I had the nicest face to face chat with my friend Sandy Sandifer on Wednesday of last week. He again said how much he and his family appreciate all that everyone has done for them since the fire.

He told me that he had been told as late as Monday of last week that INGLES is going to tear the old Winn Dixie building down and begin over. They want to give Westminster a fine new store where we can have the best service. Sandy said for us to be patient a little while longer and that we would be proud. Sandy said he has turned his job about the new store over to our mayor and Sammy Dickson, two very able young men.

I would like to again say THANK YOU to Sandy for all he did to ensure that Westminster would get a grocery store as soon as possible. We appreciate and love you Sandy Sandifer!

Heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family of Sabrina Burton this week. May God bless you and keep you in His care.

A classmate James Ray Suttles died on Saturday. I always enjoyed seeing him at WES when he would come there. We often talked of our memories of WHS. God bless you, Lois and all of his family.

Get-well prayers have been requested for Betty Blair, Jerry Crain, Charles Moore, Judi Price, Larry Price, Misty Johnson, Roy Smith, Elaine Hoblit, Paula Owens, Louise James, Beulah Farmer’s sister Betty, and Donald Hefner. God bless you all.

Happy birthday wishes are extended to Hunter Hackett.

Congratulations to Kristy Crain Hood who is Teacher of the Year at Westminster Middle School. I taught with her when she taught at WES. She is such a fine teacher.

I really like the moral of this parable. Just had to share it with you.

THE PARABLE OF THE PENCIL.

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. He told the pencil, "There are five things that you need to know before I send you out into the world: Always remember them and you will become the best pencil that you can be."

1. You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand.
2. You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you will need it to become a better pencil.
3. You will be able to correct any mistakes that you might make.
4. The most important part of you will always be what is on the inside.
5. On every surface you are used, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition is, you must always continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember. He went into the box with purpose in his heart. Pause for a moment and imagine you are the pencil. Allow the parable to encourage you: Believe that you are a special person. Believe that only you can fulfill the purpose for which you were made. Believe that you can become the best you can be....no matter your age or stage in life. Believe in the Creator. Honor Him with your life.

Minnie Owens called to share her news. Her recent visitors include Mary Bell Towe and Ricky Towe of Walhalla.

I enjoyed being at WES on last Thursday for the First Annual Read Across America Read-a-Thon in celebration of Dr. Seuss. I heard four students read in my hour there. Melissa Farmer and her staff in the library do a wonderful job. One of the students I heard read was Danielle Cobb. I found out her grandparents are Dutch and Charles Cobb who have the wonderful display of Christmas lights each year.

Jay and Sallie Lee and son Corbin visited with us last Sunday afternoon. Their daughters Ashton and Katherine were in Charleston playing in a tennis tournament.

Evangelist John Killian preached at Faith Center Church on Sunday. He then headed to Kentucky where he will conduct meetings for the next two weeks. Due to tightness of scheduling the Killians and Rolann Lee had to regretfully decline an invitation to have lunch following the service with Alan and Mary Wycoff.

Doug Lovelace from Shelby North Carolina traveled with John Killian to Indiana last week for several meetings.

My neighbor Ester Chandler is interested in some house cleaning opportunities. Call me and I will tell her.

The DAR met Tuesday, March 6 at Keowee Key Marina. Carla Hedden presented the program: "The Carlisle Indian School"

I have Jack Hunt’s Internet address for the book REMEMBER WHEN. I think it was not correct the last time I had it in the Newsy Notes. It is http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/hunt.html.

Last Saturday I finally got back up to eat BBQ in Brasstown for the first time since Christmas. Duke, Angela and their twin daughters went with me. We all had a wonderful meal and a great time there.

Several Sunday School parties and Family Gatherings were going on while we were there. It was good to see so many good friends while there.

Last Wednesday I spent most of the day in Pendleton with longtime friends Bob, Joe and Dianne Scott. Betty Thomas was there too. We were doing some things together that have to be done after a loved one goes to heaven. Friends are so wonderful to have in times like these.

I had a nice telephone conversation with Elizabeth Buttes last Monday. She told me she is recovering nicely form her recent major surgery. PTL!

I visited several friends on Sunday. I went to see Mae Bridwell, Mrs. Hamby, Mildred Grogan, Hilda Fleming, and Mrs. Lovinggood at Lila Doyle and at what was Mariner, I visited Mabel Whitmire and Mrs. Gertrude Duncan and her roommate Mrs. Hughes.

I also stopped at the hospital to visit Mrs. Louise James.

While there I had a chat with Jackie Owens who was there with his wife. I asked him about the SkateBoard Park Project. He said he hoped to go before City Council soon and get something in the works with the Recreation Committee. I agree we need to spend that money we raised for that project as soon as possible.

I saw on the marker at Eckerd’s corner where Westminster Recreation Teams have done well.

I look forward to Herb Poole or the parents giving the information to me or someone at The News so we might salute the honors of the young people who play Rec Ball in the city programs. Congratulations to all involved.

The Westminster Garden Club will meet on Wednesday March 14th at the home of Billie Stancil in Oakway.

Daylight Savings time will begin on March 11th.

The BLOOD CONNECTION can always use your help. Donate today!

If you need an organist or pianist for your church, call me for a number.

I imagine that there are some of you who wish I could talk about some year but 1941…BUT that was my birth year so here goes a few more facts form information Miss Ruth Brown shared with me: In 1941 a 3- Bed Room home could be built for $4,000; the average income was $2,437, a new Ford costs $680.00; gasoline was 19 cents a gallon; a 1 pound loaf of bread was 08 cents; Milk was 54 cents a gallon; bacon was 34 cents a pound. In Fifty years later in 1991 a 3-bed room home went to $94,300; average Income was $34,213; a new ford was $11,835; Gas was $1.20 a gallon; bread went to 71 cents a loaf; milk was $2.72 a gallon and bacon was $2.09 a pound. Think of the prices today!!!!!

You know, I believe I have had the most nice comments this last week I have had in one particular week since I began Newsy Notes over four years ago. You all continue to bless my heart. I love you all.

“NOTE” to Remember: "The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything."