Category Archives: Lifestyles
June is Great Outdoors Month
Celebrating our natural resources
Washington, D.C. — The nation’s top elected officials don’t seem to agree on much — but they completely agree that Americans need to spend more time in the nation’s parks, forests, refuges and other public spaces.
Proclaimed by the President and each governor and celebrated annually in June, Great Outdoors Month is a bipartisan celebration of America’s abundant and diverse outdoor recreation resources and the passion Americans have for
Sounds of the southern appalachians
Ella Hennessee jams with her instructor, Susan Ware-Snow.
Locals leading the way in
preserving musical traditions
By Dr. Thomas Cloer, Jr., Special to The Courier
I have a certificate, proudly displayed on my wall, from the Stamps-Baxter Normal Music School, verifying that “Tommy Cloer after having passed a reasonably rigid examination and by good deportment is entitled to this Theory Grade Certificate, June 8th –June 26th, 1953.”
The music school sessions were attended by all ages, children and adults. The teachers informed my parents that I was the youngest ever to pass their exam on the Rudiments of Music. I had just finished the second grade. I also have on my “Books in Use” shelf a 1939 song book titled “Favorite Songs and Hymns: Shape Notes,” compiled by Virgil O. Stamps and J.R. Baxter and published by Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing Co., Inc., which had thriving businesses in Dallas, Texas, Pangburn, Ark., and Chattanooga, Tenn. Suffice it to say the company “done real good” in Southern Appalachian churches.
Sacred Appalachian music is central to many of us that as children had those emotional, life-lifting sounds implanted in our minds. I remember vividly when this music began to move out of the churches in Southern Appalachia and began to be used as entertainment, as well as being used for worship. This was, I think, a
Father’s Day — A history
On July 19, 1910, the governor of the U.S. state of Washington proclaimed the nation’s first “Father’s Day.” However, it was not until 1972, 58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official, that the day became a nationwide holiday in the United States.
MOTHER’S DAY: INSPIRATION
FOR FATHER’S DAY
The “Mother’s Day” we celebrate today has its origins in the peace-and-reconciliation campaigns of the post-Civil War era. During the 1860s, at the urging of activist Ann Reeves Jarvis, one divided West Virginia town celebrated “Mother’s Work Days” that brought together the mothers of Confederate and Union soldiers. In 1870, the activist Julia Ward Howe issued a “Mother’s Day Proclamation” calling
How to make Father’s Day more enjoyable for Dad
Dad gets to be king of his castle at least one day during the year. Come mid-June, children near and far scramble for ideas to treat their fathers to a special day and award him with gifts for being a role model, provider and confidante. Father’s Day activities should be centered around Dad’s interests. With that in mind, the following are some ideas to honor Dad or another special man in your life.
Father’s Day is Sunday!
• Sports Sunday: If Dad is a sports fan, his idea of spending a fun-filled afternoon very well may be cheering on his favorite players. Whether your father enjoys golf, tennis, baseball, soccer, or another sport like hunting or fishing, chances are there is a television broadcast on that you can watch together. Otherwise, you can surprise Dad by purchasing tickets to a sporting event and making a day of it at the ballpark.
Great gift ideas for Dad
Father’s Day is right around the corner and that means many children, spouses and other family members will be scrambling to locate the perfect gifts for the men in their lives.
Put away those coupons for neckties and remote control caddies. There’s a good chance Dad wants something a little less cliche and more in tune with his interests. If you think carefully about gift ideas, there’s bound to be something that will be a perfect fit.
Sports
If Dad follows a particular team or sport, gifts inspired by his love of a favorite team are a surefire bet for success. Team jersies, game memorabilia, tickets to the next at-home game, or an expanded satellite dish or cable TV sports programming package
Pickens High School Class of 2014
PHS CLASS OF 2014
The following students graduated from Pickens High School during commencement ceremonies at Littlejohn Colisum in Clemson on Saturday, May 31.
Alexander Jay Aartun, Yubo Zhang Aartun, Angelia Josee Adams, Amber Louise Aiken, Christopher James Aiken, Chandler Ryan Alexander, Kirk Tanner Alexander, Courtney Jo Amerson,
Samantha Lynn Anthony, Skyler Jay McKenzie Ashe, Megan Leann Ashley.
Jeffrey Calvin Baker, Jr., Rusty Joe Baker, Chandler Darren Baldwin, Nathan Reed Baldwin, Shawn Michael Baldwin, Johnny Brodus Bates, Kaelyn Jean Bayne,
Liberty High School Class of 2014
LHS CLASS OF 2014
The following students graduated from Liberty High School during commencement ceremonies at Littlejohn Colisum in Clemson on Saturday, May 31.
Seth Douglas Aiken, Mackenzie Bratton Alexander, Matthew Louis Andrejak, Rebecca Ashton Andrews, Joshua James Lee Hunter Arledge, Cresswell Brady Autrey.
Elizabeth Lynn Bellen, Jamie Brent Berryhill, McKenzie Catherine Bowman, Nicholas David Bradford, Steven Conner Lewis Bridges, Karsen Elizabeth Brown, Phillip Blake Burns.
Triston Kenneth Capps, Camaryn Summer Carr, Randall Tyler Carson, Kelsey Grace Case, James Tanner Chambers, La’Quisha Chakaria La’Shae Chamblee, Paul Lee
Easley High School Class of 2014
EHS CLASS OF 2014
The following students graduated from Easley High School during commencement ceremonies at Littlejohn Colisum in Clemson on Saturday, May 31., Erika Acatitlan, Geordy Alberto Aguirre, Keanah Rochelle Aiken, Mary Elizabeth Albertson, Brianna Lillian Alexander, Austin Nicholas Allen, Julia Rose Anderson, Sederis Michele Anderson, Andrew Alexander Archie, Deequon Anthony Arnold, Diaquon Deveora Arnold, Heidi Libertad Austria Gomez, Eunice Avendano Zavala.
Richard Charles Baehser, Summer Marie Bannister, Brad Houck Barker, Renetta Evon Barksdale, Meredith Sherron Baskin, Peyton Buchanan Beane, Brian Clifford
Daniel High School Class of 2014
DHS CLASS OF 2014
The following students graduated from D.W. Daniel High School during commencement ceremonies at Littlejohn Colisum in Clemson on Saturday, May 31.
Ala Naji Abdelwanis, Robert Alexander Abraham, Jessica Ann Acosta, Bethany Lynn Alexander, Jacob Neal Alexander, Andrew George Alexandrescu, Danish Ali, Nailah Maat Amen, Linda Abigail Andersen, Lucas Forbes Anderson, Jessica Charlotte Andrew, Spencer Randolph Arndt, Humberto Abraham Arredondo.
Edward Alton Bagwell, Luis Alberto Barbosa, Kaitlyn Marie Bardos, Christopher Ray Barker, Jamie Michelle Bartee, Amy Michelle Barton, Kimberly Danielle
Bakin’ with bacon
Francine Bryson putting Pickens on the baking map
By Olivia Fowler, Courier Staff
Pickens resident Francine Bryson was standing in the kitchen cooking pork chops on a Wednesday night when the phone call came.
She didn’t pay any attention to it. When she saw the California area code, she assumed it was a telemarketer and said, “Don’t need any, already have some.”
But when the phone rang again, she answered and found out she was being asked to try out for a new national TV show, “America’s Next Great Baker.”
They wanted her to go to Nashville on Saturday and bake her first-place winner from the National Pie
