Monday, January 27, 2014

January 27, 2014

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

The newest project that the Friends of Ridge spring are undertaking is set for March 22 at the civic center. We will have an application on line and a layout of the gym with 5 of the 25 places already reserved.

Market on the Ridge

Antiques, Artisans

March 22 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Mark your calendars

http://www.friendsofridgespring.com/Market-On-The-Ridge.html

Souper Bowl of Caring started in 1990 in Columbia, SC with 22 churches. Since then it has gone nationwide. On February 2, 2014 Churches around the country will host events to collect food and cash to help nonprofit hunger organizations.

Visit the web site: www.souperbowl.org/ for more information and to see how your Church or organization can help fight hunger on the local level.

The Ridge Spring High School class of 1956 and the Ridge Spring Monetta High School classes of 1957-1968 are planning a reunion on May 24, 2013. The next planning meeting is Saturday, February 8, 12:30 pm at Juniper in Ridge Spring. If you would like to help in the planning, please come or contact Harriet Householder at 803-532-2887, hfhouseholder@gmail.com.

The Ridge Spring United Methodist Church has a new phone umber: 803.685.0060 and we are on Face Book

Little League Baseball sign-ups are as follows The dates are January 18 and the 25 and February 1, 8, and the 15th from 10-1 at the ball field in Monetta. Any Questions call 480-2290.

The Yon Family Farm Sale is coming up in February 15, 2014 at noon. You can go on line to check out and sign up. It is their 24^th Bull Performance Sale. www.youfamilyfarm.com

From David Marshall James: Have been a fan of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series since the low single digits. She’s now up to twenty volumes—“Takedown Twenty,” and I had difficulty spreading it out to three sittings. I’ll follow the foibles of the Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter (bond-recovery agent) as long as it makes me laugh out loud, and this one certainly did, with Lula, Stephanie’s coworker, grabbing most of the guffaws, along with a giraffe that Lula names Kevin. Yes—a giraffe.

Stephanie is finally desirous of settling down with longtime, on-and-off-again beau (and Trenton cop) Joe Morelli, but it doesn’t help that his Sicilian grandmother, Bella, keeps putting the Evil Eye on Stephanie, because the latter is attempting to apprehend Bella’s nephew (and Joe’s godfather), on whom Stephanie’s cousin Vinnie has written an enormous bond, for a murder that was caught on a camera phone and has even been posted on YouTube.

I say Stephanie’s own grandmother, Grandma Mazur, should have a throwdown with Bella. That could be the focus of “Throwdown Twenty-One.” The Trenton bookies wouldn’t be able to answer their phones fast enough, and Lula could fire off one of her rocket launchers for good measure. I would be so there.

John Kneece pastor of Ridge Spring United Methodist Church:

“Cuba? You are going to Cuba on a mission trip? You will be doing construction? Boy, I could do that.” Those words pretty much summed up my thoughts early last summer when a couple of friends from Batesburg-Leesville told me that they had signed up for a mission trip to Cuba with the United Methodist Church Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) program. They also told me that the team still had openings. With Jo-Ann’s (my wife) encouragement, I contacted the team leader to see if I could join the team. He told me that I would be on the “waiting list” because he had filled all the slots that morning. However, in just a week or so, he notified me that I had a place on the team. I applied for and received my passport and took the recommended vaccinations (thought I wouldn’t ever have to do that again when I retired from the Air Force in 1992). On November 3, 2013, the three of us left Batesburg-Leesville and drove to Miami to hook up with the other eight team members at a hotel near Miami Airport. Other team members came from Sumter, Anderson, Mauldin, Simpsonville, and Greenville. On November 4^th, after doing the bag-drag-stand-around-shuffle most of the morning (another thing I thought I had left behind in the Air Force) we boarded the airplane and in an hour or two landed at Jose Marti Airport in Havana, Cuba.

