Category Archives: Lifestyles
PHS band earns honors
The Pickens High School Marching Band began its competition season on Saturday at the Pride of Pendleton Marching band classic. Due to all the rain this year, it was the band’s first competition. The 
band finished in the preliminary with high music, best color guard, high visual and first place in Class AAA and was one of eight bands to move into the finals. After the band competed in the finals, they took home the Principals Award for Leadership and Spirit, high music and third overall. Pickens band director Chaz Paxton was chosen favorite band director at the classic.
Faith Lutheran Chapel to host annual yard sale
PICKENS — The seventh annual yard sale of Faith Lutheran Chapel will be held Oct. 23-24 from 7 a..m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds from the sale will go to local charities.
Household items, clothing, craft items, books, furniture, holiday items and baked goods will be sold. Utilizing supplemental funds from Thrivent Financial, every dollar spent will provide $1.50 to the Gleaning House to purchase needed food for Pickens residents.
With a great many reasonably priced items and support from frugal area shoppers, the yard sale that began as a means of allowing a small, beginning church to help feed the hungry of Pickens now can financially help several other area groups.
The church is located at 729 W. Main St. across from Blue Ridge Co-op.
CAST to hold monthly meeting October 27
CLEMSON — Clemson Area StoryTellers (CAST) Guild will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at The Arts Center at 212 Butler St. in Clemson.
Have stories to share? Come and tell them where you have a captive audience.
Everyone is invited to an evening of family friendly stories, poetry or music. Attend as a listener or a teller — all are welcome.
For more information, visit explorearts.org, call (864) 855-6396 or email clemsonareastorytellers@yahoo.com.
Grace United to host annual fall bazaar
PICKENS — Grace United Methodist Church in Pickens will host its annual fall bazaar and luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 12.
The event will start at 7 p.m. Admission to the bazaar is free. A turkey and dressing lunch will be available for only $10 and will be served between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The dining room and Carryout will close promptly at 1:30 p.m.
The lunch will be dine-in or carryout. Delivery service is available for four or more plates and within a five-mile radius of the the church. Call the church office at (864) 878-2161 for tickets or a delivery.
The bazaar will include baked goods, candy, handmade jewelry, handmade crafts, wood crafts, holiday items, homemade jams, jellies, pickles and the like.
Grace United Methodist Church is located at 309 E. Cedar Rock St. in Pickens.
Vehicle donation helps transform family’s lives
By Olivia Fowler
For The Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — When Frederica Davenport drove away from D&D Motors in Greer in a 2004 Ford Explorer, she wasn’t just driving[cointent_lockedcontent]
Courtesy Photo
From left, D&D Motors general manager Skip Davenport, car recipient Frederica Davenport, Family Promise director Armilla Moore and Allstate regional director Curtis Brock were on hand for a recent car donation ceremony.
home. She was driving into a new life.
The 36-year-old single mother of three is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
A year ago, the Davenport family was homeless and without transportation. The family had nowhere to turn. Then, Family Promise of Pickens County came into their lives. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to giving homeless families a hand up, not a hand out.
Family Promise provides a safe place for families, where more than just food and shelter is available. There are 14 host churches, each in turn offering one week of housing and food to the families in the program.
Transportation, job training, counseling and other services are also given to each participating family so at the end of their months in the program they have secured affordable housing, a job and continued mentoring.
“Frederica came to Family Promise in the fall of 2014,” Family Promise director Armilla Moore said. “She and her children were homeless. She had a lot of skepticism and apprehension when she entered the program. Her children were displaced and uncertain.
“As a part of the program, they spent many nights sleeping in churches. Through Frederica’s hard work and with the help of Family Promise, she not only found housing and employment, she also found friends and family. By January 2015 she was able to move into a home with affordable rent and find full-time employment.”
Davenport had completed the program. She and her children were living together in a home she could afford in a safe neighborhood. She had a job.
The only component missing was transportation. She was scrambling for rides to work. She and the children walked miles to the grocery store, and the lack of a car seemed to be an unsolvable problem.
And then, Moore discovered a grant program sponsored by Allstate Insurance Company that donates recycled vehicles to qualified homeless families.
“We knew the chances were small,” Moore said.
But they sent in Davenport’s application and waited to hear.
Curtis Brock of Allstate said the program, 800 Charities Through Recycled Rides, donates totaled salvage vehicles that are repairable to the program. Some are donated to technical schools for automotive repair classes. But some go to families who have no other way of getting transportation. The title is signed over to the new owner.
