Daily Archives: 05/03/2016
Saitta running for county council seat
Pickens — Alex Saitta has declared himself as a candidate for the Republican nomination for Pickens County Council, representing the Pickens area.
Saitta is 54 and has served on the school board the past 12 years.
Saitta worked closely with many of the council members when the county government and school district successfully sued the Clemson City Council for running afoul of the TIF law. He touts his good working relationship with council members.
“When I worked with the council on the TIF, it was a very good fit,” said Saitta. “It was then I started to pay closer attention to county government and considered running.”
Ongoing and meaningful communication with the public is another benefit Saitta says he brings to the table. He is concerned too many elected leaders every fourth year seek out the press, tell the public what they think and then call on citizens. Once they have their vote, most disappear and no one hears from them until the next election, he said.
“I can’t stand that, so I interact with the public not only during the campaign, but all the time identifying the important issues, educating the people on the facts, the options and where I stand,” Saitta said. “I also encourage public participation, so the solutions are a mix of the ideas of the elected leaders and the people.”
Saitta is still upset how fellow school board members ignored the will of the people and are shutting down A.R. Lewis and Holly Springs elementary schools at the end of the school year. Elected leaders must have the sense to follow a clear and broad message when the people are shouting one, he says. He called the closings an “utter and complete breakdown of representative government” and a “waste” of taxpayer money.
It is a balancing act, though, and Saitta believes elected leaders must also be independent-minded enough to stand beyond the influence of individuals pushing their narrow interest.
“I finance my own campaigns,” Saitta said. “Plus, I didn’t grow up here, so I won’t be looking to cut special deals for relatives or hand out free passes to life-long friends.”
All elected leaders have a responsibility beyond the stated duties of their position, he believes. Most don’t realize this, and this is one of the reasons America is crumbling morally (knowing right from wrong), spiritually (respecting God), economically and socially (people working together for a greater good), Saitta said.
“People used to fear God, so a person didn’t pick up a gun and shoot scores of people, because he knew God would condemn him to hell,” Saitta said. “All the non-believers and Hollywood types who said there was no God convinced too many, and now we are paying the price for it.”
If elected, Saitta said he will govern with morality, spirituality, economic soundness and social consciousness in mind.
Pickens to allow later alcohol sales
By Pamela Dodson
Staff Reporter
pdodson@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Alcohol sales in the city of Pickens will now be allowed until 2 a.m.
In a move Monday night during Pickens City Council’s regular scheduled monthly meeting at City Hall, council voted unanimously to repeal part of an older ordinance that had previously stopped sales at midnight.
[cointent_lockedcontent] The vote came following the request of two local businesses. The owner of one of those businesses spoke to council during its meeting in March. The passage of the ordinance brings the city of Pickens in alignment with state regulations.
In other business, council passed an ordinance that amends the city’s grease and oil control program. The ordinance was an amendment to make the current grease trap ordinance more business-friendly to the restaurants that are required to collect and dispose of grease so it does not clog up the sewer system.
Effective July 1, the city will no longer pick up glass as part of its curbside recycling program. The stoppage is due to the fact that once the glass is no longer accepted at the process center without additional fees. Residents are encouraged to drop off glass for recycling at the Pickens County drop-off stations if at all possible.
It was also announced that the Pickens Senior Center has continued its fundraiser to help revitalize the auditorium at the center. Although the center has received several grants, the group still needs the community’s help to finish the final stage the renovations. The center is selling bricks, pavers and auditorium seat sponsors to raise money to complete the project. Bricks are $50, pavers are $100 and seats in the auditorium are $200. The purchase of the items will insure that buyers will always be a part of the facility’s history by having an engraved brick, paver or seat marker. For more information, call the center at (864) 878-6000.[/cointent_lockedcontent]
Co-op planning for growth
Rocky Nimmons/Courier
Blue Ridge Electric president and CEO Charles Dalton, right, talks with Frank Looper during the co-op’s annual members meeting last week in Pickens.
COUNTY — Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative is taking steps to add capacity to its system to welcome new and future growth.
Blue Ridge president and CEO Charles Dalton delivered remarks at a recent media luncheon in Clemson.
“Last year, we welcomed 389 net new members onto Blue Ridge lines,” he said. “That was our best showing since 2008, although it still fell well short of the kind of annual growth we had been experiencing before the onset of the Great Recession.”
