Robert Pace

 1923-2010

Saluda United Methodist Church is having a Rummage & Bake Sale on Saturday, October 8, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  Enter through the back door to find dishes, books, clothing, etc.--just what you're looking for!  The proceeds from the sale will benefit the church's building fund!

Students from Dale McEntire's afternoon class at Isothermal Community College will have their work on display from October 3 through October 28. A reception for the artists will be on Thursday, October 6 from 5-6:30 pm. All are welcome to attend.

Line dance each Monday at 12:30pm.

Book club meeting on Monday, October 3 at 2:00pm.

Single Women United potluck dinner will be on Thursday, October 20 at 6:00pm.

Community potluck with Sonya Monts and Company will be on Thursday, October 27 at 6:00 pm. Please bring your favorite dish and enjoy a night with friends. This will be the last potluck of the year.

Bridge every Tuesday from 10am-2pm.

Please refer to the Saluda Center calendar for all regularly scheduled activities.

There is no membership fee.

If you would like to receive the Saluda Center calendar via email, please contact

Donna at saludacenter@hotmail.com to be added to our email list.

A Thrifty Barn's 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. Please call 749-3320 for more information.

"Main Street Snow" by Beverly Pickard
Visions of Saluda

A 130^th Birthday Celebration

Special Event

A Saluda Art Exhibit by

 Local Artists

October 28 & 29, 2011 from 11:00am-7pm

Upper Floor of Historic Thompson's Store/Ward's Grill

24 Greenville, St. Saluda, NC 

All work will be for sale and each artist will donate part of their proceeds to the 130^th Birthday Celebration fundraising campaign to benefit the restoration of City Hall.

Grand Opening Reception Friday, October 28 at 5pm to celebrate the opening of the Upper Floor of Historic Thompson's Store/Ward's Grill.

Free admission.  Easy access with elevator. Sales are cash or checks, no credit cards. 

Please join us and support your local

 art community!

Exhibit organized by the 130^th Birthday Celebration committee. For more information, please contact Terry Baisden at 828-749-3789 or email Catherine Ross at carnc@charter.net. 

The "Charlie Ward Memorial Pig Out" was a great success.  The day was beautiful and the community of friends was wonderful.  I would like to thank all the friends that volunteer to serve, the music from Jeff Hayes Band, and especially a huge thank you to Fred and Terry Baisden.  Charlie would be pleased to know that everyone supported the event that we all look forward to each year.  We are all so fortunate to live in this special community of Saluda. 

Judy Ward

The Polk County Board of Elections can accept written requests to receive an absentee ballot now, but the ballots won't be sent out until 10/07/2011. This ends on 11/01/2011.

Deadline to register to vote is 10/14/2011 for the municipal elections.

One Stop Voting One (you can register and vote at the same time) begins 10/20/2011 and ends 11/05/2011. The only site is in the Columbus office (Womack Building) for all 3 towns/cities - Saluda, Columbus or Tryon.

Absentee by mail paper ballots must be back in the Columbus office by

5 p.m. on 11/06/2011 to be counted.

Municipal Elections will be held from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on 11/08/2011 in Saluda, Columbus and Tryon.

For more information call Karen Lawrence at the Polk County Board of Elections, 828-894-8181, or e-mail her at karengumdrop@inbox.com.

 "Art in the Afternoon"

The Saluda Center invites you to their monthly art exhibition.  This month, we will feature the afternoon class of Dale McEntire.  The talented artists in this class are local and have shown at the Center before with great reviews!  Their reviews of the reception were, also, very enthusiastic!  This show features scenes of the area and a variety of other subjects.  The media is also quite diverse.

To meet and greet these artists, please join us for a reception honoring them on Thursday, October 6, 2011, from 5-6:30 p.m.  

The Saluda Center is located at 64 Greenville Street, Saluda, NC.  Please contact Mary Lu Price at 828-749-3455 for more information. 

 Autumn Care of Saluda has been chosen as one of three facilities in North Carolina to receive a Long-Term Enhancement Grant from the North Carolina Coalition for Long-Term Care Enhancement and the Division of Health Service Recognition for 2011. The facility plans to use the $14,900 in grant funds to renovate its outdoor courtyard space.

"We are extremely honored to have been selected for this opportunity," said Administrator Glenn Pierce. "The funding will allow us to take an under-utilized space and develop it into a multipurpose, safe outdoor environment for our residents."  According to Activities Coordinator Joyce Coggins, the project fills an important need at the facility.  "The renovation will add a number of new opportunities and features, including a 'wandering' path for residents with dementia, new 'social areas' for family and friends to visit, a water feature and various sensory garden features for the residents," Coggins said.

Frances Pace looks on as workers begin pouring concrete for one of the new patios.

The renovated area will also enhance the facility's Rehab Department.  "We are designing a special 'rehab sidewalk' as part of the project," Matilda Patrick, Rehab Manger said.  "There will be a section of sidewalk that will have all types of surfaces, useful in helping residents make a successful transition back home."

According to Pierce, Autumn Corporation is also providing funding for the project.  "Autumn Corporation is matching the state grant, allowing us to add patio covers and new outdoor furniture to the space," he said.  "With our temporate climate, we see the courtyard being used eight to nine months of the year."

The competitive grant process took over a year of preparation, Pierce said.  "We had a grant planning committee composed of residents, staff, families and community members.  We are especially thankful for our neighbor Pat Waring who helped bring the many concepts to fruition."  Waring is a landscape consultant who lives across the street from Autumn Care. John Hines with New Image Water Features in Campobello, SC, is the general contractor for the project.

