The New Survey - Eau Claire Community Council

Page 2 • January 2010
The New Survey
Editor - Becky Bailey
Published by
The Eau Claire Community Council
www.eauclairecommunity.org
Mail Submissions and Requests for Advertising to:
The New Survey
830 Wildwood Avenue
Columbia, SC 29203
Voice: 454-0088, 691-1168 FAX: 691-1187
E-mail: thenewsurvey@aol.com
IN THIS ISSUE
Advertising and Publication Deadlines
25th of each month
Circulation: 20,000 readers
The New Survey is printed by
Florida Sun Printing - Callahan, FL
Election Fever
Columbia City Council and Mayor’s races are front and center. With less than 90
days to campaign, the race is on! Page 4.
A Promise Coming Closer
The Eau Claire Promise Zone gains momentum following a workshop in Harlem.
See the story unfold. Pages 8-9.
Remembering the Holidays
A photo recap of Holiday celebrations in North Columbia. Page 13.
Regular Features
Eau Claire Community Council News Page 6
Matters of Faith Page 10
Government Calendar Page 12
Community Calendar Page 16
NEEDED: Artists, photographers, writers, and other talented folks are invited to
submit works for inclusion in The New Survey. Regrettably, payment for same is
short on the monetary but very high on the appreciation level. Indeed, we expect
more than 20,000 people in North Columbia and in City and County offices and
buildings read The New Survey each month. What a great way to get exposure! All
interested inquiries should call 454-0088.
On the Cover
A wintry morning at Columbia’s Diversion Dam is captured by nature photographer
Sparkle Clark.
Becky Bailey, Editor
VIEW FROM THE TOWER
Happy 2010!
The New Survey
Yes it is. 2010! I came across my “Y2K Survival Kit” while cleaning up over the
Holidays. You know, there was a Life Saver and two cotton balls or some such.
Apparently we DID survive 2000 and the decade that has swiftly slipped into the past.
It has been painful in many ways; encouraging in many others. Still, with a new year
there is always time for resolutions. Have you made any?
Here are a few of mine for 2010:
1. Get over it. Whatever has been eating at you over the past decade, let it go. It doesn’t
matter anymore. And that goes for just about everything. Since Lord knows how long,
we’ve been waging wars against something—drugs, crime, teen pregnancy, poverty,
illiteracy, inadequate housing, bad hair—the bulge! It’s time, as my friend Phyllis once
told me “to become one with your” whatever. Embrace the inevitable and it will change
because you embraced it. It’s like the families in College Place who’ve embraced their
public school. They’ve read and researched. They’ve developed a coalition of likeminded
advocates. They went to Harlem for gosh sakes! And The Eau Claire Promise
Zone is embracing the inevitable, the seemingly erasable sore of poor schools in North
Columbia. Get over the mantra of bad schools. Bad neighborhoods. Bah humbug!
Become one with your community and your community will become you!
2. Thank your politicians for what they do. Really. Though we’re constantly trying to
unseat one or question their motives, there are only a handful of people willing to do
what they do! Think about it. In the City of Columbia, there are only seven. In Richland
County 11. In the State House only nine Constitutional Officers, 124 House members
and 46 Senators. And we send only eight to Washington! That’s just 205 people in a
state of four million. You want their job? How about School Boards? All three Richland
School Districts each have seven and they oversee about 62,000 students. Thank your
elected officials for doing what you don’t want to do—just be sure to keep them on
speed dial.
3. And, finally, get a flu shot! Trust me. You don’t want to hear about how nasty it is.
Much less suffer with it. Yech!
Midlands Transportation
Did you complete your CMRTA Transit Opinion Survey? In November, the
Transportation Authority and Maxim Communications conducted two forums in North
Columbia to measure the pulse of residents concerning future transportation needs. Of
particular interest was the use (or non-use) of city busses. Maybe some of the people in
attendance actually use the bus system, but I would think that most people polled probably
don’t.
The reasons why are many. I, for one, can walk outside my front door and hop on a
CMRTA bus. And, I’ve done it a few times. They’re clean and the drivers are always
nice and sometimes talkative. Problem is, the last bus leaves my neighborhood at about
7:00 P.M. After that, I’m stranded. CMRTA has heard from me (and I hope from you,
too) with ideas to improve ridership. I’d ride if I could get back home. I would happily
buy package fares for shopping at Harbison, theater in the Vista, dining on Devine.
After school programs at the Columbia Museum, at Ed Venture could all be facilitated
by groups fares through CMRTA. Senior Citizens’ rides to points of interest, to the
Capital Senior Center, to city parks, could all be packaged neatly into revenue producing
fares that would fare well.
Richland County Council is revisiting transportation needs this winter. The failed
recommendations of the Transportation Study Committee of 2008 are still simmering
on the back burner with efforts to revise ideas for transportation-related infrastructure
that would include walking trails and tracks, connectors between urban communities,
bike paths, even park and ride facilities that could supplement the current public transportation
grid. Talk with your representative. Even if you live in the City, you have a
County Council representative. Find him or her on Page 12.
And make public transportation a priority at the many public forums coming in
February which will give voters plenty of face time with the candidates for Mayor and
City Council.

The New Survey January 2010 • Page 3
As we approach the 10th annual
observance of the King Day at the Dome
march and rally, it is more fitting now
than ever, that all South
Carolinians of good will
focus on the need for the
continuing Campaign for
Dignity. Indeed, it is more
fitting now, because as
South Carolina grows older
it grows more strident and
more divided. It is more
fitting now, because as
some of South Carolina’s
leaders have become more
prominent, they have
become more bold in their
defiance of what is right,
more open in their disrespect
for those who are not like them,
and more hostile in their determination to
neglect those who need help the most.
And regrettably, it is more fitting now
because too many South Carolinians of
good will have become too complacent,
too comfortable, too preoccupied with
other matters, too timid, and even too
compromised to challenge those who
continue to assault their very dignity and
the dignity of others.
Ten years ago, on the annual observance
of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr., the Campaign for Dignity was
inaugurated with nearly fifty thousand
people of all races, joining together, at
the South Carolina Statehouse, in an
unprecedented show of unity to challenge
the most prominent and offensive
symbol of indignity this country has ever
known. But instead of eradicating the
symbol, South Carolina’s leaders chose
to exacerbate the indignity by making
their symbol more prominent.
And those professed South
Carolinians of good will, who
are too complacent, comfortable,
preoccupied, timid or
compromised pretended and
continue to pretend that the
matter is resolved or really
doesn’t matter. And while
many of those same professed
South Carolinians of good
will can clearly articulate the
rationale behind what motivates
a duly elected South
Carolina leader to be made
into a hero and rewarded
handsomely, financially, for openly disrespecting
the President of the United
States, in a way that has never been done
to any other president, they seem to be
clearly challenged in their ability or their
willingness to make any connection
between the mindset that dominates a
state that relishes its symbol of hate and
the indignity directed toward that very
president.
Many of those professed South
Carolinians of good will, reside in communities
like Eau Claire and North
Columbia. Yet, those who have long
abandoned the struggle are among those
who often have the most complaints
about what is or is not taking place in
OPINION
The Campaign for Dignity—More salient now than ever
Especially for Eau Claire and North Columbia
By Alvin Hinkle, Acting President
Eau Claire Community Council
their communities. They are also among
those who claim they can’t or don’t make
the connection between the open displays
of symbols of hate and indignity, and
hostile speech— between their own complacency
and timidity, and the contempt
for their communities. In today’s vernacular,
they simply refuse or are unable to
connect the dots. Too many in our neglected
communities cannot see that there
is a real connection between a mindset
that takes pleasure in displaying its symbol
of hate and contempt for others and
the state of our communities. But if you
want to find the root of many problems
in our state and the disparities in certain
communities, you need to look no further
than South Carolina’s most strident leaders
and others, in and out of government,
who are content to let them have their
way. These are the very leaders who
should cause people of good will in
South Carolina, and those who reside in
communities like Eau Claire and North
Columbia in particular, to more than anyone
else, be out in front of the campaign
to stop the indignities, demand the
respect that is due, and work for the
change that is needed. Sitting idly by and
simply complaining will not achieve anything
positive, but will continue to render
our state and communities worse off.
Of course, the struggle is long and
hard. But so has been every other effort
or movement to bring about much needed
change. And whenever I encounter
those who have given up, copped out, or
even sold out, I can’t help but think that I
am dealing with those who think so little
of their own dignity, it is no wonder why
others do also. These individuals are
clearly more concerned about what they
want for themselves, than what is right.
And they have little regard for those who
would call on them to get involved and
stay involved with the struggle no matter
how long it takes. Real, hard fought for
change that requires determination and
long term perseverance, is clearly not
what many in our communities want,
that is if it depends on them. They say
that is asking and expecting too much.
However, when faced with a choice
of “what we want,” and what will support
the struggle for justice and dignity, I
often tell those who have given up that it
is always good to remember The Three
Ms—Moses, Mandela and Martin.
Moses' self-denial and suffering stretched
into eighty years. Mandela suffered for
nearly three decades for the cause of justice
and his own dignity. And Martin
paid the ultimate sacrifice. Putting our
“suffering” into perspective, we should
ask, how much is too much to expect of
us? And how long should it take? The
answers are simple. If we expect others
to respect our dignity, we should expect
nothing less from ourselves. And we
should never give up.
On January 18, 2010, more that ever,
your presence and involvement is needed
at the 10th annual King Day observance
at the South Carolina Statehouse.
Citizens of good will in Eau Claire and
North Columbia should join ranks with
people of like minds and interests from
all over the state to send a signal loud
and clear that the injustice, the indignities
and the neglect must stop. South
Carolina is the state with leaders who,
among other evils, led the South into
secession over the issue of slavery, created
the Dixiecrat anti-civil rights movement,
invented the “Southern Strategy,”
only require our children to be “minimally”
educated, and proudly honor symbols
and traditions of hate and indignity. Let
us show the world that we are the South
Carolinians who reject these evils, and
that we don’t reward the heroes of disrespect.
Only we can send that message.

