Saluda Property & Real Estate

A Quick Saluda Market Update

(compares last year's sales with the same period this year as of March 31, 2013). 

Sales               Closed   Pending  

Homes 2013         6           1
 Homes 2012         9           0 

         Land 2013              5           3         

Land 2012              2           0

Foreclosures-REO-Short Sales

Saluda - 2 homes

Polk County - 13 Homes 

Data taken from Western NC multiple listing service.

Please visit cathyjacksonrealty.com to see all Cathy Jackson Realty Featured Home and Land Listings and search the entire Western NC MLS.

April 20         Jerry's Baddle Race
April 26         "Dog On It" Show at Kathleen's Gallery

May             The Gorge™ Zipline Opens

May 18         Saluda Arts Festival

June 1          Historic Homes Tour

July 6           50^th Coon Dog Day

Sept 7 & 8    Green River Games

September    Charlie Ward Memorial BBQ 

November     Green River Narrows Race

December     Hometown Christmas 

Blue Ridge Contra Dancing

Friday, April 12

Spring Fling Dance

Come to the Party Place in Saluda for the most fun you can have for $10!

Calling by "Atlanta's Dance Magician" Seth Tepfer! Seth has been calling since 1997 and has called over 500 gigs with dancers from 5 to 95! Music by "Good and Plenty" features Karen Gaughan, one of Asheville's most in-demand contra piano players for 20 years. With Laura Legnick, known for her "wildly fun fiddling style," these two combine to make contra plenty of fun! Party Place is a fabulous 12,000 square foot dance facility with hardwood floors, refreshment bar and great sound system.

Beginner lessons begin at 6:30pm with dancing from 7-9:30pm. Adults $10 and $5 for under 18.

To reach The Party Place take exit 59 off I-26. Turn toward Saluda, and then take the first left onto Howard Gap Road. Then turn left on Friendship Church Road. For description and more information visit Party Place and Event Center.  

For more information or to join the mailing list BlueRidgeContra@icloud.com. Click on this link for directions to  Party Place and Event Center.

This years winter rains promise early and abundant wildflower spring displays at Pearson's Falls. Famous for a wide variety of spring flowers from Trillium to Orchids, as well as several rare species of plants, Pearson's Falls beckons hundreds of enthusiastic visitors throughout the year, and the classes are being offered to help you learn plant identification and usage for your personal enjoyment.

At Pearson's Falls, beginning in March and continuing into May, the Tryon Garden Club will host two Wildflower Identification Guided Walks, an Easter Week Guided Family Scavenger Hunt and the Geology of Native Plant Communities Walk. The dates are:

Wednesday, April 3, at 1:30 pm - Family Walk and Scavenger Hunt with Pearson's Falls Docents. Open to school age children who must be accompanied by an adult family member. Class size is open.

Thursday, April 18, at 10:30 am - Spring Wildflowers in Bloom with Bonnie Arbuckle from the WNC Botany Club.

Tuesday, May 21, at 10:30 am - Geology of Native Plant Communities with Tim Lee, SC State Park Naturalist.

Fee: $20.00 covers all four classes or $5.00 each class, plus gate admission of $5.00 per adult. Limit for each class is 10 participants. Admission fees for children ages 6-12 - $1.00; 13 and above-$5.00; Under 6 are free. Docent fee not required for children at the Family Walk.

Location:   Pearson's Falls, 2748 Pearson Falls Rd., Saluda, NC. Meet at the Garden House 15 minutes prior to beginning of the walk. Bring your notebook and pen. You will be given a checklist of flowers.

For more information call 828-749-3031 or to download enrollment form visit the website at pearsonsfalls.org.

The Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) will again sponsor plots in the Robinson Community Garden on Henderson Street. The final sign up is on Wed., April 10th. Plots will be the same reasonable price as in past years: $30, for the season. You must be present at one of the meetings to have a plot. If you have questions, you may call Marilyn Prudhomme at 828-749-9172 or Carolyn Ashburn at carolyn@skyrunner.net.

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 basement sales is open every Saturday from 10:00 am-4:00 pm and every Wednesday from 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Donations are accepted on Wednesdays.

A Thrifty Barn is open Wed. through Sat. from 10:00 am-4:00 pm.  Donations are accepted when we are open.

The Saluda Center is located at 64 Greenville St. Phone is 828-749-9245. 

Thanks for your donations of clothes and household items. These, when sold, provide thousands of dollars of proceeds to fund Center Activities and Meals on Wheels.

Clean, undamaged donations are easy to prepare for sale. Dirty, smelly, stained and hair-covered items are harder to prepare for sale--if they can be at all. If not, they are donated to other organizations or discarded.  

Evaluate your items using this criteria.

The Barn is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays - though times may vary. Check for a sign if the doors are locked during these times. Donations are gratefully accepted on Wednesdays. Please don't leave donations outside in the weather. The Basement is open from 10 to 4, Saturdays and Wednesdays.

And because of the hours of operation, we need volunteers to staff the Barn every day--a half day at a time. Bring a friend to keep you company if you want.

Please call 828-749-3320 to talk to someone about volunteering.

Only 32 more days to the tailgate market!! Come welcome back our growers and give your neighbors a big spring hug. We open for the 2013 season Friday, May 3^rd at 4:30pm.

The Saluda Tailgate Market has quickly become a Saluda spring-to-fall tradition.

It seems that in the midst of rapid-fire change and increasing complexity, reclaiming our food is something we can all agree on and enthusiastically embrace. We realized early on that it was more than just providing locally grown food options and supporting our neighbors who wanted to grow produce. We were part of a larger food movement that was shifting the way we all think about food: how we eat, shop and socialize, and how we think about our community and the land that surrounds us.

Why stand in a line at a generic box store with a cart when you can don a hat, pick up a basket and meet your friends downtown and also get to know the farmer who grew what you will serve for supper! Lucky for us, we live in a rich and diverse bioregion, and abundance seems too small a word to describe all that has shown up in the west end parking lot on Friday afternoons--not only every kind of vegetable, fruit, and herb that grows in the two counties that Saluda straddles, but also chicken, beef, eggs, cheese, and locally sourced baked goods. Last year, we added fresh rainbow trout and Saluda raised lamb. Who knows what delights we will find this year as the local food movement continues to spread, and more growers find the markets to be integral parts of their farm plans. We can plan our menus according to what is in season, help preserve our beautiful farmland, support small family farms and sustainable agricultural practices, be healthier, create resilient communities and have a great time doing it.

