Valentine’s Day is a holiday during February that commemorates love and romance and also the patron Saint Valentine. The history of St. Valentine is shrouded somewhat in mystery, and there are beliefs that many different people went by the name St. Valentine. One such individual was a holy priest who served in Rome, Italy. Some historians surmise that he was jailed for defiance during the reign of Claudius II, sentenced to death, and became a religious martyr. Pope Gelasius marked February14 as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom in 496 A.D. Today, the Catholic church recognizes at least three different martyred saints named Valentine or Valentius.

COUNTY — The Alive at 25 program curriculum, which at its core is a young driver intervention program, has been available in South Carolina since 2007.

Know how to recognize an emergency. Many water-related emergencies can happen quickly and silently. Can you tell if a swimmer is in distress or is drowning? A distressed swimmer or drowning victim needs help immediately!

“The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit. We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, “of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion. What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes?”

The Jocassee Gorges include a multitude of waterfalls and cascades, because the gorges are on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, where elevation changes drastically and the land falls 2,000 feet in just four miles. The Toxaway, Horsepasture, Thompson, and Whitewater rivers have cut scenic valleys. Settlement down in these valleys near the North and South Carolina state line never really was heavy. It is steep and rough, home to many black bears, wild turkeys, all three species of trout, whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, bobcats and many other types of wildlife. Prior to damming of the Savannah River Basin, eels would migrate all the way up to the Jocassee Gorges and were frequently seined or caught on hooks and eaten as table fare by the mountain people.

Help is possible
“Sell crazy someplace else, we’re all stocked up here.” This line from the film As Good As it Gets makes me smile every time I hear it because I can relate. I have lived with diagnosed depressive and anxiety disorders since my freshman year of college. I am not alone.

Motherhood does not come with an instruction manual. Sure there is the What to Expect series, Dr. Spock and countless other books offering advice to new mothers. There is not a single book, or library of books for that matter, that can prepare you for everything that being a mom encompasses.

April — specifically March 26th-May 1st — is National Kite Month. Established in 1999 as a joint effort between the American Kitefliers Association (AKA) and the Kite Trade Association International (KTAI), focus of the National Kite Month celebration is to encourage kite events worldwide, stressing safety and wholesome family fun.
Kites have evolved from the days of sticks and newspaper to take advantage of modern materials. They can be lightweight controllable designs that are flown indoors with no wind to traction kites that can propel you on land and water. Modern designs can also be found with elaborate artwork or realistic representations of creatures that we are familiar with. Kites can range in size from smaller than a postage stamp to hundreds of square feet.
April is the perfect month to celebrate the history and enjoyment of kite flying. The dawn of warm sunny days in spring, not to mention many windy ones, makes for excellent kite-flying conditions. In addition, with so many children on spring break from school, flying kites offers inexpensive fun for the entire family.
The kiting world has changed over the years. Kiting has become an active, passionate sport with regular events like festivals and competitions. It’s a hobby for some, an amusement for many and both rich and culturally diverse in nature.
From an educational perspective, kites make a terrific vehicle for learning about a variety of subjects. Topics can range from creative uses of graphics and colors, all the way to history, physics, aerodynamics, and mathematics — from crafts to fine art, as well as exploring the more inspirational thoughts associated with kite flying.
Kites are generally thought of as toys for children. In reality, there is a whole world of kites out there just waiting to be discovered. Anyone who might be interested in learning more should check out the following resources:

National Kite Month
www.nationalkitemonth.org
American Kitefliers Association
aka.kite.org
Kite Trade Association International
www.kitetrade.org
The Drachen Foundation
www.drachen.org/default.html

Happy flying!

CENTRAL — Get on board for fun, food, festivities and more during Central’s annual Railroad Festival celebration. Held in historic downtown Central, on Saturday, April 23, the one-day festival begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m.

Spring is synonymous with awakening, rebirth, and renewal. After a long, cold, dreary winter, the days of spring bring with them warming sunshine, longer days, blossoming flowers and a general sense of optimism and the good things that are surely to come.

Rabid with spring fever, people are anxious to be outside — to drink in the delights of the world waking up around them. Blessed with beautiful, breathtaking geography, Pickens County has endless opportunities for its residents to enjoy all the out-of-doors has to offer. What better way to behold spring than by walking, running or cycling through it as it unfolds?

The next few months are abundant with opportunities to participate in fitness-related events that not only get people moving and enjoying the outdoors, but also contribute to a variety of community organizations that serve Pickens County. Whatever their sport preference, there is an activity designed and organized to piqué a variety of interests.