January 30, 2017

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

All of us had a wonderful time seeing Joe Cal Watson at the Nut House and enjoying his retirement drop in.  The Yons were gracious hosts for the event and the pecan pie was the best.

Hughes Aerial Imagery LLC can trace its beginning to a battery operated tiny remote-controlled helicopter. Given one Christmas to Tom Hughes, he flew the helicopter until the battery could no longer be charged. Even though this little helicopter basically only went up and down, he was intrigued and began researching remote control helicopters. Visiting established forums and sites, Tom decided to try his hand at single rotor helicopters and purchased the Esky Honey Bee. After many, many attempts to fly Tom was about to throw in the towel when his wife, Nanette said: “I’ve never know you to give up on anything.”  So, he didn’t give up and finally learned to fly the “Bee”.  This led to bigger and more powerful helicopters and greatly improved flight skills.

After mastering the single rotors, Tom moved on to multi rotors, both flying and building and repairing, because if you fly a lot you will need to know how to repair. Tom enjoyed videoing and had a small but faithful YouTube following

Then the word drone hit social media!  Drones were everywhere and there was a certain uneasiness regarding the use and guidelines. Tom decided to let the dust settle and see what played out, especially when the FAA became involved.

After months of hearsay and speculation, specific guidelines and requirements were published outlining how, where and who could fly a drone. Tom then began to study for his drone pilot’s license, took the test and passed. He purchased a Phantom IV drone and accessory equipment and Hughes Aerial Imagery LLC became a reality.

With wife Nanette, they set up a web site, Face Book page and did some pro bono work for a local real estate company and a timber company in Georgia. Tom said: “There is no limit to what a drone can video. You are only limited by your imagination.” He hopes to find his ‘niche’ in the drone business.

The Hughes are excited to become another small business here on The Ridge and asked that you visit their web site: hughesaerialimagery.com or visit them on Face Book. Tom says,”Be careful if you receive a toy at Christmas that you can’t put down, it just might start another entirely different chapter in your life”. His sure did.

RIDGE SPRING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: During the month of January The Big Red Box collected non perishable food and drinks for the Back Pack Ministry. These items will be used right here in our community. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Souper (Super) Bowl is coming! Whether you are a New England fan, Go Patriots, or an Atlanta fan, Go Falcons, this is your chance to show off your Team pride. How you say? By bringing soup and placing your donation in front of your Team’s sign. The soup will make its way into the Big Red Box. The signs will be on the Family Life Center Porch starting February 1^st. Church members will collect, count and maintain a running total of which Team is ahead. Even after the Big Game is over, please continue to show your support throughout the month of February. The collected soup will be distributed to food banks in our area. Results of the soup, shoot out will be posted in this column. Let’s have some fun, help our neighbors. What’s better than a warm bowl of soup on a cold winter’s day? Thanks in advance. Church Services are at 11 a.m. every Sunday unless other wised noted.

 Nate Birt,Top Producer Managing Editor at AG/WEB powered By Farm Journal: First-generation farmers Chalmers and Lori Anne Carr of Titan Farms have been named the winners of the 2017 Top Producer of the Year award. The couple’s operation is one of the largest peach producers in the U.S. They also grow peppers and broccoli and recently diversified with a frozen-fruit facility for processing of peaches that are sold in bulk or pureed for use in yogurt, baby food and other products.

“My husband and I are truly living a dream,” Lori Anne Carr told attendees of Top Producer’s annual awards banquet in Chicago before the winner was announced.

“On the farm, we truly have a motto that nobody’s going to come up and pat you on the back, or nobody’s going to say, ‘Great job,’” Chalmers added. “We get our achievements and our personal goals set by going out and protecting the natural resources that we have, cultivating those into crops and producing staples and food for other people to eat. My personal joy comes from doing that day in and day out.”

Sponsored by Bayer and Case IH, the Top Producer of the Year contest is in its 18th year and represents the best in the business of farming. In addition to the Carrs, finalists for this year’s award were John Pagel of Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, a dairy and grain operation in Kewaunee, Wis., and brothers Richard and Roderick Gumz of Gumz Farms, a row crop and vegetable operation in Endeavor, Wis. Readers of AgWeb.com and Top Producer will learn more about each of the finalists in future news articles.

