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Willie,
On Oct. 22, Greg Oliver wrote an article entitled “Foothills Area Family Y Seeks Financial Support.” While the title of the article implies the need for financial support of their current activities at their current location, the article itself talks more about the future YMCA at Keowee River. The fact is the Foothills Area Family YMCA is in need of funds to sustain their current programs. The programs are numerous — soccer, flag football, basketball, summer camps, holiday camps and activities — and provide great benefit to the community. With the loss of income from parking for the Clemson football games, they are looking to all of us in the community to help them sustain these programs until the new YMCA becomes a reality. Their Web site, www.Y4all.org, has an option to make donations online. Their address is Foothills Area Family YMCA, 275 YMCA Circle, Seneca, SC 29678 to mail in checks. Let’s try and remember that the upcoming holidays are about the spirit of giving and even small donations can add up. I would like to ask all of you to consider the benefits of the YMCA and the many children whose lives are enriched by their programs.
Willie says:
Willie hopes all of my readers will agree that our communities benefit greatly from the presence of the YMCA. Hopefully everyone will do all they can to support it with ongoing donations — large or small — they all help.
Willie,
My family and I recently attended the Oconee County Humane Society’s low country boil fundraiser, and it was a great time with super good food. The fundraiser is held at The Funny Duck Farm, which is a wonderful place for kids. More people need to attend this fun event next year, as I understand the money helps their efforts in providing low cost spay/neuter certificates to the public.
Willie says:
Another most worthy cause to keep in mind to support!
Willie,
I am writing to get the word out about a program that is being offered at the Seneca Presbyterian Church. They are doing a “Parents Night Out” the 2nd Friday of every month. You may bring your children and drop them off from 6-10 p.m. The ladies there are fantastic. The service is free and the kids are well taken care of and have a great time. There is food, movies, games and other fun things to keep the kids entertained. My husband and I moved here about a year ago and really do not know of anyone to babysit if we want to just go see a movie or eat dinner so this was perfect. I would like to personally thank the women there for making such a great impression on my boys; they are looking forward to going back again. People can call the church (864) 882-2528. The next time this will take place will be Nov. 13.
Willie says:
I’m sure this church is providing a great service by offering a Parents Night Out and a fun time for the kids!
Willie,
This is in response to the trash truck drivers for the city of Walhalla sitting at Bountyland at 8:30 a.m. every morning. Do you have a job? If you did, you would spend your time doing your job and not minding others business. You would also know that everyone is entitled to two breaks a day. These guys work hard and they deserve to take these breaks just like anyone else!
Willie says:
Breaks. Ol’ Willie loves my breaks. There’s the morning break, the mid-morning break, the pre-lunch break, the lunch break, the post-lunch break, the afternoon break, the mid-afternoon break …
Willie,
I guess you know Oconee Hospice of the Foothills is a not for profit organization that helps so many folks and their families. Well, come this Friday it’s Hospice Day at Schlotzsky’s in Seneca. Oconee Hospice of the Foothills is going to get a percentage of ALL sales that day. I hope lots of people will eat lunch or dinner there Friday in support of Hospice of the Foothills.
Willie says:
Willie likes the way you think.
Willie,
I had the pleasure of participating in a golf tournament run by and for the Corinth/Shiloh Fire Department. In addition to their hard work, both the organization and implementation, I was impressed with the quality of all those that worked so hard to make this event successful. Every one of these young people was extremely helpful, and you could sense that they liked and respected each other. We thank them for their dedication and every firefighter in the county deserves our thanks and support.
Willie says:
Kudos to the firefighters and all who support them!
Willie,
Once again Carroll Gambrell has tainted the columns and comics page of the Saturday edition with a right wing political tirade. I’d think that the powers-that-be should restrict partisan political opinion to the Opinion or Op-Ed pages? Granted, I disagree with his views on most things political, but he’s more than welcome to his own views, but I don’t think it’s in good taste to place them on an entertainment-type page. If you’re strapped for more appropriate content, I would suggest running more Heloise!
Willie says:
I guess the whole point of having a personal column is to be able to write about any topic you feel like. Nothing published by any columnist — local ones or nationally syndicated ones — ever represents the views of the newspaper or its management.
Willie,
I just have to say kudos to Ms. McPhail and West-Oak for putting on such an awesome fair recently. I had fun at the Heritage Fair. I sure hope this becomes an annual thing. Way to go West-Oak!
Willie says:
Kudos to all who worked to make this Heritage Fair the great time it was and best wishes for making it an annual event!
Willie,
You have people thinking you’re an older gentleman when in reality you are probably still in the late-30s or even a female.
Willie says:
Willie only wishes I were still in my late-30s!! As far as changing my gender, I figure the Good Lord knew best when he gave my momma a spankin’ baby boy!
