This Weekend in Blythewood May 15th-17th

Get ready for the Blythewood Beach Bash! Bravo Blythewood is hosting the 6th annual Beach Bash, Saturday, May 17th at Doko Meadows  Amphitheater benefiting the American Cancer Society.

This Weekend in Blythewood May 15th, 16th and 17th    Did you Know... Last week's question was about the "Blythewood Institute" which Kem S. knew was a finishing school for girls, owned and operated by the Bookhart family during the Civil War.  Kem will receive a Town of Blythewood treat for being the first to answer the question!   Do you Know....Our Town was first known as Doko.  It changed to Blythewood in approxiamately 1877.  Why was the name changed and why did it change to Blythewood?     Email your answer to: kellym@townofblythewoodsc.gov and get a little treat for reading the newsletter and being so smart!   Again, congratulations to all the talented students and teachers in our Town of Blythewood!  French Contest National Winners, National History Day Winners, Graphics Award Winner, Spanish Exam National Winners, and many others!  Plus... PASS testing is over for another school year!  Thanks to all the teachers and students who worked hard in this endeavor! And Congrats to our Mayor!  USC picks the best! And... Good luck to all the students who interviewed for the Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce's scholarship! Mr. Mobley was on the mark with his editorial in the Chronicle. A great group of applicants came through Town Hall to interview! And... As an involved community member check out Richland School District 2's website!  They are asking for ideas, concerns and success stories from the community to help provide the best education for our students.  Now is your chance to share!  May 20th, 6:00 at Bridge Creek Elementary School located at 121 Bombing Range Road in Elgin.   Mark Your Calendar     Get ready for the Blythewood Beach Bash! Bravo Blythewood is hosting the 6th annual Beach Bash, Saturday, May 17th at Doko Meadows  Amphitheater benefiting the American Cancer Society.  The fun starts at 5:00 with DJ Gene Lee . The Sensations will fill center stage at 6:00 with shag music and fun for the whole family! Bring lawn chairs and a cooler and join in the fun!  Admission is $20 per car with donations welcomed!  Call Jean Bell at the Blythewood Arts Center at 550-9323 for more information. Blythewood Library is spreading a little magic on Saturday, May 24th for ages 3-8.  Join in the fun from 3 to 3:45 as kids  create a Sparkle in a Bottle with stories from our wonderful town librarians! Don't forget Family Storytime for all ages every Friday through May 30th, 10:30  until 11 A.M. Blythewood's Chamber or Commerce will invite guests to Blythewood After Five  Thursday, May 29th 5:30 until 7 P.M. Hosted by Randy and Debra Humphries  of Circle H Builders, the event will be held at 110 High Point Drive in Cobblestone Park. Admission is free, but register in advance at www.blythewoodchamber.com  eventbrite page  Blythewood High School's Head Baseball Coach,  Barry Mizzell  will offer 2  sessions of Baseball Camp this summer for ages 6-14 at Blythewood Baseball Park.  June 9-12 and June 23-26 from 8:30 until noon. The camp will focus on advanced pitching and catching, as well as fundamentals and fun!  For more information contact Barry Mizzell at 333-9882 or 691-4090 Ext. 28919 or email bmizzell@richland2.org Westwood High School is calling all girls grades 3-11 for its first Softball Camp, June 17th and 18th.  Players will learn the basic fundamentals and mechanics of softball, as well as love of the game and sportsmanship from the Westwood varsity softballl staff and other coaches from the area.  The camp runs from 9 A.M. until noon and the cost is $30.  For more information contact Coach Lila Grooms at 843-245-4048 or email lgrooms@richland2.org.   Westwood High School will also be busy with a Redhawk Dance and Drama Camp for Elementary School students June 23rd -26th, 9 A.M. until 2:00 P.M.  The camp costs $125 with a $25 deposit due by June 6th, with the balance due on June 23rd.  For more information call 803-691-4049 Ext. 36703 or email arichard@richland2.org Blythewood Art Center is offering some great classes!  There is an Oil and Acrylic Class that started May 14 and goes through June 4th  5 :45 to 8:15.  The cost is $135.  May 9th and May 20th  a Social Media Class meets from 5:45-8:15. The cost is $35.00, plus a Basket Weaving Class on Saturday, May 31, 9 to 4:30 with a cost of $55.  Call 803-550-9323 to register. Don't forget we have the beautiful  Manor at Doko Meadows to book for all your upcoming events!  Give us a call for information at 754-0501!

BEACH BASH ON SATURDAY MAY 17th...

