It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Young Place gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Due West, SC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“ABC helped me take care of my mother in her last few weeks. Trudy the”
“I’ve been a employee for 3 years I love working here”
“Great Place. Really caring people. would recommend if a friend of family member need”
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“ABC helped me take care of my mother in her last few weeks. Trudy the Caregiver was wonderful! Trudy was so gentle with mom, very compassionate and professional. You could tell she loves her job. she started helping in the evenings, then on weekends. Mom's health got really bad and she was hospitalized and Trudy changed her schedule so she could stay up at the hospital all night with my Mom. I never had to worry because I knew mom was in good hands and that Trudy would te… See more”
“I’ve been a employee for 3 years I love working here”
“Great Place. Really caring people. would recommend if a friend of family member need non-medical care.”
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“The best care anyone can offer.”
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Poinsett State Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Town Cafe or visit Erskine Beach, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Due West, SC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Due West, SC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Due West, SC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
This Fall Favorites Guide from South Carolina's Old 96 District will help kick-start your fall getaway planning.In Partnership with Old 96 District – South CarolinaFall is one of our favorite seasons for a reason! As the weather gets cooler and the leaves start to change, we’re ready to put on our sweaters and embrace the season. South...
In Partnership with Old 96 District – South Carolina
Fall is one of our favorite seasons for a reason! As the weather gets cooler and the leaves start to change, we’re ready to put on our sweaters and embrace the season. South Carolina’s Old 96 District captures the Fall spirit perfectly, making it a perfect stop on any road trip. Spanning the counties of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens and McCormick, the district is home to many local farms, historic sites, unique shops, family-owned restaurants and more. Here are just some of our (many) favorite ways to celebrate the Fall in the Old 96 District.
This wouldn’t be a proper Fall Favorites list if we didn’t talk about seasonal food. Our favorite taste in the District goes to the Apple Cider Donut at Mama’s Sweet Shoppe in Due West, SC. This charming bakery started from a humble camper selling donuts at the local farmers markets. They were so popular that they eventually grew to have their own brick-and-mortar place with lunch options and coffee. (Those are also delicious, if you were wondering.) Their menu changes daily, so keep an eye out for other decadent donut flavors like Raspberry Cheesecake and Maple Bacon.
There’s just something magical about a glass of wine beside a campfire. Add live music and best friends to make an unforgettable evening! South Bend Winery in Greenwood, SC brings the whole package with delicious locally-made wine and backyard campfire seating. Swing by on a Saturday evening to enjoy live music. (We recommend ordering a charcuterie board for the table as well.)
Fall Festivals make for a great family outing or even romantic date. Fortunately for us, the Old 96 District has plenty. Hickory Hill Milk in Edgefield, SC welcomes guests on October Tuesdays to tour a working dairy farm, enjoy live music, explore the corn maze and more. Stewart Farms in Enoree, SC has a petting zoo and an expansive pumpkin patch ripe for the picking. Check out the whole calendar of events here.
The Old 96 District has over 250 miles of hiking and biking trails! With so many options to choose from, the seasoned bike enthusiast to the fresh hiking beginner can find a match. Especially in the Fall, the weather becomes more temperate and the leaves change colors to create an even more scenic experience. It’s a must-trek for any outdoor lover looking to escape the crowds.
The only thing as South Carolinian as Bar-B-Que is a good ghost story! The Old 96 District has two Revolutionary War battlegrounds and too many historic buildings to name, so there’s always a good ghost story to share this spooky season. Some of our favorites include the haunted tours of Edgefield, where travelers can learn the bloody legend of Becky Cotton, dubbed “the Devil in Petticoats.” (There’s even a locally-made gin named after her.) Here’s a list of the Old 96 District’s Most Haunted Sites.
