AROUND LEXINGTON COUNTY

Area students headed back to school Monday for an exciting new year. They enter schools sporting exciting new features and emphasis on school safety. Security officers will offer protection for the children.

Drivers are cautioned to watch for frequent school bus stops both mornings and afternoon.

Many members gathered for the Greater Lexington Chamber breakfast meeting Aug. 14 at Radius Church. Chamber President Otis Rawl and former chair Shelley Metropol presided.

Lexington Police Chief Terrance Green was recognized for his 25 years of service to our community.

Featured speaker Todd Carnes spoke on “leading in a cynical world.”

Carnes said the things people love can vary, from food to football to friends and family, but they all hate the same two things — the way things change and the way things are. In this cynical world, he said it is hard to lead when there are people who are just waiting for you to fail.

“Hope is the antidote to cynicism,” he said. “So sprinkles that stuff around like confetti and then go out and be the leader you were made to be.”

Lexington County Museum Director J.R. Fennell gave a history of Lexington County through words and pictures last week at the Shiloh United Methodist Church “Lunch & Learn.” He said many familiar county names, like Wingard, Shealy, Caughman, Rauch, Rawl and Harmon are descendants of German immigrants. The name “Dutch Fork” was derived the German word “Deutsch,” but many locals had trouble pronouncing it.

The term “sleep tight” came from Colonial times when mattresses were made of rope tightened across the bed frame.

The talk was so interesting that J.R. has been invited back by organizer Donna Bundrick Griffin.

Christmas is only

125 days away! You should make plans to buy some of your gifts at the Lexington Main Library Dec. 1 as its hosts a book festival and signing by local authors. It’s from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you’re an author interested in participating, contact Jerry Bellune at jerrybellune@yahoo.com.

The lovely Mitchell House and Gardens on North Lake Drive will soon become a restaurant. Owner Phyllis James retired and sold the property to Lou and Bill Kennedy of Lexington. According to Blair Simms, he will operated the new venue under the name of Blue Banquette. He hopes to open the first of the new year.

A very happy birthday celebration was held at the Lexington Senior Center for Dot Tumey, who turned 100! Enjoying the cake were her son Lee and his wife Tammy.

Happy birthday to American Legion Commander David Griffith, Museum Director J.R. Fennell, Hugh Ryall, Anber Bible, Ninette Burns, Sharon Hobson, Beth Low-man, Eleanor Barnes, Barry Caton, Peggy Fields, Cynthis Gordon, Daisy Harman, Hollie Harmon, Jamie Hight, Dooley Porter, Brent Taylor, Andrew Tworzyanski, Henry Wessinger, Ben DeFanti, Jon Ives, Callie Payne, Odie Rawl, Kensile Shealy, Eliza Spence, Danny Able, Aukie Bouknight, Destiny Dahl, Larry Glover, Steven Glover, Caldwell SPece, Don Wheeler, Amy Cleary, Andrew Eargle, Joe Jodie, Erin Kaiser, Jaden Newton, Troy Pepper, Christi Harvey, Lauren Keisler, Anniebelle Quattlebaurm, Ann Byrd, Ann Clark, and Robert Dooley.