Author: The Post and Courier Greenville

Greenville, South Carolina, March 17, 2023— Red Oak Developers, a leading multi-purpose developer in South and North Carolina, has recently brought Jamie McCutchen and Bradley Smith on board. McCutchen will be working as a Project Manager in all areas including single family residential, both retail and build-for-rent, multifamily, industrial, and commercial developments. Smith will be working as an entitlement consultant with Red Oak Developers while maintaining his status with Cross Creek Realty.
“We are very excited to welcome Jamie and Bradley on board! As a professional engineer, Jamie has established relationships in the market that will be vital for our continued growth. Bradley brings vast technology experience to our team and his efforts will allow our project managers to focus more on final deliverables and offer entitlement services to our client base”, said Owner, Brad Skelton.
McCutchen brings over 30 years of land development experience to the Red Oak Developers team as a professional engineer. He owned his own engineering firm for 20 years and his expertise will prove invaluable as a project manager.
With over 25 years in the technology industry, Smith brings a wealth of knowledge in land acquisition for commercial and residential development projects. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the Greenville Home Builders Association, and is a certified, licensed drone pilot. With the addition of both McCutchen and Smith, Red Oak Developers looks forward to providing the highest quality of service and expertise to their clients.

About Red Oak Developers
Red Oak Developers is a full-service developer with a mission to design and create residential communities and commercial developments that promote a healthy lifestyle and the preservation of the natural environment. A veteran-owned company, Red Oak Developers achieves goals by combining vast experience with a long-standing network of professional relationships. With a full-service approach, Red Oak Developers can rapidly move a project from site selection to acquisition/entitlement and project management/construction to delivered product.
For more information, visit https://www.redoakdevelopers.com/

[June 26, 2023] – Project Hope Foundation will join the Center for Developmental Services (CDS) as an on-site partner and ABA therapy provider at its downtown Greenville facility. CDS brings the expertise and value of multiple partners to one location, giving individuals with special needs direct access to many different services under one roof.

With eight campuses across the Upstate, serving clients from 12 counties, Project Hope Foundation is the largest ABA therapy provider in South Carolina. The need for autism services is greater than ever, with the diagnosis rate now 1 in 36. “Project Hope Foundation’s ABA therapy aligns perfectly with the collaborative services that many of our families need,” says CDS Executive Director Dana McConnell. “CDS is proud to add Project Hope to our list of partners, and showcase their brand alongside others in the building, as we continue to serve the thousands of people in our community who have developmental delays and disabilities.”

Located in downtown Greenville since 2000, CDS provides access to as many services as possible in one place to help families of children with developmental challenges from having to drive all over town to receive them. CDS and their partners offer developmental screenings, diagnosis, therapies, audiology, psychology, prosthetics, orthotics, education, bilingual services, legal aid, care planning, case management, and family support.

“Many of our friends on the spectrum receive other therapies in addition to ABA,” says Susan Sachs, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Project Hope Foundation. “Moving into the CDS space will give our therapists the chance to collaborate with other specialists to offer the best, most well-rounded care possible, while also reaching new families in need of autism services.”

Project Hope will move into the CDS building on North Academy Street in July and aims to start offering ABA therapy sometime in August. More information about both organizations is available online: Center for Developmental Services | Project Hope Foundation.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Project Hope Foundation: Amanda Harley amanda@pefectpitchprod.com
Center for Developmental Services: Blair Stephenson blair.stephenson@cdservices.org

Greenville, SC – June 27, 2023 – Pillar Holistic Living, a leading provider of holistic products and services for body, mind, and soul, is proud to announce the launch of its new Holistic Telehealth service led by renowned Chiropractor and Energy Practitioner, Dr. Jessica Caruso. With a comprehensive approach to healthcare, this cutting-edge service aims to provide personalized holistic care from the comfort of one’s own home.

Dr. Jessica Caruso, a seasoned expert in holistic health with 18 years of experience as a holistic chiropractor and energy healer, brings her expertise and passion for integrative healing to Pillar Holistic Living. Through the Holistic Telehealth service, patients will have the opportunity to engage with Dr. Jessica in an extensive health history discussion, where she will attentively listen to their concerns and health goals.

What sets this service apart is the integration of remote energy healing and/or meditation, which Dr. Jessica will provide during the session if necessary. This holistic approach focuses on addressing the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of individuals, creating a harmonious balance for optimal health and healing.

