Generous spirits have started the Saluda Welcome Table every Tuesday: dinner is served for anyone who’d like to come enjoy companionship and connection from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Saluda United Methodist Church fellowship hall. Donations appreciated; all welcome.

Bring the kids for the Children’s Workshop at Saluda Fire Department on Greenville Street; it’s from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Dec. 15.

Thank you, Laura Fields and Mountain Life Realty for keeping this tradition going every year.

The second-annual Saluda Christmas Parade with everything from dogs, Santa and firetrucks is Dec.15, 3 p.m.

There’ll be another special Saluda tailgate market, Dec. 15 from 1-3 p.m. at the West Main Street parking lot.

Saluda Center at 64 Greenville Street will have a reception for Jim Carson and his France-inspired paintings, Dec. 15, 5-7 p.m.

Jeanette Shackelford will play piano for an Advent recital at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Tryon, Dec. 19 at noon. Wanda May will sing.

Saluda School’s PTSO needs donations of small gift items for their Christmas Bazaar: students can purchase gifts for family and friends. Drop your donations (don’t forget to bring along those box tops for education too) at the school office before Dec. 19.

Happy December birthday to Holly Wilkes, Theresa Wilkes, Perry Ellwood, Donnie Hunter, Jeff Bradley, Preston Mintz, Carolyn Morgan, Susan Casey and Cas Haskell.  Also, a birthday hug goes out to Purple Onion for turning 14!

Thank you for reading this column; as ever, the goal is to make you, dear reader, feel like you’re enjoying a cup of hot tea with me, and small town life in a friendly little mountain town called Saluda.

You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com; or 828-749-1153, visit my website at bonniebardos.com for more writing and art, or find me on facebook.