December 4, 2017

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

This week marks another day we all remember.  December 7, 1941 was the day the United States entered World War II as a result of a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor.  Many of us remember it from the movies we have seen and history books read over the years.  Let us learn and move forward into a world with hope and knowing we have a future.

Ridge Spring Town Hall: Ok, we have some of the decorating done as you can see our tree in the Gazebo is very bare. This is because we need you to help us decorate it. We want you to make an ornament, buy one or give one from your collection that represents you, your family, your business, or a loved one. It's up to you. Please make sure you personalize it to make it special and unique. If you don't participate our little tree will not get decorated this year. We can't wait to see how it turns out. Please pass this message along. If you would like take a picture of you and your ornament and post it with #ridgespringchristmas

Shoppes of Ridge Spring will have their Christmas Open House on Saturday December 9, from 10:00 to 4:30 and Sunday Dec. 10, 1:00 to 5:00 with refreshments.  Participants  are Art Gallery, Pat's Antiques, Stuff & Things, Olde Treasures, Off the Beaten Path, Ridge Antiques and Dry Goods, The Nut House, and Haley's .Harriet's Garden will be opened Sunday only.  Join us.

The Arpad Darazs Concert Choir will present it’s Winter Concert “Celebrating 30 Years” At Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church Sunday, December 10 at 4:00 pm.   The community is invited to come and hear their beautiful Christmas music.

The Christmas Tour of Homes will be Sunday December 10 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM.  It is sponsored by the Green Thumb Garden Club and assisted by the Ridge Garden Club.   The homes on tour are the Eidson House at 105 Ward Ave, Ward, and two homes in Ridge Spring.  They are the Horne House at 210 DuBose St. and the Sawyer House at 403 East Main St.  Churches on the tour are Ridge Spring Baptist Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ridge Spring, Spann United Methodist Church in Ward, and Ward Baptist Church at 125 Ward Ave. Ward.  Cake and Hot Mulled Apple Cider will be served at Ward Baptist Church.  Cost of the Ticket will be $10.00 an may be purchase at the door.

Spann Church in Ward will be open for visitors Sunday December 10 from 2:00 until 5:00 during the Garden Club Tour.

Juniper will be closed for Christmas December 21-26th reopening for our regular hours on Thursday the 28th

Ridge Spring had its Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. We all enjoyed the music, the reading of the story by Pastor Kevin Taylor leading in song was Ben Lee with Hannah Garvin and Mattie Price of Cedar Creek Church, and the hot chocolate.  The lights were turned on by the Harvest Festival Chairperson Ann Marie Taylor. The program's climax was the arrival of Santa Claus.   He enjoys coming to the Gazebo in different modes of transportation over the  years. This year he came in by drone. He landed on the other side of the caboose and magically emerged in full form. The children sat on his lap, made their requests and received a candy cane. The event was sponsored by the Ridge Spring Harvest Festival Committee.  The drone was from the Hughes Enterprises.

Security Federal Coming to Ridge Spring

On  Wednesday November 29, Security Federal announced the future opening of their Bank in Ridge Spring.  What perfect weather for such a delightful announcement. Mayor Asbill along with  Sen. Setzler welcomed them and all received applause from the community.  Then we all adjourned to the Ridge Spring Library where corn chowder and sandwiches were served by Chef Brandon Velie of Juniper Restaurant. The following guests spoke on behalf of us all: Roy Lindburg, Frank Thomas, Chris Verenes, Thomas Moore, Timothy Simmons, G.L. Toole, Tony Ateca, Richard Harmon, Dr. Sean Alford,  and Dr. Robert Alexander.

Joe Watson joined the festivities and we were sitting in the back of the library when he told us what the room behind the bank was.  Back in the 1930s people were struggling and a lot did not have running water in their homes.  The back room had showers  for any to use but especially for the haulers of produce.  How nice.

Ridge Spring Auctions began Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM.  They will have auctions on Thursdays at 6:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM.

Don't forget the two new businesses that have opened in Ridge spring, Haley Bee's Boutique opened in the old town hall on Town Square and My Love All Occasion Shop at the Cumbee Place on East Main Street.

Josie Rodgers

The busiest season of the year is upon us.  Looking over my own calendar is daunting.  Every block has at least one activity, many times several, in addition to working all day.  Mental exhaustion begins to creep in when I see this color-coded and neatly scripted page with very little white space to spare.  I have learned, however, that it is my approach to these activities and responsibilities that makes all the difference.  As my students wrote last week, “the problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem” (Captain Jack Sparrow).  My attitude determines how I enter this season.  Exhaustion, negativity, and frustration will cause any event to be a damper on one’s mood.  But when I approach my days with excitement, positivity, and lightheartedness, everything turns into a wonderful experience!  Let’s hope I can keep it up; you try it, too!  And another thing:  let’s eliminate things that cause us too much stress or financial burden.  The season is about celebrating the birth of Christ, not showing off or trying to impress others with our décor, our gifts, and our elaborate gatherings.  Let’s truly get to the very heart of the season. 

