April 10, 2017

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

Johnston, Ward, and Ridge Spring took quite a hit Wednesday afternoon when the storms hit. Small tree was down on Cone's Meats, several trees were down in yards, a tree fell across a car for sale in the Rehab Treatment Center on Hwy 39, and roofs were damaged.. Trees were down and blocking roads, too. RSM Elementary school had minor damage to a covered walkway, but that was all. Schools are on spring break this week. We were fortunate that  no one was hurt that we know of.  Trees can be replanted and clean up can be done.  But I must admit weather has been cantankerous this year. 

It is the week before Easter.  Let us remember the reason for the celebration.

RIDGE SPRING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH:

The Big Red Box’s non perishable items were delivered to Bethel Baptist Church last week to help with the Back Pack Ministry. Again we thank all those who participated in that.

In April the BRB is all about items for Haiti Hurricane Relief. The church has purchased items for the relief bags but needed are: tarps, no smaller than 8 x 12, clothes for children, women and men and light weight jackets. To understand how RSUMC connects with Haiti please read the below brief paragraph.

In 1970 Joe Cal Watson’s brother asked him to accompany him to Haiti. He was trying to establish an agriculture based ministry and thought Joe would be the perfect person to start it. He was right. They were the first to try anything like this and it continues today. That first attempt spread to building a school, a hospital, a school lunch program. Joe said he was looking at the change on top of  his dresser one evening and thought, how can this become something bigger. Thus, the pennies for school lunch collection started at his church (RSUMC). Over the years thousands of dollars have been sent to Haiti for school lunches (for some the only meal of the day).

On April 19^th from 10:30 until Noon, member of RSUMC will be packing the Haiti Relief bags. Our community is invited to come and help. Stay for an hour, 30 minutes, come by and speak. These along with tarps and clothes will be taken to a storage unit in Leesville then transported by cargo ship to Haiti the first of May.

If you have clothes or purchase tarps, please leave them on the porch of the Family Life Center and a church member will see they make their way to the BRB. Please join us as we provide much needed assistance to our friends in Haiti as they once again try to regain their lives after the last Hurricane.

Art Center in Ridge Spring by Joanne Crouch Great news for AARS members at the Jim Harrison Gallery Fresh Air 2017 Juried Art Show. Ron Buttler won Best of Show, DS Owen won 1st and 2nd place in photography and Gloria Grizzle won 3rd place in photography. The reception was held March 31st in Denmark, SC. Barbara Yon won Honorable Mention for her work “ Summertime Blues” at the 2017 North Augusta Spring Fest. We are currently looking for students for the Monsters to Dinosaurs Handbuilding Pottery workshop on June 12th-16th from 9-12. The week of instruction will be taught by Kim Ruff. Cost is $100 for the week-$80 for the second child from the same family. Reserve spots at the Art Center on Fridays or Saturdays from 10-4. You may also contact Kim Ruff by emailmakerart@aol.com. Check out the work of local artisans for that unique gift for someone special or for yourself. Join our membership meeting on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30. Our hours are10-4 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Off the Beaten Path is excited for the new vendors that have come into our store. There is so much creativity to see. We have neat things for Easter baskets. We have 2 girl and 2 boy Troll Easter baskets full of toys and candy. We also have Troll hooded bath towels for kids as well. Come by for your Easter needs! Open Monday-Tuesday 11-3, Thursday-Saturday 10-5.

The Gables Inn & Gardens is extremely thankful to God for his protection during the tornado last Wednesday.  Robin weathered the storm huddled in the bathroom. We suffered some damage to a couple of trees and to the wrought iron fence but no damage to the house. We have much to do to clean up the yard but we are thankful because it could have been so much more. A HUGH thank you to Richland Springs Baptist Church for helping clean up and remove the large limbs that fell.  Y'all were amazing!

The congregation at Spann United Methodist Church is thankful that the church building was not badly damaged In the storm Wednesday.  A large limb fell from a tree close to the church and broke five window panes. In the church yard two large trees uprooted and five were damaged.  One of these will have to be cut down.  A tree service came Thursday  and cut up the downed trees and cleaned the yard.  They will return to take down a damaged tree. Easter Sunday worship service will be at 9:45.  Spann always has a warm welcome for visitors.