Autumn Care of Saluda is a 99-bed Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center serving Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina.  For more information call 828-749-2261 or visit their website at autumncareofsaluda.com.

Oral History Project

First and foremost, our priority is to continue to capture the stories. To keep on track, interviews have started again. For the immediate future, you may see these interviews on our up and coming website in a mixture of formats including video, pictures and audio. We hope to have the site up by Christmas. A second DVD will be something you can look forward to in the more distant future. In the meantime, if you wish to purchase the first and highly acclaimed DVD, Home, Hearth and History: Stories of Old Saluda (for just $20), you can find it at the following locations: Saluda City Hall, Cathy Jackson Realty, The Purple Onion, Heartwood Gallery, Duck Alley, Green River Adventures, Manna Cabana, Polk Fresh Market, Saluda Public Library, Saluda Inn and Wine Cellar, the Oaks, Orchard Inn, Pace's Store and Historic Thompson's Store. You can also purchase it on-line at www.saludalifestyles.com.

If you have someone in mind that has an interesting story to tell about the old days in Saluda, email Cindy Tuttle with the Historic Saluda Oral History Committee at cindystuttle@gmail.com.

Historic Preservation Tip of the Month

Get to know the North Carolina State Preservation Office. What do they do? Click here. Have you wondered what the National Register means for the private property owner? Here is what the NC State Preservation Office says:

The listing of a property in the National Register places no obligation or restriction on a private owner using private resources to maintain or alter the property. Over the years, various federal incentives have been introduced to assist private preservation initiatives. A private owner of a National Register property becomes obligated to follow federal preservation standards only if federal funding or licensing is used in work on the property, or if the owner seeks and receives a special benefit that derives from National Register designation, such as a grant or a tax credit described here. To learn more about the National Register of Historic Places  - click here.

Meetings

• The Historic Saluda Oral History Committee is scheduled to meet on Friday, October 14, 2011, at 12:30 p.m. and will meet at the Saluda Public Library. The public is invited to attend.
• The Historic Saluda Committee is scheduled to meet on Friday, October 14, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. and will meet at the Saluda Public Library. The public is invited to attend.

Cindy S. Tuttle, Chair

Historic Saluda Oral History Committee

As we approach our beautiful fall season when mountain sides turn to red and gold, we must remember the gifts our trees bring us in all seasons.  We shall renew our dedication to protecting and preserving our trees, not only in our lifetime, but in those of future generations. When we lose trees through age, disease or storms, we shall plan trees to replace those we lost.   We're thankful for our green community.

For information on the Preservation Association, please call Ruth at 828-749-9718 or Judy and Chuck at email JTS1@charter.net.

Thank you,

Ruth Anderson

The Saluda Community Land Trust is happy to report the progress we are making on the "Bradley Nature Preserve," with the support of the Polk County Community Foundation.  PCCF has granted us funds to purchase nine acres, The "Bradley Nature Preserve," is to be enjoyed by the Saluda Community and to be protected in perpetuity.  The majority of this natural space will remain in its natural state with a lovely protected greenway meandering through the woods. The Bradley nature Preserve is located behind Main Street with access near the intersection of Esseola and Howard Gap Road.

This project was approved by the Polk County Community Foundation this past spring and has specific provisions to sell two and ½ acre lots to raise matching funds to purchase the property from current landowners.  The new owners of the two and ½ acre lots have the option to build affordable green homes conforming to certain green design and construction requirements.  Our goal is to have this important project, the "Bradley Nature Preserve," completed and ready for Saluda residents to enjoy by early 2012.

Most recently, the property has been surveyed and options were placed on the two lots within days of the "For Sale" signs being posted.  This greenway project, also known as "The Lazy Girl Loop," insures that there will be open greenways for walking in a natural setting (as compared with the potential of a housing development that could have had as many as 40+ houses). 

We look forward to sharing additional updates as the "Bradley Nature Preserve" and its greenway near completion.  So, keep your walking shoes ready for getting outside and walking this trail system! 

In September, we had another outstanding Adopt-a-Highway clean up day on route 176. We were a very small group of road warriors, but it was a beautiful day and we got the job done. Want to join us next time? We plan on doing our next quarterly clean up November 28^th with rain date of December 12^th. Meet at the library parking lot at 9am, and we will split into two teams to get the job done. Come join us. It is rather fun!

The Saluda Community Garden members will meet on October 11^th at 6pm. We will work in the garden 6-7pm followed by a covered dish supper at the Pavilion in McCreery Park. What a great way to end the day with fellow gardeners!

The Saluda Kudzu Swat team is working diligently throughout Saluda using all sorts of methods to control the evil beast. Weather permitting, we meet each Thursday at the Hall house (sometimes known as the "Not For Sale" house) from 9am to 11am to decrown and cut kudzu from trees. You are welcome to join us. Do you know where this site is? Seminary Street, across from the Saluda School bus pickup parking lot. We appreciate all the positive feedback that we have had toward efforts to control this invasive species.

Know what the trick is to kudzu? DO NOT be intimidated by it! It's a plant that has learned how to survive and take over, but it can only do this if you give it permission. There are so many things that you can do to let it know it has got to go! If you have any questions or want advice, maybe you need a little help, call us. We will be glad to assessyour kudzu problem, and if need be, we may be able to help you get started.

Are you interested in going on a hike? SCLT schedules hikes each month on the first and third Sunday, weather permitting. We meet at the library parking lot at 2pm. For more information, please contact Nancy Barnett at 749-4661 or Chuck Hearon at 749-9886.

