May-June 2021

Anderson andersonmagazine.com May/June 2021

magazine

Well-Suited for Anderson

Cahaly’s Custom Clothing

A Day at the Museum A Wedding to Remember

Morningside of Anderson Assisted Living invites residents into our senior living community not just to live with us, but to thrive with us. We provide individualized care services based on the specific needs of our residents. You can taste the Five Star difference with a variety of entrée selections for every meal. Our Lifestyle360 program is a holistic approach to active community living that focuses on five dimensions of wellness: intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual.

These five dimensions empower our residents to live a happier, healthier, well-rounded lifestyle.

Call Hollins today to schedule an appointment

864.964.9088

www.morningsideofanderson.com

P: 864.964.9088 | F: 864.964.9057 • 1304 McLees Road, Anderson, SC 29621

www.morningsideofanderson.com

YOU HAVE A PURPOSE. GET FIT FOR IT. Fit 4 Purpose is about helping you reach your fitness goals and building you up spiritually, mentally and physically.

Our team of trainers is ready to help you succeed.

1706 East Greenville Street • Anderson, SC • www.F4Ptraining.com • 864.844.9442

May/June 2021 andersonmagazine.com

Publisher/Editor April Cameron

Sales & Client Manager Jennifer Merritt

table of

contents 5

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Graphic Design Jennifer Walker Online Editor Lisa Marie Carter Contributing Writers Caroline Anneaux Lisa Marie Carter Jim Harris Cindy Landrum Josh Overstreet Deborah Tucker Jay Wright

AnMed Addresses Prostate Concerns

A Wedding to Remember

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14

Green with Envy? Lawn Care

Spring Brunch

Featured Photographer Van Sullivan Photography Anderson Magazine is published six times a year.

Advertising Inquiries:

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jennifer@andersonmagazine.com

706-436-4979

ON THE COVER: Craig Cahaly, owner of Cahaly’s Custom Clothing

Anderson Magazine PO Box 3848 Anderson, SC 29622 864.221.8445

Well-Suited for Anderson

A Day at the Museum

22

Copyright: All contents of this issue ©2021, Anderson Magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner without prior consent of the publisher. The publishers believe that the information contained in this publication is accurate. However, the information is not warranted, and Anderson Magazine does not assume any liability or responsibility for actual, consequential or incidental damages resulting from inaccurate erroneous information.

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Dyar’s Diner andersonmagazine.com 3 May/June 2021

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Breazeale’s Grocery Bluegrass

Letter from the Editor Finally, here we are with sunshine, warm weather and nearing the end of another school year! It has been an emotional, and incredibly busy, year for me because my daughter is graduating high school this June! I would like to express how thankful I am to the leadership in our public school systems, particularly District 5, for a successful, safe and mostly “normal” year for our kids!

When we entered the school year in September, we had no idea how long the kids might remain in school nor what activities and sports might be like. As for our household, we think the year was handled wonderfully, especially for someone’s last year of high school. Well done!

And, now on to this issue!

Did you see the exceptionally well-dressed man on the cover? That’s Anderson’s own Craig Cahaly of Cahaly’s Custom Clothing. We had the most fun at the cover shoot. You can read all about his business and how custom clothing became his passion on page 20. A custom suit would be a really nice Father’s Day gift! And you might be surprised to know that as comfortable as he is in a suit and tie, he also really likes his boots and jeans, too!

But dressing well isn’t only for the gentlemen! We’re looking at the ultimate dress for ladies also – the wedding dress! We have a story to help guide you through some of the planning process for a wedding.

From event venues, caterers, florists and photographers, this little guide can help make a wedding dream come true.

If you’re looking for some early summer entertainment, turn to page 30 to hear about Breazeale’s Grocery Bluegrass near Pendleton. Every Saturday night, you can find a group of musicians bluegrass picking.

Can it get much more wholesome than that?

Speaking of entertainment, when’s the last time you visited the Anderson County Museum? Even if you have been before, go back! The museum continues to display new exhibits, hosts a variety of events, and has an amazing gift shop. Read about what’s happening there now on page 16.

So, we’ve gotten you all dressed up and out on the town, but what if you’re more of a homebody? Then, get your home in tip-top shape with information from our lawn and home care articles. Useful tips from using white vinegar in your kitchen sink to selecting the right grass for your yard are right here at your fingertips.

And when you’ve done all of that, you may need a little nourishment.

Consider Dyar’s Diner. It was recently purchased by new owners right smack in the middle of a pandemic, and is continuing to thrive! Read about the transition on page 22.

So, as I wrap up this letter, we’ll soon be wrapping up school as well, and my first born will close one chapter of her life. Congratulations to all of the 2021 graduates, and I wish you much success on all of your new adventures!

~April andersonmagazine.com 4 May/June 2021

Prostate procedure helping men sleep at night

By Cindy Landrum Jim Webb was about 55 years old when he started having to get up two or three times a night to go to the bathroom.

A condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, caused Webb’s problems. BPH is one of the most common prostaterelated issues in men, said Dr. Thomas Serey of AnMed Health Urology. By the time they turn 60, half of all men suffer from BPH symptoms.

When the prostate – located near the bladder becomes enlarged, it can narrow the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder through the penis.

This can cause difficulty starting to urinate, weak urine flow, incomplete emptying of the bladder, and difficulty postponing urination when a bathroom is not available, Dr. Serey said.

“It impacts the quality of life,” he said.

When Webb saw Dr. Vidal Despradel – one of Serey’s colleagues – for a kidney stone, Webb asked if there was anything he could do to help him not get up multiple times a night to urinate.

Medication helped Webb at first, but he suffered from an unwelcome side effect - abnormal ejaculation.

“I didn’t care for that a bit, but I could live with it because I could sleep all night,” Webb said.

Because of that and other side effects, many men discontinue taking the medication.

“Studies have shown the discontinuation rate is pretty high,” Dr. Serey said.

After the medication stopped working for him, Webb asked his doctor about the BPH treatment system, an alternative to more invasive surgery.

The procedure uses permanent implants to lift the enlarged prostate tissue and hold it out of the way of the urethra, Dr. Serey said. After the procedure, about 80 percent of patients see significant improvement, he said.

Urologists perform the procedure in the office under local anesthesia with supplemental analgesia. Some patients go home with a catheter overnight, while some do not require one at all, Dr. Serey said.

The good thing about the BPH treatment system is it doesn’t preclude a patient from going back on medication or having a transurethral resection of the prostate, a surgery to remove parts of the prostate that are blocking the urethra.

There are no reports of the BPH treatment system increasing incontinence or impotence symptoms, both of which can be a side effect of transurethral resection of the prostate, Dr. Serey said.

“It is minimally invasive. It’s easier to do, and it’s not fraught with the complications that the more involved surgery can have,” Dr. Serey said. “If you can offer a procedure, like we do, that’s very unlikely to cause any

BPH patient Jim Webb with his wife KittyRhett.

problems, that’s an enormous advantage.”

Not all men are suitable candidates for it because of their individual prostate sizes and architectures, Dr. Serey said.

Webb said he’s happy he had it done.

“It has increased my quality of life,” he said. “I feel so much better because I’m sleeping all night. I’m not running to the bathroom every five minutes. And I enjoy my sex life again. That’s a big deal.”

Dr. Vidal Despradel

Dr. Thomas Serey

AnMed Health Urology AnMed Health Cancer Center 2000 East Greenville Street, Suite 5140 • Anderson, SC 864.716.6100 • AnMedHealth.org/BPH

andersonmagazine.com 5 May/June 2021

A Wedding to Remember

By Deborah Tucker

Are you a future bride dreaming of the perfect wedding?

Remember that Mr. Murphy is alive and well when it comes to weddings. His law states that anything that can go wrong, will. Just google “wedding disaster videos.”

That’s why detailed planning and back-up plans for every eventuality are so important.

Here’s advice from wedding experts in Anderson County on three big elements of your wedding: location, photography and that all-important wedding cake.

Finding the Right Location

Good news! There are lots of wonderful venues to choose from in Anderson County for that perfect wedding. The Bleckley Inn and Bleckley Station in downtown Anderson are popular locations for weddings small and large.

Shelby Clardy, manager at The Bleckley Inn, has hosted many weddings at the Bleckley Inn and has some good advice for brides and their families.

“Be sensitive to your budget,” said Clardy. “Exceeding a budget adds unnecessary stress.” How much should a bride budget? A basic package at the Bleckley Inn starts at $5,000, she said. This includes four hotel

suites and tables and chairs to accommodate up to 100 guests. Over and above items include an outdoor tent, in case the weather isn’t cooperative, bridal brunches and rehearsal dinners. And that’s another bit of advice from Clardy. “Have a Plan B you’re content with when planning an outdoor ceremony,” she said.