Page 4 • January 2010
The New Survey
Strong Mayor advocates say time is now for new form of city government
By Becky Bailey
Columbia City Council during a
work session on Wednesday, January 13,
pushed back until at least November an
effort to change the current form of city
government.
Following a resolution in the SC
Senate presented by Darrell Jackson (D.
Richland), Council debated the timing of
a ballot initiative to receive required
approval by the US Department of
Justice prior to placement on the April 6
ballot for city elections. As a result, the
matter was shelved until a “public session”
could be held on April 21, following
the election, to provide the public
with information regarding the proposed
change in governance.
City residents have been debating
Strong Mayor versus the current City
Manager-Council form of government
for much of the past decade. The current
form of government elects a Mayor and
two Council members elected at-large as
well as four, single-member district
Councelors. A City Manager is hired by
the Council to run the day-to-day activities
of the city and answers to the Mayor
and members of Council.
Often referred to as “weak mayor,”
the current form of mayor-council government
provides limited political power
to the Mayor and, possibly more importantly,
allows Council to appoint officials
and control the municipal budget.
The Council-Mayor form of government
is often used in smaller towns and
municipalities. Some feel Columbia has
outgrown this system and should move
into Strong Mayor.
Under the Strong Mayor system, the
Mayor is given almost total administrative
authority with the power to appoint
and dismiss department heads and officials.
And, as chief administrator, the
Strong Mayor prepares and administers
the municipal budget. A city manager
who is responsible only to the Mayor,
may also be appointed by the Mayor to
supervise department heads, prepare the
budget and coordinate city departments.
In order to initiate the change, City
Council is required to pass an ordinance
by August 15 to put the referendum on
the November ballot.
If approved by voters in November,
it is not yet clear when the new form of
government would go into effect.
According to a report in The State (Jan.
14), a 2004 state attorney general’s opinion
said the “change in form becomes
effective...upon the expiration of the
terms of the council members serving at
the time the referendum is held” and
would be effective following the next
general election of council members.
Clarification on that opinion will be
asked of the state Attorney General.
State law restricts what forms of
government are available to cities. In discussions
held in 2007 by a commission
appointed by Council to explore options
for changing the city’s form of government,
results were limited, most of which
requiring a change in state law. Through
Jackson’s resolution in the SC Senate, a
door was opened to allow the ballot initiative.
Mayoral Candidate Forums
Tuesday 2 February, 6:00 P.M.
Hyatt Park/Keenan Terrace Neighborhood Association Mayoral Forum
Eau Claire Print Building, 3902 Ensor Avenue
Angelo’s
4001 N. Main Street
786-7968
a pictorial history of the
the Eau Claire Neighborhood
1890-2000
$ 10.00
(tax included)
The Miller Shingle House, c 1900
A great gift idea, this handsome, hard-bound book chronicles the birth of this North
Columbia community, the establishment of the Town of Eau Claire (1989-1954), and
the people whose names are a part of our daily lives.
To order: Call 454-0088 or visit www.eauclairecommunity.org
Serving up Smiles since 1958
125 pages. 266 photos.
•Mon-Tues-Wed•
Cheeseburger Basket
(w/fries and Cole Slaw)
$3.00
With this coupon
and purchase of a
Cheeseburger basket
at regular price!
Thursday 4 February, 7:00 - 8:30 P.M.
Forest hills, Pinehurst, Heathwood, Heathwood West, Melrose and
Tanglewood neighborhoods
Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Trenholm Road
Monday 8 February 7:00 P.M.
Cultural Council of Richland & Lexington Counties and
Columbia Museum of Art Commission.
Columbia Museum of Art
Thursday 18 February, 6:00 P.M.
Capital Senior Center, 1601 Park Circle
Monday 22 February, 6:00 P.M.
Sustainable Midlands, Environmental Issues Forum
701 Whaley Street
Tuesday 23 February, 6:00 P.M.
Eau Claire Community Council
Eau Claire Print Building
Monday 1 March, 6:00 - 8:00 P.M
Columbia Central Labor Council of the SC AFL-CIO
Eau Claire Print Building
Tuesday 2 March, 8:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Columbia Chamber of Commerce
930 Richland Street
Monday 15 March, 7:00 P.M.
Bradley Community
Peterson Hall in Covenant Presbyterian Church, 3100 Covenant Road
Thursday 25 March, 5:30 - 8:00 P.M.
Columbia Council of Neighborhoods
Eau Claire Print Building

The New Survey January 2010 • Page 5
For the first time in
20 years, Columbia
will elect a new
Mayor on April 6. And,
though early filing only
shows two candidates
interested in the seat, the
contest could include up to
seven contenders who all
have a new vision of what
Columbia will be in the
21st Century.
On the heels of a less-than-stellar
year for Council which included millions
in “misplaced” funds, an overwrought
city budget, a troubled city manager, and
questions surrounding how the city operates,
2010 may well be the year the City
benefits from new ideas and ideology.
Though there has been promise of
expanding the knowledge and green
technology set out by the current Mayor
and Council, that and other efforts
including better cooperation between the
City and Richland County, have moved
in fits and stalls over the years.
Promising to overcome the former
barriers to progress in the areas of technology,
public safety, energy conservation
and community development, each
of the candidates have solutions, many of
which the public will have ample time to
hear during the months ahead.
Beginning in February, residents will
have no less than 10 public forums to
hear from both the Mayoral candidates
and candidates running for the At-Large
seat currently held by Tameika Isaac-
Devine and the District IV seat being
vacated by Councilman Kirkman Finlay
III who would like to be the first man to
follow his father, Kirkman Finlay, Jr., as
Mayor of the city.
The Candidates
As good a place as any to start, the
36-year-old Kirkman Finlay III,
took a seat on City Council just two years
ago as a political newcomer. A dedicated
duck hunter and environmentalist, Finlay
has farmed his family acreage in Lower
Richland County most of his adult life. In
1993, he entered the bakery and restaurant
business when he and partner Brian
Owens opened three Rising High locations.
In 1999 he developed QuickFarm, a
web site dedicated to serving farmers. A
fiscal conservative, Finlay often holds
Council’s feet to the fire in curbing
spending and is credited with moving the
city toward a balanced budget.
Azar Benjamin Clark
Finlay
Candidates
line up for
citywide
elections
in April
Johnson
Meeting Finlay at
the polls on April 6 will
be two Columbia attorneys,
“the two
Steve’s”—Benjamin
and Morrison.
Steve
Benjamin has made
a remarkable move to
political prominence in
the past few years, first
as political appointee of
former Gov. Jim
Hodges as director of
the state’s department
of Probation, Pardon
and Parole Services. He
later ran, unsuccessfully,
for state Attorney
General and became
chairman of the
Richland County
Democratic Party.
Benjamin is employed
by the law firm of
McAngus Goudelock &
Courie, LLC. He serves
on the board of directors of Advance
America, the largest provider of payday
cash advance services in the US, the
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce,
the Greater Columbia chamber of
Commerce, the National Bank of South
Carolina and the Columbia Urban
League among others.
An attorney with the Nelson Mullins
Law Firm, Steve Morrison may best
be known in South Carolina as the colead
attorney for the state’s poorest and
most isolated children in the state’s
“Corridor of Shame.” Seeking to require
the State of South Carolina to provide a
constitutionally adequate education to
every child, regardless of race or economic
status. Since 1982, Morrison has
served as adjunct professor at the USC
School of Law; he served as chief
administrative officer and secretary to
Policy Management Systems Corporation
for seven years until the sale of the international
technology company. He serves
as chairman of the Richland County
Public Defender Corporation Board and
is an advocate for the arts and humanities
serving on numerous boards and as chair
of the Columbia Urban League, president
of the Columbia Museum of Art and
president of the Historic Columbia
Foundation.
Joseph Azar, a lifelong
Columbia resident and owner of Upstairs
Audio in Five Points, won’t argue that he
is probably the most experienced candidate
in the Mayoral race. Having
lodged campaigns against the
current Mayor on several occasions,
Azar’s passion for
accountability has not deterred
his desire to lead the city in a
different direction. From crumbling
infrastructure to questionable
investments, Azar has not
be timid when speaking his mind
about city governance in his
occasional “newsletter.” He has
also been recognized for his
charitable work for Rolling
Readers, his annual BBQ for Columbia’s
homeless,
and his dedication to the Five Points
business community.
And, along with the veterans, are
several newcomers to politics. Gary
Myers is a decorated Army veteran
retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in intelligence
and strategic communications. A
Columbia native, Myers organized one of
the city’s first KOBANs for children of
public housing and expects better
accountability and delivery of services
by Council if elected Mayor.
Another newcomer and the first
woman to seek the office of Mayor,
Sparkle Clark supports a “lean,
clean and green” Columbia through better
fiscal responsibility, seamless and
open government, and with an eye
toward green technology for both the
practical and economic impact environmental
conservation will have on the
Morrison
Robertson
Myers
Devine
Midlands in the next decades. A veteran
of the US Postal Service, Clark’s first
taste of political activism came in the
1990s as a volunteer with the Palmetto
AIDS Life Support Services (PALSS),
later serving as co-chair of the South
Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride
Movement. An avid birder, Clark is an
award-winning nature photographer and
maintains a Certified Wildlife Habitat in
her yard in the Bradley Community.
“Anybody should be able to step up,
throw their hats in the ring.” So declared
Aaron Johnson, the youngest candidate
in this race at 26 who wants to “take
back this city from the career politicians.”
A photographer and owner of
The F-Stop Camera Shop in Five Points,
Johnson entered the race with pal,
Grant Robertson, owner of Pretty
Penny Productions (also in Five Points)
who’s running against At-Large Council
Member Tameika Isaac. Together,
they will, no doubt, bring a bit of whimsy
to this, otherwise, grueling contest.

