September 2025 City of Newberry update

I only recently learned that the creation of mustard-based barbecue sauce, which I was raised on, is credited to the Germans who settled in Newberry and Lexington Counties. The German settlers of the Dutch Fork (originally “Deutsch” but Dutch was easier to say) also brought to the region the Lutheran Church, which later led to the founding of Newberry College, a taste for sausage and other delicacies and an appreciation of gathering family and friends.

Newberry will celebrate the region’s German heritage, fall and fun at the 24^th annual Oktoberfest Saturday, October 4 from 10 am—6 pm. PRT director Collin Shealy says this year’s event will feature a record number of food vendors and artisan and community vendors, plus there will be multiple Biergartens. The Oktoberfest Stage, sponsored by Newberry College, and the Kinderfest Zone, sponsored by Newberry Health, will provide much fun. There will be a special Oktoberfest Kickoff Friday, October 3 with German beer and bites from 5—8 pm.

As you make your way through Oktoberfest, we encourage you to step inside to the downtown businesses, which will be glad to see you and will appreciate your support. New business Main Street Magic will debut at Oktoberfest, located near Genesis Hub. Owners Scott and Janet Robinson, who previously owned a popular magic shop in Indian Land, SC, will be stocked with magic books, tools, plus they plan to host magic shows and offer workshops.

Other exciting news in Newberry includes three new restaurants opening in recent months.  Downtown on McKibben, Shonda Caldwell, owner of popular caterer Blessed by the Best, now has a popular storefront.  Check their social media for hours each week.  Shonda’s son, Jamaree, is off to an excellent start in the NFL for the Los Angeles Chargers.

On Wilson Road, long-time Ronnie’s staff member Deezie Strubeck is owner of the already popular MiMi’s Place, featuring country cooking. MiMi’s grand opening will be Oct. 9.  In the Dunkin Donuts shopping center, young entrepreneur Jose Alvarez opened La Michoacana Ice cream and Tacos Don Mane, featuring tacos made famous at his food truck and adding a tasty ice cream from Mexico.  (I have tried all of these restaurants on your behalf and recommend all three).

Express Oil Change, in front of Lowe’s, has made much progress and plans to open by year-end.  

Newberry College continues to shine bright and has record enrollment.  Giving a welcome at opening convocation at Wiles Chapel last month, I encouraged the students to explore off-campus and to feel at home in Newberry.  I recommend the Wolves home football games, which are drawing good crowds with much spirit, from Coach Todd Knight’s football team to David Santiago’s Scarlet Spirit Marching Band—one of the largest college bands in the state-- plus dance teams, flashing lights and more.  The next home game is after Oktoberfest at 7 pm.

Coach Cedric Jeter’s Newberry Bulldogs are 5-0 and putting up big scores every Friday night.  Longtime Bulldog fans say this is potentially one of Newberry’s best teams in many years. Homecoming is October 3.

The Newberry Art Center on Main Street should be complete by year-end. And the Newberry Opera House season is off to a strong start, attracting many new first-time ticket buyers. 

Events coming up include the Veterans Day Parade on November 1 at 10 am.  Contact Newberry County Veteran Affairs or the American Legion to be in the parade.  And there will be a local celebration of the 250^th birthday of the US Marine Corps with multiple events in early November, including a public celebration Nov. 9 downtown. Email rosemariefavors@gmail.com for more information.

Thank you for supporting Newberry businesses and events.  I hope you have a very enjoyable fall.

Dabbling in sports writing again--Joanna Hornets performing well in their first year back in action

 In college and high school, I wrote sports articles for the student newspapers and wrote articles for the Clemson sports information department.  Thanks to the Joanna Hornets and the Chapin-Newberry American Legion baseball program for letting me dabble in sports writing again.  This article is about the new Joanna Hornets for local outlets.