Each of the finalists received a trip for two to attend the seminar and will receive sessions with a CEO coach. The winner will receive the opportunity to be enrolled for a year in the Top Producer Executive Network™ peer group program, courtesy of Bayer. Additionally, the winner will get to choose either a Steiger Rowtrac or a Magnum Rowtrac from Case IH for 150 hours of use, courtesy of Case IH

Josie Rodgers

Aiken County Public Schools will hold Town Hall meetings to hear the needs of the public concerning our schools.  Superintendent Dr. Alford will also provide updates on the progress of the district as well as future plans.  Area Four’s meeting will take place Tues., Feb. 21, at 6:30 pm at Calendonia Baptist Church at 1887 Old 96 Indian Trail in Batesburg. 

RSM Elem (Rene Miller):  Congratulations to Alexander Fierros-Garcia who won 1^stplace in the K-2 category of the district MLK Poster Contest. He won a Kindle Fire Tablet!  We are very proud of Alex for this great accomplishment.

The 4^thgrade would like to thank the PTO for purchasing the pizza and drinks to celebrate our Math Masters! Multiplication Masters: Lauriana Cabana, Alissa Cato, JaQuez Gantt, Parker Holsomback, Peyton Holsomback,  Natalie Mitchum, Heather OsbunShirey, Ty'Trell Smith, Arianna Williams, Aubrianna Wise, Landon Wooten,   Multiplication and Division Masters: Logan Brightwell, Cade Cockrell, Tikara Lewis, Taylor Long, Briston Matthews, Jemmell Morris, Cassandra Oakman, Sebastian Ogden, Braylon Smith, Christian Smith, James Smith, Maryann Sterling, Elihjah Thomas, and Kaytlin Tindal

TheWalk/Jog Clubhas made 9.8 more miles.  That puts us at 247.65 miles for the year out of the 516 miles that we need to get to Washington D.C.  We are currently on I-95 in Smithfield, NC.  We need to average 18 miles per week for the rest of the year to make our goal.

Active Gamecocks activity logs were due this week.  Participating students will receive a ticket to the USC Women’s basketball game on Feb. 9 and the USC Men’s basketball game on Feb. 15.  They will also receive a voucher for a prize at one of the two games.  Keep it up and stay healthy!

RSM Middle:ACPSD Spelling Bee will be @ AECOM at 7 pm Mon night.  Good luck to 7th grader Kayala Brown!

The Science Fair will be held Feb. 16.  All students will complete a science project.  We are excited to see what amazing projects our students create!

RSM High:  Senior Rocky Isreal will be honored at the WJBF Football Friday Night All-CSRA Award Show in Augusta Tuesday.

The Black History program will be held Fri., Feb. 17, in the gym.  Based on last year’s program, you don’t want to miss this!

English teachers participated in the SCCTE conference at Kiawah Island last Thurs-Sat.  Mrs. Bedenbaugh, Ms. Jones, Ms. Jackson, and Mrs. Rodgers attended many different workshops and heard from several renowned speakers.  These dedicated teachers gleaned much information, learned new strategies, and gathered many new resources that will greatly benefit RSM students.  They also networked with other English teachers and professors from across SC and supported former RSM teachers Mrs. Hostetler and Ms. Hannon at their session. Our teachers even had their picture made with SC poet and teaching artist Glenis Redmond, known worldwide for her praise poetry and innovative teaching strategies.

The Renaissance Rally held last week honored the many students who made honor roll.  The Step Team also performed for the student body, and students from each class competed in a type of musical chairs game.  The winner was junior Summer Cherry!  Dalton Cockrell was also honored for his creation of a logo for the new school theme concerning farm to table/health science/agriculture/business.  Later that day, honor roll students enjoyed ice cream with the principal as a reward for their hard work.

  From David Marshall James:    Everything old is new again, times four:

    First, Broadway’s “Hamilton” continues to grow on me, particularly via a PBS special on its conception.  Before that, there was an NBC “Nightly News” presentation on a special performance of “Hamilton” for junior-high-school students, most of them inner-city, difficult-to-reach youths.  All of them glowed with superlatives following the show.

     If “Hamilton” can turn them, and others, on to American history and to the theater, I couldn’t cheer louder.  The show’s largely hip-hop score may seem unorthodox, but rhyme is the ultimate mnemonic device, dating back to the epics of Homer and Virgil, when their poetry was transmitted orally.  One whiff of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Listen, my children, and you shall hear / Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,” and that bit of history is going to lodge in your brain.  And it isn’t just the rhyme, it’s the beat (the meter and its stresses).  Just as with hip-hop.