By embracing telehealth technology, Pillar Holistic Living ensures that geographical limitations no longer hinder individuals from accessing high-quality holistic healthcare. The Holistic Telehealth service allows patients to conveniently connect with Dr. Jessica through secure and user-friendly virtual platforms, enabling them to receive expert guidance and support regardless of their location.

“We are thrilled to introduce Dr. Jessica Caruso’s Holistic Telehealth service at Pillar Holistic Living,” said Brian Caruso, co-owner at Pillar Holistic Living. “Our mission has always been to empower individuals to take charge of their well-being, and this innovative service takes that commitment to the next level. We believe that everyone should have access to holistic care that considers their unique needs and supports their journey towards optimal health.”

To schedule an appointment or learn more about the Holistic Telehealth service at Pillar Holistic Living, visit our website or contact (864) 451-7009 for further assistance.

Pillar Holistic Living is a leading provider of holistic products and services for body, mind, and soul. Combining advanced chiropractic services with mind-body programs, a vegan & eco-friendly boutique, a plant-based market, and a vegan apothecary to nurture the entire person, as a whole.

Pickens, SC – June 22, 2023 – Upcountry Fiber, the internet service provider created by utility cooperatives Blue Ridge Electric Co-op (BREC) and WCFIBER, a subsidiary of West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative (WCTEL), announced it is ahead of its construction schedule due to, in part, additional ARPA funds awarded by Broadband Office of South Carolina’s Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS).

Currently, Upcountry Fiber has more than 400 active miles of broadband fiber internet under construction, with an additional 515 miles that have already been completed this year. Since construction began in 2020, Upcountry Fiber has completed more than 1,900 miles of fiber and has approximately 11,000 customer orders, the majority of which are in rural and underserved rural areas. The project, which was initially forecasted to take five years based on both utility companies’ investment, has been fast tracked due to the infusion of ARPA funds.

Specifically, Upcountry Fiber’s team has started construction in varying phases in the following areas:
• Oconee County – Coneross, Fair Play, Long Creek, Mountain Rest, Oakway, and Salem
• Pickens County – Rocky Bottom area in Northern Pickens County above Highway 11 and Shady Grove
• Northern Greenville County – Marietta

“The message we want people in these areas to know is that we are coming, sooner than originally anticipated,” said Jim Lovinggood, president and CEO of BREC. “We can’t thank ORS enough for designating ARPA funds so that people and organizations in unserved and underserved communities throughout the Upstate can have access to this vital utility.”

“At halfway through the year, we have reached our annual goal for 11,000 people have access to our high-speed broadband internet service so that businesses can be more competitive and for citizens to have better access to healthcare, education, and job opportunities,” said Jeff Wilson, president and CEO of WCFIBER. “The collaboration between our state government and our industry has made this possible.”

For more information about Upcountry Fiber, visit UpcountryFiber.com and view the following videos:

• Our commitment to connecting you
• What does it take to build out a service territory?

About Upcountry Fiber
Upcountry Fiber is a high-speed fiber internet provider to the five counties of Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg. Established in Fall 2020, Upcountry Fiber is the product of a partnership between Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and WCFIBER, a subsidiary of West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative (WCTEL). Founded by organizations created to electrify and connect rural areas of South Carolina; decades later, Upcountry Fiber’s mission is to bridge the digital divide. Offering symmetrical internet speeds up to 1 Gbps over a fiber network, Upcountry Fiber has the fastest and most reliable high-speed internet in the area. To learn more about Upcountry Fiber, visit us at www.UpcountryFiber.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
For Upcountry Fiber
Amanda Long Melissa Slater
Hughes Agency Hughes Agency
864.275.9890 864.313.4681
AmandaL@hughes-agency.com MelissaS@hughes-agency.com

Anderson, SC—-The Greater Anderson Musical Arts Consortium (GAMAC) Chorale under the direction of Dr. Don R. Campbell will hold auditions for new members on Wednesday, July 12 and Thursday, July 13, 2023 beginning at 4:00pm. Auditions will be held in the choir room at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1809 North Main Street, Anderson, SC—directly across from Ingles Supermarket. Signs will direct you to the choir room. Singers should come with their voices warmed up. All materials will be provided. Auditions are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please call the GAMAC office at (864) 231-6147.
The Chorale will perform three times this year as part of GAMAC’s annual concert season. Performances will include an opening performance titled How the West was Sung as well as GAMAC’s annual Christmas concert featuring favorite carols performed with the Anderson Symphony Orchestra. A third performance is scheduled for Spring 2024. Additional activities will include a Messiah Sing-Along, Christmas caroling in downtown Anderson in early December and social gatherings. Rehearsals will be held on Monday nights from August through April.
Renamed the GAMAC Chorale in 1990, the ensemble began in 1970 as the Anderson Civic Chorale. The ensemble continues to be a civic ensemble comprised of talented singers from all areas of the Upstate and neighboring Georgia. The mission of the group is to provide singers and audiences the opportunity to experience quality choral music performances of all genres and styles. Dr. Don R. Campbell was named conductor of the Chorale in 2010.
GAMAC Chorale auditions and membership are open to all talented adult singers regardless of race, religion, gender, or orientation. New members will find a diverse and welcoming community of singers dedicated to great music with a big dash of fun! The GAMAC Chorale is funded in part by generous contributions from individuals and businesses in addition to funding from the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

