Today 
Friday, December 3, 2021 at 9:11PM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
What was announced as a record crowd packed the Anderson County courthouse square Friday night for the return of the annual Christmas tree lighting event.
The event, which was put on hold last year due to the pandemic, featured the Pelzer Light People, the T.L. Hanna Jazz Band and local leaders helping usher in the Christmas season.
Friday, December 3, 2021 at 5:59AM Observer Reports
Main Street in downtown Anderson will be closed between Whitner Street and Benson Street for the Christmas Tree Lighting today from 4:30-8:00 p.m.
Downtown events include the Christmas Cookie Crawl beginning at 4 p.m., the tree lighting at 6 p.m. and the opening of Holiday Ice in Carolina Wren Park.
Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 9:35AM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
AARP has chosen Anderson as one of the best places to live in the United States in the organization’s “Best Places to Live and Retire” report, which describes Anderson as a great place for those looking for Southern Charm while staying on a budget.
“We are glad we to see Anderson being recognized for something we already knew: that this is a great place to work and live,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns.
According to the report:
“With has a median house price of under $250,000, esidents don’t have to sacrifice big-city services, such as health care and recreation opportunities. Officials credit the AnMed Health system, which includes clinics and private practices on one campus.
At Anderson County’s Jo Brown Senior Center, Program Director Kelly Jo Barnwell says she helps older people “put down rich roots by doing what they love to do.” Brown coordinates 20 program leaders who guide peers through line dancing, bridge, quilting and more.
To those who value creativity, the city boasts a surprisingly vibrant arts community. A converted railway building called the Warehouse serves as the Anderson Arts Center headquarters. It draws myriad residents to its gallery, as well as classes in pottery, ceramics, painting and mixed media. “We also started a wine dinner last year, and try to have one in the fall and spring,” says executive director April Cameron. Beyond the arts center, colorful murals and sculptures dress up an architecturally diverse downtown, where locals have also loyally supported the Electric City Playhouse for nearly 40 years. And then there’s recreation, most notably at Lake Hartwell. With 962 miles of shoreline, it stretches from Anderson into Georgia. “I was living in New Jersey,” says retiree Herb Nymark, “and we looked at maps to find places in the South with boating opportunities. The lake is a wonderful, quiet place.”
Over the years, AARP Magazine has regularly reported on great places to live on a modest income. But in theirst assessment since the pandemic began, we knew we had to amend the criteria. AARP’s Livable Communities team — which provides support to local leaders to help make cities and towns best-suited for people of all ages — and the AARP Public Policy Institute — which publishes the popular Livability Index used by real estate agents and home shoppers nationwide — worked with our editors to come up with 14 objective points of data by which to assess American communities in this new reality. From them, a set of communities emerged. It was full of surprises: a few big cities you might not expect to be retirement-friendly, and smaller towns that are hardly known outside their region.
Of course, numbers don’t reveal the intangibles that make communities special. So we gathered input from AARP’s state offices as well as from regional journalists. Ultimately, this process yielded a handful of communities that represent much of what we all look for in a place to call home: a comparatively low cost of living, great access to nature and recreation, relative ease of getting around, quality health care systems, and a strong sense of community. These are draws even if you aren’t nearing retirement; all of the featured communities have strong job markets or are good candidates for remote work.
“We know that older adults and younger generations want similar things in the places they live,” says Mike Watson, director of AARP Livable Communities.
Consider these a sample of what the good life could be in America, now and far beyond the pandemic.
AARP report, including other cities chosen, here.
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 6:25PM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Beginning Dec. 13, KidVenture playground will be closed to the public for the complete rebuilding of the facility.
The all-new playground will be completely ADA compliant, and include new playground equipment and a new splash pad.
Anderson County Council recently approved a $2.3M contract with Foothills Contracting Service, LLC for the construction of a new playground and splash pad.
Construction is projected to be complete in May 2022.
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 9:05PM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Anderson County School District One trustees on Tuesday night approved moving ahead with plans for new construction impact fees to provide adequate funding for the expected expansion of public schools in the district.
The proposed maximum impact fee for new single-family housing is $11,208, while the proposed maximum fee for multi-family unites is $7,779. Current residents of the district could see a decrease in tax millage rates once the impact fees are in place.
Impact fees are a one-time payment imposed by a local government on a property developer and are intended to offset the financial impact a new development places on public infrastructure, in this case schools.
“We are really excited and believe this is certainly a win for the current residents of Anderson School District One,” said Superintendent Robbie Binnicker. “It will certainly go a long way in helping us to fund additional building needs to accommodate growth.”
