Ferguson Chosen Anderson's Senior of the Year

The JBC Advisory Council recognized the 22nd Annual Jo Brown Senior Citizen of the Year Award to Iva Sunrise Senior leader, Janice Ferguson. JBC Advisory Council presents plaque to senior of year – (L to R: Mercedes Dean, Janice Ferguson and Linda Krause)

Ferguson selected president of Iva Sunrise Seniors in 2017, was the Iva Sunrise Seniors where participation has grown under her direction. Janice, widow of Dwight Ferguson (married 49 years), has two sons and a daughter and is retired from Robert Bosch.

Mayor Bobby Moore said, “Janice does an amazing job coordinating the weekly events of the Iva Sunrise Seniors. Through her leadership, the group is energized and has grown in the last several months. The town considers the senior programs in Iva an asset and is very fortunate for all of their contributions.”

More than 500 attendees took part in this year's Senior Industry Expo, which featured The Band Silver from Iva, line dancing, and eating the sunflower desserts made by senior bakers.

The Golden Year Jamboree sponsors donated $10,000 to the Cancer Association of Anderson.

Survey: Clemson Students Love Their School Best

CLEMSON — It’s not been a secret that students love Clemson University and now The Princeton Review agrees. In its newly released 2019 edition of “The Best 384 Colleges,” The Princeton Review ranks Clemson No. 1 among surveyed colleges in the “These Students Love These Colleges” category.

In the 2018 rankings released last year, Clemson was ranked No. 2 in the “Students Love These Colleges” category and No. 1 in “Best Career Services.” In this latest edition, Clemson is second among universities with “Best Career Services.”

“There are many reasons students choose Clemson: for its outstanding academic reputation, the expected return on investment in their educations and how well they will be prepared for future success in life,” said David Kuskowski, undergraduate admissions director. “It’s not a surprise that they also love Clemson University. It is a beautiful, welcoming place and everyone can feel that are they part of our Clemson family.

Clemson also was ranked in other categories:

• No. 2 – Students Pack the Stadiums
• No. 3 – Everyone Plays Intramural Sports
• No. 6 – Town-Gown as Great
• No. 7 – Happiest Students
• No. 16 – Best Alumni Network

The Princeton Review surveyed 138,000 students at 384 top colleges to rate their schools on dozens of topics of interest to applicants to come up with the rankings. The full lists are posted

at https://www.princetonreview.com/ and The Best 384 Colleges book is available Today.

Council to Discuss State Reimbursement for Projects

Anderson County Council will vote on a series of resolutions relating to reimbursement by the state of South Caroina for various projects as part of Tuesday meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the historic courthouse downtown.

Council will also hear reports from committees and consider tax incentives for economic development.

Full agenda here. 

County Students Benefit from Clemson Teacher Program

Students aren’t the only ones benefitting from Clemson’s teacher residency program. The college designed the program so that master teachers come away from the experience with long-lasting benefits in addition to the immediate helping hand that comes from a second teacher in the classroom.

Over the summer, master teachers and residents convened in the upstate at a three-day development institute that detailed what teachers and students could expect as well as how both parties could get the most from the experience. Karen Miles, a master teacher in the program, said the program’s value truly set in for her during the institute.

“From the moment I heard about it, I wanted to be in a program like this that would develop into an integral part of training for future educators,” Miles said, “I realized at the institute that strengthening my mentoring skills, advancing my own teaching style and exploring new methods through co-teaching will benefit me as much as my teacher resident.”

Miles is paired with Ellie Jameson, a secondary education major that will join her in her fifth-grade class at LaFrance Elementary in Pendleton, South Carolina. Miles plans to use the experience as a way of renewing her own excitement for the teaching profession after more than 20 years as an educator.

Miles knows she can still improve and further develop her teaching style, and she sees the coming year as a master teacher as the prime opportunity to do so. In addition to the institute, Miles and other master teachers take two graduate-level courses that count toward recertification of their professional license.

Teachers also have the opportunity to take two more graduate courses for a state-level teacher leader endorsement to be added to their professional license. Others can combine these courses with eight more graduate courses to earn a Master of Education degree.

Miles sees this as an opportunity to do it all: she can develop further as an educator while showing Jameson how to effectively build relationships with students, parents and staff over the course of an entire academic year. She’s confident this extended teacher residency experience will see her and Jameson emerge from the experience with a bond that is unique to participants in the program.

