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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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. 

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.

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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