“Find a venue that can accommodate your guest count comfortably,” added Clardy. And her final words to the bride? “Find a place that is flexible and accommodating to your specific vision and who will help you bring it to fruition.”

Places to consider for your wedding venue.

Bleckley Inn 151 E. Church Street • Anderson • 864-225-7203 Anderson Arts Center 110 Federal Street • Anderson • 864-222-2787 The Barn at Green Acres 235 Broadmouth Church Road • Honea Path 864-640-7065 Belton Area Museum (former train station) 100 North Main Street • Belton • 864-338-7400

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Capturing the Moments Everyone has a camera on their mobile phone these days. How hard can taking pictures at a wedding be?

Back in the ancient days of film cameras, I had an uncle, a professional photographer, who shot an entire wedding for a friend – with the lens cap on. It’s just not that simple attempting to recreate the moments, which is why choosing a photographer is so important.

Van Sullivan has been photographing weddings in the Anderson area since 1989. His wife, Caroline, keeps things organized and often serves as a wedding director for clients. She understands the importance of attention to details in planning a wedding and having those allimportant contingency plans. There are no second opportunities for capturing a wedding, they said.

Here is Caroline Sullivan’s advice on choosing a photographer.

“Know your budget,” said Caroline. “You are basically paying for the photographer’s time.”

She said the typical range for a wedding photography package is $500 to $750. This is based on the photographer’s time of two and a half hours. Budget $1,500 if you want four hours of the photographer’s time, she said. Additional items to consider are portraits and a bridal session (about $500), a photo album for

the coffee table ($650-$2,500) or a smaller 5”x7” photo book (about $350).

“Choose a photographer based on personality, style, and training,” continued Caroline. “You want a photographer who will dress appropriately for your style of wedding and blend in.”

“This is a business transaction,” she emphasized. “You absolutely need a contract.” She said it is important to spell out the photographs you want taken, understand the rules about deposits and payment terms and make sure your photographer has a good reputation and history in the community.

Caroline’s final words of advice: “Make sure your photographer has a backup plan. This should include a backup camera and a second photographer or assistant.”

Photographers you may want to consider for your wedding are: Van Sullivan Photography Anderson – 864-202-3134 Craft’s Photography 114 Anderson Avenue - Anderson – 864-226-0828 Josh Wilson Photography 216 North Street – Anderson – 864-353-2515

andersonmagazine.com 7 May/June 2021

Choosing Your Wedding Cake The bridal party will be too caught up in the wedding day to remember how the wedding cake tasted.

However, your guests will remember, especially if it tasted like cardboard.

Holly’s Cakes has been crafting memorable cakes in the Upstate for over 25 years. As owner Holly Bowers sees it, her special talent is accommodating new trends.

She offers over 30 flavors of cakes and fillings to choose from. Her team consists of a New York pastry chef as lead and other highly talented artists.

Here is Holly’s advice on choosing a baker.

“Check out reviews on sites like WeddingWire and get friends’ recommendations,” she said.

Taste is important. “There are so many beautiful cakes, but if it is dry, that is what your guests will remember,” emphasized Holly. “If it is awesome and flavorful – they will talk about it for years.”

Another tip is to book early. “In this area, the cake designers are in demand, so book closer to 8-12 months out,” she warned.

Holly also had advice for choosing your cake: “Spend 10 minutes on Pinterest and pin what you like, then go back and you will see many similar pins,” she suggested. “Go from there. Your designer can take aspects of different cakes and provide you with a sketch showing them together.”

Like the venue and photography people we consulted, Holly said it is important to know your budget. “Most designers can give you an accurate quote with a photo of the design, number of guests and the location. If the quote is above the budget, simply ask if there are other options – maybe a smaller cake and kitchen cakes in the back,” she said.

Finally, Holly said fake tiers out front are not costeffective. “You are paying for the labor to decorate, which may be a bit less than on a real cake,” she said.

“Then you are paying for the cake to serve. You could end up paying 33 percent more.”

Bakers in the area to consider: Holly’s Cakes 1421 Stringer Road • Belton • 864-224-6655 The Sweetery 1814 E Greenville St. • Anderson • 864-224-8394 CocoBon Chocolatier 111 North Main Street • Anderson • 864-332-1560 Remember – Your wedding is all about the moments.

Make them memorable.

andersonmagazine.com 8 May/June 2021

ART you glad it’s almost summer?

Check out the upcoming events at the Anderson Arts Center May 14 • 6-10 p.m.

Enjoy a downtown Anderson art crawl and visit 14 different venues to see unique artwork and take part in their discounts and specials. $10 per person. Purchase tickets online or at the Arts Center.

Pushing Pop Exhibit June 4-15

August 28

Make plans now to attend the annual fundraising auction, Seersucker Soiree!

Elegantly casual outfits with music in an open-air pavilion. You won’t want to miss this amazing party to end summer!

Are you a fan of pop art?

Then you won’t want to miss the opening reception on June 4, 6:30-8:30pm for the Pushing Pop exhibit!

Free to the public.

Summer Art Camp Begins June 21

This year, summer art camp focuses on international festivals all over the world! Kids will participate in drawing, painting, ceramics, collage, printmaking, fibers and more! Camps are week-long.

Half day (ages 4-12); Full day (ages 6-12); Teen CREATE Workshop (ages 13-18) Prices range from $110 - $180

More information and tickets for events may be found at www.AndersonArts.org 864.222.2787 • info@andersonarts.org andersonmagazine.com 9 May/June 2021

COVID-19 in the rearview mirror With the light at the end of the dark tunnel of this pandemic now visible, we are so hopeful and ready to look at COVID-19 through a rearview mirror. As we reflect on the difficulties our community has faced, we also see the ways we have come together to support those in need all around us. We know that Anderson County residents have faced job-loss and financial insecurity, threats to their health, loss of loved ones, and a myriad of challenges all due to COVID-19. Extra assistance meeting basic needs has been crucial in this tumultuous time. With the help of donors and a great many partners United Way of Anderson County has been able to create collaboratives, direct grant funding, distribute COVID-19 relief funds, donate food, and much more.

Some highlights • Developed Food Collaborative with 10 agencies that provide food, gave them $60,000 in funding, 8000 frozen meals and over 50,000 lbs. of food to assist the community • Distributed large amounts of paper products and hygiene products to community agencies • Assisted with showering station for the homeless at the Salvation Army • Distributed grant funds from One SC, Bosch Global Giving, FEMA, Plastic Omnium, Duke Energy and the Woodall COVID Challenge totaling $244,700.

• Worked to ensure that funds and product donations were distributed all over Anderson County!

We look forward to brighter days ahead but we know the community will still need support as we strive to improve the lives of people in Anderson County. We will continue to work towards financial stability, food security, school readiness, and healthy outcomes for everyone. You can be a part of this good work by volunteering and donating. See more at www.

UnitedWayofAnderson.org

United Way of Anderson 604 N Murray Ave Anderson, SC 29625 (864) 226-3438

unitedwayofanderson.org andersonmagazine.com 10 May/June 2021

Banker, mom, advocate.

- Becky Berolatti, Business Banking We’re more than our job titles and you’re more than an account number. The personal attention we provide comes from a promise to serve you with respect and compassion. By being responsive to your questions, and taking time to understand your needs and goals, we give you more than just a place to bank.

That’s the more you can expect from Park National Bank.

Find Becky or a Park National banker near you at parknationalbank.com

We are more than just a frame shop.

We are building a community of creatives.

Shop for unique handmade gifts by local artisans.

Take one of our many creative workshops.

Visit our website to learn more about all Indigo has to offer.

indigocustomframing.com andersonmagazine.com 11 May/June 2021

Green With Envy? Not Any More!

By Jim Harris

This can be the year you stop envying your neighbor’s beautiful yard and create your own. We interviewed local pros to get advice on how to make it happen.

Chad Whitten, owner of Whitten Nursery, said to do it right the first time to eliminate costly re-dos. Doing research up front ensures plant choices work in your location’s climate and sun exposure. That research includes evaluating the soil and sun conditions you’ll be planting in and the level of time you’re willing to commit to maintenance.

Your plant choices will be very different if you want low maintenance options versus working in your yard daily, he said. Clay soil is also a consideration with most area lawns, so using the proper soil conditioner will improve results.

