By Bonnie J. Bardos 

“I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown; for going out, I found, was really going in.”  ~ John Muir   

 

Decorated from top to bottom for this Saturday’s Coon Dog Day, Saluda wears her best summer finery with banners, flags, bright flowers sparkling along historic Main Street. Yesterday on a baking-hot day, I left the small town life for another world on the other side of Charlotte to visit my brother and get the new beehive he’d promised me. Since he’s a beekeeper with four bee yards, he’d found a spare one with my name on it.

 

The hive will be placed in the backyard garden after I paint it and set it up on blocks. (Dear Reader, I promise there were no bees in it on the long haul back through big-city traffic, missed exits, unfamiliar scenery in that alien concrete world!)

 

Jet planes lifting off and landing non-stop, countless 18-wheelers blowing by, crazy drivers of all kinds, too much concrete, haze and congestion — I cannot tell you how grateful I was to roll home to the little town I know and love.

 

Home. Where horns may toot in friendly greetings, instead of pounding road rage. Back to gentle breezes, peaceful porch, shady forest-green of a quiet garden waiting for the new hive, shimmering evening shadows whispering among bright phlox blooms. Home to a River dog wagging at the door, proud of not breaking his 100 percent no-accident record all day long.

 

No jet planes roaring, no hulking trucks barreling, no sea of endless strip malls and buildings, no fields of steaming asphalt. There’s just something very, very lovely in how there aren’t those things, and how lovely it is to know that the things we don’t have are very wonderful indeed not to have, in a world that has way too many of those things. Summer finery, indeed, and old brick buildings, street benches, park swings, and a little town with a big heart that loves dogs and celebrates ’em every year. Home.

 

Saluda Tailgate Market is Friday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street with summer produce in jewel colors, along with honey, flowers, trout, meats. Local and fresh!

 

Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday, with dinner from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church. All are welcome; donations are accepted.

 

The Historic Saluda Committee and Oral History Committee meet July 10, 2-4 p.m. at  Saluda Library.

 

Coon Dog Day, a Saluda tradition for over 50 years, is here! It’s Saturday, July 11 with parade at 11. The 5K Race/Fun Walk starts at 8:00 a.m. from The Party Place & Event Center.

 

Veterans are welcome to a free breakfast at Ward’s Grill, July 16, 8-10 a.m.

 

Saluda Community Land Trust has Wednesday swimming through August 26 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Twin Lakes. There is no lifeguard, so children must have an adult along. Donations are appreciated. “Walks in the Woods” will be on July 19 to walk to Saluda Nature Park; meet at Saluda Library at 2 p.m. Contact Chuck Hearon at 828-749-9886 or 828-817-0364 for walk information or SCLT at 828-749-1560 or saludasclt.org.

 

Top of the Grade Concerts are held the second and fourth Fridays through October, 6:30- 8:30 p.m. at McCreery Park at the Ella Grace Mintz stage area. Aaron Burdett and his band are featured July 10 with selections from our hometown boy’s newly released “Tinderbox” CD.

 

Happy July birthday to Doris Marion, Debi Thomas, Rheta Foster, Nancy Weinhagen, Lisa Obermiller, Kathy Thompson, Bill Jameson, Emily Rose Ford, Jeremy Ford, Mike Cass, Emma Jean McGraw, Nathen Pack, Melissa Justus, Hunter Justus, Alyssa Justus, Tona Justus and Lynn Savage.
Thank you, dear readers for reading this column! It’s always my goal to make you feel like you’re having a front porch visit and enjoying life in a small town called Saluda. If you have something of note or a birthday to add to the list, feel free to email me at bbardos@gmail.com, call 749-1153, visit bonniebardos.com or find me on Facebook.