January 1 marks the first day of the new year according to the Gregorian calendar, which is the most widely used calendar across the globe. The arrival of January 1 is a cause for celebration in many countries, but the first day of the year has also played host to its fair share of history. This year, New Year’s revelers might want to reflect on some of the more notable events that have taken place on January 1 as they pop some champagne corks and count down to the dawn of 2016.

42 B.C.: Julius Caesar becomes the first historical Roman to be deified. This honor is bestowed posthumously by decree of the Roman Senate.

1068: Romanus IV is crowned Byzantine Emperor. His reign would prove to be relatively brief, as he was captured and held prisoner by the Turks in 1071. Romanus IV was eventually released, only to be overthrown by a coup and forced to retire. Despite agreeing to retire to a monastery, Romanus IV suffered one additional indignity when he was intentionally blinded. The injuries ultimately became infected, costing Romanus IV his life in 1072.

1502: Present-day Rio de Janeiro, which will play host to the 2016 Summer Olympics, is first encountered by Portuguese explorers. The timing of this discovery contributed to the city’s name, which translates to “January River” in English.

1515: Francis I succeeds to the French throne. Francis I’s reign lasted 32 years, during which he is credited with initiating the French Renaissance that brought many Italian artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, to France.

1772: The London Credit Exchange Company issues the first traveler’s cheques. The cheques, which can be used in 90 European cities, were designed to offer travelers more financial security than cash.

1773: The lyrics to “Amazing Grace” are used in a prayer meeting for the first time. The lyrics were written by Englishman John Newton, who worked as a captain of slave ships and had a reputation for being profane.

1804: French rule in Haiti ends. This makes Haiti the first independent nation of Latin America and the only nation in the world that was established thanks to a successful slave revolt.

1863: The Emancipation Proclamation, an executive order that immediately changed the federal legal status of more than three million enslaved persons in the United States, goes into effect. The proclamation was issued during the American Civil War and proclaimed the freedom of slaves in 10 states that were still rebelling against Union forces.

1908: The Times Square Ball is dropped for the first time to commemorate the dawn of a new year. The ball has dropped every year since, with the exception of 1942 and 1943, when blackouts related to World War II had been instituted.

1959: Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista is ousted by Cuban revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro. Remarkably, Castro would retain his leadership until 2008, when his deteriorating health led him to retire. Castro’s brother, Raœl, unanimously won election as president in February of 2008.

1990: David Dinkins is sworn in as Mayor of New York City, becoming the city’s first black mayor. To date, he is the only black man or woman elected to that position.

Make healthy resolutions

The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions can be traced back to the ancient Babylonians, who promised their gods that they would repay their debts and return borrowed items in the new year. While resolutions have changed since then, people still see the dawn of a new year as an opportunity to commit to doing something good in the months ahead.

No rules govern New Year’s resolutions, but many people resolve to do something healthy. The following are just a few resolution ideas for people who want to make 2016 as healthy as possible.

• Lose weight. A January 2015 survey from Nielsen found that 32 percent of U.S. consumers resolved to lose weight in the new year. That should come as no surprise, as New Year’s Day marks an end to the holiday season, when many people pack on pounds thanks to holiday dinners, parties and the baked goods that seem to find their way into homes and offices throughout December. Seventy-six percent of participants in the Nielsen survey said they did not follow a weight loss or diet program in 2014, which might explain why so many felt a need to lose weight in 2015. If you resolve to lose weight in the new year, do so with the assistance of your physician, who can offer useful advice on diet and exercise.

• Bike to work. Depending on how close your home is to your office, consider riding a bike to work instead of driving into the office every

Riding a bike to work instead of driving is a great way to get healthy in the new year.

day. Riding a bicycle is great cardiovascular exercise, which is a critical part of any successful exercise regimen. But riding a bike to work also benefits the environment by making the air you breathe cleaner. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that roughly half of all U.S. residents live within five miles of their workplace, which provides a great opportunity for commuters to reduce total household emissions, all while having fun on their bicycles. If 50 percent of American workers chose to bike rather than drive to work each day, total household emissions could be cut by as much as 6 percent. Biking to work also saves commuters money on fuel.