In Havana, we met representatives from the Methodist Church in Cuba (an interpreter/tour guide and a bus driver) who would be charged with our care and feeding while we were in Cuba. Both of them were committed to keeping our mission team safe and they were absolutely wonderful people to work with. We spent that night at the Methodist Church in Cuba headquarters building (in addition to the administrative offices for the Methodist Church in Cuba and the office of the Bishop, they operate a kind of hostel for pastors and families and for mission teams…kind of a large bed and breakfast/lunch/supper place). The next morning after taking care of currency exchange (only Cuban currency is accepted on the economy) and sorting through the packages of tools and supplies we had brought to sort out the material that should stay in Havana, we embarked on the first leg of a 17-hour road trip to Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city in Cuba, and the location of the John Wesley Methodist Church where our team would be helping with construction. We spent the first night on the road at Camp Canaan (pronounced Ka-non), a Methodist Church retreat and conference center located in a small town about 7 hours out of Havana. The water supply for this camp comes from a large spring (outflow is enough to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool). This same water comes out of the shower heads, so the showers were pretty short! The next morning, we boarded the bus (ugh!!! more service travel memories) and bombed on down the highway for another 10 hours or so to our destination in Santiago de Cuba.

In Santiago de Cuba, we went directly to John Wesley church where we discovered a four floor building with an unfinished roof over the fourth floor. We also discovered that the pastor and his family lived on the third floor of the church. We were told that they had moved beds and furniture around within their quarters and had created sleeping accommodations for the eleven- member team. It was tight, but comfortable…{This is the first installment --- next week, building a roof five floors up)…John Kneece

Rene Miller, RSM Elementary/Middle School

Group Four Spelling Bee was held at RSM on Wednesday, January 15th. This included students from RSM, JD Lever, North Aiken Elementary, and Aiken Middle. Congratulations to, Zachary Chaney, Aiken Middle, 1st place; Gracie Holsenback,

RSM, 2nd place; and Jamari Simmons, 3^rd place, J.D. Lever These students will participate in the County Spelling Bee on February 3rd at the URS Center on Newberry Street in Aiken. Congratulations to these students.

The following classes have 100% participation in Trojan Pride Day. This is a great accomplishment and we are very proud of the following classes! They are Mrs. Lott, Mrs. Kerby, Mrs. Havird, Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Hallman, Ms. Johnson, and Mrs. Palmer

Right Choices--Right Track--- Bright Futures Rally Saturday, March 15, 2014 9:30-12:45

Schofield Middle School Grades 5-8: This is a free, informative rally that will have guest speakers, exhibition booths of Aiken County middle schools and outside agencies, and breakout sessions on topics including: All You Need to Know About IEPs, Promoting Positive Behaviors, Internet Safety, Preparing for Your Future Now, etc. Food, and door prizes will be given away.

Josie Rodgers RSM High School

Girl Scout Cookie orders will be taken through Jan. 27 ($3.50 per box). Cookies will be delivered between February 14 and February 20. Choices include Thanks-a-Lot, Lemonades, Shortbread, Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, Caramel Delites, & Peanut Butter Sandwiches. Can’t find a Girl Scout? Find some leaders: Donna Way, Dana Berry, Stephanie Harmon, or Effie Martin.

RSM High News: The FFA and Beta Club held a toy drive in December: Toys for Toddlers. The toy drive became a competition among all 4^th period classes. Coach Johnson’s class won the drive and were rewarded with a cookout; Coach Johnson received a $50 gift card to Edgefield Fuel and Convenience. The FFA and Beta Club share many of the same students, so they have joined efforts this year to provide service to our community.

The Renaissance Pep Rally was held last Friday. Students were recognized for perfect attendance, academic achievement, and improvement in MAP scores. Hailey Turner was honored as Student of the Month, and Mrs. Bedenbaugh was honored as Teacher of the Month.

Trojan Island was also held last week to celebrate all students who had not tardies, have turned all their homework in, and no discipline issues. Last week’s lunch was a hot dog picnic.

Aiken County Public School District would like to invite parents and members of the community to take part in a Stakeholder Input Meeting for the development of the District’s Five-Year Strategic Plan. This plan includes goals and activities for improving student achievement, teacher/leadership quality, and school climate. A meeting will be held on March 6 at RS-M Elem/Med Media Center from 6 pm until 7:30 pm to obtain your input and feedback. Your attendance will be greatly appreciated.