Chad said to pick plants that do well in our climate. Rhododendron and winter Daphne are a couple of examples of beautiful plants that people see elsewhere and love, but they do not usually grow well here, he said. Crimson Fire loropetulum, Kaleidoscope abelia, and Encore azaleas are examples of vibrantly colored plants that thrive here and are low maintenance. Kaleidoscope abelia is deer-proof, and Encore azaleas bloom multiple times each year. Firepower, Blush, Flirt, and Lemon Lime are popular varieties of nandina, another beautiful shrub that is low maintenance and well suited to our area. The team at Whitten will gladly guide you to the best options for your situation.

Ron O’Neal, owner of O’Neal Seed Company, suggested that homeowners get a soil test before planting grass to ensure they use what’s best for their lawns. Clemson University offers a service to analyze your soil. You’ll need to take a 6” deep, 1” diameter sample from 8-10 locations in your yard, mix it in a clean bucket and take that sample to your county agent’s office. They will process it and get the results to you in a couple of weeks. The cost is under $10. You’ll then know what is needed to improve your soil’s quality, based on the variety of grass you choose. Bermuda and zoysia are warm-season grasses that work well here, while fescue is an excellent cool-season variety that, once established, will stay green year-round. Once you have your soil analysis, Ron said he will guide you with recommendations for the proper grass varieties and how to plant and nourish your new grass as well as ridding your lawn of unwanted weeds.

If you have deep topsoil, you can probably avoid preplanting aeration. If you have mostly clay, you will need aeration to open up the soil, Ron said. He recommended

Ron O’Neal of O’Neal Seed Company double aerating your lawn, saying, “Run the spiker, then put the seed out, then run the spiker again. Seed will fall into the first hole and then you’ll push more seed into the ground.”

Denise Blackwell is the owner of McAllister Greenhouses. She suggested accenting your shrub choices with perennials and annuals to add color and variety to your lawn’s aesthetics. She stocks plants well suited to our local climate and soil, including the bolder colors that are very popular today. She advises that watering every other day will help those brighter colors last longer through the summer months.

Working with the proper tools is a key to a beautiful lawn and protecting your budget. Joe Whitlow manages Anderson Power Equipment. He told us that the trend today is rechargeable cordless tools. Technological improvements in batteries allow longer use time and savings in fuel and maintenance. Stihl offers a rechargeable line called Combi, a multi-use powerhead with a wide variety of attachments like string trimmers, hedge trimmers, and edgers, so you avoid purchasing all of these tools individually. Stihl also has a new line of smaller handheld tools, like the GTA 26, a miniature cordless chain saw, which is great for smaller jobs.

For those of you using gasoline-powered equipment, Joe recommended starting each device monthly, buying fuel in small quantities, and using modern gas cans to keep the fuel supply and systems as clean and fresh as possible, therefore extending the life of the tool.

Follow these tips and enjoy your beautiful lawn!

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A NDER SON’S PR EMIER DOW N TOW N INN

Celebrating 10 Years Thank you for your support!

151 East Church Street | Anderson, SC 29624 864-225-7203 | www.bleckleyinn.com

andersonmagazine.com 13 May/June 2021

A Brunch Spread Fit for Spring (Family Features) From tasty small bites to a filling feast and even dessert for breakfast, brunch options are nearly endless. Take your spring brunch to the next level with recipes that appease appetites of all kinds.

First, start with portioned pastry cups perfect for appetizers. Bring out the protein-packed breakfast burritos for the main course then, for a final touch of sweet deliciousness, offer up lemony doughnuts to cap off the feast.

Bite-Sized Breakfast - Appetizer-sized portions and small bites of all sorts are ideal for breakfast spreads, and these Pastry Brunch Cups are perfect for starting a morning meal with loved ones. Or, if a busy schedule looms, try baking a batch and separating into appropriate serving sizes for a simple way to meal prep heading into a new week.

Find more breakfast recipes at Culinary.net.

Pastry Brunch Cups Servings: 18

2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour 1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese 2 sheets puff pastry 18 eggs 2 cups diced ham chopped fresh green onions Heat oven 375 F. In small saucepan, melt butter.

Whisk flour with butter. Gradually pour in milk, whisking each time.

Bring to simmer, whisking until mixture starts to thicken. Remove from heat; stir in Swiss cheese. Set aside.

Use rolling pin to thin out puff pastries. Cut each into nine squares. Line pastry squares in muffin cups, pressing bottoms down firmly and moving pastries up sides for edges to come up just over muffin tins. Fill each cup with 1 teaspoon cheese sauce. Crack one egg into each cup and sprinkle each with diced ham.

Bake 10-15 minutes until eggs set. Sprinkle with chopped green onions.

Lemon Ricotta Doughnuts

Doughnuts: Vegetable oil, for frying 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 3/4 cups Domino Golden Sugar, divided 2 tablespoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons lemon zest 5 large eggs 1 3/4 cups ricotta cheese 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Lemon Curd (optional): 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 1/2 cups Domino Golden Sugar 2 large eggs 2 egg yolks 4 lemons, zest and juice only 1/8 teaspoon salt Visit dominosugar.com to find recipes perfect for entertaining and celebrating throughout the year.

To make doughnuts: In large saucepan, preheat oil to 350 F. Prepare cookie sheet with paper towel to drain doughnuts once out of hot oil.

In bowl, mix flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. Add lemon zest, eggs, ricotta cheese and vanilla extract; mix until well combined.

Use ice cream scoop to scoop small amounts dough into oil, 4-5 pieces at a time. Fry each batch until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Keep oil at or near 350 F; if oil is too hot, doughnuts will turn golden brown but centers may still be raw. Remove from oil and drain in paper towel. Repeat with remaining dough.

While still hot, toss doughnuts with remaining sugar.

To make lemon curd, if desired: In large bowl of stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and egg yolks, one at a time. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and salt.

Transfer mixture to saucepan and cook at low-medium heat until thick and creamy, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool before serving with doughnuts. #15641 Source: Family Features

andersonmagazine.com 14 May/June 2021

Splash into summer fun at the Anderson Area YMCA… Opens Memorial Day weekend!

Breakfast Burrito

1 Silver Fern Farms New Zealand 100% Grass-Fed New York Strip Steak (10 ounces) oil salt, to taste pepper, to taste 1/2 onion, finely chopped 1 red bell pepper, sliced lengthwise 4 large mushrooms, sliced 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2-1 teaspoon chili powder 1 tomato, finely chopped 8 eggs 1/2 cup milk 4 large tortillas 1 cup spinach 1 1/2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled 1/4 cup cilantro 1 avocado Remove steak from packaging and set aside 10 minutes.

Once steak reaches room temperature, heat pan over medium-high heat.

Rub steak with oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Cook until medium-rare, approximately 3-4 minutes each side. Remove from pan and cover loosely with tinfoil to rest 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium and add splash of oil. Add onion; cook 1 minute. Add red bell pepper and mushrooms; cook 1 minute.

Add cumin, paprika and chili powder; stir through.

When veggies are tender (about 2 minutes), add tomato and cook until soft. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

In large bowl, whisk eggs, milk and salt and pepper, to taste.

Heat pan to medium heat and add splash of oil.

Pour egg mixture into pan and cook, lifting and folding eggs until thickened and no visible liquid egg remains. Do not stir constantly.

Lay tortillas on flat surface or plate.

In center of tortilla, add cooked veggies and top with thinly sliced beef. Add handful of spinach, scrambled eggs, crumbled feta, cilantro and avocado. Fold bottom of tortilla and roll.

Serve with lime wedges and hot sauce, if desired.

Visit silverfernfarms.com to find more at-home brunch inspiration.

ing No joitnhis fee er! summ For more information

www.andersonareaymca.org SUMMEART CAMP THE Y

Camp Venture Full Day Camp At the YMCA Wellness Center on Reed Road • For rising 1st—6th graders • Register at Membership Services

Camp starts Monday, June 21

Visit www.andersonareaymca.org/child-development for full details

andersonmagazine.com 15 May/June 2021

Summer Sports Camps Youth sports develop confidence and character

• Soccer • Baseball • Basketball • Lacrosse • Football www.andersonareaymca.org/athletics/ for full details and to register

Anderson Area YMCA

(864) 716-6260

201 E Reed Rd Anderson, SC

A Day at the Museum

By Jim Harris

When you visit the Anderson County Museum at 202 E. Greenville Street, exposure to our rich history begins before you even reach the entrance. Adjacent to the parking area, you’ll see a monument to James Lawrence Orr, who came to prominence in the midnineteenth century. Orr was an attorney in Anderson who served as a state legislator, U.S. congressman — and Speaker of the House – post-Civil War governor, judge, and, near the end of his life, U.S. minister to Russia.

