Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Things to do across the Midlands: Celebrate veterans during Wednesday event; annual Oyster Roast set for Nov. 19

Sumter Museum will hold its annual Oyster Roast fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 19.

To make a submission to our events list, email pressrelease@theitem.com with EVENTS in the subject line. SUMTER COUNTY Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, and Sumter County Veterans Association announces its annual Sumter County Veterans Day …

'Godzilla Minus Zero' stomps to a record-setting $31.6 debut, clobbering 'The Cat in the Hat'

This image released by GKIDS shows a scene from "Godzilla Minus Zero."

NEW YORK — "Godzilla Minus Zero" stomped into movie theaters with a chart-topping $31.6 million over the weekend, scoring a record debut for a foreign-language film at the North American box …

Things to do across the Midlands: Waterfowl Heritage Festival brings live music, family fun to Pinewood on Saturday; Veterans Day events will be Saturday and next week

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO A contestant competes during the duck-calling contest at the annual Duck Fest in 2023. The name of the annual festival has changed, but it will still include live music, family fun, vendors, food trucks, a vintage gear market and the Heritage Cup and Duck Olympics on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Pinewood.

To make a submission to our events list, email pressrelease@theitem.com with EVENTS in the subject line. SUMTER COUNTY South Carolina Waterfowl Association will host the Waterfowl Heritage Festival on Nov. 7 at its Wildlife Education Center in …

Waterfowl Heritage Festival comes to Pinewood on Nov. 7

A band plays during the 2024 Duck Fest. Live music is always part of the festival.

South Carolina Waterfowl Association will host the Waterfowl Heritage Festival on Nov. 7 at its Wildlife Education Center in Pinewood. Formerly known as Duck Fest, the event has a new name and look but will continue celebrating the people, …

Charleston Gospel Choir coming to Sumter for Christmas on Dec. 5

Charleston Gospel Choir is coming to Sumter for Christmas at Patriot Hall on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, at 7 p.m.

Charleston Gospel Choir is coming to Sumter for Christmas at Patriot Hall on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. The performance will take place at the newly renovated Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St. The choir, founded in 1998, consists solely of …

Food

Greek-Style Scampi

Seafood for a super supper

Best-Ever Steak Fingers

Chicken-fried finger foods

Garlic Parmesan Rice and Shrimp Skillet

Easy, restaurant-worthy meals for busy days

Quick Chicken and Dumplins

Cozy up to some country cooking as the calendar turns to November

Photo Caption

Halloween food fun isn't just for pumpkins

Cottage Pie

This hearty meal chases away the chill of fall

Faith

Appreciating and honoring our nation's veterans This is the official week when we honor and remember our veterans from all wars, though we honor their service and sacrifices every day of the year. The current number of living veterans is approximately 17 million, according to various federal data …

Church news: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026 To update your listing or add a listing, please email pressrelease@theitem.com and include Church News in the subject line. First Baptist Missionary Church, 219 S. Washington St., Sumter, will have a Food Pantry Giveaway on Friday, Nov. 13, at 1 …

Life in the Palmetto State: Winds in the scriptures I have a place on my farm that I go and sit to pray and read my Bible. It's an old woods pond that I have worked on over the years to expand and deepen. It's not much and ridiculously dry right now, but it's my go-to for solace and peace. I …

Church news: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026 To update your listing or add a listing, please email pressrelease@theitem.com and include Church News in the subject line. Church Women United World Community Day in 2026 is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, starting at 10 a.m. at Mechanicsville …

What's more important: character or reputation? Our lives are filled with hectic schedules, but we've only been given a certain number of days to accomplish what God wants us to do. Since the beginning, our Creator has provided a probationary period to each person to determine whom they will …

Life / Health

U.S. doctors offer updated flu, COVID vaccine recommendations, aiming to ease confusion Leading U.S. medical groups are urging people to get updated flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this fall, banding together Wednesday to issue shot guidelines - and highlight the science behind them - saying they hope to ease confusion caused by the …

A guide to choosing mums for the fall garden - beyond the classic cushion September marks the beginning of the great summer-to-fall garden transition and, although most summer plants still have life left in them, many gardeners are turning their attention to the iconic chrysanthemum. The majority of mums sold in …

Beyond numbers: Looking at the food label, ingredient list Walk through any grocery store, and you will see packages covered with phrases such as "high protein," "low fat," "organic," "multigrain" or "made with real fruit." These claims may be accurate, but they do not necessarily mean the product is the …

FDA approves landmark pancreatic cancer drug that's shown to improve survival WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a groundbreaking new drug for advanced pancreatic cancer, offering U.S. patients a more effective treatment against one of the deadliest types of cancer. FDA officials gave …

Inflammation: Take steps to help your body heal Inflammation often gets a bad reputation, but it is not always the enemy. In fact, inflammation is one of the ways your body protects and repairs itself. When you get a cut, develop an infection or injure a muscle, your immune system sends cells and …

Pets for Adoption

Jenner is always up for a little adventure with his puppy energy Jenner is as cute as a button, and those ears are simply adorable! This handsome young fellow has a sweet personality and plenty of puppy energy to keep life fun! Jenner loves spending time outdoors, taking walks with our volunteers and …

Monica has a sweet disposition and loves soaking up attention Monica is a gorgeous girl with a sweet and loving personality! This friendly gal is 1 to 3 years old and weighs 40 pounds, making her a wonderful medium-sized companion. Monica loves everyone she meets and absolutely adores spending time with …

Squirrel the kitten has had lots of interest but no home yet Sweet Squirrel is still waiting for his forever home. After two months with us and lots of interest, this adorable 3-month-old boy is still looking for his perfect family! Come meet Squirrel and help us find him the home he deserves. The …

Angel and her hound sisters are looking for new homes Angel is sniffing out her forever home. And with a nose like that, we're hoping she finds one soon! Angel is a 5-year-old female, and she and her sisters are still waiting for families to call their own. Come by the Sumter SPCA to meet Angel …

Sayla has been waiting for a forever home for almost a year Sayla is still waiting, and she's hoping her forever family finds her soon. Sayla is a beautiful 4-year-old mixed breed girl with the sweetest eyes and an even sweeter heart. This lovely lady is already housebroken and does wonderfully with …

Dear Abby

- Dear Abby, Wednesday, Nov. 11: 20 years married and still a virgin
  
  DEAR ABBY: I'm a 59-year-old married virgin male. My wife has an IUD for medical reasons. She thinks it's the man's job to initiate sex. She has …
- Dear Abby, Nov. 10, 2026: Mom doesn't want to hear daughter's marriage gripes
  
  DEAR ABBY: My adult daughter wants to confide (complain) to me about her husband — his quirky behavior, things he does that she doesn't like, …
- Dear Abby, Nov. 9, 2026: Man with record struggles to find purpose
  
  DEAR ABBY: I'm a 44-year-old man, and as I reflect on my life, there's no way to describe it except as a failure. As a teenager, I didn't apply …
- Dear Abby, Nov. 8, 2026: Crotchety father-in-law has run out of friends
  
  DEAR ABBY: My husband, "Mark," and his father have a strained relationship due to things that occurred when Mark was growing up. Mark is an only …
- Dear Abby, Nov. 7, 2026: Partner's 8-year-old rules the roost
  
  DEAR ABBY: I have been with my significant other for five years and have helped raise his daughter, "Maeve," since she was a toddler. She is now …
- Dear Abby, Nov. 6, 2026: Parents can no longer afford family members' free ride
  
  DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been happily married for 30 years. We both were previously widowed and have grown children and a large number …

Yesteryear

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