Reminders:

Note: the library closes at 12 noon on Saturdays. I have been saying 1:00.

Ridge Spring Library hours: Mon/Tues 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; Thurs 8:30 am - 12:30 pm; Fri 12:30 pm -4:30 pm; Sat 9 am -12:00 noon.

Every Friday & Saturday: AARS hours 10 – 4

Every 2^nd & 4^th Monday: Kids' Corner Story Time 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Ridge Spring Library.

Every first Tuesday of the Month: AARS meets 685-5783

Every Wednesday: AA meets at Recovery Works

Every Monday & Friday: Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings 7:00 pm at The Ridge Spring Library

Monday, January 20, 2014

January 20, 2014

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

Friends of Ridge Spring met Thursday and we had the chairs filled around the table in the back in the library. It was so great to have interest in supporting our town. Pat Asbill, Joanne Crouch and I will be speaking before the Saluda County Council for ATAX funds for tourism projects for Ridge Spring this week. The one that has really taken off is the Peach Tree 23 Yard sale which is June 7, the first Saturday in June. Then we begin the Farmers’ Market. The officials in Columbia are now allowing more items to be sold at the market than in the past. They had originally laid the law down that no live animals may be brought to the market, no cooked or canned goods and no crafts. DHEC still inspects the Market to see if any packaged meat is sold. They are beginning to ease up on these restrictions now. Baked items must still be individually wrapped, though.

The newest project that the Friends of Ridge spring are undertaking is set for March 22 at the civic center. We will soon have an application on line.

Market on the Ridge

Antiques, Artisans

March 22 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Mark your calendars

http://www.friendsofridgespring.com/Market-On-The-Ridge.html

Little League Baseball sign-ups are as follows The dates are January 18 and the 25 and February 1, 8, and the 15th from 10-1 at the ball field in Monetta. Any Questions call 480-2290.

The Yon Family Farm Sale is coming up in February, too. You can go on line to check out and sign up. It is their 24^th Bull Performance Sale. www.youfamilyfarm.com

OLDE TREASURES: Come in this week to see all that has come in since Christmas. You can still find a few Christmas items, but we’re turning our focus towards Valentine’s Day. You’ll find lots of vintage and antique jewelry.

CARLENE’S: We are officially into our fifth month in town and want to say thank you to all of you who support our efforts and are becoming regular customers with us. We certainly do value your business and appreciate all of the favorable comments that you give us. We also appreciate that you are sharing information about our shop with your friends and family. Please continue doing so because as they say about raising families, “it takes a village”; that is essentially the same in building up the businesses of a small town. Friends of Ridge Spring (FORS) is working hard to help all of the business owners in town to succeed. Shopping local is the best thing each of us can do to ensure the businesses stay. Thanks to each of you who do that.

We have quite a few new arrivals of vintage and antique furniture and glassware. You may fall in love with the emerald green venetian hand-blown and hand painted vase that has a double crimped edge and is new in the shop. It would make a lovely Valentine’s gift for a beautiful lady filled with a dozen roses that I am sure you could order from Harriet’s Garden shop right here in town. Just a thought!

We also have an oak 42” round pedestal table with four chairs and an oak square table with four chairs. You will also find new this week, a white (shabby chic) buffet/sideboard. For the primitive lovers, we have a very long bench/table. The story is that is came from South America and the wood certainly does not look native to the United States. There are marks that appear to be slash marks from sharp instruments. One customer came in and said a family member had one and it was used as a primitive surgery table. If only this bench could talk, what tales it could tell. It certainly is a rare piece and would look quite lovely on a porch. Hope to see you this week.

Mae Ann Webb was crowned Miss SC United States and will compete for Miss United States in Washington DC. She was also photogenic winner, Miss Congeniality, Style Award winner and awarded the About Face Modeling contract. She is the daughter of Eddie and Mildred Webb of Studio 23. Congratulations!!!