Our next scheduled board meeting will be October 5th at the Pavilion at 3pm. There is only one scheduled meeting for October. Starting in November and throughout the winter, we will be meeting on the first and third Wednesday of the month in our office located above the Presbyterian Church fellowship hall. Our meetings are open to the public.

Does your dog play well with others? SCLT, in partnership with the City of Saluda and the Saluda Dog Society, has opened a dog park located on Chestnut Street. If your dog wants to RUN FREE and socialize, this is the place to do it! A lot of time and energy has been given to this project. Please feel free to use it, and if you need further information, contact Dave Prudhomme at 749-9172.

We are always in need of volunteers and new members. You can volunteer for a specific project as your time permits. Membership is our sole resource of daily maintenance for our organization. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3), so any donation is tax deductible.

Please feel free to contact us about any of our projects by calling our office at 828-749-1560 and leave a message, and we will get back to you promptly. Also be sure to check out our updated website saludaclt.org. 

Our September meeting was wonderful! We toured the Bullington Center in Hendersonville. The director, John Murphy, gave us a tour of the center's plants, gardens and greenhouse and explained the history of the Center. For more information about the Bullington Center, call 828-698-6104.

Our next meeting will be Monday, October 17 at 10 am. We are going to the North Carolina Arboretum. The public is welcome to join us.

We continue to care for the garden at Spring Park. We each have a love and fellowship with this special place and invite you to walk through the garden and enjoy this beautiful historic site. Even during the upcoming fall season, you will be able to see native plants thriving. Remember to be gentle; leave every plant where it is in this lovely spot. Every rock has a purpose, and each step is a reminder of times when people came here to be refreshed and share a tale of their travels.

Fall is the perfect time to add perennials or shrubbery to your home landscape.

There are many local nurseries that can guide you on your quest for what is local and where you may want to plant them. If they do not have them in stock, most will tell you where to go to find them or order them for you.

For more information, please call Anita Severn at 828-749-3155 or Susie Welsh at 828-749-3900.   

This will be the last month the tailgate market will be open this year.  Make sure not to miss any Friday's this month! 

Photo by Chuck Hearon

 

Saluda Elementary School

Information Update October 2011

Congratulations to Susan McRostie, who was chosen as Polk County's Teacher of the Year!  Ms. McRostie teaches Visual Arts for PreK-5^th grades  at Saluda Elementary and grades 9-12 at PCHS.  Anytime you visit our school, you will see the colorful student artwork, produced in Ms. McRostie's class, displayed throughout the school.  Best wishes to Ms. McRostie as she advances to the Regional Teacher of the Year competition!

Upcoming Events

Wed., Oct. 5     4^th & 5^th Grade Field Trip to Alexander's Ford

Thurs., Oct. 6   End of the 1^st Six Weeks of School

Fri., Oct. 7       Dress Down for Charity Day

Mon., Oct. 10    No School for Students (Optional Teacher Workday)

Mon., Oct. 10    Polk County School Board Meeting 6:30pm at Stearns

Tues., Oct. 11    Report Cards!

Fri., Oct. 14      PTSO Meeting, 8:15am in Mrs. Dill's office

Thurs., Oct. 20 Vision & Hearing Screenings for Grades 1, 3 & 5

Mon., Oct. 31    Half Day for Students---Dismissal at 11:30am

October 24-October 28

Artists-in-Residency, Timmy & Susana Abell, will work with students at our school, thanks to a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council.  Visit www.timmyabell.com for more information about these artists.

October 27

Fall Informance and Spaghetti Dinner

Dinner will be served from 4:30-5:45pm and the Informance will be held   from 6:00-7:00pm.  Family, friends and community members are invited to attend this event!

Visit Saluda School for additional school news.

See local author, Corinne F. Gerwe on WSPA's "Your Carolina Morning" show on November 14 around 9am.  For more information or to read excerpts from her book, please click here.  

Ballantyne Magazine's "One Tank Trip" featured Saluda in its Summer 2011 issue.  Click here to read the story.

The September issue of the WNC Magazine featured M.A. Pace General Store and the Morgan family.  

As the warm lazy days of summer fade into the cool crisp days of fall, the Saluda Dog Society grows and continues with opportunities to rescue animals in our community.  

Latest from the Barks & Wags News...and more:

On August 30, we received a call about an extremely thin cat seen along 176, and as two members of the Saluda Dog Society approached, it came running.  The cat was so hungry it ate a whole can of food in 5 minutes.  The cat was rescued, is now awaiting opinion of medical treatments by a veterinarian, and is in foster care until it's identified and claimed or until a new permanent placement can be found.

Another request came to our attention to find homes for two dogs since they can no longer be kept at their current residence.   The dogs are a Pit Bull mix named "Petey" and another mix called "Blaze".  If you wish to add these great dogs to your family, please call Heather at 864-735-6247.   

A very special event for all animals... the Annual Blessing of the Animals... is taking place here in Saluda on Sunday, October 9 at 3:00 pm at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration.  All animals are welcome!

On a new note, the Saluda 130th Birthday Celebration Christmas Parade is planned for Saturday, December 10^th and will be great fun for the community and your entire family.  The Saluda Dog Society will have a "Dog Walk" as part of the parade, and there will be ribbons awarded for different categories.  Join us for a joyous time competing in the fun! You may register to walk by calling Pat Waring at 828-749-1332 for your registration form.  The $10 registration fee will be used for the continued efforts of the Saluda Dog Society for animal humane issues.

