Super bowl party at the Saluda Center on Sun. Feb. 06. Kick-off at 6:30pm.

Book club mtg. on Mon. Feb. 07 at 2:00pm.
 

Single Women United potluck dinner will be on Thurs. Feb. 10 at 6:00pm.

An art exhibit by students of Polk County High School will be displayed at the Center from  Feb. 12-Mar. 04. All are invited to come by and see the pieces by students from Art 1 to Advanced Art levels in grades 9-12. For more information contact Anne Jameson at 828-749-3101.

Bring your favorite dish and join us for Pot Luck on Thursday, February 24 at 6pm.  

Notice! A Thrifty Barns' basement is looking for household donation items.

A Thrifty Barns' basement is OPEN Wed., 10am-4pm, donations accepted, and basement sales every 1st and 3rd Sat. from 9am-3pm. A Thrifty Barn is OPEN Wed.-Sat.  10am-4pm, donations accepted  on Wed. For more information please call 828-749-3320.

For additional information, please contact Anne Jameson at 828-749-3101.

Fred Baisden, Mayor, thinks the year-long celebration of Saluda's 130th birthday will be a great opportunity for Saluda citizens and visitors to experience first-hand the many attractions that Saluda has to offer. "I hope everyone will take advantage of the various upcoming events that are being planned throughout 2011 and help us celebrate Saluda's 130th birthday. It should be an exciting time for us all," said Fred Baisden.

Trails are in the making on four separate sites soon to be open to the public. We will be building bridges, putting in steps and handrails and in some places making the trails wheel chair friendly.

It's almost time for more kudzu work, and we hope to take on a few more public sites this year. Don't forget Kudzu Kollege meets the last Saturday of each month. To learn more about this, go to kokudzu.com where you will find everything you want to know and then some. It is very educational and worth the trip.

The Community Garden is something you may want to think about joining. You do not have to be a member of SCLT to have a plot. The one thing you must do is be responsible for all maintenance in that plot.

Most of our projects require a lot of physical work. We thank all those who have volunteered in the past. Anyone who would like to come out and join us in any or all of our endeavors is welcome.

If you have a friend or family member who has a birthday coming up remember that a gift of membership is a great idea!

Our next meeting to be held in Saluda will be on February 16, 2011 at 3pm in our office in the fellowship hall of the Presbyterian Church on Carolina Street.

Please call the office 828-749-1560 if you have any questions about joining SCLT or if you would like to volunteer. Just leave a message, and we will get back to you promptly.

 

Visit Saluda School to learn more about the North Carolina A+ Schools Program. 

The Single Women United (SWU) social group of Saluda will be supporting our military men and women from the Saluda area throughout the year. Individual Valentine Cards will be signed to each of our 12 soldiers at the February 10 Pot Luck Dinner, 6pm, at the Saluda Center.

Nancy Johnson, who is in charge of this important project, will also discuss what items our soldiers would really like to receive in packages we want to send throughout the year. Plans are to begin collecting items through the month and package them at the March 10 SWU dinner.

This is a joint community project sponsored by the SWU. Items we now know we want to include are: photographs of events in our area, personal notes, copy of Saluda Lifestyles,  plus items that are approved by the military that can be found at the Give2Troops Website. 

Please continue to send names and addresses of anyone serving from Saluda to Anita Moore at anitaomoore@gmail.com. 

For additional information, please contact Nancy Johnson at 828-749-9664.

By Anita Moore and Judy Ward
 

The Saluda Business Association invites all artists to enter the eighth annual Saluda Arts Festival to be held May 21, 2011 in downtown Saluda.

This is a juried event and applications and instructions can be downloaded at saluda.com.  Click here to download an application and here to download festival map of booth locations. Applications will be accepted until March 15, 2010.  Please contact Susie Welsh for more information or to receive an application.  She can be reached at 828-749-3900 or sswelsh@tds.net.

Sponsorships are available for this year's arts festival.  Sponsors will be recognized in the Tryon Daily Bulletin and Saluda Lifestyles.  Sponsorships are:  Rembrandt-$25, Monet-$50, and Picasso-$100.  Please send your sponsor donations to Saluda Business Association, PO Box 1085, Saluda, NC 28773 or contact cathy@cathyjacksonrealty or 828-817-2876.