What better way to finish a Fall evening than to cozy up in a historic inn or bed & breakfast? Belmont Inn has been in service for over a century and rests right in the heart of Abbeville, SC next to the Abbeville Opera House, or enjoy a bed & breakfast experience at Sharon Manor only minutes away. Lady Amelia Bed & Breakfast Inn in Laurens County lets visitors cozy up in charming historic rooms, with a gourmet restaurant also on the grounds. If you’re looking for something dog-friendly, Greenwood, SC’s boutique hotel Inn on the Square is walking distance from several great restaurants and shops– and they have a jar of dog treats at the desk to welcome their furry guests.
This is only a small sampling of everything the Old 96 District has to offer. The next time you find yourself on a road trip through South Carolina, consider spending a night in the area and discovering all the unexpected wonders.
DUE WEST, S.C. (WSPA) – Parents in Abbeville County are concerned about conditions at two high schools in the district, originally built more than six decades ago.“I don’t think you would send a prisoner to some of these bathrooms at both of these schools,” said parent Jo Beth Hite.7News joined a public tour of Abbeville High School Tuesday and a public tour of Dixie High School Thursday.The issue is in the spotlight because the school board is getting cost estimates for re-building both schools i...
DUE WEST, S.C. (WSPA) – Parents in Abbeville County are concerned about conditions at two high schools in the district, originally built more than six decades ago.
“I don’t think you would send a prisoner to some of these bathrooms at both of these schools,” said parent Jo Beth Hite.
7News joined a public tour of Abbeville High School Tuesday and a public tour of Dixie High School Thursday.
The issue is in the spotlight because the school board is getting cost estimates for re-building both schools in phases and building a new, consolidated high school. Parents agree that something needs to be done, but not everyone agrees on how to address the aging buildings.
Dixie High School was built piecemeal, with parts of the schools built in the ’70s, parts built in the early ’00s, and original parts built in the ’50s.
“I’m glad to see that they are doing a really good job of keeping up their building here,” Hite said of Dixie. “I think this building is salvageable.”
According to the Dixie High School assistant principal, a group of citizens has raised more than $250,000 for the school since 2004 with the Dixie High School Foundation.
Hite toured both schools this week.
“I don’t think the Abbeville building is still salvageable,” she said.
However, she also said she thought the newer wing at Abbeville High built in 2002 was nicer than some older areas of Dixie High. Several parents told 7News they were shocked by the conditions at Abbeville High School this week.
Concerns came to light at a school board meeting a few weeks ago. One woman held up a water bottle filled with yellow water that she said came from Abbeville High School.
“We immediately went in and assessed the water situation at the high school,” said Abbeville County Schools Superintendent Dr. Julie Fowler. “Part of the problems at the high school are the result of pipes.”
She said the the city has since flushed the pipes. 7News observed the water from sinks and water fountains at Abbeville High School to be clear Tuesday.
Fowler said the district also did three tests for air quality and cleaned problem areas twice.
“At this point in time, we are comfortable in saying we have a report that says that the air quality is fine, or is safe, for students and our faculty and staff to be in,” she said.
Several members of the community told 7News they are very concerned about the cost to update.
The final decision about what will happen with the high schools will be up to voters.
Several members of the community told 7News they are very concerned about costs, both for re-building the schools and consolidating them.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Whether you’re grilling up hotdogs...marching in a parade...or watching fireworks light up the sky, there’s plenty of ways to celebrate our nation’s freedom.Listed below are some Independence Day events happening across the Upstate.Greenville CountyClemson MBA Fireworks on the Fourth - The City of Greenville will host a fireworks show on July 4, from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The City says the event will take place at Unity Park. The ...
GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Whether you’re grilling up hotdogs...marching in a parade...or watching fireworks light up the sky, there’s plenty of ways to celebrate our nation’s freedom.
Listed below are some Independence Day events happening across the Upstate.
Clemson MBA Fireworks on the Fourth - The City of Greenville will host a fireworks show on July 4, from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The City says the event will take place at Unity Park. The City of Greenville’s website says to come early and bring a blanket and picnic dinner.
