Columnists | Summerville Journal Scene

Columnists

Chillin’

Anna Grace Tanner, 3, and Elian Sanchez, from Summerville, chill out under a makeshift tent during the Aiken Cup soccer tournament Aug.28. The youth tournament drew thousands of players from across the Southeast. full story

Inklings: Please – Don’t fall!

It can happen to anybody. I’m an established lifelong klutz who’s taken innumerable tumbles. My husband is agile and athletic, but even he can go down unexpectedly. We’ve each had one of these experiences recently, prompting me to write about undigni ... full story

Give educational choice to parents

“While I breathe, I hope.” It’s one of South Carolina's mottos, and I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. Like parents everywhere, I join South Carolina's parents in wanting the best for our children. We pin our hopes on God, on hard work, on bel ... full story

Search and recovery

Some people run triathlons; some people climb mountains. I conduct search and recovery missions. In my house. Our 90-year-old home, aka the Love Shack, has much charm and zero storage. It has just four closets plus a dilapidated metal shed in the ba ... full story

I Am Very Impressed

I recently went to a graduation held by the Trident Literacy Association (TLA). At that graduation were people from all walks of life. There were business people, lawyers, teachers, sons, daughters, moms and dads attending with me. ... full story

Fly like a dragon

A dragonfly takes a rest near the Charleston Southern University football field on a hot summer morning. full story

Inklings: On being blessed

This is a thanksgiving column. I’m 90 days early for the official national celebration, but there’s a reminder at my kitchen window I’ve been contemplating for awhile now. It’s a flat wooden angel with bright eyes, a seraphic smile, and a head full o ... full story

Lowcountry Riffs: By the time you read this

I will be long gone. Out of sight, out of mind, and not a moment too soon. It’s vacation time, and when it comes to my time off, I’m very old school. Simply stated, I’m not available. To anyone. For any reason. Period. My cell phone is very likely sq ... full story

Smith Says

When three adult kids try to take care of one ailing mom, the result is regression—all the way back to childhood days. We don’t push each other in the pool or scream and stomp our feet. We just snarl things like, “I can’t hire a caretaker from 200 m ... full story

Inklings: Unheralded chauffeurs

Every year when the “Back to School” sales begin, I start getting nostalgic for the good old days when my kids were young. Now my back to school news comes from grandchildren. All six are now back in some kind of school and their activities include b ... full story

Trident United Way, Boy Scouts come to agreement

Recognizing that our community needs Trident United Way and the Coastal Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America working together to improve lives, the two organizations have reached an amicable agreement over their future relationship. Represe ... full story

Smith Says

Kids are—or were--getting sick from pet food. I believe it; I’ve sampled a Milk-Bone or two in my time. In my experience, children will eat anything that isn’t hissing at them. When I was a kid, there were very few things I didn’t bite or taste. Fr ... full story

Inklings: Lobster on the mind

(And everywhere else too!) Perusing grocery aisles recently I came upon a sale on lobster tails for $8.99 each. As I pondered, my thoughts returned to our Air Force years stationed on Cape Cod. We used to buy whole lobsters about once a week ... full story

Scout Reach program accountability

As a Trident United Way Volunteer who chaired the 10 member volunteer committee that unanimously recommended withdrawing this year’s Trident United Way (TUW) support from the Boy Scouts, I offer your readers the following information. TUW is an open ... full story

Smith Says: Remember when chicken was finger-lickin’ good?

It still may be, for all I know, but I don’t know because I can’t remember the last time I actually licked my fingers. And that’s because I’ve morphed into a walking, talking germ-o-phobe. Howard Hughes has nuthin’ on me. These days I spray Lysol o ... full story

Inklings: Meet the suspects

Somebody’s getting bumped off in Summerville – twice – next weekend, via a unique dinner theater staging of “Murder at Café Noir,” by David Landau. This homicide happening benefits the Arts, Business and Civic Coalition (ABCC) which is partnering her ... full story

Child advocates needed

Volunteer Guardian ad Litem Program Dorchester County Dale wants a home with a family who is glad that he’s there. All he has known in his 8 years is that he is in the way. His Dad left when he was 3 and he barely remembers him. His Mom brings ... full story

Smith Says

When I was a child, my mother loved spring cleaning. In fact, she enjoyed cleaning anytime, anywhere. Even when she visited other people’s houses, she’d casually pick up a washrag and a can of Comet and take a swipe at the kitchen sink. Most folks we ... full story

Little green reptile

This Carolina or green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis) was spotted recently on a sunny day in Knightsville. full story

Setting the record straight about the Pew Environment Group

The Recreational Fishing Alliance South Carolina chairman asked in a letter published last month: “What’s been unduly influencing our marine fishery managers?” The answer is fishery managers are guided by stewardship, science and the law, not undue ... full story

Inklings: Write it (all!) down

My niece/goddaughter made lists as a child. I stayed in her bedroom once when visiting my brother’s family. Kathleen was in grade school at the time. On top of her dresser when we arrived in late afternoon and began to unpack was a neat, lined pad wi ... full story

Smith Says

British scientists claim to have finally solved an age-old conundrum: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? After studying clues such as biogenetic markers and chemical enzymes, they announced their findings. (Cue drum roll.) The chicken came fi ... full story

Inklings: God and lawn care

Following is a version of a scripted conversation between God and St. Francis sent by my anonymous e-mail pal, High Flyer.? GOD: Frank, you know all about the earth’s gardens and nature. What’s going on? Wher ... full story

Immigration ordinance will not solve problems

The immigration ordinance currently being considered by the Town Council clearly conflicts with the U.S. Constitution and federal civil rights law, but more than that, it violates America’s tradition of fairness and openness.If every city and town ac ... full story

Smith Says: Sounds to live with and without

Yesterday I saw a woman in Publix who looked suspicious, by which I mean she seemed awfully serene for someone buying $200 worth of groceries at 6 p.m. She didn’t look the least bit rushed or anxious. In fact, she was nodding her head and smiling sli ... full story