I want to publically thank the many volunteers that contributed their time and energy to the Saluda Children's Christmas Workshop in December. This event could not be possible without the folks who care about the arts and children.

Our mission is to give children in Saluda an opportunity to learn how to be creative while giving adults the opportunity to give to the kids of Saluda on a very personal level.

Everyone who participates benefits from this event year after year, and I'm so proud to be able to do this for Saluda. Thanks again, and I look forward to the next Saluda Children's Christmas Workshop. Anyone wanting to find out more about the Workshop can contact Laura at 828-749-4420 or 828-749-4521. We'd love to have you!

A Little Story about Robert Pace...

Nate and I rented the little house next to Robert's Mom's house, across the street from the Methodist Church, from the Pace's for three and a half years. When we first moved in, we paid $165.00 a month. It was a nice house but cosmetically lacking. So I asked Robert if we could paint, lay vinyl on the plywood floor in the kitchen, replace the stove and refrigerator (it was one of those just a little taller than me and rounded on the top)...those kind of things. Over the years he never raised the rent...I guess he was very appreciative of our contributions, and we were appreciative back. It was a wonderful relationship. When my parents bought the old Johnson Farm on Warrior Mountain Road, we remodeled the 130 year old house and told Robert we would be moving. He said us leaving was a double edged sword. He said he was really going to miss us as tenants, but now he could raise the rent to $400 a month since the house looked so good! You got to love him....he was quite a business person. He is sorely missed.  

By Laura Fields 

Initially used in a mental health facility in the 1700's, and then again by the American Red Cross in military convalescent care after World War II, pets as therapeutic partners is a valued approach today in both the physical and psychosocial arenas according to the Animal Health Foundation.

Anyone who has felt a connection with a pet and experienced that unconditional love, understanding, and acceptance knows the value of a pet's companionship. These qualities make animals ideal therapeutic visitors for residents in our facility.

Autumn Care of Saluda is fortunate to have several pet therapy teams that visit the facility on a regular basis.  Marty Odom brings her two therapy dogs Dixie and Rebel to the facility on Mondays, twice a month.

Dr. Chris Patterson, Autumn's attending physician, always brings along Larry on his weekly visits to see residents.  Recently Larry has been joined by Mondo, which can be interesting when one gets more attention than the other!  Dixie, Rebel, Larry and Mondo have all been through therapy dog school and are certified to assist our residents.

"Resident's who used to have pets really enjoy the dogs' visits," Joyce Coggins, Activity Director, said.  "It's amazing to see how people with advanced stages of dementia will respond to them."

All pets brought into the facility must have all their current immunizations, and owners must provide those records to the Activity Department.  "We have a lot of residents who still have pets living with other family members," said Coggins.  "We are happy for them to visit. Other than the records of their shots, we ask them to follow a few simple rules:

• Pets, especially large dogs, should be kept on a leash at all times for the safety of our residents.
• Owners should be aware of residents, staff and visitors who may be afraid of animals.
• The Health Department requires that animals not be in dining areas when food is being served.

Please be sure to clean up after your pet.

Autumn Care of Saluda is a leading provider of rehabilitation and skilled nursing services in the Carolina Foothills.  For more information contact the facility at 828-749-2261, or visit their website at autumncareofsaluda.com.

Seniors Insurance Help Available at Autumn Care

Postmaster, Cindy Keeter would like to remind everyone of the new post office hours.  Please support your local post office and remember that they do issue passports.

US Post Office Store Hours

Mon-Fri 9:00am-1:00pm 3:00pm-4:30pm Sat 9:30am-11:00am Sun closed

Get directions by clicking here  

102 E MAIN ST SALUDA, NC 28773-7812

Projects and activities have been interrupted by the cold, snowy, icy weather.  We will resume as soon as possible.  Watch for emails and announcements.  Call Ruth at 828-749-9718 or Chuck and Judy at cvs@charter.net.

Plan an Italian Vacation with a Saluda Connection

Fourteenth century stone palazzo in the lovely northern medieval town of Vogogna, located in the heart of the Piedmont, where great food, alpine landscapes, and historical landmarks are all close at hand.  The house offers a full kitchen, large living area, 2 regular sized bedrooms, 2 large bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, and everything you need for a wonderful holiday. Available May-September 2011.  2011 rental is $1000 per week.  Contact Cindy Ho at cho@unca.edu.   Pictures on property website palazzocinzia.com.

