January 2, 2017

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

I have enjoyed writing the Ridge Spring News Column, have been doing it for about  15 years and for free.  I could not have done this without the help and support of so many.  I thank you.  I started taking January off a couple of years ago.  News columns were repeats or something like that.  Now, luck just falls in my lap during January.  Three people have given me unique articles to put in the RS News and this author can relax.  One is a letter, one is a story about a butterfly and one is a book review. 

Juniper Restaurant is open after a nice Christmas vacation.  Harriet's Garden owner is checking out her tomato seeds as well as herbs to start planting.  Aren't dreams and seed catalogs fun?

Don't forget about the Nut House and Country Market in the new year... stop in for your Hickory Hill milk, Clemson blue cheese, Yon beef, not to mention all the goodies cooked right on the spot and so much more Happy New Year.

RSM Elem (Rene Miller):  The Walk/Jog Club is currently at 167.7 miles for the year out of the 516 miles that we need to get to Washington D.C.  Students meet at 7:15 on Friday mornings and will resume their walking/jogging on Jan. 6.

Josie Rodgers: RSM High:  Just a reminder! There are some exciting things happening on the Ridge in Monetta!  The new high school will be built and in operation in the next two years!  All high schools in Aiken County will have a designated theme related to the programs and certifications they offer.  Ours will be a Farm to Table theme as we promote agriculture, business and entrepreneurship, and health occupations, as well as a military aspect with JROTC.  More surprises to come that will make our community proud!

St. William Catholic Church held midnight mass and Christmas morning services with Father Higgins bringing the homily.  Special quartet music at midnight mass was provided by Steve Miller, Katie Miller, Jeff Clamp, and Josie Rodgers, and Tyler Rowe brought his trumpet talent.  On Christmas morning, the trio of Steve, Katie, and Josie sang with Katie singing a beautiful solo!

Warrena Stywaskee (Stu) Broadnax Hankinson was born April 18, 1953 in Ridge Spring, South Carolina to the late James Wallace Broadnax and Ora B. Williams Broadnax. She took her ascension on Sunday, January 8, 2012.

To say that she loved Ridge Spring would be an understatement.  The tag on her car read, “Proud Product of Ridge Spring.”   Yes, she loved Ridge Spring.  She attended Ridge Hill Elementary and Middle School.  She graduated from Ridge Spring-Monetta High School; and attended the University of the South in Sewanee, TN.  Longing for South Carolina and her roots, she transferred to the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and graduated with a BA degree in Education and later earned her Master`s degree from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Her first teaching position was at Hammond Hill Elementary School in North Augusta, SC. Then she was offered a position at her elementary school, Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary. Returning to the school where she was once a student to teach was awesome and a little bewildering to her. Yet Ridge Hill Elementary (now Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary) School prepared her for the career track that shaped the rest of her life and professional vocation.

Living is about giving and serving others, and in this regard, Stu tried to render her best to her church and community. Whether the capacity was that of an usher, van driver, member of the Board of Directors or Hospice volunteer for ten years, she always endeavored to give unselfish service to her church, its various ministries and her community.

Open Letter to Our Wedding Party

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The saying is true: "Time flies when you're having fun."  It seems like only a few weeks ago that we asked you to be part of a simple affair designed to uniie us in holy matrimony and to blend the Broadnax- Hankinson families.  We charged Rev. Brightharp in his sermonette to speak to the importance of God in the lives of families and to the power of love.  That day at high noon was not a few short weeks ago.  It's now been 25 years!

Our wedding as you may recall was a little unorthodox.  It paralleled what home decorators refer to as a minimalist style in which functionality, practicality, and beauty defined it.  The groom wore brown.  The bride's gown was beige for no other reason than that was the color preferred (but ooohhh that had'em talking in The Ridge!).  We asked you, our hosts and hostesses to wear something that you already had in your wardrobe that complimented brown or beige if possible   Our parents, whose on unions made our imminent paring possible, replaced the traditional best man and maid/matron of honor roles and preceded us down the aisle.  During the recessional, not only did the bride and groom leave together, but also our parents exchanged partners and left together to symbolize the uniting of our families.

You may not know or recall that we met on a blind date or that we discovered that our fathers were wait-at-the-gate-for-each-other-each -morning work friends.  Family get-togethers were never difficult to plan due to the proximity of the cities Augusta and the Ridge and because the blending of families also united friends.

I said to my Mom once how lucky I was to have found such a good partner.  She chastised me for my choice of words ad told me that I wasn't lucky but blessed, proving once again that mother knows best.  God has blessed us and continues to be good to  us and we give Him all the glory for his grace and mercy.

We count among our blessings that time that was ours to share with Alice Hankinson and James Broadnax who now rest with The Lord but whose presence on earth left indelible impressions on our lives.  We are grateful that our surviving parents are of sound minds and are in good health.  Mr. Hankinson will be 93 years young in November and we sometimes feel that we have to make an appointment with Ora Blanche if we want to see her (for she is a busy lady).

We were blessed with the birth of a beautiful baby boy, Evan, who has managed to turn 22 years old.  It is most bizarre that he is 22 and his Mama is just 21.  He's an NC State graduate who has yet to boomerang from Raleigh  to Charlotte.  His desire to be "financially independent " has finally come on line with ours for him to be!

We were blessed with steady jobs that allowed us to become homeowners in the truest sense of the word.  Hank is in his second year or retirement while Stu(which is me, the author of this letter) crawls out of bed each morning for the next 7 or 8 years.  That is the downside when the groom takes a young tenderloin!.

We are also blessed in that after 25 years we are two people who still are very much in love with each other.  We are good friends who are blessed to have relatives and good friends like you who shared in making August 16, 1980 the pinnacle of a blessed union.  Someone recently asked Hank if we were going to renew our vows.  He told them that since the ones we first took have held so well, we are not going to mess with them, but we did want to thank you again now as we did then for being part of our blessed event.  Keep us in your prayers as you shall be in ours, that God will continue to bless you and your families and to strengthen the love that you share for each other and for mankind.

With Love, Stu

REMINDERS

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

Ridge Spring Post Office hours:  Mon-Fri. 7:30 am – 11:30 am; Sat 9 – 10 am

Saluda County Library Hours:  Mon/Wed 8:30 am-5 pm; Tues/Thurs 8:30 am – 6 pm; Fri 8:30 am – 5 pm; Sat closed

Recycling Center Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 1-7; Sat 7-7; Sun 3-7; Tues/Thurs closed

First Thursday of the Month:  AARS meets at 6:30, 685-5783

Third Thursday of the Month: FORS at Library at 5:00