“I look forward to guiding Ellie through successes and failures, but also hearing what she has learned over her time with Clemson faculty leading to the residency experience,” Miles said. “More than anything I am excited to build a relationship with Ellie that will last a lifetime.”

Clemson’s teacher residency program is housed in the College of Education’s Eugene T. Moore School of Education and is made possible by a gift from Darla Moore, whose father, the school’s namesake, had a distinguished career as a teacher, coach and principal in Lake City, South Carolina. The Moore family’s $10 million endowment will make the school’s pilot program possible in seven Upstate districts and the funds will continue to support and ensure the residency program’s success in the future.

Clemson to Feature Innovate Art Under New Director

CLEMSON — Becky Becker plans to bring an increased emphasis on new and innovative artistic works to the Clemson University performing arts department.

Becker, the incoming chair of performing arts, arrives at Clemson with an extensive background not only in teaching and scholarship but also in developing new theatrical works.

“I’m a big supporter of new plays and musicals,” said Becker, most recently a professor of theater at Columbus State University in Georgia. “New works in the arts are incredibly important. They can create a high profile for an organization. More than that, it’s so important for us in the arts to continue to innovate so our disciplines move forward.”

As the new chair of performing arts, Becky Becker oversees the leadership of the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, shown here with its new curbside entrance. Image Credit: Clemson University Relations

Diversity and inclusion also are top priorities for Becker.

“The more we can work to create an environment that is diverse and inclusive for students, staff and faculty, the richer we are,” Becker said. “It only makes our work better.”

Richard E. Goodstein, dean of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, said Becker’s wide-ranging experience will prove valuable for the department’s broad-based curriculum.

“As a noted scholar, teacher and stage director, Dr. Becker will be a dynamic leader for our innovative performing arts department,” Goodstein said. “In addition, her commitment to diversity, global engagement and promoting new artistic works will be a great asset to the College and Clemson University.”

Becker, as performing arts chair, will supervise not only the University’s music, dance, theater and audio technology programs and ensembles but also the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts.

“It’s an amazing arts venue,” she said. “I want to seek out more diverse and innovative programming at the center. I think that’s something Brooks Center directors are working on already.”

The process of connecting with a company to develop new works at the Brooks Center would be particularly valuable to students, Becker said.

“Experience with a new play, a new musical, a new symphony really helps students as they continue with their careers,” she said. “A lot of times when students leave programs in the arts, they are involved in developing new works.”

Becker has considerable experience in developing original material for the stage. Last fall, she directed the world premiere of a folk opera, “Eddie’s Stone Song,” in collaboration with other Columbus State University professors. Becker also is the regional chair for the new playwriting program affiliated with the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Becker had served as a professor of theater at Columbus State since 2006. She was also coordinator of the International Studies Certificate and assistant director of the Center for Global Engagement.

Becker received her B.A. in English and B.S. in Communication Arts (Theatre) from Minot State University in North Dakota, her M.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of North Dakota, and her Ph.D. in Theatre from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

‘An excellent team’

Becker has been working with Dean Goodstein and outgoing performing arts chair David Hartmann to gear up for her first fall semester at Clemson.

“They’ve been very supportive,” Becker said. “I feel like I’m joining an excellent team. It’s exciting.”

Becker said she was attracted to the performing arts department for the variety it offers. At Clemson, undergraduates study one of three concentration areas in the performing arts – music, theater or audio technology – while learning about them all.

“I love the interdisciplinarity of the performing arts department,” Becker said. “It’s pretty rare to have a department that is music, theater and audio technology. It’s an excellent way to prepare students for real-world work situations because they leave with a lot of skills.

“Beyond that, Clemson has an excellent reputation, so that really drew me.”

Students from all disciplines flock to the performing arts department’s 32 theater, music and dance ensembles. In fall 2017, more than 800 Clemson students from 30 majors – including bioengineering, economic and math education — took part in those eclectic groups.

A veteran stage director, Becker hopes to direct some productions at Clemson soon.

Becker also plans to teach at least one class every semester. This fall, she’ll lead a class in stage directing. “I love to keep the connection with students,” she said.

Global engagement

Becker, a longtime leader of study abroad programs, developed a summer internship program at Columbus State in which students from a variety of disciplines –  including arts, psychology and business – spent several weeks abroad.

Her interest fits in well with the emphasis on global engagement and cultural awareness within the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities at Clemson.

“An internship abroad will help students develop their cross-cultural communication skills more deeply,” she said. “It’s really helpful also for students to learn in an interdisciplinary setting. Each student brings a different perspective. A large part of becoming a culturally competent person is to learn from different perspectives.”