Eddie Snipes of Allstate spotted the car and test drove it at the salvage yard to see if it would qualify.
Copart Salvage Yard delivers repairable vehicles at no charge to D&D Motors, the third partner in the program.
D&D general manager Skip Davenport said the dealership donates repairs and reconditioning of the vehicles to the program, because they want to help these families get reliable transportation. They also coordinate the donation process.
When Davenport got behind the wheel and started the engine, the expression on her face made it clear what the car represents to her.
She recently started a new job at the VA in Belton as a medical assistant and now has a way to get there. Her family is among the first in Pickens County to complete the Family Promise program.
Moore said the transformation in the entire family since they entered the program has been amazing.
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Courier Community Calendar10-21-15
• Trick or Treat on Main set in Pickens
Cannon Memorial Hospital and the City of Pickens will hold its annual Trick or Treat On Main Street on Saturday, October 31 from 5-8 p.m. for children. The event will begin at the intersection of Ann Street and Main Street in Pickens.
• Sarlin to present an evening with Wright
The Friends of the Sarlin Library are thrilled to host an evening with award-winning graphic artist Emily Wright on Monday, Nov. 16, at 6 p.m.
Wright, who is employed by the Pickens County Courier, is the recipient of more than 75 Palmy Awards in South Carolina Press Association’s annual contest.
Library officials said they are honored to have her share her journey that began as a child with “doodles on birthday cards” to her role, now, in the newspaper business, as the department head of graphic design since 2007.
• Fall Festival set for PPCCD Center
The Pickens Presbyterian Church Child Development Center will host a free fall festival on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 311 West Main St. in Pickens.Highlights of the day’s event will include a bounce house and games for the children, as well as performances by Last Road bluegrass, Sweet Potato Pie Kids, Power House Dance, Palmetto Martial Arts, balloon art and face painting.
A silent auction will take place to help raise funds for the child development center. As part of the center’s ministry, it offers a safe learning environment for children of all abilities to learn and play together in the Pickens area.
BBQ plates and hot dog plates will be available for purchase.
• Children’s Fall Festival set in Easley
The city of Easley and Gilstrap Family Dealerships will host a Children’s Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 4-8 p.m.
The event will be held around the downtown merchants and at Old Market Square in Easley. Children can trick or treat with the downtown merchants and then join a fun-filled festival with games, music, costume contests and more. The festival is free. For more, visit easleyevents.com or call (864) 423-4344.
• Lynch family reunion planned
The descendants of Captain William Lynch are having a reunion luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Holly Springs Baptist Church. A potluck lunch will be served at noon. Visitors will be able to enjoy good food, fun, fellowship and family history. For more information, contact David and Virginia Lynch at (864) 850-1787, Harold and Martha Lynch at (864) 915-1957 or Monnie and Jackie Broome at (864)270-0530 or jgbroome@juno.com.
• Georges Creek to host fall festival
Georges Creek Baptist Church in Easley will hold a fall festival, October 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. The free event will include food, candy, games and inflatables. Everyone is invited. The church is located at 1991 Saluda Dam Road in Easley. For more information, call the church at 859-6789.
Courier Community Calendar 10-14-15
• Historic Old Pickens to host singing
Historic Old Pickens will feature traditional and gospel music presented by Heartstrings, Greg Lambert and nationally known vocalist Caitlin Tierce. on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 2:30 p.m. Historic Old Pickens is located on Old Pickens Church Road near the employee entrance to Duke Energy on S.C. Highway 183.
• Allen to preach at Prater’s Creek church
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Pickens High School graduate Chris Allen will preach at Prater’s Creek Baptist Church at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18. Allen, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Ray Allen, will give his testimony at 6 p.m. that evening. Everyone is invited to attend the services at the church, located at 601 Prater’s Creek Road, just off Belle Shoals Road.
• Trick or Treat on Main set in Pickens
Cannon Memorial Hospital and the City of Pickens will hold its annual Trick or Treat On Main Street on Saturday, October 31 from 5-8 p.m. for children. The event will begin at the intersection of Ann Street and Main Street in Pickens.
• Sarlin to present an evening with Wright
The Friends of the Sarlin Library are thrilled to host an evening with award-winning graphic artist Emily Wright on Monday, Nov. 16, at 6 p.m.
