January 19, 2015

Ridge Spring News

Gourd Painting Class: The  Gabbie Hen Gourd Painting Class will be held Saturday, January 31st 9-12 at the Art Center of Ridge Spring. The cost will be $35 for all supplies.

Lee Ann Perez/ One Ash Farm & Dairy: I had a great time meeting some wonderful ladies and sharing my Butter and Cheese making techniques during the workshop at Cumbee Place!  Thanks to all who attended for making my experience so rewarding.  There will be more of this workshop in February, and then going forward, so make sure to contact Noel at Cumbee Place by calling, stopping by, or by following Cumbee Place on Facebook for details.  Also, I really enjoy sharing what I have learned and would love to conduct some other workshops. If there is something you would like for me to consider teaching, please send an email to OneAshFarmAndDairy@gmail.com, or talk to Noel at Cumbee Place. Have a blessed week!

Pat Asbill: Noel Steele and I attended an awards brunch yesterday at Ridge Hill Baptist Church. The ceremony was moving and brunch was delicious. Two awards were presented. One award went to Raven Valentine for her academic and athletic success, and the second award went to Mrs. Ora Broadnax for her long-time community and church involvement.

Joe Cal Watson, a veteran of World War II and the Battle of the Bulge, was recognized Saturday with the French Legion of Honor presented by Lt. Col. Ernest Kirby, retired, At  the presentation were Chris Carawan and Vernon Brantley also veterans of World War II and Battle of the Bulge.  After the presentation the men sat at a table in the Nut House and started talking.  Joe Watson and Vernon Brantley had been with the 75^th Infantry Division and Chris Carawan was with the 106^th Infantry Division, The three men returned to France and Belgium with other veterans this summer on the special Flight commemorating D-Day and World War II.  The French Legion of Honor was presented to the Americans on the 70^th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge which lasted from December 16^th until January 27^th.

Bob Householder: World War II veteran, D.S. Cone passed away December 18^th. D.S. was the last surviving founding member, and instrumental in the organization of Post 133 in 1948. D.S. was elected the First Commander of the Post, and did not miss a Legion meeting for the next 40 years. He and E.E. Buffington were selected to draw plans for the building. Saturday night square dances were the main fund raiser to pay off the debt of the building.  D.S. called the dances. His leadership and service to the community will be missed.

Josie Rodgers

Give Kids the World Village must be the most wonderful place on earth!  Leagrace was treated like the princess that she is! They truly cater to the special children, their siblings, and their families while they stay in Orlando.  They feed them, bring a gift a day (even for a sibling!), and offer so many activities each day!  Their website reads, “The story of Give Kids The World begins with a little girl with a wish and the desire of one man to make that wish come true.

“The little girl's name was Amy. Amy had leukemia and one wish - to visit the theme parks in Orlando. To facilitate Amy's wish, the request of a complimentary stay was made to a respected hotelier. As he had done many times before, the hotelier gladly obliged and Amy's wish was that much closer to being realized. Sadly, the remainder of Amy's travel plans took too long to arrange and her wish was never granted; Amy had passed away. Time simply ran out.

“This unfulfilled wish inspired a man, the hotelier, to make a vow that no child in need would ever be failed again. That man was Henri Landwirth and his desire to ensure that Amy's story would never repeat itself is where the story of Give Kids The World begins.

“Landwirth enlisted the support of colleagues in the hospitality industry, including our world-famous theme parks, to assist him in bringing these special families to Central Florida within 24 hours if need be. He called the project “Give Kids The World,” because that is just what he intended to do - provide memorable, magical, cost-free experiences to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. As the program expanded and the number of families continued to grow, it was apparent that Give Kids The World would need to create a place that could better serve the special needs of our families. The gates of Give Kids The World Village opened in 1989.

Today the Village is a 70-acre resort complete with over 144 Villa accommodations, entertainment attractions, whimsical venues, and fun specifically designed for children with special needs. With the help of many generous individuals, corporations and partnering wish-granting organizations, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 134,000 families from all 50 states and over 75 countries.”

