Around pelion

Pelion Town Council meets January 10 at 6 pm. Council members are Larry Sossoman, Starr Corley, Daniel Shumpert, and Roger Hoover. Frank Shumpert is mayor. Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings, but only Pelion residents may vote on any matter.

Pelion Ruritan assisted with several projects during the holidays. A donation was given to the Sole Stepping Project, which puts shoes and socks on every child in Pelion Elementary and Forts Pond Elementary Schools. For those of you who don’t know what the Ruritan does, the purpose is to create a better understanding among people, and through volunteer service make our community a better place to live and work. The slogan of Ruritan is Fellowship, Goodwill, and Community Service. Local Ruritan members are involved in projects throughout the year. The next big event is Memorial Day, when the group hosts a memorial service at the Memorial next to the old town hall. Plan to attend the service, which begins at 10 am.

The Pelion library will host technology training January 16 at 10:30 am for ages 18 and up. Registration is required. Preschool storytime is January 16 at 11 am for ages 2-5 years. Don’t forget the Soup Swap on January 17 at 6 pm. Call the library at 803-785-3272 for info.

Happy birthday to Harry Fogle, Kristina Sox, Jeff Spires, and Samantha Corley.

Pelion High varsity basketball team will play at Strom Thurmond January 18 at 6 pm.

Pelion Senior Center plays shuffleboard January 11; January 15 is golf toss; exercise is daily. Call the center 894-4351 for info.

Project “Feederwatch” began in December and continues through April 5. Watch your bird feeders and see how many different species you can find. If you’re lucky, maybe you will spot a Painted Bunting; the male birds have many colors but the females are less vibrant. Attract these birds with millet or sunflower chips. Wood ducks also begin to come out and scout their nesting places this month. These are beautiful ducks that grace our local pond and nest in the many houses placed around the pond. Cardinals are also abundant in this area. Don’t forget to fill the suet feeders. Birds eat the suet in the winter and in the spring and summer they feed the suet to their young. Most birds like safflower seed, so feeding this seed keeps the squirrels away since they don’t like the taste.