Saluda Property & Real Estate

A Quick Saluda Market Update

(compares last year's sales with the same period this year as of January 31, 2014). 

Sales              Closed   Pending 

Homes 2014     3          1           

Homes 2013     2          0     

Land 2014         0         0               

Land 2013         1         0 

Foreclosures-REO-Short Sales (Homes) 

Saluda - 2 properties  

Polk County - 7 properties 

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.

The real estate market improved in Saluda in

Click here to see the reason for this increase. 

Saluda Business Association meets Tuesday, February  4 at 5:30 at Saluda Library. 

Saluda Community Land Trust Monthly meeting 3pm, February 5 at the Saluda Presbyterian Church.

Town Council meets the second Monday of the month at 7:00pm in the meeting room above the Saluda Library.

The Historic Saluda Committee The regular meeting with Oral History Committee will meet Friday, February 14 from 2 to 4pm at the Saluda Library.  The public is invited to attend.   

Contra Dancing, Saturday, February 8 at 7pm, Party Place & Event Center. 

Women's Club meets on Tuesday, February 11 at 10:00 am at Saluda Presbyterian Church.

The Saluda branch of Tree City USA

Al-Anon Family Group meets every Tuesday, 6:30pm at the Saluda Center, 64 Greenville St.   

Polk County Extension Club  

APRIL

Jerry's Baddle Green River Race --This duathlon requires Class V kayaking.

Easter Egg Hunt, April 19  

MAY

Saluda Tailgate Market -(May through October)

Spring Green Bash - Hosted at Green River Adventures.

Let's Clean Up Saluda Day, May 10

Saluda Arts Festival -Fine artists and skilled craftspeople from all over western NC and SC. Music, live demonstrations,  and a children's art tent! 3^rd Saturday in May

Top of the Grade Concerts -- (May through October, 2^nd & 4^th Friday)

JUNE

Let's Clean Up Saluda Day, May 10

JULY

Coon Dog Day - A homecoming and celebration for dogs and their people! Great food, live music, parade, crafts, and more! 1^st Saturday after July 4.

SEPTEMBER

Green River Games - Extreme multisport event.

Charlie Ward's Memorial BBQ

NOVEMBER

Green Race - A world Class V kayaking race. 1st Saturday in November.

DECEMBER

Hometown Christmas - Open House and Music. 2nd Friday in December

Saluda Small Town Main Street Updates 

Saluda was designated as a "NC Small Town Main Street" September 2012.  Since then, involved Saludians have formed committees to organize and plan projects and events to meet Saluda's future revitalization and success. The Small Town Main Street program focuses on organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring.  Saluda Lifestyles will update what this dynamic group of volunteers is planning.

Economic Restructuring

Saluda Locavestors

Saluda Locavestors are stepping up to fund a grant program to help downtown Saluda have a more beautiful, vibrant and engaging downtown.

Your tax deductible contribution will help to fund matching grants for downtown projects proposed by organizations, businesses and individuals who want to make our downtown everything it can be. We want everyone to participate and feel a part of this effort.  Make check payable to "City of Saluda, Locavestor Fund" and mail to City of Saluda, P. O. Box 248, Saluda, NC 28773 or drop your check off at City Hall.

We hope you will add your name and thanks to these Saludians who have already made their contribution:   

DiAnne Arbour and James Bergen

Carolyn Ashburn and Chuck Hearon

Beth and Jim Carson

Lynn and Mike Cass

Marcia Crumrine

Livvy French

Jerry and Kathryn Greenhoot

Polk County Community Foundation

Kathy and Glenn Ratliff

Judy Thompson

Peggy and Herb Thornton

Ellen and Wayne Unger

Susie Welsh

Cash Mob- - Scheduled for February 28 at 11am, this is a sales event to help the retail shops on Main Street after a slow winter business.  A pre-registered group of people will meet in the parking lot below McCreery Park to visit a surprise (only the business owner knows the group is coming) designated shop with a guarantee that each shopper will spend at least $20. The group will go to lunch together afterwards. Call City Hall, 828-749-2581, to register.

Meet & Greet - An opportunity to get better acquainted with the Saluda Small Town Main Street program.  Scheduled for May 1, at 6pm at the Saluda Fire Department, Sherry Adams, program director, will review where we started, where we are, and where we go from here. Cookies, soft drinks and coffee will be served.

Design and Appearance

Saluda Welcome Marquee - Raising money and requesting grants for a new "welcome sign" at the corner of Ozone and Highway 176 to inform visitors and residents of upcoming annual events.

Streetscapes - Evaluating our Main Street and how to improve its appearance and appeal to people so they will want to linger and stay longer.

Promotions

Top of the Grade Concerts - Concerts at Top of the Grade at McCreery Park from May to October, two Friday's a month.  Entertainers have been booked for the 2014 season and Polk County Community Foundation has granted funding for the free concerts.

Holiday Events - Held a successful Saluda Christmas Celebration to bring residents together and to also raise funds.  Planning a February Valentine's Party to gather residents to a festive winter party and to raise money for Saluda Small Town Main Street.  Other events are planned in the future.

Top of the Grade at McCreery Park Amphitheater - A conceptual plan to build an amphitheater in the "old skate board park" was submitted to the City Commissioners and was approved to start forward.  Fund raising events will be planned to help with the cost of materials.  Labor will be provided by the city.  This venue will have multiple benefits to the community and can be used by organizations, schools, weddings, and other events.

The Saluda Small Town Main Street committees meet the third Tuesday each month at 9:00am at the Saluda Library.  The public is welcome to attend.