Wearing the Joanna name and colors for the first time in over 50 years, the newly formed Joanna Hornets college summer baseball team had an excellent first month of action, competing in three states, playing home games at Newberry High and representing Joanna and themselves very well.

"It's been great so far," said Michael Riefsnyder, general manager.  "Players and coaches have been really dedicated.  They've been excited to build this program.  Head Coach Stuart Lake has been a tremendous addition for us, along with Coach Lindsey Stribble and Coach Ronnie Bannister.  Having such veteran coaches has made a big difference.  Starting up a program with Coach Lake, a former D1 head coach, is a real coup for us. 

"Players are having a great time and already asking about next season.  I think the future of this team is very bright.

"We have a great mixture of players from Newberry County, Laurens County, including one player from Joanna, plus players from the Spartanburg and Lexington areas."  Some of the colleges represented include Newberry, Erskine, Lander, USC-Sumter, USC-Union, College of Charleston and The Citadel.

Coach Lake was head coach at Charleston Southern and an assistant at South Carolina, Mississippi and other colleges.  He's now director of development for the Gamecock Club, coaching the Hornets in the evenings and on weekends.  "It's been fun to get back in the dugout," he said. "And it's been really good for us to represent what Joanna means.  

"You never know what you might get in a summer league, but Michael did a great job recruiting," said Lake between games of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon. "It's been a good group to show up out here in the heat and traveling some like we have.  They've really impressed me."

The Hornets play their home games at Newberry High.  "It's been an excellent partnership for the Hornets and Newberry High," Riefsnyder said.  "It's a fantastic field for us to play on. Newberry High baseball keeps the gate receipts and handles concessions so it's a good fundraiser for them, and they prepare the field for us. We've had about 100 people at each home game, which is more than we planned on. We've had a great response from people in Joanna and the Newberry community."

The Hornets play the Chapin-Newberry American Legion team Tuesday and Friday at Newberry College at 7 pm. The Hornets plan to play next year at Joanna Stadium, which is being renovated and will have field work soon. It was the home of the Joanna Hornets textile league baseball team from 1915--1950's.  Donations can be made to the Joanna Project, PO Box 35, Joanna, SC 29351 or call 803-220-6014.

Chapin-Newberry American Legion baseball celebrating 10th anniversary of 2015 World Series champ. Article for Newberry Observer

Chapin-Newberry American Legion Baseball will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 2015 American Legion World Series championship team Friday at 7 pm when the 2025 team takes on the Joanna Hornets at Newberry College.

The 2015 team compiled a 32-1 record, won the state championship, the Southeastern region championship and then captured the World Series, defeating New Orleans, Louisiana 9-2 for the championship in Shelby, NC at Keeter Stadium.  The 2015 Chapin-Newberry team and the 1936 Spartanburg team are the only teams from South Carolina to ever win the American Legion World Series.

Ryan Stoudemire, a standout on the 2015 team and now the head coach of Chapin-Newberry, is excited about Friday's game and reunion.  "I really don’t think we realized we were a special group until after it was over," he said. "That’s what made this team so good. We didn’t care about the personal accolades or statistics. We were just a really close group of friends that wanted to have fun and were willing to do anything we could to help the team win. And we kept winning and having fun until they wouldn’t let us play anymore."

After a stellar regular season and despite entering the ALWS with a 28-0 record, Chapin-Newberry was considered a long-shot to win it all as there were several traditional powers in the eight-team field. C-N started with a thrilling 2-1 victory over former champion Midland, Michigan as C-N scored twice in the bottom of the ninth. The next day their unbeaten season came to an end with a 5-2 loss to New Orleans, who had won the championship in 2012.  Then in a must-win situation and down 6-0 to Cromwell, Connecticut, C-N stormed back to win 7-6 and advance.  In the semifinals against Medford, Oregon, C-N was down 3-1 going into the top of the eighth but scored a run in the eighth and two in the ninth to win 4-3.

