Monday, January 29, 2018

January 28, 2018

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

Harvest Festival Committee Chairperson Patrick Arnold: We had a great Harvest Festival last year from the BBQ Competition to Shrimp City Slim and everything in between. We have received positive feedback from festival goers and we need to examine what we did right and what we need to improve for this year. Ann Marie Taylor has done a magnificent job, leading our group and the festival back to being a success. She dealt with many obstacles with the festival and in her personal life, moving into a new house, renovations, and losing her mother. Along with a high pressure job she devoted her time and efforts into this festival. Thank you Ann Marie, you have a HUGE heart. We all have full time jobs, weather it a punching a clock, caring for loved ones or whatever fills your days.... they are just full. But we join this committee because we care about our community and want to make a difference. I can't promise that I will be as organized or as thorough with all the details, but I can promise that I will be driven and dedicated to the Harvest Festival to make it the best that I can. Please encourage anyone that you believe would like to make a difference or contribution to our festival to come to our meeting which will be held in the Town Hall, February 13th at 7:00pm.

AARS: Kim Ruff will have a pottery class on Monday, February 12th from 6:30-8:30 with a Quilt Patch platter to commemorate the quilt emphasis that Ridge Spring has coming in March. This is a beginner class. Quilt designs will be painted on the platter with underglazes. Cost is $35. Pre-registration is requested. Please contact Kim by emailing her at makerart@aol.com or Joanne at joanne.crouch26@gmail.com.

Terrible wrecks occur and when one happens in our small town, we all care. For more information on Charles or Charley that works at Juniper, please contact Jeanne Velie at Juniper Restaurant for more information.

The Department of Agriculture will be holding classes for farmers so they can accept vouchers this summer. These vouchers are given to people over a certain age to use to get fresh fruits and vegetables. For more information contact the department at 503.734.2224. The class closest to Ridge Spring will be in Aiken on February 26 from 10;00 AM til noon. You must register no later than February 1.

RIDGE SPRING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH:For the past several Sundays Pastor Ashley has been talking about words that begin with EX, such as excited! As the Church that ‘Lives to Give’ we are Excited about 2018 with the possibilities, events, activities and services planned.

January: The Big Red Box, BRB in January will be collecting for health bags. Items needed are: wash cloth, towel (full size), tooth brush and paste, full size, comb, emery boards, bath soap, full size. If you are interested in helping, leave your donations on the porch of the Family Life Center, FLC and a church member will make sure they are placed in the BRB. The Bags will be delivered to a local Ministry the end of January. If you haven’t donated you still have time. The bags will be assembled and delivered the 1^st week of February.

February: February and the BRB starts thinking soup…in fact the BRB will be collecting cans of soup the entire month of February. The Souper Bowl of Caring (an international organization started in Columbia, SC) will sponsor many drives, lunches and soup collections. RSUMC will host a Souper Bowl of Caring lunch on February 4, 2018 immediately following regular church Service. Several different types of soups, deserts, corn bread/biscuits and drink will be provided. Cost: free with a donation of cans of soup. For those interested, buckets with the Super Bowl teams logos on them will be available for donations to see ‘whose team’ comes out on top. The cans of soup and money collected will go to local food banks. Have you heard our AD on WKSX? Have you seen notification of the Souper Bowl Lunch on the Town Sign?

Later in February RSUMC will host their first ever Shrove (or Fat) Tuesday pancake supper. This will be at the FLC February 13, 2018 5 pm-7pm. Pancakes and link sausage will be provided along with water and coffee. The supper is free but a love offering would be appreciated. Eat in or carry out.

The next day, Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at 6 pm RSUMC will offer an Ash Wednesday Service at 6 pm. Join us for this moving service to begin the very powerful and meaningful beginning of Lent.

As you can see much going on at RSUMC. We would love for you to join us at our regular church service, Sundays at 11 am and at any or ALL of the activities noted. Prayer box and church/Pastor information are located on the porch of the FLC.

Check us out on our Face Book page. Hope to see you in church next Sunday. We’ll save you a seat.

Josie Rodgers:

RSMMH: On Jan. 26, C-SPAN’s state-of-the-art 45-foot customized motor coach visited RSMMHS. This visit is a component of C-SPAN’s “50 Capitals Tour.” The bus is high-tech with access to many tech devices that give students hands-on experience with political and educational resources and how they are used in our ever-changing fast-paced media world.