In the upper parking lot, peek inside the livery stable, where the McGee Brothers Harness Shop and a blacksmith forge offer a look at the days of the horsedrawn carriage. Miss Frierson’s Schoolhouse gives you a glimpse at a one-room classroom from the 1880s.

The Robert Anderson Memorial Fountain, cast in 1905, commemorates the county’s namesake, a Revolutionary War hero. At the entrance to the museum is the Old Reformer cannon, which dates back to the 1760s.

When you walk inside the museum, a volunteer will point you to the recommended route through the numerous exhibits. You may be shocked by the sheer size of the museum. With over 12,000 square feet of display space, it appears more like a facility you would expect to see in a larger city. Curator Dustin Norris said, “People always say there’s more here than they realized.”

First, you’ll see a miniature depiction of Anderson county fairs from the 1930s through the 1960s. Across the aisle is a popular exhibit, “Trade Street,” which details the history of business in Anderson and includes a general store recreation. “By the Book” focuses on educational history, dating back to 1878, with a replica of a historic schoolroom.

Other displays detail baseball rivalries between

Anderson’s towns in the 1880s, local transportation over the years, and the textile industry’s role in spurring Anderson’s growth. The diverse group of exhibits vividly leads you through the story of Anderson’s past.

You’ll want to check out the Hall of Fame and read about some extraordinary Andersonians. Corporal Freddy Stowers was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in WWI. Dr. Anne Austin Young was one of the first women to practice medicine in Anderson County, delivering 10,000 babies during her sixty-five year career. William Church Whitner was the driving force behind the electric power plant that led to Anderson becoming “The Electric City.” These stories and those of the other 35 inductees introduce an incredible group of individuals.

The museum’s crown jewel will be the “Andersonians in War” exhibit, which just began construction.

When completed in late 2021, the 2,500-square- foot display will be the largest in the gallery, highlighting military heroes from our area and depicting experiences through Anderson veterans’ eyes. From the American Revolution forward, you can see how brave Andersonians served and shaped our nation.

Oral histories from veterans combined with artifacts, images, displays, and uniforms provide a great insight into Anderson’s rich military contributions.

Executive Director Beverly Childs has been at the helm for 14 years. When asked what makes the museum possible, she replied, “the Anderson County Council. They believe in history, our work, and what we do.” She also praised a dedicated staff and a great group of passionate volunteers. An advisory committee, appointed by the council, acts as liaisons to aid with all issues needed by the museum. Friends of the Anderson County Museum is a non-profit organization that

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focuses primarily on fundraising for new and special exhibits and programs. This year, with in-person events implausible due to COVID-19, the Friends created “Gala to Go,” an innovative and popular event where supporters received a swanky “party in a picnic basket” kit with beverages, charcuteries, glasses, and everything needed to enjoy a private party. The third group of volunteers assists in the research room. The fourth group staffs the front desk. These volunteers enable the museum to be accessible to visitors at no charge, Ms. Childs said.

When you walk inside the museum, a volunteer will point you to the recommended route through the numerous exhibits.

You may be shocked by the sheer size of the museum.

Curator Norris pointed to the Roper Research Room, open on Tuesdays from 1 to 7 p.m., as a significant asset.

The experienced staff guides visitors through a wealth of books, photos, documents, and records, as well as a database that can be invaluable with genealogy and research projects. When asked about searching family

history, Norris said, “It’s a great starting place, and we do work together with other local institutions, so if we don’t have the exact answer, we may be able to point you to another place that can help.”

During your visit, be sure to check out Whitner’s Mercantile, a gift shop featuring a variety of items with local connections, including a large selection of South Carolina artists’ books and products. Sales at the shop benefit the museum.

The museum traces its roots to 1983, when resident Fred Whitten placed artifacts in a display case at the historic courthouse. One display soon grew to two, then to a room, then more rooms. In 2003, the museum took over the former location of the Anderson County Library. Today, the collection has expanded to include over 25,000 physical artifacts in addition to all the historical research materials, books, and publications.

This vast selection allows the museum to regularly update the current displays and create new exhibits, so plan to visit often.

Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a curtailment of in-person offerings. The museum is beginning to re-launch these programs. The Heritage and History program, where the staff guides guests through exploration on a particular topic, occurs in the gallery every other Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The museum hopes to have programs for younger guests available again this summer. You can find updates on these and other events on the museum’s website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.

A few of the displays you will find when you visit the Anderson County Museum.

andersonmagazine.com 17 May/June 2021

County Update – Recovering from Covid

By Josh Overstreet

Over a year ago, the COVID-19 pandemic hit Anderson County and, in many ways, radically altered everyday life for its residents. Economically, the pandemic did hit hard, but there are definitely some bright spots in 2021 that should make us optimistic about the growth of Anderson County.

“The COVID impacts to Anderson County industry were more than minimal but were not crippling,” said Burriss Nelson, director of Anderson County Economic Development. “I am not aware of a single industry that closed. Some shut down for a week or two but to my knowledge all are back up and running, some in limited production due to supply chain issues.”

Nelson is quick to highlight Electrolux—one of Anderson’s most recognizable manufacturers—and its management’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Their response to the pandemic has been textbook perfect,” said Nelson.

Electrolux maintains close contact with the Anderson County Sheriff ’s Emergency Management Team, follows all CDC and SCDHEC protocols and procedures, paid workers who are at home each time the plant has closed for sanitation of facilities, and as soon as it was known that Anderson County was Tac Med Kit getting vaccines, donated a freezer and refrigerator for storing and handling the vaccine, he said.

“This was immensely valuable to the county, our local SCDHEC Health Department, and AnMed in the vaccine injection campaigns that have taken place and continue,” said Nelson.

Anderson County’s economic growth continues to be optimistic, despite the pandemic. In 2020, there were eight new major economic announcements that created 720 new jobs, invested $179 million in capital expenditures and spent $27 million in payroll.

Three of those announcements were commercial/ rental housing projects in partnership with the cities of Anderson, Pendleton, and Honea Path, respectively.

Four were expansions to existing Anderson County manufacturers such as Sargent Metals, Tactical Medical, EuWe Wexler and Techtronic Industries (TTI), which accounted for the most job creation at 625 new jobs.

Additionally, 28 project Requests for Information (RFI) were made from investors seeking new locations and looking into Anderson County for potential development.

While there is much in terms of good news, the commercial, retail and hospitality industries suffered the heaviest losses, with some permanent closures over the last year. The numbers on that are still being worked out, according to Nelson.

One more trend is also heading in the right direction, and that is the unemployment rate. In February 2020, the unemployment rate for Anderson County was 2.9 percent with a 92,313-strong labor force, according to the South Carolina Department of Education and Workforce.

In January 2021, after 10 months in the pandemic, unemployment stood at 5.1 percent unemployment and the labor force was down to 89,414. February 2021’s numbers are trending in the right direction, with unemployment falling to 4.9 percent and labor force climbing to 91,114.

andersonmagazine.com 18 May/June 2021

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andersonmagazine.com 20 May/June 2021

Well-Suited for Anderson

By Caroline Anneaux

A

round town at a wedding, attending a charity event or steps away from the courthouse in the office of a local attorney, if you hear the words “Who’s your guy?” the answer is likely to be Craig Cahaly. He is certainly the best-dressed man in the county as the proprietor of Anderson’s exclusive men’s clothing store, Cahaly’s Custom Clothing, at 208 S. Main downtown. Those who know and refer to him as “their guy” understand the value of custom-tailored clothing.

“The gentlemen we dress expect the absolute best when it comes to suits and accessories,” said Craig Cahaly. “I don’t run a retail store. Our customers are not interested in buying off of a rack. They want high quality fabrics and clothing that fits exclusively to their body types.”

Cahaly knows what his distinguished customers are looking for. He has been in the men’s clothing business since he accepted a part-time job over 20 years ago at Lourie’s in downtown Columbia. He was recruited in 2002 by Granger Owings in Columbia, where he went on the road as a salesman and learned as much as he could about the profession. He moved back to his hometown in 2003 and ran the Granger Owings Anderson location from 2005 to 2009 before opening Cahaly’s showroom in the same spot.

As a public relations and marketing major at the University of South Carolina, Cahaly never intended to own a business where he dresses affluent men every day. Growing up in Anderson as the youngest son to mother and educator, Jane, and father and banker, Phil, Cahaly remembers his father teaching him to tie his first tie around the age of seven. He always loved clothes and dressing well and said he is always the guy at church in a suit and tie on Sunday.