We had a fabulous crowd of over 70 dancers for our 2014 kick off dance in January! It was one of the best dances ever as folks got into the rhythm with caller Diane Silver and Eric the Cat as musicians.

Saturday night seems to be a popular night so remember that all our dances are the second Saturday night of the month. Dancers also brought new folks with their coupon "Bring two new dancers and you get in free." What a lot of folks did was just divide the dollars up so three dancers got in for $6 each. What a deal!

In February, we have the fabulous Charlotte Crittenden whose enthusiasm is contagious which makes her a popular caller all over the southeast. Music will be provided by Wolf Moon String Band with Fred Stoll on fiddle, Lucy Allen on guitar, Pam Stoll on bass and fiddle, Marshall Goers on banjo, mandolin and bouzouki. So come contra on Saturday night February 8th...it is great exercise and a huge amount of fun!

For directions, please visit partyplaceandeventplace.com. For more information or to sign up for our email list, please visit blueridgecontra@icloud.com. See Blue Ridge Contra on FaceBook and for a sample dance visit Gallery.

The Saluda Small Town Main Street Promotions Team will host a Valentine's Party on Friday, February 14, 2014 at the Saluda  Fire & Rescue Department located at 199 Walnut Drive off of Greenville Street in Saluda. 

Dine on a delicious meal of steak or chicken, baked potato, tossed green salad, rolls, drinks, and dessert served from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. 

Enjoy listening or dancing to music from the 60's and Rock & Roll with the band, R&R with Rodney Gibson and Rick Gunderson from "Sound Investment."

Tickets are $25 per person, with $5 per person to be donated to the Saluda Fire Department for their needs.  You will receive a Donation Acknowledgement for income tax purposes for the $5 donation to the SFD.

Children, ages 5 and above, may attend.

Ages 5 - 12:  $15 each (Entre will be chicken)

Ages 13 & above:  $25 each (Entre will be steak or chicken)

A  photographer will be on hand to take your picture with someone you love in front of a Valentine's Day backdrop.  You can preview your picture before deciding to purchase, and it will be framed while you wait.

Decadent desserts include, "Death by Chocolate", Red Velvet Cake, Valentine's Berry Parfaits, and a Candy Buffet.  

Saluda School children are making special Valentine's for the occasion to decorate the Fire Department space where the party will take place.

To observe the holiday of Valentine's of giving gifts, a long-stemmed red rose will be given to all the ladies present at the end of the party!

If Polk County Schools or Saluda School closes due to inclement weather, the rescheduled Valentine's Party date will be Friday, February 21, 2014.

Purchase your tickets at Cathy Jackson Realty, or Historic Thompson's Store, or by calling Terry Baisden at 828-749-3789.

NOTE:   

If you would like to contribute to the Amphitheater Fund, please write checks payable to City of Saluda (indicate for the Amphitheater Fund) and mail to PO Box 248, Saluda, NC 28773.  For questions, please contact Terry Baisden at 828-749-3789, email terrybaisden@tds.net, or Judy Ward, 828-749-2321, email judyward@charter.net.

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

If you are in need of some medical equipment, please call 828-749-9245. We may be able to loan you what you need.

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.   

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

Complimentary Dinner at Bay Breeze Seafood Restaurant - Thursday, February 20, 2014

A couple of years ago our group hosted a Sunday Brunch for the Corvette Club that had spent the weekend in Saluda staying at Saluda Mountain Lodge.

Since then, we have been holding our profits for a treat for our group. At our January gathering, we decided that instead of our typical but successful potluck in February, we would treat our group to dinner at the Bay Breeze Seafood Restaurant in Hendersonville, Thursday, February 20.

We will meet at 5:30pm at the Saluda Center to carpool by 5:45pm to the restaurant.  

Please contact Anita Moore at 828-749-3335 if you will join us so a reservation can be made.

The Saluda Center Book Club invites you to the next meeting on Thursday, February 6, 2014, at 2 PM at the Center.

One Foot In Eden by Ron Rash will be discussed and everyone is invited.

The Saluda Center Book Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 2 PM at the Saluda Center.  For more information, call 828-749-1212. 

One Foot In Eden - by Ron Rash

Introduction to One Foot In Eden (taken from a Reading Group Guide on the Internet).  A richly textured story of love and murder, One Foot In Eden unfolds through the distinctive voices of a small-town sheriff, a young married couple, and those who share in their secrets.

Will Alexander knows there's been a murder in this fertile corner of the Appalachian South, but he can't find a body and no one's talking, least of all Billy Holcombe and his beautiful wife, Amy. For years, the mystery will go unsolved - until the day the power company forces everyone out and floods the valley and family farms where this close-knit community has lived and worked for generations.

Author Ron Rash has crafted a story of haunting beauty and primitive force, tempered by his deep affection for a region often misunderstood.  One Foot In Eden is a tribute to a time, place, and way of life vanishing from the modern South.

Praise for One Foot In Eden

"Equal parts vintage crime novel and Southern Gothic, full of aching ambivalence and hard compromises, and rounded off by bad faith and bad choices.  One Foot In Eden is a veritable garden of earthly disquiet." - Los Angeles Times

"A classic tale of passion and tragedy.  Each voice rings as true as the sound of an ax in the cold early morning air." - Lee Smith, author of The Last Girls.

SCLT is making plans for the coming year.  Committees are being organized and projects prioritized!

We thank Polk County Community Foundation for issuing a grant that will help us to eradicate/control kudzu in our township for the next year. We hope to have more landowners participate as partners in this endeavor. Work will continue on control sites that have already been established. And YES, Thursday decrowning will begin as soon as the weather warms up.