So simple, so much impact, and so much fun!! Join us.

To learn more about how to sign up to vend or sign up for the weekly e-news letter, please visit saludatailgate.com or contact Shelley DeKay 828-606-5713.

Saluda Arts Festival

May 18, 2013

10am - 4pm

The Saluda Business Association is pleased to present the 10th annual Saluda Arts Festival. Get ready to be amazed with almost 90 artists and craftspeople,  lively and award winning music, children's tent, demonstrators and delicious food from our local restaurants.

Music Headliners

Stoney Lamar, the festival's music coordinator, has lined up performing artists that promise to keep McCreery Park Pavilion jazzed up and leaving festival goers wanting more. The festival is pleased to announce its headliners for the tenth annual Saluda Arts Festival.

Igniting the festival with verve and vigor will be the band, Sol Driven Train. Sol Driven Train's music weaves afro-Caribbean rhythmic explorations and funky New Orleans-style brass into earnest songs of life, love, loss and long johns.

Keeping the beat will be Clay Ross leading his Pan-American roots music band, "Matuto." A guitarist, vocalist, composer, and songwriter based in NYC. He has released 5 albums and his music covers a wide range of styles including rock, pop, jazz, funk, folk, world, blues and bluegrass.    

Calling Volunteers Who Want to Have Fun!  Volunteering for the Saluda Arts Festival is fun, and you get to make a lot of new friends.  We need volunteers for two-hour shifts to be greeters, area leaders, to clean up before and after and to man the children's tent. Please contact Denise Kennedy at  828-243-7553 or email carolinacottage@tds.net.

2013 Saluda Arts Festival Sponsorships

Without sponsorships, we would not be able to offer the same quality event for which we are recognized. We are grateful to all our sponsors that contribute funds that support the art culture and history in Saluda.

If you would like to be a sponsor of this year's festival, please contribute by April 15.  Sponsorships can be made to Saluda Business Association and mailed to PO Box 1085, Saluda, NC 28773. You will be recognized on a "Sponsor Banner" that will be on display during the festival.  Here are sponsorship categories: Platinum-$25, Bronze-$50, Silver-$100, Gold - $250. With contributions of more than $250, a special banner will be made for you and placed in a highly visible area.  Sponsors are also recognized in our media releases and announcements.

We promote the festival within a two to four hour driving distance of Saluda. We advertise on two NPR public broadcasting stations, electronic boards, regional trade magazines, put up posters and appear on local TV spots.

We invite you to visit saluda.com and click on the Saluda Arts Festival to get more information and see images from previous events.

To learn more about the SBA, please visit saluda.com.

The Saluda Business Association is proud to announce that it has received two grants in support of its 10^th annual Saluda Arts Festival.

Polk County Community Foundation's Saluda Fund Grant will support the musical entertainment at the 10th Annual Saluda Arts Festival.

The vision of the Polk County Community Foundation is to advance philanthropy and improve the quality of life for all citizens in Polk County, North Carolina and the surrounding area.  The mission of the Polk County Community Foundation is to:

*Support charitable and beneficial activities in the community
*Provide and administer a variety of planned giving programs
*Serve as responsible stewards of all funds entrusted to it
*Provide initiatives in recognizing areas of community needs and supporting solutions.         

The Polk County Community Foundation can be contacted at 255 South Trade Street,
Tryon, North Carolina 28782, 828-859-5314, fax: 828-859-6122 email foundation@polkccf.org .

Grant from the NC Arts Council's Grassroots Arts Program.

The Saluda Arts Festival received a $500 grant through the Tryon Fine Arts Center which serves as the NC Arts Council's partner in awarding subgrants to local organizations for arts programs in Polk County. The first priority of the Grassroots Arts subgrant program is to provide operating or program support to qualified arts organizations including theaters, symphonies, galleries, art guilds, choral societies, dance companies, folk arts societies, writers groups and arts festivals, among others.

For more information about the NC Arts Council's Grassroots Arts Program, please contact Executive Director, Beth Child, at 828-869-8322, ext. 211 or beth@tryonarts.org.   

Saluda Businesses have a grand opportunity to advertise at the Saluda Arts Festival. You can welcome exhibitors and show your small-town hospitality by providing exhibitors with gift bags filled with "goodies."

We hope all businesses will take this opportunity to advertise and welcome visitors by donating gifts for the gift bags. With a record breaking number of artists, counting 90+, you will need to provide 95 items. 

Suggestions: Apples, Small bottle of Lotion, Packs of gum, Pens, Hard Candy, Magnets, Bottled water, Hand wipes, Coupons for your business, Cookies, Saluda post cards, Packs of flower seeds, Individual dry juice mixes for bottles of water. Any and all ideas welcome.

THANK YOU to last year's participants.

Many "THANK YOU's" came in from the artists last year.  Let's make this their best year ever! You can make it a great day for them by showing your appreciation and filling the gift bags. Everyone, please drop your "goodies" off to Macon Bank no later than May 15, 2013. They are open Monday through Friday, 8-1, 3-5. Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to call Angie Blackwell at 828-749-2550.

All efforts from Saluda Businesses are greatly appreciated, and it will be awesome to see lots of "goodies" for the bags this year.

Thank You,

The artwork by John Waddill has been a trademark for the Saluda Arts Festival since 2006 when Mr. Waddill permitted the use of one of his watercolors to the Saluda Business Association.

"The watercolor depicts a colorful, fun-filled festival on Historic Main Street in Saluda and is a great representation and branding of the Saluda Arts Festival," says Cathy Jackson, spokesperson for the Saluda Art Festival organizers. "We were trying to design a logo and brand for the Saluda Arts Festival, when Johnny brought this painting in to hang in the former Saluda Fine Arts gallery. At first glance, we knew that this painting was a perfect image of festival fun in Saluda. Johnny graciously gave us permission to use it and was astounded when he saw us selling t-shirts and posters with the image. He was always supportive of the Saluda Arts Festival," says Cathy.

John Miller Waddill died on March 1, 2013 and to honor Johnny Waddill's love for art, the Saluda Business Association is dedicating the 10^th Annual Saluda Arts Festival to his memory. There will be a special exhibit on display during the festival at the Saluda Center, 64 Greenville St., Saluda, NC 28773.. The various pieces will reveal his efforts to find the best way to highlight the natural beauty of his subjects. "I paint for joy and quickly for freshness and simplicity," he once said. You may see touches of Japanese flatness and other approaches to painting in his work for he studied the work of the expressionists and American masters such as Homer, Marin, Wyeth, and Sargeant.