District one is home to the fastest growing area of Anderson County, with as many as 2,000 new housing units approved or under consideration in the area in recent months, including 732 already improved in Piedmont alone (Wren schools).
“The Anderson School District One board took a step in the right direction in planning for an improved future for residents of their district tonight,” said Anderson County Councilman Jimmy Davis, who represents the district. “I appreciate the hard work the school board did to make this happen.”
Per South Carolina law, the school district hired consultants to help determine the need and how best to address challenges of future growth.
“Impact fees will also help lessen the burden of the existing taxpayers in the area, something that is more fair to the people who have been here so long and helped build the current school system,” said Davis. “This puts some of the cost of growth on the shoulders the people moving to the area. It’s very transparent, so people can see exactly where the money is being spent.”
Binnicker agreed.
“Current residents of the district should be delighted because it is going to help lower their millage rate,” Binnicker said. “Impact fees pay for growth and assures those involved in new construction are paying their fair share.”
School district base figure for determining school population needs based on housing is 1.5 children per household, which has created an urgent challenge for Anderson School District One.
District one released the following figures to outline building costs per student based on current figures:
Current the district has approximately 11,000 students, with five elementary, three middle and three high schools.
The proposal for the impact fees now goes the Anderson County Planning Commission, where it expected to receive approval before sending to Anderson County Council for permission to begin collecting the fees.
Other school districts in the South Carolina have already been using impact fees, or are currently considering them, to help provide financing to make sure school budgets can meet the demands of rapidly growing populations in the districts.
In 2018, the Fort Mill School District in York County began collect impact fees of $18,158 for Single- Family units and $12,020 for Multi- Family units to meet the demands of growth.
Davis said with limited options available for school funding, the impact fees are currently the best solution for district one.
“At the end of the day we’ve got to plan for the growth, and putting more burden on the existing taxpayers is not the answer,” said Davis.
Monday, November 29, 2021 at 6:21AM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
The City of Anderson officially kicks off the Christmas season Friday with the annual lighting of the Anderson
County Christmas tree on the courthouse square downtown.
The event, which will feature holiday music by the T.L. Hanna Jazz band, begings at 6 p.m., but will be proceeded by the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Cookie Crawl downtown beginning at 4 p.m. and the official opening of Holiday Ice at Carolina Wren Park at 5 p.m..
This year's county Christmas tree is the tallest ever, measuring just over 44 feet.
The event will also feature the Original Pelzer Light People, performing for the first time in downtown Anderson.
The City of Anderson Christmas Parade is scheduled downtown Sunday beginning at 3 p.m.
Monday, November 29, 2021 at 6:10AM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
No charitable organization is more closely identified with Christmastime than the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army of Anderson provides assistance for our friends, family and neighbors in need all year, but it is particularly visible with the red kettles and bell ringers who help make spirits bright. It is also the most important time of year for raising support for the organization that does so much to do the most good in our community.
The holiday season is an especially important time to support local charities which depend on end of the year donations to serve those needing a little extra help, direction and compassion throughout the year. The Anderson Observer is encouraging such support with interviews with many of these organizations which detail how folks can help during the holidays. Here's more about the Salvation Army of Anderson, including how you can support their work:
Sunday, November 28, 2021 at 1:00PM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Holiday Ice, Carolina Wren Park's annual ice skating rink downtown opens for the season Friday at 5 p.m.
This year's schedule:
December: Monday-Thursday 5-8 p.m.; Friday 5- 9 p.m; Saturday 2- 9 p.m. Sunday 2-6 p.m.
School Break: (12/20 12/31) Monday-Thursday 2-8 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 2- 9 p.m.; Sunday 2-6 p.m.
Holiday Hours: 12/24 2- 6 p.m.; 12/25 Closed; New Year's Eve 2-8 p.m.; New Year's Day Closed
January: Monday-Thursday Closed; Friday 5-9 p.m.l Saturday 2-9 p.m.; Sunday 2-6 p.m.
Final Day MLK Jr. Day: (1/17) Noon- 6 p.m.
Tickets are $5 for ages seven and up, and $3 in the Kiddie Rink for those six and under.
Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 11:11AM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
With a fully vaccinated rate of 43.7 percent for those over the age of 12, Anderson County is South Carolina's hottest spot for COVID-19 right now according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The CDC site lists the county at above the "High" community transmission level, reporting 125.89 cases per 100,000 citizens.
Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 10:59AM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Here comes Santa Claus. Next weekend marks the beginning of Christmas parades in Anderson County. Here's the schedule:
Christmas in Belton Parade/Tree Lighting other activities - Dec. 4 3:30 p.m.
