July 4, 2016

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

Did you notice the American Flags on all the light poles on Main Street of Ridge Spring?  It makes me so proud of our town, our county, our State and our Nation.  They were purchased by funds from the Harvest Festival several years ago.  I thank the town employees for putting them up.

The Ridge Spring Farmers Market was alive with vendors, produce, shoppers and visitors.  Mr. Raborn brought his peas and they were gone in less than an hour.  Corn was plentiful.  Sherald Rodgers sold over 40 dozen ears. Mrs. Carr had corn and so did Leonard Bell.  There were peaches, cantaloupes, watermelons, several varieties of tomatoes, cupcakes, homemade breads, jams, and so much more.  I sold out of the boiled peanuts and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

The Watson Reunion will be held the first Saturday in August at the Watson House, August 6.  All descendents of William and John Watson are invited.

I received an email with the following suggestions, “Looking for ways to stay cool this summer?”  1. Grab an ice cream cones or frozen fruit pop.  2. Stick your pillowcases in a plastic bag in the freezer for a few minutes before bed.  3. Take a trip to the lake or the beach to relax in the water! 4. Visit the North Pole. 5.  Head to a museum or library and learn while you cool down.   My helpers at the Farmers’ Market (grandchildren) went to Bank’s Drugs and got that ice cream.  IT was goooddd!!!!  And we were selling fruits that would make great frozen fruit pops.  We are fortunate to be so close to lakes, ponds and the ocean for we are in the middle of our state.  Ridge spring has a wonderful library, too.

Josie Rodgers

RSM Elem:  Dory would say, “Just keep reading!  Just keep reading!”  Don’t limit your summer reading to one book!  Read lots of books!  Remembers, each child that participates will be rewarded with a ticket to an RSM varsity football game and a varsity basketball game. Information and reading log will also be available on the school’s website. In addition, we can help prevent the “summer slide” by continuing to read and learn.

The Saluda County Library’s Summer Reading Program is in full swing! Come by the Saluda County Library at 101 S. Main Street to sign up or you may sign up at their website:  www.youseemore.com/saluda. Click on Summer Reading!  There are prizes for all ages, including babies, children, teens and adults!  You will also want to mark your calendar for the Summer Reading Events. Remember that all events are free and for all ages.  You can pick up a schedule for all the events at the Ridge Spring or Saluda County Library or you can go to the library website.

On Fri., July 8, Bubble Guy Steve Langley will share the magic of soap and bubbles at the Saluda Theatre from 11-12.  On Thurs., July 14, Cirque du Todd will be at the Saluda Theatre from 10-11 with juggling, circus skills, magic, & comedy. Magician Caleb Alexander will perform Fri., July 22 from 10-11 at the Theatre.  On July 29, Lew-E the Clown will perform in Read-O-Lympics with circus skills, magic, & bringing books to life.  Don’t miss all these great shows that encourage reading in your young people!

Ridge Spring United Methodist Church:  RSUMC is partnering with Mt. Calvary Lutheran on one of their ongoing outreach ministries. This summer the Big Red Box’s cousin, The Little Red Bucket will be collecting Box Tops for Education and pull tabs from canned beverages.  If you would like to participate, leave what you have collected on the front porch of the Family Life Center and we will make sure they find their way to the LRB.  RSUMC is also partnering with Ridge Spring Baptist and will be collecting clothes detergent for their ongoing ministry for the Sheppard’s Hand. The Big Red Box is asking for donations through the month of July. Again, if you would like to help, leave your donations on the porch of the FLC and we will make sure they find their way. Thanking you in advance for all your community support for these worthwhile endeavors.

St. William Catholic Church will hold Cave Quest VBS (Following Jesus, The Light of the World), July 11-15 in the evenings. Contact Kelly Bedenbaugh for more info.

Don’t forget that the blueberries are plentiful at the Daylily Depot (381 Trojan Rd. Ridge Spring, telephone 685-7219).  It’s pick-your-own, $3 a quart or $10 a gallon; it’s best to go early before it gets too hot.

ART CENTER OF RIDGE SPRING: Joanne Crouch, president

     Barbara Yon will teach a collage class at the Art Center on Saturday, July 16^th from 10-1 for $30.  The students may bring items to put in the collage if you like.  Supplies will be provided.  Call Barbara Yon to reserve a spot at  (803)385-5396.      Stay tuned for information on stained glass classes that will be coming to the Art Center in the fall. The Art Center of Ridge Spring is open each Friday and Saturday from 10-4.  Contact joanne.crouch26@gmail.com or artassnridgespring@gmail.com or call (803)685-5577 and leave message to reserve place in classes. 