From David Marshall James: Just finished “Dead Man’s Fancy,” by Keith McCafferty, who writes for “Field & Stream” magazine. It’s the third mystery/adventure featuring Sean Stranahan, who has fled a dead marriage back East in order to jump start a proverbial New Life. Stranahan combines his enthusiasm for, and expertise at, trout fishing with serving as a fishing guide for wealthy vacationers. Additionally, he paints (mostly landscapes, some wildlife) and dabbles in P.I. work, which was more of a full-time occupation in his earlier life.

Stranahan is also an accomplished fly tier (as in one who ties trout flies) and collector. McCafferty’s accomplished writing style and concern for wildlife issues, his descriptions of Montana scenery, and his salty tongued characters (including a been-there-done-that female sheriff who has her eye on Stranahan in more ways than one) add up to a trio of novels that ought to lure fishermen and hunters in particular, but that are inviting enough to reel in mystery readers who favor a powerful landscape inhabited by colorful characters.

From Harriet’s Garden: Remember to water your pots thoroughly before a freeze which is being forecasted for the week. Water may freeze but it does not drop below 32 where the temperature may get down to 21 degrees. This is a wonderful time to begin dreaming about spring and gardens. Look at those seed catalogs. Just remember something grows great in Wisconsin may not tolerate the heat of the south. I promise it will get hot this summer and you will wonder about the coolness of the winter. I will reopen the shop on Saturday February 1. Hope to see you or hear from you for Valentine’s Day.

Donna Hatcher: Many of you know that our church, Mt. Calvary Lutheran, started a backpack ministry in January 2012. We currently provide food each week for 25 children at Douglas Elementary who are at risk of having little or no food on the weekends. In September, we applied for a Matthew 25: Neighbors in Need grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. Just before Christmas, we were notified that this ministry was selected to receive a $5,000 grant. As you can imagine, everyone was thrilled about this and we currently are working with the school to add 5 more children to this group. Recipients of the grant are given the opportunity to participate in a challenge grant and receive up to an additional $5,000. From Dec 1 through March 31, all funds raised (donations, memorials, fundraising, etc.) will be matched by Thrivent 50 cents for every dollar. We are participating in this challenge. At the end of December, we had received close to $1,000 from donations, memorials, & our quarterly noisy offering. We are trying to spread the word because there may be folks who are not members of Mt. Calvary that would like to help up meet this challenge. Donations can be sent to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 1186 Mt. Calvary Rd., Johnston SC 29832 (checks made out to Kangaroo Kids Backpack Ministry.

RSUMC would like to invite you to visit their Face Book page. Daily devotional quotes along with news from the Church appear daily. The more ‘likes’ the Church receives, the more feedback on how to improve the page.

RSUMC continues to collect nonperishable food items for the Johnston Food Bank. If you would like to help, leave your donation on either the Church or the Family Life Center porch and a Church member will make sure it makes it into The Big Red Box. We are located on DuBose Street, two doors down from Studio 23.

Helpful Hands Ministry: On Jan. 25, the food bank will be open from 10 am to 2 pm. Location is 101 Hazard Circle in Ridge Spring. The following items are needed: food, winter clothing, computers, Bibles, other religious books, toys, games, household appliances, clothing racks, and hangers.

They provide the following: food, clothing, life coaching, biblical counseling, pre–marital counseling , weddings, baby dedications, prayer, youth mentoring, preaching for all occastions, and church referrals.

The Ridge Spring Library always needs volunteers to help. They have also received donated books. Please call Pat Asbill if you are interested in volunteering.

AARS News: The Art Center of Ridge Spring is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10-4. Admission is free. Membership meeting is the first Tuesday at 6:30 at the Art Center and the public is invited.

Rene Miller, RSM Elementary/Middle School:

Art Contest: As part of the South Carolina Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, our school will be participating in a drawing contest. Students in 3rd-5th grades will be participating at our school. Time will be allowed during art class with Mr. Fulmer. However, students are also allowed to work on their entry at home. The deadline to submit artwork to Amy Cooper is March 5. The school will select three winners to submit to the state department of education. The winners will be recognized at the school-level with a fruit basket. The first place artwork of our school’s contest will be submitted for a district-level contest. The district winner will have his/her artwork posted on the side of

our district’s refrigerated delivery truck for others to see as it is driven around Aiken County. The top four winners selected by the state of S.C. will receive cash prizes from The School Nutrition Association. If you are interested in participating at home, please adhere to these guidelines set by the state department:

• The physical size of submitted artwork must be 8 ½ inches by 11 inches.

