“Hope smiles on the threshold

of the year to come, whispering

that it will be better.”

– Alfred Lord Tennyson

Welcome to early January 2011 Saluda news and notations! May it be a good year ahead for us all!

The month of January brings the hint of new beginnings and changes ahead. My New Years resolution list is very simple: to love more, give hugs often and not give up: create art and stay the course.

To be much like my dog in heart and character. While dogs are simple, they seem to know what matters most! A few more things to be grateful for: snow-covered January fields under translucent blue sky, snowbirds rustling through the leaves, a warm bowl of homemade soup on a winter afternoon, the hope of purple and yellow crocus buds pushing out from beneath snow drifts, camellia buds, blueberry pancakes with fresh hot coffee, and to appreciate being here, right now.

Happy Birthday to Susan Casey on New Years Eve; and for January birthdays: Foster Archer, Brandy Bradley, Alex Bardos, Carolyn Ashburn, Scott Kinard, Donna Bond, Greer Eargle, Wyatt Alan Pace, Irma Anderson, Paul Aaybe, Rich Rauschenbach and Phyllis Arrington.

Please add your birthday to the list Im always trying to keep it updated. Age not mentioned, unless youre under 2 and dont mind yet.

Good news: Historic Thompsons Store reopens this month! The Wards grill section has been open and grilling those famous hamburgers again this year everyone has been watching all the exacting renovation of the store section for months now: Judy Ward, Clark Thompson and their staff have worked tirelessly. Charlie would be pleased. I can just see him now, white apron on, whistling happily, sweeping the sidewalk in the early morning.

Art notes: The Saluda Center will present an art exhibit by students of Saluda School from Jan. 10-Feb. 4 during regular Saluda Center hours. The reception for the student artists is on Thursday, Jan. 20 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Center, 64 Greenville Street in Saluda. For additional information, contact Anne Jameson at 749-3101.

Plan ahead, artists! The 8th-annual Saluda Arts Festival will be held May 21, 2011 in downtown Saluda. This is a juried event; applications can be downloaded at saluda.com. And are accepted until March 15, 2010. Contact Susie Welsh for more information or to receive an application, at 828-749-3900 or sswelsh@tds.net.

Garden notes: January means its time to start daydreaming in earnest over colorful pages of garden catalogs now, despite the cold temperatures outside; spring planting will be here before you know it! Gardens can still be cleaned up during the winter, and lots of chores done to get ready for growing season ahead.

Community notes: The Saluda Womens Club will meet Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. at Saluda Presbyterian Church.

Saludas Single Women United will have a potluck dinner at Saluda Center, Jan.13 at 6 p.m. All single ladies in the Saluda area are invited to come.

The planning board of the City of Saluda meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Saluda Public Library in the upstairs meeting room.

The Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) will meet Jan. 19. 3 p.m. at Saluda Presbyterian Church. For more information, contact Betsy Burdett at 749-2161.

The community pot luck will be at Saluda Center, Jan. 27, 6 p.m. Bring a favorite dish to share.

Congratulations to Jessica Capps, RN, who was recently honored by Autumn Care of Saluda as their 2010 Employee of the Year. Jessica is Unit Supervisor in Autumn Cares skilled nursing service.

Condolences to the families of Anne Kostiw Lafkoff and James D. McKee.

Thank you, dear readers in Bulletin land for reading this column; as ever, the goal is to make you feel like youre enjoying hot cup of tea with meyour comments are always wanted and valued.

Keep in mind if you have something of note, feel free to e-mail me at bbardos@gmail.com; or call me at 749-1153. You may also visit my web site at bonniebardos.com.