Mobile Home Sales in Woodland Park, SC

Wednesday was a special day for several of the Lowcountry’s top senior football prospects as they signed their national letter-of-intents to colleges around the country.

Woodland quarterback Suderian Harrison made his decision official to attend the University of Virginia, while Oceanside Collegiate teammates Vaughn Blue and Monroe Freeling signed with Liberty University and Georgia, respectively.

Wando linebacker Mikey Rosa also signed with The Citadel; Cane Bay offensive lineman Kameron Durant chose East Carolina, and Ashley Ridge linebacker Christian Garland signed with Old Dominion. On Dec. 16, Goose Creek quarterback Drew Moore signed with Mercer University.

Harrison, who chose Virginia over offers from Louisville, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma, says his official visit to Charlottesville sealed the deal for him.

“It felt like home away from home,” said Harrison, who accounted for more than 3,000 yards and 49 touchdowns this season. “The people around it, outside the football facilities. It was everything I needed it to be.”

Harrison chose the same school as former Woodland receiver Lavel Davis Jr., one of three Cavalier football players to die in a shooting less than two months ago.

“Lavel holds a special place at UVA as well as here at Woodland and I hope to go there and continue his legacy,” Harrison said. “We talked a lot. But he told me it was my choice.”

Oceanside’s Blue and Freeling are rated as top in-state prospects at their positions.

Blue, a running back, rushed for more than 3,200 yards in his career at Oceanside Collegiate. He was originally committed to Charlotte but reopened his recruiting when the school made a head-coaching change. Blue visited Liberty last weekend and quickly made his choice to join former Coastal Carolina head coach Jamey Chadwell in Lynchburg.

“The first time I saw the campus and facilities at Liberty, I can honestly say it was one of the best places I saw,” Blue said. “I really felt like it was home. Coach Chadwell was a big factor, the person he is. He is going to do his best to treat me as a father figure and make sure I grow as a player and a person.”

Freeling made his choice in September, choosing Georgia over more than two dozen offers from all over the country. The 6-8, 300-pound left tackle is a national top 100 prospect and the state’s top-rated prospect by most recruiting services.

“It feels good to officially move on to the next chapter,” Freeling said. “I’m ready to get started.”

Blue and Freeling are graduating early and plan to enroll in their respective colleges in January. Harrison will finish out his senior year, participating with the baseball team. Harrison is a returning all-state baseball player and was originally committed to play baseball at USC Aiken before football offers started rolling in during October.

Moore, who led the Lowcountry in passing yards with 2,652 yards, also plans to enroll early at Mercer.

Charleston Southern signees

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown /High School

Gregory Bryant II ATH 6-1 175 Johnston/Strom Thurmond

Darriel Cannon DB 5-9 165 Pinecrest, Fla./Gulliver Prep

Uriah Howard DL 6-1 265 Bogart, Ga./Prince Ave. Christian

Kendarious Kinard OL 6-3 300 Columbia/AC Flora

Isaiah Mobley WR 6-1 185 Monroe, N.C./Parkwood

Chandler Perry LB 5-9 200 Irmo/Dutch Fork

Andrew Threatt OL 6-3 310 Chesterfield/Chesterfield HS

Steven Zayachkowsky LB 5-10 200 Indian Trial, N.C./Porter Ridge

Wofford signees

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown /High School

Tyler Boyce DL 6-0 260 Shelby, N.C. / Shelby

Adonis Garcia DB 6-2 183 Woodstock, Ga. / Woodstock

Jacobi Hatter DB 5-10 180 Columbus, Ga. / Carver

Santana Haynes-Goodman OL 6-5 275 Durham, N.C. / Hillside

Ben Holmes OL 6-1 285 Columbia, S.C. / A.C. Flora

J’Vion “Skoot” Luster DB 5-10 170 Columbus, Ga. / Carver

Pauly Seeley QB 6-0 185 Alma, Mich. / New Hampstead (Ga.)

Will White DB 6-1 183 Pauline, S.C. / Dorman

Coastal Carolina signees

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown /High School

Dario Melendez Jr DL 6-0 280 Miami/Immaculta-LaSalle

Matt Scicchitano DL 6-4 280 Mount Carmel, Pa./Mount Carmel

Derrick Maxey III DB 5-11 180 Atlanta/Hapeville Charter

Laurence Sullivan Jr. DB 5-10 185 Vicksburg, Miss./Vicksburg HS

Spencer Kishbaugh LB 6-3 210 Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area HS