Cooperative officials have been encouraged by a number of projects either already underway or recently announced within Blue Ridge’s service area, Dalton said.
In Pickens County, Reliable Sprinkler announced official plans last week for an expansion that will include erecting a new structure at the Pickens County Commerce Park in Liberty. Oconee County has welcomed the start of a huge commercial development and mega-church complex directly across Lake Hartwell from Clemson. An industrial combination, Baxter Enterprises and Hi-Tech Mold and Engineering, will soon break ground at the Oconee Industry and Technology Park. Anderson County currently has two industrial buildings under construction.
Those coming commercial and industrial prospects might be just the beginning, Dalton said.
“Signals we’ve received from local economic development agencies indicate that there are good numbers of other industrial prospects who are also looking very seriously at this northwestern corner of South Carolina,” Dalton said. “Whatever might be headed our way, I can assure you that Blue Ridge plans to be ready for it.”
The cooperative plans to build new substations “when and where they’re needed,” Dalton said.
Blue Ridge Electric energized its new Golden Corner substation in southwestern Oconee County several months ago and will soon bring on line a substation in Landrum.
Plans are underway to enlarge its Piercetown substation in Anderson County, Dalton said.
“All these additions to our physical plant point to a higher level of service for members on the Blue Ridge system,” he said.
The cooperative’s line-construction crews are “quite busy right now,” Dalton said.
“We’re hopeful that indicates the volume of work will continue to increase,” he said.
Much of that construction work involves making further improvements to the cooperative’s 7,000-mile network of power lines, Dalton said.
“Lengthy spans of existing power lines are being upgraded in order to build more capacity into our distribution system in the name of service reliability,” he said.
In many cases, this involves moving poles and wires out of wooded areas and into new locations along edge-of-road rights of way.
“Positioning these lines away from away from forested land can certainly help to make service for members more dependable,” Dalton said.
An ill wind that blows no good
The wind was whipping sand through the rows, and tables were being emptied of items. It was last week at the flea market in Pickens and a beautiful day. We thought we came prepared, but unfortunately, we hadn’t anticipated the wind.
The storage building on Fowler Farm has everything under the sun stuffed into it. And stuffed is the operative word. There are shelves, but their contents are inaccessible because of the stacks of stuff blocking them. Who knows what’s underneath the pile?
We had to take action. What’s the point of having a storage building if you can’t get in the door?
So we loaded up the truck with a bunch of miscellaneous items and went to the flea market to sell them. The truck was fully loaded, but we’d barely made a dent. That will be a project for another day. Once there, everything was unloaded and put out on a table. I’d backed the truck up to the table and was ready to get started when a tremendous burst of wind came through. That’s when all the plastic bags brought for customers went to the four corners of the earth. I don’t know where they ended up, but they were gone.
Then out of nowhere a young man came running up.
“Did you see my chicken?,” he asked.
“Did you lose a chicken?,” I asked.
“It’s a baby chick, and it went under your truck.”
He got down on one side of the truck and I went to the other side and looked under the truck, but neither of us saw a thing. He was about to leave when we both heard the cheep. We could hear the biddy. He, or she, was definitely under the truck, but neither of us could see where.
The young man lay down and scooted under the truck. He said the biddy was on top of the tire on my side but he couldn’t reach him. I knelt down and tried to capture him, but he cheeped madly and disappeared into one of the openings beneath the truck bed.
I couldn’t get him, and neither could his owner. Then the owner crawled out from under the truck and left to find something to dislodge the biddy from his hiding place.
He quickly returned with the plastic tube from maybe a beach umbrella. That’s just a guess, and I don’t know where he got it.
First he lay down and tried to poke the biddy out of his hidey-hole. The biddy moved, but didn’t descend to earth.
So then the young man crawled under the truck again with the plastic pole and worked at moving the biddy toward the opening he’d entered by.
Suddenly a series of cheeps and flutters announced the biddy was dislodged. He made a run for it, but his owner scooped him up. The biddy squeaked and cheeped, but it was all over. Then his owner crawled out on his belly, and they both disappeared.
I thought it was a happy ending, because I had a picture of driving away with a lone biddy lodged beneath the truck and being splatted somewhere on the road home. Not a pretty picture.