July 4th Party at the Pool - Restaurant 17 in Travelers Rest says they are hosting a pool party on July 4, from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Restaurant 17′s website says the purchase of a ticket includes all you can eat BBQ and a pool pass. The restaurant says they will also have beer, wine, liquor and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Simpsonville Simply Freedom Fest - The City of Simpsonville says they are rebranding their free July concert and fireworks show, previously known as “Celebrate Simpsonville,” to reflect the celebration of Independence Day. Officials say the event will now be called “Simpsonville Simply Freedom Fest.” The City of Simpsonville’s website says country music star Josh Turner will bring his ‘Long Black Train’ 20th Anniversary Tour to the CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park for the Simpsonville Simply Freedom Fest on Sunday, July 2. For more information, visit the City of Simpsonville’s website.
Freedom Blast - The City of Greer says they’re hosting “Freedom Blast” on Saturday, June 24, from 6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Officials say the event will take place at Greer City Park and features skydiving, a rib eating contest, fireworks and more. To learn more, visit Freedom Blast’s website.
Fountain Inn Fireworks Spectacular - The City of Fountain Inn is hosting the Fountain Inn Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, July 1 at 6:00 p.m. The City of Fountain Inn’s website says the event featres fireworks, food, kids activities, and more. To learn more, visit the City of Fountain Inn’s website.
Kids Bike Parade - The Travelers Rest Farmers Market says they’re putting on a Kid’s Bike Parade in honor of Independence Day. The Traveler’s Rest Farmers Market’s website says they hand out prizes for the most patriotically-decorated bike and most creatively-decorated bike. For more information, visit the Travelers Rest Farmers Market website.
Fireworks Extravaganza - Western Carolina Sailing Club is hosting their annual Fireworks Extravaganza on Saturday, July 1st at 9:30 p.m. The community will be able to view the fireworks show via public access areas around Lake Hartwell or by boat. The fireworks show will start around 9:30 p.m. More information can be found at Western Carolina Sailing Club’s website.
Twin Creeks Lavender July 4th Celebration - Twin Creeks Lavender is a century old family farm located in Williamston. The farm says they are hosting several U-pick days, where guests can pick their own lavender. On July 4, Twin Creek’s Facebook page says they will host a special U-pick celebration from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Red, White & Boom - The City of Spartanburg says they’re celebrating Independence Day with a special event on July 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The City of Spartanburg’s website says the event features live music, food vendors, and fireworks.
Independence Day Spectacular - The City of Pickens will host a Independence Day celebration on Saturday, July 1. The City of Pickens’ Facebook page says they’ve planned a wide variety of activities, including live music performances, food vendors, free kids’ rides and games, and a fireworks display. The City says the event is free to the public. For more information, visit the City of Pickens’ Facebook page.
Historic Easley 4th of July Celebration - The City of Easley says they will host their annual 4th of July Celebration from July 2 - July 4 in Old Market Square. In conjunction with Ingles, officials say the event will feature free concerts, inflatables, air dog shows, and more. Visit the City of Easley’s Facebook page to learn more.
Independence Day Celebration - The City of Seneca is hosting an Independence Day Celebration on July 4, at 2:00 p.m. The City of Seneca’s website says the event features live music, waterslides, and food & drink vendors. The event is set to take place on Gignilliat Field.
Independence Day Boat Parade & Fireworks - The McCormick County Chamber of Commerce says they’re hosting a community Patriotic Boat Parade and fireworks display on Saturday, July 8. The McCormick County Chamber of Commerce’s website says the Boat Parade will begin at 1:00 p.m., followed by a cookout, entertainment, and more. Officials say the fireworks will start later in the evening.
4th of July Celebration - The Town of Due West is hosting a 4th of July Celebration on July 4. The event will feature a kids’ bicycle parade and more. For more information, visit the Town of Due West’s Facebook page.
Freedom Fest (Laurens) - The City of Laurens is hosting a Freedom Fest on Monday, July 3. The events starts at 4:00 p.m., according to the City of Laurens website. The website says the event will feature free live music from bands Better than Ezra and Capital Cities fireworks, an arts & crafts market, kid’s area, and food.