 Pack your lawn chairs and load up the car for this year's Beach Bash in Doko Meadows. The fun and music--featuring the Sensational Epics & DJ Gene Lee--start at 5 PM. Just $20 a car, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. See you there!

USC Honors Mayor Ross

Congratulations to Mayor Mike Ross, who has been named the 2013-14 Outstanding Alumnus of the University of South Carolina’s College of Pharmacy. The pharmacy school honored the Mayor yesterday afternoon during its convocation ceremonies at Carolina Coliseum, where he delivered the keynote address. Mayor Ross is the previous owner of Blythewood Pharmacy, and you can find him there behind the pharmacy counter on most Wednesday afternoons.

The Weekend in Blythewood May 8th-10th

Happy Mother's Day !!

This Weekend in Blythewood May 8th, 9th and 10th           Happy Mother's Day Weekend!                                                          Congratulations to our many Blythewood celebraties!  Mr. Joe Pinner was honored by the Lions Club with a Certificate of Appreciation and Mike Long was a first place winner in the 2013 Historical Fiction Contest of the Military Writers Society of America. Plus... we have...drum roll....  Teachers loved for their heartfelt dedication to  their students, Blythewood FBLA State Winners, Science Fair winners, Runaway Runway teacher, Poster winner,  Baseball winners, Softball winners, and Elementary students doing great things for Camp Kemo and the Military....and the list goes on!   Mothers' Wisdom is Endless... I asked readers to email in your favorite words of wisdom or phrases your Mother said to you as a child.  Here are a few! You eat so you don't get hungry! Fingers were made before forks! Go tell your father he wants you! Charity starts at home! Waste not, want not! You have more ___ than Carter has liver pills! While rolling my long  hair with orange juice cans to make my hair straight, my mother would say.."That's the price of beauty". Don't get your undies in a bundle! After church, my mother would tell us to "Go take your Glad Rags off".  The squirrells are looking for you.  They think you are nuts!    Speaking of Women.... During the Civil War, three buildings were across the street from the present day Community Center.  The Bookhart family owned and operated the "Blythewood Institute".  What was this institute?       Email your answer to: kellym@townofblythewoodsc.gov and get a little treat for reading the newsletter and being so smart!     Mark Your Calendar     Get out your dancing shoes! Westwood High School is hosting a prom for Senior Citizens Thursday, May 8th from 5:30 to 7:00.  "Golden Days Dinner and Dancing " is a free event which includes dinner, dancing and door prizes.  Call 691-4049 Ext 36662 or email Janet Frick at jfrick@richland2.org for reservations.   Don't forget to drop by Blythewood Library Thursday, May 8th from 3:30 to 4:15.  Kids ages 6 to 8 are invited to hear stories and make a Mother's Day gift for their Mom!  Sounds like fun! Golf Tournament  Cobblestone Park Golf Course will host the Annual Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce Glow in the Dark Golf Tournament, Friday, May 9 at 7:30.  Cost is $100 per 2 person team and $60 for singles.  To register a team or to purchase a sponsorship with many perks  visit http://www.eventbrite.com/o/greater-blythewood-chamber-of-commerce-245924505. Tuesday, May 13th , the Blythewood Chamber of Commerce will host a breakfast meeting with Tracy Hegler, planning director for Richland County, speaking on land use projects and issues Blythewood may face. The meeting will be held in the community room at Fairfield Electric Cooperative starting at 7:30.  Register in advance at www.blythewoodchamber.com on the Eventbrite page.  Get ready for the Blythewood Beach Bash! Bravo Blythewood is hosting the 6th annual Beach Bash, Saturday, May 17th at Doko Meadows  Amphitheater benefiting the American Cancer Society.  The fun starts at 5:00 with DJ Gene Lee . The Sensations will fill center stage at 6:00 with shag music and fun for the whole family!  Admission is $20 per car with donations welcomed!  Call Jean Bell at the Blythewood Arts Center at 550-9323 for more information. Don't forget we have the beautiful  Manor at Doko Meadows to book for all your upcoming events!  Give us a call for information at 754-0501!

This Weekend in Blythewood May 2nd-4th

Get Ready for Mother's Day!