Edgefield Baptist Church invite you join us on April 29 from 4-6pm for Spring Fling 2017. There will be food and games. Everyone is welcome.

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

Jeffry Clamp, RSM Band Director: On Friday, March 31st students from the Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle / High School Band teamed up with students from the A.L. Corbett Middle / Wagener-Salley High School Band to perform in the Carowinds Music Festival.  Although the "Aiken Area 4 Honor Band" was only able to practice together one time the students gave an outstanding performance and received a rating of "Excellent".  The Honor Band was made up of 21 students from each school (for a total of 42 students), and the performers were students in grades 8 - 12.  Selections performed by the honor band were "The Tempest" by Robert W. Smith, "As Tears Fall on Dawn's New Light" by Richard L. Saucedo, and Randall Standridge's "Afterburn".  After the performance the students enjoyed a nice day riding rides and playing games at Carowinds.  

I recently had a big scare with my computer.  On Facebook, I wanted to watch a little flower girl who could not walk down the aisle at a wedding.  So I clicked on the page and BAM I was in a pornography site with a box saying to contact this number to keep all my personal information safe and to get off this site.  Fortunately I know Jason Collins of Collins Computer.  I texted him and his immediate response was "NO!!!! Do not call!!!"  He picked up my computer and saved the day.  If I had called that number I would have been charged about $300 to $400 which is the same thing as blackmail.  It is scary to think people do this for a living.  There was an example of this on "NCIS" just this past week.  At least my "Iphone" was not hacked too as it was on "NCIS".  They all had to revert to flip-phones except Gibbs who already had his own flip-phone.  So does my husband.

I was also helping Joe Cal Watson type something into his computer.  He said asparagus is the reason he has to hunt and peck on the keyboard.  I looked as his fingers to see what was wrong with them when he explained that when Mrs. Milford was teaching typing in school he had to be in the field cutting asparagus.  He missed the classes.

Harriet's Garden Tip:  If  your seedlings need thinning do not pull the extra seedlings out, you must cut them.  Remember hoeing cotton?    You chop off the extra seedlings just like when thinning out cotton plants.  We had an abundant pecan crop this year.  Trees were loaded and squirrels were delighted to plant their harvest.  Remember do not pull up pecan trees, dig them up.  The root is like a foot long and the top is only 2 or 3 inches tall.  If you do not get the root, the pecan tree comes back. PS: Have to brag about my tomato plants.  Whopper, better boy, Cherokee purple, chef orange, Mr. Stripey, and celebrity are ready.  They are around 6 to 10 inches tall with roots coming out the bottom of the 4 1/2 inch pot and are $1.25 each.  

Review from David Marshall James:"The Cat Sitter and the Canary" by Blaize and John Clement

   Pet sitter Dixie Sue Hemingway is up to her ponytail in quadrupeds-- including a rabbit-- and bipeds, of the avian (and deceased) human variety.

   Someone's got it in for Miss Dix in this, her eleventh mystery-novel outing.  And it's not as if she can run very far or hide very well on Siesta Key, off the Gulf Coast from Sarasota, Florida.

   Nevertheless, Dixie's a tough cookie with a tender heart, having worked law enforcement herself before personal tragedy almost folded the traveling tent of her life's journey.

   However, she has re-emerged with a new vocation, one abounding in the unconditional love of bewhiskered quadrupeds.  Then there's her strong support group, the front line consisting of her brother, Michael, and his partner, Paco.

   She's also steadied by a steady beau, so she ought to be the dictionary pic of romantic contentment, but author John Clement, who took over the authorship of this series following the death of his mother, Blaize, appears to be throwing an amorous curve ball at his heroine.

   A love triangle ought to liven and lighten up the proceedings.  All the components of this series-- setting, characters, and premise-- come together like a beach picnic with shady umbrellas and sandless sandwiches.

Magnolia Ridge Antique and Art Gathering will be held on Saturday May 20 from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM.  More about this as we get closer to the date.

REMINDERS

April 15: Saluda Park

April 19: Pack for Haiti at RSU Methodist Church

May 13: Mt Calvary brunch benefit

May 20: Magnolia Ridge Antique and Art Gathering

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