     I learned to sing—yes, sing—The Preamble to The Constitution via “School House Rock.”  I wonder how many of our presidential candidates could recite the Preamble.  Thank you, “School House Rock,” and thank you, Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator and star of “Hamilton.” 

    Second,  upcoming Broadway:  This March, Bette Midler joins an impressive group of leading ladies who have portrayed Dolly Gallagher Levi in Jerry Herman’s “Hello, Dolly!” on the Great White Way since its 1964 opening, from Carol Channing to Ginger Rogers to Betty Grable to Ethel Merman, for whom Herman wrote the music and lyrics.  Nevertheless, Merman turned down Herman, as she was hoping to land a TV series off of which she could retire.  The Merm guest-starred on every variety show imaginable, and on quiz shows such as “Match Game,” but the series eluded her.

     The first day of ticket sales for the 2017 premier of the “Hello, Dolly!” revival netted $9 million, so it looks as if “Miss M” has found her retirement account.  David Hyde Pierce, of “Frasier” TV fame, will be portraying “that well-known half-a-millionaire,” Yonkers, New York, merchant Horace Vandergelder.

    For those who cannot score a ticket, there’s always 20^th Century-Fox’s wildly overproduced 1968 film version starring a too-young-for-the-part Barbra Streisand, who does sing the heck out of every song and looks swell in the period costumes.  Besides which, I’m a fan of overproduced musicals.  No one’s making them anymore, although “La La Land” is offering a smidge of promise.

     La Streisand has been holding  the rights to Herman’s other big Broadway musical, “Mame,” for decades, with a view toward a TV production.  The 1974 Warner Bros. film version with Lucille Ball was unjustly slammed by the critics—as was Streisand’s “Hello, Dolly!”—but I hold firm that Lucy made the perfect “Mame,” madcap and glamorous.  She, too, looks great in all her glad rags and colorful wigs.  After all, Lucy started off as a Hattie Carnegie model.

    Indeed, who could portray Mame Dennis Burnside today?  Kristin Chenoweth, maybe?  She’s got the pipes, the comedic talent, and the glamour, which lead us to:

    Third, Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle in the recent live TV production of the 2002 Broadway musical “Hairspray,” which was base on the 1988 movie of the same title, starring Ricki Lake, Jerry Stiller, and Sonny Bono.  There’s a 2007 film version of the Broadway musical, but I think the TV production topped it, thanks in part to Chenoweth and all-around good casting, including Jennifer Hudson, Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Derek Hough, and Garrett Clayton as heartthrob Link Larkin.

     Plus-size Divine set the stage for all future Edna Turnblad’s to be portrayed by gentlemen in drag, from Harvey Fierstein onstage and in the TV special, to the dough-faced John Travolta in the movie.  Who’d have thunk that Tony Manero would one day be Edna Turnblad?  Divine delivers one of my favorite movie quotes in the original film version, to husband Jerry Stiller:  “It’s the times:  they are a-changin’.  Something’s blowin’ in the wind.  Fetch me my diet pills, will you?”  Who would have thunk that Divine was paraphrasing (except for the diet-pill bit) a future Nobel Prize for Literature winner?  That would be Bob Dylan. 

     The songs from “Hairspray” comprise a super score—my favorites are “Good Morning, Baltimore,” “I Can Hear the Bells,” “Welcome to the Sixties,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat”—and the show made me feel like dancing, leaving a glow reminiscent of those students’ who saw “Hamilton.”

    Fourth:  Was listening to TV one recent Sunday morn, when what to my wondering ears should appear a familiar voice.  That’s … that’s Jane Pauley!  Yes, she has returned to TV as host of “CBS Sunday Morning.”  Back when I was a junior in high school, Pauley was a co-host of the “Today” show, along with Tom Brokaw.  There was quite the scandal seven years later, when Pauley was pushed aside by “Today” news reader and “younger model” Deborah Norville, prompting “All About Eve” references, including a sketch on “Saturday Night Live.”  Norville later moved on to “Inside Edition,” where she has remained for years.

    Maybe it’s difficult to describe how young Pauley’s re-emergence makes me feel:  A teensy bit like being back in high school.  Like co-opting a Jerry Herman lyric:  “Well, well, hello, Jane! / Hello, Jane! / It’s so good to have you back where you belong!”  I’m so happy I could even sing The Preamble to The Constitution.