Soon after, some real customers came by and started bargaining for the valuable junk on the table. I learned toward the end to price up because everybody will make an offer of half of what you want. It doesn’t matter if something is priced at 10 cents — they’ll offer you a nickel. This was a great lesson in fair market value. They’ll only go so high, and the seller can only go so low. You meet in the middle, and everybody’s happy.
I left with lots of $1 bills and windburn. It was an interesting experience. I hope the biddy is safe somewhere growing into a productive laying hen. If it hadn’t been for his persistent owner, he could have been blown all the way to Kansas. Who knows what might have happened then.
Courier Obituaries 5-4-16
Tony R. Morgan
EASLEY — Tony R. Morgan, 50, of Easley, passed away on Monday, April 25, 2016.
He is survived by his daughters, Crystal (John) Kelly and Carla Morgan; his siblings, Dale Morgan, Christopher Morgan, and Tracy Morgan; his five grandchildren; and his parents, Homer and Linda Morgan.
The family will be holding a private service.
Joyce Wrenn Owens
Easley — Joyce Wrenn Owens, 76, of Easley, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Saturday, April 23, 2016, and was the loving wife of Melvin Ray Owens.
Born in Greenville to the late Clyde Allison Wrenn and Eleanor Ophelia Cassell Wrenn,
She was a member of Siloam Baptist Church, and a former member of Monaghan Baptist Church and Tanglewood Baptist Church. Joyce was an active choir member. In earlier years she played organ, piano, drums, banjo, all by ear, and was a member of the gospel quartet, Cheerful Sounds for many years. She loved to do her yard work, had the most infectious smile, brought joy to any room she entered, and she was a “friend maker”. She impacted her community in her daily travels, and was truly a friend to all she encountered.
In addition to her husband of 57 years, Joyce is survived by her son, Timothy Ray Owens, of Greenville; daughter, Melanie Renee Crews (Craig), of Easley; sisters, Joann Wrenn, of Greer, Betty Sue Burbach (George), Judy Fair (Greg), all of Chapin, and Miriam Thomas (Mike), of Mauldin; grandchildren, Taylor Crews, Ethan Crews, and Savannah Owens; mother-in-law & dearest friend, Viola Owens.
Funeral services were held April 28 at Robinson Funeral Home, Powdersville Road in Easley with Reverend David Osborne and Pastor Troy Harrison officiating.
Flowers are accepted, and family requested donation to Siloam Baptist Church Building Fund or Choir Ministries, 229 Siloam Road, Easley, SC 29642.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home – Powdersville Road, which is assisting the family.
Richard C. Garvin
Easley — Richard C. Garvin, of Easley, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Tuesday, April 26, 2016, and was the husband to Linda M. DeLooper Garvin.
Richard was born in Charleston to the late Cecil Garvin and Leona Lavender Garvin.
He proudly served his country in the National Guard for seven years.
He was a member of Easley First Baptist Church since 2003 when he and Linda moved to the area from Seneca, and he was a member of the “Seekers” Sunday School Class. Richard attended Newberry College, received an Associate’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Midlands Technical College, and retired from Clemson University in 1997 where he worked in Agriculture. He enjoyed gardening, loved his community and church, and to Richard family came first, especially his granddaughters.
In addition to his loving wife of 49 years, Richard is survived by his son, Richard “Ricky” Garvin, Jr, of Anacortes, Wash.; daughter, Jenny G. Whitfield (Marty), of Easley; sister, Marilyn Adams (Jerry), of Bishopville; three granddaughters, Riley Whitfield, Haley Whitfield, and Ansley Whitfield.
Memorial services were held April 30 at Easley First Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. John Adams officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made directly to Easley First Baptist Church, attention “For Generations to Come”.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Powdersville Road, which is assisting the family.
Nancy Kelly
Six Mile — Nancy Bryant Kelly, 76, of 1261 Liberty Highway, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Born in Liberty she was a daughter of the late L.V. and Lila Evatt Bryant. She proudly retired as a Sergeant from the Liberty Police Department, and was a member of Fairview Baptist Church.
Surviving are her husband, Dwight Kelly of the home; two sons, Randy Kelly (Julie) of Easley, and Ronnie Kelly (Larissa) of Easley; a sister, Vivian Wardlaw of Central; two brothers, Ernest Bryant of Six Mile, and Virgil Bryant of Liberty; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a son, Ricky Kelly.