• Image layout must be horizontal/landscape.

• Image must portray a fruit and/or vegetable theme.

• Entries should not be matted.

• There should be no border around the image.

• Entries must be multi-colored and can be drawn with ink, paint, pastel, crayons, or pencil

• Design entries must by the contestant’s original, hand-illustrated creation, and may not be traced or copied from published photographs or other artists’ works.

Please include the student’s name and grade on the back of the artwork. If you have any questions about the drawing contest, please contact Ramey Fulmer (art teacher) or

Amy Cooper (assistant principal).

Semester Awards Day

January 24, 2014

8th Grade - 8:05a.m.

7th Grade - 9:00 a.m.

6th Grade - 10:00 a.m.

5th Grade - 11:15 a.m.

4th Grade - 11:55 a.m.

3rd Grade - 12:35 p.m.

2nd Grade - 1:15 p.m.

1st Grade - 1:55 p.m.

January 13, 2014

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

I thought I would try to take this month off but too much is happening. So I am partially on vacation.

Friends of Ridge Spring is working on a new project for March. It will be Market on the Ridge. This is an exciting project that will benefit all. Then we have had published the brochure listing the businesses, churches, town and organizations that are part of Ridge Spring. We paid for the publication through funds from Saluda County ATAX and the Ridge Spring Harvest Festival Bingo. Hope you look for these new brochures at Town Hall, the library, First Citizen’s Bank, Juniper and Bank’s Drugs. We hope to get them out into the businesses. Sometimes we do not realize all the resources we have in our town.

Next, the Ridge Spring Monetta High School Reunion of Classes 1956 to 1968 will be May 24^th and the Ridge Spring Civic Center. Please help by contacting anyone in your class or me at hfhouseholder@gmail.com to help us plan this super event. We need to make sure we reach all that were in the classes with us in elementary or high school period!!!!! We will send out invitations in February so get on the list!!!

In Honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ridge Hill Baptist Church invites you to a Community Brunch on Saturday January 18^th starting at 10:00AM. Come and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy while enjoying a culturally rich, inspiring and informative event. Guest speakers: Wayne O’Bryant historian and author, Wallace Cunningham AARP SC Director of Multicultural Outreach

· Music & Singing – Shelly Wade

· Poetry – Brianna Rauch

· Mime Dancing – The Gospel Warriors

· Important information on The Affordable Health Care Act

· On-site voter registration

Effie Martin: Girl Scout Troop 2081 was spreading good cheer on December 23. They begin their day at 9:30 am in Ridge Spring parking. From there to Saluda County Council on Aging to play Bingo and the prizes were household products. Then they went to the L&B Nursing home off Dennis Road. They sang Christmas carols and gave bedroom shoes and Sweat suits. It was then time for lunch. We arrived at the Saluda Nursing Home around 2:00PM where they sang Christmas carols and played Bingo. Thank everyone for you support in the year 2013. Look forward to Girl Scout Cookies for everyone coming soon!!!

Harriet’s Garden Shop will be closed for the month of January, but Harriet can always be reached by phone, and she has call forwarding. She will be visiting the shop to begin planting seeds for spring. Faye’s Greenhouses has already started with geraniums and impatiens. Harriet is hoping to be ready for Valentines as she reopens Feb. 1.

Members of the Saluda County Historical Society will hold a morning Duck Hunt on Sat., Jan. 18. The hunt will be hosted by the Windy Hill Rod and Gun Club and the Randy Barnes Family at Padgett Pond, Saluda County, SC. Proceeds from the hunt will be used to further fund the preservation of the historic Marsh-Johnson House, one of the properties of the Society in need of further restoration.

If you are interested in participating in the hunt, please sent you name, address, telephone number, and email address, if available to: C. E. Berry, Jr., 500 Samuel Padgett Road, Ridge Spring, SC 29129 (Tele. #803 685 5020; email: cebpadgettpd@pbtcomm.net).

