The Anderson Observer’s Gratitude Project offers some of your friends or neighbors talking about the transformative nature of gratitude. Some of the videos are available here.

Council also approved a $8.3 million bond to make long overdue repairs to the historic courthouse. The bond replaces a previous bond the county paid off recently. Council Vice Chairman Brett Sanders recapped the meeting for the Anderson Observer.

The group loves the books and other efforts across the county and is always looking for volunteers to run the bookstore in the main library in Anderson and for other activities and events.

Anderson County Council will vote on amending the 2016 Comprehensive Plan including of the population, economic development workforce, and a new element of resilience and all maps and materials as part of Tuesday’s meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the historic courthouse. The plan is being updated after updates in data and from information gathered at a series of citizen input meetings held in each council district over the past year.

It kicks off Thanksgiving Day and will be open 5:30-10 p.m. through Christmas Day. Admission is $10 per car $25 for 15-passenger van or larger.

Today, let’s be grateful for those who have chosen public education as their mission in life. It’s a tough time to be in the classroom and administrative offices of public schools these days.

Today she runs Anderson’s tallest downtown establishment, a place with unmatched views and a chill vibe that is making the restaurant a bright spot for meals and gatherings.

The library launched its new LEAP (Learn, Adventure, Experience, Play) at those sites on Friday, and the offerings offer opportunities for learning and fun. Those with a library card, which is free to anyone living in the county, can now check out video games (and systems), pickleball equipment, fishing rods, video tablets, musical instruments, bird watching kids, magnetic chess sets, passes to parks and museums and more.

Smurfit Kappa is expanding its U.S. footprint by establishing the company’s first South Carolina operation. The Irish firm currently operates at 350 sites in 36 countries, with 46,000 employees worldwide, and specializes in cardboard packaging manufacturing, producing 11 billion square meters of such products a year. The company is also active in the paper-making and recycling sectors.

Today, let’s give thanks to the helpers in our charitable organizations, those who devote their lives to improve the lot of our neighbors, friends and family members who are in need. 

Creative volunteers from across the community have decorated trees to make them available for auction in plenty of time for hall decking this holiday season. A sneak preview is set for Wednesday, the luncheon is set for Thursday, followed by a "Tree-Mendous Party" event Friday and "Goodies with the Grinch" Saturday.

Donald Trump remains the top choice of South Carolina Republican registered voters for the Republican Party presidential nomination among the narrowing field of contenders, according to the latest Winthrop University Poll.

On Monday, AIM and the United Way of Anderson will host at communitywide distribution of a Thanksgiving meal package from 9 a.m-2 p.m. at the Anderson Civic Center.

Council tabled a vote Monday night concerning economic incentives for a group planning to redevelop the old Thunderbird Motor Lodge 110 East Sharp Street downtown to allow more time to work with potential partners in the project. Calhoun Lofts LLC, which owns the Calhoun Lofts (old Calhoun Hotel), purchased the property in the summer of 2021 for $1.6 million. The total projected coast of $3 million plans to renovate the structure, which was built in 1958, to include 39 new, urban-style apartments.

Greenville & Western Railway Company, LLC, is partnering with the Belton Interfaith Ministerial Association (“BIMA”) and the Presbyterian Food Bank of Pelzer and Williamston (“PFB”) to host the “Santa Express “ to collect food for those in our community who find themselves in need this season. Those who attend this year’s event are encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food items to the train. Greenville & Western, BIMA and PFB volunteers will be staffing the Aiken Railway caboose (the caboose directly behind the locomotives) to accept donations which will help both organizations’ food ministry.

The “Rock the Country” festival, set for July 26-27, will also feature Travis Tritt, Brantley Gilbert, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Colt Ford, Gavin Adcock, Elvie Shane, Sadie Bass and Dee Jay Silver.

The South Carolina senator, who entered the race in May with high hopes, made the surprise announcement on Fox News Channel's “Sunday Night in America” with Trey Gowdy, one of his closest friends. The news was so unanticipated that one campaign worker told The Associated Press that campaign staff found out Scott was dropping out by watching the show.

Anderson City Council will consider financial incentives for the development of a parcel on East Sharp Street downtown, approval of the distribution of Accommodations Tax funds, and details related to the April municipal election as part of Monday’s meeting at 6 p.m. in council chambers.

The breezy and sometimes quirky comedy is part mystery, part ode to the alpha geek dungeon master (including an oversized Renaissance Fair black cloak and imaginary girlfriend), part nightmarish mean girls, and part exploration of teen angst and part exploration of what can and often does go wrong in life.

Photo: Kelly T. Images

I know directly that members of my own family have been fighting in America since at least the time of the revolution. Sometimes they even joined the armed forces. They were the Scottish immigrants here in the Upcountry who opposed the loyalists in the American Revolution and punished the British who threatened their way of life.