Waddill was a native of this area, having been born in Greenville, SC. He attended Furman University, where he developed an interest in the creative arts. He studied at Ringling School of Art and at Parson's School of Design. His art experience included working as an illustrator, designer and teacher, as well as a "realistic and expressionistic" painter. Waddill's history as an artist also included several one person shows, many awards and representation in several universities and museums.

A resident of Saluda, he was a good representative of the high quality art colony that lives in this historic town.

We will be having our annual meeting on April 3^rd, 6:30 pm at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration parish hall. Guest speaker will be Doug Elliot, a storyteller and naturalist. Refreshments will be served and everyone is invited. Join us to learn more about our many projects and help celebrate our 6^th year of operation.

Adopt-A-Highway road cleanup was once again a success. Thank you to all the volunteers who showed up for the March workday. Mark your calendar for the next cleanup, June 10^th at 9am. Thank you for not littering!

The Saluda Dog Park is a joint project with the City of Saluda. Expansion is being planned and cleanup workdays are being organized. It's a great spot for your dog to run free and socialize. For more information about the Saluda Dog Park, contact Dave Prudhomme at 828-749-9172.

We are planning our kudzu work for the season and will be actively on sites in late April or early May. Our Saluda area has not been warm enough yet to find the right area to start our "decrowning Thursdays." Now is a great time to get out and cut the vine out of trees. That is always the first action of most project sites in order to slow down growth in the trees and makes an area more accessible.

Sunday "Walk in the Woods" hikes will begin soon. Make sure to pick up a brochure at our annual meeting for dates and areas that we plan to hike. It's a great way to get out with your friends and neighbors for a nice relaxing day spent with nature.

Keep an eye out on the Robinson Garden. Plots have been assigned and planting has begun. Soon it will be green with growth as vegetables rise to the surface to smile at the sun. It's a wonderful place for residents to gather and work in a peaceful garden environment right in the middle of town!

SCLT will have a change of meeting times for the month of April. On April 17^th at 5pm, we will be meeting at the Pavilion at McCreery Park. The public is invited.

Please feel free to contact us about any of our projects by calling our office at 828-749-1560 and leaving a message. We will return your call promptly. Also be sure to check out our updated website saludaclt.org. We look forward to your comments and suggestions.

Saluda Garden Club will meet on April 15^th with plans for a wildflower walk. We will leave from the Saluda Library parking lot at 10 am. Plans are to car pool, and we would love for you to join us!

Work in Spring Park will continue with planting and cleaning. This is one of Saluda's many treasured spots. Take a little time and walk through a little bit of nature's history that has been saved with hard work. Spring Park is SGC's main focus and keeping it alive is done through the hard work of volunteers throughout the year. It is located behind City Hall off of Church Street.

We are always looking for new members and welcome anyone interested in our adventures and projects. For more information about the Saluda Garden Club, please call Patty Martin at 828-817-9518.  

Arbor Day is the special day designated to acknowledge and appreciate the many benefits our trees provide us. The need to plant more trees continues as we lose so many to storms, forest fires and disease. Not only natural disasters decrease the numbers, but increasing construction so often means clearing land areas, sometimes large tracts.

Originated by J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska in 1872, Arbor Day became a day to celebrate the value of trees by planting on (or near) that date. Mr. Morton spent his life working toward planting and preserving trees through education and enlisting the support of others. His career as a newspaper publisher provided an opportunity for him to spread his enthusiasm.

Traditionally, schools and children's organizations nationwide have celebrated Arbor Day by planting and other projects educating and promoting tree care and preservation.

Arbor Day Dates: For North Carolina - March 22. Each state observes the special day according to best planting time in its regional location. The national date is scheduled the last Friday in April. This year, 2013, will be April 26.

Submitted by Ruth Anderson 

The Saluda Dog Society now has a cell phone number for rescue calls only.  It is 828-785-2496. We can also be reached at Facebook and via email at saludadogsociety@yahoo.com.

Nectar Yoga And Wellness Center

Saluda's Premier Yoga Studio

Join us this spring at Nectar for a wide array of wonderful offerings for everyone...from kids to elders, women and men.

Ongoing classes

Mondays 6-7:30pm

Wednesday 9-10:30am 

Saturday 9-10:30am

Classes are All Levels

New to yoga?  Great! Beginners are welcome, and are always taken care of.

New Massage Packages

Buy 4 massages at a huge savings.

$200 for 4  ($60 savings)

*expires within 6 months of purchase

Regular massage and self care is proven to reduce illness, stress, and aging and to greatly improve your feelings of well-being and joy.

*Three Yoga Classes Weekly

*Private Yoga Instruction

*Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork

*Intuitive Counseling

*QRA: A healing and diagnostic technique that leads to optimal health

Chandler and Raphaela are extensively trained in yoga, massage, counseling, and QRA, sharing a combined history of study and practice that spans over 20 years.

FREE WORKSHOP on "The Saluda Style" of Architecture, APRIL 12 AT 10:30  - UPSTAIRS AT THE SALUDA LIBRARY

The Saluda Historic Committee is offering this workshop in preparation for the Saluda Tour of Historic Homes and Gardens along Henderson Street on Saturday, June 1 from 1:00-5:00.

If you did not attend the first workshop in March about the historic houses in Saluda, you must attend the second in a series of three, discussing our historic homes and buildings.  This workshop is titled THE SALUDA STYLE: MOUNTAIN CABINS TO RESORT COTTAGES. The speaker is Jennifer Cathey, preservation specialist with the N.C. Dept of Historic Preservation. She will be discussing architectural building forms of the western North Carolina foothills and mountains and the development of residential and commercial building styles in Saluda through its heyday as a resort town.  Historic Architecture is a specialty of Jennifer's, and she provides technical assistance for historic building restoration and rehabilitation to property owners, businesses, non-profit organizations and local government within North Carolina's 25 westernmost counties. We are very fortunate to have her as a speaker.  The Historic Committee can promise that you will learn something if you attend. The format will be the same as the last workshop. There will be time for questions and discussion about your individual property at the end of her talk.  Bring a brown bag lunch, drinks provided.

Attention: Photos Needed!

