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Daily Archives: 04/26/2016

AFTA to hold ‘Taking Back Our Streets’ event

PICKENS — Arise from the Ashes – Community Development Corporation (AFTA), a Pickens community nonprofit organization, is hosting a free county-wide event.

The “Taking Back Our Streets” event will be held on Saturday, May 7, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Griffin Ebenezer Baptist Church at 450 Garvin St. in Pickens.

The community, staff and those impacted by drugs and violence will peacefully march on various sections of the surrounding neighborhood. They will stand at these locations bringing awareness to the damage of drugs and violence. At noon, they will come back to Griffin Ebenezer Baptist Church to a host of speakers, including Pickens mayor David Owens, Pickens County sheriff Rick Clark and Pickens police chief Travis Riggs, along with entertainers VSI of Columbia, Operation IMPACT speakers and a host of vendors with information to share.

The informative question-and-answer event will be beneficial for children and adults alike. The “Taking Back Our Streets” event will focus on the drugs and violence within the community. It will tackle how the community can come together and join forces with the police and other organizations within the community and how collectively the community can rid Pickens of drugs that are destroying the community and tearing apart families.

After the senseless shooting in Easley at the Tri-City bowling alley, the community became aware of the gangs within this area. AFTA partnered with the Rev. Tim Sutton of Divine Purpose Outreach Ministries and Amber Anderson of Operation IMPACT Sports of Easley and participated in their highly successful, “Take Back Our Youth” event held on March 26 at the Dream Center that focused on gang awareness for the young and the old.

“Many of the surrounding counties now have actively engaged in educating their communities to make them aware of the risks that are looming in their backyards,” AFTA president and CEO Betty Robinson said. “One of the aspects of AFTA is ‘community,’ and we want to make sure our community is well informed of what is happening right here in Pickens. This is important information, and we hope to see you there.”

Robinson, a Pickens native, founded the organization in 2015. She saw an urgent need to actively engage the community, especially the youth.

She started with getting the youth to volunteer to reconnect them with those within their current community, as well as giving them a better understanding of what mission work really means.

Last year, the youth volunteered in their community by preparing, packing and delivering meals and toiletries to the elders and picking up trash and doing work at the local veterans garden. They also did hands-on work with residents at The Foothills Retirement Center in Easley, cleaning and clearing their walking trail, along with several other tasks. The third organization they volunteered for was Meals on Wheels, where they ran two routes weekly over the summer. This year, AFTA has initiated a mentoring program, theatre program, summer reading and sports program and will continue with its hands-on youth volunteer program.

Contact Robinson at aftacdc@gmail.com or by calling (864) 561-1188 for more information.

 

Community Health fair held in Easley

Jason Evans/Courier

These smiling faces helped prepare the healthy lunches that attendees at the Oolenoy River Community Wide Health Fair enjoyed on April 6 at Easley Union Missionary Baptist Church. Attendees learned more about emergency responders and health resources in our area and had a chance to take part in health screenings.

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A large crowd came out to Easley Union Missonary Baptist Church on April 6 for the Oolenoy River Community Wide Health Fair. Pictured (above left) are health promoter Annette Blake and the Rev. Chester Trower.  The Rev. James Hallums (bottom right) said the objective of the Oolenoy River Community Wide Health Fair was to help create a healthier Pickens County.

Courier Community Calendar 4-27-16

• 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.

• 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.

• Davis reunion set for May 1 in Easley

The annual Clarence and Margie Hughes Davis reunion will be held May 1 at Tabor United Methodist Church Fellowship Building. (1943 Ireland Road, Easley, S.C. 29640) Lunch will be at 1:15 p.m.

Paper supplies will be provided. All family and friends are urged to attend and enjoy this time together. For more information, call (864) 878-9999.

• 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.

• Relay for Life set for April 30 at EHS

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest and most impactful fundraising event to end cancer. Baptist Easley Hospital would like to help the community to unite in fighting cancer and celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all. With the support of thousands of volunteers like you, the American Cancer Society is helping save more than 500 lives a day. Join Baptist Easley Hospital and take action against a disease that has taken too much.