Funeral services to honor the life of Mrs. Kelly were held April 29 in the Liberty Mortuary Chapel. Burial will be private.
Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements
Jessie Wheeler Vinson
Easley — Mr. Jessie Wheeler Vinson, 81 of 100 Mark Twain Lane, Easley, passed away Thursday, April 28, 2016 at his residence.
Jessie was born on Oct. 10, 1934 to the late Allie Effird, Sr. and Mary Vinson. He worked his whole life as a carpenter, and in his free time enjoyed gardenins, fishing, and going to various flea markets around the upstate.
Jessie is survived by a son; Ellic Vinson of Rock Hill; two daughters; Teresa Sell and Jessie Totherow, both of Easley; a step-son; William “Billy” Vinson; two brothers; Dean Vinson and John Thomas Vinson; and two sisters; Anner and Martha. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; a special son-in-law; Greg Hatchell; and his good friends; Chester and Annette.
The family will hold private memorial services at a later date.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home – Downtown, which is assisting the family.
Noel Crowther “Andy” Anderson
Clemson — Noel Crowther “Andy” Anderson, 91, passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 after a brief illness.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Valeria and Joe P. Anderson; son Joseph Mark Anderson; brother, Perrin Anderson; and sister, Edith Carter. In addition to his wife of 64 years, Evelyn, he is survived by daughters Carole Anderson Shelton (Chuck) of Tampa, Fla.; Beth Anderson Gerrald (Van) of Asheville, N.C.; son Douglas Crowther Anderson (Mary Ellen) of Greenville. Also surviving are grandchildren Quincy Gerrald (Allison) of Greenville; Katherine Gerrald Moore (Joe) of Spartanburg; Elizabeth Ann Anderson of Greenville; great-grandchildren Gracyn Elizabeth Gerrald and Sadie Rea Moore.
Mr. Anderson graduated from Clemson University and retired from Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. He was a World War II veteran, served on the Pickens County Registration and Elections Commission for 32 years and was a dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteer. He was a 64 year member of the Pendleton Farmers’ Society and served as president. He was honored with the Order of the Silver Crescent by Governor Nikki Haley in 2013.
Graveside services were held April 30 at Hillcrest Memorial Park, followed by a celebration of life service at Grace United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Methodist Church, 390 East Cedar Rock Street, Pickens, S.C. 29671.
Blanche Helen Cantrell Chastain
Pickens — Blanche Helen Cantrell Chastain, 89, born in Salem, on April 11, 1927, passed away Wednesday April 27 2016.
She is preceded in death by her Mother Mamie Cantrell, Father Furman Cantrell, sisters Ruby Kelly, Alma Morgan; brother Lloyd Cantrell; husband of 55 years James “Jimmy” Floyd Chastain; daughter Jessie Lee Green; sons-in-law Henry Lee Green, and Milton Larry Tate; and Grandson Billy Ray Anders.
She is survived by Evelyn Hawkins (Joel), Mary Anders (Buddy), Wallace Chastain (Corinne), Linda Tate and Sharon Chappell (Roy). Blanche is blessed with a large family consisting of 24 grandchildren, 49 great-grand children and 24 great-great-grand children. In addition to being the matriarch of a large family she was also an extremely hard worker and spent 15 plus years working at Singer manufacturing until a severe back injury forced her into retirement. Blanche was proud to have finished the seventh grade and was an avid reader who began each day by reading her bible. She enjoyed Saturday yard sales, football games, sewing and word searches. She was born during the Great Depression and spent her life making-do with the minimum. She raised her own chickens, saved her grease drippings, slow cooked pinto beans on her buck stove and sewed her own clothes all while raising six children and attending to her special grandchildren. Until she was 69 years old she had only been as far away from home as Fletcher, N.C.; however at an age when most people settle down and with injuries and health conditions that should have kept her down, Blanche fell in love with traveling. She has been thirty thousand feet above the earth and 100 feet below the surface of the ocean. She visited many amazing places such as Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Minnesota, Key West Florida and the Grand Cayman Islands. She loved taking Helicopter tours and going to shows like Medieval Times. Her most favorite places to be other than her mountain home were Gatlinburg, Tenn., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Charleston, S.C. Blanche was an extremely strong, kind good-hearted woman with an infectious smile who loved and was loved by many. Blanche experienced many tragedies and endured many hardships but she never once failed to be the rock of her large family. Her family is lucky to have had such an amazing role model for 89 years. In death, her family is lucky to have gained a Guardian Angel.