RSM High: The English department spent some time on Kiawah Island at the SCCTE Annual Conference. The teachers attended various breakout sessions and heard from several speakers including Stephanie Harvey, Releah Lent, and Monika Schroder. The theme of the conference was “Literacy in a Transdisciplinary Age.” The teachers learned new ways to access literacy and critical thinking in a world where text is more than a book. The RSM teachers also spent time together relaxing and getting renewed for 2^nd semester. Ask them about the A.R.C. they built!

Summer Cherry: The Trojan Champs sponsored lunch for their buddies recently and treated them to pizza, corn hole, and dancing. Trojan Champ member Brair said, “This was the best buddy day yet!”

Mrs. Monica Jones, secondary literacy teacher for the high school, treated her students who had improved their reading scores to a luncheon. She cooked chicken Alfredo and cake for forty of her students, who were very grateful for the special treat. The Lunch Bunch is for any student who has improved his or her comprehension score, vocabulary score, and context passage score with 80% or better on the software for Read 180. The Lunch Bunch takes place each nine weeks. As an additional incentive, each student invited one other guest to join him or her. “I want to encourage these star students to be role models for others and to set a standard of excellence in their classroom, which is the Trojan Way,” said Mrs. Jones.

The RSMMHS media center is sponsoring two reading promotions this year. Since September, it has been promoting the Junior Book Award nominees and the Young Adult Book Award nominees. Any student who reads at least three books from either list and makes an original bookmark promoting one of the books by the middle of February is eligible to participate in a recognition celebration in March. Starting in February, students who pick up a punch card and read a book from each genre can claim a prize with a full punch card.

REVIEWING THE LAST 3 MONTHS OF 2017

October 2017: The Harvest Festival filled most of the article with winners of the BBQ, Ribs, Cake and Pie Contest and more. Monetta has been selected by SOUTHERN LIVING magazine in the November issue as "one of the best tiny towns in the South". Monetta has a population of 234. WHAT AN HONOR!!!!! Security Federal Bank has been looking at options for locating a branch in Ridge Spring. The First Citizens Bank in Ridge Spring recently closed. For hearing needs, Jerry Sheets of Audibel comes to Ridge Spring the first Thursday of the month to serve the community.

November 2017: From the Mayor's Desk: Santa has certainly come early for Ridge Spring. In November, Haley Bee's opened for business in the old town hall. If you haven't visited the shop, you will be in for a pleasant surprise. Besides the variety of clothes, gifts, men's and baby clothes that Haley offers, you must see what has been created from the old building. Next, Ridge Spring Auctions will have its first auction on December 3rd in the Civic Center. There will be 2 auctions weekly: one Thursday evenings at 6:00 and another on Sunday afternoons. Security Federal Bank will have made a much anticipated announcement on Wednesday, November 29. Teresa Wallace has opened up My Love All Occasion Shop at the Cumbee Place on East Main Street. This is a consignment shop with clothes for $1.00. The shop will also include wedding clothes, prom dresses and tuxedoes that will be available. She also has her notary seal. Her hours are Sunday through Friday from 1:30 to 5:00. Closed Saturdays.

December 2017: Ridge Spring Town Hall:

2017 has been a busy year for our town. We are finally in our permanent home, and like all building owners have had to make some adjustments to make the building ours. We took out a wall to make a meeting room, added a skylight to cover a hole in the roof where the chimney was located, rewired, and painted. In addition to the work inside, we enlarged and paved the parking lot and added addition outside wiring.

At the same time we brought the police back into town hall, and added and equipped an evidence locker; we were able to get a safe for small evidence from SCE&G; we bought new software for the police computers and hired two part time policemen. Both retired at the end of the year.

Monday, January 22, 2018

January 22, 2018

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

FORS met Thursday night at the Town Hall. Everyone was positive about the sales promotion after Thanksgiving. The bank coming is of great importance to all. The library is sharing the Art Center now. Some of us remember Mrs.Gunter and Mrs. Redd, and Mrs.Webb teaching in those rooms.

The library has been moved, the computers are ready, and it will open as soon as the internet from Comporium is in place. Wiring an old building can be complicated. The town is painting the ramp, the ceiling of the front porch and reconstructing one of the bathrooms to be handicap accessible.

The FDIC, the state of South Carolina and the Historical Building group have all approved of the Security Federal moving into the "Old Bank Building on Main Street". Please remember First Citizen will not release their bank building for at least another year. Security Federal hopes to have an ATM and an office to help all transfer their accounts to them by the second week in February.