Page 6 • January 2010
The New Survey
Eau Claire/North Columbia
Neighborhood Associations
Regular meeting times and places are listed below. For meeting dates of non-regularly
meeting groups, please call the contact person listed. If you are not sure which neighborhood
association you belong to, contact the Eau Claire Community Council at 691-1168.
Ardincaple
Willie Harriford, 252-0209
Quarterly, St. Mark UMC
Belmont Community Group
Sam Pringle, 754-5978
3rd Monday, New Jerusalem
Interdenom., 1003 Colleton
Booker Washington Heights
Katheryn Bellfield, 765-9347
2nd Thursday, 7:00 P.M.
Bellfield Cultural Arts Center
Broad River Heights
Jordan D. Smith, 786-1249
1st Tuesday, 7:00 P.M.
Clement Road Church of God
Burton Heights/Standish Acres
Neighborhood
Edna Harrison, 754-5444
2nd Tuesday, 12:00 NOON
Eau Claire Community
Council, 830 Wildwood Ave.
Byrneswood Community
Robert Seawright, 252-5166
2nd Tuesday, 7:00 P.M.
Eau Claire Print Building
CABB Island
Cindy Rhoades, 691-4685
College Place Community
Dawn Stoner, 691-4319
3rd Thursday, 7:00 P.M.
College Place UMC
Colonial Heights
Bruce Sanders, 252-5266
3rd Tuesday, 7:30 P.M.
Family Worship Center
3600 Colonial Drive
Colonial Park
Willie Mae Belton, 786-6268
3rd Tuesday, 7:00 P.M.
ECCC, 830 Wildwood Ave.
Colonial West
Johnnie Mae Wheeler
754-4430
3rd Monday, 6:00 P.M.
Concerned Citizens Club
of Farrow Terrace
Paul Wade, 754-0540
1st Thursday, 6:00 P.M.
Greenview Park
Denny Terrace
Lawrie Sikkema, 691-0410
3rd Tuesday, 7:00 P.M.
Denny Terrace
Community Center
Earlewood Community Citizen's
Organization
Fred Monk, 765-0264
3rd Thursday, 6:00 P.M.
Reformation Lutheran Church
Elmwood Park
Peter Korper, 727-3486
1st Monday, 7:00 P.M.
Logan Elementary School
Ensor Forest Senior Complex
Debra Finch, Mgr., 765-9515
Meets with Seminary Ridge
Fairwold Acres/Harlem Heights
Sharon Caughman, 786-9832
2nd Tuesday, 6:00 P.M.
Farrow Hills Improvement
Jorie Steadman, 754-2433
1st Thursday, 7:00 P.M.
Forest Heights
Lois Culler, 754-6191
2nd Monday, 6:00 P.M.
Haskell Heights Baptist Church
Gable Oaks Tenants Association
Mary Myers, 661-9161
Gable Oaks Apartments
Golden Acres
Ms. Boyd, 754-5247
3rd Monday, 7:00 P.M.
Volume One Beauty Salon
Jones Street
Highland Park
Mazetta Alston, 786-1086
Bi-monthly, 3rd Tuesday, 7:00 P.M.
Gills Creek Baptist Church
Hyatt Park Neighborhood
Gail Baker, 929-3005
1st Tuesday, 7:00 P.M.
Eau Claire Print Building
Lincoln Park
Dyann White
254-7254
2nd Friday, 7:00 P.M.
ECCC Council House
North 21 Terrace
Bernard Burns, 760-6405
Bi-monthly, 1st Wednesday,
6:00 P.M., Belmont Baptist Ch.
North Columbia Civic Club
Adell Adams, 754-0726
2nd Monday, 7:00 P.M.
Greenview Baptist
Church
Northwood Hills
Christie Savage, 786-1562
1st Monday,7:00 P.M.
Alcorn Middle School
Prescott Terrace
Maude Christopher, 754-2347
Quarterly
Ridgewood/Barony Neighborhood
Mildred Johnson
786-0450
2nd Thursday, 7:00 P.M.
Holloway House
Riverview Terrace
Keith Staton, 933-0933
Ryan Community
Dr. Martha Brown, 740-1944
1st Thursday, 6:30 P.M.
4311 Ryan Avenue
Seminary Ridge
Dr. Julius Carroll, 461-3216
2nd Tuesday 7:00 P.M.
Ascension Lutheran Church
Starks Terrace
Hubert Williams, 754-6223
2nd Monday, 7:30 P.M.
Dennis Chapel Church
Willowbrook
Marlene Neal, 254-1429
Windemere Springs
Rhett Anders, 238-5684
1st Monday, 6:30 P.M.
Locations TBA
Columbia Council of Neighborhoods
Tige Watts. 776-2667
4th Thursday, 5:30 P.M.
Eau Claire Print Bldg.
www.columbianeighborhoods.org
Visit ECCC online at
www.eauclairecommunity.org
Notice to Neighborhood Presidents: Please contact The New Survey at 454-0088 for corrections.