Wyatt Gedeon LB 6-1 235 Avon Lake, Ohio/St. Edward

Furman signees

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown /High School

David Alabi BAN 6-2 240, Pickerington, Ohio,/ Pickerington

Brody Balliew OL 6-5 265 Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun

AK Burrell DB 6-0 190 Baton Rouge, La./Dutchtown

Caldwell Bussey DE 6-3 252 Hoover, Ala./ Spain Park High School

Brock Chappell TE 6-5 250 Holly Springs, N.C./ Cardinal Gibbons

Ryan Earl LB 6-2 225 Peachtree City, Ga./Trinity Christian

Nehuel Garcia QB 6-3 190 La Mirada, Calif./ La Mirada

Hayden Garner OL 6-5 280 Roanoke Rapids, N.C./ Roanoke Rapids

Raleigh Herbert LB 6-2 215 Cumming, Ga./ West Forsyth

Colton Hinton WR 5-11 175 Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge

John Holbrook WR 6-4 195 Bradenton, Fla., IMG Academy

Brayden Holmes DB 6-1 170 Alpharetta, Ga., Milton

Chris Luna OL 6-3 275 Wesley Chapel, Fla./Tampa Catholic

Brennan Tormey TE 6-7 221 Montgomery, Ala./Pike Road

Marquis Vincent DL 6-1 260 Richmond, Va./Varina High School

Grammy-winning bluegrass band Nickel Creek got some late-night TV love last night courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel Live.

The band appeared on the show to perform their latest single “Where the Long Line Leads,” which can be seen below. The song comes from Nickel Creek’s forthcoming studio album Celebrants, which will be released tomorrow (March 24) via Thirty Tigers. Pre-orders for the album can be made here. This follows the band’s 2014 studio album A Dotted Line, which earned two Grammy nominations.

Nickel Creek have also announced a slew of new headlining shows, including stops in Los Angeles, Toronto, Las Vegas, and Dallas. An updated tour routing can be seen below. Newly announced dates will go on sale to the general public tomorrow (March 24) at 10 a.m. local time.

Nickel Creek tour dates (bold dates on sale tomorrow (March 24) at 10 a.m. local time)

April 15—Cincinnati, OH—Andrew J Brady Music Center*

April 17—Pittsburgh, PA—Byham Theater*

April 18—New Haven, CT—College Street Music Hall*

April 20—Concord, NH—Capitol Center for the Arts*

April 21—Portland, ME—State Theatre*

April 22—Boston, MA—MGM Music Hall at Fenway Park*

April 23—Philadelphia, PA—The Fillmore*

April 25—Birmingham, AL—Avondale Brewing Co*

April 27—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium* (SOLD OUT)

April 28—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium† (SOLD OUT)

April 29—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium‡ (SOLD OUT)

April 30—Wilkesboro, NC—MerleFest

May 1—Charlottesville, VA—Ting Pavilion‡

May 3—York, PA—Appell Center for the Performing Arts‡ (SOLD OUT)

May 4—New York, NY—The Rooftop at Pier 17‡

May 31—Charleston, SC—Spoleto Festival

June 2—Atlanta, GA—The Eastern*

June 3—Greenville, SC—Peace Center*

June 4—Lexington, KY—Railbird Festival (SOLD OUT)

June 6—Akron, OH—E.J. Thomas Hall*

June 8—Grand Rapids, MI—Venue TBA* (on-sale May 5)

June 9—Chicago, IL—The Salt Shed*

June 10—Milwaukee, WI—Riverside Theater*

June 11—Chesterfield, MO—The Factory at The District*

June 13—Kansas City, MO—Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts*

June 15-17—Telluride, CO—Telluride Bluegrass Festival (SOLD OUT) 

July 6—Seattle, WA—Woodland Park Zoo Amphitheatre+ (SOLD OUT)

July 7—Portland, OR—Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall+

July 8—Bend, OR—Hayden Homes Amphitheater+

July 9—Rohnert Park, CA—Weill Hall+ (on-sale March 23) 

July 11—Reno, NV—Grand Sierra Resort+

July 12—Salt Lake City, UT—Venue TBA+

July 13—Steamboat Springs, CO—Strings Music Pavilion+ (on-sale May 11)

July 15—St. Paul, MN—Palace Theatre†

July 16—Bayfield, WI—Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua† (on-sale March 28)

July 18—Detroit, MI—Masonic Cathedral Theatre†

July 19—Toronto, ON—Danforth Music Hall†

July 21—Raleigh, NC—North Carolina Museum of Art†

July 22—Wilmington, NC—Greenfield Lake Amphitheater†

July 23—Vienna, VA—Wolf Trap† (on-sale March 31)

July 24—Union Hall, VA—The Coves Amphitheater†

July 27—LaFayette, NY—Break & Skiff Apple Orchards†

July 28—Newport, RI—Newport Folk Festival

September 1—London, UK—Barbican Centre

September 8-10—Bristol, TN—Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

October 6—Oakland, CA—Fox Theater‡

October 8—Santa Barbara, CA—The Granada Theatre‡ (on-sale TBC)