• Work less. Work is good for the mind and body, but too much work can lead to elevated levels of stress. Stress can produce a host of negative consequences, including an increased risk for depression, obesity and heart disease. Long hours at the office is one of the leading causes of work-related stress, and many professionals find themselves taking on more than they can reasonably handle. Make an effort to scale back your responsibilities and spend less time at the office.

• Reduce alcohol consumption. Reducing alcohol consumption is another healthy resolution for the new year. Excessive alcohol consumption can do a number on the human body. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that overconsumption of alcohol can affect the heart (increasing the risk for cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, stroke, and high blood pressure), liver (fibrosis, cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis), pancreas (pancreatitis), and immune system (weakening it and making you a much easier target for disease). Reducing consumption can have a considerable impact on your overall health.

Men and women resolving to get healthier in the new year can do so in various ways.

Keep plugging

Many people make New Year’s resolutions each year, and that trend is unlikely to change in 2016. But if history is any guide, few people are likely to achieve their resolutions.

A University of Scranton study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that just 8 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions achieve those resolutions. The study indicated that time may be the ultimate enemy with regard to achieving New Year’s resolutions. While 75 percent of those making resolutions maintained their focus through the first week, that figure dropped to 64 percent by the end of the first month before dipping all the way to 46 percent after six months.

So how can you make this year the year when your New Year’s resolution becomes a reality? Consider the following tips.

• Don’t go it alone. One of the best ways to realize your New Year’s

Enlisting a friend can help you make this the year you achieve your New Year’s resolution.

resolution is to enlist the help of a friend. For example, if your goal isto lose weight, then start going to the gym with your spouse or a friend who works out regularly. The buddy system can provide just the motivation you need, and having a friend there to offer support can help you stay focused on those days when your will to keep going starts to wane.

• Be as specific as possible. Vague resolutions leave too much wiggle room, and that can compromise your ability to achieve your goal. Set specific goals with clear benchmarks so you can celebrate your progress as the year goes on. If your goal is to save ‘X’ amount of money in the next year, divide that number by 12 and aim to reach that smaller figure by the end of each month.

• Be realistic. Some people fail to achieve their resolutions because they simply set the bar too high. While it’s good to push yourself, don’t choose a resolution that’s unrealistic. If you do, you may quit early if you realize you aren’t making enough progress despite your putting forth your best efforts, or you might take an unhealthy approach in an attempt to circumvent some of the obstacles in your way. If your goal is to lose weight, speak with your physician first to determine a weight loss goal that is healthy and reasonable.

• Expect a few bumps in the road. En route to achieving your resolution, expect a few bumps in the road. Life is never entirely predictable, and there will be a few unforeseen events over the course of the year that may throw you off target. Anticipate and accept such obstacles so they don’t derail your efforts.

New Year’s resolutions do not always become a reality. But there are several ways to make this the year you finally realize your goals.

Creative ways to celebrate the beginning of 2016

Counting down the hours until the new year can be exciting, as the world anxiously anticipates the adventures in store for the months ahead.

Celebrating the new year dates back thousands of years to the ancient Babylonians, who celebrated a new year come the first full moon after the spring equinox. The new year is now commemorated in various ways across the globe. According to History.com, one million people gather in New York City’s Time Square to watch the famed crystal ball drop each year. Across the pond in London, celebrants watch thousands of individual fireworks launch over the Thames River. In Sydney, Australia, roughly one million people line the shoreline each year to watch a fireworks show over the famed harbor.

To match the excitement of New Year’s festivities, each year party hosts and hostesses are on the lookout for innovative ways to entertain and ensure everyone has a blast. The following are a few ways to do just that as you and your guests prepare to close the book on 2015 and usher in 2016.