What can you do about your kudzu now? Cut it from the trees! No need to pull it from the tree. Cut the kudzu from the bottom of the tree and any bush (usually privet) that allows the kudzu to climb. By doing this, you are saving the tree and making it easier to start a plan of eradication. The dead vine in the tree is used by birds for nests come Spring and will fall with wind, rain and snow.

SCLT and the City of Saluda have made a partnership for the first Dog Park in Saluda. Come let your dog run loose and socialize. There are plans to improve the current area, and if you would like to help or need any further information, please contact Dave Prudhomme at 828-749-9172.

Start thinking about the summer and the warm months ahead. What fun it would be for you, your family and friends to take the day off and wet your feet! SCLT has been doing a great amount of work to preserve Twin Lakes, an area that has deep history with the Saluda Community. If you are interested in reserving this spot for a festive occasion, or would just like to take the day off with family and friends, please call our office at 828-749-1560. This is a reservation only facility, and a donation is greatly appreciated.

Our next scheduled meeting will be February 5^th at 3pm. We meet at our office in the upstairs of the Saluda Presbyterian Church and 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.

Our speaker will be Dan Wells, an avid local gardener and well-known vendor of fresh produce and canned goods at the Saluda Tailgate Market.  Dan will cover a variety of topics, including soil preparation, seed propagation, fertilization, vegetable and fruit varieties that do well in our area and where to get seeds, equipment, etc.  Following Dan's presentation, he will be available for questions and answers.

The meeting date is February 17^th at 10:00 a.m. in the upstairs conference room of the Saluda Library and the public is welcome.

If you are interested in joining or would like to attend meetings and/or special events, please contact Patty Martin at 828-817-9518.

Some events may be cancelled or rescheduled.  We try to give advance notice but inclement weather or scheduling difficulties may occur.  You may confirm meetings and events with Patty Martin 828-817-9518.

Saluda's Branch (Tree City USA) currently meets the last Tuesday in each month, upstairs at the Saluda Community Library at 6:15pm.  Interested new members or visitors are always welcome.

Tree City USA:  The Four Standards

1. A forester, city department, or tree board is designated by ordinance to be responsible for tree care.
2. A community tree care ordinance is in effect.
3. There is an active community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita.
4. Arbor Day is proclaimed and observed. 

Fulfilling the four standards is an essential part of requirements for becoming a "Tree City USA."  The Saluda group is in the process now of working toward completion of these standards.

For more information, call Ruth at 828-749-9718.  Leave message and phone number for return call.

Note:  Due to inclement weather, the January meeting has been rescheduled for February 6. 

Submitted by Ruth Anderson 

The next meeting of the Saluda Craft Club will be held at 12:30pm on Thursday, February 27 at the Saluda Center.  Since spring is not quite here yet, I thought some fabric flowers would be nice to make.  There are lots of tutorials on the internet and they look interesting and easy to do, so why not join me in making a bouquet.  Bring fabric scraps, hot glue gun, scissors and ¼" dowels or thin branches from your yard for the flower stems.  As always, you are free to come and work on your own craft project with us.  Thanks, and hope to see you soon.

For more information, please contact Holly Wildey at 828-749-3129 or E-mail hollylane47@aol.com.

Do you have interesting photographs of old Saluda? Your name will appear in the book with the photograph if you provide an image that is used.

Members of the Historic Saluda Committee (HSC) are hard at work on a Images of America book for Saluda through Arcadia Publishing. The final deadline to submit photos for the book is February 28th. If you have photos that the HSC may scan (copy), please contact Mary Ann Hester at mahester1@charter.net or call 864-325-9292. Your name will appear in the book with the photograph if you provide an image that is used. Arrangements may be made to scan the photographs at your home, or other designated locations, so they do not leave your possession. The Images of America series chronicles the history of small towns and downtowns across the country. Each title features more than 200 vintage images, capturing often forgotten bygone times and bringing to life the people, places, and events that defined a community.

Preserve Your Family's Heritage

The Historic Saluda Committee (HSC) has been granted a secure space in the Saluda Public Library to store historical documents and artifacts. Items are now being archived in preparation for a future Historic Saluda Museum. Donations of originals or copies of vintage photographs depicting the history of Saluda's families and places are now being accepted. Also being accepted are documents, deeds, art, books, quilts, antiques or other relevant artifacts of historic interest that are in good condition. Contact us at historicsaluda@gmail.com or notify the City of Saluda who will advise a member of the HSC - 828-749-2581. We will gladly pick up donated items.

Help Set the Trend, New HSC Auto Stickers Available!

For only $3, you can help fund future HSC projects and at the same time help set a trend. These stylish non-fading automobile stickers, featuring the HSC logo, can be purchased through local merchants and at City Hall. Buy one to be cool - or be square!

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

Get your copy of the oral history audio documentary, "Saluda, NC: Voices from the First 100 Years." Over 30 years ago when Anne Osborne and Charlene Pace were working on their book Saluda, NC: 100 Years 1881-1981, they conducted interviews with some of Saluda's oldest residents. Luckily, these interviews were captured on what we now consider to be "old fashioned" cassette tapes and were donated to the Oral History Committee. Snippets from these interviews were woven into a story line and compiled into this CD. Funding provided by the Polk County Community Foundation's Saluda Community Fund. The CD can be purchased ($10) through local merchants and at City Hall. You can also purchase it on-line at saludalifestyles.com. All proceeds go toward future projects. Click here to watch the YouTube promotional video.