October 10—Los Angeles, CA—The Theatre at Ace Hotel‡

October 11—Los Angeles, CA—The Theatre at Ace Hotel‡

October 13—San Diego, CA—The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park^

October 14—Mesa, AZ—Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts Center+

October 15—Las Vegas, NV—Brooklyn Bowl+

October 17—Albuquerque, NM—Revel Entertainment Center+

October 18—Denver, CO—The Mission Ballroom+

October 19—Salina, KS—Stiefel Theater+

October 20—Dallas, TX—Majestic Theatre+

October 21—Austin, TX—Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park+

*with special guest Gaby Moreno

‡with special guest Hawktail

+with special guest Monica Martin†with special guest Aoife O’Donovan

^with special guest TBA

A month after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Party City Holdco Inc. is looking to shrink its retail footprint as part of an expedited financial restructuring.

In a Feb. 16 filing with U.S. bankruptcy court, the Woodcliff Lake-based operator of 800-plus stores said it is working with A&G Real Estate Partners to auction off leases for 12 underperforming locations in six states. In coming weeks, additional lease auctions will follow, with the total number of closures depending on the outcome of ongoing negotiations with landlords, according to A&G.

The first tranche – which range in size from 9,000 square feet to 28,000 square feet and are a mix of freestanding sites and stores in shopping plazas – includes locations in New York, Missouri, Michigan, Oregon, Oklahoma and West Virginia, A&G said.

In its court filing, Party City also identified 10 more leases that will be auctioned as part of the next phase, including one New Jersey location – in Woodland Park at McBride Lenox Plaza Shopping Center. The list also identifies stores in Texas, New York, Georgia, West Virginia, Louisiana, Michigan, Iowa and Illinois.

“Given the high cost of new construction in today’s marketplace, the lack of new development, and the strong attributes of many of these Party City locations, we expect good interest from local and regional tenants who see this as an opportunity to open in a fully built-out retail box and begin doing business within three months,” said Andy Graiser, co-president of A&G.

According to A&G, uses that have begun to show interest in the locations up for auction include dollar stores, gyms, local retail and specialty businesses, and medical practices.

The New York City-headquartered real estate advisory and services firm is also helping Party City evaluate its lease portfolio strategy as the retailer looks to reduce debt as well as optimize capital structure and liquidity.

“Our work on our lease portfolio is moving very quickly, with a plan for us to exit locations that do not meet the key financial metrics required for our go-forward fleet,” said Marc Ehle, Party City’s executive vice president of enterprise operations.

After Party City filed for bankruptcy in January, a federal judge granted immediate access to $75 million of $150 million debtor-in-possession financing, enabling the retailer to continue operating in the near term. The company also entered into a restructuring agreement with a bondholder group that will enable Party City to substantially reduce its $1.67 billion debt load.

The reorganization is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2023, according to Party City. Its subsidiaries outside of the U.S., its franchise stores, and its Anagram business are not part of the bankruptcy proceedings.

In discussing the company’s most recent quarterly report in November, Party City Chief Executive Officer Brad Weston said inflationary pressures were continuing to impact consumers’ ability and willingness to spend money on celebrations. He also said inventory levels have been affected by ongoing supply chain woes in addition to helium shortages.

As of Sept. 30, 2022, Party City reported $1.67 billion in debt, with available liquidity of $122 million, made up of $30 million in cash and $92 million of revolver availability. For the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2022, Party City recorded total net sales of $502.2 million, a 1.6% decrease from Q3 2021.

Party City hasn’t yet reported its fourth quarter or 2022 full-year earnings.

Following flat sales during its crucial Halloween season, Party City went into cost-cutting mode, with the goal of trimming $30 million from retail store efficiencies in areas such as information technology, contracts, marketing, raw materials and professional services. Additionally, the company reduced its corporate workforce by 19% through a combination of position eliminations and leaving open positions unfilled, Weston said.

Founded 36 years ago in East Hanover, Party City is the largest retailer of party goods in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It operates more than 900 company-owned and franchise outlets under the Party City, Halloween City, Toy City, Factory Card and Party Outlet brands. However, the company has struggled to keep pace with changing consumer behavior in recent years, particularly amid the growth of e-commerce and big box retailers.

Since 2019, the company has been working on large-scale changes, such as restructuring its debt and closing 55 stores. As of last month, the chain operated 823 stores, 770 of which were company-owned.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 1:35 p.m. ET Feb. 20 clarify the order of the states that would see store closures.

More store closures

Spartanburg has an oasis right in the middle of everything, and it can offer busy families a chance for a free dose of nature that just might hit the spot.

Hatcher Garden is a 13-acre private garden open to the public every day of the year from dawn to dusk.

