“…I love the present with its layers
 of seconds faceted like sparks 
hammered off the glinting surface.
 I want to stay here endlessly…”

  ~ Alan Soldofsky, excerpt from “Current”

 

Happy first day of spring, dear readers! Last Sunday, watching soft green paths and tender buds emerging through the back yard, I thought I spotted a butterfly flitting. Like a little kid I was enchanted, pointing at the fluttering wings, the hope of an early one: a sign, a beacon, a promise.

Needless to say I did not have on any of the 500 pairs of glasses I leave around the house in various places. Needless to say I can never find a pair when I need them most. Can’t win.

My joyful butterfly turned out to be a lone dry leaf dancing and leaping on the evening breeze. However, it’s comforting to know butterflies and hummingbirds will be back in town. Perhaps soon enough, we’ll be grumping and moaning about sore backs, hips, arms from all the gardening and yard work to be had. As for me, I’m just grateful there’s an end to zero degrees and that white slippery stuff! Bring it, spring!

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

North Carolina’s Arbor Day Celebration, SCLT and the City of Saluda will partner with Tree City USA for a tree planting on March 20 at 1 p.m. at the Ella Grace Memorial Stage at McCreery Park downtown Saluda. The city will receive the Tree City USA award. The Saluda branch of Tree City USA meets at 5:30 p.m. at Saluda Library the fourth Thursday of each month. Their next meeting is March 26.

 

“Walks in the Woods” will continue through November on the first and third Sundays of the month. Meet at Saluda Library at 2 p.m. to carpool. Contact Chuck Hearon at 828-749-9886 or 828-817-0364 for information. Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) will benefit from your donations or time as a volunteer for their many community projects. For information, contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org.

 

Saluda Garden Club will meet on March 23 at 10 a.m. at Saluda Library for a tailgate seed exchange. 

Come enjoy a Saluda Center potluck and bingo night on March 30 at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Bring your favorite dish to share!

 

If you are still uninsured because you do not make enough money to qualify for credits to help you get insurance through the Affordable Care Act, you may be able to get medical care from The Free Clinics (thefreeclinics.org) in Hendersonville, which has partnered with Polk Wellness in Polk County.  Since our medical center has closed its doors, this is important to know for those who still are without a health care provider.

 

Happy March Birthday to: Faye Chandler, Genell Jespersen, Charlene Pace, Valerie Mintz, Sheldon Mintz, Curtis Pace, Anita Odgen Moore, Charles Weinhagen, Kevin Kerr, Dorrie McKinnley, Catherine Ross, Jane Fox, Beverly Pickard, Monica Pace, Ken Justus, Elizabeth Justus, Henry Bright, and Arlene Klippel. Please add your birthday to the list!

 

Thank you dear readers, for reading this column! Whether you live here, or just wish you were here, the goal is to make you feel welcome and right at home in our friendly little mountain town called Saluda. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, call 749-1153, visit bonniebardos.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.

 

 

#30