Many Saluda residents have taken advantage of staying at Cindy and Johnny Ho's palazzo and making this their first trip to Italy.  It's a great opportunity to experience authentic Italy.

Saluda Lifestyles extends its sympathies to the family and friends who have lost loved ones. 
 

Phillip Douglas Anderson, Sr., 84, formerly of Saluda passed away January 22, 2011 in Baltimore, MD.
 

Reading Saluda's history and looking at pictures taken in the early 1900's can take you back in time.  You can imagine hearing the sounds of the train puffing up the grade as it blows its horn pulling into the depot.  Waiting to pick up passengers getting off the train, people have parked their buggies, wagons, and early model Fords along Main Street. While they wait, they are catching up on news and gossip.  Young folks are scurrying around, hoping to pick up a dime or quarter by helping passengers with their baggage.

Back then, there were around 30 to 40 boarding homes and inns to accommodate travelers passing through and those lowlanders looking to escape the sweltering heat of the south.  Farmers would greet the trains to sell fresh produce to visitors and the gathered Saluda residents.

The trains brought the world to this small quaint mountain village, and Saluda businesses and townspeople prospered until WWII.

Saluda will celebrate its 130^th anniversary on February 1.  To commemorate this occasion, a group of Saluda citizens have planned events all through the year.  Everyone is invited to an Open House and Drop In on February 5, 2011 from 11am to 3pm at the Saluda Police Department. Visit City Hall and members from Historic Saluda, along with the commissioners, will describe the restorations needed for the landmark City Hall building. Homemade cookies and apple cider will be served. 

Other events planned this year are:

Saluda School students will make birthday cards and they will be displayed throughout town.

March - Saluda churches will be giving 30 minute presentations on their history.

April - Saluda Community Land Trust will host two nature walks. Dates and times to be announced.

May - Saluda Arts Festival and the Women's Club Low Country Boil will include a salute to Saluda's birthday.

June 4 - Historic Saluda will host Saluda Home Tours. Details and times to be announced.

July 2 - Square Dance at Saluda Mountain Jamboree from 7-10pm.  $5 donation.

July 4 - Birthday cake and pot luck at McCreery Park from 6-8pm.

August - History storytelling at Saluda Center.  "Saluda Art Images" at Saluda Center.

September 10 - Charlie Ward's Memorial Pig Out

October 15 - Antique Car Club. Antique store highlights. 

October 31 - Halloween Stroll and Ole' Timey Dress Up

November - Saluda School Pageant "Saluda's Past," Turkey Dinner by the Methodist Church, and Singing for the Soldiers.  Details and times to be announced.

December 4 - Free Christmas Concert at the Jamboree

December 9 -Hometown Christmas stroll

December 10 - Saluda's first Christmas Parade at 2pm.
 

Look for Donation Trains on display at designated areas in town.  Donations may be made to "Keep the Celebration on Track" and will be used for expenses throughout the year.  Any monies not used will go directly to the renovation of City Hall.

130th T-shirts will be for sale and proceeds will be used to help with the celebration expenses and may go to the renovation of City Hall as well.

You may sponsor the purchase of 130^th Anniversary banners that will be placed on telephone poles on Main Street.  After this year's celebration you may keep this commemorative banner.  Please see a member of the 130th Committee for details.  (Members include: Charlene Pace, Judy Ward, Linda Whitaker, Eva McCray, Walter Hoover, Nora Parks Anderson, Terry Baisden, Catherine Ross, Greaton Sellers, Caroline Farris.)
 

Saluda invites you to celebrate with us.

If you have memories of Saluda, old or new, that you would like to tell and publish in Saluda Lifestyles please email them to cathy@cathyjacksonrealty.com or send to ''Memories of Saluda," PO Box 742, Saluda, NC 28773.

Want a copy of the above picture of Saluda? They are for sale for $25 at the Saluda Medical Center.  Give them a call at 828-749-4411 or email at

Saluda Faces recognizes Saluda citizens who you may see often and wonder who they are, what they do, and why they live in Saluda.