The Ridge Spring Art Center hosted the Woodside Ladies from Aiken. They were interested in the Quilt Trail and the quilt blocks which is around 18-20 that can be found in the area. The Art Center has a brochure on the quilt blocks . The brochure has a map and a self guided tour. They dined at Juniper and enjoyed visiting the shops. A good day for all.

Harriet's Garden Tip: THE CAMELLIA TEA, sponsored by the Edgefield Camellia Club, will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at Magnolia Dale in downtown Edgefield from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm.

THIS EVENT is open to the public; admission is free. Magnolia Dale is located at 200 Norris Street, Edgefield, SC 29824. Reservations not required.

THE CAMELLIA TEA features many beautiful blooms displayed in an elegant setting offering delectable tea refreshments. Sandwiches, sweets, punch and teas will be offered. The lovely mid-winter afternoon will be completed amidst a back-drop of music, provided by local musicians.

CAMELLIA EXPERTS will be on hand to discuss the blooms and the cultivation of this plant so well-suited to our Southern gardens.

RECENT TEAS have attracted visitors from throughout and have showcased over 300 varieties of c. japonica. This event is a continuation from 1949 when Edgefield was well-known as a premier camellia growing area and, at that time, blooms were displayed at the home of Joe and Chrissie Holland at their “Camellia Tea”.

THE CAMELLIA GARDENS at Darby Plantation (1150 Augusta Hwy., Trenton, SC 29847) home of the late Douglas Wise and Edgemere (25 Cantelou Road, Edgefield, SC 29824) the home of the late J. Rainsford Cantelou will be open mid-morning for touring. Both of these gentlemen were well-known camellia growers from the early days. COME ENJOY A WINTER DAY OF BEAUTY!

RIDGE SPRING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: Happy New Year! 2017 is in the books and what a productive, fruitful and blessed year it was for Ridge Spring United Methodist Church, RSUMC. We are excited about 2018 with the possibilities, events, activities and services planned.

Check us out on our Face Book page. Again Happy New Year! Hope to see you in church next Sunday. We’ll save you a seat.

Rene Miller, RSM Elementary

Parent Tip Make Education A Family Value http://www.beliefnet.com/love-family/parenting/ galleries/seven-tips-for-school-success.aspx?p=2 The goal of school is to learn to love learning. Learning is a lifetime goal, and parents can demonstrate their own appreciation of learning. “What is one thing you learned today?” is a nice question for everyone to answer at the dinner table. Ask your children daily about their school day. You don’t need to know every detail, and often kids are reluctant to share anything. So simply ask them to tell you the worst moment and the best moment of their school day. This makes them feel that you care and want to participate in their school and their education.

Jump Rope for Heart kicks-off on January 16th . Students will collect money for the American Heart Association from January 16th to February 16th. You may turn in your collected money on either February 9th or February 16th. Heart Week Festivities will begin on February 9th and go through February 16th Feb 9th,Join the Scare Squad: Scare your bad habits away. (Dress like a monster). 1st Date to turn in money. Feb 12th,Be THE FORCE of change: Start making heart healthy decisions. (Dress like your favorite Star Wars character). Feb 13th,Team up against tobacco use: (Wear Trojan Blue to pledge to be tobacco free). Feb 14th,Healthy Heart and Lungs Day: (Wear Pink or Red). Feb 15th,Sporty Day: Sport a healthy lifestyle. (Wear workout clothes or sports attire). Just Dance Party during Activity period. Feb 16th,Be a Heart Hero: (Dress as your favorite super hero). Jump Rope-a-thon during Activity and Pep Rally at 2pm.

Ring Found A man's wedding ring was found in the Fall and it has yet to be claimed. If you are missing one and can identify it, please call Ms. Carges at the school.

100th Day Celebration is Friday, February 2. The Morale Committee encourages all faculty, staff, and students to come dressed as if they are 100 years old.

Josie Rodgers, RSM Middle and High School

RSM Little Peach League: Registration for the 2018 season will be held Jan. 27, from 9 am to 1 pm at the Little Peach League Ballpark in Monetta. Only parents or guardians are allowed to register the athletes. Coaches will not be allowed to register for you, and there will be no late registrations. You must bring a birth certificate and the fees. Brackets and fees are due at registration: 4-6 years T-ball co-ed, $40; 7-8 years Coaches Pitch/Darlings Softball, $50; 9-10 years Minors Baseball/Angels Softball $60; 11-12 years Ozone Baseball/Ponytails Softball $60.