The New Survey January 2010 • Page 7
Eau Claire Community Council News
As we come to the end of another
calendar year and complete our
20th year as a community council
for North Columbia’s
neighborhoods, I am happy to
reflect on our achievements,
consider our shortcomings and
prepare for the opportunities
that await us in the New Year.
I am often asked, “What
does the Eau Claire
Community Council do?”
“Who are you?” And, “Why
should I care?”
A Brief History
Maybe a little background
about the Eau Claire
Community Council (ECCC) is in order.
Many of you may be too young to
remember; or maybe you have not lived
in this community long enough to
remember our dear friend Dorcas
Elledge, a retired Army lieutenant
colonel who bought a house in Eau
Claire in 1976 and became a “voice in
the wilderness” for change in this community.
Pushing for housing and economic
development in the area, she
became an integral part of the Eau Claire
Task Force that created our first Master
Plan, the 1989 Green Book.
Along with other trailblazers like the
late Leroy Moss, and Hyatt Park resident
Bill Manley, I was happy to be a part of
Col. Elledge’s “kitchen cabinet” that
fought for economic progress and an
improved quality of life for all area residents.
For her efforts Col. Elledge
received many awards and commendations,
including the Order of the
Palmetto, the state’s highest honor for
civilian service. Today, the Dorcas
Elledge Award for Community Activism
is presented annually by the Council to a
North Columbia resident who shares the
ideas and the vision she gave to this
community.
But it was the “Green Book” created
with the dedicated input of area educators,
business leaders and faith congregations
that would redirect the growth of
North Columbia. With Elledge, often
called the “Mayor of Eau Claire,” and
her “cabinet” in tow, a 21-member commission
appealed to city leaders and
formed a non-profit to provide oversight
and assistance to economic and community
development initiatives for the entire
Eau Claire/North Columbia area.
Of that commission, two entities
emerged: the Eau Claire Development
Corporation (ECDC) which remains as
the economic engine for North
Columbia, and the Eau Claire
Community Council, an
umbrella organization established
to unite the various
North Columbia neighborhoods.
The Ridgewood/Eau
Claire Neighborhood
Council, first formed by
Dorcas Elledge, was soon
joined by Ridgewood/
Monticello, Northwood
Hills, Hyatt Park, Seminary
Ridge and College Place.
(Ridgewood/Eau Claire is
now incorporated into Hyatt
Park and Byrneswood communities, and
Ridgewod/Monticello is now known as
Ridgewood/Barony).
Today more than 40 organized communities
exist in North Columbia.
That Was Then
Many people new to the area don’t
know that prior to 1989, the community
was suffering from serious social ills
which were causing such major institutions
as the Southern Seminary and
Columbia College to consider relocating
their campuses. Housing was falling prey
to absentee landlords with less than 20%
of homes in the area owner-occupied.
Infrastructure was crumbling. Few
businesses were locating in the area and
our landmarks, like the Eau Claire Town
Hall, the Print Building, the Ensor-
Keenan House, were in serious disrepair.
Older structures, apartment buildings and
many homes were suffering from neglect
and growing crime. Boarded houses dotted
the landscape.
This Is Now
Much of that has changed. Columbia
College and the Southern Seminary have
invested millions in infrastructure
improvements, new student facilities and
housing, and both plan for more growth
in the future. The ECDC has, over the
years, leveraged additional millions in
economic progress including the development
of an industrial park where druginfested
housing once stood, the creation
of numerous housing opportunities
through loan programs to first-time buyers,
rehabilitation of older homes, and
development of new housing like the
new Burton Heights II development on
Farrow Road. Most impressively, the
“gateway” to Eau Claire, the handsome
Eau Claire Town Hall, Battiste Plaza and
Eau Claire Print Building—the most-frequently
rented facility in the City of
Columbia—are the result of the ECDC
and efforts of the Eau Claire Community
Council to improve the quality of life for
North Columbia residents.
Who are We?
The Eau Claire Community Council
is made up of every resident in Eau
Claire and North Columbia. Every resident
and every business and every faith
and every school that exists in North
Columbia are who we are.
In twenty years, the ECCC has
shown time and again, through the many
winds of change, that our focus has
always been to support our communities
Quarterly Meetings:
Quarterly meetings are open to all
neighborhood residents and are a forum
to discuss community issues. If you
would like to be placed on the agenda,
please call 691-1168.
Quarterly meetings for 2010
February 23 (Elections)
May 25
August 24
November 23
All meetings are held at 6:30 P.M. at the
Eau Claire Print Building, 3907 Ensor
Avenue, unless otherwise noted.
as they grow, and as they grapple with
social and political ills.
When we say “every resident, every
business, every faith, and every school,”
we are counting on you to help us move
into the next decades. We urge you to
become active in the Council, to put your
vision to work for the greater good of
our community. Our calendar for 2010 is
filled with opportunity. Say you’ll take
part and help us as we continue to walk
the walk for a better Eau Claire and
North Columbia.
Merry Christmas to you all, and
many blessings of Peace to all men and
women of good will in the year to come!
Eau Claire Community Council
seeks seasoned community leaders and
young and ambitious idealists with a desire to help shepherd
the future course of Eau Claire and North Columbia
to serve on the Council Board.
For more information, contact Bruce Sanders
at 252-5266.
ECCC meeting dates for 2009
Executive Council Meetings
The Executive Council is made up
of neighborhood presidents and officers
of the Eau Claire Community Council.
The monthly meetings are held on the
3rd Tuesday of each month from 6:30-
9:00 P.M. at the Eau Claire Community
Council, 830 Wildwood Avenue unless
otherwise noted.
Upcoming EC meeting dates
for 2010:
January 19
February 16
March 16
April 20
Eau Claire Community Council Contacts
Henry Hopkins Executive Director 691-1168
Alvin Hinkle Acting President 786-0890
Keith McIver President-Elect 799-0700
Becky Bailey Secretary 454-0088
Dyann White Treasurer 252-7254 434-6742
Christie Savage Membership Chair 786–1562
Bruce Sanders Business Development 252-5266
Becky Bailey Public Information Chair 454-0088 338-9738
Contact ECCC via e-mail at Hpkinseauclaire@aol.com
www.eauclairecommunity.org

Page 8 • January 2010
Eau Claire Promise Zone:
Ready to Change the Odds
“The promise of the country is in this
room,” Alfonso Carrion, Jr., Director of
the White House Office of Urban Affairs,
told a standing-room only crowd in a
packed conference room in New York
City earlier this month.
by Catharine Aitken
Secretary, ECPZ
Squeezed into every available corner
of the Changing the Odds:
Learning from the Harlem
odds for children in Eau Claire.
They joined over 1,400 city and
state leaders, school officials, service
providers, and funders from 104 communities
in 36 states to learn how to emulate
Geoffrey Canada’s internationallylauded
model which President Obama
has described as “an all-encompassing,
all-hands-on-deck anti-poverty effort.”
“Cities around the nation are clambering
aboard this train…from Detroit to
Miami,” said Eau Claire resident and
The New Survey
stem the tide of failure drowning generation
after generation of children in their
communities.
The HCZ has received such accolades
because it has taken children in the
most struggling neighborhoods in the
country and prepared them to not just
graduate from high school, but to graduate
from college.
For seven consecutive years, 100%
of HCZ’s preschool students have
entered kindergarten scoring at or above
grade level. This year, 100% of its third
graders and 97% of its eighth graders
scored at or above grade level in math.
And how did they do this?
The HCZ chose a cluster of neighboring
blocks in Harlem and created a
comprehensive, seamless pipeline of
services for children ages 0-23 and their
Eau Claire Promise Zone delegates to the “Changing the Odds” conference in New York last month met in the lobby of the
Sheraton Hotel in November. Pictured are (l-r, front row) Vanessa McKie, Catharine Aitken, Chandra Siau, Dawn Stoner,
Jim Wright, Bud Ferillo, Back row (l-r) Sarah Conrad, Ernest Dupree, Rick Noble, Dawn Huntley, and Daniel
Canada.
Photos courtesy Eau Claire Promise Zone.
Children’s Zone (HCZ) Model
Conference, attendees listened intently as
top government officials, experts in
every field of child and family wellbeing,
and change agents from across the
country shared how they could go back
to their community and ensure every
child could succeed, regardless of
income, color, or circumstance.
Among this crowd were 12 North
Columbia leaders ready to change the
mayoral candidate Steve Benjamin,
“because it works…like nothing we’ve
ever seen before. They have unequivocally
changed the odds for a generation
of children in Harlem. We must do that
for our children here. It’s that simple.”
A Beacon of Hope
The Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ)
has become a beacon of hope for local
leaders desperate to figure out how to
families- a cradle to college approachincluding
everything from parenting education
to health care, housing, financial
and marital counseling, job training,
state-of-the-art preschools, rigorous public
charter schools, after-school programs,
and college admission support
and savings funds.
“What they have done here is historic,”
said Ron Sims, Deputy Secretary
of the Department of Housing and Urban

The New Survey January 2010 • Page 9
Development. “They have proven that
poor children of color can learn and succeed.
No more excuses.”
In addition to the blueprint, conference
attendees also learned of the myriad
pools of federal funding and support
becoming available to help communities
replicate the successes of the HCZ.
Making it a Priority
“[The Promise Neighborhoods Initiative]
is not just an academic exercise for this
South Carolina delegates to the “Changing the Odds” conference included: 1st
row (l-r) Catherine Aitkin and Dawn Stoner from the ECPZ, 2nd row (l-r) Audrey
Lane, Richland One, and Barbara Kelley-Duncan, executive director of the
Carolina youth Development Center; and 3rd row (l-r) Charleston Mayor Joe
Riley, Daniel Canada, ECPZ and Jim Wright, Turnaround Team Leader at
Gibbes Middle School.
administration. We get it. And we’re
making it a priority,” said White House
Domestic Policy Advisor Melody
Barnes.
Competition will be stiff for the federal
funding. Columbia’s delegation met
theirs in a strong showing from
Charleston that included children’s
champion Mayor Joe Riley.
A familiar name to lead
Eau Claire has its own advantages,
however. After forming their initial steering
committee, Eau Claire Promise Zone
board member and College Place
Community Council vice-chair, Clarenza
Tucker, realized that she had a co-worker
at SCANA with a familiar last name. The
colleague turned out to be Daniel
Canada, elder brother of Harlem
Children’s Zone’s founder and CEO,
Geoffrey Canada.
The older Canada, who has lived in
worked in Columbia for 26 years and has
a son who teaches history at Eau Claire
High School, was an easy recruit. And he
brought with him invaluable knowledge,
guidance, and connections.
Recently elected Chairman of the
Board of the Promise Zone, Canada
declared, “Our goal in the Eau Claire
Promise Zone is to see that the community
provides the services needed to nurture
our children so they can develop to
their full God-given potential.”
Taking the first step
Although still very much in the planning
stages, the Promise Zone plans to roll out
its first pipeline program in the fall: a
whole-neighborhood-inclusive parent
education course called “Baby U.”
“North Columbia is on the verge of
a new era in community involvement,”
said Henry Hopkins, executive director
of the Eau Claire Community Council
whose Education Task Force first
sparked the idea for the Promise Zone.
“Children are the future of this community;
the Promise Zone will be the bridge
to that future.”
Richland County First Steps coordinated
the trip to New York with funding
provided by BlueCross BlueShield of
SC, Central Carolina Community
Foundation, Sisters of Charity, and several
generous donors.
Eau Claire Promise
Zone Board
Members
Daniel Canada, chair
Catharine Aitken, Secretary
Chandra Siau, Treasurer
(First citizens Bank, NCBA)
Dawn Stoner, President
College Place Community
Council
Clarenza Tucker
Rev. Tiffany Knowlin
Rev. Wiley Cooper
Steve Benjamin
Tomothy McDonough (VISTA,
CMC)
Sarah Conrad (Richland
County First Steps)
(L-R) Sarah Conrad, Richland County First Steps; Daniel Canada, ECPZ Board
Chair; and Rick Noble were all part of the delegation attending the “Changing
the Odds” conference in Harlem.

