ART

Blue Ridge Arts Center will host an exhibit of selected quilters from South and North Carolina from through Nov. 13. “Fiber Fantasy” will feature 10 arts quilters. Quilt designs from abstract to realistic will be include in this exciting show, as well as a tribute to Claude Smith, which will showcase some of his wonderful quilts.

The South Carolina Botanical Garden will hold its annual plant sale Oct. 3 and 4. The sale will be open from 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3 for members of the garden only. New members may join at the gate for $35 per individual or $50 per family. The sale is open to the public from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4. The Botanical Garden is near the intersection of Perimeter Road and U.S. 76 in Clemson. For more info, call (864) 656-6205.

The South Carolina Botanical Garden will feature the works of William Jameson in the Fran Hanson Discovery Center Gallery. Jameson’s paintings of landscapes in Upstate South Carolina and the mountains of North Carolina will be on display daily from Oct. 9 to Jan. 12, 2009.

An opening reception for Friends of the Garden will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9. Jameson will attend to meet with guests.

The Work of Elizabeth Belser Fuller is an ongoing exhibit. It is a permanent exhibit of watercolors, acrylics and mixed media works by native South Carolina and special friend of the garden, Elizabeth Belser Fuller. The exhibit is located at the Fran Hanson Discovery Center Gallery. The hours of the center are Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Continuing monthly at The Market at Keowee Towne – The Blue Ridge Arts Council is providing the finishing touch for the Café by featuring a different artist each month. Purchases of the artwork can be made by contacting the BRAC office at (864) 882-2722.

FAMILY FARE

The School District of Oconee County presents “The Oconee All County Chorus” featuring Oconee County schools’ choruses under the direction of Dr. Bob Heritage at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Seneca Baptist Church with free admission.

Halloween on the Green will take place from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., on Oct. 31 in Seneca in Norton-Thompson Park, featuring a disc jockey, inflatable rides for children, hot dogs until 6:30 p.m., a costume contest, hayrides, free candy giveaways, games and arts and craft activities. The event is free to the public.

The South Carolina Botanical Garden Discovery Center and Garden Gift hours of operation are as follows: Fran Hanson Discovery Center and Garden Gift Shop will be open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Campbell Geology Museum will be open Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. For more information, please call (864) 656-3405, e-mail scbg@clemson.edu or visit www.clemson.edu/scbg.

MUSEUMS

Ashtabula Museum Home is open for guided tours Tuesday through Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for children ages 5 to 10. Children under five are free. Ashtabula, an 1820s antebellum plantation home owned by the Pendleton Historic Foundation, is located on Hwy. 88, three miles east of downtown. Individual, group and school tours are also available by appointment. Call (864) 646-7249 or (864) 646-3782.

The Historic Ballenger House is a lovely c.1925 home located in the center of Seneca's historic district. The facility is home to several non-profit clubs and a meeting place for many other community organizations. Fundraisers, art exhibits and educational classes are held here several times a year. The house is a frequent location for weddings, showers and social events. The newly restored carriage house and grounds offer many additional uses for the facility. More information can be found on the Web site www.historicballengerhouse.com For tours or additional information call (864) 654-4043 or e-mail donna@ballengerhouse.com.

Central History Museum & Gardens is open on Sundays from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. with the garden open from dusk to dawn. The museum admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children. The house museum built in 1893 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places is located at 416 Church Street in Central. It has a railroad model of Central in the ’30s. Volunteers are needed for maintaining the gardens.

Woodburn Museum Home is open for guided tours Sundays from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. and Monday from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for children ages five to 10. Children under five are free. Ashtabula, an1830s antebellum plantation home is owned by the Pendleton Historic Foundation and is located on Hwy. 76 across from Tri-County Tech. Individual, group and school tours are also available by appointment. Call (864) 646-7249 or (864) 646-3782.

Biltmore Estate

The Biltmore is open daily from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. It is located on Highway 25 in Asheville, N.C., just north of I-40 exit 50 or 50 B. For more information call (877) 324-5866.

The Oconee Heritage Center in Walhalla serves as an archive, educational facility and museum of the county’s history. The OHC is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from noon – 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and also by special appointment. For more information, call (864) 638-2224 or visit the Web site at www.oconeeheritagecenter.org

Rose Hill Plantation Historic Site is open Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and the mansion is open for tours from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. It is located on Sardis Road about eight miles south of Union in Union County. For more information, contact the park at (864) 427-5966.

The Lunney House Museum, located at 211 W.S. First St. in Seneca, is open Thursday – Sunday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. or by appointment. (864) 882-4811 Admission is Free. This 1909 California-style Arts & Crafts bungalow is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the SC Heritage Corridor. The house contains Oconee county memorabilia, curiosities and a mixture of mission and Victorian furnishings. Curator Jean Anne Cooper (864) 247-9487, 280-0347 or 882-4578.

Pickens County Museum of Art and History will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursdays from 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call (864) 898-5963.

Patriots’ Hall: Oconee Veterans’ Museum will be open every Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. or by appointment by calling Charles Brickett. It is located in the “Old Rock Building” behind the courthouse in Walhalla. If you have something to donate, drop by the museum when it is open or call President Charles Brickett at (864) 944-5112.