RSM High: Congratulations to Akira Bell-Weathers has been appointed to the Junior Leadership of Aiken County. Through this program, Akira will work with the community and other students across the district to learn more about leadership skills and opportunities as well as interact with business leaders and community members. Akira is the daughter of Nikki Bell. She is currently a sophomore and intends to attend USC and major in law.

Girls Varsity Basketball, Coach Gail Johnson: The Lady Trojans are 6-0 in the Region and started the 2^nd round of Region play last Friday at home against Blackville-Hilda. The eleven Lady Ts are going strong daily trying to repeat as Region Champions after graduating 5 (3 starters) seniors from last year's squad! The team is led offensively by senior Crystal Preston & freshman Jaliyah Bussey, the only returning starters. Defensively the team is led by senior Kadaija James (sidelined with a knee injury last season) & sophomore Camaya Brown. Kyra Davis & Ali Gilliam have both stepped up their game to fill the big shoes left empty by last year’s seniors. The newcomers are sophomores Markayla Abney, Jasmine Cummings, Charity Elam, & freshmen Destiny Glover & Titianna Morris, who all play by the motto, “When in doubt HUSTLE; when you don't know exactly what to do, HUSTLE!” The Elite Eleven are working daily to maintain their edge on the Region Title!

Odyssey Yearbook: Advertising space in the yearbook is available to all business members of our community and surrounding communities. Over 125 color copies of the Odyssey Yearbook will be circulated, so get your message out and support RSM Mid/High! Costs are as follows: Full Page, $200; Half Page, $125; Quarter Page, $85; Business Card, $50. Please mail all ads and payments to Ridge Spring Monetta Middle/High School, 10 J P Kneece Drive, Monetta SC 29105. Email cholley@acpsd.net with questions or call 685-2100. Deadline is Jan. 31.

The RSM Senior Beta Club is preparing for the State Beta Club Convention in Myrtle Beach Feb. 9-11. Members attending will compete in various categories such as agriculture, math, banner, scrapbook, etc. They will meet with other Beta Club members from across the state, make new friends, and learn more about leadership and service.

Reviewing 2017

July, 2017: What are you doing to get the best view for the total eclipse that will be here in our own backyards??? From the Desk of Mayor Pat Asbill

Monster Trucks invaded Ridge Spring on Friday night when we had our first Movie on the Lawn sponsored by Friends of Ridge Spring, Arts Association of Ridge Spring, Cone’s Meats, Edwards Heating and Cooling, and Rowland, Kitchen, and Associates. There was plenty of activity on the lawn as Radius Church supplied games and watermelon for all the youngsters. The heat cooled, and everyone enjoyed the movie and fellowship. Thank you Saluda County Chamber of Commerce for loaning the screen and Radius Church for furnishing the sound.

Tuesday morning about twenty people met in Town Hall to brainstorm ideas for bringing a new bank to town. Senator Setzler, who attended, has put us in touch with Independent Bankers Association, and from Senator Graham’s office, Van Cato was there putting us in touch with credit unions. We have tried, this week, to plead our case with Verizon for a tower. If you are having trouble with your service, call and complain. The more of you who do this, the more they listen. No one listens if we are silent.

August, 2017 The RS Farmers' Market had butter beans. There were peas, sweet potatoes red and white ones, corn, tomatoes, okra, peppers, mountain apples, cabbage, and more. Come on down Saturday mornings around 8:30 on. Boiled peanut season is over for me but we sure enjoyed the summer. It did not rain a single Saturday morning.

From the Mayor’s Desk: Although Ridge Spring had made no plans for the eclipse, we had a town full of people who sat up tents, cooked out, and enjoyed getting to know each other. The farthest away anyone came was Vancouver, Canada.

Because of the summer rain, the mosquito population has increased considerably. Please check your yards for standing water, old discarded tires, flower pots with dishes under them, buckets, anything that has the potential to hold water.

Many people have expressed concern about the bank’s closing. We have talked to several banks about the possibility of coming to Ridge Spring. As of yet, we do not have a commitment.

If you are a Verizon customer and are having trouble with your reception in town, please call the number on the bill and ask to speak to a tech person. Explain your problem, and suggest a tower be placed in the area. If no one complains, then nothing will be done! As the saying goes; “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”.