The Saluda Dog Park is nearing completion and will announce a "Grand Opening" very soon.  The Park is located on Chestnut Street down the hill on the left, and it is open now with guidelines posted at the entrance.  You can't miss it... there is a sign on the fence, a gate to an entrance area, then a separate gate into the main play area of the Park.  Benches are provided for "parents".  Also provided are doggie bags (and a garbage can) so please cleanup after your dog as needed.   It's a great place for our dogs to meet and play, so help take care of the park when you visit so it will be a fun place for all.

Questions or comments about the Park may be directed to Dave Prudhomme at

828-749-9172. If you are interested in donating plantings or shrubbery for the Park, you may check with Dave for further information.    

Each month a different dog breed will be featured as Breed of the Month.  This month is the Golden Retriever.  Golden Retrievers are lovable, well-mannered, smart, friendly with an eager-to-please demeanor, great with children, and are the fifth  most popular dog breed (by registration) in the United States.  

The Golden Retriever is a sturdy medium-sized breed of dog, in varying shades of gold to cream, with a dense inner coat that provides adequate warmth and outer coat that is sleek, water repellent and lies flat against the body.  Originating in the Scottish Highlands in the late 1800's, they were historically developed as "gundogs" to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and game birds during hunting and shooting parties.  As such, they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and have an instinctive love of water.

The breed is very intelligent and easy to train, versatile for a variety of roles including therapy dog for all ages, guide dog and hearing impaired dog, hunting dog, illegal drug tracking, and for search and rescue efforts.  Because of their loyalty and gentle temperament, Golden Retrievers are also popular family pets.   For more information on Golden Retrievers, go to:   

Dog Breed Info Center 

Golden Retriever Club of America 

Top Golden Retriever Sites 

Golden's need attention and want to be around you at all times, which is an important consideration should you rarely be at home.   If you include a Golden into your life and incorporate them into your family activities, you'll enjoy a friend and companion for life who will rapidly share your love as each year passes.

A fun video about a Golden Retriever 

Quotation for this month:   "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.  You are his life, his love, his leader.  He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.  You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."   ~ Unknown ~

We welcome and appreciate your suggestions, information and participation.  Join us to rescue or assist other animals in our community and to protect and support our loving pets. You may email  SaludaDogSociety@yahoo.com  or call Pat Waring at 828-749-1332.

If you have a favorite story or photo or a fun video to share about a special animal, please send them on to Linda Holden at SaludaDogSociety@yahoo.com 

Our next meeting is on Friday, October 14^th at 1:15 pm in the Saluda Library.

Remember....it takes a village to save animals.  Together we can...

Enjoy the beautiful colorful days of Fall!

The SBA meets the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm at the Saluda Library.  There are several types of memberships from Full membership to Associate membership.  For more information about the SBA and types of membership, please contact Susie Welsh at 828-749-3900 or email sswelsh@tds.net.

The Saluda Visitor Center is open for business.  New hand-painted signs by Ray Pague have been placed on the building.

 Click here to visit saluda.com.  

Thanks for supporting your local, independent Saluda businesses. 

Crisp mornings and vivid blue skies signal the change of season here in Western North Carolina. While we are enjoying the mild temperatures now, remember winter is just around the corner, bringing with her the possibility of high heating bills and repair costs. Here are a few steps to help you potentially save hundreds of dollars:

•         Change the air filter in your heating system. A fresh filter will make your system run more efficiently and will keep your home's air cleaner. Have your system inspected by a professional. This will help insure you will not be without heat during the cold winter months. Lack of heat is not only uncomfortable but also can lead to frozen water pipes causing serious damage to your home.
•         Look for cracks and gaps around the exterior of your windows and doors where heat can escape. Fill gaps with a good exterior grade caulking.
•         Have your chimney inspected and cleaned. If you plan on using a fireplace or woodstove for heat, you should have a battery operated smoke and carbon monoxide detector near the area to be heated. Test detector monthly.
•         Weather strip and insulate the attic access and attic staircase. There are specific products available at home improvement stores for this task which can cut down on heat loss significantly.
•         Add attic insulation and caulk recessed can lights, ceiling fans and light fixture boxes to drywall from the attic. You would be surprised how much heat is lost in those small spaces.

Check in with Saluda Lifestyles next month for more money saving tips for the winter.

E-mail Todd Kirby at kirbycustombuilders@yahoo.com with specific questions or concerns. 

Kirby Custom Builders is a Saluda based full service construction company. Find us at kirbycustombuilders.com or call 828-606-0942. 

By Todd Kirby

US Post Office Store Hours

Mon-Fri 9:00am-1:00pm and 3:00pm-4:30pm

Sat 9:30am-11:00am Sun closed

Get directions by clicking here  

102 E MAIN ST SALUDA, NC 28773-7812 

Mark your calendars and plan on these events throughout 2011.

November 12- Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner by the Methodist Church and Singing for the Soldiers.  Saluda School Lunchroom 5:30pm to 7pm. 

November 29 - Saluda School Pageant, "Saluda's Past," at 6pm, Saluda School Auditorium.

December 4 - Free Christmas Concert at the Saluda Mountain Jamboree at 7pm.

December 9 - Christmas Tree Lighting, 7:00 pm. Downtown Main Street.

December 9 -Hometown Christmas from 6pm to 8pm. 

December 10 - Celebration Christmas Parade at 2pm.

Call Terry Baisden at 828-749-3789 if you have any questions about these events. All events are subject to change. 

Edward J. Corn (Reverend Edd Corn), 86, of Saluda, passed away Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011.

Oh! October 

Photo by Carey Pickard.

The echo of a hammering woodpecker breaks the quiet of the woods while the gentle, cool breeze whistles through the tall white pines.  Only a few remaining hummingbirds skirt around feeders while watching butterflies has been replaced with watching squirrels running around gathering and storing food for the winter.  Unusual migrating birds at backyard feeders make a stop on their long trip south.  Days shorten as the autumnal equinox proclaims, "Fall," and the last of the lightning bugs flicker here and there.