So, here he is, thriving, despite several years of financial difficulties the world fell into with the banking crisis of 2009 and the pandemic that began in 2020.

“I am blessed,” said Cahaly “Just blessed. I had an established clientele when I opened Cahaly’s in 2009.

They still needed clothes, so I managed to keep my doors open. Fast forward to 2020, and it was almost a repeat of my early years in business for myself. I can honestly say my customers have been so loyal to me, and they continue to purchase clothing despite the fact there are far fewer events to attend these days.”

Cahaly has never been one to stay confined to four walls and a desk and loves getting out on the road and meeting his customers for personal fittings. He also enjoys attending shows and events where he is able to keep an eye on the latest fashion trends the younger generation follows these days.

“We are currently entrusted with dressing the entire Clemson University football team,” said Cahaly. “When

those young men step off the bus on game days, you get a really nice glimpse of what my job entails. Finding the perfect material, cut and accessories for every single gentleman who wears our suits and knowing he feels confident in them is so gratifying.”

While Cahaly is out of the office, he knows everything is under control with Josh Runion, chief operations officer of the company. Runion left a job in the athletic department at Clemson University in January 2010 to become a salesman for Cahaly’s.

“I was at a point where I had a wife and my first child on the way, and I felt that this job would be the best fit for my new family,” said Runion. “After several years as a salesman for Craig, I took on my current role as COO.” Runion also helps find and set up ways for Cahaly’s to sponsor or participate in local charity events benefitting the Anderson community. Anderson folks have been so good to Cahaly’s over the years, and this is a way to thank them and give back to people who have supported the business, according to Runion.

“We participate in local golf tournaments, the Camellia Ball and PlaySafe, to name a few,” said Cahaly.

“We support the Anderson County Sheriff ’s Office in any way that we can, and in March we were sponsors at the Save the Children Foothills Alliance fundraising gala at the Bleckley Station.”

Cahaly’s also has eight sales representatives on the road covering Anderson, Greenville, Macon, and Atlanta. All sales are by appointment only. Men may request a meeting in their home, office or in one of two showrooms (Anderson or Greenville). Cahaly’s goal is to make the process efficient for men who require their services and need it to fit seamlessly into their busy schedules.

Normally the process to have a new suit made is approximately six to eight weeks. Shipping times have been a bit unpredictable over the past year. Cahaly urges his customers to make their personal appointment as early as possible to ensure their suit is hanging in the closet and ready when the time comes for that special event. Whether attending a charity event, wedding, college graduation, or just want to look your best, give Cahaly’s a call. 864.314.2585.

Craig Cahaly lives in Anderson with his wife, Andi, and their three children. Nash,14, Collins,12, and Creighton, 9, are all involved in sports and keep their parents busy as carpoolers and spectators. Craig is an avid Carolina Gamecock sports fan and attends all of the home games and many of the away games with Andi.

They also love to travel and look forward to taking more vacations this year.

andersonmagazine.com 21 May/June 2021

Dream Comes True at Dyar’s

By Caroline Anneaux In July 2020, right in the middle of a pandemic year, April Simpson decided to buy a restaurant in Pendleton, South Carolina.

“I knew buying Dyar’s Diner would be either the craziest decision of my life or the best,” said Simpson.

“Fortunately for me, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made.”

Simpson grew up in Anderson in a family that owned a local Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service franchise, so she understands a lot of the ins and outs of running a family-owned business. She also worked in a local restaurant for six years during high school and college, where she realized her ultimate goal was to own her own restaurant.

“I had a part-time job at Creekside BBQ while I was a student at Westside High School and Clemson University,” said Simpson. “I absolutely loved it. I was a waitress, hostess, cook and caterer. I knew back then that owning a restaurant one day would truly make me happy. When the opportunity presented itself last summer, I jumped at the chance.”

Becky and Earl Dyar opened Dyar’s Diner in 1988.

Eventually they turned it over to their son, Tim Dyar.

When Tim passed away suddenly in early 2017, his wife Meg kept it going until she decided she was ready for a change.

April’s husband, Jeffrey, grew up a few doors down from Becky and Earl, and knew them like they were family. When he heard the restaurant was going up for sale in July 2020, he told his wife. April left her job and beloved co-workers at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University and took over Dyar’s Diner a month later. Final papers were signed in August 2020.

“Jeffrey is the principal at Pendleton Elementary School,” said April. “He followed his heart and is exactly where he wants to be. He told me it was my turn to fulfill my dream of owning a restaurant. It was time. He has been such a tremendous support to me during this past year.”

Jeffrey grew up in Pendleton and attended Clemson University. He met April at a football game where they were introduced by mutual friends. He went to Creekside BBQ a week or so later and ran into her

andersonmagazine.com 22 May/June 2021

“I knew buying Dyar’s Diner would be either the craziest decision of my life or the best. Fortunately for me, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made.” there. They dated, got married and have two children now. Cade, 11, and Abby, 8, help out in the restaurant every day after school and on Sundays. Jeffrey is also there on Sundays, greeting customers and making sure everything out front is running smoothly.

“I pick my children up after school and take them to the restaurant to help clean up and get it ready for the next day,” said April. “I want them to understand that a business doesn’t run itself. It takes hard work, money and a great work ethic to keep those doors open every day.”

Her mother helps out on Fridays, her niece helps out by waitressing each week, and her father helps out with any maintenance issues that arise.

“I walked into a very well-oiled machine when I purchased Dyar’s,” said April. “With the exception of my niece, the rest of the staff already worked at the restaurant. They knew exactly what to do and have made the transition so much easier on me. They are like family to me and surviving this past year wouldn’t have been possible without all of them.”

April loves meeting customers and seeing them return again and again. As COVID-19 restrictions lift and more people receive the vaccine, she meets new people every week.

“There are plenty of long-time customers who stayed home during the pandemic,” said April. “They feel better about coming in to have a meal, and I have the pleasure of meeting them for the first time. I love it when they bring in children and grandchildren and introduce me to them. I am blessed to serve generations of customers who have eaten at Dyar’s for so many years.”

April, her staff and her family treat their customers as if they are part of one large family. Each day, if only for 30 minutes to an hour, she wants them to drop their worries at the door, sit down to a home-cooked meal and know that they are loved and cared for. A smile, a pat on the back and friendly banter seem to be just as important as the meals they serve.

While April enjoys meeting people, her true love is working in the kitchen. She makes sure the tried-andtrue recipes of Becky Dyar are used, and she bakes homemade desserts every day. Becky and Earl stop in most Sundays to eat a meal, and April checks with Becky to make sure everything tastes the same as it always has.

The menu changes slightly every day, but the recipes remain as they were over 30 years ago. If it works, don’t try to fix it, right? Customers know what they like, and they return again and again for homemade meals served up with a genuine smile.

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Anderson Businesses

The 2020 global health pandemic sent shockwaves worldwide across all industries, and the small business economy was no exception. Despite what will be recorded as one of the most challenging times in history, local businesses powered through and remained Anderson Strong.

In May of 2020, the City of Anderson launched a survey to understand the impacts of Anderson’s economy by targeting feedback from our local business owners and managers. The study reported a collective decline in gross sales and a high rate of employee layoffs.

Although shutdowns were devasting to businesses, local business leaders came together to promote stability and reignite growth. Owners of Palmetto Screen Print and Embroidery helped recharge the small business economy through a campaign known as Anderson Strong. Mark and Heather Brannon produced t-shirts for businesses to sell amid the most challenging months of the pandemic. The brand ignited a sense of community pride and comradery that in Anderson, we are stronger together.

The City’s “Anderson Strong Promise” initiative encouraged citizens to Wear a Mask, Wait 6-feet Apart, and Wash your Hands frequently. The campaign accomplished a mass distribution of masks and t-shirts downtown and beyond. To promote a safe visitor experience downtown, city staff installed eight stateof-the-art hand sanitizing stations and curbside pickup signs in and around various restaurant and retail stores.

New trees, landscaping, crosswalks, and streetlights were also installed to enhance the ambiance of downtown as outdoor seating became the new normal. In December, the City also launched a COVID-relief small business grant initiative funded by CARES Act legislation. To date, over $150,000 in grant money has been awarded to 20 city businesses.

Anderson’s resilient business community persisted through the pandemic, and the City reported that in 2020 Anderson welcomed 147 new businesses citywide. Of those 147 businesses, 12 opened downtown creating over 30 new jobs. Existing businesses pivoted to remain relevant, and pursued solutions such as expanded outdoor seating, curbside pickup, and new delivery options.

