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Recent Newspaper Articles:
August 03, 2004
Neighborhoods
bonding together
June 15, 2004
Funds for Sprinkler System Approved
February 15, 2004
Floyd-Gilman Wedding Announcement
January 31, 2004
Residents get ready for big game Super Bowl Panthers
August 7, 2003
Happy Campers Panthers Training Camp
July 18, 2003
violations below average in Spartanburg
February 18, 2003
Upstate fills physical, spiritual needs
December 10, 2002
Grateful at SCSDB
December 6, 2002
Power loss forges unlikely bond between SCSDB students,
elderly
October 6,2002
Memory Walk raises Alzheimer's awareness
Posted on October 06, 2002
Memory Walk raises Alzheimer's awareness
Friends and loved ones gathered Saturday to
walk in memory of those who are suffering and who have died from
Alzheimer's disease.
Approximately 150 people participated in the Upstate South
Carolina Chapter of the National Alzheimer's Association's
annual fund-raiser, the Memory Walk. The event was held at the
Mountainview in Spartanburg.
"We're here to raise funds and awareness," said Ralph Winn, from
the board of directors for the chapter. This year's three-mile
walk was Winn's fourth. He participated in honor of his wife,
who lost her 12-year battle with the disease this past January.
"There are more than 4,000 cases in Spartanburg County alone and
4 million nationwide," Winn said. "With enough research and
awareness we can beat this thing, just like polio was
conquered."
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that affects a person's
ability to carry out daily activities. It involves parts of the
brain that control thought, memory and language. Every day
scientists learn more, but right now the causes of the disease
are still unknown, and there is no cure. The disease usually
begins after age 60, and the risk goes up with age.
Many of the memory walkers joined the effort in support of a
loved one.
"I'm here for my mother," said Karen Harris, a Spartanburg
resident. "It's devastating to see the suffering that comes with
this disease."
Harris's efforts were supported by fellow teammates from
Morningside Baptist Church.
The Upstate chapter set a goal of $40,000 for this year's walk.
"We didn't quite make last year's goal of $50,000," said Janice
Finkle, chapter coordinator. "The economy was so upset this time
last year. We're hoping this year will be better."
One way these funds help is by letting local families of
Alzheimer's victims hire day sitters to assist in the homes.
"All funds raised during the Memory Walk stay local," Finkle
said. "By local, I mean within the 17 counties covered by our
chapter."
The Spartanburg High Tippers was one of this year's largest
fund-raisers, bringing in more than $3,000. These 54 high school
students raised money by going door-to-door and speaking with
community members about Alzheimer's disease. The Tippers also
provided a carnival after the event to entertain children who
participated in the walk.
"We've got something for everyone during the day," said Sue Kemp
of Mountainview .
The donated its grounds for the walk. Afterward, it
provided walkers with a free barbeque lunch.
Top
Posted on December 06, 2002
Power loss forges unlikely bond between SCSDB students, elderly
By BENNY LEE SMITH
Staff Writer
Love is ageless. Visit us.
Those words are on a sign that hangs above the entrance of
Mountainview on Cedar Springs Road.
The winter storm forced more than 200 S.C. School for the Deaf
and the Blind teachers and students to ride buses across the
street and take the residents up on that offer
Thursday. The group made the visit because of a power outage at
the school.
"This is the first time we have ever had to evacuate since I
have been here for more than 25 years," said Craig Jacobs,
principal of SCSDB's Multihandicapped School.
Students ranging from elementary to middle school ages
interacted throughout the day with elderly residents as they
waited for power to be restored. The school's nearly 90 older
teens and their teachers spent Thursday at Croft Fire
Department.
The school lost power about 3:30 a.m., and administrators went
into action.
"We knew what to do; we just don't want to have to do it again,
ever," said SCSDB President Sheila Breitweiser.
They first called administrators and Croft
firefighters to let them know they would be putting their winter
storm plan into action. The school does not have generators.
"I heard a knock on my door and then they said we had to get up,
get dressed because the power was out," said 13-year-old
Jennifer Paul.
Paul and about 250 other students from around the state stay at
the school as residential students during the week. They go home
on the weekends.
Once students got to the and fire department, they
were split into groups with their teachers. They spent the rest
of the day playing games, watching television and taking short
walks outside.
Students made the best of their situation by interacting with
residents at the .
Cleveland Hallman, 10, of Columbia played with a large yellow
ball, regularly used as a therapy tool. He bounced the ball in
the hall of the back and forth for about 20 minutes
with a resident.
Fourteen-year-old twins Latiesha and Lakeieshia Baskin of
Anderson used their time to practice cheerleading moves. As they
moved their arms and jumped up and down, residents
rolled their wheelchairs in to get a look.
Administrator Wilson Dillard said it was the first time the
has had the opportunity to accommodate the
students, who are directly across the street from the nursing
home.
"We have a good relationship and past understanding that if this
ever happened we would be there for them," Wilson said.
Power was restored at SCSDB late Thursday, but the students
spent Thursday night at the fire department and
while the school heated back up.
Benny Lee Smith can be reached at 582-4511, Ext. 7216, or
benny.smith@shj.com
Top
Posted on December 10, 2002
Grateful at SCSDB
By Sheila S. Breitweiser
President,
I want to thank the wonderful Spartanburg community for coming
to our aid at the S.C. School for the Deaf and the Blind during
the recent winter storm.
When we lost power in Thursday's pre-dawn hours, 270 of our
students needed a warm place to stay. Both the Croft Fire
Department and the Mountainview had emergency
generators and opened their warm facilities to us for a full 24
hours.
Their staff members (and, at Mountainview, their residents as
well) basically treated all members of our SCSDB group just as
if we were family members.
In fact, a highlight of the experience was to see so many of the
Mountainview residents engaged in wonderful activities with our
special kids -- playing ball, working puzzles, singing Christmas
carols and much more.
When the campus telephones went out, the local mass media helped
us notify the community of an emergency cell phone number. And
when we discovered that 50 of the students did not have suitable
coats for the extremely cold weather, a community donor covered
the full bill for 50 new coats -- and then provided pizza for
our staff!
I want to extend heartfelt appreciation, on behalf of everyone
at SCSDB, to all of our wonderful neighbors for the warm
reception and great care extended to our children.
I also want to thank our wonderful staff members who traveled,
at times in dangerous conditions, to care for our special kids,
even though many of these staff members did not have power at
their own homes. The evacuation was carried out quickly and
smoothly thanks to the generosity of our neighbors and our
staff's careful planning.
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