“If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud.”

~ Emile Zola

Welcome to mid-April Saluda news and notations!

Brilliant spring colors paint the days in Saluda with yellow banners, robin’s egg blue skies, rainbow hues of lush green, pink and more.

Wildflowers bloom in profusion: if you go for a slow ride along Pearson Falls road, you’ll spot them. Please, oh please, don’t pick or dig them up! Enjoy their beauty amid the sounds of the creek and spring breeze.

Our Saluda 130th Anniversary committee will have an auction at Saluda Center to raise funds for “Keep the Celebration on Track” on April 23 starting at 10 a.m. Donations accepted; call 828-749-3789 for delivery information.

The Saluda Community Land Trust annual meeting is April 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the fellowship building at Saluda Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration.

There’s a community potluck with Saluda School students at the Saluda Center April 28, 6 p.m.

Saluda Fire and Rescue Auxiliary will have a yard sale fundraiser at Saluda Fire and Rescue on Greenville Street on Saturday, April 30. Donations are currently being accepted at the fire department.

Plan now to attend the eighth annual Saluda Arts Festival, May 21 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. This will feature 45 juried artists and is a fun art event in our town! I’ll be helping sell festival T-shirts a while in the morning, and then plan on a pleasant afternoon strolling among the artists’ booths! Live music will be featured during the day, and our friendly restaurants and shops will be glad to welcome you!

The Historic Smith Hill tour of homes will be Saturday, June 4, 2011, from 1 – 5 p.m., as part of Saluda’s 130th Anniversary Celebration, sponsored by the Saluda Historic Committee. This is a fundraiser for preservation projects. There will be six houses on the tour, within walking distance of one another. Tickets are available at City Hall and Heartwood Gallery.

Please remember Charlotte, Sheila, Kim, Judy and Barbara in your thoughts.

Kaye Vazquez, hard-working owner of Saluda Grade Cafe, needs your help raising donations for her trip to Uganda for a missions trip that’ll help 725 orphans. I know she would be grateful for any and all help.

Something to look forward to: a little bird reminds me that the popular Saluda Tailgate Market starts Friday, May 6 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fresh veggies, home-baked goods (I never can resist the just-baked pound cake) and happy smiles are always found. Interested vendors can contact Shelley DeKay at 828-749-9615 or 828-749-9365.

Happy April Birthdays to: Dave Prudhomme, Kaye Vazquez, Cindy Keeter, Betty Anna Brown, Marion Fairey, Hope Pace, Diane Pace, Ruth Anderson and Bonnie Bardos.

For my birthday, I’m inviting all of you to share a glass of wine at an informal drop-in “Bonnie’s Wine & Whine” at the Saluda Inn’s Wine Cellar on April 23 from 7-9; the only present needed is your presence and a big hug. I’ve warned folks NOT to bring cases of Depends for me just yet—dust off your disco tunes and bring those instead!

Thank you, dear readers, for reading this column!

I appreciate each and every one of you: and love it when you come up to me and say you’re reading the column.

Keep in mind if you have something of note, feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com; or 749-1153. You may also visit my website at bonniebardos.com.