As summer pleasures give way to autumn delights of brilliant palettes of color in the mountains, Saluda readies for its fall guests and visitors coming to inhale the breath-taking vistas of fall in the mountains.

Check out these websites for the best time to visit to see fall colors.

Fall Color Information Links 

Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau Color Report  

1-888-247-9811  

The Official Visit North Carolina Travel Web Site 

1-800-VISIT-NC (1-800-847-4862) 

The Weather Channel Fall Foliage Report 

The Fall Foliage Network 

130th Birthday Celebration September Events

Celebrate Saluda's 130th Birthday in October with history tours, antique car show, an art exhibit, and Halloween stroll. 

October 5 - In conjunction with Saluda's 130th Birthday Celebration, the Polk County Historic Museum is sponsoring Saluda Day on Wednesday, October 5, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.  The Museum is located at 60 Walker Street in Columbus, NC.  Please make plans to travel down to Columbus to enjoy the wonderful history of our town.

October 15 - The 130th Birthday Celebration Committee is sponsoring an Antique Car Cruise-In on Saturday, October 15, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Members of the SC Studebaker Drivers Club, the Great Smokey Mountains Region of the Antique Auto Club of America, and the Hendersonville Antique Car Club are planning to display their cars in parking areas from the Saluda School through downtown Saluda to the Baptist Church.  Local antique car owners will cruise-in on Main Street for everyone to admire their vehicles, also.  We hope you'll visit downtown Saluda on October 15 to support the 130th Birthday of our town!  

October 28-29 - Visions of Saluda Art Exhibit at the "Upper Floor" at Historic Thompson's Store. 11am to 7pm. View and purchase artwork from local artists. Grand opening reception will be October 28 at 5pm.  

Click here to see an update of the photo scrapbook of celebration events throughout the year.  

Click here for more 130th events.   

You have only until Monday, October 31, to make your guess of the amount of money in the jar at the Saluda City Hall for only $1 per guess.  The person whose guess is closest to the actual amount of money wins the money!  Make sure to stop by city hall and make your guess. 

The winner(s) will be announced on Tuesday, November 15.

The latest news and the unusual offerings provided by Saluda shops, restaurants, accommodations, outdoor recreation, artists, and craftspeople.

Jesse and Edson Roque are pleased to invite you to the Blue Gypsy Watering Hole.  They are serving everything from small bites, weenies, tostaditos, soups, salads, sandwiches, family favorites, and desserts.During the fall, The Blue Gypsy will be open Wednesday through Saturday with hours from 11am to 9pm and Sunday from 11am to 3pm.  Enjoy the delightful indoor seating among whimsical art deco or sit on the outdoor deck under colorful umbrellas...either way you will love patronizing the Blue Gypsy.

The Blue Gypsy is located on Main Street, Saluda.

Salamander is your go-to place for a delicious wine selection you can trust.  Cynthia and Ben personally vet every wine and only carry what they enjoy, so they can help you choose, too.  And if they don't have what you like, they are happy to special order any wine you want.

You can also shop the fine handmade goods of over 100 American artists and fair trade handcraft from talented artists of nine other countries. Cynthia's book selection offers the best of hot new bestsellers and classics for adults and children.

You may have seen them working hard at the tailgate market.  I'm referring to the colorful and durable baskets from Salamander.  These baskets from Ghana are made from elephant grass, a renewable resource.  The grass is dyed and woven into brilliantly-hued and intricate patterns, with no two baskets alike.  With leather handles, they are very strong and can tote everything from vegetables to puppies, travelling from the library to the grocery store to the beach to a mountain picnic.  There are many shapes and sizes, and prices start at $14, with the most popular style at $49.

The best part is the baskets are traded fairly; the weavers earn a decent wage and can support their families with their artistry and everybody wins -- from the artists in Ghana to the happy basket owners in Saluda.

Salamander is more than a local shop.  It's a relaxing and uplifting experience where you want to enjoy plenty of time, and most people do just that.

Salamander is open every day at 7 West Main Street.  828-749-3466.  Click here for directions.   

 Buttercup Cottage is offering discounted tickets to Biltmore estate. The tickets are good any time during regular daylight hours.  They have no expiration date.  Tickets are for sale at $45 each.  On-line price is usually $55 and buying at the estate is more.   Anyone who would like to purchase a ticket can call Marti Wells at 828 749-9538 or email at marti@saludabuttercupcottage.com.  Limited amount available.

October Specials

Tuesday - Small chopped pork sandwich, homemade slaw, and drink.

Wednesday - Large cup of homemade Brunswick Stew with half of grilled cheese, and drink. Thursday - Bacon burger, fries, and drink.

Friday - 2 Piglets with homemade slaw, and drink.

All specials $4.99.

Become a Facebook fan and you will receive specials and $$ dollar off offers!

Come watch football with us and enjoy our large variety of beers with Narraganset Pints $1.50 all the time!

Our famous "Smokehouse Chili" will be on the menu in October!

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

Green River BBQ is located at 131 Highway 176 West. Click here for directions.  

Don't forget our local meats at Manna Cabanna from Glenreid Farm and Maple Creek Farm.  We also have 10 pounds of Charleston Shrimp this week. And with our new division, SALUDA BY THE SEA, we can pre-order fresh fish, shellfish and shrimp for you weekly!

