The Devil may go toGeorgia, but Charlie Danielsand his band will be rockin’ theNewberry Opera House,Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. Thisvery special show is nearlysold-out already! Call today fortickets or you will miss out!

Charlie Daniels, known forhis contributions to countryand southern rock music but isuniversally identified by hisnumber-one country hit “TheDevil Went Down to Georgia.”Which won a Grammy awardfor best vocal performance in1979. Daniels a singer, gui-tarist and fiddler has been anactive singer since the early1950s and was inducted intothe Grand Ole Opry in 2008.

According to theEncyclopedia of SouthernCulture, “Few individuals havesymbolized the South in popu-lar culture as directly andindelibly as Charlie Daniels.”He is described as partlyWestern and partly Southern.His dress reflects the cowboys

while his music — rock, coun-try, bluegrass, blues, gospel —favors his Southern roots. In acareer that has spanned morethan 50 years, he has traveledwell over a million miles tour-ing.

“I can't imagine life withoutmusic,” ... “But music isn'tenough. You have to entertainpeople, you need to keep theminterested and have a good timedoing it,” said Charlie Daniels.

A self proclaimed “ RedneckFiddlin Man” Daniels latestalbum is an unabashed tributeto the land which he loves. Hissongs are peppered with gospelsounds as well as country riffs.He has produced over 50albums and garnered everyaward given for great countymusic.

For more information, visitwww.newberryoperahouse.com or call 803-276-6264.

The South Carolina StateMuseum is kicking-off the holidayseason with several Midlands-exclusive South Carolina holidaygifts that can only be found at themuseum’s popular store, the CottonMill Exchange. To celebrate theholiday season, the Cotton MillExchange will host “MerryMondays” from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.during the month of Decemberwith holiday music and SouthCarolina food samplings.

The Cotton Mill Exchange haslong been South Carolina’s premiergift destination and this year willoffer several midlands-exclusiveitems, including South Carolinaglass Christmas ornaments, a “12Days of Christmas” kitchen toweland holiday cards, palmetto andcrescent cookie cutters and wineglass and bottle stopper sets. In

addition, the store has a variety ofSouth Carolina branded items,including clothing, ties, throws,tote bags, table linens, glassware,as well as South Carolina-madepottery, sweet grass baskets andsoaps.

Every Monday during the monthof December shoppers can enjoy“Merry Mondays” with specialholiday music and gourmet SouthCarolina-made food samplings.The store carries several local gour-met products made in SouthCarolina, including coffees, teas,grits, cookies, candies, BBQsauces, jams and much more.“Merry Mondays” will take placefrom 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and shoppingwill be available from 10 a.m. - 5p.m.

“We are very excited that theholiday season is finally here,” said

Scottie Ash Nicholson, store man-ager, Cotton Mill Exchange. “Themuseum store is the perfect giftlocation to find a unique selectionof South Carolina crafts, books,gourmet food and clothing.”

The store will offer the followingdiscount day: Saturday, Nov. 23 andSaturday, Dec. 14 - Museum mem-bers will receive an extra 10 per-cent discount.

The store is located in the lobbyof the historic State Museum, locat-ed at 301 Gervias Street inColumbia. Museum admission isnot required to shop in the store andparking is free to all shoppers andmuseum guests. All proceeds fromthe Cotton Mill Exchange help sup-port the State Museum’s mission.For more information about theCotton Mill Exchange, visit scmu-seum.org or call 803-898-4967.

The power of pet therapy isthought to be stronger thanany medication, not only forpeople going through toughtimes or in poor health, butalso for the elderly as well.Proven to increase mentalalertness, build self-esteemand decrease loneliness, petscan provide a warm and ful-filling relationship that olderpeople — or indeed all of us— desire.

“Pet ownership for olderpeople can be very beneficialby giving them something tolove and care for, as well as acompanion in the home, espe-cially if they live alone,” saidDr. Sonny Presnal, director ofthe Stevenson CompanionAnimal Life-Care Center atthe Texas A&M College ofVeterinary Medicine &Biomedical Sciences (CVM).“I don’t believe there are anyappreciable risks, providingthat good decisions are madein the choice of a pet for olderpeople.”

Having the responsibility ofcaring for a pet can be ahealthy situation for most eld-erly people. Sometimes, a petcan be the only reason that heor she feels a need to get up inthe morning; it provides themwith a sense of purpose. “Itgives older pet owners some-thing to care for, which in thecase of a dog may mean theyare out taking the dog on awalk instead of sitting in thehouse,” said Presnal. In addi-tion, there are many studiesthat attribute pet ownership torelieving stress, loweringblood pressure and choles-terol levels, and betteringmental health.

Not only do pets help theelderly overcome varioushealth ailments, but also theycan signif icantly decrease

their owners’ sense of loneli-ness. As you probably alreadyknow, pets are automatic peo-ple magnets and are often agreat conversation starter.People love talking abouttheir pets, and others loveinteracting with the pets theyencounter. This can often leadto new friendships and canprovide beneficial socialinteractions that elderly peo-ple may not have otherwisehad the chance to experience.This, in addition to simplyhaving something to care for,significantly decreases loneli-ness and accompanyingdepression.

