AdvertiseHereH

Daily Archives: 05/24/2016

Dacusville Community Library celebrates first year, plans to launch summer reading program

Jason Evans/Courier
The Dacusville Community Library is volunteer-driven. Pictured here are a few of the volunteers. Standing, from left, are Anne Mowbray, Shannon Sutton, Robin Duncan and Susan Childers. Seated are Marean Duncan and Julie Howard.

By Jason Evans

Staff Reporter

jevans@thepccourier.com

DACUSVILLE — A former middle school library has been given new life — as a library for the entire community.

The Dacusville Community Library is located in the former Dacusville Middle School building, now known as the Dacusville Community Center.

The library is staffed entirely by a group of dedicated volunteers — volunteers who are gratified by the support the library is receiving from the community.

Susan Childers and Robin Duncan recently spoke to the Courier about how the library came to be and what volunteers hope to accomplish in the future.

The county purchased the former school site and gave it to the Dacusville community. Community responses to a questionnaire given about what the building should be used for revealed residents wanted services that the town hadn’t had before.

“From the very beginning, we wanted a library desperately, and the county wanted us to have a library, but there were no funds,” Childers said. “There was no room to put (another county branch library) here.”

Last year, a group of volunteers came together to make a library in Dacusville a reality.

In addition to Childers and Duncan, the volunteers are Anne Mowbray, Shannon Sutton, Julie Howard, Mary McGowan, Marean Duncan, Cathy Spalding and Rhonda Marley.

“We had a lofty goal,” Childers said. “Opening the doors up to a library in June, that same year.”

binset3They wanted the library to open its doors the first Saturday in June.

When the group’s work began, the former school library was “completely blank,”  empty not only of books, but missing furniture and most of the shelves as well, Childers said.

“Everything was just a blank canvas,” she said.

This bear supervising the library was donated by a volunteer. The bear’s outfit “changes with the season,” Susan Childers said.  Jason Evans/Courier

County councilman Tom Ponder helped the group put the word out about needing donations of books and other items for the library. Work began on cleaning up the building and preparing it for use.

Once the call for help and donations went out, the response didn’t take long.

“The word got out,” Childers said. “We had people traveling from Seneca, Oconee County and parts of Greenville to help us out. It was just word of mouth. They were like, ‘We understand you want to open a library.’”

binset1

Jason Evans/Courier
This bookstore is a way for the library to winnow down multiple copies of the same book, while raising money for the library. “If the library’s open, the store’s open,” said volunteer Robin Duncan.

Furniture stored at the S.C. State Department was secured for the library’s use. Volunteers got to work sorting the thousands of donated books and cleaning furniture.

The Dacusville Middle School Beta Club and teenage volunteers were a big help to the cause.

“All summer,” Duncan said. “They spent the whole summer after we got started in volunteering.”

The group met their goal. The Dacusville Community Library opened on the first Saturday in June. It is the first public library in Dacusville’s history.

“We’re just very appreciative of the community,” Childers said. “They’ve just embraced this.”

“They’ve been good to us,” Duncan said.

binset2Those who came to the Dacusville Community Library’s opening last June signed a special memento, pictured here with Susan Childers, to commemorate the day. By:Jason Evans/ The Courier

Are you bad about remembering when your books are due? There are no worries at the Dacusville Community Library. They don’t charge late fees.

“We don’t give anybody a hassle about it,” Duncan said. “There’s no library card fee either.”  “We’re very old-school,” Childers said.

Upon opening, one of the group’s main goals was starting a summer reading program in Dacusville.

“A lot of them won’t venture out to Easley or Pickens, to the other libraries,” Childers said. “We’re trying to draw them in here.”

They began offering a story time for children.

The library opens at 9 a.m. on Saturdays. Storytime for the children begins at 10 a.m.

“We have an activity for the children after storytime,” Childers said.

That first summer, refreshments were provided for the kids.

“We wanted to make sure they had some kind of a lunch,” Duncan said.

The first summer went very well.

“We had children coming in for storytime and checking out books and things,” Childers said.

Rick Lollis built many of the library’s shelves and donated them.

“He’s been wonderful,” Duncan said. “That’s thousands of dollars in woodwork right there. I don’t know what we’d do without him.”

Supporters have been generous financially as well. The Heritage Committee has donated some funds, and the library received some money from Farm Days as well.

“We’re always taking book donations,” Childers said.