RSM High:  The Beta Club, NEHS, and Teacher Cadets are excited to sponsor a holiday event for all children in our community!  “Cookies and Stories with Mrs. Claus” will be held on Thurs., Dec. 7, at 6 pm in the high school cafetorium.  Children will enjoy cookies and milk, crafts, games, and story time with Mrs. Claus and some special elves all for FREE!  For more information, please contact Josie Rodgers. 

Trojan Champs, by Summer Cherry:  RSM Trojan Champs had a lovely thanksgiving feast with their buddies during lunch last Friday. The Champs and their buddies had fun doing a scavenger hunt, visiting, eating, and just celebrating being together before the break.

Summer Cherry, President of NEHS:  American Education Week is a single week in November set aside to commemorate the idea of giving every child in America an education. For many schools, this means honoring the teachers and other faculty members that make this possible.  Under the direction of Mrs. Josie Rodgers, members of RSM High’s NEHS and Beta Club did just that. Members of the two organizations brought in various breakfast items so that the teachers of RSM Mid/High could enjoy a quick yet tasteful breakfast before tackling another day of teaching. The breakfast included items such as casseroles, donuts, pastries, granola bars, and juices.

RSM Elem: RSM Elem Walk/Jog Club:  5th graders are invited to attend the walk/jog club every Friday morning from 7:10 - 7:25 am.  You must have a permission slip signed to participate.  Forms may be found on Coach Bundrick’s web page. The goal of the club is to walk 500 miles along the Palmetto Trail, which is a hiking trail that goes from the mountains of SC to the coast through national and state parks.

Review from David Marshall James:  "The Ghost of Christmas Past" by Rhys Bowen

   She's a Daughter of Erin, sure's her name is Molly Murphy, with a "Sullivan" added for good measure and good luck, courtesy of her husband, Daniel.

   This fresh entry in Rhys Bowen's popular mystery-novel series-- she also produces the delightful Royal Spyness mysteries-- finds Molly on Patchin Place in Greenwich Village, New York City, come Christmas 1906.

   Daniel's profession as an actually-upstanding police detective for graft-ridden Tammany Hall is up in the air.  His mother, out in Westchester County, wishes he would apply for chief of police in White Plains, NY, the better to be near her ailing self, and he's certainly considering that.

   'Tis his Ma who invites Molly, Daniel, their two-year-old son, Liam, and their ward, Bridie O'Connor, out to her country home for Christmas, then one-eighties by accepting a house-party invitation with an old friend at a truly grand manor in a Hudson River village.

   Then, Molly & Family are asked to join the group at said abode, which seems to be burgeoning with more deep, dark secrets than a Bronte Sisters' fantasy.

   Will Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan unveil said secrets of the resident family before the suet sets on the figgy pudding?

   Bowen trims her tale with all manner of period Christmas trappings, including sleigh rides, carol singing, and blazing Yule fires.  The author also flourishes the proceedings with such supporting characters as Sid and Gus, a pair of bohemian suffragists who live across Patchin Place from the Sullivans.

   The Misses Sid and Gus are also up by the Hudson for Christmas, at an informal Vassar College reunion.  Now, let's pay homage to a Vassar cheer of yore, courtesy of one of my high-school French teachers, who could deliver a spirited rendition:

   "Root-a-toot-toot!  Root-a-toot-toot!

   We're the girls from The Institute!

   We don't smoke, and we don't chew,

   And we don't go out with boys who do!"

   Indeed, Bowen espouses many of the suffragists' causes, often through Molly.  We'll cheer for those, especially if we're invited to Sid's and Gus's New Year's Eve Party.  Gotta love bo-ho, ho, ho-hemia!

Harriet's Garden Tips: While working in the flower beds I found a pecan in a bedding plant cup, collected more seeds for next year, enjoyed seeing the paper white narcissus blooming and smelling the damp earth.   After they bloom is when you fertilize these bulbs. Camellias are blooming.  So far frost or freeze has not occurred which damages the blooms.   Note which ones you want cuttings from so in the summer  you can do that.  My old fashion roses  are producing rose hips.  Rose hips are commonly used as a herbal tea, often blended with hibiscus, and an oil is also extracted from the seeds. They can also be used to make jam, jelly, marmalade, and rose hip wine. Rose hip soup, "nyponsoppa", is especially popular in Sweden. Rhodomel, a type of mead, is made with rose hips.  Maybe I should harvest and sell them, but how????  I think I will just enjoy them for now.

REMINDERS

December 9 & 10: Shoppes of RS Christmas Open House

December 10: Christmas Tour of Homes

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; Sat 9-12

Ridge Spring Library Toddler Time Mondays at 10:30

Saluda County Library Hours:  Mon/Wed 8:30 am-5 pm; Tues/Thurs 8:30 am – 6 pm;   Fri 8:30am – 5 pm; Sat closed new fax machine and can send toll free

Narcotics Anonymous Fridays at RS Library at 7:00 PM

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

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

December: No FORS meeting