If you ever wonder what charity to assist, think of Give Kids The World and what they do for these very special children and their families.  Leagrace and her family had the fantasy vacation of a lifetime, and no one will ever forget her enormous smiles, cackling laughter, and “chatter” to the characters.  Thank you, God, for places like GKTW.

RSM High:  Art students are creating projects this semester with recycled junk.  As you clean out for the new year, please keep us in mind for interesting objects that serve you no more purpose!  You may have some amazing items that we have not thought about!  Please contact Carmen Holley at 685-2100 with questions and donations. Here is a list of some suggested items: outdated or broken CDs and DVD's, soda cans (rinsed out please),interesting bottles, outdated or broken computer parts, outdated or broken jewelry, whole and cracked flower pots, doors, broken yard tools, silverware, buttons, unmatched but unstained cute socks, bike parts, gears, broken toys, magazines, books, palettes, mannequins, etc.

RSM Elem:  First semester awards day will be held Jan. 23 at the following times: 

5^th grade at 8 am; 4^th grade at 8:40; 3^rd grade at 9:20; 2^nd grade at 10 am; 1^st grade at 10:40.

The PTO is selling T-shirts and hoodies of 2 designs. Youth T-shirts are $10, and youth hoodies are $20.  Adult tees are $10 ($14 for 2X, 3X, 4X), and adult hoodies are $20 ($25 for 2X, 3X, 4X). Orders must be prepaid and money will be collected on Jan. 26. Shirts will be back within 7 to 14 days. If you have any questions, please email PTO at rsmpto422@gmail.com.

Terrific Kids for December (responsibility):  Lillian Burdett, Rebecca Guzman, Matthew Cockrell, Zahid Segura, Trinity Burdett, Melvin Zuniga, Wyatt Davenport, Robin White, William Goode, Lauriana Cabana, Honesty Monroe, LeeAnna Kelly, Matthew Day, Zacharea Cannon, Richard Satterwhite, Trevor Williams, Larry Price, Omari Morris, Katelyn Kirk, Breanna Gillian, Sydney Corley.

RSM Elem has completed 738,006 math problems in the First in Math competition earning 246,002 stickers as of Jan. 9.  The team of the week is Ms. Young’s 5^th grade class, and the player of the week is Maria Renteral of Ms. Young’s class with 545 stickers.  Top teams:

Mrs. Hallman K5; Mrs. Kerby 1^st grade; Ms. Shrader 2^nd grade; Mrs. Matthews 3^rd grade; Mrs. Najmola 4^th grade; Ms. Young 5^th grade.  The goal is one million problems!

Family Literacy Night:  Fri., Nov. 10, we began our Family Literacy Night with a hot dog supper for our families. During our meeting we read “A Gift for Abuelita” for our read-aloud. A student from USC- Aiken read in English and a Hispanic student from one of our families read the Spanish version. This book focused on cooking and recipes. We focused on informational writing as we developed a recipe book compiled of favorite recipes. Each family received a bag of trail mix that was made from a recipe that was shared. We divided into smaller groups where parents wrote their favorite recipe and students illustrated them. Each child in attendance received school supplies of their choosing. Our next meeting will be Mon., Feb. 23, 2015.

Reminders:

Ridge Spring Library hours: Mon/Tues 8:30 am - 12 pm; Wed., 12:30 – 4:30; Thurs 8:30 am - 12:00 pm; Fri 12:30 pm -4:30 pm

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

Every 2^nd Monday:  RSM Elem PTO meets at 6:30 pm in the media center. 

Every Friday & Saturday:  AARS hours 10 – 4 or by appt, free admission

Every first Tuesday of the Month:  AARS meets at 6:30, 685-5783

Every Wednesday:  AA meets at Recovery Works

Every Monday & Friday:  Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings 7 pm at Recovery Works (enter on Ponderosa Drive; park in Visitor Parking Area)

Every 3^rd Thursday:  FORS at Cumbee Place 5 pm