From Caroline Goodman, Director of Development at Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve:

“It exists to provide a place where people of all ages and abilities can come for inspiration, enjoyment, and education through the study of nature. The woodland paths are packed with unique plants, shrubs, trees, and flowers as well as an abundance of wildlife, which makes for a fun outing for the entire family.”

Admission to Hatcher Garden is free, and donations are much appreciated. Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve is a nonprofit organization that relies on the support of the community and visitors.

Insider Tips:

· “We encourage you to bring a picnic and stay a while in the garden,” Goodman said.

· Even though the spot is just adjacent to city life, parents should still bring water bottles and bug spray.

· Goodman said people-friendly pets are welcome.

· Remember to be respectful of the animals in their habitats and stay out of the streams and ponds.

· The garden has two Little Free Libraries on site – one in the gazebo across from the Turtle Pond and one by the new Activities Deck Pavilion. Bring a book from home that your kids are ready to pass along and add it to one of the libraries. You can also choose a new-to-you book to take home.

· While you are near the Activities Deck, Goodman said you can balance on the mushroom stones.

· Download beautiful free coloring pages at hatchergarden.org/coloring.

· Add in a workout with help from an online park exercise guide at hatchergarden.org/s/fit_in_garden_flyers_2022-6g6d.pdf.

This month:

Fall for Hatcher is 5:30 – 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at the garden. Spartanburg restaurants and breweries will serve a sample of their unique cuisine, and guests choose which is their favorite. Breweries will also serve a sample of their finest craft beer, and guests will also choose which will win the inaugural “Great Growler Award.” Fall for Hatcher is one of two major fundraisers for the Garden. For tickets, details, and more fall and winter upcoming events, visit www.hatchergarden.org/calendar.

The basics:

Hatcher Garden is located at 820 John B. White Sr. Blvd., Spartanburg. It is open from dawn to dusk every day. Admission is free. Donations are always welcome. Get details, a park map and more at hatchergarden.org

Have you ever seen a strange looking squirrel cross your path?

Frequently spotted in the Lowcountry crossing roads or on the golf course, these curious looking squirrels tend to capture quite the attention from newcomers.

The southern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger niger) is a close relative of the gray squirrel, which is one of the most common squirrel species in the country, and is considered to be the most variably colored tree squirrel in the world, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

In addition to their many color patterns, the southern fox squirrel is approximately twice the size of a gray squirrel and varies between 20-26 inches in length, with their tail included, and an adult fox squirrel can weigh around 2 to 2.5 pounds, continued SCDNR.

In South Carolina, fox squirrels are generally characterized as the gray, black, or brown color phase based on their predominant body color. Aside from their primary base color, the squirrel may be fully that one general color or have black “facial masks” with white patches around the nose, ear tips or paws. This occurrence is common in all three of the predominant color phases.

Fox squirrels that survive to become adults live an average of three to four years, whereas individual squirrels have been known to live as long as 12 years, according to SCDNR.

Fox squirrels tend to spend their time in woodland habitats. These habitats are generally in mature pine forests and mature pine-hardwood forests in the Palmetto State and are most commonly seen around the Coastal Plains.

SCDNR reports that ‘some of the better areas to observe fox squirrels in South Carolina’ include the Webb Wildlife Center in Hampton County, Cheraw State Park in Chesterfield County and Donnelley Wildlife Management Area in Colleton County.

These squirrels are most often found in small patches of deciduous forests that include trees that produce their favorite foods, which are acorns, walnuts, pecans, and hickory nuts, detailed Bird Watching HQ.

However, local parks and golf courses may also support substantial numbers of fox squirrels in certain locations across the state, relayed SCDNR.

This may be why you might have had to avoid a potential fox squirrel “obstacle” on the golf course once or twice in the past or have seen them scurrying around foraging for food during your daily walk or at the park.

As for their breeding season, these squirrels tend to exhibit two breeding peaks, which take place during late winter and late summer. However, the majority of breeding for fox squirrels likely takes place during the December and January months.

The gestation period is about 44 days long, with most of the young being born during February and March. Normal litters in South Carolina consist of two or three young, according to SCDNR.

Fox squirrels have a diverse diet, but generally tend to consume pine seeds, acorns, hickory nuts, flowers and buds, fruits, fungi, insects, and occasionally bird eggs, reports the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Once the warmer months begin to approach, at some point you may have come across a fox squirrel flattening themselves across the ground or a raised surface.

If you happen to come across a squirrel that appears to be stretched out and lying flat on its stomach, there’s no reason to be worried or think something may be the matter.

The squirrel is simply just hot.

This position is called “splooting” or “heat-dumping,” according to The Dodo, and allows the squirrel to cool down and relax.

This process can be seen anywhere when it is hot out. Most likely, you will be able to spot a fox squirrel doing this on the ground, in the shade or on tree branches.