Page 10 • January 2010
Matters
OFfaith
The New Survey
North Columbia Worship Centers
Antioch Baptist Rev. Dr. Albert A. Neal 5715 Koon Road 786-0119
Arise Christian Center Pastors John & Trythinia Bookert 7020 Frost Avenue 735-0222
Ascension Lutheran Rev. Ron Brown 827 Wildwood Avenue 786-6429
Bethlehem Baptist Rev. Anthony A. McCallum 1028 Eastman Street 754-1890
Capital City Church Pastor Ned Crosby 4600 Monticello Road 771-0092
Chosen 2 Conquer Pastor Pedro Maldonado 7910 Monticello Road 691-0962
Christ Center Pentecostal Rev. Scott Smith 623 Oakland Avenue 754-1819
Christ’s Lutheran Rev. Anne Christiansen 1323 Winyah Drive 735-0880
Church of Christ Brother Fred Turner 5889 Ames Road 786-5925
College Place UMC Rev. Tiffany Knowlin 4801 Colonial Drive 754-5342
Cola. Col. Dr. Church of God Rev. Willie Sutton 4702 Jones Street 754-1389
Community CME Rev. Joiquim Barnes 4317 Ridgewood Avenue 771-4739
Community Mem. Church of God Supt. James McKenney 4727 Roberts Street 786-2524
Denny Terrace Baptist Rev. Brett DeYoung 6324 Dorchester Street 754-4432
Eau Claire Baptist Rev. James A. Goudelock 4427 North Main Street 786-7769
Eau Claire Presbyterian Pastor Brandon Cranshaw 629 Wildwood Avenue 252-9296
Emanuel Church Rev. Ricky Jackson 1641 Blue Ridge Terrace 786-2766
Ephesus SDA Rev. Carl Nesmith 7709 Wilson Boulevard 786-2800
Family Worship Center Pastor Derrick Hutchins 3600 Colonial Drive 736-1184
Francis Burns UMC Rev. Dr. Thomas Bowman 5616 Farrow Road 754-1760
Fruit of the Spirit Christian Bishop Kevin Nelson 700 Sunset Drive 252-7347
Full Gospel Center Pastor Dana A. Holmes 6015 N. Main Street 754-0786
Gill Creek Baptist Rev. Reginald T. Burdon 2116 Cushman Drive 754-6616
God’s Church of Deliverance Pastor Milton H. Mosby 3950 Clement Road 931-0057
Good News Gospel Outreach Rev. Eddie Guess 605 Alcott Drive 786-6902
Grace Christian Church Pastor Aaron Bishop 5010 Monticello Road 754-8844
Greater Carolina Baptist Ch. Rev. Carey L. Hopkins 1419 Anthony Avenue 252-3845
Greater Faith United Baptist Rev. Charles E. Graham 119 Crawford Road 735-0631
Greater St. Luke Baptist Rev. Michael H. Baker 5228 Farrow Road 754-6000
Greenview First Baptist Rev. Johnny C. Owens 101 Isaac Street 786-2839
Haskell Heights Baptist Pastor Glen Wigfall 1231 Blue Ridge Terrace 754-6554
Haskell Heights Prog. Bapt. Pastor Charles E. Epps 1323 Townsend Street 691-9724
Holy Mission of Faith Elder Isaac Dash 131 Duke Avenue 779-3856
I. DeQ. Newman UMC Rev. Augustus Rogers 7801 Wilson Boulevard 786-9894
Jehovah Baptist Rev. S.E. Marshall 1540 Frye Road 786-2112
Kingdom Builders Ministries Rev. Joseph English 5320 Fairfield Road 333-9036
Life Giving Outreach Pastor Henry A. Cleare 6101 North Main Street 786-0088
Life Transformers Word Min. Pastor T. LaVern Manigault 3801 River Drive 467-1390
Masjid As-Salaam Imman Omar Shaheed 5119 Monticello Road 252-9477
Mt. Olive Baptist Rev. Norman E. Curly 1700 Blue Ridge Terrace 353-2275
Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Pastor Leon R. Dickerson 9300 Farrow Road 788-4563
New Day Baptist Rev. Ray Hoskins 4201 Abington Avenue 237-7159
New Hope Deliverance Pastor Mary Burton 4005 Monticello Road 799-5507
New Jerusalem Interdenom. Pastor Diana M. James 1003 Colleton Street 714-0306
New Laurel St. Baptist Rev. Charles Jackson Jr. 5214 Fairfield Road 786-5924
New St. Thomas Refuge Episc. Rev. George C. McCray 5709 Ames Road 691-0611
New Williams St. Baptist Rev. Allen Jacobs Jr. 5408 Middleton Street 735-0140
Northminister Presbyterian Rev. Richard F. Dozier 6718 David Street 754-1812
Refuge Temple Bishop W.L. Bonner 4450 Argent Court 754-9420
Rehoboth Restoration Ministry Pastor Louise W. Rouse 5801 Koon Road 714-0117
Reid Chapel AME Rev. Dr. Norvell Goff Sr. 704 Gabriel Street 786-0701
Ridgewood Baptist Pastor Fred Coit 5326 Ridgeway St. 786-4017
Second Calvary Bapt. Ch. Rev. Carl R. Wells 1110 Mason Road 714-9668
Second Chance Universal Bishop Dr. Ronald Foxe 99 Duke Avenue 929-3838
St. John Baptist Rev. Jamey O. Graham 3404 West Beltline Blvd. 254-4170
St. John UMC Rev. Rudolph Barnes, Jr. 1700 Houston Street 754-4588
St. Paul Baptist Rev. Bobby G. Watkins 4517 North Main Street 732-9488
Stedfast Christian Center Rev. Sam Goodwin 5200 Fairfield Road 786-9129
Stover Chapel AME Rev. Howard L. Thompson 1450 Geraldine Road 754-0048
Spirit of Truth Christian Pastor Marcus R. Shiver Sr. 301 Sunset Drive 771-8933
Temple Zion Baptist Rev. Andre T. Melvin 1174 Heyward Brockington 754-0933
Village of Hope Pastor Charles Austin Sr. 3000 River Drive 931-0180
Zion Cannan Baptist Rev. Bobby L. Smith 7820 Farrow Road 935-0132
To be included in this listing, please call 454-0088
RICKI REFLECTS:
Triumph Over Trials
by Ricki Blakeney
Iwoke up one morning and finally
discovered that life isn’t easy.
Doesn’t that sound like a sparkling
reality? NOT!
My mom has been telling
me continuously and preparing
me for the day that I will wake
up and finally smell the coffee.
She always said that “its
always something” or “if it
ain’t one thing, its another!”
But mom never let my
sister and me actually see
when there were problems.
I appreciate that but then
after a while, I got older
and got nosey and wanted
to know what was going on
all the time and then I realized that
things weren’t as peachy as she made
them look. And it took me 16 years to
wake up and realize that life is truly
hard. There are always trials that we are
trying to overcome and obstacles that we
have to face. But here are a few ways
that Ricki becomes triumphant over her
trials:
(1) Love. So many people say that
“you young folks don’t know nothing
‘bout love…” WRONG! Example?
Sure! I know that my mother loves me
because of the way she cares for, provides
for, protects me, encourages me…
just about everything she does shows her
love for me. So I do in fact know what
love is.
But the love I’m telling you will get
you through all situations is not particularly
a romantic love. Love, romantic or
not, is love! So if it’s your grandmother’s
love, your boyfriend or girlfriend’s love,
Christ’s love or even that self love that
you MUSThave, love will get you
through so many situations. When you
have a love you probably feel that you
have a reason to make it past a situation.
My dad suffered with cancer and told me
that my sisters and I were the reasons he
had to fight for life. Not because we are
so beautiful…but because of our love!
(2) Faith. So get used to seeing the
word faith. I’ll probably use it in
EVERY reflection. Faith is sooooo
important—especially when it comes to
going through things in life. You have to
have faith to endure your trials. When
you are walking around your house in
the middle of the night and all the lights
are off, you aren’t afraid because you
have FAITH that you know exactly
where the couch, table, stool, etc are. So
of course, you may bump into something
since its dark. But we all have accidents
so it's ok. Just have faith that things will
get better in the end.
(3) A good book. Reading is not
only fundamental but
it is a stress
reliever. You
know how you
may have had a
long day and you sit
down on your bed
and you start reading
a good book? So now,
instead of concentrating
on the test you didn’t
do so well on and
the family member that
may have died, now
you’re all up in the book
that is so good. Try it! You think I’m just
talking, but a good book is an awesome
tool!
(4) Strength. It is so hard to remain
strong when life gets hard. Trust me, I
know! But when you lose your strength
you lose yourself. When things go
wrong, we can’t just cop out and give up,
we must remain strong in who we are
and the things that we are working
towards. If you are strong and keep your
cool through situations, you’ll be able to
look back on it and see that you’ve
grown so much through your trials.
(5) Laughter. Laughing is a great
medication. It’s a proven fact. Go look
up the stats on it. But when you are
struggling and you can’t find a way out,
try your best to find the humor in the situation.
For example, I’m planning an
event and I lose the invitations from my
computer, I redo it and lose it again, I
send it out but the recipients never get it,
and lastly, a group cancels on me at the
last minute. Even though its sooo hard
and a bit overwhelming, I laugh because
I know that it’s a trick of the enemy to
steal my joy and kill my spirit!
Sometimes, you just have to laugh until
you cry!
Yep, that’s it. When you’re going
through trials and can’t seem to see the
silver lining outside of that cloud, keep
your head up. Make sure you have love,
faith, a good book, strength and laughter!