Becker’s published work may be found in Theatre Journal, Feminist Teacher, Theatre Symposium and other publications.

Becker and her husband, Mark Jarzewiak, moved from Columbus in early June to a new home between Clemson and Seneca. “I’m about 10 minutes from the Brooks Center,” Becker said.

Becker’s twin sons, Jaz and Ian, both live in Atlanta. But Becker and her husband brought two cats and two dogs with them to Clemson. “We are big dog lovers in particular,” Becker said, quickly adding with a laugh, “but obviously, we love our cats, too.”

Bill Clinton in S.C. Today to Speak at Riley Collections Event

COLUMBIA, S.C.  - Former President Bill Clinton is traveling to South Carolina to honor a former governor who served in his Cabinet.

Clinton is scheduled to speak Monday at a reception to officially open the special collections of Dick Riley at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

Riley chaired Clinton's presidential campaign in South Carolina and served as Secretary of Education during all eight years of Clinton's administration.

Prior to that, Riley served two terms as South Carolina's governor and more than a decade in the state Legislature.

The University says its Riley collection includes thousands of photographs and speeches, as well as materials from Riley's campaigns and his efforts for others, including Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

Almond Milk Recall Includes Product Sold in S.C.

Aug. 4 (UPI) -- A national dairy distributor is voluntarily recalling more than 145,000 half-gallon cartons of almond milk because they may contain milk from a cow, an allergen not listed on the label.

The recall, by HP Hood LLC, concerns cartons of refrigerated Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk with a Sept. 2 use-by date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday. 

Those allergic or sensitive to dairy milk can risk a serious or life-threatening reaction if they consume these products. To date, one person has reported an allergic reaction, which did not require hospitalization, the statement said.

For those without allergies or sensitivities to milk, the product is safe.

The recall affects cartons shipped to retailers and wholesalers in 28 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The affected product has identifying codes stamped on the containers: H5 L1 51-4109; H5 L2 51-4109; H6 L1 51-4109; and H6 L2 51-4109. Consumers should look for a Universal Product Code, or UPC barcode, of 41570 05621 on the side panel of the carton.

Those who purchased the product can return it where purchased for a full refund or exchange. More information can be found on the company's website.

Meteor Showers Should Peak Aug.11-13

The Perseid meteor shower, which occurs every August due to debris left behind from Comet Swift-Tuttle, is almost here.

According to experts at Space.com, the shower will peak during overnight hours as Aug. 11 turns into Aug. 12 and again overnight Aug. 12 to 13. While both shows will be magical, the latter may be just a little better, NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke told Space.com. 

At its peak, meteors will race at rates of about 60-70 meteors per hour, up from last year’s rate (40 to 50 per hour), but not as glamorous as it was in 2016, when 150-200 meteors per hour streaked across the nighttime skies. 

“This year the moon will be near new moon, it will be a crescent, which means it will set before the Perseid show gets underway after midnight,” Cooke said. “The moon is very favorable for the Perseids this year, and that'll make the Perseids probably the best shower of 2018 for people who want to go out and view it.”

When to see the Perseid meteor shower

You’ll be able to catch the popular meteor shower as Earth passes through the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle (July 17 to Aug. 24), but if you want to best views, it’s all about catching it at peak time. And according to Astronomy magazine and NASA’s Bill Cooke: the predawn hours of April 13 will be ideal.

Where to see the Perseid meteor shower 

The Northern Hemisphere down to the mid-southern latitudes is prime real estate for this year’s show, Space.com reported.

New Season Aims to Revive Foothills Playhouse’s Fortunes

By Paul Hyde/Anderson Observer

Will Ragland, who created a hugely successful community theater company in Pelzer in mere a few years, has taken the reins at Easley's Foothills Playhouse.

On Friday night, Ragland unveiled the first season of the playhouse's new era.

The series includes two big musicals to open and close the season, a classic comedy, and three shows that will appeal especially to children and their parents: 

-- "Godspell" (Oct. 5-21). Stephen Schwartz' 1971 musical, with a spirited score, is a retelling of parables from the Gospels with references also to the Passion of Christ. Directed by the Market Theatre’s Noah Taylor, this “Godspell” production will be set in an abandoned cotton mill. 

-- "Elf Jr.: The Musical" (Nov. 30-Dec. 16). Based on the beloved holiday film, the musical follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity.

-- "Steel Magnolias" (Feb. 8-24). The 1987 comedy-drama, a staple of regional theaters, follows a group of small-town southern women who come together in a beauty salon to find friendship, humor and the strength to endure through personal tribulations.   