This Weekend in Blythewood May 2nd, 3rd & 4th            Get Ready for Mother's Day! Don't forget the many activities at the Blythewood Library!      Fridays...May 2nd-May 30th Storytime 10:30 until 11:00      Saturday, May 3rd  Blythewood Bookworms for ages 9-12      Thursday, May 8th   Flowers for Mom for ages 6-8.  Kids listen to stories and make a gift for their Mom for Mother's day!       Did you Know:  What 2 things were originally on the Trinity Methodist Church land? Hint... One is now behind the library and enjoyed by many Blythewood friends!  The answer is definitely a ball field, but also a cotton gin!  Jim McLean was the first to write in the correct answer and get a treat from the Town Hall.  Thanks, Jim! Mothers are known for their incredible wisdom in all areas of life!  My Mother was notorious for teaching us lessons through her words of wisdon such as,  "Charity starts at home."...  " Go take a long walk off a short pier!"  and many more.  I would love to hear your favorite expressions/phrases from your mother's bag of  tricks.  Please email a few to me if you would like and I will compose a Blythewood list of Mothers' greatest  lessons.  Email them to kellym@townofblythewoodsc.gov.  Thanks!  MK   Mark Your Calendar     For those challenged by the computer, be brave!  Richland Two is offering 2 classes:  Introduction to the Computer beginning April 28th for 4 weeks ( Meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00-3 :00) and I-Pad and I-Phone Devices starting April 29 through May 8th.(Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00-3:00)  The cost is $60; Seniors 60 and over are $30.  The classes meet at the Rogers Center.  Call 736-8787 for more information. LET’S HELP OUR NEIGHBORS! Join us “Under the Carolina Moon” for a fundraising dinner on Friday, May 2, from 7 to 10 PM at The Manor at Doko Meadows. Enjoy some Carolina cuisine, music and dancing, and a silent auction. The night promises to be the talk of the town! Grab a neighbor, a date, or some friends and come shag (or learn to shag) and dance the night away for a good cause. This event supports the efforts of the Christian Assistance Bridge, a service agency providing emergency assistance for necessities (such as utilities, rent, food, medication, transportation, and traveler’s aid) to residents in Blythewood and the surrounding area. Tickets are $30 each and may be purchased by contacting Stephanie Cross at 803-622-3310 or filling out the ticket request form at www.christianassistancebridge.com. May 3   Blythewood Food Co-op will host a free community BBQ  starting at 12:00. Bring one canned food item or $1 for the  many games and activities, including a bounce house, mini horse rides, face painting, and music.  The Food Co-op want to build up its food bank to serve a larger area.  Members of the community are all invited and asked to bring a covered dish, bags of chips and bottled water or sodas.The event is at Signature Ranch.  For more information visit the website at www.scfrugalmama@yahoo.com or call 508-1037. Civil War Book Event  Friday, May 2nd   The Blythewood Historical Society will relaunch its series of Historical books with a discussion of Mary Boykin Chestnut's book "A Diary from Dixie".  The book is a first-person account of the Civil War from the perspective of a woman.  Books are available for $20 ( $10 of this going for a donation to the Historical Society)  from the Historical Society in the Langford-Nord House on McNulty Road.  Refreshments will be served at 6:30 with the presentation  and discussion lead by Kem Smith  starting at 7:00. For more information contact Frankie McLean at 261-1859 or fcmclean@sc.rr.com Blythewood High School Percussion and World Music Program  will hold a concert Friday, May 2nd in the school auditorium. The 2014 "Press Play: Percussion and World Music Concert" will feature  3 guest artists.  Tickets are $3 in advance from performing members or $5 at the door.  Email jburbank@richland2.org for more information. Get out your dancing shoes! Westwood High School is hosting a prom for Senior Citizens Thursday, May 8th from 5:30 to 7:00.  "Golden Days Dinner and Dancing " is a free event which includes dinner, dancing and door prizes.  Call 691-4049 Ext 36662 or email Janet Frick at jfrick@richland2.org for reservations.   Golf Tournament  Cobblestone Park Golf Course will host the Annual Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce Glow in the Dark Golf Tournament, Friday, May 9 at 7:30.  Cost is $100 per 2 person team and $60 for singles.  To register a team or to purchase a sponsorship with many perks  visit http://www.eventbrite.com/o/greater-blythewood-chamber-of-commerce-245924505. Don't forget we have the beautiful  Manor at Doko Meadows to book for all your upcoming events!  Give us a call for information at 754-0501!

Town Hall has two new employees.

We have two new employees at Town Hall! Pat Connolly is now the Assistant Director, Conference Center and Events and your new go-to guy for using The Manor and other park features in Doko Meadows. Beverly Colley started this week as our new Town Clerk, and she's getting up to speed on town record-keeping and matters related to business licensing, hospitality tax, and accommodations tax processing. Stop in at Town Hall and say hello!