A common sight parked on Main Street is a blue tractor belonging to Charlie Fears.  Sometimes it has a snow plow attached, ready for a call to help clear a driveway or parking lot.  Charlie says he can't count the number of times he and his tractor have been photographed.  People have even asked to let their children sit in his lap for a photo.

Charlie is sitting in Ward's Grill having a cheeseburger with a slice of tomato and mayonnaise-no lettuce. His face is tanned and weathered by all the time he spends riding his tractor and working outdoors.  He greets other regulars who enter the grill with a nod of his head.

Although Charlie is retired now, he continues to do some lawn service and snow plowing for Saludians.  Charlie worked in construction, building interstate systems in North Carolina.  He was working on the construction of I-26 in the late 60's when he first discovered Saluda. He met a girl, got married, had three children, and never left Saluda.

With a somber look on his face, he expresses how much he misses Charlie Ward.  When Charlie Ward wasn't able, he would come down every morning and help him put out the produce in front of the store.  Charlie thinks that one of the best things about living in Saluda is the people.  One of his favorite things to do in Saluda is "bench sitting" on Main Street with his friends, watching people go by and just taking in Saluda.  He wouldn't live anywhere else.

Next time you see Charlie driving down the road on his tractor, give him a wave.  He will always wave back!

The Board of Directors of Macon Bancorp has unanimously adopted a plan to convert the Company to stock ownership by offering shares of common stock to eligible depositors, as of December 31, 2009, of Macon Bank, its subsidiary; to other depositors opening accounts after December 31, 2009; to the Bank's borrowers; to residents of the communities the Bank serves; and to the general public. The eligible depositors, other depositors and borrowers of the Bank will have subscription rights (in that order of priority) superior to non-customer residents of the Bank's communities and the general public. It is currently anticipated that Macon Bancorp's offering of stock will commence in April, 2011.

The purpose of the conversion is to raise additional capital to be invested in the Bank. This will allow the Bank to enhance the services it provides to its customers, have greater flexibility in structuring its operations, support future growth in the Bank's communities, and consider expanding its operations into new markets.

The consummation of the conversion is subject to:

· approval of the plan by the members of Macon Bancorp by a majority vote;

· receipt of all required regulatory approvals;

· receipt of favorable tax opinions; and

· receipt and acceptance of subscriptions for shares of common stock with an aggregate purchase price within a range of the value of Macon Bancorp on an as converted basis to be established by an independent appraisal.

The conversion will not affect the Bank's relationships with its customers.  Depositors will continue to hold accounts in the Bank, insured by the FDIC to the full extent legally permissible, in the same amounts and with the same rates of return and general terms. The amounts, rates, maturities, collateral terms and other provisions of the loans of the Bank to its borrowers will continue unchanged. The Bank's normal business operations will continue without interruption under its current policies and will be carried on in its existing offices by its present management and staff.

A proxy and prospectus will be sent to each member of Macon Bancorp as of a record date to be established for a special meeting of members to vote on the plan.  Those documents will explain the plan and the proposed conversion in detail.

Macon Bank, Inc. is a North Carolina-chartered, locally-owned and operated financial institution that focuses on full-service banking, including small business customers. The bank operates eleven offices in Western North Carolina. On December 31,2010, the bank reported $1.012 billion in assets and 179 employees.

This notice of the proposed conversion of Macon Bancorp to stock ownership is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of common stock. Any offer will be made only by the prospectus to be distributed at a later time. The securities to be offered by Macon Bancorp will not be deposits or accounts of Macon Bank and will not be insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

Angie Blackwell, Saluda's branch manager of Macon Bank says, "we are excited about this opportunity for Macon Bank, our employees, and our community."

The latest news and the unusual offerings provided by Saluda shops, restaurants, artists, and craftspeople

After a busy holiday season, many shops and businesses will keep winter hours in January and February.

Historic Thompson's Store is Open!  Judy Ward and Jeff Southworth say "come on in" and shop.

We have fresh produce, assorted beer and wine and a Grand Variety of Meats and Cheeses.  Jeff has purchased some special items for the Market that everyone will enjoy.  We will be open during the winter months Monday - Thursday 8:00 to 6:00 and Friday and Saturday till 7:00.  We will have a cup of coffee to purchase after 3:00 in the store.  Please come and look around. We have a special suggestion tray and we want everyone to tell us "what you would like us to have in the store."  We look forward to seeing and serving the community. Thanks to all for being so patient and to Roy Eargle and his men for a job well done.

