September 28, 2015

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

The Ridge Spring Farmers’ Market had three vendors, Leonard Bell, Bobby Yonce, and George and Virginia Raborn.  Sweet potatoes, peas, corn, tomatoes, Crowder peas, and more were available.  Check the fresh produce out.

From the Mayor's Desk: I have had so many positive comments about the Harvest Festival. Truly, the day was so hot that many people left at about three o'clock. If you did, then you missed a very gifted Elvis impersonator and a wonderful band. We will have a wrap-up meeting very soon and will be searching for a new chairperson. Many thanks go to this year's committee and to chairwoman Noel Steele. There will be a Town Council meeting on Monday, October, 5th. The agenda will include a presentation from Aiken Electric, amendments to the employee handbook, and a budget amendment. We will also be looking at putting GPS systems on town vehicles. There will also be an executive session to discuss water contracts. If you have a problem that you wish council to consider, please call Town Hall 2 weeks prior to the following meeting and tell the clerk what you wish to discuss so that we will have time to begin finding a solution to your problem. This council looks forward to serving the town in its best capacity. The public is always invited to all Council meetings.

Harvest Festival Karaoke Contest winners are: 1st Place-Fay Vaughan; 2nd Place-Paul Fulmer.

Jeff Clamp, Band Director, Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle / High School: Congratulations to the RS-M True Blue Marching Band for an outstanding performance in the Blue Machine Invitational at Edisto High School on Saturday, September 19th.  RS-M finished 2nd in Class A to 2-A school Barnwell and scored higher than all 1-A bands at the competition.  Amber Merritt won Best Drum Major in Class A and the Flag Line won Best Color guard in Class A. More competitions to come include Irmo High School, Sat., Oct. 10; Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, Sat., Oct. 17; Lower-State Championships, Charleston Southern University, Sat., Oct. 24. 

JOHNSTON FARMER'S & ARTIST'S MARKET continues into November.  Fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, apothecary items, farm fresh milk & eggs, prints & note cards by local artists, different items each week.  Visit us on Thursdays between 4 - 6 p.m. in front of the Library/Warehouse.  For more information contact Anne at 803-480-1093 or Donna at 803-275-0010.

Terri Rourk; I'm offering private or group yoga practices. Therapeutic yoga, senior yoga, yoga for weight loss, stretch and relaxation.... So many wonderful ways to stay healthy and flexible!! 864-992-7132 Terri Rourk. Also wanted to let everyone know that at Persimmon Hill Golf Course the "Grill" is under new management!!!  Beginning Sunday, October 11 with the lunch buffet... Expect some great changes out there!! 

Monetta, Past and Present, from David Marshall James:  The spacious new Dollar General, at the intersection of US 1 and SC 39, has opened.  During the late 1980s through the 1990s, until the construction of the convenience store across from the D.G., Monetta’s residents couldn’t purchase a carton of milk or a loaf of bread in-town.  During the 1930s and 1940s, ten “country stores” were dotted throughout the community, the oldest being the Stevens store beside the post office; indeed, the Stevens Store once housed the town post office.  Later Bolen’s store, it closed forever during the mid 1960s and was torn down in 1987, although much of the “good wood,” including the cornices, was salvaged.

      These stores served a dual purpose as “give and gather” centers for town news—and gossip. Hardwood floors supported frosty cold electric coolers filled with bottled soft drinks.  Such coolers encouraged informal gatherings and gab sessions, as the bottles were discounted for return deposit, so the drinks were consumed on-site.  Of course, those sodas could have been poured into paper to-go cups, but they tasted best right from the bottles, and the opening and closing of the cooler provided relief on a hot afternoon.

      Such emporia could be found in most towns, and part of the fun of taking a road trip was stopping for, say, a Nehi orange or grape soda and a package of peanut-butter crackers.  There’s a Southern-flavorful scene from Beth Henley’s “Crimes of the Heart,” set in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, in which Sissy Spacek empties a cellophane-pack serving of salted peanuts into her bottle of Coca-Cola.  In the same film, Spacek’s martinet of a cousin, Chick (Tess Harper), informs her babysitter, “There’s a can of Vienna (pronounced “VI-anna”) sausage in there for your lunch, and give those children peanut-butter sandwiches.”

     VI-anna sausage, peanut-butter crackers, and salty peanuts submerged in Coke.  It’s comforting to know such touchstones of Southern culture continue, even if the country stores have disappeared.