Services to honor the life of Blanche Chastain were held May 1 at Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens followed by graveside service at Holly Springs Cemetery.
Paul bearers are Mike Green, James Anders, Wally Anders, Bo Tate, Brent Tate, Ryan Chappell and Paul Palmiotto.
Patricia Irene Favors
EASLEY — Patricia (Pat) Irene Favors, 61, of Easley, the daughter of Roland and Josephine Anderson, passed away surrounded by the ones she laughed, lived, and loved with on April 28, 2016.
She was predeceased by her sister, Nancy Hooper, and father, Roland Anderson, and survived by her daughter, Tonya Lucero-Davis (Jermonn) and son, Timothy Lucero. In addition to her many loving nieces, nephews, and friends, Pat had four grandchildren whom she adored: Carter, Callie, Nadia, and Naomi. She had a giving heart and loved helping others. Although our hearts are heavy, our souls rejoice because she has no more pain or suffering, no more sadness or remorse, and no more worry or fear. She fought a good fight, a very tough fight, but she finished the course and obtained her prize.
Services were held May 2 at Dillard Funeral Home Chapel followed by burial in Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens.
Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Favor family.
Bonner Pratt, Jr.
Greenville — Burts Bonner Pratt, Jr., passed away on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at St. Francis Hospital.
Born in Liberty he was a son of the late Burts Bonner, Sr. and Frances Boggs Pratt.
He retired as the Department Head of Tri-County Technical College’s Textile Manufacturing Program, and was a member of Overbrook Baptist Church.
Mr. Pratt was a United States Navy veteran of the Korean War, and was a graduate of Clemson University, and was also a member of the Hejaz Shrine Temple.
Surviving are his wife, Nannie Mae Rich Pratt of the home; two brothers, Joseph A. Pratt (Mary Ann) of Chester, Va., and Paul David Pratt (Jane) of Liberty; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son, Patrick Bonner Pratt, four sisters, Mary Frances Proffitt, Kathryn Blackwell, Eleanor Williams, and Aletha Smith, and two brothers, Kyle Pratt and Robert “Bobby” Pratt.
Funeral services to honor the life of Mr. Pratt were held May 3 at Overbrook Baptist Church followed by burial at Liberty Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers memorials are requested to the Pat Pratt Memorial Scholarship Fund, PO Box 2848, Greenville SC 29602-2848, thru the School District of Greenville County, with the proceeds going to the Wade Hampton High School Library, or Overbrook Baptist Church, 1705 East North Street, Greenville SC 29607. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements
19th annual Blue Ridge Fest bringing cruise-in, old-school tunes to town
PICKENS —Thousands of people will flock to Pickens this Friday for Blue Ridge Fest, which will bring the sights and sounds of yesterday back to life to benefit Upstate charities for the 19th year.
Billed as the ultimate retro family experience, the event, co-sponsored by Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and Blue Ridge Security Solutions, has offered entertainers from the 1950s and ‘60s to go along with a display of more than 200 classic cars each year for nearly two decades. The event is managed by more than 250 Blue Ridge employees and is held at Blue Ridge-Co-op’s Pickens headquarters annually.
“At Blue Ridge Fest, the combination of a classic car cruise-in, beach music, Motown and classic rock ‘n roll provides a unique way for us to support the community,” Blue Ridge Co-op president and CEO Charles Dalton said. “Not only are we proud to provide significant funds to 12 local nonprofit organizations year after year, we also enjoy providing a way for our guests to step back in time to the good ol’ days.”
Performing at this year’s Blue Ridge Fest will be Jay and the Americans, Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners and Jim Quick and Coastline.
The 12 Upstate charities scheduled to benefit from this year’s event include the Cancer Association of Anderson, Collins Children’s Home & Ministries, Center for Developmental Services, Dot’s Kitchen, Emerson Rose Heart Foundation, Feed A Hungry Child, Foothills Alliance, North Greenville Food Crisis Ministry, Rosa Clark Medical Center, Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County, The Dream Center of Pickens County, and Wilderness Way Camp School. Beneficiaries are selected by the Blue Ridge Fest planning committee, comprised of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and Blue Ridge Security Solutions employees, who receive almost a hundred submissions from local non-profit organizations each year.
