Sarah Bell launches Green River Adventures in April. She is NOW booking whitewater kayak lessons and family trips on inflatable rafts down the Green River. Trips will be both on the mild rapids of Green River Cove and the more challenging ones on the Upper Green Gorge in Henderson County.

Read her story in the Hendersonville Times News.

A small sea of red and yellow made its way through downtown Saluda on Thursday, Feb. 22, in celebration of Saluda School’s 1st and 2nd graders’ unit of study on the Chinese New Year.

The students in Mrs. Carpenter’s first grade and Mrs. Rackley’s, Ms. Grochowski’s and Mrs. Gillespie’s second grade classes recently completed their study of the holiday, its country of origin, its traditions and culture.

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, the students held a parade that featured their hand-made kites, lanterns and other Chinese decorations. Led by Physical Education teacher Kathy Angier, who sported a large dragonhead, that is thought to ward off bad spirits in the Chinese culture, the line of students played noisemakers and listened to Chinese music as they made their way down Main Street.

By Stacey Stafford, Polk County Schools

Anniversary Party Features Art of Ken Weitzen and David Vandre Saluda Fine Arts and Cathy Jackson Realty, both located at 46 E. Main St. in Saluda NC, are celebrating their first anniversary with a reception and art exhibit opening, Saturday, March 31, from 6:00 pm to 7:30pm.

Ken Weitzen and David Vandre will be the featured artists at the opening reception. Their show will hang in the gallery through April 14.

Vandre is a fine art photographer. Weitzen specializes in wild flower photography. This art opening and celebration is open to the public.

There will be music, wine and refreshments.

Saluda Mountain Jamboree will be the host again this year for the "Winter Invitational Clogging Competition" on Saturday, March 3, 2007. Chip Summey, sponsor and director of the event says that it will be even bigger than last year. He has over 100 teams registered and that will total over 400 cloggers who will be competiting. This all day event will start at 9:00 am and will continue until late in the evening. Teams will be from NC, SC, GA, FL, TN, VA, and TX. The Jamboree will not have a dance on this Saturday night, March 3rd, but the public can come spend the day and watch some great clogging teams perform.

This annual event is bringing over 1,000 people to Saluda and we encourage them to visit other businesses and attractions while they are in the area.

The Orchard Inn invites you to Wine Weekend March 9 and 10. Tour some of the world's best vineyards, right in the Orchard Inn living room. Two days of outstanding food and wine await. Wine, dinner for two both evenings, breakfasts and an upstairs room for two nights, $475.

Shakespeare Weekend is March 16 & 17. Sit by the fireplace with distinguished Sewanee Professor, Dr. Pamela Macfie, as she brings Shakespeare to life with her award-winning teaching style. Program, dinner for two both evenings, breakfasts and an upstairs room for two nights, $400.

Container Gardening Workshop is April 14. Plant yourself on the sunny deck as Master Gardener Rebekah Cline leads a day of helpful instruction. Please call for details.

Also remember to make your reservation NOW at The Orchard Inn for the Saluda Art and Music Festival (May 19), the Fourth of July, and Coon Dog Day Parade (July 7), our December Dickens Dinners, and our New Year's Eve Gala.

Curtis Wright Oufitters will be offering a 5- week Beginner Fly Tying class on Saturdays from February 17 thru March 17. Learn to tie five different patterns, including the Wooly Bugger and Royal Wulff.

Curtis Wright provides all fly tying tools and customers pay for all materials at a 20% discount. The cost of the course is $75/per person with a minumum of 3 and a maximum of 6 people.

Contact Curtis Wright Outfitters at 828-749-3444 to sign up.

Frank and Amy Beeson are organizing a benefit concert and auction scheduled for Friday, April 6, 2007.

The concert features "The Shane Pruitt Band" at The Tryon Movie Theatre, Trade Street, Tryon NC at 8:00pm.

Auction is at 7:00pm and preview at 6. Auctioneer is Terry Cacciopo of Tryon Auction. Contact Frank Beeson at 749-3210 to arrange for auction item deliveries and pick up.

