The earth is motionless

And poised in space…
A great bird resting in its flight
Between the alleys of the stars.
It is the wind’s hour off…
The Wind has nestled down among the corn…
The two speak privately together,
Awaiting the whir of wings.
~ Lola Ridge, Interim

March has flown in: this frisky month of kites, spring promises and daffodils peeking out of snow. Even on the most frigid white days, downtown Saluda retains a sense of life: warm moist air and lunch scents greet your frozen nose when you push through old-timey doors into the friendly grill with red booths.

Any time rain, snow and sleet let up, and spring whispers, you can spot shop owners out sprucing up their businesses for spring and people hover along the sidewalk enjoying a chat, glad to see each other out and comparing notes.

Even those shops that close until March are busy bringing in new goodies, getting ready. Everybody’s ready to bloom! Along the street, under the melting snow, I spot those little forget-me-not blue flowers peeking up, as towhees and other birds declare they’ve had enough winter, too.

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

North Carolina’s Arbor Day Celebration, SCLT and the City of Saluda will partner with Tree City USA for a tree planting on March 20, 1 p.m. at the Ella Grace Memorial Stage at McCreery Park downtown Saluda. The city will receive the Tree City USA award. For many years, Saluda resident Ruth Anderson tirelessly pushed to make Saluda a Tree City, and to educate, protect and promote trees in and around town. The trees planted across from the Saluda Library were dedicated to honor Ruth, and were chosen and planted last year by Walter Hoover. The Saluda branch of Tree City USA meets at 5:30 p.m. at Saluda Library the fourth Thursday of each month.

 

“Walks in the Woods” begin again on March 15 and continue through November on the first and third Sundays of the month. Meet at Saluda Library at 2 p.m. to carpool. Contact Chuck Hearon at 828-749-9886 or 828-817-0364 for information.

 

Litter pick-up is March 9 at 10 a.m. Meet at the library parking lot. Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) will benefit from your donations or time as a volunteer for their many community projects. For information, contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org.

 

The Historic Saluda Committee with the Oral History Committee meets Friday, March 13 from 2-4 p.m. at Saluda Library. The public is invited.

 

Saluda Garden Club will meet on March 23 at 10 a.m. at Saluda Library for a tailgate seed exchange.

 

Saluda Center will host Potluck and Bingo, Monday, March 30 at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Bring your favorite dish to share!

 

Happy March Birthday to: Faye Chandler, Genell Jespersen, Charlene Pace, Valerie Mintz, Sheldon Mintz, Curtis Pace, Anita Odgen Moore, Charles Weinhagen, Kevin Kerr, Dorrie McKinnley, Catherine Ross, Jane Fox, Beverly Pickard, Monica Pace, Ken Justus, Elizabeth Justus, Henry Bright, and Arlene Klippel. Please add your birthday to the list! No ages mentioned unless you’re under two or over 100!

 

Happy March anniversary to Cathy Jackson Realty.

 

Saluda sympathy goes to the families of Glenn Small, Mary Ann Bland, and Spencer Reid.

 

Thank you dear readers, for reading this column! As ever, the goal is to make you feel like you’re enjoying a cup of hot tea and small town life in a friendly little mountain town called Saluda. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, call 749-1153, visit bonniebardos.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.