The New Survey January 2010 • Page 11
C.A. Johnson High School Air Force
JROTC Cadets Go Flying
Veterans Share Their Experiences
with DIstrict One Students
C.A. Johnson High School Air Force JROTC cadet Tekeila Bennett recently had
the opportunity to fly with pilot Doug Evans at the Columbia Owens Airport.
She and several other cadets were able to use the aerodynamics lessons they
learned in the classroom while flying with pilots from the Columbia Chapter of
the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).
Members of the South Carolina Combat Veteran's Group recently shared their
military experiences with students at Hyatt Park Elementary School. Pictured
from left to right are Tommy Olds (Commander of the S. C. Combat Veteran's
Group), Thomas Thompson, Tuskegee Airman Lester E. Phillips, Hyatt Park
Parent Liaison Gloris McClinton, James Brown, Joseph McDaniel and George
Culler.
Richland One Calendar
January 30: 11th Annual Richland One
Certified Teacher Job Fair, 9:00 A.M. -
12:00 NOON, Dreher High School, 3319
Millwood Avenue. Certified teachers are
invited to meet principals and teachers
and learn more about Richland One’s
excellent programs/curricula and exceptional
professional development opportunities.
Veteran and new teachers, as well
as May graduates, are encouraged to
attend.
January 23, 2010: Richland One Hall of
Fame Gala and Dance, 6:00 P.M. pregala
reception, program begins at 7:00
P.M., Columbia Metropolitan Convention
Center. Tickets are $75 each or $100 per
couple and may be purchased from the
Richland One Office of Communications,
located at the Stevenson Administration
Building, 1616 Richland Street. For ticket
information call 231-7504.
The 2009 inductees are John W.
Bluford III, a 1967 graduate of C.A.
Johnson High School and CEO of
Truman Medical Centers, Kansas City,
Mo.; former Richland One
Superintendent Dr. Ronald Epps; the late
Elizabeth “Betty” Foran, a 1941 graduate
of Columbia High School, who was a
pioneer in the development of school
libraries in Richland One and SC); and
Senior US District Judge Matthew J.
Perry, Jr., a 1939 graduate of Booker T.
Washington High School.
National Writing
Day at Logan
Elementary
School
Local author Dorothy Carter recently
visited Logan Elementary to talk
about the importance of writing. She
shared excerpts from her book My
Grandfather Can Do Anything and
encouraged students to write poems
and stories of their own.
Sgt. Xavier Neal recently visited Pendergrass Fairwold School to share how his
unit supported Marines deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom. Neal is pictured
with his mother Wendy Neal, a special education teacher at Pendergrass. After
spending three years in the Marines, Sgt. Neal is currently serving with the
Marine Reserves.
Greenview Elementary Named to
State School Improvement Council
Honor Roll
Lewis Greenview Elementary School is one of 11 schools in the state to be
named to the 2010 Honor Roll of the SC School Improvement Council for its
efforts to build parent and community involvement in its school. As an Honor
Roll school Lewis Greenview will continue to be in the running for the prestigious
Dick and Tunky Riley School Improvement Award named for the former
US Secretary of Education and his late wife. The winner of the Riley award will
be announced in March.

Page 12 • January 2010
FYI....
January 20
February 3
February 4
February 10
February 17
City Council Meeting Dates
Council Meeting - 9:00 A.M.- Council Chambers
Zoning Public Hearing - 10:00 A.M.- Council Chambers
Council Meeting - 9:00 A.M.- Council Chambers
Public Hearings - Columbia Renaissance Development Plan &
Innovista Redevelopment Plan - 6:00 P.M. - Council Chambers
Work Session - 9:00 A.M.- Council Chambers
Council Meeting - 9:00 A.M.- Council Chambers
For more information and other City of Columbia events:
visit the City of Columbia online at www.columbiasc.net
or contact the City Clerk at 545-3045
January 19
Richland County Council Meeting Dates
January 26
February 2
February 16
Regular Session - 6:00 P.M. - Council Chambers
Public Hearing - Storm Water Ordinance
Zoning Public Hearing - 7:00 P.M. - Council Chambers
Regular Session - 6:00 P.M. - Council Chambers
Regular Session - 6:00 P.M. - Council Chambers
For more information and a complete schedule of County Boards & Commissions:
visit Richland County online at www.richlandonline.com
or call 576-2062
Richland One School Board Meeting Dates
January 26
February 9
February 23
Regular Session - 7:00 P.M. - Caughman Road Elementary School
Regular Session - 7:00 P.M. - Stephenson Administration Building
Regular Session - 7:00 P.M. - Columbia High School
Visit Richland One online at www.richlandone.org
Elected Officials representing
Eau Claire / North Columbia
Rep. James Clyburn U.S. House Dist. 202-225-3315 799-1100
Sen. John L. Scott, Jr. S.C. Senate Dist. 19 733-5176 212-6048
Rep. Chris Hart S.C. House Dist. 73 771-7701
Rep. Todd Rutherford S.C. House Dist. 74 799-8633 256-3003
Rep. Leon Howard S.C. House Dist. 76 734-3061 254-9468
Rep. Joe McEachern S.C. House Dist. 77 735-1808 212-6875
Hon. Paul Livingston Richland Co. Dist. 4 765-1192 738-7655
Hon. Gwendolyn Kennedy Richland Co. Dist. 7 240-4572
Hon. Joyce Dickerson Richland Co. Dist. 2 750-0154
Hon. Robert D. Coble Mayor of Columbia 545-3075
Hon. Sam Davis City Council District 1 754-0525 898-9758
Hon. Tameika Isaac City Council At-Large 779-0312 254-8868
Hon. Dan Rickenmann City Council At-Large 787-7126 254-2445
Mrs. Barbara Scott Richland One At-Large 254-0726 799-2001
Mr. Vince Ford Richland One At-Large 735-0405 799-2001
Mrs. Susie Dibble Richland One At-Large 771-7613 799-2001
Dr. Jasper Salmond Richland One Seat 1 765-2795 799-2001
Mr. Jamie Devine Richland One Seat 2 699-5324 799-2001
Richland One Office 231-7000
January Columbia City Council Recap
The New Survey
Text Amendment - Second Reading - January 20
Tentatively rescheduled for January 27, 2010 at 9:00 A.M.
§17-258, §17-305 (a), and create §17-294 (new) to amend regulations concerning nondepository
personal credit institutions (payday loan and/or title loan establishments).
The Public Hearing was conducted and this item was deferred on November 18, 2009;
First reading approval was given on December 2, 2009 – Note: The Code Enforcement
Task Force finds that the proliferation of pay day and other like lenders suggests a
commercial corridor is in economic and social decline, negatively impacting economic
development efforts, and that these changes would discourage the illegal practice of
rolling over loans and minimize the often garish appearance of such establishments.
The Code Enforcement Task Force (CETF) unanimously recommends that City Council
amend the Zoning Ordinance such that pay day and other like lenders will no longer
require a special exception but instead be classified as a conditional use. A conditional
use means that a use is permitted provided it conforms with certain conditions; in this
instance, those conditions being similar to those imposed by the cities of Camden, Rock
Hill, and Greenville, which limit such lenders to buildings containing 30,000 sq.ft. or
more and require that such lenders be no closer together than 3,000 feet. Importantly, a
conditional use does not require a public hearing at the Board of Zoning Appeals
whereas a special exception does. Also, unlike the Greenville ordinance, this proposal
does not amortize existing locations based upon expiring leases.
Teen program founded by teens
making a difference in North Cola
“Everything is Everything” is an
organization founded by students for students.
Jarrett Etheredge, Marquiton
Richardson
and Adrian
Spann—the
“Founding
Fathers” of the
group—were
visiting the
Teen Health
Center and in
conversation
with the director
committed
themselves to
helping prevent
teen pregnancy.
Under
the advisement
of Mrs.
Beverly Hart
Pittman, these
teens scheduled
and
recruited students for an introductory
meeting at Eau Claire High School. The
students had a successful turnout and
began planning educational topics and
activities to sponsor.
“Everything is Everything” meets on
Mondays at 3:30 P.M. in the Project
G.O.A.L. office. During these one hour
sessions, teens learn negotiation skills,
the importance of high academic success,
the consequences of unprotected sex,
how to encourage their peers to live
healthy, and the need to maximize their
“Founding fathers” (l-r) Jarrett Ethredge, Adrian Spann and
Marquiton Richardson developed “Everything is Everything,” a
support program designed to help stem the tide of teenaged
pregnancy in North Columbia. Photo & story courtesy Project H.O.P.E.
individual potential. These teens will
serve as Project H.O.P.E./Teen Health
Center advocates.
For more information about being an
advocate or joining “Everything is
Everything,” or to learn more about
Project H.O.P.E./Teen Health Center programs,
call 253-7521 or 760-0665. The
Project’s message is “Our community
wants One Less Pregnant Teen.”