The HSC needs photographs for the Arcadia Book project, a pictorial documentary of Saluda. All photos will be returned to the owner in the condition in which they were received, or we can set up an appointment to come to your home and scan them so they never leave your home. Donations of old photographs or artifacts will also be accepted for the Historic Saluda archives. Contact Carolyn Ashburn at 749-9886 or carolyn@skyrunner.net or Mary Ann Hester at mahester1@charter.net or 864-325-9292 if you have photos pertaining to the following subject matters:

• Paces Gap/Early Saluda
• The Railroad
• Inns and Boarding Houses
• Historic Downtown
• Smith Hill/ Spartanburg Charity Baby Hospital
• Functional and Fine Arts in Saluda
• Coon Dog Day
• Modern Day Saluda

CD Released! "Saluda, NC: Voices from the First 100 Years"

DVD Available for Sale by Local Merchants

Home, Hearth and History: Stories of Old Saluda can be purchased ($20) through local merchants and at City Hall. You can also purchase it on-line at saludalifestyles.com. All proceeds go toward future projects.

Meetings

The Historic Saluda Committee (HSC) will meet on Friday, April 12, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. at the Saluda Public Library in the upstairs meeting room. The Oral History Committee will also meet jointly with the HSC. The public is invited to attend.

For more information about the Historic Saluda Committee, go to historicsaluda.org or contact us at historicsaluda@gmail.com.

Submitted by Cindy S. Tuttle, Co-Chair, Historic Saluda Committee

 

Saluda Elementary is one of four schools chosen to serve as an A+ Case Study School for the NC A+ Schools Program!   

This month, there are two great opportunities for community members to support Saluda Elementary's PTSO fundraising efforts:  (1) If you order from Schwan's Food Company, please place your order online at schwansfundraising.com using campaign # 40563, or you may ask any Saluda student to see the Schwan's catalog and order form (March 28-April 9).   Your order may be picked up in the tennis court parking lot on April 16 any time between 3:00-6:00pm.  (2) Drop by the school auditorium on the evening of April 16 anytime between 4:30-6:30pm to view themed-baskets and to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win one or more baskets.  Each homeroom is collecting items to fill one of the following themed-baskets: Gardening, Date Night, Chocolate Lovers, Mexican Fiesta, Italian, Man Cave,  Car Cleaning, Bath & Body and Kitchen Potluck.   

Students, parents, family and friends enjoyed the Artists' Reception at the Saluda Center on March 14!  A special thank you to The Saluda Center for displaying student artwork and for providing such a wonderful evening reception for our budding artists!

Upcoming Events at Saluda Elementary School

April 1  Regular school day for Saluda students

April 5  Multiple Intelligences Day

April 6  PTSO Spring Campus Clean Up  1:00-4:00pm

April 8  School Board Meeting  6:30pm at Stearns Education Center

April 12  Spring Photographs by Strawbridge Studios (individual and class pictures)

April 16  Spring Informance  6:00-7:00pm

April 16  Polk County Strategic Planning Meeting  7:00-8:30pm

April 17  A+ Schools Case Study visitors

April 19  A+ Schools Case Study visitors

April 19  Assembly:  Experience Argentina  

April 22-26  SPRING BREAK

April 30  End of the 5th Six Weeks of School

Principal, Ronette Dill

Visit Saluda School for additional school news.    

Box top collection containers are located in the Saluda Public Library, Saluda Post Office, and Saluda Elementary School Office.

US Post Office Store Hours

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

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

Passport Service is available at the Saluda post office.

Get directions by clicking here  

102 E MAIN ST SALUDA, NC 28773-7812 

John Miller Waddill, well known artist of Saluda died on March 1, 2013.

Captain Ramsay Lawson (Ret), USN Retired, 79, of Lake Sheila, Saluda, N.C. died Sunday, March 10, 2013.

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

"Saluda, NC: Voices from the First 100 Years" in CD format. Original recordings of interviews with Saluda's oldest residents documented in the book, Saluda, NC: 100 Years 1881-1981. These interviews were transferred to a CD by Historic Saluda. Price: $17 includes shipping and handling. 

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. 

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.   

"Dog On It" is a unique art show featuring dog creations by artist, Susie Welsh to be held April 26 and 27, 2013.  Opening reception is Friday, April 26 from 5 to 8pm with wine and cheese and lots of fun.  Kathleen's Gallery, Main Street, Saluda, NC will host this event, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Foothills Humane Society.

What would motivate an artist to create a whole show of pottery dogs?

Susie's, "Dog-On-It" sculptures began when she made a pottery dog sitting on a chair which sold at a local gallery during the opening reception. That led Susie to collecting many and sundry chairs to continue this project, urged on by wonderful friends. After making several more, she decided to expand from chairs to other found items (loving a good yard sale/thrift store/flea market excursion!).

"Dogs have always been an important part of my life, and I consider them my best friends. I presently have three rescues (the third pup, "the unplanned family member," was too cute to resist), and each of them is so different in personality and style; they are great inspiration for my sculptures. I tend to give them human attributes (only the good ones!) and that has extended to doing things we all love-chatting with friends, reading, riding a bike, gardening, rocking a baby, and so on. Now I have dogs in cars, on boats, in beds, on airplanes, riding horses, and on and on. I have always been fascinated by big machinery so I also have several "friends" driving Tonka bulldozers, tractors and Buddy L trucks. I make every effort to find handcrafted, antique and/or made in the USA pieces to work with," says Susie.

Kathleen Carson, owner of Kathleen's Gallery in Saluda, enthusiastically offered to host a show for Susie when she saw some of her creations. Susie has been busy since last fall in her home studio creating happy active characters. "Getting them into the right positions and blending dog and human postures is fun. Seeing them come out of the kiln ready to hold a book, row a boat, or play the violin is a thrill. And yes, more than a few have had to be repurposed! That's just part of the process and makes creating them both challenging and joyful," says Susie jokingly.

"I am fortunate that at this point in my life I've learned it's not about making money-it's about spreading joy. So I'm happy when my pottery pups go to a loving home and that a good amount of the sales can go to the Foothills Humane Society which does such an outstanding job finding real homes for real dogs!," says Susie.

More about Susie Welsh:

A retired educator from SC, Susie moved to Saluda and found clay that opened a new world of joy for her. She has taken classes at Tryon Painters and Sculptors, Tryon Arts and Crafts, John Campbell Craft School and Odyssey and has exhibited in juried art shows and in local galleries. Through the endless ways to manipulate and stretch clay, hand-building and sculpting clay allows her to personally express herself.

