Mark Brian

In observance of Native American Heritage Month, the Pickens County Cultural Commission invites you to join the friends of the Pickens County Museum for a special, and free, day of milling, memories and a Native American Celebration at the Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center. The Mill will be operating, rain or shine, on Saturday, November 21 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

“Selugadu” (Cherokee for cornbread) celebrates our Native American influences. A number of groups will be represented, including individuals born and raised here as well as those who have made South Carolina their home.

Hosted by “Reedy River Intertribal,” this third annual event will begin with a “Presentation of the Colors,” honoring America’s veterans, and will continue throughout the day with a great program of drumming, dancing, singing, storytelling, demonstrations and games. Reedy River’s “Sagan” (head-man), Pat Langley, will be present to interpret Native American culture, along with Joseph Jordan, a Tuscarora Indian from Georgia, who will act as Master of Ceremonies. Jordan is an award-winning dancer and presenter. Native American dancing will be a big part of the celebration.

Dr. Will Goins, Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois and United Tribes of South Carolina will be on hand to share in stories, dance and song and will talk with visitors about the Cherokee and other Native American history, culture and tradition.

For those who get “caught up” in the spirit of the day, the dancing will include audience participation dances and a “candy dance” for kids. A highlight of the dancing will be 13 year old Austin “Redbird” Sweat, an Eastern Shawnee, who has won numerous awards for his performances. Native American flute music (of different styles and tribes) will be presented along with songs in Cherokee performed by the Reedy River Intertribal Singers. Native jewelry and crafts will be demonstrated and available for sale. “Sagan” Langley has won awards for his beadwork. Reedy River member, Gale McKinley will demonstrate basket making. Native-cooked roasted corn and fry bread will also be available.

Activities for youngsters will include face-painting with Native designs and participation in (and learning about) drumming on a “kid’s drum” the group will bring.

Another delight for the kids will be the presence of the Foothills Indian Horse Club with their Colonial Spanish horses. These horses are descended from the first horses brought to the New World by the Spanish and are similar to the wild horses that roam the West. The club is affiliated nationally with the American Indian Horsed Registry and the Horses of the Americas Registry. Kids will be allowed to “paint” the horses with their hand prints in the style of the Plains Indians.

The Crawford Collection of local ancient stone points and tools will be on display along with experimental archaeologist, Roger Lindsay’s, “river-cane” technology exhibit and demonstration of the lance and atl-atl, blowgun and bow & arrow. The mill site's regular flintknapper, Steve Compton, will also be showing how stone tools and weapons were made. The Foothills Chapter of the SC Archaeology Society will be present with a table of information and to do free artifact identification of any stone tools visitors wish to bring. The Crawfords and Lindsay will also be available to tell visitors about the mill site’s “petroglyph” rock with its seventeen human “stick-men,” carved by Native Americans more than a thousand years ago and the “South Carolina Rock Art Center” that will be built over it.

As a service to the Native Americans present, the National Tribal Development Association will have their Outreach Liaison, Gina Bass, on site with a table of information on Federal Grants and assistance for Native Americans and Family Farms.

Join in the fun from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for this FREE day of Native American celebration and demonstrations along with the regular monthly feature of “milling, music and memories.” The Hagood Mill hosts a variety of folklife and traditional arts demonstrations each month, including blacksmithing, bowl-digging, cotton-ginning, flintknapping, moonshining, quilting, spinning, woodcarving and more!

All this should make for a day surely not to miss. Bring your lawn chairs, enjoy a plate of barbeque, a hot dog or some Native fry bread or roasted corn and experience a day at the Mill and a great time at this wonderful celebration of American Indian culture. Show your support for the Mill and the Pickens County Museum by joining them at this monthly Third Saturday event. The Hagood Mill operates, rain or shine, the third Saturday of every month and is located just 3 miles north of Pickens or 5 ½ miles south of Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy 11 off SC Hwy 178 at 138 Hagood Mill Road. Hagood Mill is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 until 4:00, to tour the buildings and grounds and to visit the Mill Site Gift Shop.

Part of "Music in the Mountains 2009", Selugadu III: A Native American Celebration is sponsored by a private benefactor. The Pickens County Museum of Art & History is funded in part by Pickens County, members and friends of the museum and a grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For additional information please contact the Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center at (864) 898-2936 or the Pickens County Museum at (864) 898-5963. Be sure to become a fan of Hagood Mill on Facebook!

Every year thousands of shooting stars amaze stargazers around the world.  You can have a special evening of wonder as learning about the Leonid meteor shower and the comet that started it all at the SC Botanical Gardens in Clemson on November 17th from 7 to 9PM. The dark skies provided by the new moon should provide excellent viewing conditions, but remember there are no guarantees.  Clemson University professors and curators will guide you in viewing with and without a telescope, counting and measuring meteors, as well as helping you understand what you're seeing.  Bring a notebook & pen, blankets or chairs, and dress for the weather! You can leave your flashlight at home since it will not be needed.  There will be light refreshments provided.  The fee for the event is $10/family (up to 5).  Meet at the Kelly Meadow at the SC Botanical Garden.

For more information please call 864-656-3405 or visit their website

Just a few days ago I wrote about how the SC Secretary of Commerce had talked at a luncheon with the Anderson County Council and REALTORS from Anderson County on my Upstate SC Real Estate Blog. And today I read this article how Oconee County is taking the bull by the horns and working to do exactly what is needed to get growth in the southern portion of the county.

I am glad to see that Oconee County is taking the needed steps to plan for future growth. Without the necessary utilities already in place, almost all businesses will look elsewhere. I am sure that no one wants to spend the money but if we want Oconee County to continue down the path towards future growth we must take steps today.

There is so much room for growth and with the excellent workforce available in Oconee County, many manufacturers are going to want to move here. Look at the recent news about Boeing moving to SC. It was many reasons, but one that really made it happen was the site was ready for Boeing to break ground almost immediately.

Imagine if Oconee County were to have a huge impact in the economy like Boeing has made in the lower part of South Carolina. It is up to us to ensure our children can look forward to a robust job market right here in Upstate SC. We are blessed with so much natural beauty in Oconee County. But it is going to take proper planning to have more jobs for future generations in Oconee County.

Please take the time to think about this very important issue and let your elected officials know that you want more jobs and growth in Oconee County.

Make your South Carolina home more appealing for yourself and potential buyers with these quick and easy tips:

1. Trim bushes so they don’t block windows or architectural details.

2. Mow your lawn, and turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before the showing to make the lawn sparkle.

3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.

4. Install new doorknobs on your front door.

5. Repair any cracks in the driveway.

6. Edge the grass around walkways and trees.

7. Keep your garden tools and hoses out of sight.

8. Clear toys from the lawn.

9. Buy a new mailbox.

10. Upgrade your outside lighting.

11. Buy a new doormat for the outside of your front door.

12. Clean your windows, inside and outside.

13. Polish or replace your house numbers.

14. Place a seasonal wreath on your door.

Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag) with the permission of NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS Copyright 2008 All rights reserved.

People Want to Live in our Region

I am always blogging about how great Upstate SC and found an interesting interview with Bruce Yandle, economist at Clemson University. While the article is mainly about the economy recovering, the very last sentences were just confirmation for what I have been preaching!

You Are Preaching to the Choir

With the huge amounts of people that call me very week from all around the US wanting to move to my area it is apparent to me. And hearing someone quoted in the newspaper, especially when it is from a reputable source like a economist at Clemson University, well that just makes me even happier. Hate to say I told you so....

Now if you are looking to relocate to Upstate SC and would like to learn more about my area or find out how much home you can buy for your money, please feel free to contact me!