Willie,
I am now living in the Netherlands with my Dutch husband and I try and read your column every day online. I would like to respond to the people concerned with the Spanish speakers in Wal-Mart to give them another point of view. I speak English most of the time with my American and English friends here, with my husband and two boys. Only when I am speaking to a Dutch person (for instance at a store asking for assistance or my in-laws) do I then speak Dutch. Sometimes when I speak to a Dutch person, they respond in English because upon hearing my American accent they say they like to practice speaking English. Even though Dutch is the official language, everyone in Holland (the Netherlands) is taught Dutch, English (beginning in 4th grade), French (beginning in 7th grade) and German (beginning in 8th grade). It is compulsory to learn these languages. For me it is more comfortable to speak my own language, and I can communicate better.
Willie says:
You make a good point. It is probably true that most people, no matter how many different languages they become fluent in during their lifetime, are most comfortable speaking in the language they learned first and the one all their other linguistic skills were founded on. Poor ol’ Willie just never could get the hang of other languages even though I tried in high school. I could figure the words out on paper, but when I heard somebody speak ’em I had no clue!
Discuss story 
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November 4, 2009
7:05 a.m.Report inappropriate content
The person complaining about Carroll Campbell's column is just carring on the agenda of the present adminstration in trying to suppress free speech. At the present time we still have that freedom and should express it just as the writer of the comment so ignorantly did. He makes one statement "I’d think that the powers-that-be should restrict partisan political opinion" then clearly contradicts himself ", but he’s more than welcome to his own view". Not sure which cool-aid he prefers.
November 4, 2009
7:19 a.m.Report inappropriate content
To the person that responded about someone saying something about the garbage trucks at bounty land.......I just want you to know that i don't need to have taxes taken out of my check every 2 weeks so that your buddies or yourself can sponge off of the tax payers of oconee county, we have all the right in the world to say something about that because they need to work instead of taking long breaks. I think the person said that they seen the truck at bounty land at 8:30 am, tell me that they only have been working for 1 hr and 30 min and than they have to take a break........they need to work not drink coffee.
November 4, 2009
7:28 a.m.Report inappropriate content
"Carroll Campbell". "Carring". "Cool-aid".
Carroll Campbell died in 2005. I have no idea what "carring" means, although I'm sure it's a perfectly cromulent word. And it's "Kool-aid".
November 4, 2009
8:29 a.m.Report inappropriate content
You know, carring; driving a car. As in "The flat tire brought my carring to an end yesterday."
November 4, 2009
11:44 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Thank you. This exchange embiggens us all.
November 4, 2009
11:52 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Looks like the spelling police are out today. Be cafeful so you don't get made fun of...
November 4, 2009
12:47 p.m.Report inappropriate content
whatchabemeanin?
November 4, 2009
2:38 p.m.Report inappropriate content
I am usually quite "cafeful" when submitting online posts.
November 4, 2009
3:36 p.m.Report inappropriate content
You get a gold star.
November 4, 2009
3:45 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Well, it's English 101 again!!!! The name is Carroll Gambrell, not Campbell! "the person that SAW (not SEEN) the truck at BountyLand!!!!
The Spelling and Grammar Police are watching closely!
Engish 101 over now. Class dismissed.
November 4, 2009
6:56 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Good for you, belle! Spelling and grammar DO matter, even if a lot of people think that they don't.
November 4, 2009
7:02 p.m.Report inappropriate content
When you make a post in a hurry that's what happens. I knew it was "Gambrell" Seems some folks just don't have anything else to do but critique the spelling & grammar of those that post. Give people a little space. Things like that don't bother me like they do some. Wish I was perfect.
By the way, the issue wasn't about grammar.....was it?
November 5, 2009
1:35 a.m.Report inappropriate content
price2544, it should be "Wish I were perfect." No, the issue wasn't about grammar. Some people just realize that how one writes really does make a difference in the way a person is perceived. Proofreading is a skill you should acquire. Then, you wouldn't make mistakes when posting.
November 5, 2009
6:37 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Thanks for the advise retaredqueen
November 5, 2009
7:23 a.m.Report inappropriate content
"Retared"?
November 5, 2009
9 a.m.Report inappropriate content
A tare is a counterbalance weight, or gross weight of a vehicle without passengers or cargo. Tared something weighed in order to find the tare. Retared would then be something weighed again, I suppose.
November 5, 2009
9:19 a.m.Report inappropriate content
You're good, Kat. Thanks for teaching us a new word. Who knows? We may be on a game show sometime where the question would be about a "tare".
November 5, 2009
10:44 a.m.Report inappropriate content
A tare is also a weed found in some grain fields.
November 5, 2009
10:54 a.m.Report inappropriate content
I had a flat tare so I ain't carring no more?
November 5, 2009
12:01 p.m.Report inappropriate content
taresom
November 5, 2009
12:56 p.m.Report inappropriate content
reintarenation: to come back to life as a counterbalance weight.
November 5, 2009
4:15 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Kat, I love it!! You just may have come up with a new word. haha
November 5, 2009
4:27 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Too much ime on your hands, obviously.
November 5, 2009
7:28 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Maybe so, goaliedad. You responded, too.
November 6, 2009
7:29 a.m.Report inappropriate content
enforcer (Anonymous) says...
I had a flat tare so I ain't carring no more?
We have a winner!
November 6, 2009
10:04 a.m.Report inappropriate content
True, DixieWrecked. No more on the subject.It's been fun, though.