The New Survey January 2010 • Page 13
Tending his garden
As he has for
more than 20 years,
Brother Andrew
Williams, 88, has
been a dedicated
servant to Clement
Road Church of
God in North
Columbia.
Planting pansies
on a cool,
December afternoon,
Williams said
being close to the
earth is “a blessing
from God.”
The retired
postal worker from
Washington, DC.,
Williams and his
wife moved to
Columbia and his
church in the 1990s
where his sprightly
personality and
youthful dexterity
make him a blessing
to all who know
him. And, to the
pansies as well!
Photo by Becky Bailey
Photos by Dawn Stoner
North Columbia residents enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Holidays in
November and December with a variety of events including the annual Eau
Claire Thanksgiving Celebration held at College Place United Methodist Church
in November. At top, members of the Arden Elementary School Chorus performed
at the event which recognized students from Eau Claire Cluster Schools
who had excelled both academically and in service to their community. Left,
above. Columbia College VISTA volunteer Molly Preston enjoys Thanksgiving
dinner with a resident of one of Columbia’s Community Care Homes, and
College Place resident Reggie McNight engertains volunteers and guests at the
annual Thanksgiving Dinner. See more Holiday photos on line at www.eauclairecommunity.org.

Page 14 • January 2010
The New Survey
Public Sessions scheduled on Renaissance TIF
Three public sessions to provide information on the proposed Renaissance TIF will be
held on Thursday, Jan. 21, 6:00 P.M. at the Eau Claire Print Building; Monday, Jan. 25,
6:00 P.M. at the Cecil Tillis Center; and Tuesday, Feb. 2, 6:00 P.M. at Arsenal Hill Park
Building. The public hearing is Thursday, February 4, 6:00 P.M. at City Hall.
How to start a community garden
A Free Seminar Presented By USC Green Quad and Sustainable Midlands, Saturday,
January 23 from 10:00 – 11:30 A.M. at the USC Green Quad. Learn how to organize
and develop a community garden for your neighborhood, school, or organization. Also,
there will be a tour of the Green Quad Community Garden and orchard. Sustainable
Midlands is a coalition of organizations in the Midlands of SC that are committed to the
concepts of building sustainable communities and improving the air and water quality.
The Green Quad Learning Center for Sustainable Futures is a one-story building in the
middle of the Green Quad. The Quad is located south of Wheat Street, between Main
and Sumter. For additional information contact: Jason Craig, Green Quad
Learning Center for Sustainable Futures 803-777-1994 or email
craigjd@mailbox.sc.edu or Ryan Nevius, Sustainable Midlands, 803-381-
8747 ryan@sustainblemidlands.org to reserve your seat for this free seminar.
Visit http://www.greenquadcommunity.org for a map & directions.
How Not to Fall for a Jerk or Jerkette
Saturday, January 23. A presentation by Rod Thomas (a.k.a. the
Relationship Guy), from 9:00 A.M. -3:00 P.M. at the Benedict College
School of Continuing Education, 2001 Harper Street, Columbia, SC 29204.
Thomas is a certified Integral Coach and licensed to facilitate relationship
enhancement programs. He is President & CEO of Rod Thomas
Consulting. The cost is $70 per person and includes
lunch plus a handy resource booklet. Discounts available.
Registration through January 22. Call 803.705.4779
or e-mail barnesl@benedict.edu.
Richland One Hall of Fame Gala
and Dance
Saturday, January 23. Richland One Hall of Fame Gala
and Dance begins at 6:00 P.M. with a pre-gala reception;
program begins at 7:00 P.M. at the Columbia
Metropolitan Convention Center. Tickets are $75 each or $100 per couple and may be
purchased from the Richland One Office of Communications, located at the Stevenson
Administration Building, 1616 Richland Street. For ticket information call 231-7504.
National Census 2010 Road Tour to Visit Columbia
The National Census 2010 “It’s In Our Hands” Road Tour’s only scheduled stop in the
Palmetto State will coincide with census-jobs testing at Brookland Baptist Church
(1066 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, S.C. 29165) Sunday, January 17, 2010. The
“Portrait of America” vehicle will be open to the public from 1:00 -4:00 P.M. The
Census Bureau is seeking to motivate America’s growing and increasingly diverse population
to complete and mail back the 10-question census forms when they arrive in the
mail from March 15-17, 2010.
Columbia Council of Neighborhoods General Meeting
has been rescheduled from Thursday, January 28 to Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at
5:30 P.M. at the Eau Claire Print Building in order to attend the Mayor’s State of the
City Address.
Mayor Coble's State of the City Address
Jan 28, 2010 6:00 - 7:00 P.M., Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center at 1101
Lincoln Street. The general public is invited to attend the event and the reception following.
Coming in February
February 6
Book signing by author Mia Isaac, 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Eau Claire
Print Building, 3707 Ensor Avenue. Put Parents First is based
upon my many years of teaching students from 1st grade through 12th
grade, and incorporating parents into my teaching strategy. Call 803-760-
0249 for more information.
February 14
A “Fall in Love” Open House at The Barclay
School on Valentine’s Day. 2:00-4:00 P.M. The Barclay School is a
small, private school for all students, but especially those with learning
differences and attentional issues. We offer hands-on, multi-sensory learning
with individualized attention. The Barclay School is located at 4702
Colonial Drive, opposite Alumni Hall at Columbia College. Please RSVP
at 803-629-6318 and visit our website at www.thebarclayschool.org.
Richland County Neighborhood Leadership Training
How To Beautify On A Dime, February 16, 2010, 6:00-7:30 P.M., Richland County
Recreation Commission Adult Activity Center, 7494 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC
29223-7618 Call 462-9995 for more information. Also, on Jan. 28, Richland County
hosts a workshop for neighborhood leaders interested in applying for community
improvement grants. The hour-long session starts at 6:30 P.M. at the county administration
building, 2020 Hampton Street. Erica Hink, neighborhood coordinator, will explain
what types of projects qualify for matching grants up to $1,500. Groups can match the
awards with volunteer hours.
FYI
The Eau Claire High School Alumni Association is gearing up to host
it’s 4th Annual Black Tie Weekend of Events in June, and is looking for Shamrocks to
work on committees. If you would like to volunteer, contact us at803-661-1807 or visit
our web site at www.eauclairealumni.org. This isevent is to raise funds for Scholarships
and Mentorship programs. We willbe holding our first meeting Friday February 5, 2010
at North Main Deli at 6:30 PM.Thank you in advance for your assistance with these
series of events. www.eauclairealumni.org. 803-661-1807.
Ribs & Renaissance 2010 seeks volunteers to assist with the annual event on
Saturday, June 5 in the Eau Claire Town Square. Team players with good organizational
skills a must! Some paid positions. Help us welcome visitors to a “Famously Hot” taste
of our side of town. Entertainers, sidewalk artists, street performers, vendors, interested
in participating should visit www.eauclairecommunity.org for an application or call
803-454-0088 for more information. Next meeting is Tuesday, January 26, 6:00 P.M.