The name of her pottery business is "Gingerly Touched," named for her favorite herb, Ginger, and the fact that a good potter must touch the clay gingerly.

Susie has also been an active member of the Saluda Business Association for more than five years and a primary organizer for the Saluda Arts Festival, now in its 10^th year. She is also a board member of the Saluda Community Land Trust and volunteers on several community projects.

Pictures of the sculptures can be seen on Facebook/Susie Welsh.  For more information, please contact Susie at 828-749-3900 or email at sswelsh@tds.net.

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

The first thing you notice about Susie is her sparkling blue eyes and effervescent smile. Before settling in the south, Susie grew up in Columbus, OH where she graduated from Ohio State University and chose the teaching profession that she practiced for 40 years. During the fuel crisis in the late seventies, the school system in Ohio closed a few weeks during the cold winter and that's when she and her husband decided to head south to warmer weather.

At first, she questioned her move south to Summerville, SC, but she soon grew to accept some of the advantages that living on the coast could offer. She learned to love shrimping, fishing, crabbing, and gardening.  

While serving as foster parents, she met her soon to be adopted son, Johnny, who was 12 at the time and was living at the Connie Maxwell Children's Home in Greenwood, SC. Johnny and his wife now live in Oklahoma City.  

Spurred on by friends, Susie decided to move into education administration and received a degree in administration. She became the principal at Beech Hill Elementary until she retired in 2006.

In 2005, Susie visited a friend who lived on Pearson's Falls Road in Saluda when doing an accreditation in Spartanburg for Southern Accredited Colleges and Schools. This is when she discovered Saluda.  

By the following year, she had bought a home, retired from education and moved to Saluda. She attended a pottery class at Mud Dabbers in Brevard which was her first time working with clay, and she has been working with clay ever since. Until that time, making nice bulletin boards and cutting out letters freehand were the only artistic work she ever did. With this new found talent, there emerged a new career and business as a potter which she calls, "Gingerly Touched."

Susie is an active member of the Saluda Business Association, Saluda Community Land Trust, Saluda Garden Club, and Polk County Planning Board. She also served on the Polk County 20/20 Vision committee. When she was working in education, she never had time to advocate for other things that she thought were important.  She saw Summerville lose its small town charm in the 20 years she lived there. She doesn't want to see that happen to Saluda, and she plans on being involved in decisions that may affect Saluda's future.  

Looking back on her decision to move to Saluda where she did not know anybody, she sometimes wonders why, but she has never had a doubt that this is where she belongs. Even before making the move here full time, people reached out to her and welcomed and invited her to help with community projects.

Susie says that if Saluda speaks to you, you need to listen, and she hopes that if you decide to make Saluda your home, you will be as happy as she is.  

Rescue dogs are an important part of her life. She has three dogs now: Edisto, Teddy and Tuxedo. She loves dogs so much that she has created unique art sculptures of dogs out of clay which will be exhibited in her, "Dog On It" show on April 26 and 27 at Kathleen's Gallery, Main Street.  

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

Saluda Mountain Lake Retreat

We are a family owned and operated retreat with 40 acres of serenity to relax and enjoy our beautiful mountains.  Come enjoy a romantic getaway, family vacation, reunion, or mountain retreat in one of our 8 family owned cabins for 2 midweek nights and receive 1 night free for April and May, if you mention Saluda Lifestyles!  On-site amenities available for you: Hot tubs, fireplaces, 3-acre stocked lake, sandy beach, fishing, hiking trails, paddleboats, geocaching, and waterfall. Enjoy the privacy of our Blue Ridge Mountain log cabins.

Contact us at rental@ashevillecabinrental.com.  Visit our website and join us on Facebook. 

Saluda Bike & Hike will be extending their hours, their inventory, and their services by teaming up with Keith of Keith's Triathlon Shop.

The new hours will be Monday-Thursday, 10am-4pm, Friday, 2-6pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9am-5pm

We offer bike repair, mountain bike rentals, bike and hike accessories, nutritional snacks, hiking and trail information.

We are located at 459 Hwy 176, Suite C (right across for the Tickle Family Medical Center).   

Phone: 803-609-2190

Email: jdeancole@hotmail.com

THE GORGE™ zip line canopy tour and Green River Adventures are now taking reservations for the 2013 season. Reservations can be made online at thegorgezipline.com or greenriveradventures.com or by phone at 800.335.1530.

THE GORGE™, dubbed the steepest canopy on the east coast, allows participants to zip from tree based platform to tree based platform on over one mile of zip line cable through one of the last remaining groves of old growth forest in Western North Carolina.  Your feet never touch the ground! With panoramic views from Mt. Pisgah to Rumbling Bald, this very unique experience is a must do when you visit Saluda this year or have out of town guests looking for an adventure. The whole town is buzzing about this incredible addition to our booming outdoor recreation opportunities.  

Join "The Gorge" conversation on 

Kick off the Summer with Green River Adventures

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, May 4th, Green River Adventures will be celebrating the start of their 7th season with the annual Spring Green Bash block party.  The east side of Main Street will be hopping with live reggae music by Common Foundation, beer from Highland Brewing Company, and nibbles from the Blue Gypsy, it's a great time to hang out with all your Saluda friends. No cost! Festivities begin at 5:30pm.

Green River Adventures offers guided IK (Inflatable Kayak) trips on the Upper and Lower sections of the Green River, Whitewater Kayak Instruction, and Guided Waterfall and Swimming Hole Hikes.  Their guides and instructors are professionals in the Outdoor Industry, and their trips are super fun and super safe. If you've got family or friends visiting Saluda this summer, a trip with GRA is a must do!

For more information on their trips and reservations at greenriveradventures.com. Click here for directions.111 East Main Street,Saluda, NC 28773

The Orchard Inn  

We're proud to announce being awarded by Trip Advisor - 2012 Certificate of Excellence and by Restaurant.com - 2012 Top Rated Restaurant.

For reservations call: 828-749-5471.

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

Click here for directions.  

Saluda Grade Café  

April is a time of renewal. Spring is really here and things are coming to life. Lovely vegetables such as fresh Asparagus, Green Peas and Baby Greens are popping up on our menus and specials. We are happy for the beginning of the growing season and for new spring menus both at lunch and at dinner!