 Manna Cabanna, Inc.
"Regain Your Rapport with Nature"
 828.817.2308

Tan-tastic tanning and nail salon is proud to announce the addition of our nail tech, Ashley Glover.  She will be doing Manicures and Pedicures on Monday from 9am to 6pm and Tuesday from 9am to 7pm.  She will also be doing waxing and hair feathers.  We will be running our monthly special that is normally $30 per month for $25 per month for October and tanning lotions will be 25% off.  Gift cards available.  Thank you everyone for your support!  

Tan-Tastic is located at 18 Pearson's Fall Rd, Saluda.  Click here for directions.

Garden Saviour Rain Barrels As featured on WLOS and WSPA News   
Make hay while the sun shines; gather water when it rains!
 
Fall Sale-- Now $147
 
-Polk County Youth Entrepreneurs construct, sell, install and service these locally famous barrels.
 
-55 gallon recycled plastic barrel with solid top prevents mosquitoes, algae, and accidents with pets or children. Easy to clean!
 
-Brass spigot set low for maximum drainage, pressure, and storage.
 
-This is a functional work of art, with numerous design options. Our natural designer colors and reed coverings blend with, and compliment, any landscape or decor.
 
So please, buy our barrels. You will be conserving precious water, giving our youth and nature a chance to succeed, plus shopping local.
 
Also: Magical Landscaping, water features, yard art, tree trimming, garden tilling, Life/Joy Counseling.........and much, much more! *
 
Organic Garden Center--Now Open--Plants for sale and FREE. Located at 4020 S. Wilson Hill Rd., Mill Spring.  

 
For more information, please contact Cindy Bosien, at 828-625-9684, or e-mail bohog3@hotmail.com.

News from Historic Thompson's Store/Ward's Grill 

Autumn is fast approaching, and just as the leaves are changing, so is Thompson's Store!  We have many new and exciting endeavors afoot, so be sure to come by and see what we're up to!

The really big news is that the renovation of the store's second story is nearly complete!  We will showcase our new upstairs meeting spaces for the first time on October 28 & 29 with an art show that will exhibit works inspired by Saluda.  Come check out this free artistic event and also take a tour of our beautifully restored rooms and new balcony.  Also, beginning on November 1, these upstairs meeting rooms, capable of holding up to 100 people, will be available for catered events!  Let Thompson's Store host your next party, anniversary, meeting, or exhibit.

Planning cookout for family or friends? In addition to our famous steaks and sausage, Thompson's Store is now proud to offer our new deli take-out service.  Don't feel like preparing dinner tonight?  Let our deli feed you and your family!  Our delicious homemade take-out items include burgers made with half beef and half Charlie Ward's famous sausage, pork or beef kabobs, potato salad, coleslaw, cornbread salad, pimento cheese (regular or spicy), and  delicious peach and blueberry cobbler.  All items are made fresh and sold in individual servings up to party size quantities. Add to that our selection of fine deli meats and cheeses, and we can simplify your next special event. Finally, be sure to add our Lusty Monk mustards to your next occasion. Made using whole mustard seeds, this is by far the best mustard you will ever taste.

Our store also carries some other excellent food items that are decidedly unique.  If you are a coffee lover, come buy one of our three varieties of Keen's Beans.  These fresh, organic coffee beans are shade-grown on a small family-owned plantation in Costa Rica.  You will not believe how fresh and delicious these coffee beans are!  Also, we are now carrying Black Mountain goat cheeses, a rare but tasty delicacy that you don't want to miss.

Finally, don't forget that Christmas is not far off!  If you are looking for a unique gift, check out our store merchandise, such as our celebrated Coon Dog Day and Thompson's Store shirts and caps.  For lovers of bluegrass music, you simply must purchase a copy of the recently-released "Saluda Mountain Memories," which features ten classic tracks celebrating coon dogs, railroads, and the good life in Saluda!  For any young readers in your life, be sure to grab a copy of "The Adventures of Rattler & Friends, Volume 1."  This delightful kid's book, authored by Jonathan Thompson, centers on the three animal mascots of Thompson's Store and their unique friendship.  Volume 2 in this series will be out in December, so pick up both if you can! If you have admired the "Ward's Grill" aprons worn by our employees, they are now available for purchase as a gift or for personal use.

We appreciate all of our customers who support us and want to see more of our Saluda family take advantage of the convenience that comes with shopping locally. If you haven't visited us in a while, we urge you to stop in and leave your suggestions as to how we may accommodate your needs. A community grocery is the linchpin to a vital and healthy Main Street. However, it must depend on the support of the community it serves. A regular visit to Thompson's Store/Ward's Grill will reacquaint you with the wide array of new products now available.

Thompson's Store is a family tradition dating back 121 years to 1890, and we hope to be around for another century.

As a reminder, much of our merchandise is available online at thompsons-store.com.  But we hope that you will also come by the store in person.  We would love to see you!

Who doesn't love October in Saluda?  Beautiful color, perfect weather, and delicious local produce still available.  At the Wildflour, you can enjoy a hearty bowl of soup, made with fresh, local vegetables, or one of Molly's pastries made with freshly stone ground grain.  Order a sandwich made on Wildflour's delicious and nutritious breads - baked fresh every day!  And there is more.....quiche, French toast, bean bowl, daily specials.  Dine indoors or enjoy the beautiful courtyard.  Treat your friends, family, visitors or yourself to a perfect autumn outing at Wildflour Bake Shop.  

 Open:

 Thursday      8am - 4pm

 Friday          8am - 5pm

 Saturday      8am - 5pm

 Sunday        9am - 3pm

Keep Saturday, October 22 open for the Saluda Artists and Farmers Faire....food, crafts, art, music and more!