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

January 23, 2017

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

The Nut House & Country Market invites you to help celebrate Mr. Joe Cal Watson's retirement from the pecan business on Saturday, January 28th from 1-3 pm at the Nut House on Main Street in Ridge Spring. Stop by and enjoy some refreshments and give Mr. Joe Cal your best wishes!

Off the Beaten Path is excited to welcome 3 new artists to the store. New merchandise includes industrial furniture and accent pieces, personal items like shawls, scarves, and jewelry to homemade wooden signs. Hurry in to purchase a special personal gift for your special Valentine!! Cute valentine outfits for children too. Sizes limited! Open Monday & Tuesday 11-3 and Thursday-Saturday 10-5

The Gables Inn and Gardens in Ward is preparing for a Winter Retreat for scrapbookers this weekend. Looking forward to meeting new friends!  We also have Romance packages especially for the month of February. Call us about booking your special getaway night or weekend! 685-0099

The Art Association of Ridge Spring (AARS) will have a quilting Class Thursday, January 26th from 6:30-9:00 PM.  Ann Watkins will teach a quilting class with quilting frame for practice. All supplies provided for $50.00.  Call (864)941-0022 to register.

Edgefield Camellia Club: Camellia Lovers, There will be NO camellia tea at Magnolia Dale, Edgefield, SC this year.   Thank you for your past support.  We do look forward to seeing you next year at the tea.

The next Harvest Festival meeting will be on February 7 at 7:00 pm at the Ridge Spring Library.  Please feel free to attend the meeting and lend us a hand in planning for next year!

The Ridge Spring Farmers' Market will be getting a sign from the SC Association of Farmers Markets.  It will be 24” x 36” metal sign that says – “Shop Local, Buy South Carolina”. We will just need to find a place to install the sign so it will be visible….

Josie Rodgers: My Granny is breaking out of the hospital!  After 12 days receiving wonderful care at Fairfield Memorial, she is heading home to be reunited with her beloved cat Happy and to sleep in her own bed.  Our family is so thankful for the care she has received and that she is getting better and stronger each day.  We are also thankful for her dear friends who love and take care of her when we are unable to be there.  Who says senior citizens don’t have fun?  These ladies are a hoot when they are together!  God is good!

RSM Middle: The Science Fair will be held Feb. 16.  All students will complete a science project.  We are excited to see what amazing projects our students create!

RSM High:  The lovely aroma of coffee fills the halls of RSM High now that our Coffee Bean Café is up and running!  Each morning, a crowd of students and staff anxiously await their dose of coffee or cappuccino and snacks.  Smiles seem brighter and eyes more awake!

On Tues., Jan. 24, the school will hold a Renaissance Rally and celebrate all students on honor roll as well as other accolades.  Then at 12:15, these students will enjoy Trojan Island, a lunch that honors their accomplishments.  Yummy!

St. William Catholic Church Youth will be collecting stuffed animals through the end of February to donate to local organizations that assist children during troubling times.  The youth also have plans for a chili cook-off in March, the annual egg hunt in April, a Mothers’ Day dinner in May, graduation Sunday in May, Youth Sunday in June, a Fathers’ Day dinner in June, and VBS the last week of June.

This is part three and final chapter of the story of Pretty Boy the Butterfly by Rona Jay of Monetta. 

Part lll

Lisa, the young lady that wrote the article in the Augusta Chronicle, came back to visit us again and wanted to watch Pretty Boy.

I would talk to Pretty Boy off and on all day long.  He liked to get a lot of attention.  We gave it to him too.  I always would tell him how much I loved him,  He would squeeze my finger.  There are so many things that Pretty Boy could do that I am probably leaving out of this writing or that you would not believe.

He did enjoy playing on the adding machine with me, also he would stay on my hand or shoulder when I had to use the computer. He also liked staying on the counter and watching the customers.  

Pretty Boy was beginning to get some age on him as his wings were getting lighter in color and he couldn't fly as far as he had been.  His wings were thin but he still would play with us.  I began to take care of him like I would an older person.  He would hold his foot up to go around with me while I worked . At night I would feed him and he would hold his feet out for  me to wash them one by one.  When it was time for me to close up I would talk to him,  then fix him on his bed with his feet hanging on the side. 