-- "Charlotte's Web" (March 29-April 14). The play is based on the classic children's novel by E.B. White about a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte, who protects Wilbur.

-- "Willy Wonka" (May 31-June 16).Roald Dahl's timeless story of the world-famous candy man and his quest to find an heir comes to chocolate-covered life on the Foothills stage. 

-- "9 to 5" (July 26-Aug. 18). Dolly Parton’s high-energy musical centers on three hard-working women who take revenge on their tyrannical boss. 

Ragland, the playhouse’s new executive artistic director, scrapped the Foothills’ earlier planned season when he came on board in July. 

The series of shows he announced Friday was based on surveys Ragland sent out by email and through social media.

“I was really interested in input from the community,” Ragland said. “I wanted to regain the trust of the community. I asked people, ‘What would you like to see?’ 

“I got over 500 responses.”

Ragland also is reducing individual ticket prices from $15 to $12.  

Emphasizing quality and affordability, Ragland has devised a motto for this season: “Expect great things.” 

Expectations certainly are running high. Ticket sales at the playhouse, now in its 37^th year, have plummeted in the recent past, with some performances seeing only 20 percent attendance, Ragland said. 

The playhouse’s finances have been shaky at best, with debt piling up and some concerns that the theater would have to close its doors. 

“My two goals are to increase attendance and to boost tickets sales,” Ragland said, adding with a laugh: “butts in the seats and money in the bank.” 

SUCCESS AT MILL TOWN

Ragland hopes to replicate the success of Pelzer’s Mill Town Players, which he created only four years ago.

Mill Town has thrived not only through support from the Pelzer community but also by attracting audiences from Greenville, Anderson and Simpsonville. Ragland hopes to tap into wider audiences at Foothills as well. 

In Mill Town, ticket sales numbered 13,000 in the theater’s first year, and grew to 23,000 in the second year and 33,000 in the third year. 

“We’re on track to beat that again this year,” Ragland said. 

About 5,000 people saw the theater’s recent production of “Dearly Departed” and the current production of “Beehive” is packing the house as well. 

Mill Town and Foothills are about 30 minutes apart by car. It might be efficient for the two theaters to share productions, but Ragland has no intention of doing that. 

“I don’t want to be predictable and overdue things,” Ragland said. 

None of the shows scheduled for Foothills has been performed at Mill Town, Ragland said. 

“I’m excited about all of them because we’ve never done any of them,” he said. “I really like that. I don’t like repeating shows.” 

Foothills and Mill Town have officially merged, with Ragland serving as volunteer executive artistic director at Foothills while retaining the leadership of the Mill Town Players. 

FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY

Foothills, like Mill Town, should have a close connection with the community, Ragland said. 

He’s particularly aware of the Upstate’s cotton-mill past. That’s why he named the Pelzer theater Mill Town. 

That’s also why he decided to set the first show of Foothills’ season, “Godspell,” in an abandoned cotton mill.

That setting, and perhaps the current financial state of the playhouse, dovetails with the theme of “Godspell”: hope in a place of desperation, Ragland said 

There was another reason to choose “Godspell”: Easley is home to more than 60 churches, Ragland said. 

“We’re really trying to connect with the community,” Ragland said. 

Three of the six shows planned for Foothills – “Elf Jr.,” “Charlotte’s Web” and “Willy Wonka” –should appeal to young people and their parents. 

“Foothills Playhouse has active youth participation,” Ragland said. “In the past few years, youth plays have been the most popular.” 

With the season set and stage directors already identified, Ragland believes he has the makings of a successful year. 

“I began this process,” Ragland said, “with the question, ‘What can I do that will be great for the whole family and would appeal to the majority of the community?’” 

He added, “We want to give Easley exactly what it wants.” 

For information or to purchase tickets, see the website foothillsplayhouse.org or call 864-855-1817. 

Paul Hyde, a veteran Upstate journalist, writes about everything under the South Carolina sun. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: @PaulHyde7. Write to him at paulhydeus@yahoo.com.

"Love" Top Word in Bible Gateway Search Since 1993

Christian Post - On its 25th anniversary, the online scripture resource Bible Gateway declares it has been viewed more than 14 billion times and reveals what its top 10 keyword searches and top five Bible verses searched and shared by its users are.

Users have viewed the online Bible search engine and Bible reading website over 14 billion times on more than 1 billion devices, says Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Bible Gateway, which was created in 1993.