Volunteers have created a way to deal with multiple donations of the same books — while raising funds for the library.

They run a small used bookstore, just off the main library rooms. Paperbacks are available for $1. Hardbacks are $2.

“All the books are very cheap,” Childers said. “All the money goes back into the library to get other things that we need. It’s all volunteers that run this. We get no compensation whatsoever, except to watch the people coming in — that’s a wonderful thing.”

The women encourage others to join in and help with the library.

“We need more volunteers,” Duncan said.

More volunteers would allow the library to expand its hours.

The library is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. Duncan has recently started doing hours from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.

The library will have Wi-Fi soon.

“We’re hoping that will help people in the community who don’t have access to that,” Childers said. “This is a good, safe, friendly place they can come in and get their Wi-Fi.”

Duncan said the group is trying to start a computer room.

“We need donations for the computer room,” she said.

The library displays local artwork, including the latest quilts from the Quilts of Valor group.

Artist Tom Flowers donated a pen-and-ink drawing of the old Dacusville School. Work from young artists at the local elementary schools and middle schools is also displayed.

Volunteers are preparing the kickoff of this year’s summer reading program, which will launch on Saturday, June 4, from 9 a.m.-noon.

“Because that is the kickoff Saturday, we’re making it extra special for the children,” Childers said. “We’ll be doing some different things to promote it and have refreshments and things like that for them.”

“The children can sign up,” Childers said. “It’s a little sheet that colors off — ‘I’ve done this much reading, this much reading.’ They’ll get rewards for that when they bring it in.”

At the end of the summer reading program, grand prizes will be given to “those readers who have really excelled with their reading,” she said.

This year’s summer reading program theme is “Growing Good Readers.” The library is partnering with Dacusville Elementary School “so that the children can come to the library and get their books,” Childers said.

Local beekeepers will present a program that ties into the summer reading program. Amanda Bauknight, who served on the state board for Water Conservation, will also be a presenter.

“She’s going to do a water cycle program for us,” Duncan said. “The Gardening Club is going to do something for us. We’re going to have different activities.”

The head of Pickens High School’s English Department is getting a list together of required summer reading to give to the library.

“We’re going to have a special section so that the kids know that they can come to the library and get those without having to go out and purchase those books for their summer reading,” Childers said. “We’re talking to the middle school for the same thing.”

One challenge is getting the word out on the library’s existence and location. A banner will be placed near the road soon.

The library’s main goal is putting books in homes.

“We just want people to read,” Childers said. “Literacy is just so important.”

They want to fight the decay in reading skills that Childers saw often during her career as a first-grade teacher.

“If the child doesn’t read over the summer, there would be a definite drop in reading level,” Childers said. “I saw it every year. It makes a huge, huge difference.”

 

Spring conclave a success

Upstate — On Saturday, May 14, St. Benedict Liberty Catholic Church Archdiocese celebrated its spring conclave in a conference room at the Best Western Piedmont Inn and Suites in Piedmont.

This was the archdiocese’s first ever conclave, and it was a grand success.

Eleven people from all over the United States attended. The Rev. Mother Sherrod Hitch from Washington, the Rev. Father Jim Russell from Texas, the Rev. Father Tobias Baughman from Georgia, and the Rev. Mother Janet Stansell from Pickens were all consecrated as new bishops. The Archdiocese of the Primitive Catholic Church’s Archbishop Rod Rickard, from New York, along with Bishop Samuel Jin, also from New York, assisted Arch Patriarch John Stansell during the consecration service.

conclave2Russell, the Grand Master of the United Templar Sanctum, knighted three new knights and three new dames into the order. St. Benedict Liberty Catholic Church Archdiocese will be holding its fall conclave in Calhoun, Ga., on Sept. 10-11.

 

Arch Patriarch J.W. Stansell lays hands on Bishop Samuel Jin as Archbishop J. Daniel Stansell looks on.

For more information about St. Benedict Liberty Catholic Church Archdiocese, or its upcoming fall conclave, contact Arch Patriarch John Stansell by phone at (864) 507-0041 or by email at bishopjohnstansell@gmail.com, or Patriarch Tobias Baughman by phone at (706) 463-8066 or by email at fb3studio@gmail.com. More information can also be found on the archdiocese’s website at www.libertycatholicchurch.org.

conclave

Pictured, front row, from left are Archbishop Rod Rickard from New York, Arch Patriarch J.W. Stansell and Bishop Janet Stansell from Pickens. Back row are Bishop Sherrod Hitch from Seattle, Wash., Archbishop J. Daniel Stansell of Pickens, Patriarch Tobias Baughman from Calhoun, Ga., Archbishop Jim Russell from Cleburne, Texas, and Bishop Samuel Jin, originally from South Korea, now living in New York.