If you missed our 26th anniversary sale in January because of the weather, don't despair. Take advantage of our February reductions. We have two racks of pottery and one case of jewelry that are greatly reduced and will be discontinued in order to bring in new artists for your 2011 viewing pleasure. We go to the Buyers Market of American Craft in February and will be ordering the best of American handcrafts for an exciting and revitalizing year in Saluda.

Collectors take note:  Sequoia Miller, one of our favorites, has gone back to school and will no longer be producing the wonderful pots we have loved for so long. What we have left will be 25% off starting Feb. 1.

And welcome back to Thompson's Store!

Visit Heartwood  Gallery on their website and join them on 

Green River BBQ wants you to know that they are heating up cold winter days in Saluda with their Daily Specials:

Tuesday: small pork BBQ sandwich with slaw and a drink $4.99 - Wednesday:beef brisket on onion roll with homemade horseradish sauce and drink $5.99 - Thursday:bacon burger, fries and drink $4.99 - Friday: cup of soup or chili with 1/2 turkey salad sandwich and drink $4.99.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday's all appetizers are $5.99.

All day, everyday: A Pint of Narragansett Lager $1.50!

Contact them at 828-749-9892 for take out orders or visit them at Green River BBQ.  Visit their Facebook page to get extra daily coupons!

Curtis Wright Outfitters invites you to sign up for a full day float trip any time between now and March 1 and get a $50 discount off the price of the trip.  For more information, please call 828-749-3444 or visit their website.

Wildflour Bake Shop
is ready for Valentine's Day with
Daily lunch specials: Home-made soups, sandwiches on fresh baked breads, from-scratch pastries and much more.
 Thursday - Bean Bowl
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Chicken Pot Pie
Sunday - Brunch special

 Wildflour Bake Shop Hours 

Thursday and Friday- 8am to 4pm
Saturday - 8am to 3pm
Sunday - 9am to 2pm
 
 Check us out online at wildflourbakerync.com and on for daily specials or the good ol' fashion way...828-749-3356.

 

Fresh Cut Flowers
Don't forget that Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and a great all-time romantic gift is flowers.  You can order custom-designed,  fresh cut flowers now from Amy Beeson at Biddie's Antiques. Give her a call at 828-749-9254.

 

 

As of November 1, the Orchard Inn is under new ownership, and Marianne and Marc Blazar plan to have their restaurant open to the public every Friday and Saturday nights, or whenever they have parties of six or more. They are continuing the tradition of fine dining in their elegant mountain setting and have added some nightly Viennese specialties to the normal four course menu. Marianne and Marc first met 33 years ago while both operating charter yachts in the Virgin Islands and have been perfecting the art of hospitality and creative healthful cuisine ever since.
 

 

For the past 20 years, the Blazar's have traveled the world as corporate event photographers staying in some of the finest hotels, paying great attention to all aspects of five star service to prepare themselves for their next profession. They spent three years crisscrossing the US in search of the perfect B&B to purchase, and when they arrived in Saluda to visit the Orchard Inn, they knew immediately their quest was over. Join the new Innkeepers for Valentine's Day and receive a complimentary glass of Champagne with dinner and/or one of their special romance packages when you spend a night or two at the Inn.

 

Contact the Orchard Inn at (800) 581-3800 or (828) 749-5471 or email to innkeeper@orchardinn.com. Visit them at Orchard Inn.

 

Saluda Grade Café is having its 2^nd Annual Football Celebration on February 6!  They will have the Big Game on more than one television, and there will be loads of yummy food, too!  No cover charge but plenty of ice cold beverage and spicy hot wings! Call us for more info or email us for a copy of the menu!  saludagrade@hotmail.com

Saluda Grade Café is now also taking reservations for Valentines Weekend!  We have special menus for all weekend...Friday thru Monday!  Last year's Valentines Weekend was so romantic and incredible (you should see how romantic candlelight and snow make the restaurant!) that we decided to expand it and Open on Monday evening for Dinner too!  There will be a Special Dessert Menu all weekend!  Yummy Molten Lava Cakes, Chocolate filled Cream Puffs dipped in Dark Chocolate, Champagne with Fresh Raspberries, Strawberries with Zabaglione, and so very much more!  Make reservations now to treat your loved ones!  Last year, we even had several large parties of friends getting together just to celebrate! (They treated each other to Champagne and Raspberries and the Chef added in some Chocolate dipped Strawberries!)  Valentine's Day is for everyone...Married, Dating, Single, Mom, Dad, Son or Daughter, Best Friend or Coworker!  On Monday night each couple will receive a special Valentine's Surprise!  Book your reservations now!  Call 828-749-5854 or email saludagrade@hotmail.com. Visit our website at saludagradecafe.com.
 