• Go bowling. New Year’s Eve probably isn’t a big league night, so it’s likely you can reserve a number of lanes. Book in advance to take advantage of affordable food and drink packages. Some alleys now offer more than just bowling, with live music or deejay entertainment as well. You do not have to be a professional bowler, either, as the goal of bowling with friends is to simply have some fun and make some lasting memories.

• Try a “first.” There is a first time for everything, and why not try something you have been thinking about doing for some time on the first day of the new year? Maybe you’re ready to tap into your adventurous side and try skydiving. Or, you may be looking to travel abroad to experience something you have longed to see, such as the Egyptian pyramids or the city lights in the romantic city of Paris.

• Cheer for every time zone. Thanks to the various time zones across the globe, “Happy New Year” is shouted multiple times throughout the night on New Year’s Eve. TimeandDate.com notes that, depending on how you define the time zone and if you include the International Date Line, there are 24 or 25 standard time zones. That gives revelers 25 opportunities to usher in the new year. Choose a country in each time zone, and then employ that country’s cultural traditions to celebrate the new year.

• Design a scavenger hunt. A fun activity for both adults and children, scavenger hunts can send guests in search of clues and answers based on things that happened over the previous 12 months. Include photos and other mementos when preparing clues.

Did you know?

Historians believe New Year’s resolutions can be traced back thousands of years to the ancient Babylonians, who lived in a region of Mesopotamia now known as Iraq. At the dawn of a new year, the Babylonians would promise their gods that they would return objects they borrowed and pay any debts they did not repay in the previous year. Babylonians believed keeping these promises would bring them the gods’ favor in the year ahead. Romans later adopted a similar practice, promising Janus, their god of beginnings and endings, that they would conduct themselves well in the coming year. Depictions of Janus typically include two faces, which are meant to symbolize his link to both the past (looking back) and the future (looking ahead). Early Christians also had a tradition similar to New Year’s resolutions, as they would spend the first day of the new year reflecting on mistakes they made in the past and resolving to improve themselves and avoid making such mistakes in the new year.

COLUMBIA — James A. Pfeiffer, FACHE, president and CEO of Self Regional Healthcare, has been elected chair of the boards of Palmetto Hospital Trust (PHT), PHT Services Ltd. (PHTS) and Palmetto Healthcare Liability Insurance Program (PHLIP) for 2016.

Pfeiffer holds an undergraduate degree in biology and an MBA in finance from Florida State University.

Other 2016 officers of the three boards are vice chair Jay Bikofsky, managing principal, J.E.B. Consulting, secretary Norman G. Rentz, president and CEO, Cannon Memorial Hospital, member-at-large Philip A. Clayton, president and CEO, Conway Medical Center and member-at-large John A. Miller Jr., FACHE, chief executive officer, AnMed Health.

During the meetings, the boards presented Bikofsky the Chair’s Award, recognizing him for eight years of dedicated service as board chair. Bruce Baldwin, president and CEO of Newberry County Memorial Hospital, was elected to a new three-year term on the boards of all three companies. A native of Illinois, Baldwin earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from Eastern Illinois University, and has extensive graduate education in healthcare management.

“We look forward to having Bruce join us as part of the governance team of PHT, PHTS and PHLIP,” PHTS president and CEO Brian J. Teusink said. “His experience will be an asset to our boards as we continue to develop new products and services for our clients.”

Re-elected to three-year terms on all three boards were Pfeiffer, Bikofsky, Rentz and D. Douglas Dorman, FACHE, SPHR, vice president of human resources at Greenville Health System.

Richard E. D’Alberto, FACHE, campus president at Greenville Health System – Laurens Memorial Hospital, was re-elected to three-year terms on the boards of PHT Services, Ltd. and Palmetto Hospital Trust.

• Classes offered at Hagood Center

New Fiber Room Center activities at the Hagood Center in Pickens have been scheduled for December, January and February.

There will be additional new activities scheduled throughout the next few months. Pre-registration and lists of the supplies are not available.