We watch the news with a sense of disbelief yet can’t seem to pull ourselves away even as the screen fills with image after image of raging wildfires. In its newest exhibition, “Facing the Inferno: The Wildfire Photography of Kari Greer,” opening Saturday, July 1, 2023, the Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County, a Smithsonian Affiliate, presents a rare opportunity to experience a “day-in-the-life” of those who face these growing challenges while feeling like you’re beside them attacking the infernos.

Kari Greer is a wildland firefighter and documentary style photographer who specializes in wildland fire photography. Throughout her 20-year career, she has driven hundreds of miles, endured 130-degree heat, dodged falling trees and electric lines, fought side-by-side with fellow fire crews, and turned her trained eye toward capturing the complexities, anxieties, and insights of these events and the people who try to harness them.

From blazing flames, plumes of blinding smoke, planes attacking with fire retardant, light against dark, and firefighters braving it all, “Facing the Inferno” is an illustrative story of the paradoxical phenomenon that wildfires represent. And taking visitors visually into the middle of these raging wildfires are 64 powerful images by Greer that not only show the effects in a very real and up-close presentation, but also provide an intensely dramatic connection to that which draws viewers into the unimaginable.

Organized by the Moscow Contemporary Art Gallery in Moscow, Idaho, this exhibition, on display through Sunday, October 22, 2023, has been designed to increase public conversation and understanding of the volatile occurrence of wildfires, their increasing severity, and the experiences of the fire crews who fight these extreme situations.

In a connection to Upstate history, UHM is including a companion exhibition focused on the wildfires and wildland firefighting in the Carolinas. Through artifacts and archival materials, visitors can examine the history, significant events, and growing number of “Red Flag Alerts” in the Upstate and Western North Carolina.

The Upcountry History Museum is located at 540 Buncombe St., in Greenville, S.C. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 864-467-3100 or visit www.upcountryhistory.org.

It is a very special day for children and adults alike as the unique, one-of-a-kind “Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit” is now open at the Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County, a Smithsonian Affiliate!

Making its Southeastern debut, the “Very Eric Carle” exhibition creates a play-and-learn environment where visitors step into the pages of the renowned children’s author and illustrator’s colorful picture books. Illustrated in his hand-painted tissue paper collage technique, this re-imagining of his classic “Very” book series introduces a variety of interactive experiences that offer children opportunities to:

• Become the Very Hungry Caterpillar
• Weave a web with the Very Busy Spider
• Make the Very Clumsy Click Beetle flip and jump
• Compose a night symphony with the Very Quiet Cricket
• Explore all the stories in the “Reading Zone” through words, pictures, and videos

Though best known for his popular book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” each story in the “Very” series is a testament to Eric Carle’s love of nature, his respect for the emotional lives of children, and his recurring themes of friendship, creativity, and the power of imagination.

On display through Sunday, September 10, 2023, “Very Eric Carle” was co-organized by Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA. It is the first North American traveling exhibit for children inspired by the art of this acclaimed creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books.

The Upcountry History Museum is located at 540 Buncombe St., in Greenville, S.C. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 864-467-3100 or visit www.upcountryhistory.org.

Greenville Music Preservation is proud to announce the debut of our new mobile exhibit, currently located at the Greenville County Fine Arts Center. This six-panel exhibit covers the development of music in Greenville County over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. Major artists, venues, and organizations are explored by looking at the development of each major genre of music. QR codes are used
throughout the exhibit for viewers to hear samples of music, along with GMP podcast episodes. This display will go on to visit schools and businesses all over Greenville County for the coming years.
Greenville Music Preservation would like to thank the Metropolitan Arts Council for providing key funding for the project.
Greenville Music Preservation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to collect, archive, and present the music history of Greenville, SC – revealing our community’s unique cultural heritage.