Pretty Boy had been with us for 2 months and 4 days. The last night we were getting ready to leave after putting Pretty Boy to bed, he jumped down off of his bed and got in the middle of my desk.  I told Jimmy something was wrong as he did not want us to leave.  So we turned on the lights and I gave him a little more food and put him back in bed.  Again when we started to leave he jumped down onto my desk.  This went on for a while so we just stayed with him until he was ready to stay in bed.  So we watched to be sure he was set for the night then cut the lights out and left.

The next morning when I arrived at work before I even cut the lights on, I saw Pretty Boy in the middle of my desk with his legs down pulled behind him and he was  not moving.  I was afraid he had died.  I called his name and he pulled up his feet and started for my hand.  I turned my palm out for him to crawl up and he looked at me.  I could feel the pressure of his feet on my hand. Then his wings started to fan very, very fast and I knew he wanted to die in my hand.  He had waited on me. I feel so blessed to have had this time with Pretty Boy.

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

January 16, 2017

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

The Nut House & Country Market invites you to help celebrate Mr. Joe Cal Watson's retirement from the pecan business on Saturday, January 28th from 1-3 pm at the Nut House on Main Street in Ridge Spring. Stop by and enjoy some refreshments and give Mr Joe Cal your best wishes!

So proud of The National Champions, our CLEMSON UNIVERSITY TIGERS!!!

Friends of Ridge Spring will meet this Thursday, January 19, at 5:00 PM at the Ridge Spring Library.  The meeting will involve coming up with plans and  a budget for the year.

The next Harvest Festival meeting will be on Tuesday, Feb 7th at 7:00 pm at the library.  Please encourage others to attend the meeting and lend us a hand in planning for next year! 

George and Virginia Raborn have been part of the Ridge Spring Famers' Market.  One year I gave out Virginia's and George's recipe for watermelon rind pickle among other tidbits of life on the farm through the decades.  She will be missed.

Ridge Antiques & Dry Goods is proud to welcome two new dealers to the store.  Terry & Bart Mims come to us from Jackson, SC and bring very nice, high quality collectibles and antiques.  Included in their booths you will find very nice arrowheads, Edgefield pottery shards, old cap guns, an old church bench complete with the old hymnal holders on the back, as well as Shawnee & McCoy pottery.  You will also find a couple of very nice cabinets - old kitchen pantry and display type.  Come see and help us give them a warm welcome to Ridge Spring!!!

Rene Miller, RSM Elementary School

RSM Spelling Bee contestants traveled to Aiken Middle School on January 11th  to participate in the Group 4 Spelling Bee.  The group consisted of students from RSM Elementary, RSM middle, Aiken Middle, J. D. Lever Elementary and North Aiken Elementary.  RSM Elementary participants were Zacharea Cannon and Cody Davenport.  Jonathan Story was the alternated.  Winners were first place Aubria Johnson from North Aiken Elementary and second place was Kayala Brown from RSM Middle School.

Awards Day for the first semester will be held January 19th in the gym.  8:00 AM - third grade; 8:40 AM - fourth grade; 9:20 AM - fifth grade; 10:00 AM - second grade; and 10:40 - first grade.

This is part two of the story of Pretty Boy the Butterfly by Rona Jay of Monetta.  I appreciate her sharing this with me and therefore with you.

Part II

Jimmy would come by the office every evening after work.  Pretty Boy liked Jimmy as he brought Pretty Boy live flowers several times a week.

I didn't know that butterflies could turn their head back and forth, but Pretty Boy did that for the first time after I had him for two weeks.  He was on my disk and I was talking to him.  He turned his head from one side to the other looking at me. From then on he did it often. 

One day I had been right busy but Pretty Boy wanted to stay at the counter with me.  So he stayed on my shoulder.  After things began to quiet down someone waiting for the bus to come in came up to the counter and his name was Mr. Ed Duncan from Batesburg. He said that he is a Sunday School teacher and wishes I could come to his class on that Sunday and talk about my butterfly.  He said that the lesson reminded him of Pretty Boy.  Later he called me and wanted me to read in my Bible Proverbs 30:18. "There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four I do not understand. "

Mr. Ed Duncan said he could not believe what all the butterfly could co.   He watched him scratch his nose, put his foot up for me to pick him up and interact with me while I talked to him. 

Now after the photographer took Pretty Boy's picture the newspaper sent  a reporter over to see us  The young lady asked if she could sit in the office for about 45 minutes, for she wanted to observe the butterfly.  When she got ready to leave she told me that if she wrote everything she watched Pretty Boy do, no one would believe the story. 

