Tuesday, February 21, 2017

February 20, 2017
Ridge Spring News
Harriet Householder

FORS will meet this Thursday at 5:00 at the Ridge Spring Library.  WE received funds for the Saluda County Council ATA funds. We are thankful for the money given to this organization to benefit Ridge Spring.  This will be one of the topics.

Next Harvest Festival Meeting - March 7th 7 pm at the library

Ridge Spring Farmers' Market News:  The 2017 Farmers' market Nutrition Program Reauthorization is in the mail.  The period has begun for this reauthorization and will end Friday March 17, 2017.  Farmers are not required to attend a formal training session until 2018 unless notified otherwise.  Mail application to Emily M. Joyce at SC Dept of Agriculture.  Information will be posted later.  This is so vouchers may be accepted by individual farmers at the market.

Rod Lewis, Senior Pastor Hollywood Baptist: The Saluda area churches will be sponsoring a Spring Event on April 15th from 10-12 noon at the park in Saluda.  We will have an Easter egg hunt, Inflatables,  and several children's activities. All events are free to the public. We will be selling BBQ for your enjoyment! 

Children's  Pottery Class at the Art Center of  Ridge Spring Tuesday, March 7 at 4:00-5:30 each Tuesday for 6 weeks with last class being Wednesday, April 12.  Cost of $80.00 includes everything to make glaze and fire several finished pieces.  Call Joanne Crouch for more information (803) 685-5577.          
Benefit for Ricky Rodgers:
On December 23rd, Ricky was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer and is currently undergoing chemo every 2 weeks. There is going to be a benefit held on March 11, 2017 to help raise money for Ricky’s medical expenses, medicine, and household bills due to his no longer being able to work. Any help is greatly appreciated! Ricky is 46 years old, a father of 4, and a wonderful husband to his wife Tasha, who is also undergoing treatment for M.S. (multiple sclerosis).

We are selling Chipped BBQ plates including: cole slaw, baked beans, bread, and tea.
The plates are $10 each and are to be purchased in advance to allow us a head count. You will be able to pick up the plates at the Civic Center from 4-7pm. While picking up your plates you can enjoy a silent auction(4-7pm) and live entertainment starting at 6:00 pm. The Ace of Clubs featuring Joey Cromer will be performing. Jenifer has tickets with her at the bank or you can contact one of the below coordinators. We are also raffling off a Yeti Cooler. Raffle tickets are $5 each. The drawing will be held at the benefit. You do not have to be present to win.

All proceeds go to the Cancer Fund for Ricky Rodgers. An account has been opened at First Citizens Bank for anyone wanting to make a donation, or you can contact one of the below coordinators. Donations, Ticket Purchases or Questions contact:
Joe Rodgers-864-992-2257; Phyllis Shealy-803-369-4553;Joni Pope- 803-687-4006; or
Jenifer Gentry- 864-323-4140

AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF) – Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle-High School is converting into a healthy living campus by putting a tasty spin on Agricultural Science.
RSM is the first school in the district to offer a farm-to-table class. The new program benefits everyone in the county because once the crops are ready they’ll be enjoyed by all Aiken County students.
“This is science,” said Agriculture teacher Michael Crim. “This is the original science.”
Aiken County student, William Newsome says he doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty to enjoy the fruits and vegetables of his labor.“After I get these planted we are going to put them in those pots with water so they will grow,” Newsome told WJBF News Channel 6.
Seeds of jalapenos and peppers aren’t the only things growing, in the greenhouse, at Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle-High School. The Agriculture teacher is planting a more important seed, the seed of knowledge. “They’re producing what they are going to be eating,” Crim said. “It teaches them where food comes from, it teaches them a little bit of management skills.” Crim is leading the new farm-to-table initiative in Aiken County. For a class period students go to the greenhouse to learn what it takes to run a farm.
“You have to make sure you don’t flood the plants. You have to make sure they have enough water. You have to keep an eye on them. Different plants need different sun level and if you give them too much sun they either burn and if you don’t give them enough they won’t grow.” Newsome said.
Repeat:
At the Friends of Ridge Spring meeting, Vickie Baker shared information from the Saluda County Chamber of Commerce meeting. Vickie is going to be the representative from Ward and Kristi Harris will be the representative for Ridge Spring. Sherry Ward (Pres.) and Tom Brooks (VP) were in attendance to discuss ways the Chamber could help Ridge Spring with their events and possible create new ones. They shared about the events they have had in Saluda and the things they have learned. Discussion ensued about the possibility of a movie night in Ridge Spring at the new Town Hall. Information was given as to how to get the land cleaned up and ready, how to run electricity, and other logistics. It was decided that it would be held May or June. it will cost approximately $600 to hold a movie night.
RIDGE SPRING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: So maybe your pick to win the Super Bowl didn’t, you can still be a winner by donating soup to the RSUMC Souper Bowl Shoot Out! Place your donated soup on the porch of the Family Center in front of the Team of your choice. Currently Atlanta is ahead 20 cans to 12…A church member will make sure your donated soup is placed in the Big Red Box. Come on, community, there is plenty of time left in February to make your Team a winner AND help those who might not have enough to eat a little more comfortable. RSUMC Services are held at 11:00 AM every Sunday unless otherwise noted.



