Everything the power of the world does is done in a circle.

The sky is round and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls.

Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.

The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same and both are round.

Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always come back again to where they were.

~ Black Elk, Oglala Sioux (1863-1950)

Every summer, I gripe, moan  and groan about Kudzilla.

You know, that green monster that’s eating the county — and every year gains more ground.

Recently, I drove down 176 to Landrum from Saluda, making a pit stop by Gibb’s Welding and running errands.

Nope, you can’t get me and slow-moving Turtle on the interstate: Turtle has a fear of being caught on the Saluda Grade in a two-hour back-up from all the construction.

You can’t win. Construction traffic snarls or Kudzilla snarls? Pick your poison, folks.

There have been times I thought that Mean Green monster would reach those sprawling tendrils out and grab: leaving nothing but green vines licking their chops.

It appears that department of transportation and power companies have pretty much thrown up their hands and run for their lives, because there seems to be no effort at controlling the rampant beast. You would think if man can plan on sending a NASA satellite to circle, touch and study the sun, he could come up with something to win the kudzu battle.

Meanwhile the monster’s lurking under the bridge: gobbling it and everything in sight! Beware….

• Saluda Tailgate Market is open on Fridays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street.

• Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday: dinner is served from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church.

• Saluda Train Tales is at 7 p.m. Friday at Saluda Historic Depot. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Learn about the history of the Infants’ & Children’s Sanitarium from three grandchildren of Dr. Lesesne Smith (Nettie Sweet, VeeVee Blackshear and Clara Carter) who live in Saluda. They’ll share how the baby hospital came to be in Saluda and the impact on health of children in the South three decades before antibiotics became available in the 1940s.

• Saluda School Reunion at 6 p.m. Friday. If you’re a former student or teacher, you’re invited,  along with your spouse/guests. Contact Tangie Morgan at 828-777-9158 for information.

• Saluda Community Land Trust’s “Walks in the Woods” are on the first and third Sundays each month. The Moody Trail on Sunday is the next walk (within walking distance from downtown). Meet at Saluda Library’s parking lot at 2 p.m. You can reach SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visitsaludasclt.org. Contact Chuck Hearon for hike information at 828-817-0364 or chearon@skyrunner.net.

• Saluda School News: “Meet The Teachers” day from is 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday; the first day of school is Monday, Aug. 27. To learn more, visit Saluda School’s website at sal.polkschools.org.

   • Top of the Grade Concerts at Top of the Grade Park at McCreery Park continue with O’Neal Township from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 24, and Sound Investments on Friday, Sept. 7.

• Happy August Birthday to B.J. Kent, Linda Kaye Haynes, Paul Stoney, Jen Pace, Zack Pace, Don Mintz, Caroline Tindal, Nora Ward, Samantha Ward, Reeda Ward, Natalie  Aabye, Verlie Murphy, Peter Eisenbrown, Coleman Bradley, Ryan Bradley, Libby Archer, Rodney Thompson, Cathy Jackson, Bill Jameson and Tayloe Francisco. 

Thank you for reading this column; as ever, the goal is to make you feel like you’re enjoying small town life in a friendly mountain town called Saluda. Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 828-749-1153 or visit bonniebardosart.com.