GOOD NEWS: Stokes-Marshall, Mazyck honored on 2016 calendar

The 27^th edition of AT&T’s S.C. African American History Calendar unveiled last week in Columbia includes two Lowcountry leaders devoted to make people’s lives better: Thomasena Stokes-Marshall of Mount Pleasant and Bernie Mazyck of Summerville. (Download the 2016 calendar.)

Mazyck

Mazyck, featured in June, is president and CEO of the S.C. Association for Community Economic Development, where he has worked for 17 years to improve the quality of life of poor families and communities. His organization and its member groups have developed projects with a $250 million impact in the state’s communities. Other accomplishments: More than 1,000 families have been able to buy their first homes and 6,000 people got jobs. More information.

Stokes-Marshall

Stokes-Marshall, a former New York City police officer who returned to her hometown of Mount Pleasant to serve as the first African American on town council, two which she was elected in 1998. Six years later, she founded the Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival Association to help preserve the Gulla-Geechee culture. She is featured in the November section of the calendar. More information.

“Our state has been built and molded by many extraordinary people, from all walks of life,” said Pamela P. Lackey, president of AT&T South Carolina. “The South Carolina African American History Calendar enables us to gratefully recognize the impact this year’s honorees have had on so many lives, while also assuring that their stories are told and preserved to educate and inspire future generations.”

The 2016 calendar features a dozen people who the company says have made significant impacts in a range of fields, including education, healthcare, business, politics, public safety, economic development, and foreign diplomatic service. Other honorees include: Columbia native Durham E. Carter, an educator and community leader; Schylver V. Foster – corporate leader with BMW Manufacturing and Greenville-area community educator; Columbia Dr. Stuart A. Hamilton, a healthcare pioneer ; Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins; Ambassador Howard F. Jeter, a native of Union; James P. “JP” Neal, Jr., a Columbia public administrator, educator, broadcaster and minister; Orangeburg native James H. Salley, an institutional development officer for Africa University in Zimbabwe; Carrie Sinkler-Parker, a Clarendon County community advocate; Columbia native Martha Scott Smith, a business leader with AT&T, philanthropist, volunteer and community leader; and the late Elizabeth “Lizzie” Evelyn Wright (1872-1906), founder of Voorhees College.

In other good news:

Talking turkey. While more than 46 million turkeys are expected to be eaten over the Thanksgiving holiday, most Americans don’t cook a lot of turkeys (although they seem to know how to talk turkey!) If you have questions about cooking turkeys safely, you can turn to various resources available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture — from smartphone apps to its 30-year-old Meat and Poultry Hotline. Learn more: FAQ Turkey Questions.

Holiday craft fair. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens will hold a holiday craft fair where you can buy unique, hand-crafted gift items from 9 a.m. to 4 pm. on Nov. 28-29. At the same time — and through Dec. 31, the attraction will have a holiday Children’s Village, which features Santa’s workshop, a candy factory and elf bunkhouse. A Christmas Train will also take up to 35 passengers on a 15-minute ride each weekend until Christmas. All three are free with garden admission. More.