The event is scheduled for this Saturday, April 30, from 2-10 p.m. at Easley High School, 154 Green Wave Blvd. in Easley. All Wells Fargo locations in Pickens County are currently accepting donations.

• 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 pm.

The school will have BBQ 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.

 

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a fiery, festive fiesta

For Mexican food lovers everywhere, Cinco de Mayo provides the perfect excuse to host a fiesta. This year, try spicing up your party menu with Mexican-inspired bold flavors and fresh ingredients using these tips and recipe. With a little planning and some key fresh ingredients, you can host a fiesta everyone will enjoy.

Cinco de Mayo Menu Planning

Here are a few authentic dips and dishes to liven any party spread:

• Green, Green Guacamole — This flavorful dip embodies the festive flavors of the holiday. To make fresh guacamole, add green onions, cilantro and Tabasco green jalapeño pepper sauce to ripe, mashed avocados.

• Mexican Caviar — Not your average salsa dip, this hearty and zesty recipe combines black beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes and cilantro for a muy bueno party starter that is sure to please.

• Spicy Taquitos — Packed with genuine flavor, these savory appetizers can be served all year long. A satisfying blend of chicken, red beans and shredded cheese is rolled into buttery phyllo dough and baked until golden and crispy.

To add more authentic flavor to your table, be sure to serve Fiery Fiesta Empanadas. With a soft cornmeal crust, ground beef, cheese and olive filling, this dish boasts bold notes of cumin, garlic, and mild Tabasco green jalapeño pepper sauce – making these empanadas a sure-fire way to spice up your menu.

For more sizzling south-of-the-border recipes, visit www.tabasco.com.

 

Fiery Fiesta Empanadas

Cornmeal Crust

  • 2 c. all-purpose flour
  • 1 c. yellow cornmeal
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 c. (2 sticks) butter or margarine, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 6 tbsp. wate

          Filling

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 3 scallions, chopped
  • 1/4 c. taco sauce
  • 1/4 c. pitted ripe olives, chopped
  • 4 tsp. Tabasco green jalapeño pepper sauce, divided
  • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 c. shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 large egg, beaten

Recipe makes four empanadas.

Combine flour, cornmeal and salt in medium bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle in water, one tablespoon at a time, until dough sticks together.

On lightly floured surface with lightly floured rolling pin, roll out half of dough until 1/4-inch thick. Cut dough into two seven-inch rounds. Repeat with remaining dough and scraps. Cover; set aside.

Cook ground beef and garlic in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until beef is browned on all sides, stirring occasionally to break up beef.

Stir in scallions, taco sauce, olives, three teaspoons green jalapeño pepper sauce, oregano, cumin and salt until well blended. Stir in cheese.

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Grease large cookie sheet. Spoon about 1/2-cup filling on 1/2 of each round, leaving a 1/2-inch border.

Stir together egg and remaining teaspoon green jalapeño pepper sauce.

Brush border with egg mixture.

Fold dough over filling, pressing out air. Crimp edges with fork or fingers to seal.

Place on baking sheet. Bake 25 minutes or until golden.

 

Courier Legals 4-27-16

SPECIAL REFEREE’S SALE

CASE NO. 2015-CP-39-841

BY VIRTUE of a decree heretofore granted in the case of South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority against Thomas N. Parham, Khristy K. Parham et al., I, the Special Referee for Pickens County, will sell on Monday, May 2, 2016, at 11:00 o’clock a.m., at the Pickens County Courthouse, Pickens, South Carolina, to the highest bidder:

Courier Notice to Creditors 4-27-16

The publisher shall only be liable for an amount less than or equal to the charge for the space of the item in error in the case of errors in or omissions from any advertisement, and only for the first incorrect insertion.

Courier Trespass Notices 4-27-16

In the state of South Carolina, trespass after notice is a misdemeanor criminal offense prohibited by section 16-11-620 for the South Carolina Code.

Those who enter upon the lands of others without the permission of the owner or manager shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor trespassing.

Courier Classifieds 4-27-16

Pickens County Courier Classifieds online FREE!!

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