Today, development continues as the Home2 Suites

by Hilton downtown is under construction on South Main Street and slated for completion this summer.

The Palmetto Building on South Murray Avenue is also underway to feature more residential accommodations downtown. Expanded retail offerings on Clemson Boulevard continues with the recent grand opening of HomeGoods, and several new businesses are under construction downtown. The City will soon break

Power through the Pandemic

ground on Anderson’s first shared kitchen incubator that will be located on the street level of the Whitner Street parking garage. The kitchen will create a pathway for food entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses.

As we near the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is with great applause that we celebrate Anderson’s small business community and their resilience this past year. Please continue to support your local businesses and together, we will remain Anderson Strong.

andersonmagazine.com 24 May/June 2021

Reflections of

Anderson Interfaith Ministries (AIM) We are preparing for AIM’s 30-year celebration May 21st at the Bleckley Station. So, I sat down and started reflecting on the last 30 years. I was 25 years old and wanted to save the world when I got the tap to lead this Ministry. I remember, I did not have very much support from my older non-profit colleagues. The word was she is too young, and that organization will not make it more than a couple of years. Well, look at us over 30 years later.

I have been so blessed over those 30 years. I have had amazing board members that supported and mentored me. I have had the best volunteers that anyone could have wished for that were dedicated and passionate about the work of AIM. The volunteers have been and still are the heartbeat of this organization. We have had long time donors and supporters of this work that have allowed AIM to “Give Hope and Change Lives.”

Over the years I have had some incredible employees.

Many have gone on to other organizations in leadership roles. The staff in place now is hands down the most dedicated, passionate, engaged staff I have ever had.

They are committed to serving Christ through their work at AIM. It is hard to believe that over 30 years ago I walked into an empty little house behind Grace Episcopal Church to start my journey with AIM. God has been so good to me. I have made a lot of mistakes along the way.

I have learned a lot of lessons. I have also been touched by some amazing people over the last 30 years, clients, staff, donors, volunteers, and a plethora of community partners.

I am so thankful that God does not call the qualified, but he qualifies the called in to his work. God has been at work at AIM for over 30 years and I can not tell you how thankful I am that he chose me to lead this ministry. I have been blessed beyond measure.

Thank you to ALL of you that has played a role in the success of AIM. To God be the Glory! ~Kristi King-Brock

Kristi King-Brock

Newspaper clipping circa 1991 andersonmagazine.com 25 May/June 2021

Enjoy the Ride with Uber Queen No matter where Tesshea Adams goes, she is recognized and greeted with a familiar ‘Hey, Uber Queen.’

She can be shopping with her kids, eating in a restaurant, stopped at a red light, and/or walking to class on the campus of Tri-County Technical College where she is a media arts production honor student – and folks will acknowledge her as their go-to for ride shares.

“Sometimes my hair is blonde and pink, sometimes it’s purple. It doesn’t matter. After four years as an Uber driver, people recognize me, even during COVID times when I’m wearing a face mask. The other day I was pumping gas and someone driving by yelled Uber Queen.”

Driving for Uber has been a fulltime job for the single parent of three while she has been attending classes at Tri-County. “I enjoy it. It doesn’t feel like work. I love the connection with the people I meet.”

It hasn’t been easy, juggling her kids’ home schooling during the pandemic, as well as altering her lifestyle to fit Tri-County’s remote learning. She even contracted COVID-19 herself last June and it upended her plans to take three classes that would put her closer to graduation. “I had to drop a class. Everyone I drove around that weekend wore masks but there were lots of trips and I still contracted it,” she said. When she recovered, she was back at work, continuing to put safety first. “I have to provide for my family and I know how to be safe. I always wear a face covering and require my riders to do so, and I disinfect the car after every ride. I take all of the necessary precautions,” she said.

Adams is an Anderson native but she and her mother moved to Pennsylvania shortly after her birth.

She spent summers in Pendleton and developed an affinity for the town and her relatives resided there. After

Tesshea Adams graduating from high school she attended ITT in Pennsylvania and began working at local call centers. “It was great money but not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” she said. She married and started her family and eventually moved to Pendleton to be with family.

She began call center work, which included social media, but after divorcing, she began driving for Uber for extra money. “My name (Tesshea) andersonmagazine.com 26 May/June 2021

“I listened to how a friend made it work and realized I could, too. At the challenge of another friend, I enrolled at Tri-County.

I needed upskilling in math and English and enrolled in comprehensive studies classes.

I liked communications and I wanted to work in radio one day. I visited the media arts production lab. It was the coolest room. I fit in immediately.

My goal is to be a radio personality,” she said. ~Tesshea Adams - student is hard to pronounce. I have a social media background so I named all of my social media accounts Uber Queen and called myself the Uber Queen. My kids call me queen and I was working for Uber so it made sense,” she said.

It also caught on quickly. “My first year at Tri-County, my instructors didn’t know my first name. They knew me as Uber Queen,” she added.

Adams always wanted to pursue another degree but says she was scared. “I listened to how a friend made it work and realized I could, too. At the challenge of another friend, I enrolled at Tri-County. I needed upskilling in math and English and enrolled in comprehensive studies classes. I liked communications and I wanted to work in radio one day. I visited the media arts production lab. It was the coolest room. I fit in immediately,” said Adams. Her first semester she was the DJ/manager of the campus radio station, MAP the Hill. “My goal is to be a radio personality,” she said.

She’s on her way – she secured an internship that has progressed into working at Summit Media in Greenville in promotions for 98.1, 107.3 and x98.5. She also photographs events. She is the social media manager for the Palmetto Colts Arena Football League, while also maintaining her own social media presence for Uber Queen.

“She has an obvious love for people and the community in which she lives.

From family, to school, to work and her online presence, she gives it her all.

Developmental courses were merely a stepping stone for her. She has continued to have a great work ethic and is on her way to accomplishing her dreams,” said Lynell Hecht, a Comprehensive Studies learning support staff member in the Academic and Career Foundations department. Hecht nominated her for the South Carolina Organization for Student Success (SCOSS) Scholar Award. Adams won and received a $500 scholarship last year.

She was the recipient of the outstanding student award for media arts production last year and received a Hayden Abney Fulp scholarship through the College’s Foundation. She maintains a 3.67 GPA and a spot on the dean’s list.

“When you do what you love, you don’t realize how much you are doing – until someone recognizes it. I have an example to set for my kids.”

She says enrolling at Tri-County was the best decision she has made for herself. “I was overwhelmed the first week. But things settled down and once I got acclimated, I became a mentor to other students. My MAP instructors are like family,” she said. andersonmagazine.com 27 May/June 2021

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Baptists & Bootleggers

A Prohibition Expedition Through the South An author (that would be me) walked into a bar on Charleston’s King Street that has the beguiling name Prohibition. The young hostess wasn’t busy, and when I told her I was working on a book about the real Prohibition–the period from January 16, 1920 and December 6, 1933 when the Eighteenth Amendment was in force –she offered to show me around the place.

The bar strives for a rustic-chic look, with lights hanging over the tables in wire cages, Mason jars for glassware and recycled liquor barrels here and there. The walls are decorated with photographs of Prohibition scenes in sepia hues – revenue agents busting up stills, protestors hoisting signs reading “We Want Beer” and a portrait of the infamous saloon wrecker Carry A. Nation, waving her trademark hatchet.

“Oh, there’s Carry Nation,” I said, walking over to the picture.

The hostess joined me. “I wish I knew something about her,” she said.

Right then, the plan for my book took an entirely new direction. I had been thinking about a serious history book, but what were the chances that younger people like the hostess at Prohibition would read it? Almost zilch. It would only appeal to a bunch of aging history nerds like me. As I sat at the bar enjoying a Ramos Gin Fizz (recipe to follow), I came up with a very different approach. In June, my book Baptists and Bootleggers: A Prohibition Expedition through the South…with Cocktail Recipes, will be published by Evening Post Books.

Part history, part travelogue, part cocktail recipe book, it ties Prohibition people and events to places that readers can visit today. The Southern states – except Louisiana — had all gone dry before national Prohibition, thanks to the influence of Baptists and Methodists and the lobbying of temperance groups.

By Kathryn Smith

In practice, it meant these states had flourishing illegal booze networks in place to serve themselves and their northern brethren long before the nation went dry in 1920.

Southern port cities kept much of the eastern seaboard lubricated with rum and other illegal liquor imports. Meanwhile, the Appalachian Mountains were a hotbed of moonshine production that quenched the thirst – and sometimes killed – drinkers who were less particular about their hooch.