Proceeds will go toward the $12,000 medical bills of Jeb Bolton. Jeb owns Jeb's Pet Grooming in Tryon and has undergone cancer treatment and has no health insurance. She is a regular shopper in Saluda and financial supporter of music concerts in the area.

Tickets are now available for $20.00 each. call 828- 749-3210 for reservation and other information.

The Shane Pruitt Band

Morgan Auction & Realty provides real and personal property sales and business liquidation. The firm auctions antiques and collectibles two and three times a month. Next scheduled auctions are March 3 and 17 at 7pm. The Auction House is located conveniently off Ozone behind the Apple Mill.

The popular Green River Boys perform at the City Club Grill Restaurant March 9 and 23 at 6:00pm. You can contact the City Club Grill at 749-1800.

The Purple Onion will feature David LaMotte at its monthly Sunday night concert series on March 11. David, a fabulous singer/songwriter, lives in Black Mountain and has performed in the area for many years. His performance starts at 7 o'clock and tickets are $15 per person. Reservations can be made by calling the cafe at 749-1179 or stopping by in person. For more information on David, his web site is More on David Lamotte

Meetings to Remember
Town Council meets second Monday of the month at 7:00pm in the meeting room above the Saluda Library.

Saluda Business Association meets first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 in the meeting room above the Saluda Library.

Artist, Jim Carson has scheduled his spring plein air workshop in Saluda from Thurs., May 31 through Sat.,June 2. Also included is a "get acquainted" party at Jim's home on Wed.night,May 30.

The workshop is entitled "Painting Fast And Loose" and will feature wonderful outdoor painting sights, concentrating on simplifying shapes and applying paint quickly and confidently. There will be an emphasis on color harmony,painterly marks and composition.The cost of the workshop is $300. To learn more click on the link provided and visit Jim's web site or call 828 749-3702. Jim's website.

Random Arts opens March 1 for the season! FIRST 50 CUSTOMERS GET A FREE GIFT!

Random Arts March Workshop Schedule
Sat. 10th - I Am A Woman Who....Altered Fabric Book with Kristin Steiner ( see photo at the bottom of this page). This class is a collage of creative ideas for altering FABRIC. Learn how to distress and age commerical fabric for a vintage look. Gesso, paint and stencils will transform fabric for wonderful backgrounds with surprising texture. Tint and dye fabric for a soft watercolor effect. Stamp it, layer it, collage it with paper and tissue... that's just the beginning of our altered fun. Experiement with transparency transfers and fusible web for easy layering. A discussion of adhesives is offered as well. Once our fabric is altered, we will use it to create an accordion fabric book based on the theme " I am a woman who....". The longings,delights, hopes and dreams of our hearts are featured on each section of this two sided book. Finally, edge treatments to complete the book are demonstrated. This is a great class for all skill levels. $95. includes lunch, and yes, the pattern for the giant flower on the cover is included! A $5.00 kit is payable to Kristi at the time of the class.

Fri. Mar 23rd, Sat. 24th, Sun. 25th Charlotte Quilt Show

Fri. March 23rd Marriot Hotel in the South Park area of Charlotte. 6:30-9:30 Meandering fabric/collage/canvas book $40.

Sat. 31st Janet Lasher /Surface Design Artist- Encaustic Collage Workshop. Encaustic painting is one of the world's oldest techniques to create art. It involves painting with a hot melted media made mainly with wax. Paper and ephemera suitable for collage can easily be imbedded into the wax to create wonderfully intimate worlds. The encaustic collage process results in a layered surface with unique and mysterious depth that also has a surface that can be polished to a beautiful lustrous velvety sheen. In this workshop you will learn proper safety procedures to use encaustic media in the art studio, watch the process used to create basic encaustic media, using only clear/white wax throughout the day; learn to coat collage materials with encaustic media, to apply and fuse layers for a stable collage and how to polish your piece. You will use your own and shared pieces of handmade papers, fabrics, stamps, images, and ephemera to create a very personal 5x7 encaustic collage. Please note: Persons with lung conditions or who are pregnant should contact their physician before signing up for this class. Cost $105.00 plus a kit fee of $10. payable to the teacher.

Visit Random Arts website for more workshop information.

