Southeastern Literary Tourism Initiative Writes About Pendleton SC

Author Patrick Brian Miller has written a fictional short story about me and Pendleton for the Southeastern Literary Tourism Initiative. He did much research to make our town come to life in this heart warming story that depicts the spirit of our town.

He follows this story with a Tourism Guide showing important local links. I really like the concept of Literary Tourism even though I was not familiar with it until I was contacted by Patrick Brian Miller through another author, Patricia Neely-Dorsey. I had written a lens about Patricia Neely-Dorsey's book of poems Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia.

I hope you will take the time to read this fictional story and please share it with your friends.

Southeastern Literary Tourism Initiative. The "Ohme" story will be the featured story until Dec 30, 2009 at which time a new story will appear but the Pendleton story will remain in the archives.

I have also written a lens about the Southeastern Literary Tourism Initiative which includes an interview with Patrick Brian Miller.
Southeastern Literary Tourism Initiative Squidoo Lens by Ohme

Christmas In Pendleton SC

DECEMBER 2009 EVENTS IN PENDLETON SC

Nov 27 - Tree Lighting On The Village Green 6pm

Nov 28,Dec 5,12,19 - Christmas Market 10 - 4 Village Green

Dec 3 - Pendleton State of The Community 11:30 - 1:30 Tri Co Tech

Dec 5 - PEEPS Christmas Fair 11 to 2 PUMC

Dec 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 (5:30-8:30 PM) and Dec.6, 13, and 20 (2 - 5 PM).Annual "Christmas at Ashtabula - Enjoying the Holidays in the UpCountry".

Dec 4,5,6,11,12,&13 - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Clemson Little Theatre at Pendleton Playhouse

Dec 4 - Christmas Kiln Opening at Rob Gentry Pottery 11 a.m. 646-9622

Dec 12, 13 - Trottin "Round The Tree Horse Show 8 am - 6 pm Sat, 8-4 Sun at Garrison Arena FREE

Dec 13 - Pendleton Christmas Parade 3 pm - Call 646-9073 for info

Dec 13 PUMC Christmas Cantata "Christmas on the Square" 11 am

Dec 20 Denver Christmas Parade -Line up at 2. Starts at 3 pm.

Please visit Christmas In Pendleton for more information about these events as well as an original poem by yours truly, music by Johnny Mathis, a warm fireside, and photos from the events that have already happened.

Thank you and please don't forget to shop and dine in Pendleton SC.
While you are shopping on the Square In Pendleton, be sure to look for the Ohme Bug. Read all about the Hunt for the Ohme Bug on Where On The Square Is The Ohme Bug?
Wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas!

Tree Lighting Ceremony In Pendleton SC - The Lighting Of The Green - A Pendleton Tradition

The Friday night after Thanksgiving is traditionally the date of Pendleton's Tree Lighting Ceremony. This year's event is being planned by Lynne and Bill Parker and they have a wonderful evening in store for us all. The ceremony begins at 6 pm so we hope to see you on Pendleton's Historic Village Green for this heartwarming Christmas Event.

Christmas In Pendleton SC is a time that I always enjoy and I have written my sentiments in the following poem:

Christmas In Pendleton, South Carolina
By
Nancy Hellams

Experiencing Christmas in a small Southern town
Is something I do every year that rolls around.
I look so forward to all the goings on
And am proud to call Pendleton SC my home.

We light the town tree in the middle of the square
It has been erected with oh such care
The candlelight ceremony just warms my heart
As I listen to participants do their part.

Singing Carols, drinking cider and eating cookies, too!
Are all things friends and neighbors are meant to do
The Christmas Spirit is in the air
At our little Village on the square!

I won’t be going to a crowded mall
I will be shopping around the Farmers Hall
For there are quaint shops with gifts galore
Right under my nose – who could want for more!

I will join my friends for a special lunch
Or maybe even a Holiday Punch
We will laugh and talk on the Village Green
And listen to the Carolers as they sing!