End of the Summer Sidewalk Sale on Saturday September 9. Bargains can be found. Participating will be Ridge Antiques and Dry Goods, Olde Treasures, the Nut House, Off the Beaten Path, Stuff and Things, the RS Art Gallery, and the Farmers' Market. Stroll down Main Street, enjoy ice cream from Bank's Drugs, dine at Juniper, and as you get ready to leave, purchase some of that sausage from Cone's Meats. What a day!!!!!

September, 2017 Great News!!!! Security Federal Bank came to meet with potential customers last week. Mobile Banks are wonderful!!!

The first annual Saluda County Farm to Table and Honey Tasting Celebration had to be rescheduled due to Hurricane Irma's aftermath. It has been rescheduled for November 4. There will be wonderful food, music, and tastes of honey at the Gables Inn and Gardens on November 4. Tickets may still be purchased for the event.

The Ridge Spring United Methodist Church is sponsoring "Beat the Heat Blitz" on September 30 from 8:00 to Noon at the Ridge Spring Fire Department . They will be accepting donations of 16 oz. waters and Gatorades for the Ridge spring Fire Department. Cash will also be accepted.

At the Farmers' Market George Raborn enjoyed telling how things were at a different time years ago. I also got the recipe for Irish potato pie. It sounded so different that I copied it down for all to try and share:2 hot Irish potatoes 2 eggs, sugar to taste, stick of butter, canned milk, lemon extract, dash of nutmeg, place in pie crust bake 325-350 degrees for 45 minutes. This pie is from the "Delmarva" region-Delaware, Maryland, Virginia. Dined at Juniper last Tuesday without electricity due to Irma's raining havoc on electrical service.. There are advantages of having a gas stove. The chicken was delicious. The menu was shortened but "necessity is the mother of invention". Electricity was back on by afternoon.

REMINDERS

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

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

AARS And the Art Center will be closed for January

January 18: FORS meeting at Town Hall 5:00

Fourth Saturday of the month: Helpful Hands Food/Clothing Bank is open

Monday, January 15, 2018

January 15, 2018

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

The Friends of Ridge Spring will meet January 18 at Town Hall at 5:00. Plans for the year and hopes for a great opportunity to enhance our town. All are invited.

Yon 2018 Spring Sale is offering 150, 15-16 month-old Angus & SimAngus bulls, plus 75 females including cow/calf pairs and bred cows/heifers on Saturday, February 17 at 11 AM

RSM High School: Advertising space in the 2017/2018 RSMMHS Yearbook is available to all business members of our community and surrounding communities. Over 125 color copies of the Odyssey Yearbook will be circulated, so get your message out and support Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle/High School! Please mail all ads and payments to Ridge Spring Monetta Middle/High School, 10 J P Kneece Drive, Monetta SC 29105. Email cholley@acpsd.net with questions or call 685-2100. The deadline is Wednesday January 31. Thank you for your support Ridge Spring Monetta Middle/High School! Yearbook Staff: Full Page Ad $200.00; Half Page Ad $125.00; Quarter Page Ad $85.00; Business Card Size $50.00 The RSM Senior Beta Club is preparing for the State Beta Club Convention in Myrtle Beach Feb. 9-11. Members attending will compete in various categories such as agriculture, math, banner, scrapbook, etc. They will meet with other Beta Club members from across the state, make new friends, and learn more about leadership and service.

RSME, Rene Miller

We would like to welcome to our RSME family the following people: Linda Palmer, Media Aide; Willie Conner, Transportation Supervisor; Tayllor Vetter, Psychologist; and Cindy Kelly, Nurse

Awards Day for the 1st semester will be held on January 26 at the following times: 3rd Grade @ 7:45 a.m.; 4th Grade @ 8:25 a.m.; 5th Grade @ 9:05 a.m.; 2nd Grade @ 9:45 a.m.;.; 1st Grade @ 2:00 p.m.;

Terrific Kids Congratulations to our Terrific Kids for the month of December. The character word was Balanced: Laycee Morphy, Braelynn Crosby, Tanijha Morris, Chase Snipes, Conner Cockrell, Ava Senn, Alexander Fierros-Garcia, Alexander Andrade, Kayleigh Wood, Jaziyah Stephens, Lillian Burdett, Colton Hartley, Gavin Fulmer, Malik Fuller, Jordan Ortiz, Romeo Ruiz, Isaiah Kimbrough, Jayke Carson, Jose Hernandez, Randy Renteral, Makynna Folden, Taylor Long, and Alianna Steele

Check us out on our Face Book page. Again Happy New Year! Hope to see you in church next Sunday. We’ll save you a seat.