 

Good news from Salamander!  That incredible, buttery, fresh almond brittle (not too sweet, not too brittle) that we sold out of before Christmas -- it's back in time for Valentine's Day.  It will be available starting February 4, along with some super jewelry specials.  Salamander opens daily at 11 -- closed Sunday and Wednesday.  Located at 7 West Main, Saluda.  828-749-3466.

 

The Old Chicken House

Due to the severe winter weather, the Old Chicken House is closed for the season.  We will re-open in the spring, the date to be announced.  Looking forward to seeing you then.  828-749-9718.

 

Warrior Mountain Produce. If you haven't noticed, there's a new produce company opened on Highway 176 across from Tickle's Family Health Center.  They are offering fresh fruits and vegetables and opened Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday's.  For more information, please contact them at 828-749-9853 or 828-595-1400.
 

"Pottery Lottery"

This column features David Parris, his wheel thrown pottery, and a lottery you can enter to win some of his pottery. 

David Parris  Saluda has been home to David since he was a baby.  When he brought the pottery for the lottery to our house, he talked about the history of our neighbors since he had known their families for a long time.

David always enjoyed working with his hands and had been doing woodcarving for several years until several shoulder surgeries made that impossible. He then attended Tryon Arts and Crafts. He discovered he could use the woodcarving tools to carve details in the clay. He's planning to have a wood fired kiln finished this spring which will provide him more opportunities for creativity.

Throwing pottery

For anyone interested in learning to work with clay, he suggests you find a class at your local community college or clay center and see if it is something you would like to pursue.  Clay can lend itself to any age group.  Younger children can do hand building to make things from clay. Pre-teens and teenagers can also learn to throw clay on the wheel or do more advanced hand building just like adults.

Locally, classes for adults are offered at Blue Ridge Community College and at the Odyssey Center in Asheville, as well as Tryon Arts and Crafts.  There are also potters who offer classes in hand building, wheel throwing and special classes for children. These classes are offered during the day and in the evenings.

Supplies can be bought in our area from Highwater Clay in Asheville and King Clay near Spartanburg.

There are several processes you have to do when making pottery.  First, you make the piece you want from the clay.  If it is a cup or pitcher or something that needs a handle, you have to let the piece dry overnight and put a handle on it the next day. For bowls or plates, you let it dry overnight and trim the base of the piece the next day to remove any excess clay and to make a foot on the piece if it's required.

After the piece is made, it should be set aside for several days or weeks to let it dry.  David fires his work twice, but some potters do not. The first firing, or bisque fire, helps prevent breakage while you are handling it.  Then the bottoms of the pots are waxed which makes cleaning them easier. After the pots are glazed, they are loaded in the kiln and fired to maturity. Be sure you fire to the correct temperature and that you or someone you are working with knows the details about using the kiln

 Pottery Lottery

This describes how to enter the pottery lottery.

1. Call Beverly or Carey Pickard at 828-749-1248 after you receive Saluda Lifestyles and no later than February 14 to have your name on the list.

2.  If you leave a message, please leave your name and phone number.

3.  Beverly will call the winner about a week before the March Saluda Lifestyles comes out.

4.    The winner will be announced in the March Saluda Lifestyles.

Thanks to Delores Parris for helping write this column.  Thanks to David Parris for sharing his experience and knowledge and for donating his pottery for our lottery!

Next month's Art Clues

Is

"How to Begin Being an Artist"

Featuring Hope Pace

Beverly Bowden Pickard

www.beverlysart.com

828-749-1248

bbpickard@charter.net

Family therapist, Chuck Hall will be back each month to give wise advice and sensible answers.

Q: We've been married for seven years. How do we rekindle the romance in our marriage?