 

 

 

 

 

Courier Community Calendar

• Nix reunion planned for June 5 in Pickens

The descendants of Ulysses and Lou Annie Monroe Nix will hold the annual Nix family reunion on Sunday, June 5, at Northside Baptist Church, located at 421 Sangamo Road in Pickens. Lunch will be at 1 p.m. Plates, cups and ice will be furnished. Family members are asked to bring covered dishes, desserts and drinks.

• Special June events set for Granger Room

Special June events are planned at the Pickens Community Senior/Senior Center. On June 8, all Granger knitters and crocheters are invited to a day of pleasant knitting and crocheting off-campus. Call Lucy Harward at (864) 419-1794 or email her at daleandlucy@gmail.com if you need more information. Don’t continue burning your hands when you remove bowls of hot food from your microwave. Join Sara Stuckie on June 9 at 9 a.m. and make a microwave bowl cozy. Stop by the Granger Room to view an example. Supplies needed include two pieces of coordinating 100 percent cotton fabric, two pieces 100 percent cotton batting, 100 percent cotton thread to match your fabric, plus pins, sewing machine (or you may use one which has been donated to us), scissors, and other usual sewing items. There will be three pattern sizes to choose from: 10-inches, 12-inches, and 15-inches. You will cut your fabric into squares the size you need to fit your bowl. Call Harward at (864) 419-1794 or email her at daleandlucy@gmail.com if you have additional questions.

• Hagood Mauldin House open for tours

The Pickens County Historical Society extends an invitation to visit the Hagood-Mauldin House. This historic home was built in the 1850s in the old town of Pickens Court House on the west bank of the Keowee River. The home was disassembled and moved to its present site at 104 N. Lewis St. in Pickens in 1868, when Pickens District was divided into Pickens and Oconee counties. The house is furnished with period antiques.

The Hagood-Mauldin House is open the third Saturday of each month, April through October 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The fees are $5 for adults and $1 for children and students (18 and under). Private tours may be arranged during the week by calling (864) 421-4771. Parking is available at Legacy Square, next to McDonald’s.

• Trotter reunion set for June 11 in Pelzer

The annual Trotter family reunion is set for noon on June 11. The event will be held at the Tabernacle Baptist Church on Smythe Road in Pelzer.
Directions to the church are take S.C. 8 into Pelzer, then turn left onto S.C. 20 at BI-LO. Smythe Road is on the right.
This is a combined reunion with the descendants of James S. Trotter, brother of George MacDuffie “Mac” Trotter.

 

SCETV’s ‘Making it Grow’ coming to Six Mile

SIX MILE — SCETV cameras will come to Six Mile on June 23 along with host Amanda McNulty and the crew of scetv show “Making It Grow” to tape a show segment at the Six Mile Farmers Depot.

Crews will be doing interviews with vendors on products grown by vendors and showing the importance of farmers markets in our state.

Those attending are asked by the town to dress in visual attire depicting S.C. Agriculture.

There will be a huge selection of vendors with products they have grown and live music. The event is scheduled for June 23, beginning at 4 p.m.

 

PPCCDC golf tourney planned for June 10

PICKENS — Pickens Presbyterian Church Child Development Center’s fifth annual golf tournament will be held on Friday, June 10, at the Pickens Country Club.

Registration is set for 9 a.m., with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start. The Pickens Country Club is located at 1018 Country Club Road in Pickens.

Breakfast will be provided by Bojangles’, and lunch will be provided by Larry Looper’s BBQ after the tournament.

There will be cash prizes awarded for first through third-place finishes. Awards will also be given for closest to the pin, white tees, senior tees and ladies tees, as well as men’s and women’s longest drive and a putting contest.

Entry fee is $100 per player, or $400 per team.

The proceeds from the event will help the Pickens Presbyterian Church Child Development Center better serve all children, including children with special needs. For more than 30 years, the center has been a place where children with all abilities can play and learn together. Any donation made will greatly benefit the children in the center’s care, and donations are tax-deductible.

