By Bonnie J. Bardos 

“Let my dream while I’m wide-awake 
loose. Let me be drowned, baptized, 
in the light given me. Day comes around, 
night, fall, winter, spring, 
summer. Leaves overhead, underfoot…”

~ William Stafford, excerpt from “Adrift”

 

Welcome to June, dear readers. Yesterday, I spotted the first Japanese beetle of the season sunning on the front porch steps. Let’s just say he’s no longer enjoying reclining in the sun or munching the garden roses, but his kin folks are probably moving in with suitcases and forks for the summer.

Around Saluda, kids are out of school on summer vacation, June evenings stretch languidly over soft blue mountains a little longer, whispering lazy summer coming. It’s the time of fireflies, of picnics, of sweet freedom from school. True, I may be slightly past those carefree days of being a kid, although the kid in my heart remains. Oh, the deliciousness of sleeping in a little later, watching the morning light slant through lace curtains, campfires and s’mores, Saturday trips to the library in town, distant sounds of coffee percolating, parents talking over newspaper rustles, roosters crowing, bare toes kissing cool green grass, of running, leaping, jumping and Band-aids on knees…of forts in the woods, grilled corn, home-churned ice cream. It’s the time of fireflies. Magic.

 

​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 accepted.

 

Saluda Tailgate Market is open on Fridays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street. Offerings include local honey, produce, delicious baked goodies, plants, and much more!

Saluda Community Land Trust will have a trash pick up day on June 8 (rain date June 15). Bring a friend to the Saluda Library parking lot at 9 a.m. to pick up supplies. It will be free exercise and lots of fun! SCLT’s “Walks in the Woods” 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, SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org for information.

 

A tour of Saluda homes and silent auction to help raise funds for the Saluda Depot will be on June 6. If you’d like to help preserve the historic Saluda Depot located at 32 Main Street, you can send donations or pledges (tax deductible!) to Saluda Historic Depot, PO Box 990, Saluda, NC 28773 or email savesaludadepot@gmail.com. Also, Saluda artists Bill and Anne Jameson are featured at the Depot. The Jamesons are donating 50 percent of sales to benefit the Depot. This exhibit opens June 6, with a reception from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and continues until July 31.

The Historic Saluda Committee and Oral History Committee meets June 12 from 2-4 p.m. at Saluda Library. All are invited.

Enjoy a Top of the Grade concert with “Sound Investment” on Ella Grace Mintz Stage at Top of the Grade at McCreery Park on June 12 from 7-9 p.m. 
Also, 
Shagging in Saluda will be held at the Back Alley Barn behind historic Thompson’s Store/Ward’s Grill on June 13 from 6-10 p.m. Come enjoy dancing and music; while there, make a donation to the Save the Depot fund!

 

It’s not too late to purchase a paver for Pace Park located in the alley beside M.A. Pace Store. Drop off applications/payment at City Hall or mail to City of Saluda, 6 Main Street, Saluda, NC 28773. Proceeds go toward building public restrooms. For information, contact Catherine Ross at 828-749-3534 or carnc@charter.net.

Happy ninth anniversary to Saluda Lifestyles. Thank you, Cathy Jackson, for your hard work! Visit saludalifestyles.com for an excellent presentation of all that goes on in and around Saluda. Our little town is indeed a happening place!

Happy June birthday to Nancy Barnett, Verne Dawson, Peggy Ellwood, Anna Jackson, Charlie Jackson, Amy Violet Ford, Terry Arrington, Julie Arrington, Susie Welsh, Jeremy Edwards, John Savage, and Eleanor Morgan. No age mentioned unless you’re under two or over 100, I promise!

 

Thank you dear readers, for reading this column. It’s always a pleasure hearing from you, getting your hugs, calls, emails, notes and smiles. It’s always my goal to make you feel like you’re having a front porch visit, enjoying a cool glass of tea, birds, flowers and life in a small town called Saluda. You can email me at bbardos@gmail.com, call 749-1153, visit bonniebardos.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.