My research took me to the birthplace of Carry Nation, the Miami Beach mansion of Al Capone, a haunted hotel, a moonshine festival, Louisville’s famed Whiskey Row and the graves of a temperance leader, notorious bootleggers and a stock car racer murdered in a dispute over a still.

It makes me thirsty just to think about it.

Want to go?

Baptists and Bootleggers will be launched at the Anderson County Museum this summer. Check the Museum Facebook page for updates. And order your copy at www.evepostbooks.com. n

Ramos Gin Fizz 2 oz London dry gin (Beefeater suggested) .5 oz lime juice .5 oz lemon juice 1 oz simple syrup

1 egg white 5 drops orange flower water 4 drops vanilla extract Soda water (to top with)

Dry shake all ingredients except soda water for two minutes.

Add ice and shake with intent for eight minutes. Strain into an ice-cold Collins glass and top slowly with soda water until the head sits around an inch above the rim.

--Recipe courtesy Jim McCourt, beverage director, Prohibition Charleston andersonmagazine.com 28 May/June 2021

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Breazeale’s Grocery Bluegrass A toe-tapping good time near Pendleton

By AndersonSCLiving.com

The Grascals, Willie Wells & Blue Ridge Mountain Grass and The Little Roy & Lizzy Show all have played there. But the real stars at Breazeale’s Grocery Bluegrass are the local guitar, banjo, bass and mandolin musicians who circle up every Saturday night for bluegrass picking from 6:30 until 11.

One of the few picking parlors remaining in the Upstate, Breazeale’s offers a free knee slappin’, toe tappin’ experience where anyone is welcome to play or just sit and listen.

“You never know who’s going to walk in that door and pick,” says Breazeale’s owner Don Acevedo. “Great talent comes in here. We probably have the best musical place in the Upstate, by far.”

As the name suggests, Breazeale’s Grocery Bluegrass is housed in a former grocery store built in the 1930s along Liberty Highway between Anderson and Pendleton.

“This was the Wal-Mart for this community,” said Acevedo, who opened Breazeale’s Grocery Bluegrass with his wife, Jane, 14 years ago. “They sold meats, canned goods, Cokes and they had two gas pumps outside. There’s a pond out back with a natural spring, and I’m told that people in the community used to sit around out there and tell stories. There’s a lot of history here.”

Breazeale’s is still a gathering spot, and not just for bluegrass picking. Cowboy Church meets there on Tuesday nights, and banjo, ukulele and guitar lessons are taught there three nights each week. The picking parlor has instruments for sale and even markets its

own brand of coffee, with flavors such as Banjo Blend, Guitar Hazel, Fiddle Me Crazy, Bass Kahlua and Mandolin Pecan. There’s even a luthier shop where Acevedo builds and refurbishes bluegrass instruments.

Whether a novice player or a pro; young, old or in between, all are welcome at Breazeale’s.

The Sweet Potato Pie Kids, a traveling band of the Young Appalachian Musicians in Pickens County, drop by regularly to do their showcasing, Acevedo said. And it’s not unusual for a professional group to stick around after the show to jam with the locals.

“What I like about those folks is that when they’re done with their concert, they sit around and play with the young kids and teach them,” Acevedo said. “It really enhances their playing just sitting around and talking with professionals.”

And while COVID-19 has limited the number of attendees at live shows due to social distancing, Saturday night picking at Breazeale’s hasn’t missed a beat.

“It’s been a real blessing, this place,” Acevedo said. “I always look at it as a mission field. It’s about the people, especially today with the pandemic. I think it’s a great place for people to come and listen to music.

“Where I get my payback is when I’m up there playing and I see people that this might be the only place they have to go for enjoyment, especially some of your elderly people. I see them out there smiling and tapping their foot, that’s my reward. This is a place where you can enjoy good music, good fellowship and good people, and that’s what it’s about.”

andersonmagazine.com 30 May/June 2021

READ LISTEN WATCH LEARN Digital books, audiobooks, online classes, and more available free from your local library.

Visit www.andersonlibrary.org or your local Anderson County Library branch today.

www.andersonlibrary.org

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WANT TO VISIT? Breazeale’s Grocery Bluegrass 5109 Liberty Highway, Pendleton SC 29670 (864) 376-1482. www.bgbluegrass.com There is no cover charge at Breazeale’s and no alcoholic beverages are permitted.

To view a video of Saturday night picking at Breazeale’s, visit AndersonSCLiving.com.

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andersonmagazine.com 31 May/June 2021

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Annual Tea with the Debutantes

The spring tea honoring the mothers and daughters of the 2020 and 2021 class of the Debutante Club of Anderson took place at Evergreen Plantation. The event was coordinated by Ms. Stephanie Collins, Mrs. Ronald Coleman Sconyers and Mrs. William Harbor Little, IV, and hosted by members of the board.

Due to the restrictions on gatherings in 2020, the annual tea was postponed, and both 2020 and 2021 debutante classes were honored at this event.

2020 Debutantes

2021 Debutantes

Berkley Dennis Bryant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ron Bryant.

Avery Elizabeth Burton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Burton and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Quattlebaum.

Autumn Grace Floyd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Holley.

Jaime Catherine Jones, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wes Jones.

Carleigh Kae Junkins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Junkins.

Margaret Ann McDougald, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas McDougald.

AnnaLeeza Peyton Mosteller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Mosteller.

Bradley Elizabeth Powell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Burton and Mr. Brad Powell Hannah Lynn Salley, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lawton Salley.

Hadley Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Blake Smith.

Addie Caroline Anderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clark Anderson.

MyKala Leigh Cantrell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Cantrell.

Elizabeth Sue Coughenour, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Coughenour.

Mary Chamblee Craft, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thom Craft.

Mary Lawson Dorsey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Dorsey.

Emma Grace Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Johnson.

Meredith Claire Kidd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chip Kidd.

Alexis Tate Merriman, daughter of Mrs. Susanna Thomas Merriman and the late Brian Dudley Merriman.

Lauren Rae Merritt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Merritt.

Leila Katherine Sconyers, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Ron Sconyers.

Christina Madison Speer, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duane Loftis.

L to R: Hadley Smith, Berkley Bryant, Autumn Floyd Avery Burton, AnnaLeeza Mosteller, Meg McDougald, Jaime Jones, Bradley Powell

L to R: Meredith Kidd, Lawson Dorsey, Mary Chamblee Craft, Madison Speer, Addie Anderson, Elizabeth Coughenour, Emma Johnson, MyKayla Cantrell, Leila Sconyers, Lauren Merritt

2020 and 2021 board members hosting the event were Mrs. Charles Lee Anderson, Mrs. Jonathan Clark Anderson, Mrs. William Major Anderson, Mrs. Thomas Dale Brannon, Mrs. Joseph Ryan Camak, Ms. April Williford Cameron, Mrs. James Holden Cantrell, Ms. Stephanie Jones Collins, Mrs. Daniel Patrick Coughenour, Mrs. Randall Brockman Davis, Mrs. William Ryan Faulkenberry, Mrs. Joshua Watson Harbert, Mrs. Jonathan Russell Hosea, Mrs. Brian Loftis Johnson, Mrs. Robert Carter Knobel, Mrs. William Harbor Little, IV, Mrs. James Anthony Loparo, Mrs. Joshua Harris Pannell, Mrs. Marty Shawn Robinson, Mrs. Ronald Coleman Sconyers, Mrs. Michael Brandon Sloan, Mrs. Robert Blakely Smith, Mrs. Robert Wade Usherwood. andersonmagazine.com 33 May/June 2021

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andersonmagazine.com 34 May/June 2021 w w w.bleckleyinn.com Anderson, SC 29624

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Events in May/June 2021 Friday, May 7 • 1:00pm - 6:30pm 5th Annual Putting for Prevention Golf Tournament, 1221 Summers Dr., Pendleton. For details and tickets contact Shannon Lambert 864-442-5500 or email slambert@pcadvocacy.org Friday, May 7, 14, 21, 28 Friday Nights Live Music at Kitchen Emporium. Sit outside and enjoy live music and a glass of wine. 418 North Main Street, Anderson. For more information check out their Facebook page.

Saturday, May 8 & June 19 • 10:45-11:45 a.m.

Mimosas and Yoga at The Local Pub and Eatery. Join this lake side yoga class taught by Roshonda Thomas of Destress the Community and Anderson Axe Throwing. One-hour yoga class followed by a complimentary mimosa to enjoy on the lakeside deck. For more information check out The Local’s Facebook page or Anderson Axe’s Facebook.