In the championship on August 18, C-N scored first and built a seven-run lead to defeat New Orleans and capture the crown, before the largest championship game attendance (8,826) since 1949.  A traditional baseball "dog-pile" ensued as the Chapin-Newberry players celebrated the championship

C-N’s 32-1 record was the best national record since East Lynn, Massachusetts went 38-1 in 1937. The five-day tournament set a new attendance record with 117,072. 

Justin Hawkins was the recipient of the George W. Rulon American Legion Player of The Year.  He hit three home runs in the World Series, including a two-run first-inning home run in the championship. 

After an undefeated regular season, Chapin-Newberry swept the state championship in Sumter in five games, defeating Florence for the state championship. That earned C-N a berth to represent the Palmetto State in the regional championship in Asheboro, NC.  Chapin-Newberry swept the region tourney, which consisted of teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, to advance to the World Series.

"It’s hard to put into words what this team and the run we went on means to me," Stoudemire said. "Many of these guys are still some of my best friends to this day and are some of the fondest memories I have.

"Many of my favorite memories were off the field.  Of course there were some big games that will be remembered forever. Like the multiple come from behind wins in Shelby and coming back from our only loss of the season to Louisiana and being able to beat them for the championship. We spent so much time together, and there was never a dull moment. Whether Ryne Huggins was doing his pranks, to the PGA Tour XBox matches, to getting stuck in the elevator as a team 15 minutes after arriving in Shelby, good times were a guarantee when this group was together."

Comments at the Celebration of life of Deborah Smith, Newberry Opera House stage, May 13, 2025.

 

What are your thoughts and personal memories on how she helped shape Newberry and the community?

To set the stage,  the 70’s—90’s were difficult on small towns and rural communities across the country as thousands of factories closed.  In Newberry, textile mills closed, including in one month during the 1980’s, two mills closed in one month, one in Newberry and one in Prosperity, and there was a slow-down in the timber industry. Unemployment in Newberry County went to 16% and the New York Times came to Newberry and wrote a story about the economic set-backs of Newberry County.

Downtown, numerous businesses closed and then some others went to the Wilson Road area.  It looked like Newberry’s best days were behind it. 

Leaders in Newberry said we have to do something different.  Dr. Wiseman, thank you, initiated the effort to renovate and re-open the Opera House.  With Newberry down on its luck, enter   Deborah Smith.  What a difficult task from Day 1.  Though Newberry has always been a welcoming and friendly, here was Deborah, originally of Connecticut, when the majority of people here were from Newberry County and most others were Southern;  Deborah, a female leader, in which most leaders in Newberry County had always been male, telling everyone this old, worn-down Opera House, could turn this whole town and county around.

As Deborah and the Opera House Foundation made their plan, most people in Newberry County had great doubts of its success.  A life-long Newberrian, who later became great friends with Deborah, said the first-time he heard Deborah speak was at a board meeting of the Newberry County Development Board and Chamber of Commerce.  Deborah told the board of the plan, and when she left, he said he turned to another long-time board member and said, “This will never work.”   

But Deborah, who was undaunted, had great attributes.  She was smart, talented, creative, determined, an incredibly hard worker, and I believe most importantly of all, she had a big heart and she cared.

She poured everything she had into the Opera House, in building renovations, building a staff and operations, fundraising, networking, marketing.   The Opera House opened in 1998, and the shape of Newberry began to change immediately.  People came to Newberry and downtown.   Community spirit was lifted.  National media came to Newberry again---but this time not to report on the demise of another small town but rejuvenation with the opening and success of the Newberry Opera House.

Deborah cared not only about the Opera House but business, jobs, and small businesses and the people who owned them.  Under Deborah’s leadership, the Opera House and Foundation also worked on economic development, helping recruit new industry to Newberry to replace lost jobs, and helped Newberry gain new manufactures that employ hundreds of people today with companies like Komatsu.