After she wrote the story people were wanted the reporter to write more stories about Pretty Boy.  People  began calling me wanting to know if the butterfly was still alive.  Even some wanted to come visit and just watch him.  We had a couple come from Columbia and all they wanted was to see Pretty Boy.

One Sunday when I was working but the station was closed, a gentleman was standing outside the window trying to look inside.  So after a while I went to the door, asked if he needed a bus ticket or if I could help him.  He smiled and asked "Is the butterfly still living?" I told him Pretty Boy was still alive.  He certainly was interested in seeing the butterfly and, of course, I told him to come on in.  I reached for Pretty Boy and he held out his foot for me to get  him.  It was time to feed Pretty Boy so I let the gentleman watch me.  He was one happy man.  Then he said that his  mother was going to be so surprised that he saw Pretty Boy.  It would make her day.

Now I was working in the flowers the next morning, Pretty Boy was with me, I guess he was getting a little heavy eating all that sugar water, because he fell on the side walk and broke part of his appendage.  For several days he would get his the broken part in front of me at the desk and shake it so that I could see that it was broken.  Now I would rub his leg and he really liked it  He would come up to me and hold out his foot.  He  shook it to let me know he wanted me to rub it some more.  I knew I would have to cut the broken part off soon.  Jimmy left me his knife to use when the time was right.  Well, the time was right and I cut the broken part off.  Yes, it did hurt and he milled around and turned over and over for a few minutes.  Then he came over to me and held up his foot to get into the palm of my hand.  He was okay.

I have an allergy and sometimes I would rub my nose because it would itch.  Believe it or not, Pretty Boy started rubbing his foot across his nose.  He also may have an allergy, who knows.  One day he even came over and rubbed  his nose on my hand.

I decided to call the Cincinnati Zoo to learn about butterflies as this butterfly is no ordinary one.  The gentleman I spoke with was shocked at all Pretty Boy could do, and he told me that that a butterfly' brain was no larger than a pin head.  This was the first time he had ever heard about the things that  Pretty Boy was doing  He was interested in the article that came out in the paper.  Then I called  Callaway Gardens and they were also really interested in Pretty Boy.  They had never heard that a butterfly could do what I said he was doing.  They told me to continue feeding sugar water, but they couldn't believe he had lived with us over four weeks. He had now been with us for six weeks.  Every morning for a long time we expected to find Pretty Boy dead when we arrived at the bus station in the morning.

We received a letter from a 37 year-old inmate on death row who said the story in the paper was beautiful. He wanted me to write him and tell him more about Pretty Boy. We were also getting calls from people wanting to know if Pretty Boy was still living. They were hoping that more articles would come out in the paper.

Now if I should have several children in the bus station, I would let them come behind the counter and watch me feed Pretty Boy.  Thy really did like that.

Another day I came in from lunch and Pretty Boy was asleep.  When I walked by him I touched his wing to wake him up.  He threw his foot out at me to leave him alone.  Then he went back to sleep.

Since I removed his broken foot I fixed Pretty Boy a new bed.  He is now on my desk with a branch covered in soft material and I place him there every night.  He hangs his feet over the branch and will stay in whatever position I have placed him in until I come in the next morning.

Every day when Jimmy came in from work , Pretty boy would fly to my should and want to play.  Jimmy would get to the back of the office, I would stand at my desk, and Pretty Boy would fly from my hand across the room to Jimmy's hand and then return.  Now this was a lot of fun for Pretty Boy.  As Pretty Boy aged and was slowing up, he could not fly as far so we would keep closing the gap between us.

Pretty Boy would turn to me when I called his name, look and listen to me.  I could tell him to come to me, go to bed and take a nap, and  he would obey-most of the time. 

We took him to the SCE&G building one Sunday.  They had a beautiful bed of flowers and lots of butterflies.  He really seemed to enjoy being there, so we thought that we would leave him there.  Then we had second thoughts and decided to let him decide if he wanted to stay or leave.  We opened the car door and told  him bye.  Well he came right straight to the car.  He was not going to let us leave him.

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

January 9, 2017

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

The next harvest festival meeting will be on Feb 7th at 7 pm at the library.  Please encourage others to attend the meeting and lend us a hand in planning for next year! 