Josie Rodgers: RSM Little Peach League: Registration for the 2018 season will be held Jan. 13, 20, & 27, from 9 am to 1 pm at the Little Peach League Ballpark in Monetta. Only parents or guardians are allowed to register the athletes. Coaches will not be allowed to register for you, and there will be no late registrations. You must bring a birth certificate and the fees. Brackets and fees are due at registration: 4-6 years T-ball co-ed, $40; 7-8 years Coaches Pitch/Darlings Softball, $50; 9-10 years Minors Baseball/Angels Softball $60; 11-12 years Ozone Baseball/Ponytails Softball $60.

2017 in review

April, 2017 Do you remember???? The Ridge Spring Fire Department is sponsoring a benefit in memory of Michael Adamick which will be held on Saturday, May 6th starting at 5 p.m. BBQ tickets are $10.00 each and may be purchased from any of the fire department members. An auction will immediately follow dinner. Please join us at the Fire Department in the center of Ridge Spring for an evening of fun.

Magnolia Ridge Antique and Art Gathering is May 20, 2017 from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. Check it out at MagnoliaRidgeSC.com. The Friends of Ridge Spring (FORS) received the $500.00 grant from AgSouth for the Farmers Market in Ridge Spring. A Big Thank you to AgSouth and to Sherald Rodgers for getting this done!!! FORS is working on an update of the Ridge Spring Brochure. It is amazing how our community grows and yet keeps its wonderful charm. Suggestions are always welcomed. Spann United Methodist Church in Ward will celebrated the 212th anniversary of the founding of the church. Mayor Pat Asbill gave one more tidbit of information about the tornado that came through the Ridge. 92 trees were downed and across highway 23 between Ward and Valley Protein.

May, 2017 Do you remember? Mayor Pat Asbill: Looking for something to do in Ridge Spring?? Just take a minute and consider. This week, the Little League is celebrating its year with an awards banquet, a dunking booth, and a snow cone machine with the week ending with Memorial Day and an Oyster Roast at Juniper. The first weekend in June is the Peach Tree 23 Yard Sale, which is no longer just a yard sale, but also a place with vendors of all kinds: metalworking, crafts, outdoor furniture, produce. The list goes on and on. This year, the town has rented 103 spaces, not including those setting up in their yards or along the sidewalk. Also, on June 15, the Town along with The Saluda County Chamber of Commerce will set up a movie screen on the lawn at the new town hall to show Monster Trucks. This is our first outdoor movie, and we hope all will come, bring a lawn chair, a blanket, or just sit on the grass and enjoy a free movie with friends and family. Also in the plans are a Farm to Table Dinner in September, the Farmer's Market, the BBQ and Harvest Festival in October, Christmas activities, and we are in the process of planning a quilting weekend to compliment our designation on the Quilt Trail. If you want to get involved, if you are tired of watching TV, or just want to make friends, we could use your help. Give us a call and we will put you to work on the activity of your choice. Like the saying goes: "It takes a village".

June, 2017 Do you remember? On June 16, the RAINS came and the outdoor movie was cancelled.. THE MOVIE SCREEN IS 20'X40' and cannot get wet. So the movie night event has been moved to July 21st. The Town of Ridge Spring along with The Saluda County Chamber of Commerce will set up a movie screen on the lawn at the new town hall to show Monster Trucks, our first free outdoor movie on Friday, July 21. Mayor Pat Asbill stated, " Last Friday night's rain won't stop our Movie on the Lawn. We have rescheduled for July 21st. So mark your calendars; we are looking forward to showing Monster Trucks."

The Ridge Spring Farmers' Market has begun. We had 4 vendors with the best and freshest corn. So of course I bought four dozen. There were cantaloupes, watermelons, and PEACHES. White and yellow peaches are available. You could purchase fresh tomatoes, onions, peaches, cucumbers, string beans, three kinds of corn from four different vendors, squash, zucchini, peppers even white and green ones, fried apple or peach turnovers, cakes, breads, jams, and more. Of course there was boiled peanuts too. Flowers were available also. It is just hard to make sure you tell all that was there. It was great seeing the vouchers being given out at the gazebo. AgSouth bags were distributed to many shoppers. You could get cookies made by Abbie who was selling them for her trip, Ayla who was selling lemonade to make money for the summer. Where else could you sit a spell in the shade, talk and also order a basket of cucumbers so you can make your special pickles. Miss Daisy Rutland sat in the cool and Mrs. Jeanette Carr got her that peck of cucumbers. You could get fresh blueberry muffins, teas that were loose or in tea bags made by Samantha McClure. Ayla hid a rock, too. We start around 7:00 to 8:00 and go until we sell out. You can get Yon's fresh corn at the Nut House this coming week.

