Some of The Farm residents attended the most recent Horry County Planning Commission meeting.

The board of directors held a cyber conference for its monthly meeting on Thursday night, Jan. 7. They approved modifications to the boat ramp at the clubhouse.

I hope you all had a very happy New Year’s Day and a merry Christmas. It certainly was a holiday season I will remember. We did nothing, saw no one, didn’t take our annual pilgrimage to New Jersey. Most people I know had about the same holiday week as Susan and I. Let’s all hope 2021 brings …

I hope you all had a chance to read last week’s article about the proposed new hospital to be built next to The Farm.

I thank the residents who took the time to call our management company to say they like the holiday decorations. Many thanks go to the grounds committee for installing them all, and the activity committee for purchasing new ones.

Many homes have gotten an early start on the holidays. You see many homes decorated and our entrances were decorated and lit up the day after Thanksgiving.

The Farm HOA board held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 17 in the amenity center.

The spring golf league turned into an all summer league as well. They held their awards presentation at River Oaks Golf Club. The winner was Gus White. Second place went to Steve Filak and third place to Glen Muzroll. No date has been set for the spring season.

Last week I asked for residents to email me and let me know what they think about the proposed hospital next to The Farm. Response was poor so I figure most don’t have an opinion. 

Please note the following message I received from Tom and Theresa Gouker who have both been very active with the Quilt of Valor foundation:

For three weeks I have been telling you the Wheatfield Drive entrance was going to be beautified. The day the work was scheduled to be completed, I woke up to it raining. My first thought was, “How can I explain again that the entrance was not completed?”

The grounds committee has been back at work installing new up-lighting for our signs

The picture of the new activity center shows the work that has been completed. If you had been there when it was the sales office, you know a wall has been removed, the flooring repaired, and painted. This has provided a large area for activity functions and parties. A date has not been set …

By now the resurfacing of the parking lot at the amenity center should be completed. The work on the inside of the new activity center should be completed. The only work left on the activity center is to paint the outside. That contract has been awarded.

On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the activity committee held its monthly meeting. I welcome the new chairperson, Connie Gryb, who has been a member for many years and has taken over the reins.

Hello, it’s great to be back. My last column was on March 27. I’m going to start this column with some thoughts I had written down on March 29, not knowing if or when I would be writing this column again:

Editor’s note: This will be the last community column for several weeks as the newspaper responds to the impact of COVID-19. The column will return.

Three meetings to report on this week.

The Farm will hold its annual meeting on March 31 starting at 6:30 at the recreational center on Carolina Forest Boulevard. Even if you plan to attend, we ask you to mail your proxy in so we have a head count to reach our quota for a quorum.

This week is the start of The Farm's Monday Night Golf League. All the slots have been filled. If you are signed up, tee off is at 5 p.m.

Many homeowners received an email from Town Sq and wondered what it was. Waccamaw Management sent it out too early, before owners were informed of the new site. This site is for all properties managed by Waccamaw Management Company.

The basketball hoop and support have been removed for needed repairs. At this time, we do not know how long it will take.

Many of the new residents may not be aware of the fact that The Farm was the first community in Carolina Forest to become a Firewise community. We were also only the third community in South Carolina to have this distinction.

The largest group of residents showed up for bingo night last Saturday. Sixty-five residents came out and enjoyed the evening and the gifts awarded to the winners.

The activity committee is holding its first happy hour of 2020 on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Doesn't Matter Bar and Grill, 3689 Renee Drive. Come out and meet your neighbors.

The Farm's grounds committee held its first meeting of 2020 on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Chairman Paul Hoppes reported the overall condition of The Farm was good.

The first activity committee meeting of 2020 was held on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Past activities were discussed.

Well, the holidays are over and it’s back to the old grind. Susan and I took our annual trek to New Jersey for Christmas. The best part, for me, is returning home.

I hope you all have a happy and safe new year.

The activity committee has just come off one of the most successful years to date. They have returned some old favorites as well as introduced some new events for the community.

Thanks to Paul Hoppes and his grounds committee for once again decorating our entrances.

For the first time, a women’s self-defense class was held in The Farm. The class was conducted by The Farm resident Les Blizzard, a certified black belt in art of Kenpo Karate. He was assisted by resident Dan Lind.

Christina Stanley and her activity committee held a Veterans Day tribute for veterans of The Farm on Saturday, Nov. 9, in the amenity center.

Wow! That’s all I can say about Halloween in The Farm. I took my annual ride around the community to see how many trick or treaters we had. In all the 14 years I have lived here, I have never seen this many trick or treaters.

Once again, The Farm's Fall Festival was a huge success. All the committees worked together to make this a fun event for all the residents of The Farm.

Susan and I have spent the last two weeks in Branson, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee.

It has been a busy week for the committees in The Farm. It started on Monday with a HOA board meeting, Tuesday with the grounds committee meeting, and it finished off on Wednesday with the activity committee meeting.

The Farm’s Fall Craft Vendor Show had a steady flow of shoppers all day long. Twenty-five of The Farm’s residents showed off their talents with their homemade items.

Forty-five residents of The Farm enjoyed an evening out at Sol y Luna restaurant. The food was good, and mingling with your neighbors makes for an enjoyable evening. Thanks, Debra Shovlin for organizing the evening.

Bingo has become another fun evening for the residents of The Farm. Forty-six residents showed up to try to win some prizes donated by the community.

It has been 15 years since the first shovel hit the dirt to create the community called The Farm. In 2012, DR Horton turned the everyday operation of The Farm over to the homeowners.

We all got lucky with Hurricane Dorian. The Farm in Carolina Forest fared well with little to no damage from the wind and rain.

All of the workout classes have been a huge hit in the neighborhood. The activity committee has added more, and changed some times. These new classes and times started last Monday, Aug. 12.

The activity committee hosted another Friday Night at The Farm, and more than 70 residents attended.

One of the things I hate to do is to miss a column. After 10 years, I have only missed about five times. Last week was one of those times.

Last weekend the Myrtle Beach Bowl invited The Farm residents for two hours of free bowling and free shoes. Christina Stanley put together a group, and 11 lanes were designated for The Farm.

Friday Night in The Farm had a good turnout and much better weather than The Farm’s swim night. About 75-80 residents showed up to enjoy the food from Kurbside Katering and Mr. Softee.

It wasn’t a good day or evening for the family swim night. Thanks to the food trucks Brazuka Bowls and Mr. Softee, the night was not a complete washout. They stayed on site from 6 – 8 p.m. serving the brave hearts who showed up.