Ridge Hill Baptist Church's fourth Annual MLK Community Awards Brunch will be on Saturday January 14th. It will be held in the Community Life Center at Ridge Hill Baptist Church, 144 Ridge Hill Drive, Ridge Spring SC 29129. The event will begin at 10:30AM and is free to the public. The purpose of the Ridge Hill Baptist Church’s Annual MLK Community Awards Brunch is to commemorate the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor his memory by awarding the MLK Impact award to an adult that has made a significant and positive impact on the lives of African Americans in the Ridge Spring/Monetta Community. It is to also award the MLK Promise Award to a High School Junior or Senior whose life demonstrates scholarship, integrity of character, sound moral values, and the potential to make a significant positive impact on the lives of others. Further, it is to foster and promote a spirit of community.

Josie Rodgers

I enjoyed watching the snow flurries but was sorely disappointed in the lack of accumulation in our area.  I sympathize with all the children who were patiently gazing out their windows hoping for enough fluffy stuff to build a little snowman.  Alas, only our picnic tables and vehicles got a dusting of the powdered sugar twin.  However, we are grateful that we did not suffer power outages and frozen water and treacherous roads.  I was quite worried about our elderly and others with comprised shelter.  It was bone-chilling outside. 

I am so thankful not only for a functional fire place with wood stove, but for its beauty as well. I would prefer the absence of the stove, as it tends to mask the glory of the fire, but it does, in fact, heat our home quite well (yes, we have other heat as well).  Our fireplace is made of slate rock straight from the creek bed of our farm and constructed by Mr. Robert Turner.  The gorgeous mantel was fashioned by Mark and Mr. Ronald Strom from a beam from underneath our house that was removed during our major remodel years ago.  The slight whisk of icy air that comes in when Mark brings in wood is just enough fresh air to lighten the room and make me pull my new super-soft throw a little tighter around me.  Reading and napping on our couch by the fire is a luxury that I cherish!  And it’s even better when my babies snuggle up with me.

RSM High:  The new wrestling team will have its first match this week!  The team will travel to North Augusta High and compete against NA and Barnwell.  Coach Andy Harris has been working with the new team and is excited about their energy and dedication.  Other teams gearing up for their seasons include softball and baseball.  The basketball teams are deep into their seasons and hitting the hoops hard for a chance in the play-offs.

Jan. 13 is an inservice day for teachers, and Jan. 15 is MLK Day.  Students will enjoy some time off after hitting the books hard in the new year!  Teachers will participate in a county wide literacy training day on Friday at various schools in the district. 

The Teacher Cadets will head to USC-Aiken for Cadet College Day on Feb. 3.  This will be a professional conference hosted by the college and led by the current Teaching Fellows from USC-A.   

Pretty Boy by Rona Jay

This is a two  part story by Rona Jay of Monetta.  I appreciate her sharing this with me and therefore with you.

Prologue: This story that I am about to write is true.  It's a story about a little butterfly that arrived at the Aiken Bus Station  in Aiken SC May 29, 1990 on the corner of a box being shipped to Charlotte NC.  The butterfly would interact with us in such a way that customers would come to see us just to see the butterfly. 

So many people are still asking me all about the butterfly that I decided to put my notes together and write this story  This is written for the young and old who have a big heart  for beautiful and delicate butterflies.  This is for you and your children.  May you all enjoy it as much as I will enjoy writing it.

Proverb 30:18 There are three thinks which are too wonderful for me. Yes, four which I do not understand.

On a beautiful day May 29, 1990 at the Aiken Bus Station a customer arrived with a box to be shipped to Charlotte NC, and on the corner of the box was a little Buckeye butterfly.   He was in pretty colors of orange, yellow, brown and had what looked like little eyes outlined in black.  I asked customer if she would like to have her butterfly and she answered, "What would I do with a butterfly?"  The customer left and I reached out to get the butterfly off the box.  He just got on my finger, then I put him on a plant that was on the side of my desk.  I was really thinking he would fly all around the office, but he stayed where I put him, and folded his wings up in a sleeping position.  During the afternoon I would talk to him is a soft voice and he would move and watch me.  The day was over and I left the butterfly on the plant and went home.  When I arrived at work the next morning I really did not think he would be alive.

