Pictured are Heather Ginn, who received a copy of the Optimist Creed, and speaker sponsor Buck Wilson. By Rick Abercrombie Heather Ginn, Campaign Development Manger for Blood Cancer United (BCU), spoke to St. Andrews Optimists February 20. BCU is the new name for the older Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. TheContinue Reading
The Lake Murray-Irmo Rotary Club has named Seven Oaks Elementary Global Magnet fifth grader Allison Reyes Andres as its February Student of the Month. Seven Oaks Principal Dr. Angie Slatton presented the honor, sharing numerous testimonials from teachers highlighting Allison’s character, leadership and commitment to her school community. “From beingContinue Reading
IRMO – The Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce welcomed a new member to its business community with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Chamber House for LegalShield. Venus Powers, an Independent Associate with LegalShield, hosted the event and shared information about the company’s services. LegalShield provides legal service plans directlyContinue Reading
Pictured are Optimist President David Kafitz and Ms. Jackson, who received a copy of the Optimist Creed. By Rick Abercrombie Habitat for Humanity of Central South Carolina has served this area for 40 years. Its Executive Director, Moryah Jackson, recently gave St. Andrews Optimists a real-time snapshot of the ongoingContinue Reading
Samaritan’s Purse is celebrating the collection of more than 12.2 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts worldwide in 2025. The milestone reflects the generosity of millions of volunteers who packed shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and personal care items. In the United States, 10.9 million shoebox gifts were collected thisContinue Reading
Members of the St. Andrews Woman’s Club recently volunteered at Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS) as part of a statewide Day of Service. Volunteers spent the morning cleaning the facility and organizing materials and equipment used in the training of service dogs. The group also toured the facility andContinue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie The January 16 speakers at the St. Andrews Optimists’ breakfast meeting were two representatives of South Carolina Youth Advocacy Program (SCYAP). The speakers were Shayla Howell and Majd Abdallah. Both bear the title of Regional Recruiter/Family Recruiter. The job of the recruiters is both simple and complexContinue Reading
Nursery Road Elementary-Arts Magnet fifth grader Lillie Marigny is named the Lake Murray-Irmo Rotary Student of the Month for January. Principal Karey Fisher and fifth-grade teacher Abigail Bumgardner highlight Marigny’s outstanding character and contributions. Fisher says, “Lillie is a quiet student who always tries to do the right thing. HerContinue Reading
IRMO — Community members and advocates gathered Thursday, January 29, at the intersection of Lake Murray Boulevard and St. Andrews Road for a peaceful protest opposing the actions and policies of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Organizers said the Irmo protest was part of a broader national response toContinue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie Tim Behling, CEO and Founder of Successteam Leadership Academy, spoke recently to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. Behling’s presentation familiarized Optimists with the organization’s role for 10 years in Aiken and served to announce plans to establish a location in Columbia. The Aiken academy meets atContinue Reading
“You never know the impact your actions will have on someone’s future.” Few stories illustrate that truth better than a three-decade partnership between South Carolina’s Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and the Rotary Club of Lake Murray–Irmo. The collaboration began in 1993 with the creation of a motivational public speakingContinue Reading