THEATRE

The Clemson Area Youth Theatre, an integral part of the Clemson Little Theatre presents “The Great Cross-Country Race” Oct. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26. Friday and Saturday curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for college students with ID and youths under 19. For more info, call (864) 646-8100.

The Clemson Child Development Center will host a Murder Mystery Fun Night at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Calhoun Bridge Center, 212 Butler St., Clemson. This will be an evening of audience participation, who-dunits, food, wine, beer, soft drinks and many laughs. The Show Offs will present “The Haunting.” Costumes are encouraged, but not required – prizes will be awarded. Tickets are $45 per person. For ticket info, call (864) 654-3345. All proceeds will benefit the CCDC.

MISCELLANEOUS

Two local ministries are hosting a benefit dinner Saturday in Seneca for an orphanage in Haiti trying to recover from devastating hurricanes that tore through in August. Team Jesus 2000 Inc. and House of Judah Church are promoting an “Evening for Haiti Benefit Dinner” at Seneca River Family Life Center, 298 Poplar St. beginning 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. Tickets for the dinner are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. All proceeds will go to an orphanage in Haiti. For more information or to obtain tickets, call (864) 718-0015 or (864) 916-0186.

Rhonda Vincent, “The Queen of Bluegrass,” will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. For more info, call (864) 723-5166 or visit www.walhallacivicauditorium.com.

The Anderson Mid-Day Lions and Anderson Lions Club will host its first annual golf tournament Oct. 8 at the Anderson Country Club. Proceeds from the tournament will be used to support the many charitable projects of the Lions. The clubs are asking for support from individuals and local businesses. Anyone interested in participating can get more information from any Lions member or calling Nancy Smith at (864) 616-6471.

Seneca Woman’s Club members will provide the food and Palmetto Spirits will provide the wines for the annual Wine Tasting and Raffle from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Nov. 7. This has been a very popular event. Donations are $25 per person. Tickets are available at Palmetto Spirits or call Peggy at (864) 882-3996.

The Newcomer Club of the Foothills welcomes those new to the area to our Oct. 7 meeting at 9:30 a.m., with the program starting at 10 a.m. Come early for refreshments and investigate the numerous club, cultural and civic organizations for your membership and enjoyment. Guest speaker, Ms. Susan Hilscher Director of Physician Services at Oconee Medical Center, will speak on the Oconee Medical Center Expansion and Plans for projected growth of services. St. Mark United Methodist Church, 616 Quincy Road, Seneca. For maps or further information, go to newcomerclub.com.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer a safe boating course on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Duke Energy’s World of Energy Visitors Center, 7815 Rochester Hwy. It is a one-day course for both the beginner and experienced. The class will take place from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Registration will be held that morning before the class. A comprehensive text and a CD-ROM will also be provided for each student. The fee is $30. To sign up or for more info, contact Jim Rudy at (864) 972-2085 or jimrudy@bellsouth.net or Ken Bruning at (864) 297-5397 or kbruning@bellsouth.net

Our Daily Bread will host its Annual Chicken BBQ Fundraiser from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 106 Jordan St., Seneca (near the Seneca Post Office). Tickets are $10 each and will include half of a BBQ chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, roll, beverage and dessert. Eat in or carry out. For tickets, call Donna at (864) 888-8838. Our Daily Bread is a non-profit organization that feeds about 100 people Monday through Friday with all volunteer workers.

Oconee Helping Hands 4-H Club is having a craft shopping event from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Nov. 8 at Oak Grove 4-H Center. Rain date will be Nov. 15. For more info, call Suzanne Matheson at (864) 944-5530. Share your wares, talent and time for this special event.

The 2009 S.C. District 1 Big League Baseball sign-ups will be held through Oct. 15, Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Larry D. Bagwell Gym at the J.B. “Red” Owens Complex in Easley. Participants must live in Pickens, Anderson or Oconee County and must have the following to sign up: an original birth certificate (no copies) and three proofs of residency (drivers license, voters registration card, school records, utility bill, insurance documents, vehicle records, etc.). There is an $80 registration fee payable to SC District 1 Big League Baseball. For more info, call (864) 855-7933.

Pickens County 4-H is offering a Culinary Cooking Clovers Event on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. – noon at the Pickens County Extension Office. This event is for ages 12 to 15 interested in the culinary field. The cost of the course is $15 per child to cover the cost of the supplies and is limited to the first nine paid registrants. For more info, call (864) 878-1394 ext. 111.

The 1st Annual Tamassee Salem/Walhalla alumni basketball game at Tamassee Salem High School gym will take place on Saturday, Oct. 11. The women’s game will start at 5 p.m., 35 and under men’s game will start at 6:15 p.m. and 36 and older men’s game will start at 7:30 p.m. Admission will be $5; kids under six are free. Concessions will be sold. Proceeds will be split between Tamassee Salem Cross Country Team and Walhalla High Athletics.

Taylor Guitars Road Show will be at The United Assembly of God, 11075 Watson Drive in Seneca at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22. Admission is free. For more info, call (864) 888-8686.

The 3rd Annual Riverhurst Arts Festival will be held at Riverhurst Shops, 1376 Tiger Blvd., Clemson, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.