In January, the center will offer self-binding receiving blankets with Sara. Cost is a $5 donation for the center.

On Jan. 25 and Feb. 1 and 8, enjoy an introductory painting on silk three-day class with Cheryl. All supplies will be provided at the cost of a $10 donation to the center.

Below is a list of the center’s regular activities:

Monday: 10-11:30 a.m. — cathedral window quilts with Jacquie

Tuesday: 9-11:30 a.m. — doll clothes with Jacquie; 10-11:30 a.m. — yo-yos with Irene and prayer shawls and cancer caps with Sharon (in the library).

Wednesday: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. — weaving with Pat (in the heritage room); 10-11:30 a.m. — knitting with Tally.

Thursday: 10-11:30 a.m. quilting with Sara; 1:30-3:30 p.m. — rug hooking with Cheryl.

The holiday fiber room schedule from Dec. 23 – Jan. 3 includes tatting and crochet. Tatting activities do not occur each week, but do occur on different Thursdays. The first Thursday each month is tatting and crochet with Denise, and on the second and fourth Thursday each month is tatting, knitting and crochet with the Gonzalez family.

• Mission Fitness to host New Year bash

All are invited to come to Mission Fitness in Pickens on Jan. 4 at 6:30 p.m. for an epic bash to kick off the New Year with very special guests. The event is free to the public. Non-members are asked to get to the event a few minutes early to sign a waiver.

• Pickens Lions plan meetings each month

The Pickens Lions Club is in need of new members. The club meets the first and third Thursday of every month at Pizza Inn in Pickens.

Dinner begins at 6:40 p.m., and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. Meetings are open to anyone interested in joining the club or simply finding out more about the club and how it serves Pickens.

• Legion Post 67 seeks members

American Legion Post 67 in Liberty is accepting applications for membership from all U.S. military wartime veterans. For more information, call (864) 787-2322.

• Sertoma Club invites locals to meet

The Clemson Sertoma Club invites all interested local residents to attend its meetings.

The club meets at noon the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Occasions at Wedgefield, located at 1551 Eighteen Mile Road in Central. New visitors are always welcome.

EASLEY — Five actors from Easley participated in the 2015 Fall American Talent Showcase/Model Jam America on Nov. 19-22 at[cointent_lockedcontent] the Embassy Suites in North Charleston.

Skyler Hilley and Jasper Justus are pictured with the many awards they received at the 2015 American Talent Showcase. Not pictured are Keely Austin, Stephanie Matlis-Lee and Clara Jane Crocker.

American Talent Showcase/Model Jam America is a combined talent conference for the entertainment industry. It gives new and seasoned talent an opportunity to grow and develop their potential as a model, actor and entertainer. Agencies, producers and casting directors from New York, Los Angeles and across the Southeast who are actively seeking new faces in the industry come to this event to evaluate and instruct the participants. Scoring, judging and evaluations are from industry professionals who work with top names in the film, television and modeling industries.

The American Talent Showcase/Model Jam America is produced and hosted by Z-1 Models and Talent of Chester and has been showcasing new talent for more than 17 years.

Skyler Hilley received gold medals in individual runway, commercial and monologue. She was also runner-up in commercial (8-12 year olds).

Jasper Justus also received gold medals in individual runway, commercial and monologue. He was the overall winner for monologues (8-12 year olds), and runner-up for photo competition (8-12 year olds).

Keely Austin received gold in individual runway, commercial and monologue. She got runner-up in dance (non-professionals, 8-12 year olds).

Stephanie Matlis-Lee received gold in individual runway, commercial and monologue and was the overall winner in commercial (13-16 year olds).

Clara Jane Crocker received gold medals in singing, monologue, commercial and runway.

