February 9, 2015

Ridge Spring News

 Jeff Clamp, Band Director, Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle / High School: Six Ridge Spring-Monetta Band members traveled to Limestone College to participate in the Limestone College Band Clinic.  The event was held January 29th through 31st.  The students auditioned for chairs and Andrew Moyer and D.J. Padgett earned first chair in their bands.  Also participating in the clinic were Joshua Ware, Nicholas Jones, Katara Coleman, and Tyler Rowe.  The students rehearsed mostly college-level music for a day and a half with their bands, and the clinic ended with an outstanding concert by all of the students.

Magnolia Ridge Antiques and Art Gathering Featuring Palmetto Antique Tractors will take place on May 16th. Any dealers that would like to reserve a space please contact: bevarndt36@gmail.com

Off the Beaten Path invites you to shop for Valentine's.  Many amazing gifts!  Special order baskets for Valentine's created by Sandra Smith located here in Ridge Spring.  Come in and place your order by Thursday.  Adult and children baskets are available.  Heart shaped conversation soaps from Chinaberry Dreams Band and beautiful jewelry for everyone.  

Ridge Antiques & Dry Goods: Ridge Antiques welcomes Chuck and Denise Steele to our little family.  They have gotten their booth set up and have some very nice items for you ~ come see! We also say a sad goodbye to Mary Ellen & Rich Jordan who have moved out in preparation for their retirement to Florida.  They had been with the store for many years and will be missed.  Happy Valentine's Day ~ Come on in and find that special something for that special someone.

Lee Ann Perez/ One Ash Farm & Dairy: We had a great time at the Winter Farmers Market at Cumbee Place!  This market is being held each Thursday afternoon during these cold winter months.  Come join us and find an assortment of vendors.  In addition to our Grade A Raw Milk, fresh baked breads, herbal salves and soaps and craft items, there will also be familiar vendors with cakes, canned goods, fresh produce, eggs, specialty soaps and much more! We will be there from about 3 until 5:30.  Inside if it's cold and outside on the porch if it's sunny!  Stop on by- and have a blessed week!

The helpful Hands Mission is presenting show Time at the Star Center every 2nd Sunday evening at 5:00 pm. This community event has been organized to promote community involvement and family unity. Showtime at the Star Center will showcase local gospel artists and talent.  The talent contest winner will receive a $100.00 cash prize, plaque and a chance to compete for the ShowTime grand prize in December; where all monthly winners compete for the ShowTime at the Star Center trophy and 200.00 cash award.  There will be lots of prizes for all who attend; admission is free but you are welcome to drop a can good in our food bank box.  For more information or if you Business who wish to sponsor this event please call pastor George Key 803-480-3963 or email pastor Key atPastorkey@yahoo.com.  Showtime at the Star Center will be held at 206 Ridge Hill Drive, Ridge Spring S.C.

John Kneece: Sunday, February 2nd, Ridge Spring UMC celebrated the Souper Bowl of Caring with a wonderful soup and sides lunch.  Several couples from Spann UMC in Ward joined us for lunch.  Attendees enjoyed five different soups, chicken tenders, pimento cheese sandwiches, cornbread, and an array of delicious desserts. Yum!  Monetary donations and non-perishable foods received that day were all earmarked for the food pantry at The Helpful Hands Community Mission. 

A Gathering of Bells by Joyce Bell Winkler

On Saturday, January 24, 2015, family and friends of the late Arthur and Albina Bell came together in their 60-plus year-old home on the Bell Family Farm in rural Ridge Spring for an afternoon of celebration, remembrances, fun and, of course, good food.  It was truly a wonderful Bell family celebration. This gathering of the descendents of patriarch Arthur and matriarch Albina Bell included three of their nine children living in the area. Their oldest living child, Mary Elizabeth Bell Myles – age 91, son James Arthur Bell – age 81 and the youngest child, Sadie Bell Davis – age 71 were in attendance. In addition, 7 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren, 2 daughters-in-law, 1 son-in-law and other family members and friends were there.  Someone remarked, “It’s wonderful that we can all be together and it isn’t because of a funeral.”

So how and why did this family gathering take place? Well, on January 1, 2015, grandson Graylon Bell sent a “Happy New Year” text message to some of the Bell cousins, saying, “We should get together more often this year.” And with that simple text message, Cousin Joyce Bell Winkler (who is known for planning and directing activities and events at a whim) replied to him and the other cousins, with one question: “How about Saturday, January 24 at 2pm? Bring your favorite dish and we will eat at Grandmom’s house”.  For many years, Grandmom served many wonderful family meals and we wanted to re-live this special memory.