Our Churches and Schools have special programs, too!
The Happenings around Pendleton are never few.
There is the Theatre with a seasonal play
And Historic Tours offered most any day!
Don’t forget the Arena and the Christmas Market too
Oh me, Oh my – There is just so much to do!

The Christmas Parade is always fun
In this little town of Pendleton!
We welcome visitors from all around
So join us in our special town.

You can check it all out on my Squidoo
Marking your calendar with things to do
Pendleton is the place to be
Come for a visit and you will see!

Wishing you a joyful Holiday Season
As we remember the real reason
We celebrate this special time
In this wonderful town that I call mine!

Pendleton Happenings

Pendleton Elementary School Memory Garden

Have you seen the great things going on at Pendleton Elementary School with the wonderful Memory Garden? If not, I strongly encourage you to go by the school and visit the garden.

If you are voting in the General Election tomorrow, that would be a great time. Thanks to the hard work of many volunteers, the garden is truly taking shape and is providing an excellent opportunity for students to learn while engaged in an outdoor activity.

Sue Watts has had a great PES Memory Garden Blog for sometime and now her blog is fed into a Squidoo Lens and is being visited by people from all over the world. I hope you are one of them.

Please visit and leave a comment on our Pendleton Elementary School Garden Webpage and let us know where you are from.
Pendleton Elementary School Memory Garden Webpage

Need A Pie For Thanksgiving?

The Pendleton Community Center is sponsoring the "Pie In The Sky" Fundraiser featuring delicious, freshly baked, homemade pies for your Thanksgiving Dessert!

Here is the information on their flyer:

The last date to place your order is Wednesday - November 11, 2009

Apple Pie - $12
Lemon Meringue - $12
Pecan Pie - $16
Sweet Potato Pie - $12
Pumpkin Pie - $12
Buttermilk Pie - $10

No special orders or adjustments to ingredients can be made to pies. Please take caution if you have nut, milk, egg or other food allergies.

No deliveries. Orders must be picked up at the Pendleton Community Center between the hours of 3 - 7 pm on Wed November 25. Failure to pick up your pie between the designated hours may result in it being sold.

For order information.....Call Denise at 864-646-7391
Pendleton Community Center
305 West Queen Street
Pendleton SC

Now it is just doesn't get much better than this so place your order soon and help the Pendleton Community Center!

See more of what is happening in Pendleton SC at Pendleton Happenings

Fall Harvest Festival -Saturday October 3, 2009

The town of Pendleton will be bustling on Saturday early in the morning as bikers arrive for the 8:30 Mass Start of Ride For Raptors, a benefit Bicycle Ride for the Carolina Raptor Center. The Center will bring some of their Birds of Prey to display at the Fall Harvest Festival which will begin at 10:00 a.m. There will be entertainment, games for children, quality crafts, great food and fun for everyone! Also, there will be the 3rd Annual Bubba Bake Off where men enter their homemade and home decorated cake for auction. The proceeds from the auction will be divided among the Clemson Community Care and Pendleton's S.O.U.P..

For more information, photos and videos, please visit the Fall Harvest Festival Squidoo Lens

Thank you Pendleton, Thank you Squidoo

Yesterday was spent trying to absorb all that has happened to me in the last couple of days. I have truly been overwhelmed and just had to share some of my thoughts.

The Town Council and Mayor Carol Burdette were so kind to recognize the Friends of the Park volunteers who worked very hard on our Freedom Fest this year. We were able to raise over $7,000 for Veterans Park. After the recognition at the Town Council Meeting on September 8, 2009, the Mayor asked for me to remain up front. She began reading a proclamation for this day to be "Nancy Hellams Queen of Squidoo Day in Pendleton". I could not believe what I was hearing! This was followed by adorning me with a fancy robe, scepter, crown, roses, and sash. The mayor led me to my throne where I sat in complete amazement while those in attendance stood and clapped for me.

When I got in my car to come home, I called my sister to tell her the fantastic news and she began immediately to make a lens about it called Pendleton Honors Squidoo And Ohme. The comments from all over the world from Squidoo friends and local friends were posted on this lens. It was so very kind of Joan to make this lens and to tell the world about what had happened. There was even a comment from the founder of Squidoo, Seth Godin.

