Monday, January 20, 2014

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 24th 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 18th 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!!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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. 
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.

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
OR
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 2nd & 4th 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.

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 
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.
Page 2
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.

Page 3
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 2nd & 4th 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


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