“Trouble makes us one with every human being in the world – and unless we touch others, we’re out of touch with life.”

~  Oliver Wendell Holmes

Last week on a warm September morning, no coffee to jump-start the day, I hoofed it down to Saluda Center for SLIP day to take advantage of free health screenings/flu shots. If it’s free, I’m going! SLIP stands for Saluda Living in Place, a new concept aimed at helping seniors stay in their own homes. Representatives from Polk County Library Senior Services, Polk County Transportation, the RUOK program from Polk County Sheriff’s Department, Polk County Dental Health, and Saluda Senior Center were on hand to share information.

All sorts of local folks volunteered to help streamline things. It felt more of a happy gathering among friends, seeing many familiar faces in the crowd. Deciding to forgo the flu shot line, I headed for the WOW van from Park Ridge to await cholesterol, glucose, bone density, blood pressure, BMI/weight — the ‘how you’re doing’ numbers we all need to know. As a line waited patiently outside the van, a sweet breeze drifted through hemlocks, people smiled at each other, chatted and visited.

After Joyce Coates took the blood pressure (without squeezing my arm off with the cuff!), it was on to the bloodletting room. My seatmate getting finger pricks turned out to be Don Clapp whose fingers did NOT wish to give one iota of blood. He gets the award for being pincushion o’ the year … although he laughed that he had plenty of fingers left to stick.

Patty Martin, a retired-nurse neighbor performed bone density tests. Turns out that Patty is Saluda’s parish nurse—which is a free service advocating surgery, new moms, mental health, homebound needs, healing prayer and health questions. You learn something wonderful about good people with big hearts in this small town every day.

Saluda Tailgate Market is open on Fridays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street. This time of year, luscious fall veggies and fruit appear on vendor tables along with baked goodies, honey, mushrooms, local meat and fish, plants and more. EBT cards accepted.

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

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) benefits from your donations or time as a volunteer for their many community projects. “Walks in the Woods” are on the first and third Sundays each month. On Sept. 18 there will be a walk at Fork Creek; carpool from Saluda Library at 2 p.m. For more information, contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org. 

Saluda Train Tales are held at Saluda Historic Depot (HistoricSaluda.org) on the third Friday each month through October. The next one will be Sept. 23 with Rodger Stroup from the S.C. State Museum at 7 p.m. The Depot is open Thursday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

Ward’s Grill will have a free breakfast for all veterans on Sept. 22 from 8-11 a.m.

Art Notes: the annual Art Trek open studio tour is Sept. 24-25 with a gallery show of all participating artists, preview party/reception 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 23 at Upstairs Artspace, 49 S. Trade Street, Tryon. Saluda artists are Doc Welty and Bonnie Bardos.

The 5th Annual Ella Grace Race to End PKD 2016 Color Run/5K Walk is Sept. 24, starting at 9 a.m. at Saluda Party Place & Event Center. Registration is from 7-8:45 a.m.

Happy September Birthday to Wayne Thompson, Connie Woodruff, Courtney Hoots, Merci Weitzen, Dale McEntire, Joni Rauschenbach, Sonya Monts, Linda Kaye Hayes, Carol Kenfield, Debbie Fisher, Leslie Jespersen, Linda Mintz, Sheila Billeter, Cary Pace, Ross Arrington, Hop Foster, Chuck Hearon, Alexia Timberlake, Jason Justus, Beth Carson and Clark Thompson.

Thank you, dear readers for reading this column. It’s my goal to make you feel as if you were enjoying a ‘Saluda Time’ visit on the front porch swing watching sparkling spider webs drift in morning sun. Please feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com or 749-1153. You may also visit bonniebardosart.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.