Squidoo and Pendleton are my passions and the two great communities have only one thing in common and that is that both are filled with wonderful people. Squidoo has proven to be the perfect forum for promoting our little town and the town has embraced Squidoo. It always amazed me to look and see who has taken the time to read about what we have going on here. There have been times when I was concerned that Pendleton folks were getting tired of hearing about Squidoo and that Squidoo folks were getting tired of reading about Pendleton but both have continued to surprise me. My work on Squidoo is only successful because of the readers from Pendleton and from Squidoo lensmasters. I thank all of you!

Congratulations, Split Creek Farm

Split Creek Farm, Anderson, SC, received a third place win for one
of the farm's artisan goat cheeses at the American Cheese Society's 2009
competition held in Austin, Texas in August. The American Cheese Society
encourages the understanding, appreciation, and promotion of farmstead and
natural specialty cheeses produced in the Americas and Canada. Nearly 200
artisan cheese producers were represented at the competition.

Split Creek Farm is a Grade A goat dairy producing artisan goat milk
products since 1985. Visitors are invited to stop by the farm shop to sample
and purchase all of Split Creek Farm's award winning products.

Split Creek Farm, LLC
3806 Centerville Road
Anderson, Sc 29625
phone/fax 864-287-3921
Split Creek Farm Website

Fall Harvest Festival

Save the Date
Fall Harvest Festival in Pendleton SC
October 3, 2009

Fall Harvest Festival Webpage

Flag Day Sunday June 14 in Pendleton SC

The new Pendleton Elks Lodge will perform the Flag Day Ceremony on the village green in front of Farmer's Hall on Sunday June 14. This beautiful tribute to our flag will be observed all over the USA by all Elks Lodges. The ceremony starts at 3:00. Bring a lawn chair and help us celebrate our flag.

Dan Marett, Exalted Ruler, Pendleton Elks Lodge #2861

Flag Day In The USA

Freedom Fest 2011 in Pendleton SC

The 21st Freedom Fest will be held at Veterans Park on July 2, 2011 beginning at 6:30 pm. This event is a fundraiser organized by Friends of the Park for Veterans Park. Freedom Fest is a fun filled family event with a patriotic theme. I don't know how many towns actually have celebrations like this one but it will make you feel proud to be an American and provide an evening of old fashioned entertainment. The opening ceremony is so impressive and I hope you will make plans to get there early. The American Legion Post 113 and their Auxiliary  work hard to make this ceremony meaningful and memorable.

DJ Ty Buchanan will provide the music for your enjoyment while you visit the different areas. There will be great food such as hamburgers and hot dogs. This year we are pleased to have Hevy Mann working with us and providing his famous lemonade and funnel cakes. A bake sale offers some wonderful home baked goods. There will also be a cake walk.

Activities for the children include inflatable games, The Great American Turtle Hunt at Barrett's Place Playground. Adults and children will enjoy the Trotter's Trail walk and playing Bingo in one of the picnic shelters. Mayor Randy Hayes and the Town Hall staff will have a special booth set up and believe you me, it is always a great one..

When the night skies begin to darken, the fireworks will begin and this is a display that you will not want to miss. People have commented that this is the best fireworks display in the whole upstate and I believe it.

So bring your chair and some money to help our cause and enjoy this fun filled evening. There is a small fee for parking inside the park, fees for food and patriotic merchandise, and for the games. We try to keep everything reasonably priced so it will be an affordable evening but we also need to raise money for the park. This year the proceeds will focus on the proposed Veterans Memorial and the Baseball Fields. A beautiful plan is in place for the park and we are working hard on Phase 1 but need the support of the whole community.

Spread the word and we hope to see you at Veterans Park on Lebanon Road on July 2 for Freedom Fest.
Check out our website for more information and pictures from past events.
Freedom Fest in Pendleton SC

April In Pendleton

April started out with a bang on April 4 and 5 with a fantastic Spring Jubilee. It was wonderful. Please check out Spring Jubilee Lens for updated photos and videos.