Spring Caterings are booking up fast, too...so if you need us, give us a call quickly...we would love to help cater your event. Box Lunches can be delivered, too! They are great for group hikes at Pearson's Falls or anywhere in the area.

Do you know that we are continually striving to be the best at what we do? SGC now has only House Cured Bacon, and we are now creating not only our Fettuccine, but our Mushroom Ravioli, as well as making our own Breads! There is nothing quite like Fresh baked bread and hand crafted pasta!

Music on Friday Nights thanks to Alan, Bob and Amy, Becky, Todd and Will is continually Awesome! It is perfect to enjoy while dining, and it keeps even the youngest enthralled! Music makes us dance, inspires us to learn and just to be the best that we can be. Thank you friends for Friday night Old Timey Music! Music starts @ 7...See you there!

Don't forget to visit us on Facebook! We love to share our pictures and specials with you and want to see what you think about what we are making.

April 16, 2013 is our 15^th Birthday!!! Saluda Grade Café is celebrating 15 years of business...Thank you Saluda for your Love and Support!!! We hope we can continue for at least another 15!

Thank you to all who support Saluda Grade Café behind the scenes...all of you who help make our lives easier! A special thanks to Bob and Linda Bailey who do our brochures, business cards and our beautiful new cushions! A super special Thank you to Junie Hines and Ike Dickson who grow produce for us throughout the season and supply us with the wonderful fresh eggs that make baking a Joy! Junie, Ike, Linda, Bob...Thank you! Thank you! We Love you !

Make plans for May! May 5 is Cinco de Mayo... expect some exotic Sunday specials with a Mexican flair.

May 12 is Mothers Day so make your reservations early...we would love to help you honor your Mom!

May 18 is the Arts Festival!! We will be doing a Red, White and Blue Booth (in honor of Armed Forces Day) across the street, as well as having a full staff ready to quickly feed you both Lunch and Dinner! Come say hello!

We are open: Tuesday thru Saturday, 11-3, lunch; Wednesday thru Saturday, 5-9, dinner; "Music on Friday Nights" at 7pm; Sunday 11-7.  

Thank you to all of you! We appreciate and love you! Kaye, Mario and the Staff of the Grade

Visit us on the web at saludagradecafe.com or on Facebook.

Call 828-749-5854 or email us at saludagrade@hotmail.com.  Located at 40 East Main Street.  Click here for directions.   

Histor

April Specials include Frozen Atlantic Salmon, St. Clemens Danish Havarti w/Dill Cheese, and our Wine is Yalumba Viognier 2012 South Australia made from the oldest family winery in Australia.  Come in and ask us how to receive 10 to 15 percent off of purchase.  

April Wine And Cheese Tasting

Remember to come in and purchase homemade frozen dinners to go.  April is the time to plan to be out doors for picnics or taking a walk.  Come by our Meat Market and purchase fine delicious deli meats.  Our Hormel meats; Rare Roast Beef, Turkey, Ham, Pastrami, and Bologna are the best.  Compare ours to other brands and you will be able to TASTE the difference.   

New at Ward's Grill are "Fresh Cut" French Fries. Try them with our new garlic butter sauce. 

New in our wine selection is Saluda's hand crafted, local

"2010 Chardonnay" from Judd's Peak.  Only sold at Thompson's Store! 

Larry Keith & The Lonesome Road Band will be the christening performers on our patio deck on May 18. Bluegrass music, along with good food, beer and wine, will begin at 4:00 PM following the Saluda Art Festival.  

Thank you for your business and your suggestions on how we can better serve you in Saluda. Please continue to give us feedback on more ways that we can be of service to you. 

Just a whiff of BBQ wafting through the air brings to mind  summer time fun.  Need a break from the never ending winter, then stop by for a BBQ, some fried okra, or one of our local beers. 

Daily specials are $4.99 and include:

Appetizer and Small Menu Items for $4.99:  BBQ Nachos, Chicken Quesadilla, Fried Green Tomato and Shrimp Stacker, BBQ Stuffed Potato Skins, Chicken Wings, Portobello Mushroom Fries, Piglets, or Buffalo Shrimp! All day, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays!

Try our five local draft beers or a flight for $4.75 so you can try all five!

Winter hours are:Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-9pm, and Sundays, noon-3pm. 

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

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.   

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.   Keep up with specials on 

Macon Bank  

President's Award Winner

The Saluda Branch of Macon Bank won the prestigious President's Award given by the President of Macon Bank, Roger Plemens.

Mr. Plemens presented the award, made from an old Macon Bank Corporate Seal, during the Bank's Annual meeting held on January 24, 2013 at the Macon Bank Corpo­­rate Offices in Franklin, NC.

"Angie and her staff do an excellent job in helping our customers and promoting Macon Bank. The President's Award is based on customer service, efficiency, loan and deposit growth as well as profitability. We are pleased to honor them with the 2012 President's Award as they exemplify proficiency in all categories," says Carolyn Huscusson, Chief Retail Officer of Macon Bank.

Stop by Macon Bank at 108 East Main Street and talk to our friendly, knowledgeable staff.

We can help you with all your financing needs.

   

       

 Enjoy the warm spring days this year without the bugs, in the comfort of your new screened in porch. Let Kirby Custom Builders create the porch you have been dreaming about. Contact Todd Kirby today!  Find us at kirbycustombuilders.com or call 828-606-0942.

       

Eva at Evening Shade Pottery

What a great year ahead of us! Weddings, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries,  and pottery is just the ticket for that one of a kind special gift! I have what you need!

Evening Shade Pottery is a great place to shop, not only for pottery but also metal work, hats, bags, and dust. The dust is free!  So come by and check it out. Pottery made on site, come in, sit back and watch! Or you can make the pots, I will sit and watch! I might even have a cup of coffee for you. This birdhouse, we will call her "ladybird," is all decked out and awaiting spring.  

 

I can be found in the Pebbledash building on Church St. (behind the Purple Onion) and can be reached at 828-749-3249 or visit me on

      

 

A Celebration of Spring in the Mountains

We here at Saluda's premier Victorian inn have a driving interest in sharing the most exhilarating season of the year! To inspire you to visit, we would like to extend to the valued readers of Saluda Lifestyles a 10% discount for all reservations through the month of April!

 

The Oaks Bed and Breakfast has been primped and dressed for your arrival. Day-by-day, the lawns grow greener, the trees burst into color and the flowerbeds awaken to greet the warmth of the sun, while the woods behind the inn provide a stage for a symphony of birdsongs.