 

Take advantage of versatile Vidalias

By Olivia Fowler

For the Courier

ofowler@thepccourier.com

There’s only one place in the whole world that grows authentic Vidalia onions, and that’s Vidalia, Ga.

They have the perfect soil to produce this sweet, flavorful onion. The only drawback is the onions only come into the market once a year. And now is the time.onion

So, don’t let the grass grow under your feet. Buy some and use them as much as possible while they’re available. Even people who say they don’t like onions have been known to change their minds when they taste Vidalias.

I hope you’ll like them, too.

 

Vidalia and Tomato Salad

  • 1 large Vidalia onion, chopped
  • 2 large tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/2 lb. shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 6 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. wine vinegar
  • 1⁄4 c. basil, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic, chopped
  • Pepper, to taste

Mix all ingredients together and let marinate 20 minutes at room temperature.

Vidalia Casserole

  • 6 large Vidalia onions, peeled and sliced very thinly
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1⁄2 c. butter
  • 30 Ritz crackers (use one sleeve of crackers, coarsely crushed)
  • 1 c. grated parmesan cheese

Set oven to 350 degrees. Butter a two-quart casserole dish. In a large saucepan, melt butter.

Add onions to pan, over high heat, sauté until soft, and just starting to brown, about 20-25 minutes.

Remove from heat.

Place half of the onions in the baking dish; cover with half the crackers, and half of the Parmesan.

Repeat to make another layer of onions, crackers and Parmesan.

Bake, uncovered, until cheese on top is lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Serve warm.

Note: if made a day ahead, let cool and keep refrigerated until time to reheat for serving.

 

Baked Stuffed Vidalias

  • 4 large Vidalia (or other sweet variety) onions, about 3/4 lb. each
  • 4 tbsp. butter
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. white pepper
  • 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp. dry white wine
  • 1/3 c. low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp. half-and-half or cream
  • Panko crumbs
  • Paprika

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Trim a thin slice from both ends of each onion, then peel away the papery skin and place the them in a large pot, cover with salted water and cook covered on stovetop on medium for about 10 minutes until just tender but not soft.

Remove from heat, drain off the water and let stand, uncovered, until cool enough to handle.

Begin removing the inner layers of the onion by inserting a fork into the center and twisting. Pull upward gently, remove the core and transfer to a cutting board.

Remove additional layers until you are left with a hollow shell about 3/8-inch thick. This could consist of either one or two of the outer layers, depending on the individual onion.

Roughly chop the inner layers of the onion into 1/2-inch pieces.

Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle the flour evenly over the onions and combine.

Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the flour turns uniformly golden in color, 4 to 5 minutes longer.

Add the white wine and combine thoroughly. Stir in the chicken broth and continue cooking until the mixture is thickened and smooth, about three minutes more. Add the half-and-half, taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Using a teaspoon, fill the onion shells with the creamed mixture, pressing down gently after each spoonful. Top with a sprinkling of panko crumbs and dust with a bit of paprika for color.

Bake uncovered for eight to 10 minutes, or until the crumb topping is golden brown.

 

Pickled Icebox Vidalias

  • 4 c. thinly sliced Vidalia onion
  • 1 1/2 c. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 c. granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp. hot pepper sauce
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp. mustard seed
  • 1 tsp. celery seed
  • 2 tsp. dry mustard
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

Slice onions thin, about 1/4-inch-thick and cover with ice water in a bowl. Let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Drain off water and pack into a clean quart-sized Mason jar.

Beat the remaining ingredients together briskly using a whisk until all the sugar is dissolved. Pour mixture over onion, put lid on jar sealing tightly and put into the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before using. They will keep in refrigerator for about four months.

 

Courier Legals 5-25-16

SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF

FILING OF COMPLAINT

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF PICKENS

Courier Notice to Creditors

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.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on Form #371ES with the Probate Court of PICKENS COUNTY,

Courier Trespass Notices 5-25-16

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.

All persons are hereby notified and warned not to hunt, fish, cut timber or trespass in any manner whatsoever upon the lands of the undersigned:

Courier Classifieds 5-25-16

Classifieds are now free to read!

Announcements

Contents of storage unit N located at 222 Morris Rd Pickens SC rented to Regina Powell will be disposed of if rent isn’t paid by June 3, 2016.                                                                       5/25, 6/1

—————————————