Helpful Hands Ministry: Fullgospelpraise.com: On Jan. 18, the thrift store will be open from 10 am to 2 pm. On Jan. 25, the food bank will be open from 10 am to 2 pm. Location is 101 Hazard Circle in Ridge Spring. The following items are needed: food, winter clothing, computers, Bibles, other religious books, toys, games, household appliances, clothing racks, and hangers.

Josie Rodgers

January brings new ideas, new goals, new plans. Focus on this “newness” whenever the weather gets you down and discouraged. What can you do to make the most of cold, rainy weather? Watch movies with the kids. Roast marshmallows on the fire. Snuggle up with a good book. Clean out your closets. Make written plans for warmer weather. Savor each day, no matter how cold, nasty, rainy, or dreary.

Basketball season is in full swing. Check out the schedules for your favorite teams and show your support!

Other sports will be gearing up as well. Softball, baseball, soccer, sporting clays, and golf are a few that will begin conditioning and practicing.

Happy Anniversary to my husband! Mark and I have been married 14 years on Jan. 15.

Ridge Spring-Monetta High School is now on Facebook. Like us at facebook.com/RSMHS.TROJANS. There will be no early release day in January. Fri., Jan. 17 is a teacher workday, and Mon., Jan. 20, is a school holiday.

Remember that the tardy bell rings at 7:50 am at the elem/mid school. Also, if you haven’t seen the progress on the new middle school, take a little drive out behind RS-M High and see it! Next year, the school will be open. The combined schools will be named Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle High School.

The 2014-15 school calendar is now online. Go to any of the schools’ websites to print it and start filling out your calendar!

The Ridge Spring Library always needs volunteers to help. They have also received donated books. Please call Pat Asbill if you are interested in volunteering.

For fun and to make my column a little longer I decided to publish a poem written by my aunt back in 1938. Jane Brunson Smith was my mother’s youngest sister and very gifted when it came to poetry. I hope you enjoy a true tale.

VICTORY IN THE BACKYARD

HOW TO KILL A SNAKE WITH A GUN

We had some excitement in the yard today.

Mother noticed the jaybirds having plenty to say.

So she went out to see

What the trouble might be.

Up in a bush that is very tall,

A big black snake was the cause of it all,

“Girls, girls, come here quick.

Bring me the hoe or a big stout stick.”

It took ‘bout a minute for us to make our stand,

Right behind Mother with weapons in hand:

The hoe, the ax, the shovel, the rake,

Also the pitchfork to kill that snake.

I was the heroine ’cause the battle I won.

Bravely did it with my little gun.

We were all so proud the reptile was dead.

His vicious head was filled with lead.

Triumphantly we carried him to show P. A.

But to our surprise we heard him say—

“Why, that snake should have caused no alarm;

The poor little thing could do no harm.

He’s just passing through eating bugs and mice

And lizards and grasshoppers and maybe mice.

Course we women differ on that score

Even a tiny snake would make us sore.

Mother said, not to P. A.,

“I’m glad we killed him and I say---

If another snake bad or good,

Puts a foot in my yard, it’s understood,

I’ll wage war on him with all my might.”

And we girls agreed we’d help her fight.

P. A. = father

This is a true episode told in rhyme by Jane Brunson Smith June 1938.

Reminders:

Ridge Spring Library hours: Mon/Tues 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; Thurs 8:30 am - 12:30 pm; Fri 12:30 pm -4:30 pm; Sat 9 am -12:00 noon.

Every Friday & Saturday: AARS hours 10 – 4

Every 2^nd & 4^th Monday: Kids' Corner Story Time 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Ridge Spring Library.

Every first Tuesday of the Month: AARS meets 685-5783

Every Wednesday: AA meets at Recovery Works

Every Monday & Friday: Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings 7:00 pm at The Ridge Spring Library

January 6, 2014

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder (on vacation)

RSUMC (Ridge Spring United Methodist Church) continues to collect non perishable items for the Johnston Food Bank. The month of January, think juice. January = juice = Johnston Food Bank: juice boxes, cans, bottles of juice. If you would like to help, leave your donation on either the porch of the Church or Family Life Center and a member will see that it makes it into the Big Red Box.

