News from Sumter: Hello everyone, I have had a busy weekend again. Last night I attended the grand opening celebration of the Clarendon County Archives and History Center. (I took my umbrella, so the rain held off.) Windy Corbett, archivist for the county did a wonderful job of organizing the event. (Windy and I are both in the same UDC Chapter.) There was a candlelight tour of the grounds with scenes from Clarendon County's past around every corner. There was a revolutionary war era scene, a Civil War hospital scene, an after Potter's Raid scene, a scary ghost of John Henry scene, and a modern scene of the authoress, Peggy Parish, writer of the famous Amelia Bedelia children's books. (We have everyone of her books in the attic. My children loved them when they were little and were thrilled that the author was from Manning. They even met her once at the Sumter County Library, years ago.) Anyway, the entire evening was wonderful. I had a fantastic time. Windy is great. Then today is the Oktoberfest, Southern Style here in Sumter at Dillon Park. My husband and I were there today when it opened at 11:00. We toured the exhibits, listened to a Blue Grass Band and a Christian Rock and Roll Band. Then we bought 2 Bar B Que taste off tickets and a blooming onion. Each ticket is $5 and entitles you to 5 minature B B Q sandwiches from any one or more of the many BBQ booths set up. (They really packed those little rolls with meat. All of the BBQ people had participated in the cook off and were from all over the state.) I managed to eat two sandwiches. Bruce ate 5 and we brought 3 home for Sean. Sean was already eating the lunch that he had cooked (soup and sandwich) and only ate one the the sandwiches. Bruce ate the other two. I don't know where he put them. That man loves his BBQ. All of the BBQ was good. All of it tasted differently. It was great fun. Right now, Bruce is over at the tennis courts at Palmetto Park participating in the Oktoberfest, Southern Style tennis tournament. (Running off all of those BBQ sandwiches.) Windy Corbett is out at the festival with her hoop dress on with her cart of Confederate souvineirs. (She and her husband participate in reinactments and he made this neat cart for her which is rather like a flower cart.) I took her picture and asked her if I can put it on the Archives web page. She said sure. I hope that it turns out. It was almost getting ready to rain this morning when we were out there. Ok, I am getting to long. Check the reference pages for new items. Robin Langley offered to have her reference books listed and she has a lot of them that some of you may be interested in. She recently had me list her surnames on the pages, and she is kin to a lot of you. Love from Sumter, Cindy P.S. Sometimes some of you ask how can you help. If you are able to, send a donation (money and or papers/books etc.) to the Clarendon County Archives and History Center. They are just getting started and have lots of bookshelf space. If you would like to "adopt" a census, just send a donation of $34. Let them know that you found out about their grand opening from web page and this list. Windy was so excited to get a web page. She has made me feel really useful in doing one for the Archives. When folks let her know that they are seeing it, she will be tickled to death. P.S. #2 I haven't really proofed the update on the archives page yet but I have some new stuff there. I know that I have some typos. I will get them fixed. I also need to put something on about the donations and the census adoptions. I love it when ya'll point out typos to me. I really, really do. It saves me tons of time. ;) Hint, hint, hint.