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, February 14, 2014 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

Nectar Yoga And Wellness Center 

Saluda's Premier Yoga Studio

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.

Saluda Community Library

Pre-School Storytime is held on Thursdays at 12:30pm. This 30 minute program featuring stories and crafts is recommended for children ages 3-5.  

 

Upcoming Events at Saluda Elementary

February 2014

February 10    5th Grade to PCMS to see performance of "Honk Jr." at 1:15pm

February 10   School Board Meeting  6:30pm at Stearns

February 12   Interim Reports

February 14   Half Day for Students--Dismissal at 11:30am

February 14   Fundraiser for Relay for Life:  Pajama Day

February 21   Dentist Richard Reid:  Dental health classroom visits

February 27   Artists' Reception at the Saluda Center (on Greenville St.)

February 28   Campfire Friday!  Mrs. Lewis' & Mrs. Marion's classes will present.

Visit Saluda School for additional school news.    

Principal, Ronette Dill   

Don't forget to collect Box tops! 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 

Sylvia Corne Mintz, 81, of Hendersonville and Saluda passed away January 21, 2014 at Elizabeth House in Hendersonville.

Linda Jones Poole, 69, of Saluda died Saturday, January 11, 2014 in Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation, Hendersonville, N.C

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. 

Sharing the love is easy in Saluda.  It is a place where you feel the love from kindred spirits who choose to live here.  It's a giving community of people who have a history of sharing what they have...their lodging, their food, their time, their energy, and their love.  From its beginning, Saluda shared its mountain homes with people looking for a cool retreat, its healthy mountain air, the food grown on the land, and neighbors sharing with neighbors whose needs are greater than their own. It's a town full of friendly smiles, constant hand waves, and warm hugs. 

It's easy to fall in love with Saluda from the young to the old.  Baby boomers connect to it because it reminds them of the way it was.  The millennial generation like its unique shops and restaurants, safe walks from the school to the library, hiking mountain trails, and enjoying the rushing creeks and rivers.

Social networking occurs in the post office, on a visit to the library, or while eating early morning breakfast at Ward's Grill.

Giving your love away to others makes your own love grow stronger.  There will be a lot of chances for you to share your love in Saluda this February.  From fine dining with live music, to pizza and glitzy card making, to special decadent desserts and wine tastings, to steak, chicken and dancing at the Saluda Fire Department. For a romantic weekend, stay at one of Saluda's fine B&B's and spread the love in Saluda all weekend.  Look for the heart to find all the special love on Valentines.  

Painting in heart by Johnny Waddill. 

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

For Valentine's Day -- Brass Latch & Gardener's Cottage has a wonderful array of romantically inspired gifts for your loved ones.  Victorian styled cards and our ever popular "Two Bad Mice" cards are available. 

We also carry a large selection of oils, soaps, lavender talc, and other scented delights, and, of course, we can't forget jewelry--from contemporary to vintage. If you can't decide, let us create a customized gift basket for you.

Container gardens and terrariums, ferns, mini roses, succulents ... all in unique and unusual containers. 

Seasonal clothing is on sale from 10% - 50% off.  Stop in and check us out.

Our Winter Hours are  

Closed MONDAY & TUES.

Open 11am - 4 pm WED. & THUR.

Open 10 am - 5 pm FRI., SAT., and SUN

 (All weather permitting)

181 Main Street (Nostalgia Courtyard)  (828-749-4200)

Hope to see you soon!

Crust & Kettle Eatery is offering a Valentine's Day Special.  Dinner for two will be $21.95 and includes appetizer, lasagna, salad, bread, beverage, dessert, and a complimentary glass of wine,  5-8pm on February 14.  RSVP by February 12 by calling Doris LaFever at 828-749-3503.  Located at Maggie's Old Saluda Store, 1487 Ozone Drive.

Maggie's Old Saluda Store

now has a Garden House and will have a grand opening February 14 and will be giving a 20% off opening special and free refreshments. Spring is in the air at Maggie's Old Saluda Store and garden center!

A Valentine Gift - Guests at The Oaks Bed and Breakfast feel the love 365-days a year.  The colors, fabrics, textures and decor of this elegant 119-year old Victorian home create a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere that connects people with their hearts . . .  their souls . . .  and each other.

This Valentine's shine the light on the person that has brightened your life by escaping to a pastoral mountain retreat, where bountiful breakfasts and a historic village wait for you!

Guests that book the weekend of February 14 will have their choice of a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine, a selection of designer chocolates, or a spray of fresh flowers waiting in their room at check-in!  When making your reservation, let us know which you would prefer, and the innkeepers will take care of the rest!

In fact, if it is difficult for you to get away on Valentine's weekend, we will extend the same offer to cover the weekend prior - February 7. Please call to reserve the accommodation of your choice.  Gift certificates are also available! 

The Oaks Bed and Breakfast

828.759.2000

Theoaksbedandbreakfast.com

Friend us on Facebook!

The Orchard Inn

Treat yourself and your significant other to a romantic getaway at The Orchard Inn this Valentine's Day. We are offering a Valentine's Day weekend package for $655, which includes the following:

2 nights upstairs in the Inn - *may upgrade to a romantic cottage for an additional amount* (see below), Dinner for 2 at the Inn either night, Complimentary glass of champagne with dinner, Couples Massage, Chocolate covered Strawberries, and a Dozen Roses.