A: Marital relationships, like all other relationships, go through seasons of ebb and flow. To use your analogy of 'rekindling,' when a romance is new, it's like a brightly burning flame. Eventually that fire dies down. It may even go out completely. But if there's enough 'fuel' for the fire, you have glowing embers that can burn for a lifetime. Don't be discouraged if your relationship has taken on a different quality now that you've both settled into your married roles. Instead, think of ways to 'add fuel' to the fire.

Remember all the things you did when the relationship was new. Did you date frequently? Leave little love notes for each other? Send cards and flowers? Do things for each other? Are you still doing that?

Find some time at least once a week to 'date' each other again. You don't have to go out and spend a lot of money. You can just stay at home and have dinner together. Drop the kids off at a sitter's. Take the phone off the hook. Eliminate all distractions so that you are letting each other know that this time is yours and yours alone, for each other. Then sit down and talk about all the things that attracted you to each other in the first place. For this 'date' time, let your mate know that he/she is the only person in the world. Live in the moment with each other.

You may also think about how you talk to your spouse, and how you interact. Would the way you approach your mate be something you'd welcome from him or her? Would you want to spend time with you? Be honest with yourself. If you find that there are some things within yourself that you might like to work on, then get busy making those changes. You may be surprised at the results!

Charlton Hall, MMFT, LMFT is a Family Therapist in Saluda, NC. If you have a problem or a question, please email him at: cbhall@saludacounseling.com or visit www.saludacounseling.com.

Tucked away in various places in Saluda are many wonderful trees.  Some of our trees are "natives," and others are "interlopers," planted long ago by persons long forgotten.  All, however, are part of the natural  legacy to be appreciated today by all of us, whether native or interloper.

Among the many trees that make Saluda such a green haven, there are six that you might wish to take a look at if you have the time and interest.  If you do so, you might ponder the lives of those who have made their contribution to our natural heritage, and at the same time, you may wish to begin to think about what your contribution to that legacy might be.

The six trees that will be mentioned are just a sample of Saluda's landmark trees.  Among the several Pacolet Area Conservancy registered trees at Ivy Terrace on Main Street are two special specimens which can be seen from the city sidewalk.  With your back to the school and facing Ivy Terrace, you will see to the right a California Incense cedar  (Calocedrus decurrens California).  On the left of the entry, you will see a China fir  (Cunninghamia lanceolata).  Both of these trees date from the early days of Ivy Terrace when Captain W. G. Hinson of Charleston built this structure in 1890 for his family.
 

A second location that is particularly well endowed with noteworthy specimens is the area around the Church of the Transfiguration which has a number of PAC registered trees.  Three of special note, include the Dawn redwood  (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), a Norway spruce  (Pices abies),  and a Red maple  (Acer rubrum)  in the lower church yard.  Another noteworthy tree in this area can be seen across the driveway whichthe church shares with Charles Street Garden.  There you will see the largest of the Chestnut oaks  (Quercus prinus)  registered with PAC.

As a footnote, floating around Saluda there is a panoramic photograph of Saluda taken from Smith Hill at the end of the nineteenth century or the very beginning of the twentieth century.  As far as the eye can see, what is now Saluda had been clear cut, and only a few mature trees remained here and there.  As the lumber companies left, real estate developers arrived and parcels were sold to folks hungry for land on which to build a summer getaway.  Saluda rapidly came into its own and nature healed its wounds.

Again, what will be the legacy for Saluda's future generations: a landscape sterile, predictable, and devoid of magnificent specimen trees or one rich in all of nature's variety?

Submitted by Walter Hoover, an interloper

Charles Street Garden

www.charlesstreetgarden.com

As we celebrate Saluda's 130^th anniversary, plans are to showcase the photographic historical display board which is located in the City Commissioners' Chambers in the library. We are fortunate to have these images to show us what Saluda looked like during its infancy. Many of these photographs were taken by a man named Otho Brownlow Garren, or OB as most knew him. OB and his brother, Jethro Garren, were responsible for most of the early photographs taken around Saluda. One of the photographs in the display is actually a picture of OB and Jethro's shop. Not only was OB a well known photographer, but he was also a carpenter who constructed many of the fine old homes in Saluda. A lesser known fact is that OB Garren was also a politician and one of Saluda's first mayors.  Read more...
 