Shelby Henderson, owner of Above the Line Talent in Greenville, teaches beginner and aspiring actors for film and television at the Fine Arts Center of Easley. Classes are held weekly for ages 8-14 years of age. Older teens and adults can also contact the Fine Arts Center of Easley at (864) 442-6027 if they are interested in film/TV acting classes. Fine Arts Center of Easley also offers private music lessons, art classes and stage acting classes for students of all ages.

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LIBERTY — Each year, Lions Clubs around the world sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Contest in local schools and youth groups.

The art contest encourages young people worldwide to express their visions of peace. For more than 25 years, millions of children from nearly 100 countries have participated in the contest.[cointent_lockedcontent]

The theme of the 2015-16 Peace Poster Contest is “Share Peace.” Students ages 11-13 were eligible to participate, and 129 Liberty Middle School art students participated under the direction of art teacher Elaine Snell.

Liberty Middle School Peace Poster Contest winners, from left, are eighth-grader Justin Martin (second), sixth-grader Gracie Jackson (first) and eighth-grader Judith Martinez Lopez (third). Back row are Liberty principal Tim Mullis, art teacher Elaine Snell, Liberty Lions Club president Jean Thomas and chairman of the Peace Poster contest, Oscar Thorsland.

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• Mission Fitness to host New Year bash

All are invited to come to Mission Fitness in Pickens on Jan. 4 at 6:30 p.m. for an epic bash to kick off the New Year with very special guests. The event is free to the public. Non-members are asked to get to the event a few minutes early to sign a waiver.[cointent_lockedcontent]

• PPCCDC adds private 5K program

The Pickens Presbyterian Church Child Development Center has announced the addition of a private 5K program for the 2016-17 school year.

The program has been designed to meet and exceed all the state standards.

The program has also been developed to use an innovative hands-on learning approach that matches and enriches the learning styles and abilities of our individual students.

There will be a low student-to-teacher ratio, and the number of students will be limited to 10.

The teacher leading the program is highly qualified and has obtained a master’s degree in education. She graduated with honors and received an award of excellence on her state certification test.

The cost of the program will include before- and after-school care, daycare for school holidays/breaks and lunch, morning and afternoon snacks.

• Classes offered at Hagood Center

New Fiber Room Center activities at the Hagood Center in Pickens have been scheduled for December, January and February.

There will be additional new activities scheduled throughout the next few months. Pre-registration and lists of the supplies are not available.

In January, the center will offer self-binding receiving blankets with Sara. Cost is a $5 donation for the center.

On Jan. 25 and Feb. 1 and 8, enjoy an introductory painting on silk three-day class with Cheryl. All supplies will be provided at the cost of a $10 donation to the center.

Below is a list of the center’s regular activities:

Monday: 10-11:30 a.m. — cathedral window quilts with Jacquie

Tuesday: 9-11:30 a.m. — doll clothes with Jacquie; 10-11:30 a.m. — yo-yos with Irene and prayer shawls and cancer caps with Sharon (in the library).

Wednesday: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. — weaving with Pat (in the heritage room); 10-11:30 a.m. — knitting with Tally.

Thursday: 10-11:30 a.m. quilting with Sara; 1:30-3:30 p.m. — rug hooking with Cheryl.

The holiday fiber room schedule from Dec. 23 – Jan. 3 includes tatting and crochet. Tatting activities do not occur each week, but do occur on different Thursdays. The first Thursday each month is tatting and crochet with Denise, and on the second and fourth Thursday each month is tatting, knitting and crochet with the Gonzalez family.

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A group of retirees from Pickens County government offices recently held its final luncheon of 2015 on Dec. 1 at Pizza Inn in Pickens. The group, which started having monthly meetings 10 years ago, discussed current events in the county and enjoyed fellowship. Pictured, from left, back row are Ruby Hardy, Joan Bowen, Mildred Chastain, Marsha Reeves, Pattie Welborn and Joanne Roper. In the front row are Ruth Gilstrap, Doris Watson and Ann Day. Day retired from Pace Jewelers. Through the 10 years of the group’s existence, there have been as many as 21 members. The group never knows who will be in attendance.