Deborah cared about small businesses and downtown businesses.  Steve Foulis said when he walked in the Opera House, first person he met was Deborah, and the Opera House was pretty much in shambles as renovations were just getting started.  Deborah and Dr. Wiseman saw the important of having restaurants downtown with the Opera House to support each other.  They went on to recruit Steve to open Steven W’s in Newberry and recruited other restaurants over the years.

Steve says he remembers in the beginning, Deborah brought Tony Randall into Steven W’s.   Steve wasn’t open that day, but he cooked as he normally would, and Mr. Randall had a great time.  Second time he came to the Opera House, he told Steve, “You guys have done great.  Last time I was here, there was no one here.”  He didn’t know Steve had opened special for him the first time and the second time the restaurant was actually opened..   Steve talked about how Deborah supported his restaurant and others and introducing entertainers like Lou Rawls, Glenn Campbell, Roy Clark to Newberry which made the city grow.  

Randy Berry, who owned a bookstore, said he called Pat Conroy one day and asked him to do a book signing for his new book.   Mr. Conroy told Randy he only did book signings in Newberry with Deborah Smith at the Opera House.   Randy said Deborah set his bookstore up many times with book signings to help his business, for example selling over 300 books one day with Doretha Benton Frank at the Opera House.

Deborah wanted every storefront downtown to be filled, every small business to be successful, not only for the good of Newberry but because she cared.

And one of Deborah’s greatest gifts to Newberry was the increase for social opportunities, be it going to a show and a night out or in other ways.  For example, Deborah and the Opera House formed the Guild and the Ambassadors.  #1, both groups greatly helped the Opera House.  But secondly, over the years it gave hundreds of people the chance to be involved, to be social and to make friends.   Deborah knew that, and I know it was important to her.  

About 2 weeks before Deborah passed away, I saw her and had a nice visit at Newberry’s first International Festival.  That Saturday was the epitome of Deborah.  First and foremost, she was friend Deborah as she was helping her friend Lilla, at her table for Iceland.  She was educational Deborah, as wearing a hat that said Iceland,  explained to festival attendees with great enthusiasm, the display items from Iceland.  She was also supportive and ambassador Deborah, visiting with at other tables, complimenting people and promoting the festival and Newberry.

I asked three local historians is Deborah Smith one of the most consequential Newberrians in its modern history?  The all said yes and absolutely.  Deborah was an amazing person and helped shape Newberry for decades to come.   Thank you Deborah and Deborah’s family.

April 2025 City of Newberry update

 

It’s Friday!   For today’s city update, it will be Q & A with actual questions I’ve been asked.

Q. What’s exciting in Newberry?

A Entrepreneurship, both in starting new businesses and new ideas.  Characters Italian Smokehouse is now open at 2064 Wilson Road and is off to a great start.  Owner Jeff Kagan, who also owns Legends Restaurant, says popular items at Characters so far include Detroit-style pizza, smoked wings, pasta and calzones.

The new Tropical Smoothie Café at 3102 Main Street already has a loyal following, and franchisee owner Dax Soni says business is going very well.  I recommend the Caribbean jerk chicken flatbread.

Ebenezer Bakery is open at 1926 Main, beside the former Family Video.  Primarily making bread for Hispanic grocery stores and restaurants, owner Lorenzo Cardinas and staff are now also selling retail to include sweet bread and rolls, sourdough, loaf bread, and pastries.  He plans to add coffee in the future. The sweet bread we bought from Ebenezer was quite tasty.

At the former Steven W’s at 1100 Main Street, Voodoo Brewing Company is getting closer with an expected opening in June. The local franchisee owners, the Reikiel family, will serve craft beer and pub-style food such as burgers, pizza, and sandwiches like Voodoo’s popular “Chicky Chicky Bang Bang” chicken sandwich.  The Reikiel’s have exciting plans and want to be involved in the community.  

Other businesses in Newberry are adding new lines, new brands and new ideas.  Thank you for supporting the Newberry business community.