PS to Autumn Visitors:  Wildflour Bake Shop is once again located in the main brick building right across from Saluda Elementary School.  Come on by!

Wildflour Bake Shop  828-749-3356
Wildflour Bakery  828-749-9224
Check us out online at wildflourbakerync.com for daily specials or use the good ol' fashion way...828-749-3356.   Search for us on 

Orchard Inn

The leaves are just starting to turn into a palette of amazing colors, and the views are simply spectacular from the dining room and terrace of the Orchard Inn.

Our fine dining restaurant is open to the public Thurs - Sat evenings, or any night for parties of 8 or more. Our menu changes daily and consists of local, fresh, and organic (when available) ingredients. Marianne and Monica collaborate to create healthful yet sumptuous European inspired dishes that will delight your senses. We also have an excellent selection of wines by the bottle or by the glass. Call: 828-749-5471 for reservations. We still have a limited amount of space available for Thanksgiving Dinner, which will be a fabulous 5-course feast starting at 2:00pm for only $59 per person. Enjoy the day, and leave the cooking to us!

 

Visit the Orchard Inn at orchardinn.com. They are located on Highway 176, Saluda, NC. 

Click here for directions.

Rachel Box, owner of Salon Rachelle ll is inviting all Saluda residents to attend the open house of the new salon which opened September 19 on Saturday, October 22, 2011. This is a fun event to be held in conjunction with the festivities at Nostalgia Courtyard on the same day. Rachel says come by, see the new salon, have some refreshments and signup for the door prizes on Saturday, October, 22 from 9am to 2 pm. See you there, Saluda!  The salon is located at 31 Pearson's Falls Rd., Saluda.  Contact at 828-749-2600.  

Leaves are falling just like embers

In colors red and gold they set us on fire

Burning just like a moonbeam in our eyes

Somebody said they saw me

Swinging the world by the tail

Bouncing over a white cloud

Killing the blues

"Raising Sand" - Alison Krauss & Robert Plant

Special thanks to all our friends that have visited us at The Oaks Bed and Breakfast this past summer!  Every week we've had the pleasure of hosting visitors from Toccoa, GA to Titusville, FL; from Monterrey, Mexico to Braunschweis, Germany.  We've had parents here to deliver their children to camp.  People, who have hiked, kayaked, shopped and explored - then savored the area's best cuisine, while listening to the music of the Blue Ridge.  They attended live theater and summer festivals.   They arrived by bicycle, Harley, convertible, SUV and mini -van.  They caught up on their reading and learned the names of our wildflowers and birds.  Many renewed a connection long lost to a life lived in the fast lane.

And now, add to the picture comfortable mountain temperatures and the dazzling colors of fall.  It is a once a year occurrence and an experience of a lifetime.

If your schedule will not allow fall travel, consider a holiday getaway.  Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to escape to the mountains.  Several area restaurants, including The Saluda Grade Café (an easy walk from The Oaks), will be preparing a traditional dinner with all the trimmings.  Relax by the fire, then retreat to your cozy accommodations and feast on the best night's sleep imaginable. 

The celebration of Christmas kicks off with Saluda's Home Town Christmas, Dec. 9^th on Main Street and continues through New Years.  Of course, The Oaks will be decked out in high-style with traditional Christmas trees, lights and decorations.  Enjoy a gourmet breakfast, exchange gifts in the Parlor in front of a cheery fire and spend the evening at the Biltmore's Candlelight Christmas.  Come let your spirits soar with warmth and magic of the holidays.  A special place awaits you.  Come and share the fellowship that is The Oaks Bed and Breakfast for the holidays.

Call 828.749.2000 for reservations, or visit theoaksbedandbreakfast.com .

WI-FI COMES TO THE OAKS

Guests who have stayed at The Oaks Bed and Breakfast this past summer no doubt noticed the beautiful frame the owners, Dale and Donna, have worked to put on this beautiful picture; a lush fescue lawn, new trees and shrubs and attractive rock-work that accents the dense wooded area at the back. 

For those that have to stay connected, they have added Wireless Internet to the list of amenities available to their guests!  So now you can trade stocks, check your emails or play Angry Birds fireside in the library, or on our expansive wraparound veranda.  What a great way to spend a gorgeous fall day.  Either that or you could help them rake leaves. . .  We hope to see you soon!

Contact the Oaks at 828-749-2000 or email theoaksbedandbreakfast@gmail.com.  Visit their website for more information. Located at 339 Greenville Street.  Click here for directions.   

"Processes for Creating"

Featuring Artist Ray Pague

There are skills that can be learned and practiced regarding art.  We've presented many of them in Art Clues.  This column, however, is not specifically about the skills of drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, et al.  It will instead describe some ideas that Ray Pague, a classically trained painter, uses in the

processes he chooses for his paintings.

This column will include a series of three processes described by Ray.

Series # 1:  Ray calls this the "Eudora Welty Series".  She was studying and documenting rural America and recording her findings with photography.  He was inspired by the striking personalities in her photos.  Rather than using black or sepia, she chose indigo and diazinon purple for a look of antiquity.

For this series Ray chose watercolor painting.

Series #2: This he calls the "Downtown Saluda" series, which resulted in an oil painting 12 inches tall and 9 feet long in 3 sections. This process took two months to complete. He painted every business on Main Street and did not work from photos.  On location he drew with a brush on canvas in two point perspective, rendering downtown in burnt sienna. He then continued and expanded the process at night in his studio.  The next day he went out again on location and did small sketches from life for details as needed.

Series #3: Ray calls this series "Sketches and Paintings".