Saluda turns 130 years old this month! What better way to celebrate than by donating to the Historic Saluda Oral History Project? Please consider your role in helping to preserve the heritage of our great little town. The history and the stories are rich and unique, and I am sure you understand the value in preserving them for future generations. Because stories were shared with me by my family from Saluda, I have grown up feeling a sense of fascination about our unique town and its people. Since starting the oral history project, I have become even more captivated. There are just so many stories to tell! Please click here for a donation form and here for more information. In honor of the anniversary celebration, if you donate any amount to the project, your name will appear in the film credits!

Want to be a star? Be sure and come by City Hall on Saturday, February 5, as we kick off the anniversary celebration. I will be there with my video camera doing impromptu interviews. I need you to come by and tell me why you feel Saluda is so special. You just might be included in the DVD!

Curious? Click here to see a preview! Saluda Oral History Project

Make checks payable to:

City of Saluda

c/o Oral History Project

PO Box 248

Saluda, NC 28773

All donations are tax deductible

Submitted by:

Cindy Stephenson Tuttle

cindystuttle@gmail.com

Co-Chair, Historic Saluda Committee

Chair, Oral History Committee

By Frank Middleton, a Saluda native

When I was growing up in Saluda, most of the young males had part- time jobs. All of the service stations (5) and grocery stores (3) employed one or more of the local teenagers. During summer months, the part time residents would need lawns mowed, windows washed, leaves raked and many other small odd jobs. Any and all of us who wanted spare work could find it.

I started out doing odd jobs for my father for extra money. He took care of a number of the seasonal homes and would have plenty of work available while getting them ready for summer occupancy.  Mowing, raking, trimming, painting, and house cleaning--you name it and I did it.

At about the age of 10, I got this long range goal in mind.  I decided that I was going to buy a car when I reached sixteen and could get a driver's license. At that time, the post office had a savings program. I went to Mr. "Bill" Egerton, the postmaster and opened a postal savings account. As best as I can remember, you could deposit small amounts, which was all I had. Every pay day I would put some of my money aside for savings. When I had enough for a deposit, I would proudly hand it over with the request that it be added to my account. I can't remember but I believe the interest earned was very small and made little or no difference for all the years I saved. It was just a convenient and easy way to hide some of my money, out of reach, until the magic age and time came around. During those years, Saluda didn't have a bank. The nearest was in Hendersonville or Tryon, both too far away for my use.  Read the rest of the story...
 

As a kid growing up in Saluda the very worst job I remember was that of hand milking a cow - twice a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Owning a milker meant you never got a day off, you dared not get sick, and no matter the weather, milking for me was a twice daily job.  Period.

Betsy was her name and our intimate relationship started when I was 8 years old and continued until the age of 14.  During the school year, I had to crawl out of bed well before daylight, get dressed and head down to our barn with a flashlight,a metal milk bucket half filled with warm water and old wash rags in hand. The cleaning supplies were in anticipation of having a dirty cow with whom to deal. Even when her stall was lined with layers of fresh leaves or pine straw, my cow seemed to always know exactly where to lie down so that her udder would rest in the freshest pile of her own mess. Unfortunately, in the cold winter months her teats would split open so the pain of squeezing made milking very difficult. Quite often she would kick the bucket over or stick a filthy hoof down into it, requiring me to head back to the house so my mama could clean and sterilize the bucket once again.
 

When those events occurred, a job normally taking a half hour turned into one lasting a full hour or more. I learned that by pressing my head against her side between the belly and hind leg I could reduce her amount of kicking. After completing the milking ordeal, I would apply a generous amount of Rosebud Salve to help with the healing process since I knew that the same chore had to be repeated that evening. The downside to pressing my head against the cow was that I usually went to school smelling like her.
 

Upon completion of the milking, my mama would strain the raw milk through clean flour sacks into glass quart milk bottles and then insert cardboard stoppers into the tops. There was no such thing as pasteurizing back then. Because we had excess milk, I carried the freshly filled bottles to regular customers on the way to school. Then in the afternoons, I would backtrack and pick up any empties to take home for the next day's deliveries. 
 

The money I earned was first used to pay for cow feed.  Then, any amount left over was mine to spend as I saw fit.

By Clark Thompson