Q.  Do you know when the 121 bridge over I-26 will re-open?  And on Glenn Street, what are all the signs covered up in black plastic?

A. SCDOT said last Friday the 121 bridge at exit 72 will re-open by April 27.  On Glenn Street, the covered signs mean road work will begin soon. Repaving of Glenn will begin at the intersection of Evans Street, towards Smith Road, then through Kate Street, sometime between May—July, DOT says. The County Transportation Committee funded this and is funding additional paving projects throughout the county over the next two years. 

Q. Is Newberry getting a charter school?

A.  Probably. The Charter Institute of Erskine has approved Stellae Academy, a charter school to be located in Newberry County. The school would be a public school, tuition free and would be 4K--8^th grade.  Tutelage School Solutions is the education management organization working to help establish the school and has a number of steps in the process.  As information, checking the list of the 100+ charter schools in South Carolina, by my count 17 counties don’t have a charter school with Newberry being one of the larger counties without one.

Q. I loved the first Newberry International Festival last week.  When is the next festival?

A.  The International Festival was fun, entertaining, educational and a big success.  Big kudos to the city PRT staff, volunteers, and performers. The next city festival is the always popular Pork in the Park on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 with 19 BBQ teams competing and 10 selling to the public. 

That week will also include the return of Towns in Tune, the SCETV filming for the culture exchange of Newberry and Bay Bulls, Newfoundland, Canada. After a group from Newberry visited Bay Bulls in June for performances and filming, our friends from Bay Bulls and ETV were in Newberry County in late September but Hurricane Helene quickly ended the celebration and filming.  With the Canadians and ETV coming back in two weeks, we hope to have good crowds at the multiple events, which will include artists from Canada and the US at the Newberry Opera House on Wednesday, April 23 at 6:30 pm. The official welcome will be at Pork in the Park Friday at 6 pm with the singing of the American and Canadian national anthems by Matt Hamilton and accompanied by Pierre Harris, director of music at Aveleigh Presbyterian Church.

After Pork in the Park, the main event is Saturday at 7 pm as ETV converts a warehouse at Willingham & Sons into a concert hall with performances from popular Columbia group Tokyo Joe and Canadian musicians. Tickets are $35 and benefit local charities. ETV’s finished production of Bay Bulls and Newberry will be shown on PBS in the US and in Canada.  

Also that week, as an experiment, Metz Culinary, which serves the Newberry College dining hall and increasingly caters locally, will open a one-day restaurant for lunch on Thursday, April 24 noon—3 pm at the Edward Kyzer Newberry Firehouse Center.  Aimed at locals and people attending the 3 pm Drifters show at the Opera House, the $19.95 lunch buffet with a carving station, etc. sounds delicious. All details and reservations are available at newberrymetz.com/opera or 803-321-5151.

Q. I’m getting married.  As mayor, can you officiate our wedding? 

A.  Congratulations!  Mayors aren’t authorized to officiate weddings.  But thanks for asking. 

Q. What’s the latest on the Amphitheater, the Newberry Art Center and the Skate Park?

A. Design plans are about to be finalized for the Amphitheater, which will be located behind the post office.  Construction on this county and city government project will begin later this year with opening targeted for fall, 2026.  Steady progress is being made at the Newberry Art Center on Main Street.  And at the Newberry Recreation Complex, the Skate Park construction is complete with landscaping and fencing underway and with opening coming soon thereafter.    

Q. Can you give me a schedule of upcoming events? 

A. Sure. April 12, Great American Clean-up, hosted by Keep Newberry County Beautiful.  April 19, West End Spring Fling; April 25—26, Pork in the Park;  May 3 at 9 am at Memorial Park: Spring Into Movement walk to encourage regular exercise; May 10, Ag + Art Tour of Newberry County.

Spring is a great time for weather, flowers and activities. I hope you enjoy.