Lights on the Lake - Connect Lake Greenwood, a community organization, says they’re hosting Lights on the Lake on Saturday, July 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. According to Connect Lake Greenwood’s website, the event will feature live music, food vendors, and a fireworks display. For more information, visit Connect Lake Greenwood’s website.
Light up the Lake - The Union County Chamber of Commerce will host Light up the Lake on Monday, July 3, at 6:00 p.m. The Union County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page says the event will take place at Veterans Memorial Park, and features live (dancing) music, food, and fireworks. To learn more, visit the Union County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page.
Freedom Fest (Gaffney) - The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce will host their annual fireworks show on Saturday, July 1, at 6:00 p.m. According to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page, the event will take place on Lake Whelchel (327 Pleasant School Rd., Gaffney, SC). The Facebook page says the event will feature live music from the Dirty South Band, food vendors, and of course, fireworks.
23rd Annual Sheraton Loop Golf Cart Parade (Gaffney) - The parade will start on Tuesday, July 4 at 10 a.m. with more than 25 carts at Sheraton Loop. It is located on the left just past the Cherokee National Golf and Recreation Clubhouse west of Gaffney.
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Science Have you ever wondered why the direction of sunset changes throughout the year? We usually speak of the sun setting in the west, but technically it only sets due west at the spring and autumn equinoxes. For the rest of the year, the direction of sunset pivots about this westerly point, moving northerly in winter, and towards the south in summer. (In the northern hemisphere, the sunset tends more northerly in summer and more southerly in winter.)...
Have you ever wondered why the direction of sunset changes throughout the year? We usually speak of the sun setting in the west, but technically it only sets due west at the spring and autumn equinoxes. For the rest of the year, the direction of sunset pivots about this westerly point, moving northerly in winter, and towards the south in summer. (In the northern hemisphere, the sunset tends more northerly in summer and more southerly in winter.)
Technically the sun only sets due west at the spring and autumn equinoxes.
If you’re an early riser, you’ll have noticed that the same symmetries apply to the easterly directions of sunrise. But it must have taken years for ancient astronomers to notice the particulars of all these patterns, let alone explain them astronomically.
One of the earliest records of such an observation may lie in the alignment of the Wurdi Youang stone circle in Victoria, on land traditionally owned by the Wathaurong people. The circle’s age is unknown, but it could be as old as 11,000 years, and researchers – including former Monash academic Duane Hamacher – think it's likely that the circle includes deliberate markers of the direction of sunset at the solstices and equinoxes.
We’ll never know just why, or even if, the builders of Wurdi Youang, Stonehenge, and other stone arrangements marked out the directions of sunrise or sunset at solstices and equinoxes. But historians do know that ancient Greek-speaking people deduced an extraordinary amount of astronomical information from the way the sunset and sunrise directions change throughout the year.
Most of the early Greek astronomical manuscripts have been lost, but their content was developed and codified by Claudius Ptolemy, about 150CE, in a book known as Almagest. It’s one of those ancient Greek classics that owe their survival to mediaeval Arabic scholars. Its first printed appearance, in Venice in 1515, was based on a mediaeval Latin translation of the Arabic adaptation of the original Greek – quite a multicultural achievement!
Among many other things Ptolemy was interested in was the fact that the symmetry in the arc of sunset directions is reflected in the symmetry between the sun’s midday altitude at the summer and winter solstices. The sunset direction reaches its northerly and southerly extremes at the solstices, while the noon altitudes are also at their extremes (highest and lowest) at the solstices. The midpoints in both cases occur at the equinoxes.
Thanks largely to Hipparchus of Nicaea – who worked about 150BCE, and to whom Ptolemy was indebted – astronomers had already figured out the geometrical configuration of the equinoxes. To do this, they used the concept of two imaginary planes cutting through a huge imaginary “celestial sphere” centred on the Earth. You can get the idea by visualising a third, more obvious plane – an extension of the one we appear to be standing on, bounded by the horizon with the sky sitting on top like a hemispherical dome.