* upgrade to: Keeping Room + $100 / Twin Poplar Cottage + $110 / Boxwood Cottage + $130 / Paulownia Cottage + $140 / Holly Cottage + $190

Originally built in 1926 and called the Mountain Home of Southern Railway Clerks, the Inn sits on 12 acres, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of the distinguished Select Registry and Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. There are 8 rooms upstairs in the Inn, all with private baths and lovely mountain views, a suite downstairs, and 5 private cottages with decks or screened in porches, Jacuzzi tubs, and gas fireplaces.  We're proud to announce being awarded by Trip Advisor - 2012 & 2013 Certificate of Excellence and by Restaurant.com - 2012 Top Rated Restaurant. 

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

Wine Tasting" Feb. 6th, 4 to 6pm in the Grill.  Special "Valentine" Selection.

Mark your calendars now for March 1 to attend the Boarding House Venue Mardi Gras Party.  Tickets will go on sale soon, so get ready to "Reign on Our Parade."

Special this month are New York Strips for $9.99 per pound.   

Shop Local and support your town merchants.

Saluda author, Corinne F. Gerwe, has published a new book, Blood Runs Cold on the Black Side of the Mountain, released by Algora Publishing. Pick up your signed copy at Thompson's Store.

Historic Thompson Store, open Monday-Thursday 8am to 5:30pm, Friday and Saturday open to 6pm. 

Ward's Grill, open Monday-Friday, 7am to 3pm, Saturday, 6:30am to 3pm

The store and grill are located at 24 Main Street, Saluda, NC. Click here to visit the website.  Click here for directions. Phone is 828-749-2321.

Valentine's Day Special!

Whole Rack of Ribs for Two!  Includes your choice of 4 sides, chocolate cake, tea, soft drink or coffee for $19.99.

All Red wine $1.00 off a glass

All draft beer $1.00 off a pint

Hours:

Tuesday-Saturday, 11am to 9pm

Sunday - Noon- 3pm

Closed Thanksgiving Day 

Daily specials:  $4.99

Tues. -  small chopped pork sandwich, slaw, tea or coke

Wed. - bowl of Smokehouse Chili or Brunswick Stew and drink.  

Thurs. - Black Angus Bacon Burger, FF, tea or coke

Fri. - 2 piglets, slaw, tea or coke

Pint Narragansett 1.50

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 

Meanwhile Friday Events for February:

February 7:  Move 'em Out Sale & Wine Tasting 5:00 - 7 PM

Stock up on favorite bottles and taste new wines.  

February 14:  Valentine's Day Specials

Wildflour Bake Shop's Valentine Pizza Party Night!  Join us and be our Valentine.  Molly will be baking pizza & baked pasta plus yummy desserts.  Bring a date, the whole family or pick up a pizza to take home.  Meanwhile will have wine and champagne available by the glass, beer & wine specials.  It will be a fun and cozy time.  

February 21:  Lock Picking 101 and Wine Tasting. 

Bring that lock missing its key or the safe-box you cannot get open, and we will try to "pick" that lock! Join the fun as we try to open locks, boxes and safes that have long lost their keys. We will have locks & keys of all sizes and tools on hand to try to learn to safely open stuck or broken locks. Two new wines will be open for tasting.  

February 28:  Music Jam Session & Wine Tasting 

Bring an instrument and join in the music or just sit back and listen.  Fun for all!  Bring a snack to share. Cheerwine Soda, Fanta Grape, RC Cola, Wine by the glass and beer available.  Wine open for tasting.  

Meanwhile Hours for February:

We now have Wildflour Bake Shop bread and pastries on Tuesday. We also carry Organic Free-Range Eggs,  Vineyard's Edge Cheese and Pesto & Tapenade by special order.  Give us four days notice to have  Pesto/Tapenade ready. High Valley Farms is on site Saturday from 12 noon till 2 PM with greens, eggs, and other fresh produce.  

Open 11 AM till 6 PM Tues., Wed., Thurs., & Saturday

Open 11 AM till 8 PM Friday

Open 11 AM till 5 PM Sunday

Closed most Mondays.  Open other hours or we can stay later by calling us ahead.  

171 East Main Street, Saluda, NC 

Wine Shop Phone:   828-749-9463

email:   meanwhilewineshop@gmail.com   

See us on .  

Kirby Custom Builders

There are many other businesses in our community who have adopted this philosophy. Please show them your support. To receive a list of Living Wage partners in Western North Carolina, or to learn more about why paying a living wage is important, log onto justeconomicswnc.org.

Find us at kirbycustombuilders.com or call 828-606-0942.   

February is the month of "Love". What better way to show your love for your spouse or significant other than giving them a gift certificate from "Tan-Tastic" for Valentine's Day? Although it is cold outside and we are all wrapping up in coats and scarves, Spring will be here before you know it. Now is the time to come in out of the cold temperatures and warm up in our hot tanning beds. Nothing feels better on a cold day than 20 minutes of relaxation and warmth. And don't forget there is always the added benefit of your daily dose of vitamin D which you receive from tanning that makes you feel happier and content. Our special for the month of February is "buy one month, get one month ½ off". The price for the regular beds with high intensity facial tanners is $30.00 a month and the high intensity bed (52 bulbs) is $45.00 a month plus tax. Also be sure to ask about our great yearly packages. We look forward to seeing you all soon!  

Make your appointment now by calling 828-749-1000. Walk-ins accepted.   Located in Nostalgia Courtyard at 19 Pearson's Falls Rd. Follow us on .             

Get pre-qualified today, and make buying your next home a lot easier!

Are you looking for a new home?  While this is an exciting process, it's important to keep some things in mind.  Is the location convenient, close to schools, work, etc?  Is the home "move-in ready" or will you need funds to remodel or make improvements? How much can you afford to borrow from the bank?