Honea Path Parade, Dec. 4, 11 a.m.
West Pelzer/Pelzer Parade - Dec. 4, 5:30 p.m.
City of Anderson Parade- Dec. 5, 3 p.m.
Piedmont Parade - Dec. 11, 2 p.m.
Williamston Parade - Dec. 11, 3 p.m.
Pendleton Parade - Dec. 18, 3 p.m.
Iva Parade - Dec. 18, 3 p.m.
Know of other public Anderson County Parades/Christmas events? Email Us
Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 7:47AM HealthDay News - A return to a more normal holiday season may also mean higher stress levels, so an expert offers some coping tips.
Don't get too focused on buying the perfect presents, making the best dinner or planning the perfect party.
"Being mindful requires you to be present and aware. It is impossible to be in the moment when you are focused on what is next or stuck in could have, would have, should have," Wegmann said in a university news release.
"Being mindful requires intentionality, so try an easy breathing exercise next time you find yourself mindlessly going through your day," she suggested.
"Few things bring us into the moment like our breath. There are so many techniques out there, but something as simple as taking several deep breaths can be effective," Wegmann said.
Try to adopt an attitude of gratitude, she advised.
"Gratitude is more than simply being thankful," Wegmann said.
It requires intentionally seeking goodness in your life and understanding that goodness comes from both inside and outside of ourselves, she explained.
"Gratitude is a powerful positive emotion, and science shows when we practice gratitude, we experience numerous benefits. It improves habits, cultivates happiness, reduces the stress hormone cortisol and improves mental health," Wegmann said.
"A great exercise we can all do is to take a little time in the next few weeks to reflect upon what and who we are truly and genuinely thankful for. Being grateful will help us see the holidays through a different lens. I encourage everyone to find a way to let people in your life know you are grateful for them and why," Wegmann said.
It's also important to set healthy boundaries by not saying yes to every party, dinner, present or other holiday request, she added.
"First, reflect on what your boundaries are. Surprisingly, many people can't tell you their boundaries because they have never given themselves time to think about them," Wegmann said.
"Once you acknowledge what your boundaries are, you need to communicate them assertively and directly. Remember, you can be assertive without forgoing compassion and kindness. If you do not communicate your boundaries, then you can't expect people to respect them," she explained.
"You can anticipate that some people may be taken aback by your boundaries, but remember that you are not responsible for others' actions," she said. "Do not fall into the trap of believing that setting a boundary is selfish. It's an act of self-love, as it acknowledges your self-worth."
Friday, November 26, 2021 at 10:48AM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
The South Carolina School of the Arts at Anderson University invites the community to celebrate the advent season at the annual Christmas First Night celebration, a favorite Upstate South Carolina holiday tradition. The concert will be held on Dec. 3 at 7:00 p.m. in Henderson Auditorium. The event will also be streamed online at www.andersonuniversity.edu
The annual Christmas First Night event will feature musical selections performed by the major choral and instrumental ensembles of Anderson University. The concert will also highlight soloists, dancers and small ensembles.
The presentation offers both traditional seasonal favorites along with sacred songs.
“Hundreds of people from the area couldn’t imagine beginning the Christmas season without First Night,” said Dr. David Larson, dean of The South Carolina School of the Arts. m“It is truly a gift from our students and faculty to the community, and every performer puts a great deal of effort into making it memorable.”
The evening will conclude with the traditional Yule log ceremony on the front lawn of the Rainey Fine Arts Center and refreshments. The concert is free to attend, but tickets are required. Call (864) 231-2080 for more information.
Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at 11:35AM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
“Thanks are the highest form of thought... gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”
- G.K. Chesterton
Chesterton’s words kick off my Thanksgiving wish to all this season, that amid the heaps of turkey and gravy, the gatherings of family or friends, that you will experience happiness doubled by wonder.
The path is not steep and it's paved - with gratitude.
After a year marked by a worldwide pandemic that has led to fundamental changes in the way we live, 2021 has offered hope that things will get better. It has also offered test of our patience, tests on which many have not scored well.
It’s a good time to remember that the first declaration of an official celebration of Thanksgiving came during an even more trying time - the Civil War.
It was Abraham Lincoln who finally made Thanksgiving an official holiday inn 1863, one to be celebrated on the third Thursday of November (later moved to the last Thursday of November in 1941.)
As we take time to celebrate this uniquely American holiday, one which has been marked in various forms on this continent since the late 1500s, we are offered a chance to renew our hearts with gratitude and wonder.