I was really surprised when I touched his wing and he turned and looked at me.  so I talked to him is a soft voice and he just kept looking at me.  Now this butterfly had not eaten anything at all.  When my friend Jimmy Jay came in I asked him what to do for he had bees. He suggested sugar water.  I heated up some water, put sugar in it and checked to be sure it was not too hot.  I used a small spoon with the sugar water. I put my finger under the butterfly, and he got on my finger.  When I put the spoon in front of him, he put his feet around the spoon, his proboscis unrolled out of his mouth and started drinking the sugar water.  He drank and drank. When I was sure he had enough I went to move the spoon and he grabbed the spoon with both feet as to say I have not finished.

Now after he had finished eating, I didn't want to leave him with sticky feet.  I got warm water in an eyedropper and put a few drops on each foot.  To my surprise every time after that when I would feed him he would hold out each foot one at a time to be washed.  Smart Butterfly!!!

After he had finished eating he started flying around in the bus station.  the sugar water gave him lots of energy. I thought I should give this butterfly a name -  so we will now call him "Pretty Boy".  Now Pretty Boy flew to my desk and wanted to get on my hand, so I would open up my hand and he liked getting into the palm of my hand, and I liked him there because he would be safe.  I could not hold him by his wings for they were fragile.  When I was busy writing, he sometimes would ride on the back of my hand or get on my shoulder.  Pretty boy would do that a lot if I was working with customers at the ticket counter.  Now customers were ask me about Pretty Boy and I would tell them that he was my pet butterfly.  Some of the customers would come back by the bus station just to see Pretty boy.

Jimmy, my husband, and I decided that we should give Pretty Boy his freedom.  After making a decision to do that, we took Pretty Boy out to the park across the street from the bus station and turned him loose.  He had a wonderful time flying up in the trees and crawling on the grass.  It was a beautiful day to be outside.  You would not believe this , but when we left Pretty Boy to go back to the bus station he followed us.  He made a choice to stay with us.   We were so happy to keep him.  He still had the outings as I would take him often to the park and took him with me to take care of my flowers in front of the bus station.  He would fly around but stay close to where I was working.  When I would start to go in, he would hold his foot up for me to pick him up and take him in, too.

Pretty Boy would take naps off and on during the day.  He would sleep with his wings closed then open them up, turn around to see where I was and what I was doing.  Sometimes I did not have time to spend with him so I would have to speak to him in a tone that  he understood to stay on the plant and he would.  Then when I had time for him he would hold out his foot for me to take him. I would feed him again or just talk to him on my desk.  Jimmy gave me the scope off his rifle so I could look through that and see him really well. He would look at me also. 

Now I had an allergy and would rub my nose every once in a while.  Well Pretty Boy started copying me and would take his foot and rub his nose.  We had a good laugh over that.

 I was concerned just about how long I would have Pretty Boy as every morning when I would open up I was afraid I would find Pretty Boy had died.  So I wanted to get a picture of him to keep.  I visited the Augusta Chronicle Newspaper office just around the corner from the bus station.  When I asked for their photographer to see if he would come by the office and take a picture of Pretty Boy, they looked at me as if I was kidding them.  They asked, "Are you really wanting us to take a picture of a butterfly that you have at work?"   "Of course that is exactly what I want."  He laughed and said he would come around in the next day or two.  The next day it was so windy that I would never think of taking Pretty Boy to the park, but the photographer came by with his camera hanging around his neck telling me to get Pretty Boy and take him outside.  I told him it was too windy but he insisted that he could take the picture very quickly.  I could protect him from the wind with my  hand.  The Photographer did not want to take the picture inside.  Now I tried to let Pretty Boy know that we were going to the park but  not to fly around.  So here we go outside. Pretty Boy, believe it or not, understood that this outing to the park was going to be different.   While standing in the park with Pretty Boy on the end of my finger, I could feel his feet snuggle to be so that he wouldn't get blown away, and I kept my other hand behind him for protection from the wind.  After asking me to move a little to the left, a little to the right, a little higher, he dropped his camera and looked at me really strange.  I asked what was the problem?  The photographer just looked at me a minute or two then shook his head and said, "I can't believe what I am seeing - this butterfly looks at me every way you move, his eyes are looking right at me all the time."  Well the picture did turn out okay. Pretty Boy probably smiled at him, but he missed that.  Pretty boy was not blown away.  I told Pretty Boy I was really proud of him.

If you have read this far, you may wonder why I have said nothing about the College Football Championship Game Monday night.  I submit my column to the newspapers on Monday morning.  I will be watching for I am a Clemson graduate and proud of it.  I know Frank Howard and Bear Bryant are having a ball.

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

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