Next we had the Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Parade sponsored by Pendleton Area Business Association. I think a great time was had by all. Lynne Parker, Mary Jo Craig, Eddie Nail, Tim Doyle, Lisa Doyle and Missy Nail as well as others helped to make this happen and I am sure all the children appreciated their efforts. I posted a video of the Egg Hunt on Pendleton Happenings so please stop by and take a look.

The weekend of April 18th is a very busy one with yard sales happening at the First Baptist Church of Pendleton and at BiLo. Work Days will be going on at Pendleton Elementary School Memory Garden and Barrett's Place Playground. Pendleton United Methodist Men will be having their big Barbecue and I am here to tell you that it is delicious. The Pendleton Elks Lodge will be made offical in Greenville. I joined the Elks Lodge because I believe in what they stand for and think this organization will be a big asset to Pendleton. There is still much, much more happening so please check the happenings.

Mark your calendar for May 2 for the Mount Lebanon Big Day and Split Creek Farm's "Spring Means Babies". PEEPS will also be having their Flower Sale from April 27 - May 1.

I strongly encourage you to bookmark the Pendleton Happenings Lens so that you can refer to it often. I won't always be sending out email reminders so hope that you will just refer to the lens for information.

Have a great month!

Great Washington DC Trip

National Issues Forum, Washington, D.C.
May 11-13, 2009

Tentative Itinerary

Monday, May 11th

• Arrive Washington, D.C.
• Check-in L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, near the Mall (afternoon)
• 6:00 p.m. Gather for reception and networking, followed by dinner as a group in a private room at the Hotel.

Tuesday, May 12th

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Leave Hotel for Library of Congress Meetings with scheduled speakers. 9:00 a.m. start time at the LOC
• 12 noon Luncheon in private dining room at the Library of Congress. Afternoon continued speakers in Members’ Room
• 3:00 Adjourn. Remainder of afternoon and evening free.

Wednesday, May 13th

• Breakfast at Hotel and check-out (Hotel will hold your luggage)
• Speakers at the Library of Congress until noon
• Noon Return to Hotel. Prepare to return to the Upstate.

Timeless Tours and Travel
Jean Vegod 864-646-8864 timelesstours@bellsouth.net
150 Link Road, Pendleton, South Carolina 29670

March 27, 28, 29 In Pendleton SC

I realized that there was so much happening on the weekend of March 28th that I needed to post a blog about it. Yes, it is a very busy weekend in Pendleton SC on March 27, 28, 29.

March 26 - Thurs - Ron Rash will be speaking at the Pendleton Branch Library at 6 pm
March 26 - Reception at Pendleton Cafe and Coffee Co for Artist Patsy Johnson

March 27 Friday - PHS Baseball at Walhalla
March 27 -28 Jasmine AQHA Show at Garrison Arena

March 28 - Timeless Tours and Travel Wine Tasting Trip
March 28 - Town Clean Up 8:30 a.m. on the square
March 28 - PHS Band Fish Fry 4 - 7
March 28 - CPR Training at First Baptist Church of Pendleton

March 29 - Pendleton United Methodist Church - 11:00 a.m. JESUS IN THE PASSOVER Service

Please see the details of all of these events on Pendleton Area Happenings

Lenten Lunches In Pendleton

Thank you to the Alliance of Pendleton Area Churches

I always enjoy attending the Lenten Lunches in Pendleton. It is a great time to see folks you don't usually see and to socialize as well as hearing an inspiring message. I have always thought it would be nice to have them all through the year. I also enjoy taking this opportunity to visit other churches in our town. These are sponsored by the Alliance of Pendleton Area Churches and are open to anyone who would like to attend. Lunches usually include delicious soup, sandwiches and desert. If you have never been, I strongly recommend you give it a try. It is very meaningful. The lunches are always on Wednesday beginning at Noon. Here is the schedule:
Lenten Lunches Wednesdays at Noon
Feb 25 - Pendleton Presbyterian Church
March 4 - Peace Congregational Church (meeting at the Unitarian Fellowship at 226 Pendleton Rd)
March 11 - Pendleton United Methodist Church
March 18 - First Baptist Church of Pendleton
March 25 - Kings Chapel Church
April 1 - Silver Springs Baptist Church
April 8 - St. Luke's Fire Baptized Holiness Church

Good Friday Service at Noon April 10 St Paul's Episcopal Church

Easter Sunrise Service
April 12 - Community Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. on the Village Green. Rodney Reid of St. Luke's Fire Baptized Holiness Church will be the preacher. A time of coffeee and fellowship will follow the service at the Pendleton Cafe and Coffee Company.