13TH ANNUAL DUCK HUNT

DUCK SHOOT TO BENEFIT THE SALUDA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Members of the Saluda County Historical Society will hold a morning Duck Hunt on Saturday, January 18, 2014. The hunt will be hosted by the Windy Hill Rod and Gun Club and the Randy Barnes Family at Padgett Pond, Saluda County, South Carolina.

Proceeds from the hunt will be used to further fund the preservation of the historic Marsh-Johnson House, one of the properties of the Society in need of further restoration. One of the major goals of the Society is the preservation of the history of Saluda County. The house is an excellent example of an “upland plantation home” and has undergone massive restoration over the past year using grants, society funds, and proceeds from the annual deer/duck hunts.

A small number of spots are available for the Duck Hunt which will be held on beaver ponds owned by the Randy Barnes Family and the Head-waters of Padgett Pond in Saluda County. The adverse weather along the upper Atlantic Coast has caused the mallards and pintails to arrive earlier than normal. Guides and transportation will be provided from Padgett Pond. A continental breakfast will be available before the hunt and a “Farmer’s Breakfast” will be provided after the hunt. The cost of the hunt is a donation of $100.00.

The twelve duck hunts in the past have been quite successful with a wide-variety of ducks harvested.

Participants in the hunt must abide by all the rules of the Hunt Clubs, the State of South Carolina, and the U. S. Government. Hunters must have duck stamps. Alcohol beverages will not be permitted during the hunt.

Helpful Hands Ministry: Fullgospelpraise.com

January 11, 2014 is DONATION DAY 10AM-12 PM BOYZ II GENTLEMEN MEETING

JANUARY 18 2014 is THRIFT STORE OPEN 10AM-2PM

JANUARY 25 2014 is FOOD BANK OPEN 10AM-12PM

WE ARE LOCATED AT 101 HAZARD CIRCLE

RIDGE SPRING, S.C. 29129

We provide the following: Food, Clothing, Life Coaching Biblical Counseling Pre–Martial Counseling , Weddings, Baby Dedications, Prayer , Youth Mentoring, PREACHING FOR ALL OCCASIONS, AND Church Referrals

This we need: FOOD, WINTER CLOTHING, (2) COMPUTERS, BIBLES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS BOOKS, TOYS AND GAMES, HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES , CLOTHING RACKS AND HANGERS

By David Marshall James

Subbing for Harriet Householder, once again … experienced a throwback to two of this year’s literary offerings, in an unexpected venue. It happened when I caught “Match Game ’76,” airing in a pre-9 a.m. time slot on the Game Show Network.

Seated to the left and right of the late Richard Dawson on the six-celebrity panel were the late, great character actress Mary Wickes (65 going on 66 back in 1976) and comedienne Fannie Flagg.

Flash forward to May 2013, and the University Press of Mississippi publishes an extensive biography of Wickes, which has been selling well on Amazon ever since. Flash forward to December 2013, and the release of the movie “Saving Mr. Banks,” with Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as P. L. Travers, author of “Mary Poppins.”

Trivia Game Buster: Who was the first actress to play Mary Poppins?

Answer: Mary Wickes, in an hour-long 1949 TV special that aired live from New York City on CBS.

Of the scores upon scores of roles she portrayed on stage, in film, and on TV, it remained Wickes’s all-time favorite. Indeed, she asked Disney himself, during the late 1950s, to consider making a full-length film version, with a chance for her to ride once more down to the Banks House on Cherry-Tree Lane, via magic umbrella.

‘Twas not to be, but Mary took a spoonful of sugar to better help the bitter medicine of the loss go down. She loved work, and lots of it. Indeed, she modeled for animators bringing Cruella De Vil to the screen in the original “101 Dalmations.”

And, she was voicing the part of LaVerne the gargoyle in Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” at the time of her death, in 1996.

The stars in Mary’s celestial crown must be shining at full wattage this year, for Doris Day singled her out as a favorite supporting actress in a Turner Classic Movies (voice-only) retrospective. Wickes loomed large in such Day films as “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” and “On Moonlight Bay.”

