PM, the Market Hall area will be alive with family-friendly events including a salsa dance demonstration, live bluegrass music in front of Weaver’s Barber Shop, an herbs planting station, face painting, refreshments, & more!

Arts and crafts enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enjoy art demos and hands-on art activities like a mini-class in jewelry-making instruction. Local artists and artisans will be located along Market & Second Streets near the Market Hall area sharing their talents, and several downtown retailers are planning special events.

Third Thursdays have been created to provide a lively atmosphere of arts and interaction. The series is part of the town’s mission to promote Cheraw as a vibrant place to live, work, and visit, and offers both locals and visitors fun evening activities.

Future Third Thursdays events will be held at the Cheraw Community Center and will include the Mark Roberts Band on June 20, the Fantastic Shakers on July 18, and The Catalinas on August 15.

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Downtown Post Office To Remain Open

After more than 17 months of negotiations, Cheraw mayor Andy Ingram received notification from US Postal Service officials April 10 of their plans to keep the Downtown Cheraw Post Office open.

“This decision is the result of hours of dialogue with many different individuals including Delores Shearin-Lyle, Greater South Carolina District Manager for the USPS, Senator Lindsey Graham, and several Cheraw citizens that have political connections,” Mayor Ingram said.  “This has been a top priority of our Town Council, and as a result of the collective effort of many groups, as well as being patient with the entire process, we are pleased with the end result.”

“I would like to publicly thank Ms. Shearin-Lyle and her staff for coming to Cheraw to meet with us on our concerns and having an understanding and supporting our desires to keep our downtown post office,” Ingram continued.

“Also, I must say Senator Graham deserves a lot of credit. He was involved in the process from the early stages of this effort, and the positive outcome probably would not have happened without the senator’s diligence and commitment to the Town of Cheraw. Our local citizens also played a huge role in the process.  Whether it was making personal contact to elected officials, responding to the postal survey, attendance at the public meetings or support at the Post Office Appreciation Day, I am deeply grateful for every one’s contribution,” Ingram said.

Cheraw resident and former mayor Charles Jackson said he credits Ingram for his hard work throughout this process.  “The mayor hit the ground running, knocking on doors in Washington within days of his election,” Jackson said.  “Andy has worked diligently in getting this done, and without his leadership, I don’t know if we would have had the same outcome.”

In the letter notifying Ingram of the decision, Sherin-Lyle states “Therefore, our best choice at this time for the postal buildings in Cheraw is to maintain the status quo, using the Market Street facility for retail service, and continuing to provide delivery operations in the carrier annex on Calvary Road.”  In the letter, Sherin-Lyles also writes “… there is no “lifetime guarantee” for this decision.  However, we are certain at this time that this is our best course of action for the Postal Service and for postal operations for the Town of Cheraw.”

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SCPRT Director Shares Future Plans for Local State Parks

The restoration and renovation of the “House on the Hill” at Cheraw State Park may soon become reality, according to South Carolina Parks Recreation & Tourism Director Duane Parish.

Parish and Phil Gaines, State Park Services Director, were in Cheraw April 2 at the invitation of Mayor Andy Ingram to tour Cheraw and see firsthand the town’s recreation facilities and historic areas related to local tourism. After the tour, Parish and Gaines met with Ingram, town council members, town and chamber administrative staff as well as park and industry representatives to discuss their vision for Cheraw State Park and H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area.

Parish said the “House on the Hill” project is one of several proposals planned to enhance the park experience for the community. According to Gaines, SCPRT wants to partner with local corporations, industries and businesses to raise an estimated $250,000 to restore the 80-year old structure to its original rustic elegance with French doors and a large deck on the back overlooking the wooded surroundings.  Once complete, the building, constructed by the Civilian Conservations Corps (CCC) in the 1930’s, would be available for receptions, meetings, and community gatherings.

Parish added he is also working with state legislators on the approval of a revenue bond that would provide park villas at Cheraw State Park which would be suitable for golfers and families. Parish said the revenue bond would not create an additional burden for the state’s taxpayers, but would be paid by funds generated from rental of the villas. Parish also told the group that he would like to see a local Friends of the Cheraw State Park organized that would volunteer at park events, help in fund-raising efforts and assist with a number of park projects.

In addition to the projects at the state park, Gaines said current needs at H. Cooper Black include an additional pond plus a second meeting facility that would allow equestrian and dog events to be held simultaneously.

Parish commended Mark Davies, Cheraw State Park manager, and Butch Driggers, H. Cooper Black manager, for their leadership and coordination of various events at the parks, specifically the 2013 National Retriever Trial at H. Cooper Black this November and the launch of the Outdoor Music Room and opening of the swimming area this past summer as well as the addition of a number of family-oriented activities at the Cheraw State Park.

In closing, Parish expressed his excitement for SCPRT’s new advertising agency of record, BFG Communications of Bluffton. The focus of the agency’s new marketing campaign is “Undiscovered South Carolina”, an aggressive campaign that will market the many “undiscovered” aspects of the Palmetto State including Cheraw and Chesterfield County.

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