Evening Services at Pendleton United Methodist Church
Ash Wednesday: February 25 at 7 pm
Maundy Thursday: April 9, at 7 pm

Save The Dates

Spring is a busy time in Pendleton so I wanted to share these dates so everyone can mark their calendars.

April 4 and 5 - Spring Jubilee
Spring Jubilee in Pendleton SC

April 11 - Town Easter Parade and Easter Egg Hunt

May 2 - Split Creek Farm Spring Festival

Keep up to date with what's happening in Pendleton by visiting
Pendleton Happenings

Traffic to my Pendleton Happenings lens has been going down for the last couple of weeks. I think that it is probably because there aren't any major events going on right now but I am hoping people will continue to visit this site and scroll all the way down to find out what is coming soon in Pendleton.

All visits are appreciated and I love to read your comments so please don't be shy. Let me know what you think. Your feedback is needed. That is the only way that I am going to know if the work that goes into keeping this lens updated is appreciated.

Thank you!
Ohme

Sittonbull aka John Sitton Joins Squidoo

Sittonbull aka John Sitton of Pendleton SC joins Squidoo and is an immediate success story. His first lens is one that he is having fun chronicalling his story of how he is Learning To Squidoo. I think John has really captured the interest of the Squidoo Community with his lens on the very basics of getting started. There are a lot of lenses out there to help newbies but they don't seem to touch on the problems that are encountered at the very beginning. Such basics as uploading your avatar in your profile can be extremely frustrating for the Newbie so Sittonbull shares his experiences in the hope that it will save someone else the problems that he experienced.

Sittonbull's first lens, Learn To Squidoo jumped in rankings from the get go and was ranked in the top tier on just his second day after publishing. The third day his ranking jumped even more to 958 overall. This is out of hundreds of thousands so Sittonbull is well on his way to becoming a great Squidoo-er!

Sittonbull has a wonderfully, amazing flare for writing and is passionate about such things as Water Conservation, Fishing, Hunting, Traveling, and being a Grandpa. You will want to follow his progress as he becomes more and more familiar with how to construct a lens because this man has lots to say and will say it in a way that will make each lens a great read!

Mighty glad to have you aboard, Sittonbull and very proud to know you! Congratulations on a fantastic start.

Friends of the Park Needs YOU!

Friends of the Park is holding it's first meeting of 2009 on January 19 at Pendleton United Methodist Church in the Social Hall. We really need some new active members and hope you will consider joining us. We just meet once a month and try very hard to hold those meetings down to one hour. Friends of the Park will need you more than ever since the Tax Referendum did not pass. In order for Veterans Park to move forward as planned, it is going to take all of us working together. If you care about the park and our children and our grandchildren, please join us for this meeting. We will be setting our goals for the year which will include among other things:

Completion of the entrance to Trotter's Trail
Promoting the sale of Pavers and Tiles for the Pavilion
Organizing Freedom Fest 09
Spring and Fall Maintenance Days for Barrett's Place Playground

Please visit our Friends of the Park lens at Friends of the Park

So, you see that we already have a good bit on our plate even more we meet and we need your help. A large percentage of our active volunteers are grandparents or have older children. We need everyone but it would be great to have some young parents with children who are enjoying the park now. We realize how busy parents are when they have their children involved in sports, etc. but this is just once a month meeting for 10 months as we don't meet in November or February. We only have one large fundraiser and that is Freedom Fest which is a lot of work but also a lot of fun!

We hope you will consider joining us and make a difference!
Thank you!