Digression: When, oh when, is Hollywood going to award Day the honors she so richly deserves? Let’s start with an Honorary Oscar, shall we? How about it, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences? Hang your heads in shame.

Back to Wickes: Mary appeared in many such “A” pictures as those with Day. These include “The Music Man” and the holiday favorite “White Christmas,” in which she plays Dean Jagger’s housekeeper at the Vermont inn.

Bette Davis was also a chum, and Wickes took memorable turns in such Davis classics as “Now, Voyager” and “The Man Who Came to Dinner.” Mary originated the role of Miss Preen the nurse in the Broadway production of “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” the part that brought her to Hollywood.

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Mary was one of Lucille Ball’s closest friends. Wickes guest-starred on all the incarnations of Lucy’s TV show, beginning with “I Love Lucy,” in which she played the ballet instructor to Ball’s inept pupil in a classic episode.

Yet, when she was a semi-regular guest on “Match Game” back during the 1970s, it would have been tempting to dismiss Mary Wickes as a relic from the Golden Age of Broadway and Hollywood, picking up pin money on a game show in-between tea parties (Wickes liked to throw them).

Not so: Mary’s biggest paydays in show biz were more than a decade away, when she would be in her eighties: The movie “Sister Act” and its sequel. During the 1960s, she also played a nun in the memorable “The Trouble with Angels” and its sequel.

Incidentally, Mary was a devout Episcopalian, going back to her earliest days, as a beloved only child in St. Louis, where she was graduated from Washington University before staking her claim in summer stock at the Berkshire Playhouse in Stockbridge, Mass.

Furthermore, during the 1990s, she was thrilled to take on the role of Aunt March in the excellent remake of “Little Women,” also starring Winona Ryder and Christian Bale.

Yet, to think: There sat Mary Wickes in 1976, age 65, with her biggest films and paychecks more than 15 years away. Surely, she never suspected this exhaustive biography would be published 37 years later: “I Know I’ve Seen That Face Before” by Steve Taravella.

Fannie Flagg’s story contains even more of a surprise twist. During the 1970s, the Birmingham, Ala.-born-and-bred Flagg seemed just on the verge of being a big TV star. She was a popular, attractive, witty regular on “Match Game,” but she never took off in a series of her own. One attempt was a sitcom called “Home Cookin’.”

Having written for TV, she wrangled a book contract from publisher Henry Holt and thus set out on the path of her true destiny: Woman of Letters.

The film version of her “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Café” (she was nominated for an Oscar, for co-writing the screenplay) cemented her reputation, and she has gone on to create some of the best “feel good” novels of the past quarter-century, my favorite being “Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven.”

Flagg is nothing short of a modern-day Charles Dickens, often constructing family sagas, or personal histories, generally involving a bit of a mystery—or at least the discovery, by the main character, of some enormous twist of fate that precipitates that character’s adopting an entirely new worldview.

In the milieu of Flagg’s novels, the characters can never be too sure of who they truly are. Her “The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion,” published in October, proves a case in point.

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I do hope Fannie Flagg will go on writing as long as Mary Wickes did making movies, with equal success. Who would have thought, back in 1976, that these two game-show celebrities would be writ large in the world of letters, 37 years later?

Maybe someone will be thinking along the same lines about another personage, in 2051: “Who would have thought, back in 2014, that so-and-so would be making such a big splash this year?” In a “feel good,” Mary Wickes/Fannie Flagg way, let’s hope.

Reminders:

Ridge Spring Library hours: Mon/Tues 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; Thurs 8:30 am - 12:30 pm; Fri 12:30 pm -4:30 pm; Sat 9 am -1:00 pm.

Every Friday & Saturday: AARS hours 10 – 4

Every 2^nd & 4^th Monday: Kids' Corner Story Time 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Ridge Spring Library.

Every first Tuesday of the Month: AARS meets 685-5783

Every Wednesday: AA meets at Recovery Works

Every Monday & Friday: Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings 7:00 pm at The Ridge Spring Library