Bible Gateway, which is home to more than 200 Bible versions in more than 70 languages, reveals that "love" is the top keyword search.

The other top nine keyword searches are "faith," "peace," "hope," "joy," "prayer," "Holy Spirit," "grace," "healing" and "forgiveness."

The No. 1 Bible verse searched and shared by its users is John 3:16, which reads, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

No. 2 is Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

No. 3 is Philippians 4:13, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength," followed by Psalm 23:4, which reads, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

No. 5 is Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Bible Gateway also shared the top 10 countries using the online Bible resource.

The United States is No. 1, followed by the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Philippines, Columbia, Australia, South Africa, Brazil and India, respectively.

Bible Gateway has found that Sudan is the country that statistically spends the least time on its website.

The Christian website remarks that "it appears tropical vacationers and resort tourists enjoy browsing Bible Gateway." Out of more than 200 countries and territories, it found that the geographic location that spends the most time, on average, on Bible Gateway is Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten, which is part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea, comprising two separate countries.

Stating Bible Gateway's mission statement, which is "to honor Christ by equipping people to read and understand the Bible, wherever they are," Barach says, "What an honor and privilege to be able to serve so many people around the world during the last quarter-century, doing just that."

S.C. Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend

South Carolina's annual Sales Tax Holiday – the state’s popular three-day sales and use tax break on traditional back-to-school purchases - is set for Aug. 3-5 this year.
 
The annual sales tax Holiday, which was implemented in 2000, provides taxpayers with an exemption on the 6% statewide sales tax as well as any applicable local taxes, the tax-free weekend also benefits in-state businesses by urging taxpayers to do their back-to-school shopping in South Carolina.
 
During this time, taxes will not be imposed on clothing, shoes, school supplies, book bags, computers, printers, bedspreads and linens, and more. Nonexempt items during the weekend include the sales of jewelry, cosmetics, eyewear, furniture, or items placed on layaway. Portable devices whose function is primarily used for telephone calls, listening or downloading music, watching videos, or reading books, are not exempt during the tax-free weekend. However, with the growing popularity of computer tablets, portable devices that have computing functions and allow users to access multiple software applications are considered computers and are therefore tax-exempt, provided they do not allow users to make telephone calls.

The popularity of the tax-free weekend has made it the third busiest shopping period of the year, surpassed only by the weekends after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, as South Carolina shoppers save an average $3 million on taxes during the tax-free weekend.
 
For more information about this year’s Sales Tax Holiday, including an example list of exempt and nonexempt items as well as a listing of frequently asked questions, visit the S.C. Department of Revenue website, www.sctax.org, under the “What’s New” section.

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to Meet Monday

The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) of Anderson County will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Monday at 4 p.m. at the Anderson County Main Library.

During this meeting, CJCC staff will present an overview of criminal justice system metrics collected over the course of the past four months. This data will inform the development of the framework through which CJCC leadership will establish countywide, multi-agency goals for improving the local criminal justice system’s efficiency and effectiveness.

This meeting is open to the public.

Clemson Study Finds Most People Happy After Retirement

Most people look forward to retirement, and for good reason, according to a pair of researchers in Clemson University’s College of Business.

Research by Devon and Aspen Gorry, assistant professors of economics in the John E. Walker Department of Economics, found strong evidence that retirees experience immediate and long-lasting happiness when their working years come to an end. Retirement also has a positive impact on health, according to the husband and wife research team, but the effects aren’t immediate and may not be experienced for four or more years after retirement.

“The research looked at the short and long term and found that even years later, people report being happier in retirement than they were before,” Devon Gorry said. “Yes, individuals may vary, but overall we found strong evidence that retirees, on average, find immediate happiness that is lasting.”

Research data was tapped from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and the Social Security Administration. HRS is a large data set compiled by surveys every other year from Americans over the age of 50 on a variety of topics related to their lives. Data used in the retirement research, conducted by the Gorrys and Sita Slavov, a professor of public policy at George Mason University, sampled more than 10,000 people who had retired and reported working for the last 20 years.

Devon Gorry said the study’s findings, soon to be published in Health Economics and currently a working paper with the National Bureau of Economic Research, should be of interest to anyone making a retirement decision, and to Washington policymakers considering raising the age for Social Security eligibility.

“Knowing that overall, most people report being happier and healthier in retirement is one piece of information someone can use in making the decision,” she said. “And for lawmakers looking at increasing the age for Social Security eligibility, they need to look at the unanticipated effects it might have.”