Many Saluda residents and visitors have seen the flyers in town asking you to participate in Nia—(and asking yourself, what is this?) Louise Friedlander has finally provided an answer.

Nia is a non-impact Aerobic workout created by Debbie and Carlos Rosas that combines elements of Eastern and Western movement arts to create a unique fitness class. This healthy approach to life- long quality of life contains elements of aerobic conditioning, muscle toning, body sculpting, stretching and diaphragmatic breathing without using external weights and without causing the body to leave the floor.

The technique has been medically approved as one of the safest forms of exercise for all ages, with each movement being taught on the student’s choice of three levels of intensity. Nia incorporates the basic fitness elements of mobility, agility, flexibility, strength and stability; and each movement form expresses the spirit moving in harmony with the body, mind and emotions.

Taught to a wide variety of music ranging from instrumental to rock ‘n roll, big band to classical, each class addresses the needs of the whole person during the session – and makes staying healthy joyful and fun!

This graceful yet powerful technique uses vivid imagery and colorful visualizations to make each movement simple to execute. It is especially good for people with knee, back or neck injuries, arthritis & joint inflammation, and anyone over 65 years of age. It is also excellent for enhancing balance, concentration and focus since it not only benefits the neuromuscular & cardiovascular systems, but also promotes mental relaxation, emotional well-being & spiritual tranquility.

Louise Friedlander is a Blue Belt Nia Instructor offering classes at the Saluda Senior Center on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10:00am.

A dancer in the Atlanta Ballet as a teen, Louise continued to “exercise” as an adult but never felt the lost joy of dance until she tried Nia at age 61. Nia felt like a “lost treasure,” a way of movement that restored hope in the prospect of healing and vigorous aging.

After completing her White Belt in 2005, “Dr. Louise” retired from her practice of psychology of 28 years. In her new career as a Nia teacher, she brings her extensive knowledge of positive mental process and healthy aging to her classes. With all ages facing the likelihood of longer lives, Louise is enthusiastic about Nia as a safe, inspiring and joyous way to improve health and quality of life.

Louise completed her Blue Belt training with Debbie and Carlos Rosas in 2006, enhancing her teaching abilities. She loves the energy of classes of all ages and abilities, with her students inspiring each other with their own Nia healing stories. Call Louise at (828) 329-1101 or email at nialouise@tds.net for more information. First class is free!

Spaces are filling up! If you are "thinking" about participating in Saluda's 4th annual arts and music festival, then now's the time to get your application in.

The festival is scheduled for May 19, 2007 on historic downtown Main Street in Saluda from 10:00am to 7:30pm.

Music venues will have a Jazz theme starting at 10:30am and running all day at the red caboose behind the Depot. Saluda will celebrate our local musical talent. Performers include guitarists, Matt Templeton, Bob Belmont Ensemble (featuring Bob Belmont, guitar; Frank Beeson, bass guitar; Angelo Zolo, drums), songwriter/guitarists, Tom Fisch; Suzuki Violins under the direction of Jan Dougherty; Blind Willie Dunn's Gin Bottle Four, ragtime, jazz. Wrapping up the festival with big band jazz and swing is Russ Wilson & The Nouveaux Passe' Orchestra.

Art work will be judged and monetary awards will be given in several categories.

To enter the festival or for more information, please contact Cathy Jackson at 828-817-2876, Beverly Pickard at 828-749-3920 , Shelly Dekay 828-749- 9365, or email to info@saluda.com. You may also click here to download an application.

Saluda has been all the buzz with media coverage in February. Blue Mountain Living magazine branded Saluda with "history, charm, and spunk in one small town," in the "Weekender" feature of their February/March issue. See the whole article on their website at Blue Mountain Living.

If you were around town a couple of weeks ago, you may have seen a black truck whiz through town carrying a NBC TV camera man on the hood . The film crew was in town interviewing Robert Pace at M.A. Pace General Store and filming Main Street for a two- minute story on Polk County. Polk County, NC was touted as one of ten "best places to live in rural America," by Progressive Farmer. Executive Director of Polk County Chamber of Commerce, Janet Wooley says that she will be notified when the story is scheduled to air within two weeks.