The Juniper Family went to New York to serve a meal at the famous James Beard House. So Juniper was closed from June 18 to the 24th. . The meal was served on June 20 and it was sold out back in May. Juniper reopened on June 25th for their famous Sunday Brunch

Ridge Spring Harvest Festival: With the Peach Tree 23 behind us we are now focused on the Harvest Festival and BBQ Battle for the Ridge! This year we are inviting the BEST BBQ cookers in the state of South Carolina to have a knock down drag out fight to be deemed BBQ King of Ridge Spring!
The Friends of Ridge Spring (FORS) met Thursday night. Mayor Pat Asbill and Noel Steele had the report from the Ridge Spring traffic count on Hwy 23 form Tuesday May 30 through Wednesday June 13, hour by hour. Peach Tree 23 had a fabulous count. Friday peaked with 1298 vehicles going west at 1:00 PM and with over 1000 traveling west through town from 10:00 to 3:00. On Saturday the peak was at 11:00 with 1708 vehicles traveling west and again from 9:00 to 2:00 there were over 1000 cars traveling west. Google Earth reported a traffic jam on Hwy 23 and recommended detours. This was good for trucks to avoid this area that weekend. The next day the town was clean and I thanks the town employees for their hard work. The welcome center at the Gazebo was a success, too. FORS will not meet in July and August.

Billy Rodgers and his wife Miriam of Ward have been involved with growing food crops for years. He now grows vegetables on a 2.5 acre lot on Hwy 39. He was recognized as the "Vegetable Grower of the Year" in Greenwood. He was presented with the award by the Emerald City Rotary Club at the first of June. . His son Sherald is a vendor at the Ridge Spring Farmers' Market and continues the farming tradition.

REMINDERS

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

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

AARS And the Art Center will be closed for January

January 18: FORS meeting at Town Hall 5:00

Fourth Saturday of the month: Helpful Hands Food/Clothing Bank. Is open

Monday, January 8, 2018

January 8, 2017

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

From the Mayor's Desk: How cold can it get? I think that we got our answer this week. We have had numerous reports of frozen pipes, and we have had our own pipes break in town. Hopefully, we are seeing an end to this cold and can return to normal. As an update on Security Federal's progress: They are awaiting their SC "permit" to continue, which should happen this week. Their plan is to then go into the old library and set up an office to begin to help customers change their accounts and begin business. As noted in the newsletter, our sewer rates will increase a little beginning this month. Our sewage is sent to Horse Creek Valley passing through Saluda County, Edgefield, and North Augusta lines before reaching Horse Creek. Each of these entities charges us a fee and generally they increase yearly. Therefore, we have an increase in fees as well. We have instituted an hospitality tax for the places in town serving prepared food. One of the things on the list to do with these monies is repave and remark town square parking lot to increase parking spaces. We will be also be requesting from DOT that the portion of Railroad Avenue that runs through the town parking lot be given to the town so that we can achieve this goal. We will also be reconnecting with our town committees and begin plans for the next two years. The library has been moved to the art center and will reopen as soon as the computer lines have be installed. Be sure to check the town's facebook page as well as its web site to keep up with what is happening in town.

George Pastor Key: Sharing a smile with The Watson Family who dropped off a much needed donation at The Helpful Hands Food/Clothing Bank. Our Food/Clothing Bank is open every 4th Saturday.

Happy New Year. Welcome to 2018 at OLDE TREASURES. We look forward to another year of serving you with your antique and vintage needs.
Heading into 2018, we are experiencing some changes at the shop. We lost one of our beloved dealers, Mary to the dreaded disease of cancer. Her delightful niece, Darleen has stepped in and is one of our new dealers at OLDE TREASURES. We also have new dealers that primarily deal in old quilts. They have a bookcase that showcases some of their quilts and a few other vintage/antique items. They have quite a stock of quilts, so as these sell their spot will be filled with others. Another dealer left to explore other avenues in life so we have a space available for rent. If you or someone you know is interested call the shop 803-685-7634 or message me. There is always new to the shop and exciting inventory at OLDE TREASURES. Come check us out. We think you will be glad you did.