The first plane is that of the “celestial equator”, which is parallel to the plane of the Earth’s equator. This is the plane in which the sun appears to make its daily journey about Earth, from sunrise to sunset and on through the night until sunrise again.
Today, following pioneers such as Nicolas Copernicus, we can imagine this more easily, because we know it’s not the sun that is moving but the Earth, which is rotating on its axis from west to east – that is, in the plane of the equator – producing the illusion that the sun rises and sets each day.
The second plane is that of the “ecliptic”, the sun’s apparent yearly path around the Earth. It must have seemed strange to the ancients that the sun had two different paths in its journey about the Earth. Still, these astronomers had figured out that these two paths lay in two different, intersecting planes. The equinoxes and the directions of sunset show why.
The equinoxes occur when the sun sets due west, and the days and nights are (virtually) of equal length everywhere on Earth. At the equator, however, the days and nights are always 12 hours long, so the spring and autumn equinoxes must happen when the sun is “on” the equator. So, in its yearly journey along the ecliptic, there are only two days when the sun crosses the equator. Which means that the ecliptic and equator must be in different planes, and must intersect at the equinoxes.
Ptolemy’s goal was to calculate the angle between these two imaginary planes, so that the celestial equator and ecliptic could be represented accurately – via an armillary sphere, for example. Like the Babylonians and others before them, the Greeks wanted to be able to keep track of the stars and planets, in order to study the ways of the deities who ruled them, and also to help with navigation.
Ptolemy reasoned as follows. At the equinoxes – when the direction of the sunset is halfway between the most northerly and southerly sunset points – the sun is at the point of intersection of the ecliptic and the celestial equator, as I mentioned. So the angle between these two intersecting planes must be half the difference between the summer and winter solstice solar altitudes, which exhibit the same symmetry.
He measured this angle to be about 23°40', or 23.67°, in the ballpark of a value found earlier by Aristarchus of Samos (whose maverick heliocentric theory of planetary motion had inspired Copernicus).
It was an incredible deduction, even if Ptolemy did believe that the planets and stars, including the sun, literally moved around the Earth. Today, of course, we believe it's the Earth that's moving in the plane of the ecliptic, not the sun. Astronomers also have a more up-to-date figure for the angle of tilt, 23.44°. (The change since Ptolemy’s time is largely because of the phenomenon of “precession”, a slow rotation of the Earth’s axis.)
What this means is that the Earth’s axis, and consequently its equatorial plane, must be tilted at an angle of 23.44° to the plane of the Earth’s yearly orbit along the ecliptic. If there were no tilt, the Earth would revolve around the sun with its north pole pointing upwards, and the ecliptic and equator would be in the same plane. The sun would always set due west, and there’d be no seasons.
Another interesting deduction made by earlier astronomers is that these changing directions depend on the observer’s latitude. As the intriguing Elizabethan mathematician Thomas Harriot showed, there’s a formula giving the angle by which the direction deviates from due west at any given time of year at any particular location on Earth.
The formula uses the sun’s “declination”, the angle it makes with the celestial equator. It’s a different measurement from the solar “altitudes” that Ptolemy used in his calculation, which are measured with respect to the horizon. At the equinoxes, the sun appears to be “on” the equator, so its declination – its angle above the equator – is zero. The maximum declinations, which occur at the solstices, are ±23.44° (that is, 23.44°N and 23.44°S with respect to the equator).
Harriot knew all about how to take these different measurements, and how they related to the geometry of the celestial sphere – in the 1580s and 1590s, he was Sir Walter Raleigh’s navigational advisor, when Raleigh was sending fleets of sailing ships to America. And, like his famous contemporary Galileo Galilei, Harriot was also a Copernican.
In the 1590s, Harriot took his own careful measurements to update Ptolemy’s. He also wrote down the formula for the sunset directions: the sine of the deviation of the direction from due west = the sine of the sun’s declination at noon on the given day/the cosine of the observer’s latitude.