Josie Rodgers:
Aiken County Public Schools’ Area Four Town Hall Meeting will take place Tues., Feb. 21, at 6:30 pm at Calendonia Baptist Church at 1887 Old 96 Indian Trail in Batesburg.  Superintendent Dr. Alford will also provide updates on the progress of the district as well as future plans. 
RSM Elem:  Congratulations to Teacher of the Year Betsie Davenport!  The First Year Teacher of the Year is Kristin Boney and the GEM is Ms. Driggers! 
Aiken County Public Schools and Aiken County First Steps are offering free monthly parenting classes at RSM Elem. Contact the school for more info.
RSM Middle: Several students participated in the MathCounts competition on Sat., Feb. 11 at Aiken Technical College.  After only a few weeks of practice, they finished in the top 10! Now that they have the experience under their belts, we expect them to do amazing things for competition next year!  Great job Franklin Starkey, Nehemiah Blacks, Chaley Robb, Camren Samuels, Trinity LaBrew, and Larry Price.
RSM High:  Congratulations to sophomore Crystal Preston who was named Co-Player of the Year by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association. She has also recently scored her 1,000th career point!  Senior Tyson Bettis made the All-State Basketball Team. Coach Mark Wright for being chosen to coach in the North South All-Star basketball game this year!
Congratulations to Teacher of the Year Mrs. Tiffany Middlebrooks, First Year Teacher of the Year Kimberly Patterson, and GEM Mrs. Ella Wigfall. 
The Black History program was last Friday.  It was full of amazing performances. Many of our own students participated and performed.  We enjoyed the Gospel Warriors mimes, Sistaz 4 Christ, Karisma, Wayne Jay, Gary Smith, The Voice, Rashod Roland, and more.  The special guest speaker Maggie Wallace Glover, senator from Florence County.  Many thanks to Mrs. Monica Jones and all of her helpers. 

Review from David Marshall James:  "The Nowhere Man" by Gregg Hurwitz
   Gregg Hurwitz's follow-up to his 2016 novel, "Orphan X," sizzles with top-shelf thrills, his stylistics as slick as an iced-over freeway on-ramp.
   With masterful control, he depicts protagonist Evan Smoak, a former black-ops U.S. government operative who has ditched the feds to become an underground righter of the seriously wronged.
   However, the tables turn on Evan during one of his rescue missions, breaking up an underground ring supplying teenage girls to the highest bidders.
   Tasered and shock-collared, he winds up a prisoner in a madman's mansion, secluded in a bleak valley in who-knows-where.  He's a real Nowhere Man, sitting in this Nowhere Land.
   Of course, Evan's hardly sitting.  He's highly proactive, enlisting every opportunity to get a grip on his surroundings and to plot an escape.  Trouble is, he's surrounded by heavily armed guards and Dobermans.
   Plus, said madman, who plans to force Evan to wire over millions from a secret bank account, is up to some seriously freaky activities that would make Dr. Frankenstein tap through several choruses of "Puttin' on the Ritz."
   Nevertheless, everything remains frighteningly real at the fingertips of the author, who steadily ratchets up the excitement, presenting some grandiose "wow" moments. It's as if there are three conclusions to this super-sized story.
   Meanwhile, Evan looks down the barrel of his life from the other end-- has he made the right choice as a self-appointed superhero, leaping into the fray du jour in his gray Ts?  Why doesn't he just play it low to some isolated isle, sipping ultra purified vodka martinis (his beverage of choice) and blending with the natives, like a refugee from the HMS Bounty?
   Lay down his sword and shield, as it were, after all those years of black-opping?
   The author exhibits a fine hand with his flavorful dialogue and juicy syntax in a red-hot read that fairly renders the pages combustible.  In all, it's Smoak-in'.

On a personal note: this is the first year since I have opened 14 years ago that I did not participate in selling roses at Valentines.  I remained closed.  WOW!!!  How fortunate I was to have made that decision - I got the flu and it knocked me down for almost two weeks.  I would not have had any way to fulfill any orders.  You can call it silver linings or mysterious ways but I sure was thankful.  Now to start my seeds for spring.  The bulbs and flowering trees are just beautiful.  The Peach trees are blooming early but they are still magnificent.  How fortunate we are!!!

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


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