For his sketches, he has currently switched from white paper to light  brown (midtone) paper. ( There are sketch books made with this color paper.) For these sketches he works on location and uses colored pencils, black ink and pens.

As he is doing more outside work, he also uses brushes and does acrylic sketches for fast drying.

"Iam grateful for this phase of my artistic life, for the subject matter of Saluda and for The Old Chicken House as a wonderful place to work." 

Beverly Bowden Pickard
www.beverlysart.com
bbpickard@charter.net
828-749-1248

Following in the footsteps of two older brothers, I began at a fairly young age to hunt squirrels and rabbits which were sources of meat supply in our household. These activities were limited to the cool months of late fall through early spring. The only weapon I owned was a single shot 22-gauge rifle which, quite frankly, was not ideal for bringing down fast-moving critters. However, I had to make do with it and seldom hit my intended targets.

Despite expending lots of lead during my youthful years, I was never accused of being a marksman. However, far more successful efforts were realized by trapping rabbits in "gums." The word gum is a holdover from earlier times when the rotten centers of black gum trees were burned to hollow them out, making natural boxes that could be used for beehives, chicken nests, rabbit traps, etc. Gum became the generic term for whatever served the same purpose as the original blocks of black gumwood. Rabbit gums such as mine were rectangular wooden boxes with the far end closed and a trap door at the entrance that slid down like a guillotine. The top of the door was tied to a stick balanced on one end while the other had a notched trigger clipped into the box to hold the door open. The front entrance was rubbed with the scent of apples, carrots, or lettuce, and the food was then placed at the very back of the gum, past the triggering device. During each season, I kept as many as a half dozen of these rabbit gums set in nearby woods and fields. This required checking them on a daily basis to determine if any critter had fallen for the trap. It was not unusual to find a possum or large rat in the box rather than a rabbit. In those instances, I just released them since they could be vicious and possibly cause injury if not handled properly.

Removing a rabbit could also pose a danger. Due to the narrowness of the box, most rabbits would still be facing the baited end when the front trap door was opened. This was the ideal position for reaching in to secure the back legs before attempting to pull them out of the box. However, occasionally a rabbit would successfully turn itself around and would be facing the front. This created quite a dilemma for me. If the rabbit couldn't be turned back in the other direction, then I had to pull him out by his front legs while leaving his powerful back legs free to resist my efforts. In those instances, as soon as the rabbit cleared the box, it would begin clawing and flailing its muscular hind legs which could rip into my arms and hands with its extremely sharp claws. Several times I suffered severe and deep claw marks before deciding that a rabbit turned the wrong way wasn't worth risking field removal. It was better to just carry the trapped rabbit home in the box. There I could solicit assistance from some adult male or cover my arms and hands with leather for protection.

One of my brothers-in-law was an expert iat administering the rabbit punch and tried to teach me the technique, but to no avail. It required the correct application of a powerful blow from the bottom edge of the hand to the back of the rabbit's neck while holding it upside down, much like a karate chop. My attempts were never successful because of the inaccuracy of my blows which usually landed on the rabbit's tough skull and resulted in excruciating pain to my hand and arm. This only excited the poor rabbit who would begin fighting and squalling in desperation. My other weapon was a large stick, but by the time I finished the job, most of the front part of the rabbit would be so bruised as to be unfit for consumption. After these many years, I still feel guilty about inflicting such pain and brutality on these poor innocent creatures.

Squirrels were another matter. They were always harvested by hunting so there was no trauma to deal with as with the captured rabbits. In both instances, I carefully removed and cured the fur hides on large pieces of wood in anticipation of generating a little spending money for myself. However, despite my capitalist dreams and a time-consuming curing process, I never sold a single pelt.

Thompson's Store is located at 24 Main Street, in the heart of downtown Saluda.   

Contact the store at 828-749-2321 or visit

Shop online at the Saluda Lifestyles Mercantile for the following merchandise: 

Home, Hearth and History: Stories of Old Saluda DVD. Proceeds will go to the Oral History Project for the next sequel.   Price:  $20.00+shipping. 

130th T-Shirts for all sizes for adults and youth.  Proceeds go to the City of Saluda for the 130th Birthday Celebrations. May also be purchased at Thompson's Store and Somewhere in Time on Main Street. Price:  $10.00 + shipping. 

Print of The Carolina Special Cresting Saluda Mountain.

The Carolina Special ran for over half a century and was one of the nation's longest-lived passenger trains.  It started in 1911 and endured until its last trip up Saluda Grade on December 5, 1968.

Limited quantities available. Size approximately 17' X 19".  Proceeds will go to Saluda's Historic City Hall Restoration and Oral History Project.  Price:  $45.00+shipping.   

Shucks Pearls

Hometown Limited Edition Series

The Saluda Grade Pearl Necklace was designed in commemoration of Saluda, NC's famous railway grade that was a turning point in the city's growth during the Victorian era.  Price:  $137.00+shipping.

611 on Saluda - DVD.  An assault on America's steepest Class-I grade
"On October 25, 1992, two of American Railroadings' most legendary figures were brought together for the first time. The crowds were standing room only, the weather was perfect, and our legends were at their best."

Video covers two full colorful hours with dynamic sound. Produced by Bob Loehne
©1994, American AltaVista, All Rights Reserved

Price:  $40.00 includes shipping.

Saluda - America's Hometown, A Conversational History DVD.
"Dedicated to the residents, natives and friends of Saluda. My sincere thanks for your guidance, memories, contributions and generosity - we couldn't have done this without you."

Produced by Bob Loehne
©1991, American AltaVista, All Rights Reserved

Price:  $40.00 includes shipping.  

Please click here for secure online ordering.