So, at the equinoxes, when the declination is zero and therefore so is its sine, the deviation of the direction of sunset is also zero, and the sun sets due west as expected.
For an observer at the equator, the latitude is zero, and cos 0 =1. So the deviation from due west is just the declination of the sun on that day. For instance, the maximum deviation, at the solstices, is 23.44°.
For all other latitudes, the cosine of the latitude is less than one, and since it's on the denominator of the equation, the maximum change in sunset direction is greater than 23.44°. For Melbourne, it's 30.3° away from due west, towards the south in summer and towards the north in winter.
A couple of months after the winter solstice, in the weeks around the September equinox, it’s wonderful to watch the setting sun making its way back towards the west, hovering there at the equinox, and then inching its way towards the south as the days get longer and spring finally arrives. And it’s fascinating that so much astronomical information lies hidden in such seemingly simple natural phenomena.
Folks in part of the Upstate made calls and sent emails to the WYF News 4 newsroom Monday about a "scary" loud boom.WYFF News 4 found out it's probably not the last time our area will hear the startling noises.Above video was published on Jan. 26.MORE HEADLINES:Callers said the loud noise was heard from Abbeville, Antreville, Due West, and Donalds, and they all were seeking answers to the question, "What was that?""That was scary," one viewer wrote at about 10:...
Folks in part of the Upstate made calls and sent emails to the WYF News 4 newsroom Monday about a "scary" loud boom.
WYFF News 4 found out it's probably not the last time our area will hear the startling noises.
Above video was published on Jan. 26.
MORE HEADLINES:
Callers said the loud noise was heard from Abbeville, Antreville, Due West, and Donalds, and they all were seeking answers to the question, "What was that?"
"That was scary," one viewer wrote at about 10:20 a.m. "Something is going on!!!! I could hear a jet but not see it. Guess it was a sonic boom. "
"What was the loud boom in Due West, SC, around 10 a.m.," another wrote.
We talked to someone at Due West City Hall who said the building shook and agreed, "it was scary."
Due West Mayor Jeannie Knight said she remembered where she was during the boom.
"I was out in my garage feeding my cat and suddenly this boom and the metal ceiling of my garage shook," Knight said.
Students at Erskine College said they felt the sonic boom as well.
"I thought it was an accident or something. I turned around and the street was cleared," Quintel Johnson said.
A student at a local high school said he felt boom during his second-period class.
"I thought at first it was kind of an explosion but other than that, I didn’t think it was anything else," Alex Soule said. "It was crazy to hear. Coming from here, such a small town but other than that it was nice and it was cool."
A representative from Lockheed Martin released the following statement about the likely cause:
"Lockheed Martin can confirm we had flight operations in that area and around that time this morning. As part of the pre-delivery testing, all F-16s will conduct flight tests that include flying supersonic. All our flight testing takes place in airspace designated by the FAA, and noise levels heard by the community will depend on various factors such as the type of flight operations, the power setting, altitude, and weather conditions. In January, we launched a new era for the F-16 program, with the successful first flight of the F-16 Block 70 in Greenville. This F-16 Block 70 jet is the first of 16 jets to be delivered to Bahrain. The jet will undergo continued flight tests in Greenville followed by additional flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base."
Last month, a similar "boom" was heard in the Honea Path area, prompting calls and emails.
At the time, Lockheed Martin representative Liz Lutz said as part of the testing, all F-16s will conduct flights that include flying supersonic.
"Our flight profiles – specific airspace and altitude – are designed to minimize a sonic boom," she said. "In most weather conditions, a sonic boom will never reach the ground."
Employees of the Donaldson Center Fire Department posted photos to Facebook in January of what they called Lockheed Martin's first flight of the F-16s made in Greenville.
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Residents in Due West said while the situation was odd, they see it as a claim to fame for the small town.
"It went around. Everyone was like that was cool. They came over dew west of all places. Its just interesting. You don’t expect something like that to happen around here. Its really quiet," Will Moore said.
"Everybody's fine and there's no balloon in the air so we’re ok. We’ll fine," Knight said.
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