Last year’s event attracted more than 6,000 attendees from across the Southeast and raised a total of $185,000.
Since the first Blue Ridge Fest in 1998, which featured an entertainment lineup including Bill Pinckney of The Drifters, the event has raised more than $2 million for charities in Pickens, Oconee, Anderson and Greenville counties.
“(The $2 million mark) is a huge milestone for our dedicated employee volunteers who work tirelessly year after year to put on this family festival to support all of the organizations that help many in need in our community,” Dalton said.
Other top entertainers of yesteryear who have performed at Blue Ridge Fest over the years include The Temptations, Chubby Checker, Ben E. King and Little Anthony and the Imperials.
This year, Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, a Pittsburgh-based doo-wop group best known for their 1959 hit “Since I Don’t Have You,” and Jay and the Americans, a popular pop music group in the 1960s who hit the Billboard charts with their U.S. No. 3 hit “Come a Little Bit Closer” and another top hit “This Magic Moment,” are sure to dazzle at the event.
The event is scheduled to take place from 6-10:30 p.m. Friday at Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative’s outdoor facility at 734 W. Main St. in Pickens. Admission is $20 in advance or $25 at the gate. Children ages 7-12 are admitted for $12 in advance or $15 at the gate, while those ages 6 or younger are admitted free. Attendees arriving in a classic car (1979 or older) with up to four people are admitted for $30. For classic cars, line-up begins at 2 p.m., and gates open at 3 p.m.
For more information about the event and charities, or to purchase tickets online, visit blueridge.coop/blueridgefest or call (800) 240-3400.
Mission team visits Pa.
Pickens First Baptist Church sent a mission team to McKees Rocks, Pa., a town near Pittsburgh, on April 24-29. Team members included Martha and Jammy Bolding, Zan Clarkson, Ed Cox, Scott Holder, Sam McDonald, Kathy and John Sanders, Janice and Mendel Stewart. Their main goal was to rebuild a second-story porch on the Christian Women’s Job Corp house, which is a ministry of Faithbridge Community Church. This church is located in an impoverished community that has many needs, including many drug-related problems. One of the church’s target groups is drug addicts. They are seeking to share the gospel with these people through various ministries, which include the Christian Women’s Job Corp house.
Raffle benefits Birchwood
Librarian Willa Mae Kelly of the Pickens County Library’s Village Branch is pictured pulling the winning raffle ticket for the Birchwood raffle from a jar held by Birchwood board member Dot Jackson. The winner, Betty Grable of Anderson, won a guided tour for 11 people of Lake Jocassee with lunch provided courtesy of Tour Lake Jocassee. Proceeds from the raffle benefit The Birchwood Center for Arts and Folklife.
Sketchbook class scheduled at mill
PICKENS — A sketchbook workshop at the Hagood Mill with instructor Jo Johnston will be held on Thursday, May 19, starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until 3:30 p.m., with a half-hour lunch break.
Workshop topics will include exercises to practice drawing and quick painting skills and provide ideas for planning travel related art. Students should bring a sketchbook (9×12-inch size is a good choice) suitable for dry and water media, a pencil, eraser, waterproof artist pens, a travel watercolor paint set, a folding travel chair, bottled water and a bag lunch. A sun hat and bug spray will also be helpful. Students should wear comfortable clothes and shoes.The six-hour workshop is $80 for museum members and $90 for non-members. There are a limited number of spaces, and a maximum of 10 students will be allowed. Fees must be paid one week prior to workshop date.
Those interested can register online at visitpickenscounty.com/calendar, stop by the museum in person or call (864) 898-5963. Tuition may be paid by cash, check, PayPal, or charge. Make checks payable to the Pickens County Museum or call the museum to use a Visa, Mastercard or Discover Card.
