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“Such trees as there were allowed their leaves to fall—they fell unnoticed—seeming to promise, not without bitterness, to endure another year.” ~ James Baldwin

 

November tiptoed in the creaking back porch door when we weren’t looking, Dear Reader. Here she is, carrying a vine basket of fall pumpkins and good-ole daylight savings time this weekend. Not sure I’m thrilled about that time stuff yet again—I never recover, let alone keep up with all the device/battery changes. There are times it IS nice to have a smartphone—the critter does the change all by itself, no monkeying from me needed! 

All that aside, everybody and his brother want something mentioned: Election Day is next Tuesday. For goodness sake, VOTE, and vote with wisdom and a clear eye to doing the right thing. Lies and ridiculous posturing are not what we should base hard-won votes on. 

Then, there’s the brou-ha-ha about a potential opioid-treatment facility heading to the Fork Creek community: neighbors are in an uproar. (Not exactly a wise place to put it, seems it should be near a hospital and services, not out in the boondocks.) There, I’ve mentioned two pressing issues in one small column with free advice thrown in. 

When chaos gets overwhelming, I head out to the garden, hunt for some quiet (which is not all that easy to find), and find peace with leaves whispering down, floating on silver-mirrored water in Turkish-carpet colors; the scent of deerskin-brown pine straw sharp upon November breezes as I tuck needles gently around plants. 

Saluda Winter Market is at Saluda Center, 64 Greenville Street, on 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 9-12 through April. Plan on visiting on November 12 for free spiced popcorn and a chance to win a market gift certificate!November – April 

Mountain Song Community Chorus will present a free concert at Saluda Elementary School’s auditorium (214 E. Main) on November 10, at 7 p.m. 

 

A Veterans Memorial Service will be held on November 11, 3:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial across from McCreery Park. 

 

Join SLIP (Saluda Living in Place) to celebrate SLIP’s 5th anniversary on November 11. From 4 to 6 p.m. at Saluda Fire Department, SLIP will have light refreshments and a silent auction featuring donations from local shops and artists. You can contact SLIP at (828) 749-0049 or visit www.slipnc.org.  

 

Saluda Community Table will be at Saluda Fire Department—the next dinner is November 11 at 6 p.m. Don’t forget to bring your own utensils/plates/cups in order to ‘go green.’  

 

The Saluda Visitor Center, 20 W. Main, has fall hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (closed Thanksgiving). If you’d like to be a volunteer or learn more, contact Lynn Casey at caseysaluda@gmail.com/

 

Heartwood Gallery’s annual holiday fundraiser ornament this holiday season is “Joy,” hand-cast pewter from Beehive Handmade in Providence, Rhode Island. All proceeds go to Thermal Belt Outreach, a non-profit that provides financial and food assistance to Polk County residents in need. 

 

Saluda Library is featuring nature prints by local artist Lori Loftus through November 30. Storytime for ages 2-5 is Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. 

Saluda Pop-Up Pantry is Tuesday from 1 to 6 p.m. at Saluda Presbyterian Church, 54 Carolina Avenue (behind Saluda Library). To volunteer at the Pantry, call Saluda Church of the Transfiguration, at 828-749-9740. The Pantry has doubled the clients it helps this year and needs your financial support: mail tax-deductible donations to Saluda Pop-Up Pantry, P.O. Box 428, Saluda, NC 28773 or donate online at www.saludapantrycom; or through Amazon Smile. 

 

Happy November Birthday to Jared Scott, Karen Johnson, Nancy Barnett, Dawn Pearson, Dusty Jespersen, Gwen Garren, Stoney Lamar, Jim Boyle, Tom Ellwood,  Wendy McEntire, Aaron Burdett,  Jane Thompson, Candy Oakes, Bruce Hunt, James Hrynyshyn, Hannah Jane Kirby, Shirley Chamberlain, Sam Woodbery, Glenn Morgan, and Trish Carey. 

 

Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, (828) 817-6765, P.O. Box 331, Saluda, NC 28773, Facebook, or visit bonniebardos.com