Wright, who is employed by the Pickens County Courier, is the recipient of more than 75 Palmy Awards in South Carolina Press Association’s annual contest.
Library officials said they are honored to have her share her journey that began as a child with “doodles on birthday cards” to her role, now, in the newspaper business, as the department head of graphic design since 2007.
• Fall Festival set for PPCCD Center
The Pickens Presbyterian Church Child Development Center will host a free fall festival on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 311 West Main St. in Pickens.Highlights of the day’s event will include a bounce house and games for the children, as well as performances by Last Road bluegrass, Sweet Potato Pie Kids, Power House Dance, Palmetto Martial Arts, balloon art and face painting.
A silent auction will take place to help raise funds for the child development center. As part of the center’s ministry, it offers a safe learning environment for children of all abilities to learn and play together in the Pickens area.
BBQ plates and hot dog plates will be available for purchase.
• Children’s Fall Festival set in Easley
The city of Easley and Gilstrap Family Dealerships will host a Children’s Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 4-8 p.m.
The event will be held around the downtown merchants and at Old Market Square in Easley. Children can trick or treat with the downtown merchants and then join a fun-filled festival with games, music, costume contests and more. The festival is free.
For more, visit easleyevents.com or call (864) 423-4344.
70th anniversary
Jackson Lemard (Jack) Winchester, an Air Force retiree, and native of Wyoming, and his English WWII bride, Sheila Florence Olive Howard Winchester, were married in a small London castle on June 25, 1945. Jack is the only living child of late Pickens native John Hamilton Winchester, who migrated to Wyoming by working as a ranch hand in Texas, and other states en route there, where he built by hard work the large Winchester Ranch. John and Goldie David Braskett were married on July 26, 1908, and raised a large family. Jack and Sheila were totally surprised to be the honored guests at the Sept. 20 annual Winchester reunion at the Shady Grove Baptist Church fellowship building with a special cake and a video viewing of a “this is your life” presentation. They have four daughters, and daughter Sarah of Columbus, Ga., shared the joyous occasion.
Jake and Sheila are retired in St. Augustine, Fla.
Carmel Presbyterian set to host annual homecoming
Church to celebrate 228 years of history
LIBERTY — Carmel Presbyterian Church of Liberty will celebrate 228 years of history at its annual Homecoming on Oct. 11.
The event will begin with morning worship starting at 11 a.m. and followed by a brief business meeting of the Carmel Memorial Society, which provides for the upkeep of the cemetery.
A covered-dish lunch will follow the meeting. The Rev. Dr. John LeHeup will be the speaker for the service.
The church is located four miles south of Easley off Highway 135. For more information, call 843-3199.
Appalachian music program enrollment now underway
UPSTATE — Would you like to learn how to play the guitar, banjo, fiddle or mandolin? Enrollment is now underway for the Appalachian Evening Music Program. The next session will begin the week of Monday, Oct. 19, at various locations. The enrollment period is open now and will run through Thursday, Oct. 22.
This program is open to students from third grade through adults of all ages. It is designed to teach students to play Appalachian music with the guitar, banjo, fiddle or mandolin. The cost is $60 for a six-week session and $25 for instrument rental, if needed.
Anyone interested in signing up for this new session should contact one of the following program directors:
Easley: Tuesday nights at the First Baptist Church. Contact: Susan Ware-Snow, 864-979-9188 or susu9196@gmail.com.
Greenville (downtown): Thursday nights at St. Paul United Methodist Church. Contact: Susan Ware-Snow, 864-979-9188 or susu9196@gmail.com.
Pickens: Monday and Thursday nights at the Pickens Community Center. Contact: Steve McGaha, 864-283-4871 or blindpunkin54@yahoo.com.
Salem: Monday nights at the Blue Ridge Mountain Cloggers Studio. Contact: Sharon Payne, 864 888-7916 or kendallsharon@bellsouth.net.
Six Mile: Monday nights. Contact: Jan Nations, 864-608-3171 or jhnations64@aol.com.
Walhalla: Various nights at the Oconee Heritage Center. Contact: Jennifer Moss, 864-638-2224 or moss@oconee@heritagecenter.org
The Evening Music Program is sponsored by Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music Inc. (POSAM), a charitable non-profit organization. For more information on the Young Appalachian Musicians (YAM) program, visit www.YAMupstate.com, Facebook: “YAM (Young Appalachian Musicians),” or contact director Betty McDaniel at (864) 878-4257 or mcdanibw1@gmail.com.