With that said, the wheel was set in motion and everything fell in place. And what a gathering we had! The Bell Family Fellowship was the first time that we have been back in our family home for a gathering such as this since the late 70’s. Our time together provided many hours of laughing, reminiscing of fun times in this home and sharing favorite memories, storytelling, praying, looking at family photos and even playing Bingo.

Because of the special memories shared and good times had, it was agreed that we should do this wonderful event again. Now the plans are being made to hold at least two other “Gatherings of the Bells” later this year. And we are looking forward to our other family members from other parts of the country to join us.

We hope other families in our community will want to have their own “Gathering” without a lot of planning and effort. Ridge Spring is where family values and great memories abound for the Bell family and we encourage other Ridge Springers to celebrate their roots here.  Because “the family” is the foundation of life, and living in the Ridge makes it all the more special.  For us our gathering was truly a Bell ringer.                               

Indoor Farmers Market will be held at Cumbee Place Thursday, February 12 from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.

Calling All Vendors: We are now taking applications for our 2015 Market on the Ridge

Our first annual Market on the Ridge was a huge success and we are now accepting vendors for our 2015 Market. This show is a great way to kick off the spring shopping season and as we saw last year everyone is ready to come out of hibernation. If you are interested in being a vendor contact Noel Steele at Cumbee Place, her number is 803-685-0410. Applications at: market on the ridge.com

 

Josie Rodgers:

It’s a big birthday week for our family!  Annalee and my mom share their birthdays on Feb. 12, and my niece Savannah will turn 15 Feb. 11.  Yes, that means driving!  Buckle up!

RSM High:  Six band members recently participated in the Limestone College Band Clinic Jan. 29-31.  Participating band members were Joshua Ware, Nicholas Jones, Katara Coleman, Tyler Rowe, Andrew Moyer, & DJ Padgett.  The students auditioned for chairs, and Andrew & DJ earned first chair in their bands The students rehearsed mostly college-level music for a day and a half with their bands, and the clinic ended with an outstanding concert by all of the students.

RSM Elem:  RS-M Elem is hosting a Community Learning Night for parents and students on Thurs., Feb. 26, from 5:30-7 pm. We would like to invite your business or organization to be a part of this night. You can choose to have a member set up a table with information about your business/organization in our Exhibit Hall or we can set you up in a classroom for a presentation or hands-on activity. There will be three twenty minute sessions for presentations. We are very excited about connecting parents and students with resources in our community. This is a great opportunity for you to inform parents and students of your business, organization, resources, and/or programs. If you are interested in setting up a table or presenting at our Community Learning Night please contact Denise McCurry at RS-M Elementary by phone (803) 685-2000 or email dmccurry@acpsd.net.  We hope to see you there!

Elem students have completed 784, 041 math problems so far and are well on their way to one million!  They have earned 261,347 stickers. The team of the week is Mrs. Wilson’s 5^th grade class. The player of the week is: Montana Hartley of Ms. Young’s 5^th grade class, earning 240 stickers. The top team for each grade level:  Mrs. Hallman (K5), Mrs. Kerby (1^st), Ms. Shrader (2^nd), Mrs. Matthews (3^rd), Mrs. Najmola (4^th), and Mrs. Wilson (5^th). This competition will help increase fluency with math facts and, therefore, increase our test scores in the spring!

Coke Rewards update:  Thanks to the support of our faculty, students, and families, we were able to earn enough Coke points to get jump ropes and frisbees for students to use at recess.

So far we have raised 6,892 points! Keep sending in those Coke bottle caps to help us earn more equipment!

Reminders:

February 12: Farmers Market at Cumbee place

March 8: Show Time at the Star Center

March 28: Market on the Ridge

May 16: Magnolia Ridge Antique and Art Gathering

Ridge Spring Library hours: Mon/Tues 8:30 am - 12 pm; Wed., 12:30 – 4:30; Thurs 8:30 am - 12:00 pm; Fri 12:30 pm -4:30 pm

Every 2^nd & 4^th Monday:  Kids' Corner Story Time 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Ridge Spring Library. 

Every 2^nd Monday:  RSM Elem PTO meets at 6:30 pm in the media center. 

Every Friday & Saturday:  AARS hours 10 – 4 or by appt, free admission RS NEWS

Every first Tuesday of the Month:  AARS meets at 6:30, 685-5783

Every Wednesday:  AA meets at Recovery Works

Every Monday & Friday:  Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings 7 pm at Recovery Works (enter on Ponderosa Drive; park in Visitor Parking Area)

Every 3^rd Thursday:  FORS at Cumbee Place 5 pm