Lincoln’s proclamation reflects the long-observed intent of those who had gone before him as he wrote the holiday would be a time to:
"Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union."
This noble purpose of Thanksgiving Day being set aside to praise God for his provision and express our gratefulness for his "deliverances and blessings" and “tender care” for those in need still hold a place for many who will gather with family and friends this week.
But the most noble purposes of the holiday provide the simple blessings of opportunities for serving those who lack even the most basic of needs, those for whom every day can be a struggle, many of whom live right here in our own community.
Throughout the year such Anderson County groups as the Haven of Rest, AIM, the Salvation Army, Hope Ministries, Meals on Wheels, Clean Start, the Good Neighbor Cupboard, South Main Chapel and Mercy Center, plus other churches too many to name here and groups working to help those in recovery are committed to turning away from the "national perverseness" of self interest, expressing their gratitude through kindness and generosity to the least of these.
How we bless those seemingly cannot directly return the blessing is what defines any people. Thanksgiving offers a day to reflect on the level of our personal commitment to make the lives of those around us better.
Such service often starts with gratitude.
“Gratitude begins in our hearts and then dovetails into behavior. It almost always makes you willing to be of service, which is where the joy resides. It means that you are willing to stop being such a jerk. When you are aware of all that has been given to you, in your lifetime and the past few days, it is hard not to be humbled, and pleased to give back.” - Anne Lamott
Gratitude plows the ground and plants seeds that lead to service of others, which, as Lamott notes, is where joy resides. Most can recall a time when they did an act of service, straight from the heart, with no expectation of any direct profit or reciprocal action. Few things resonate stronger in the heart that such action.
Thanksgiving offers a time to challenge ourselves with the question: “What am I doing to make my community a better place for at least one person other than myself?
It may be as simple as regularly visit a friend or an elderly relative, seeing to it their needs are not overlooked. It may manifest itself in volunteering at any of the great places already mentioned to serve others, many of whom we don’t know personally, in ways that provide basic needs or support.
Those who are doing for others can deeply understand the sentiment behind Walt Whitman’s quote: “The gift is to the giver, and comes back most to him – it cannot fail.”
Thanksgiving kicks off six weeks of a holiday season which offers multiple opportunities to experience the ultimate gift, that of giving.
Thankfully, the trend of opening retail stores on Thanksgiving Day for shoppers, with little regard to their employees missing their own family gatherings, is slowly losing ground. Most major retailers who temporarily suspended Thanksgiving sales during the pandemic, have made the practice standard procedure, at least for the time being.
Three holiday cheers for this step forward toward recognizing the humanity of retail workers.
But the days after Thanksgiving usher in the most difficult of days for our friends, family and neighbors working retail.
Add to the pressure of long hours and generally below-average wages, irritable shoppers freely express a rude anger reserved for the holiday season on retail workers who are simply trying to deal with the crush of consumers.
Manifestations of the season of goodwill and cheer often do not find the way to the killing floors of retail establishments.
They deserve better and each of us can help. The pandemic has left many understaffed as well as facing increased pressure from the return of shoppers after a very weird year. Shoppers need to take a deep breath before entering any store and practice the conscious practice of patience throughout the visit. If you are angry, save the shouting until you are back in your car, where you can turn up the music and release any frustrations that often arise in crowded shopping arenas.
The reward for such behavior is two-fold. It obviously benefits the tired retail worker expecting the worse from harried shoppers. But it an also be the birth of a more peaceful, centered holiday season for shoppers as well, who start their trips with a sense of gratitude and not a dark cloud of stress.
Gratitude is the gift that never stops giving.
Research is conclusive that those who approach life with a sense of gratitude have fewer mental and physical problems, live longer, exhibit less stress, have a stronger immune system, and even handle loss far better than those who do not live life with the recognition that they do indeed have much for which to be grateful.
How does a person get to that place, a place where gratitude is more than an occasional occurrence?
The best place to start, according to one study, is to verbally acknowledge those things for which you are thankful every day.
Not just today.
Those in this study who wrote a daily gratitude list for one full year said the experience profoundly changed their lives.
Stories of overcoming depression, lowering blood pressure, and even healing of relationships were common among those who finished the year-long gratitude list project.
So make your first holiday gift this year one for yourself. Commit to a daily practice of gratitude, verbal or written for the next 365 days. You won't be sorry.
“Gratitude opens your heart, and opening your heart is a wonderful and easy way for God to slip in.”
- Ram Dass
I think our sixteenth president would have liked this quote, and encouraged fostering the practice of gratitude this holiday season.