While you are looking for your dream home, Macon Bank can help.  Come by and let us prequalify you for a mortgage.  Knowing what you can afford will make searching for your  new home a more enjoyable experience.  We are located in Saluda at 108 East Main Street, and we'll be glad to help get you down the path to home ownership.  We are here for you!

Saluda Faces recognizes Saluda citizens that you may see often and wonder who they are, what they do, and why they live or work in Saluda. If you would like to refer someone for Saluda Faces, please email info@saludalifestyles.com. 

The Saluda Grade restaurant is warmed by the sun drenching through the large front windows and the colorful artwork hanging against the coral shaded walls.  A large chalk board covers the back wall listing specials and beer choices. You may even hear a muted, playful laughter drifting out of the kitchen while the chef whips up creative and fun dishes for her patrons. Most people don't see the smiling face of the proprietor and chef of the Saluda Grade Café, Kaye Vazquez.  Kaye spends most of her time in the back creating and preparing the fine cuisine being served out front. 

Kaye never planned to own a restaurant.  A native from Mills River, she and a friend were relaxing on a beach sipping a glass of wine and her friend said, "If you owned a restaurant, what would that look like?"  Soon after that, a friend told her about a restaurant in Saluda and said that she should go look at it.  Kaye said, "no way" but looked at it anyway, and that was 16 years ago.

Starting on a shoestring and a prayer and all her vibes resisting the decision to open a restaurant, a higher power was at work.  Barriers and obstacles fell away that could have easily stopped the momentum.  Restaurant supplies and equipment were given to her or at reduced prices when she didn't think she could afford it.  Her first staff was made up of friends from the restaurants where she had worked, and they volunteered to cook and serve tables when she first opened.  Everybody wanted this restaurant to open in Saluda, and they helped make it happen for Kaye.

After finishing at West Hendersonville High School and giving up a full music scholarship at Brevard College, Kaye received her culinary degree from AB Tech in Asheville.  During high school and then after culinary school, Kaye worked for Chef Tom Young at Expressions in Hendersonville and says this is where she really learned how to cook.  He taught Kaye how to taste flavors of food and wine and how to combine them to create unique recipes.

Growing up with two brothers and one sister, the whole family would get involved in cooking family meals.  They grew most of their own vegetables and Kaye's Mom taught them how to cook.  Preparing meals was a family affair for Kaye and that's what she strives for at the Saluda Grade.  She is her happiest when she is at the restaurant in Saluda being part of the town and its people.  It's community to Kaye.  She would like to teach families how to cook healthy because if you do it right it's economical and better for you.  Kaye says that fresh food is the best food, and she would like to see more families gathering around preparing meals together and eating together.

One of her most rewarding experiences has been seeing the change in young people who worked for the Saluda Grade while in high school.  They would come in with heads hung low looking for a way to earn some extra money, and when leaving to go to college, they left full of confidence.  They come back from time to time and now are out in the world earning a living in professional careers.

Kaye's church is a big part of her life and this is where she met her husband, Mario, who moved here from Washington State seven years ago. Her mission trips to Uganda are important to Kaye, and she is planning a trip this February to serve at an orphanage with 600 children.  A dream of Kaye's is to help women and children who are homeless or are in difficult times find a place to live and to teach them how to prepare nutritious meals.   She loves planning parties and catering and donates a wine dinner twice a year to help raise funds for the "Friends of Santa" organization.

When not cooking or thinking about food, Kaye spends time with her two grandsons, 4 years and 8 months, hiking, enjoying music, and making collage art.  She once played the flute and baritone sax and hopes to again try to learn to fiddle.

With Kaye, what you see is what you get.  She is open and doesn't hide her feelings.  She loves to laugh and has a sense of humor.  Once she sent one of her staff members to the Purple Onion to borrow some clear food coloring.  Taking the task to heart, the staff person did as asked and when she turned up at the Purple Onion asking for the "clear food coloring" (and the PO staff catching on to the practical joke), they sent her to Ward's Grill.  Picking up on the joke, Judy Ward filled a jar with clear water and put a label on the bottle, "clear food coloring."  Finally, Kaye's staff person caught on to the joke, and returned to the Saluda Grade holding out the bottle to Kaye, gruffly saying, "Here's your clear food coloring."

Named after the Saluda Grade, the café has an unofficial connection to the trains that used to come through Saluda.  Patrons have a front row seat to the railroad tracks across the street.  Kaye said that she used to get calls asking when the train was running through Saluda just so they could be seated at the café when the train came through.  Along with many Saludians, Kaye really misses the train.

When you cross the city line into Saluda, Kaye feels a peace and friendliness.  She calls it a Saluda sweetness and she can feel the love and care that the people have for each other. She thinks it is a great place to raise kids and likes the way Saludians band together to help each other.

Kaye did pass along the secret to her Meatloaf Special.  It's her Mom's recipe off the back of an old Oatmeal box.  This is one of her hallmark menu items that she started out with, but since then, she has expanded her menu since her patrons like trying new foods and new recipes.  But, everyone still loves the meatloaf.

If you haven't been in lately, Kaye invites you back to see the changes in décor and menu items.  She promises that you will love the all volunteer band that plays on Friday night and the feeling of family while you are there.  The band players are Bob and Amy Buckingham, Alan Dillman, Becky Osteen, Todd Neal, and sometimes Lucy Allen and Marshall Goers.

The Saluda Grade is located at 40 East Main Street, Saluda.  Call for reservations at 828-749-5854.  