Sunday, May 9 • 11:30 a.m.

Mother’s Day Baby Goat Yoga, Split Creek Farms. $40/person. Every individual wishing to attend MUST register and pay ahead of time to reserve your spot. Spaces are extremely limited to keep everyone safe and to have the most ideal experience with the baby goats. Registration closed May 7.

Register in person at the studio or online www.andersonyogacenter.com/ schedule.

May 13th May 18th June 3rd

Rose Comparative Tasting Women on Wine. (WOW) Covid Stress - Pinot Noir Tour of Argentina with food and wine.

June 10 & 15 - Women on Wine Covid Stress Relief $25 dollars for everything other than Tour of Argentina, $40.

418 N. Main Street 864-225-2021 M-TH 10a-6p F 10a-8:30p Sat 10-5

Friday, May 14 • 6-10 p.m Art on the Town. Come to downtown Anderson to enjoy an art crawl with specials and give-aways from 13 different businesses. Artisan market, street performers and a $500 prize drawing. Get tickets at www.AndersonArts.org.

Saturday, May 15 • Noon – 3:00 pm Pet Love at The Local, 1500 Providence Church Rd., Anderson. In honor of National Pet Appreciation Month, the day is dedicated to the G.E.L.A Foundation, a newly formed local charity to bring awareness to pet adoption and to help local shelters/rescues/fosters when needed. The Local will donate 50% of sales of a designated dish to the cause and PAWS will be on site with adoptable pets and there will be other pet related vendors as well. For more information check out The Local’s Facebook page or contact Lisa Marie Carter, 864-356-9857 limacarter11@gmail.com Saturday, May 29 • 11:00am Williford Fire Department Annual BBQ Fundraiser Sale, Williford Fire House, 3738 SC 187, Anderson. Chicken plates, Pork BBQ plates, Combo plates and Pork BBQ in bulk. All plates include beans, slaw, roll and drink.

Eat there or get it to go. Starts at 11 and ends when they run out of food.

Pricing and more details can be found on their Facebook page.

Friday, June 4 The Kitchen Emporium and Gift’s 15th Anniversary, Live Music provided by Talbert Black, Friends Food Truck on site, 15% off almost everything (some exclusions apply). For more information check out their Facebook page.

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Monday, June 21 – all summer Art Camp at Anderson Arts Center, 110 Federal Street, Anderson. Join for a summer of exploring International Festivals. They work on age-appropriate projects with all kinds of materials in several mediums. For more information Due to potential COVID changes please remember to check with the events as the date gets closer to or to register check out their website, andersonarts.org confirm the details of the events are still correct. andersonmagazine.com 35 May/June 2021

Countybank Reaches Goal of $5,000 for Debit Card Donation Swipe Campaign Countybank is excited to announce the results of its first debit card swipe campaign that occurred throughout December 2020. The bank reached its maximum contribution goal of $5,000.

“We could not be more thankful to our customers for consistently using their debit cards during the holiday season to help us reach our goal,” said R. Thornwell Dunlap III, President and CEO of Countybank. “These funds will aid in the ongoing activities and operations of Upstate organizations in 2021. We are honored to have the means to contribute to these great causes.”

The campaign kicked off on December 1 and continued through the end of the month. For every transaction using a Countybank debit card throughout December, the bank donated to one of the many local non-profit and charitable organizations that the Countybank Foundation supports.

While Countybank made donations through this campaign of up to $5,000, the Countybank Foundation contributed more than $160,000 to community organizations in 2020 as a whole.

To learn more about the campaign, visit https://www. ecountybank.com/swipe.html. n

REAL. PERSONAL. 2125 N. Hwy 81, Anderson, SC 29621

BANKING INSURANCE* MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS* TRUST ecountybank.com | 864-622-2692 | 2125 N. Hwy 81, Anderson, SC 29621 *Insurance and investment products are not insured by the FDIC or any federal government agency, may lose value, and are not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by, any bank or bank affiliate.

andersonmagazine.com 36 May/June 2021

Gotta Have Home Care

By Jim Harris

For most of us, our home is our most significant investment. To help protect yours, we turned to the experts for tips on helping you protect your home and family as well as saving you money in the long haul.

Home inspectors see dozens of homes each month, so they have a broad base of experiences. WIN Home Inspection has been serving the area since 2002. Owner/inspector Jay League said, “Water is the number one enemy to a house.” He recommended regular gutter cleaning and ensuring that downspouts drain sufficiently away from the structure and adding downspout extensions. Jay suggested a yearly visual inspection of your attic and basement or crawl space for signs of water damage and areas where water could penetrate. Wood in the basement/crawl space should be checked annually with a meter to ensure the moisture content is no more than 20%. Digital moisture meters are inexpensive and available at most hardware stores.

For electric system safety, Jay recommended using extension cords only temporarily and making sure you never overload single outlets. If you have a breaker that trips often, don’t just reset it, have a professional electrician inspect it, he said.

Radon is common in our area. Homeowners can check for radon with professional or home testing.

Left unaddressed, radon can have serious health consequences, he said.

Another WIN service, Home Health Check, is perfect for those with older parents living alone, Jay said. They will check all major systems of their home and itemize any repairs or maintenance needed.

Craig Shoemaker hosts the radio show “Home Matters” in Northeast Georgia. His guests are experts who cover every aspect of home care and can provide helpful advice.

Piggybacking on what Jay said, Craig advised, “It sounds simple, but make sure you know where to turn off the water line to your house.

Water is the leading cause of home damage, so being able to turn it off quickly when there is a leak or problem can minimize damage.”

Dryer lint is highly combustible, so Craig John Johnson

Butch Fortner recommended having the vent line from your dryer to the exterior professionally cleaned yearly. If you have frost-free outdoor faucets, be sure your hoses are disconnected. Otherwise, they can still freeze, he said.

John Johnson is the vice president for Electric City Heating and Cooling. He offered several good tips for home climate systems. He said, “Get your systems serviced and your coils cleaned.” A dirty coil causes increased refrigerant pressure, which uses more power and doesn’t cool as effectively. He recommended servicing twice a year. John advised, “When mowing your grass, blow your clippings away from your unit.” Clippings can quickly clog the coil, impacting performance. Changing filters each month helps your system perform its best. Closing your curtains during daylight hours keeps extra heat out. If you have an attic fan that is no longer in use, make sure the power supply is disconnected and seal it off. Adding an attic tent to seal/insulate around your attic stairs can also result in substantial savings.

Butch Fortner owns Fortner Plumbing and spends his days on water issues. Butch offered, “Pour a cup of white vinegar down the kitchen sink each month to break up accumulated grease and avoid clogging.” It’s safer for your pipes than drain cleaners. Another tip from Butch: “If your shower head is losing power, soak it in CLR or white vinegar to open up the holes and increase flow.”

Help your septic system function well by adding yeast or a septic treatment twice annually, he said, so bacteria levels remain high.

Following these tips will help keep your home in tiptop shape for years to come.

andersonmagazine.com 37 May/June 2021

The Poet’s Nook

By Jay Wright

This edition’s artist is much more than an awardwinning poet, and her stage is international. Ruth Merkle Ilg moved to Anderson from Germany in the 1960s and was a driving force in the creation of what is now the Foothills Writers Guild. Ruth was installed as our first vice president in 1974 and our president in 1975. She was also president of the Board of Directors of the Anderson County Arts Council and gave dramatic art performances in Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, and France. In addition to winning numerous writing, photography, and art awards, Ruth was voted “Outstanding Young Woman of America” and is listed in The International WHO’s WHO of Authors and Writers as well as The World WHO’s WHO of Women. She now lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where she has an art gallery and enjoys visiting friends and family in Anderson.

Unborn Spring

By Ruth Merkle Ilg

Where dead leaves crumble on the frozen ground – in the wild wood away from town and man, Nature’s touch forms an echo in my mind in the gentle hour of unborn spring

andersonmagazine.com 38 May/June 2021

The Legacy of Anderson is an Independent Senior Living Community

Retire Well & Enjoy Senior Living at its Best!

Here at The Legacy of Anderson, we have over 40 years combined experience in the senior industry.

At any given time you will be able to find conversation, socialization, and friends here at The Legacy.

We have been in business for over 15 years and plan for another 15 strong. Please stop by if you are in the Anderson area or please give Dee Golden a call at 864-276-3501.

You will be pleased to know you will be able enjoy retirement living at its best here at The Legacy of Anderson.

We look forward to seeing you!

Call Dee Golden at The Legacy today to schedule a visit.

www.legacyofandersonseniorliving.com

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