You know there was plenty of squash at the market.  I found a neat recipe in the Ridge Recipes published in 1982 celebrating one hundred years of progress.  Enjoy.

Squash Casserole

2 lbs squash             can of cream of chicken soup       large onion

1 stick of butter         8-oz of sour cream                           pkg. herb stuffing mix

Cook squash with small amount of water and salt until tender.  Drain. Cook onions in butter until done.  Mix all ingredients together using ¾ of herb mix.  Sprinkle remaining herb mix on top of casserole and bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Next week I might find corn pie, peach cobbler and/or something else. And then David Marshall reviews a cook book.  How appropriate.

Review from David Marshall James:

"The Happy Table of Eugene Walter:  Southern Spirits in Food and Drink" by Eugene Walter edited by Donald Goodman and Thomas Head

   Mobilean (as in Alabamian and as in peripateticien) Eugene Walter spent almost twenty years in Rome, participating in its thriving 1960s film industry, living in an apartment above Leontyne Price's, and scouring the markets for ingredients to prepare Southern dishes for his many dinner parties.

   In this "spiritous"cookbook-- every recipe calls for at least one alcoholic beverage-- Walter presents a dish dubbed in Miss Price's honor, Oysters Leontyne, alongside Oysters Tetrazzini, which was created for Italian opera diva Luisa Tetrazzini by other hands.

   I've never connected Chicken or Oyster Tetrazzini to Luisa-- who apparently made the rounds of restaurants, leaving favorable impressions in her wake-- but that's merely one of the myriad gustatory tidbits to sample from Walter's historical notes and essays on foods and beverages.

   For instance, the pineapple didn't originate in Hawaii, but in the Caribbean isles, where it was encountered by a delighted Christopher Columbus.  Recipes for pineapple upside-down cake began appearing in cookbooks during the 1870s.

   Although Walter-- known primarily as a novelist, a poet, and a food writer-- provides some recipes that would tickle any modern "foodie's" fancy, he's far from a food snob and doesn't exclude the use of, say, "Mr. Campbell's soup" in some of his preparations.

   I knew I liked him when he served peanut butter atop bruschetta at one of his Roman repasts, and then covered another creation with Vienna sausages.  You can take the boy out of the South, but you can't take the South out of the boy.

   There's even a cream-of-mushroom-based tuna casserole, which I look upon with nostalgic glee, potato-chip topping and all.  Walter's recipe calls for a tablespoon of vermouth, but I'm thinking some dry sherry instead.  The author would be the first to exclaim, "Experiment!"

   I knew I loved him when he rhapsodized over the oyster loaf.  Being a Mobile native, he supplies many a seafood recipe, plus a history of tartar sauce, which actually predates Jesus Christ.  You never would have thought it.  The Bible only mentions the loaves and the fishes ... and the wine.

   Walter sets you straight up about eggnog, mint juleps (spearmint only, plucked no more than fifteen minutes in advance), and punches.  He'll tell you how to goose up a holiday dinner, even though he's not inordinately fond of turkey, yet he'll trot you through the preparation of a large bird.

   The author notes:  "I know an audacious lady in Demopolis who roasts her turkey the day before Christmas and on Christmas evening enchants her relations and friends with turkey gumbo, creamed turkey stew, salad of white meat, salad of dark meat, and a cold pate made of giblets."

   Walter doesn't skimp on the desserts.  Something called "Family Reunion Cake" would have me kissing every cousin.

   This one-of-a-kind cookbook, which features the author's anthropomorphic drawings of fruits and vegetables, was unpublished at the time of his death in 1998, and assembled by the editors for the University of North Carolina Press.  Here's hoping that Walter isn't just "munching sunbeams" as he puts it, but is enjoying an oyster loaf with a well-chilled glass of something spiritous.

Harriet Householder: Watch out for standing water.  The Zeka-virus carrying mosquito is here.  Keep vigilant for all!!! 

Recycling Center Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1-7; Saturday 7-7; Sunday 3-7

Closed Tuesday and Thursday

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

Ridge Spring Library Toddler Time Mondays at 10:30

3^rd Thursday:  FORS at Ridge Spring Library 5:00 pm

1^st Tuesday of the Month:  AARS meets at 6:30, 685-5783