Heading Back to Uganda!

Many of you know my heart for the children of Uganda and have asked me to let you know when I am headed back to help at the orphanage. Well...here I go again!!  I will be traveling with a group of 5 more folks from the ACTS Church in Arden, N.C., and we leave after Valentine's Day.

Our group will meet up with Pastor Naboth in Uganda.  He runs the orphanage for the now 800 children that make their home there.  These are the children that I met on my last trip three years ago. They found their way into my heart and I am super blessed to be able to return to them this February!  We will be also headed to the refugee camp to minister to the people from all over Africa.  I met a lady from the camp last time that had lost her entire family and got to give her encouragement and hope.  I truly felt somehow connected to her even though our situations and circumstance could not have been any more different.  Our group will also be headed out to do crusades, too!  People come from all over Uganda packed in the back of cattle trucks just to find Hope.  I know where my hope comes from and that is in Jesus.  I'm not much on preaching to people, but I know that what I can do is offer Hope, Peace and most of all unconditional Love.  Sometimes it's a smile or a hug that can soften or heal a broken heart.  I can do both.

I would really appreciate your prayers for me while I am away.  Please pray for all that the Lord is going to do and that His Love shines forth.  Please pray for the restaurant to remain strong and for all the workers that have made this possible.  

The hardest part is the getting there.   $3,000 dollars is needed, quick, quick in order for me to go.  I need your help.  I would be forever grateful if you would like to help in any way...large or small, everything counts!  Please call me or come by if there are any questions, 828-749-5854    P.O. Box 1066, Saluda, N.C.  28773.  Checks may be made out to The ACTS Church with Kaye Vazquez written on the bottom.  You may also use your Visa or MasterCard.    Thank you so very much!!  Kaye

The Robinson Community Garden on Henderson Street is waiting for avid gardeners and for novices who want to learn as they produce food for the home table.  The first sign-up meeting and potluck will be on February 13 at the Saluda Library at 6:00 p.m.  Two additional sign-up opportunities are scheduled for March 13 and April 10 at the library at 6:00 p.m.  Plots will be assigned on a space available basis.  For more information about plots for the 2014 growing season, call Dave and Marilyn Prudhomme for the particulars at 828-749-9172  or e-mail them at dclp@tds.net.

The Saluda Community Land Trust which sponsors the community garden is offering a new service to both new and experienced gardeners who accept a plot in the garden for 2014.  Walter Hoover will make himself available to anyone who would like some hands on practical guidance now or later in the growing season.  He will work with them on an individual basis at the garden. The objective of this outreach is to increase production in, and enjoyment of, the garden plots for an extended growing season.  Learn about soil preparation, inter-planting, succession planting, weed control and other gardening techniques that can increase success and satisfaction.  To  make arrangements any time, you may call Walter at 828-749-5846 or e-mail him at charlesstreetgarden@tds.net .

So, sign up for a plot for 2014 and let February be the month for planning and for ordering seeds in anticipation of the new gardening season.  And, don't forget that March is the month for planting early crops such as English and snow peas, fava beans, Irish potatoes, radishes, beets, carrots, lettuce, spinach, kale and much more.

Submitted by Walter Hoover

Charles Street Garden

Visit charlesstreetgarden.com 

Call for Artists 

SALUDA ARTS FESTIVAL

  Historic Downtown Saluda,  NC

Cultivating and promoting its heritage in the arts, the Saluda Business Association invites you to enter your work in the 11th annual Saluda Arts Festival, scheduled for May 17, 2014.  Showcasing fine arts and crafts from local and regional artists, the Saluda Arts Festival draws thousands of spring tourists visiting Western North Carolina.  

Exhibit Fee:  $60 

Entry Deadline:  March 15, 2014

For more information, please contact Susie Welsh at 828-749-3900, sswelsh@tds.net or Catherine Ross at 828-749-3534, carnc@charter.net. 

Click here to download application.

It was recently brought to my attention by Cathy Jackson that with leaves off many of the trees and shrubs, she could see more birds than usual.  Given this observation and the fact that February and March are a less hurried time in Saluda, let me suggest that you head out for a leisurely walk on one of the in-town walking trails created by the Saluda Community Land Trust.

Most of you probably know the Lazy Girl Loop through the Bradley Nature Preserve with entry from Esseola as well as from Laurel Drive.  Fewer of you may know about the newer and more demanding trail down Chestnut Street, through the old city dump-now the Saluda Nature Park-and  then up the stairway trail to Judd's Peak with its beautiful panorama and an opportunity to see soaring red tail hawks and buzzards riding the thermals.  Both trails offer great opportunities to connect with Mother Nature and all she provides, especially the bird life if you pause along the way or sit quietly. 

This time of year the resident bird population is dominant-cardinals, titmice, chickadees, woodpeckers, doves, Carolina wrens, nuthatches, song sparrows, towhees and blue jays to name just a few.  In addition, you will see a smaller selection of winter guests such as robins, cedar wax wings, and starlings eagerly stripping berries from our native hollies, privet, as well as from English ivy which produces an abundant fruit crop much to the surprise of the less observant.

With longer stretches of warmer weather in late February through March and into early April, begin to look for the returning summer residents-the feathered kind, not the Main Street crawlers.  Cat birds, thrushes, and hummingbirds are among the early arriving migratory species.  Several other species arrive at this time, stopping for a brief rest and several days of hardy fair before continuing to their summer breeding grounds further north.  Noteworthy in this group are various warblers and grosbeaks.