The New Survey January 2010 • Page 15
Area Churches partner in Teens After School Center (TASC)
For two years, North Columbia’s Community Christian Methodist Episcopal
Church has partnered with Ebenezer Lutheran Church in downtown Columbia to
address the needs of at-risk youths in the Columbia area. Known as TASC (Teens After
School Center) the program offers activities to develop the whole child, both emotionally,
socially, and spiritually.
Why have we felt called to implements an after school Center?
There are about 1,200 Richland County residents ages 10-16 years of age processed
through the Department of Juvenile Justice each year. Of these, the vast majority are
referred to the Department of Juvenile Justice for non-violent, non-serious actions (top
offense is disturbing school). Most of these Children live in single-parent households
and have limited or no after school supervision. Unlike crime by adult offenders, crime
committed by juveniles peak in the afternoon between 3:00 - 4:00 P.M., the hours at the
end of the school day.
As downtown congregations,
we are surrounded by youths who
are in desperate need of positive
role models and structured activities
that will help them realize
their potential as productive, welleducated
adults.
How our TASC program works.
We serve youth between 6-17
years of age that are non-violent
and are at-risk. TASC Center is
opened directly after the school
day hours 3:00-7:00 P.M.), Monday
through Thursday during the
school year.
Seed money is provided
through Department of Juvenile
Justice and Ebenezer Lutheran
Church who partnered with
Community C.M.E. in support of
this Center.
The TASC Program provides
supervision, structured daily activities,
service coordination, and counseling to the youth and their families.
Individual educational enhancements are also developed for children
that have academic and social difficulties in mainstream educational
settings.
Objectives of the TASC Program
• To provide enrichment activities after the school day hours.
• To help curtail the number of students who drop out of school.
• To reduce the number of students involved in negative behavior
• To improve attendance (school/afterschool program)
• To Improve academic success
A Look Inside of TASC Program
Our day starts with giving the participants a healthy snack and a
time to greet each other. We then go into the homework or tutorial part
of the program. We have certified retired teachers giving assistance to each youth
enrolled in the program. The majority of our volunteers are members of Ebenezer
Lutheran Church who are retired certified teachers. Following the homework/tutorial
the youth then participate in our enrichment sessions. The enrichment sessions are lead
by an employee from Palmetto Healthy Start Program, which is sponsored by
Palmetto/Baptist Hospitals, Richland County Sheriff Department, Wachovia Bank and
Kids Cafe- Harvest Hope.
Some of the enrichment activities provided:
• Martial Arts, Richland County Sheriff Department
• Nutrition classes ( Healthy eating habits, Planning and cooking healthy meals, grocery
shopping etc.)
• Recreational Activities (Bowling, Football games, basketball games, skating, visiting
State Museum, Exercise sessions, etc.)
• Performing Arts: The youths are transported to The Crane Creek Recreation Center to
participate in the performing arts sessions. They participates in creative arts sessions
with the instructor guiding them in bring out their artistic skills. The youths also participates
in drama, role playing and using their creativity in composing songs, dance,
poems etc
• Gardening (flowers/vegetable). The youth learned how to plant care for and maintain
gardens.
• Banking (balancing check book, money saving plan, etc.)
• Family Counseling/Spiritual Counseling Sessions (making the right choices, Dealing
Teens enrolled in the TASC program participate
in Martial Arts training provided by the
Richland County Sheriff’s Department (above
left), nutrition classes (above) and homework
programs (left) among other enrichment programs.
with bullies, Respect for self and others, etc.) These
counselors do individual counseling with the youth
and also goes into the homes in an attempt to find
resolutions to the youth's problems
During our first year of programming, we exceeded
our expectation in providing an after school program
for our youth. The greatest evidence of success came
from the participant’s teachers who wrote notes and
made contact with staff in telling how the youths
improved in behaviors, attitudes and grades.
Great things are happening in this program this
year! We are blessed to have Dr. Julius Carroll,
Associate Professor of Contextual Education at the Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminar to assign students to our program as part of their class assignment/course credits.
We are very thankful for the great things that are happening at Community
C.M.E./ Ebenezer Lutheran Church TASC Program!
For enrollment information you may contact: Queen Burroughs-Bonaparte at the
following numbers: 803 771-4739/ 803 754-3707 or qbonaparte@aol.com.
Submitted by,
Queen Burroughs-Bonaparte, TASC Program Director
Joann Grant, Program Coordinator

Page 16 • January 2010
Celebrate African-American
History and Culture at RCPL!
Join the Richland County Public Library for a celebration of African-American history
and culture at a variety of free events during February. Questions? Call the library locations
indicated or the Main Library at 799-9084.
An Overview of African-
American Music: Sing,
Children Sing for
all ages
Join Carl Wells of the
University of South
Carolina for a discussion
of the history of African-
American music. 7:00
P.M., Tuesday, February
2, Bostick Auditorium,
Main, 1431 Assembly
St., 929-3457.
Blythewood High
School Gospel
Choir for all ages
Enjoy the gospel music
of Blythewood High
School's Mighty Voices
of Praise. 2:00 P.M.,
Saturday, February 6,
Bostick Auditorium,
Main, 1431 Assembly St., 929-3457.
Let It Shine for all ages
Join RCPL for stories from our award-winning
Coretta Scott King collection.
10:30 A.M.., Saturday, February 6, Children's Room, Main, 1431 Assembly St., 929-
3434.
An Afternoon with Irmo High School Gospel Choir for all ages
Enjoy the music of Irmo High School's award-winning gospel choir as they perform
various selections, from spirituals to today's gospel. 3:00 P.M., Sunday, February 7,
Bostick Auditorium, Main, 1431 Assembly St., 929-3457.
A Salute to Robert Smalls for adults
Join historian Donald Sweeper as he reenacts an interview with Robert Smalls. Smalls,
a former South Carolina slave, freed himself and his family after seizing a Confederate
ship. He later became a successful politician and served in the South Carolina
Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. 6:30 P.M., Tuesday, February 9,
North Main Branch, 5306 North Main St., 754-7734.
The Gospel Root Chaser for adults
Written and directed by Lena Carroll Clay, this play is the story of a reporter who writes
award-winning articles about music legends. Enjoy a live performance by Deep
Productions and Film and a special performance by the Southeastern School of the Arts
dance troop in the opening act. 7:00 P.M., Thursday, February 18, Bostick Auditorium,
Main, 1431 Assembly St., 929-3457.
Pine Needle Basketry for adults
Master the art of making stunning baskets using pine needles and simple techniques presented
by Sadie Clark. Take home your own "masterpiece" after attending all three sessions.
Space is limited. Please call 772-6675 or drop by to register. 3:00 P.M. Saturdays,
February 13, 20 & 27, St. Andrews Regional
Jazz on a Saturday Morning for all ages
Begin your morning with sounds of jazz and stories about famous jazz musicians.
10:30 A.M., Saturday, February 13, Children's Room, Main, 1431 Assembly St., 929-
3457.
Voices of Our People for all ages
Celebrate Black History Month and African-American culture with songs, poems and
speeches written by famous African Americans. 6:30 P.M., Monday, February 15, North
Main Branch, 5306 North Main St., 754-7734.
Celebrating the Past - Looking toward the Future for all ages
Join us for an entertaining evening with successful local figures Terrance Acox and
Xavier McDaniel. They will entertain us
with stories about their careers and inspire
us to dream big. 7:00 P.M., Thursday,
February 18, Northeast Regional Branch, 7
Celebrating
African-
American
History
Month
Lunch and Listen Music Series for
all ages. Bring your lunch to the library and
enjoy the music of jazz vocalist and RCPL
Literary Resident Eboniramm. 12:30 P.M.,
Thursday, February 18, 1431, Main, 1431
Assembly St., 929-3457.
Voices of Our People for teens and
adults. Join us as we celebrate African-
American history and culture through poetry,
music and dance. For more information,
please call 776-0855. 7:00 p.m., Monday,
February 22, Southeast Regional Branch,
7421 Garners Ferry Rd., 776-0855.
Ward One with Dr. Bobby Donaldson for all
ages. Join Dr. Bobby Donaldson, Associate Professor of
History at The University of South Carolina, as he discusses
his research on Columbia's historic Ward One community.
7:00 P.M.., Tuesday, February 23, Bostick Auditorium,
Main, 1431 Assembly St., 929-3457.
Southern Writers Series with Percival
Everett for adults. Join the Friends of RCPL and USC
Institute for Southern Studies for a book discussion and
signing by Percival Everett, Distinguished Professor of
English at the University of Southern California. Everett,
who spent his childhood in Columbia, is the author of
numerous works such as Erasure (2001), American Desert (2004), and most recently I
Am Not Sidney Poitier.
6:00 P.M., Wednesday, February 24, Bostick Auditorium, Main, 1431 Assembly St., 929-
3457.
Family History Workshop: African-American Genealogy for adults *
Alexia Jones Helsley, historian, archivist, educator and co-author of African-American
Genealogical Research, will address the unique aspects of African-American genealogical
research. To register or for more information, please call 787-3462. 2:00 P.M.,
Saturday, February 27, Southeast Regional Branch, 7421 Garners Ferry Rd., 776-0855.
Representing Our Yesterdays, Todays and Tomorrows for all ages
Join Samuels’ Blessed Bears Day Care Center for loads of fun as they creatively portray
famous African Americans from the past, present and future. 11:00 A.M., Saturday,
February 27, North Main Branch, 5306 North Main St., 754-7734.
Remembering Why We Sing for all ages
Join Frankie L. Goodman of the Center for Southern African-American Music for a discussion
of the history of sacred music, from spirituals to modern gospel.
3:00 P.M., Sunday, February 28, Bostick Auditorium, Main, 1431 Assembly St., 929-
3457.
The Femininity of Jazz: Women in Jazz for adults
Celebrate Women's History Month with the entertaining sounds of RCPL's Literary
Resident Eboniramm as she uncovers the contributions of women in jazz.
6:30 p.m., Monday, March 29, North Main Branch, 5306 North Main St., 754-7734.
RCPL hosts a variety of free programs throughout the year. Visit
www.myRCPL.com today!
The New Survey