Joanne Crouch, AARS: Kim Ruff, pottery instructor, is offering a pottery class at the Art Center of Ridge Spring on Monday, January 15th from 5:30-8:30. This would be a great class for couples. Class cost is $35 and covers all firing and glazing. Contact Kim Ruff at makerart@aol.com to register for class. Interested parties can also call Joanne at (803) 685-5577 and leave message.

Check us out on our Face Book page. Again Happy New Year! Hope to see you in church next Sunday. We’ll save you a seat.

During the month of January, I like to review the year to see how far we have come and how much we have accomplished. I hope you enjoy going down memory lane.

RSM Elem: Aiken County Gateway applications can be found in the link under Announcements on the RSME homepages as well as from art teacher Ms. Ciravolo, for 3^rd – 5^th grade students wishing to participate in the arts summer program. Applications and any required materials will be accepted by Ms. Ciravolo until Jan 5.

2017 IN REVIEW

January, 2017

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!

Yon Family Farms will have their Spring Sale on February 18th with around 200 bulls and 75 females. These specimens are forage developed angus cattle.

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….

February, 2017

Recovery Works, a faith based residential recovery center for men, has closed its operations in Ridge Spring after 9 prosperous years. The Recovery center helped men locally and all across the USA for 9 years. Please accept our many thanks to the people of Ridge Spring and surrounding areas for their support. It was a great pleasure to be of service to God and our fellow man . God bless America. Sincerely Flint R Thomas, Founder / Director.

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.

Hughes Aerial Imagery LLC . began with ,Tom deciding to try his hand at single rotor helicopters and purchased the Esky Honey Bee. 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

March, 2017

Juniper is excited to announce that we have been invited to cook at the distinguished James Beard House in NYC! Our dinner is scheduled for June 20, 2017 we will share our journey in preparing for this event on our Facebook page and on Instagram #JamesBeardBound.

The Ridge Spring Harvest Festival met this month. New faces were there as well as those who have been there, too. The plans for next year's Festival are under way. Patrick Arnold, with the support of the committee, was able to get on the South Carolina BBQ Circuit . We are trying to bring back fireworks and other successful venues. Of course there will be Bingo on Thursday night. Country Store, cake, pie contest with an addition of a class of cupcakes, games, entertainment, parade, and much more. We are all very thankful that Ann Marie Taylor agreed to continue as chairman with Patrick Arnold as co-chairman. The date has been set and it will be October 12-14. It will be on the same weekend that it was this past year.

The Freeze that hurt so many farmer was attested to by the following article.

The head of a large peach farm in Edgefield County says he will need nearly 500 fewer workers this year after last week's hard freeze destroyed 85 percent of his crop. Titan Farms is responsible for 50 percent of the peach crop in South Carolina, which took a big hit. On a good year, Titan Farms' CEO, Chalmers Carr, says workers box up and ship out two million boxes of peaches. This year, he's expecting that number to be around 200,000 late in the season. The state is the second largest producer of peaches in the United States only behind California. But that loss is hitting some of the region's smaller communities that depend on the fruit to bring in business.

Monday, March 20, 2017 RIDGE SPRING, S.C., (WRDW/WAGT) -- Peach farms in Ridge Spring produce more than 1,500 jobs, but his year there is no need for that many workers. Chalmers Carr, CEO of Titan Farms, says he's already sent home a few hundred workers.

"We've actually have to send home workers and we won't have nearly the amount of workers we had. Last year we had 640 employees, this year we're looking at about 150" said Carr.

Thursday's freeze killed 85% of Titan Farms' crop. On a good year, the farm ships 2 million peaches, this year, hopefully 200 thousand.

On Saturday March 25th at 6:00 pm, Boy Scout troop 555 had a flag ceremony to retire 30 flags. The ceremony was held at the Ridge Spring Fire Dept. Jamie Berry is the Scout master.

Off the Beaten Path:. We are also excited to welcome new artists to the store. Ridge Spring's own Robin Moore has incredible pictures you have to come see. We look forward to serving you for all your needs! We are open Mon-Tues. 11-3 PM, Thurs.-Sat. 10-5 PM.

REMINDERS

Ridge Spring Library hours: Reopen January 8th

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

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

AARS And the Art Center will be closed for January

January 18: FORS meeting at Town Hall 5:00

Fourth Saturday of the month: Helpful Hands Food/Clothing Bank. Is open