 

Take in the Spring Festival of Flowers at the Biltmore or the NC Arboretum, then enjoy a baseball game with the Asheville Tourists.

 

Spring is the perfect time to walk the streets and shop the shops, knowing that when you return from dinner a welcoming fire will be waiting and a brand-new day will start with a full gourmet breakfast.

 

The 10% discount is available for the month of April - remember to mention that you heard about it in Saluda Lifestyles. A two-night minimum is required for weekends and not to be combined with other discounts or certificates. Contact innkeepers, Dale and Donna, to reserve the accommodations of your choice: 828-749-2000. Click here to visit website.

   

Orchard Lake Campground opens April 1, 2013. It is one of the most beautiful campgrounds in Western North Carolina. Click here to visit the website.

 

Click here for directions. 

 

 

460 Orchard Lake Road, Saluda, NC 28773. 828-749-3901. 

 

Estate Sale

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 27.  Amy Beeson will be hosting a HUGE sale in Spartanburg. Stay tuned for details in the mid-month issue of Saluda Lifestyles.

 

 

Look for the opening of Blue Gypsy Watering Hole in April. Located at 110 East Main   

Street. 828-749-2392. 

The financial markets always move up and down. As an investor, you're no doubt happy to see the "ups" - but the "downs" can seem like a real downer. Isn't there any way to help smooth out the volatility in your investment portfolio?

Your best bet is to diversify your holdings. Unfortunately, many investors think that if they own a few stocks and a bond, they're diversified. But you have to go deeper. For the equity portion of your portfolio, you may want to own stocks representing many different industries, as well as international stocks. And when you purchase bonds, don't just stick with U.S. Treasury securities - consider corporate and municipal bonds, too. You can diversify even further by owning short-term, intermediate-term and long-term bonds.

Keep in mind that diversification can't guarantee a profit or protect against loss. Nonetheless, building a diversified portfolio is a smart investment move - so look for diversification opportunities whenever possible.

Click here to view

This is Doug Rostick, your Edward Jones financial advisor, located at 1038-A Greenville Hwy, Hendersonville, NC 28792. (828) 692-5082.

Member SIPC

Douglass M. Rostick | Financial Advisor | Edward Jones 

1038-A Greenville Hwy  Flat Rock, NC 28731

828-692-5082 Fax:888-227-3980

douglass.rostick@edwardjones.com

Jerry's Baddle is a dual sport race that began in 2006 to honor a good friend, Jerry Beckwith, who had been diagnosed with ALS. The race was born out of a desire to keep his spirit and passion alive by raising money to help fight the disease that took his life and to foster the community he loved.  

In the past seven years, the event has raised over $40,000 for NC ALS Catfish Hunter Chapter and over $10,000 for Green River Access Fund.  The 2013 Jerry's Baddle will be similar to the past 4 years at Wilderness Cove Campground.  One focus in 2013 will be soliciting more cash donations to increase our fundraising.  Solo racers that recruit $150 donation will get free registration, and teams recruiting $250 donations get free registration.

Following the race, there will be a festival for all racers and spectators. All race fees include entry to the festival. For those not racing, a $20 festival fee covers music, food, and parking. There are men and women's shower houses available for racers to clean up.

The festival will start around 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 20 and continue into the night. There will be live music for most of the afternoon and evening. There should be plenty of food for racers and spectators.

For more information on how to register, route maps, rules, how to donate, and more, please click here.  

Wildnerness Cove Campground.  is located at 3772 Green River Cove Road, Saluda, NC 28773 (828)749-9100,  wildernesscove@tds.net.

 Click here for directions.   

A 12 mile tour by shuttle bus in DuPont State Recreational Forest to four spectacular sites: Triple Falls, High Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, & Lake Julia

Tour de Falls provides the general public, families and those with limited hiking abilities a chance to see the beauty of DuPont State Recreational Forest and some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Southeast via shuttle buses. The Tour de Falls begins and ends at the event parking area.

The Event Parking Area is located at 1300 Staton Road in Cedar Mountain, NC 2871, GPS (35.18636, -82.637734), a short distance from the High Falls access and parking area. Look for the Tour De Falls directional signs as you near the event area.

Buses will leave the event parking area approximately every 30 minutes from 9 am. until 2:30 pm.

Visitors getting off the bus at each stop will be able to get great views of the falls, take photos and explore the forest. The tour takes 3 hours or longer, depending on how much time is spent at each stop.

Volunteers will be on each bus and at each stop to provide information about the history of the area and our efforts to protect the historical and natural resources within this 10,400 acre forest.

A donation of $6 for ages 6-17 and $12 for ages 18 and up is requested. We accept donations by cash or check. We cannot process credit cards. Buses are not handicap-accessible. No Pets on the buses.

Visitors should bring snacks and water, as there are no food concessions. Triple Falls and High Falls have covered shelters with picnic tables.

Light refreshments will be available in the lodge overlooking Lake Julia, which is the last stop on the tour.

DuPont State Recreational Forest is located in Henderson and Transylvania counties in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

For directions, membership applications, and additional DuPont State Recreational Forest info, visit our web site www.dupontforest.com.

800-828-4244 Hendersonville Visitors Center open 7 days a week.

838-883-3700 Brevard Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center open Mon. - Fri. a week.

Tour de Falls is an event sponsored by the Friends of DuPont Forest.

Isothermal Community College: A Best Kept Secret in Polk County

"When he speaks, you feel it because he feels it. He puts his all into it." These are the words of one of Dr. Ben Pfingstag's students as she described his classes. Dr. Ben, as he was called by one of his students, has taught art history for at least ten years at ICC. Many of his students stated that they had taken his courses for years, some repeating classes they had already taken before. As one student described the experience of repeating, "His courses grow." Each time he teaches the class, he "adds additional subject matter, additional research and teaches with more depth each time." These same students, in addition, had praise for ICC, saying that it was wonderful to have a place which welcomed suggestions for additional courses and then followed through by finding someone to teach them, also adding "the staff here is friendly, warm, and helpful." As one student said, "ICC has been a lifesaver for me. I do not know what I would do without it."