When choosing a pet, youmust take into considerationthe limitations of the elderlyperson’s physical and mentalhealth. “A large, active dogmay not be suitable for olderpeople, due to the risk ofinjury to the owner from anaccidental collision that maycause them to fall,” saidPresnal. “Fractures from fallscan be very dangerous forolder people, especially hipfractures.”

A young puppy or kittenmay not be a suitable choiceeither, due to their high main-tenance requirements. Anolder dog or cat that hasmatured past their ball ofenergy phase can be a perfectcompanion. Not only doesadopting an older pet benefittheir owner, but may save thepet from euthanasia, as oftenpeople are (unfortunately) notinterested in adopting olderanimals.

A concern that many elder-ly people considering petownership face is the possi-bility that they will no longerbe able to care for their petlater on. This can happen iftheir health suddenly decreas-

es, or if the animal becomesin need of extensive veteri-nary care. “There are manymobile veterinary servicesavailable for older personswho may not drive or whootherwise have problemstransporting their pets for vet-erinary care,” said Presnal.There are also programs, suchas the Stevenson Center, thatprovide for the physical, emo-tional and medical needs ofcompanion animals whentheir owners can no longer doso.

The Stevenson Center,which Presnal directs, is aunique program that has vet-erinary students who live atthe center to provide compan-ionship and care for the resi-dent pets at night and onweekends and holidays. “Aspart of the CVM, the residentpets receive the ultimate inveterinary care at theVeterinary Medical TeachingHospital,” said Presnal. “Webelieve the level of care andcompanionship is unequaledby any other similar pro-gram.”

It is proven that animals canhelp enrich the lives of theirowners both physically andemotionally, and this can beespecially true for the elderly.The right pet can providethem with a sense of purpose,nonjudgmental acceptance,and companionship that bothanimals and humans need tostay happy and comfortable.

Pet Talk is a service of theCollege of VeterinaryMedicine & BiomedicalSciences, Texas A&MUniversity. Stories can beviewed on the Web atve tmed. tamu.edu/pet ta lk .Suggestions for future topicsmay be directed toeditor@cvm.tamu.edu.

November 23, 2013 The Laurens County Advertiser EXTRA 15

Black Cyan Magenta Yellow

®

101681

See the savings for yourself at alltelwireless.com/savetoday

$4999 NO REBATESamsung Galaxy® S III

FREEUnimax Kiwi

2 yr wireless agreement with min monthly voice and data plans required for each phone.Changeable Covers 3 PackWhile supplies last. Colors vary by store.

3 Months

FREEon additional lines

NEW LOW PRICE!

*Savings based on 2 smartphones & 2 feature phones and include 3 months free on lines 2-4 as compared to comparable plans sourced on Verizon’s website 10/24/13. Offer expires November 30, 2013. While supplies last at participating locations. Limit one smartphone per additional line of service. 3 months free good for 2nd line and up (up to 4 lines, plus data cards & wireless home phone lines); appears as monthly credit after 30 days. Requires new 2-yr agreement with min. monthly voice (min $39.99/mo.) & data plans(min $30/mo.); see store or alltelwireless.com. Service cancellation within 15 days requires return of gift. Subject to Terms & Conditions. Credit approval req’d. Activation fee: $25/line. Geographic, usage, & other terms, conditions, & restrictions apply & may result in svc termination. Equipment price & availability may vary by market & may not be available from independent retailers. Coverage & svcs not available everywhere. Data (alltelwireless. com/plans/best-value): If usage exceeds your monthly data allowance, you will automatically be charged overage for add’l data provided. Early Termination Fee (alltelwireless.com/ETF): After 15 days, ETF up to $350. Restocking fee: up to $35. Other Monthly Charges/Line: may include federal and state universal svc charges, a Regulatory and Administrative Fee (up to $1.70), a gross receipts surcharge, and other gov’t assessments. These are not taxes or gov’t req’d charges. Prepaid & Business customers not eligible. All product & service marks referenced are the names, trade names, trademarks & logos of their respective owners. ©2013 AWCC; all rights reserved.

3 Months FREE Savesa Family of 4 Up to $550compared to Verizon.*

FREE ACTIVATION

Caring Families Fostering Dreams,One Child At A Time

Help teens, siblings and medically fragile foster children establishhealthy connections in the community. Consider becoming a resourcefoster family and open your heart and home. There are nearly 100children in foster care in Laurens County and only 25 licensed fosterfamilies to care for them. The need is great! How can you help? Youhave an opportunity to help a small child, a teen or siblings infoster care. Act now! Training, support, and monthlystipend provided. Call the SC Youth Advocate Program -Resource Family Program (864) 312-6700 or visitwww.scyap.com to get started.

Elderly benefit from pet ownership

Photo by Daniel J. LauerHONORING VETERANS — Veterans wave the American flag during the Veteran’s Dayprogram held Nov. 11 at the Laurens City Amphitheater. The program, sponsored by theLaurens County Veterans Organizations, featured comments by Laurens Mayor SharonBrownlee, Clinton Mayor Bob McLean, and Laurens County Council chairman JimColeman. Laurens City Police Chief Sonny Ledda was the guest speaker during the hour-long ceremony.

Exclusive South Carolina holiday gifts,‘Merry Mondays’ at state museum

Charlie Daniels Band to rock NOH