Community: Saluda Welcome Table is held every Tuesday, dinner will be served from 5:30-7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church. All welcome; donations accepted.

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

Picnic Time! To kick off the North Carolina Small Town Main Street Program, the promotions committee is hosting a “Jamming in the Park Picnic” on April 26 from 6-8 p.m. at McCreery Park Pavilion. Bring a picnic; music and good times on a spring evening!

Art Notes: Art Trek Tryon is this weekend April 27-28 with 36 area artists. All artists will be featured in a gallery exhibit at Upstairs Artspace from April 26 through May 25; a preview party will be held at the Upstairs, 49 S. Trade Street, Tryon, April 26 from 5-8. Saluda artists participating this year in Art Trek include: Stoney Lamar, Dale McEntire, Mark Gardner, Jim Carson, Jim Shackelford, Bonnie Bardos, Eva McCray and Richard Baker. We will be missing our Bill Ryan and John Waddill.

Kathleen’s Gallery has an opening for Susie Welsh on April 26 from 5-8 p.m., featuring dogs of all sorts. A portion of sales will  benefit Foothills Animal Shelter. New Frontiers Art Show, the third annual art show of students of Don Blackwell, will be held at Isothermal Community College in Columbus, with students on hand to visit and talk about art over refreshments; opening reception is April 26 from 6-9 p.m.; the show runs throughout May. Also, don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Saluda Arts Festival on May 19.

Saluda Tailgate Market opens for the season Friday, May 3 at 4:30 p.m.

Happy April birthdays to: Martha Ashley, Melody Gibson, Dave Prudhomme, Kaye Vazquez, Cindy Keeter, Betty Anna Brown, Marion Fairey, Hope Pace, Diane Pace, Ruth Anderson, Greaton Sellers, Clay Arrington and Bonnie Bardos.

Please remember Foster Archer: since he’s only 103, maybe he’ll forgive me if I tell his age. When I ran into his wife Libby at the eye doctor’s office recently, I asked her how he’s managed to live so long, so well. She responded, “exercise, healthy living, supplements, eating from a garden — tomatoes, and other good things from the earth.” Makes sense to me.

Thank you, dear readers for reading this 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