Josie Rodgers:

My parents, Jim & Rosalyn Pressley, celebrated their 31^st anniversary this past Sunday.  What better way to celebrate than going to the local Dollar General on Saturday with my dad on his prosthetic legs pushing the cart! He’s pretty amazing! He continues his radiation treatment this week, and then we will see what’s next.  And I am sure Leagrace was squealing with laughter when Papa was shopping in DG; she thought everything he did was funny, so his walking on metal legs and feet would be hilarious to her! Oh, how we miss that laughter, but oh, how much sweeter Heaven is!

The WMU of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church is sponsoring a Spaghetti Dinner Benefit to raise funds to assist with medical and living expenses for Shaun and Alex Steele as Shaun is unemployed during his battle with cancer.  The benefit is scheduled for Sat., Oct. 3 from noon - 4 pm in the Family Life Center at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.  Costs:  3 & under, free; 4-12, $4; 13 & older, $8.  Tickets may be purchased at Mt. Pleasant Baptist church on Sun mornings & evenings and Wed nights 6 - 8 pm.  For more information you may contact LaRose Smart, WMU Director 685-7071.

Synergy Martial Arts:  On Sept. 28, at 6:30 pm, we will be doing the "I-Can Fitness Challenge."  We will spend the class time competing in exercises that involve canned goods as our weights. Then we will donate the canned goods to ECCHO with a goal of 180 cans.  We welcome the public to come out, bring a canned good, and watch the fun! For more info, contact Laura Taylor.

The high school welcomes several new faculty/staff members besides new principal Mr. Blankenship.  Coach Ken Lipsey is the new head football coach and PE teacher.  Joey Middlebrooks comes to us from the elem school to implement the new Career Development and Occupational Credential program.  Mrs. Timidaiski teaches science and comes to us from B-L High.  Our new library aide is Cheryl Tolliver.  Paul Widener is monitoring the halls for us. 

Art 3&4 classes are interested in contributing to the community in the form of art!  Students will benefit from contributing their time to create a mural, mosaic, or sculpture for a business in our town.  Please call art instructor Carmen Holley@ 685-2100 if you have a project that you think they can help you with.

RSM Middle News:  The school is sponsoring a community yard sale Sat., Oct. 3, from 7 am to 12 pm at 10 JP Kneece Drive in Monetta.  Anyone can rent a space for $10 (bring your own tables).  For more information, contact Monica Johnson at 685-2500 or monicajohnson@acpsd.net.

Attention future scientists!  The Ruth Patrick Science Center is having a FREE Science Education Enrichment Day (SEED) on Oct. 10.  From 10 am- 3 pm, you can spend the day at the USC-A campus for a fun approach to science exploration.  With enough student interest and advanced notice, we will be able to arrange for transportation to this event.  Please contact the middle school counselor or Mr. Blankenship if you are interested.   

Rene Miller, RSM Elementary

Harvest Festival Parade: The theme of this year’s festival was “Back To Our Roots”. At RS-M Elementary we give our children two things; one is roots, the other is wings! We would like to thank the following students for riding the float: Emily Gonzalez, Sarah

Gonzalez, Reed Tibbs, Bradley Tibbs, Anthony Key, Wyatt Davenport, Cody Davenport, Addison Cooper, and Caleb Robinson. We are proud of these students for representing RS-M Elementary, so well!

Upcoming Fund Raiser: We will begin selling 24 ounce, double wall RSM tumblers on October 12th. The fundraiser will end on November 2nd. The cost is $8.00. Information about incentives for the top sellers will be sent home with the fundraiser forms on October 12th.

Summer Readers Recognized: Summer Reader participants were recognized at the

RSM High Football Game Friday, September 11. Students were introduced to the fans before the game and helped the cheerleaders cheer on the team as they ran onto the field. Congratulations to these students: Liam Davison, Alyssa Whitfield, Cody Davenport, Wyatt Davenport, Ty’Trell Smith, Tyzai Smith, Quarmaine Allen, Briston Matthews, Mary Ann Sterling, Matalyn Martin, and Dylan Harris.

Reminders:

Sept. 26: AARS: silk scarf painting class with Libby Bussinah

Sept. 27 Jerusalem Baptist 138^th Anniversary Celebration

Oct. 3: WMU of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church is sponsoring a Spaghetti Dinner Benefit

Oct, 15: FORS Meeting Library

Ridge Spring Library hours: Mon/Tues 8:30 am - 12 pm; Thurs 8:30 am - 12:00 pm; Fri 8:30 am -4:30 pm, Saturday from 9:00 until noon,

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