The class will be held at the Hagood Mill Historic Site at 138 Hagood Mill Road in Pickens. This class is offered as a one-day session only. Students will be notified if a class has been cancelled or filled. If a class is cancelled, all tuition will be reimbursed to the registered student. No tuition will be reimbursed after the starting date of the class. The rain date for the class is May 2
Courier Community Calendar 5-4-16
• New Granger Fiber art activities set
Granger Fiber Arts meets in the Pickens Community Center, 129 Schoolhouse St., Pickens. The goal of Granger Fiber Arts is to bring together those who wish to learn or improve skills in a particular area with those who have knowledge in that area of interest. Granger Fiber Arts operates much like an old fashion one room school. Participants at all skill levels are welcome. In addition to activities previously scheduled, the following activities have recently been added: On Friday, May 6, 9:30 – 2:30 Paint 3-D Leaves on Watercolor Paper with Lou Peden. Lou will provide all supplies. Cost of the activity will be $10 payable to Lou Peden. On Tuesday, May 10 and Wednesday, May 11, 9 a.m – 3 p.m. is Sheer Delight Jacket with Beverly McCulty. Learn to make chenneil for your jacket. Call Lucy or stop by the Fiber Room for a list of supplies. On Monday, May 30: Holiday. The fiber room will not be open
Monday from 9-10 a.m. enjoy “Tia Chi” with Jacquie. From 10-11:30 a.m. the room will “Cathedral Windows Quilts” with Jacquie.
Tuesdays will feature from 9-10 a.m. “Doll Clothes” with Jacquie and 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. “Weaving” with Pat. “Fabric Yo-yo’s” with Irene will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. also “Prayer Shawls, Cancer Caps, and Butterfly Ministry” with Sharon Moon. “Pencil and Charcoal Drawing” with Bob Bickle will be held from 1-2 p.m. “Painting” with Sandy Thomas and Marge Schafer will be held from 2-4-p.m. and from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. learn to make braided rugs” with Linda.
Wednesdays from 10 -11:30 a.m. “Knit Around” with Tally.
Thursdays will offer “Tia Chi” with Jacquie from 9:30-10 and from 10-11:30 a.m. enjoy “Tatting and Crochet” with Denise (First Thursday Only) and “Tatting and Crochet” with The Gonzales Family (second and and fourthThursdays only).
Fridays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. try “Bobbingmail.com Lace” with the Gonzales family on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. For more information, contact Lucy Harward at (864) 419-1794 or daleandlucy@ gmail.com.
• Pickens Bands Spring Fling is May 7
The Pickens Bands’ Spring Swing Jazz Band Dinner Dance will be held on Saturday, May 7. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m. and music and dancing from 6-8:30 p.m.
Tickets must be purchased in advance for $15 per person and include chicken alfredo, spaghetti with marinara sauce and meatballs, salad, bread, assorted desserts, tea or water. You can purchase tickets from any Pickens band or color guard member or by calling the band office at (864) 397-3634.
• 10K/5K scheduled for Six Mile festival
The Issaqueena’s Flight for the Fight 10K/5K in Six Mile will take place on Saturday, May 21, with the 10K start time at 7:30 a.m. and 5K start time at 8 a.m., followed by the town’s annual Issaqueena Festival at 10 a.m. The walk/run will start and end at Ponderosa Park in Six Mile. There is also a half-mile fun run at 8:45 a.m. The 10K and 5K are timed events, with awards for overall, masters, grandmasters and age divisions. There will also be a raffle for all race participants. For more details or to register online, visit flightforthefight.com. Proceeds will benefit Dabo’s All In Team Foundation’s breast cancer prevention and research.
• Prayer event set for Legacy Square
The Pickens Twelve- Mile Baptist Association will host an event for the National Day of Prayer on May 5 at Legacy Square in Pickens. The prayer service will begin at 5 p.m., and this year’s theme is “Wake Up America.” The 45-minute program will include music and prayers. All are invited.
• Steppin’ It Up meeting set for May 9
The next Steppin’ It Up Coalition meeting will be held on May 9 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Cannon Memorial Hospital located at 123 W.G. Acker Drive in Pickens. The Steppin’ It Up Coalition’s monthly meetings are open to all members of our community. For more information about the Steppin’ It Up Coalition, contact Cathy Breazeale at (864) 898-5800 or visit steppinituppickens.org/; facebook.com/SteppinItUpCo or twitter.com/SteppinItUpCo.
• Celebration set for Holly Springs school
Holly Springs school alumni, their parents, former faculty and staff are invited to celebrate the life and legacy of Holly Springs Elementary School on Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The school will have barbecue and hot dog plates and T-shirts for sale. There will be school tours and displays of Holly Springs School through the years. See the Holly Springs Elementary website or Facebook page for more information.