Ben Pfingstag teaches courses which touch mainly on European and American Art, although he has offered a class which included the cultures of the near and far East, Africa, and Latin America. In his courses, he uses images encompassing painting, architecture, sculpture, and other arts of the culture being studied, exploring their background and the purpose each served...religious, political, social, or decorative. He has developed 12 courses which each last 6 weeks for 2 hours at each class meeting. In his words, "Hopefully one comes away from our 'visual journeys' with a larger understanding of the deep human issues involved in such creations." One of his students stated that his classes make his students realize that we are "all one, are all interconnected." When asked how he felt about his teaching experience at ICC in comparison to his years of teaching in universities in Ohio, Charlotte and Vermont, Ben said that he "can't take [these students] for granted. They have been all over the world and have questions." He feels that teaching these courses is a "different kind of journey." There is "always personal growth in learning" for him. He teaches to "stay young in mind and spirit; and for the immense joy in continuous learning." The courses which he taught this term were: "Medieval Art and the Gothic Spirit" and "The Age of Leonardo and Michelangelo." Coming in the next term will be: "Art of the Baroque and Rococo" and "Art and Revolution: The 19^th Century." In addition to these longer courses, he sometimes offers ones on selected topics which last 1 to 2 hours and also ones involving seasonal topics, such as the course "The Art of Advent" offered this past Fall.     Ben also had praise for ICC and continuing education for adults. He stated that ICC was local, offered immense variety of courses in an informal atmosphere, with low expense, and good access to teachers. His students echoed this sentiment, saying that they especially appreciated the expertise of the instructors and the continuity with the same professors.

Special Events: April and May at ICC:

April 9 and April 16.....How To Choose Interior Paint Colors....Free, pre- registration required, call 828-894-3092. Sandy LeRoy will discuss the basics of color and how to make a fresh start with an overall color plan for your house.                                                      

April 26, Opening reception of the "NEW FRONTIERS ART SHOW": The Third Annual Art Show by students of Don Blackwell...Art will be on display for the month of May at ICC Polk Campus. Both present and past students of Don Blackwell, a well-known local artist who works in pen and ink, watercolor, airbrush, oil, colored pencil, leather, and wood carving, will take part in this show during the month of May, displaying their art in the conference room at Isothermal Community College. This year, in addition to the visual arts, wood carvings will be on display by students in Don's class in woodcarving, offered, by special request, at ICC for the first time this semester. Don teaches beginning drawing, intermediate drawing, pen and ink, mixed media and woodcarving at ICC. In addition, he offers open studio classes.

NEW COURSE CATALOGUE SHOULD BE OUT IN MID-APRIL. Watch for it in your mail or go online: isothermal.edu/polk and select "Polk Continuing education classes." Be patient. It takes a little while to load. For questions or registration: call 828-894-3092.

The first and only bike I ever owned was one bought when I was around 10 years old. That purchase took the entire $5.00 that I had saved up. To me, it was a beauty, a little 24-inch with no fenders, pedals or brakes and rolling on two maypop tires. Most folks know that adult-size bikes normally have 26- or 28-inch size wheels, so mine was really more fitting for a smaller child. It was basically just a stripped down frame with two wheels, seat, sprocket and chain. Getting it road-ready required a little ingenuity since I had no money left to pay for repairs.

The first and most critical repair involved getting some kind of pedals installed so that my leg muscles could propel the bike.  The best places locally to search for such items were the two local gas stations. The Esso Station operated by Joe Raymond Stephenson, Sr. was located where the Blue Gypsy Watering Hole now is. The original Gulf Oil Station, operated by Dar Taylor, was located at the corner of Church and Main Street. After first showing and explaining my dilemma to Mr. Stephenson, he was sympathetic enough to rummage around his garage for left-over parts and finally came up with what seemed to be a workable solution in the form of two eight-inch by one-half-inch steel bolts with nuts.

Unfortunately, when I placed them through the sprocket arms, they had a bad tendency to wobble which made pedaling extremely difficult. I was hesitant to go back to Mr. Stephenson for more help so my next visit was to the Gulf Oil Station. Mr. Taylor also had a fairly large metal-framed garage with tons of old parts stashed around the walls, and he gave me permission to plunder at will for a better pedal idea. Following several hours without success, I went back to Mr. Taylor who then suggested a solution, if I could live with it. He would weld the bolts to the pedal sprocket arms, but the result would mean I would never be able to swap them out for normal bike pedals. At that point, I was desperate to have a bike to ride with my buddies so I agreed, and the steel bolts served as pedals for as long as I rode it.

Lacking brakes became the next biggest challenge to overcome. However, I soon realized that I could press my right shoe against the front tire to stop the bike. That method proved on numerous occasions not to be the ideal solution. It also meant that I quickly wore out the sole on that one shoe which required trips to Hendersonville for a half-sole repair. I have sometimes wondered what the shoe repairman thought when that one shoe kept showing up for additional replacement. The most frequent problem was determining the exact amount of foot pressure to apply in different situations. Road conditions, the type of riding surface, the urgency to stop, and especially those tread-bare tires, all added a little extra rush of adrenalin and excitement to each ride.

Keeping the steel ball bearings of the New Departure-brand rear end in top condition required a total disassembly every few months, then a soaking of the parts in gasoline to remove the last speck of foreign matter before reapplying new grease. Being able to take apart and successfully reassemble that single-gear mechanism added a little swagger to my youthful step when done in the presence of full-fledged mechanics. The ultimate test required turning the bike upside down and giving the reinstalled wheel a good strong spin while timing the longevity with a stopwatch.

The most memorable riding event occurred not too long after I had bought the bike, but before I had time to really hone my braking skills. A couple of buddies began hounding me to show some school girls how I stopped it. It didn't take long before a surge of testosterone overwhelmed my good judgment and I took the bait. After backing up a couple of hundred yards, I came roaring along the gravel road where, with much anticipation, my harem of spectators breathlessly awaited the marvels about to be demonstrated by yours truly. As I flew past the assembly of admirers at what must have been a speed approaching 90 MPH, I jammed my foot hard against the front wheel sprocket and tire. I still vividly recall, in slow motion, seeing myself sail over the handlebars and through the air as the bike went one way on the loose gravel and I went another. Needless to say, the gravel won that battle as each pebble took its own vicious bite from my skin while my prone body skidded along like a fallen snow skier.

Ungodly pain and humiliation coursed through every fiber of my body as I struggled to pick myself up on very unstable legs. Then standing there with tattered clothes and bleeding cuts, I tried as best I could to convince the giggling harem that the trick turned out almost as planned.

'Almost' became the operative word!

Thompson's Store is located at 24 Main Street, in the heart of downtown Saluda.   Contact the store at 828-749-2321 or visit