So, shake off winter's lethargy and take a feathered focus walk on the SCLT trails or along our back streets on a quiet day, pausing to observe the signs of the changing seasons and to enjoy Saluda's beauty.

Submitted by Walter Hoover

charlesstreetgarden.com   

Editor's note:

In addition, if one wishes to venture further, one may access the Saluda Adventure Guide Map for other good birding locations in order to enjoy our feathered friends.....  saluda.com/adventureguide or pick one up at local businesses for $2.

Quite often, when I contemplate the subject matter for my next article, it becomes obvious just how many of my youthful memories are associated with trains.

In our small town where childhood boredom often set in, the regular movement of these huge behemoths offered a variety of temporary distractions for young males. For those readers less familiar with the history of rail traffic through Saluda, I will briefly touch on some of the highlights.

For more than a century, the frequent passing of passenger and freight trains up and down the mountain helped sustain the economic life of Saluda. Early history of this legendary track is filled with stories of disastrous freight trains wrecks and associated deaths and injuries to the crews. Adding safety procedures required a small local labor force to maintain this section of rail and better manage the efforts to prevent runaway trains. They also helped to create a social bond with the local community primarily through employment and family ties, thus eliminating any public outcry concerning the daily inconveniences and pollution caused by the trains.

During my childhood, there were two daily passenger trains passing through Saluda which, like the freight trains, were still steam powered. Passenger Train Number 27 climbed the mountain heading northwest while Number 28 went down the mountain heading southeast. These two trains were historically known as the "Carolina Special," running between Charleston and Cincinnati. What is truly remarkable is that there was never an injury to any passenger in over 90 years of passenger operations.

Unfortunately, the safety record was quite different for freight trains heading down the grade, especially in the early years. During the first 15 years between the inaugural run in 1878 and 1893, a total of 29 men lost their lives on this short but deadly run. The subsequent installation of two safety tracks helped to substantially reduce the number of deaths and injuries.

In 1940, a runaway freight hauling several cattle cars wrecked on the grade, killing all but one cow. Local track supervisor Bill Savage, Sr. took the injured young cow to his home on Louisiana Avenue and nursed her back to good health. Later my parents bought her first offspring which became our family milk cow of which I have written in past articles.

One occasional, albeit illicit, activity for young males involved hopping freights headed down the mountain, then patiently waiting for another to carry us back up. At both elevations, each train had to stop for a period of time. Those heading down the mountain had to make more lengthy stops in downtown Saluda while crew members walked atop the rail cars to set the brake pads against each car's steel wheels. This was accomplished by hand-turning a wheel resembling an oversized automobile steering wheel. Depending on the number of cars making up the train, this job could be quite time-consuming. Likewise, trains heading up the grade had to first stop in Melrose so they could be split into sections, as well as to take on a fresh supply of water before assaulting the mountain. A helper engine, also referred to as a pusher, was kept on a side track near the Saluda depot and would be signaled to back down the grade to help push each section up to Saluda. Depending on the total number of freight cars, the trains were either split into two or three sections. The first were referred to as double headers and the second as triple headers. These arduous tasks resulted in a very inefficient use of labor, time and equipment but were a necessary evil imposed by this daunting monster called Saluda Grade. The old expression, "this is no way to run a railroad," was certainly applicable to this stretch of track.

Climbing aboard a rail car was a simple matter of waiting for the train to begin moving, then grabbing the ladder of a flat car before the train picked up much speed. Interestingly, I can never recall a time when we were evicted from any of the trains.

There were several negative sides to having steam locomotives passing through downtown. Thick clouds of coal smoke and ash belched out of the engine stack and indiscriminately deposited a fairly heavy layer of filth on everything within reach. Approaching trains frequently sent people running into stores to escape the blast of dirty air. Likewise, the noise level could interrupt conversations for a brief time, and Greenville Street was usually blocked off for a few minutes to a couple of hours.

Sometimes a friend or two and I would walk down to the Number 1 safety tracks after school or on the weekends to shoot the breeze with a lone switchman. His sole job was to sit and wait for an engineer to blow a signal that his down-grade train was still under control. The switchman would then manually throw the safety track switch back to the main rail which would allow the train to pass on through to the second safety switch where the same process was duplicated.

Occasionally, one or more of the rail cars would develop a brake "hotbox" which would send sparks into the nearby dry vegetation, causing wildfires that were capable of jumping over nearby Highway 176 and racing up the mountain. Southern Railway would send employees to our high school soliciting help in fighting the fires. The hourly pay offered was 50 cents, which was big money to a high school kid. However, in today's litigious society, it is hard to imagine any company offering a young teenager such high-risk work with little supervision or training.  

One very common, but totally safe, activity involved both sexes, no matter their age, laying pennies on the track to be flattened by the next passing locomotive. Sometimes the coins would temporarily adhere to one of the wheels which would then require some effort to recover them further down the track. However, pennies were hard to come by so the lack of excitement limited the frequency of this activity.

Sometimes at night, we entertained ourselves by befriending the railway clerks at the station. These sessions often occurred during the cold months when boredom was apt to be at its peak. An old potbellied stove provided a warm and cozy environment while we marveled as the clerk rapidly tapped out and received messages in Morse code. One of those clerks was Baty Hall, long-time mayor of Saluda. It was also interesting to watch him tie translated messages to the end of a v-shaped pole and attach them to a signal arm which stood approximately twelve feet tall. Soon a train would come into view and the approaching engineer would lean out of his cab to capture the message without having to stop.

To this young mind, such technology was amazing and I felt that we surely must have been approaching the pinnacle of technological advancement!! 

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