Pam Phillips wants to remind visitors to Saluda about Camp Waggin Tails which boards dogs. If you find a great place to stay that won't take pets, all dogs are welcomed at Camp Waggin Tails. She is also providing dog walking services. You can reach her at 828-749-3209 or pamphillips@tds.net.

Robert Pace highly recommends reading, "Zoro's Field-My Life in the Appalachian Woods, by Thomas Rain Crowe. This is a story set in Saluda about Saluda people. You can get the book at M.A. Pace's General Store. Price is $16.95

About once a year in the small Southern town where I grew up, somebody would run down the dirt road yelling, "The Gypsies are coming! The Gypsies are coming!"

Women would call in their children and make them stay indoors. My Mother would make me bring in all the lawn furniture and everything that was on the front porch. And I would tie the dog under the house. Then she would want me inside with her where we would lock the door and draw the shades. Periodically she would peer out the side of the shade to see if the Gypsies had arrived and passed on down the road.

She said all Gypsies were thieves and would steal everything in sight, even in broad daylight. Mainly they liked to steal children, she warned. Especially boys like me because they could be trained to work in the carnival.

My Mother told me all this thinking it would frighten me. In fact, it excited me about the prospect of becoming a full-time Gypsy. Not that I wanted to steal, understand. I just liked the Gypsy life of going from one town to another. I was just dying to go anyplace, even as a Gypsy prisoner. I couldn't bring myself to tell my Mother that I wanted to go with the Gypsies. I was an only child and adored by my Mother. But later, after the Gypsies passed by, I would ride my bike down to the carnival grounds and sort of hang around thinking they might snatch me up. But they never did. I guess I've always had an honest face.

Is there a way to sell your property, realize a return on your money, and invest in our community’s future all at the same time?

With the help of Betsy Burdett, Cathy Jackson Realty is working toward that goal with a tract of 22.9 acres on Howard Gap Road. Betsy is working hard to promote an agriculture conservation easement on this land.

According to Land Trust Alliance, “a conservation easement (or conservation restriction) is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values. It allows you to continue to own and use your land and to sell it or pass it on to heirs. When you donate a conservation easement to a land trust, you give up some of the rights associated with the land. For example, you might give up the right to build additional structures, while retaining the right to grow crops. Future owners also will be bound by the easement's terms. The land trust is responsible for making sure the easement's terms are followed. Conservation easements offer great flexibility. An easement on property containing rare wildlife habitat might prohibit any development, for example, while one on a farm might allow continued farming and the building of additional agricultural structures. An easement may apply to just a portion of the property, and need not require public access.”

You might ask why anyone would be interested in this concept. Land Trust Alliance says, “If the donation benefits the public by permanently protecting important conservation resources and meets other federal tax code requirements--it can qualify as a tax- deductible charitable donation.

The amount of the donation is the difference between the land's value with the easement and its value without the easement. Placing an easement on your property may also result in property tax savings.”

If you would like to know more about the 22.9-acre lot in Saluda please contact Cathy Jackson Realty at 828- 749-3504.

More information on Agriculture Conservation Easements

A leaflet from Coventry Cathedral, England says, "When you come to Evensong, it is as if you were dropping in on a conversation already in progress—a conversation between God and men which began long before you were born and will go on long after you are dead. Evensong is drawn almost entirely from the Bible and its primary purpose is to proclaim the wonderful works of God in history. Its secondary purpose is to evoke from the worshipper response of praise, penitence, prayer and obedience.”

On March 4 at 5:00 pm, the choir of The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Saluda, NC, will offer a service of Choral Evensong. The choir will sing anthems by Charles Wood, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Joseph Clokey. We hope you will join us in this Lenten service of scripture, prayer and music. Please call the Church at 749.9740 for more information.

Painting of Transfiguration Church was done by Sylvia Jones.

The Senior Center serves warm nutritious lunches Monday through Friday from 11:30-12:30 at a cost of $3.00 a person.

The Senior Center welcomes all Saluda citizens to join in the activities and programs offered. You don't have be a "senior" to participate!

Monday Activities Schedule
9:30 Walking Group
9:30 Line Dancing
10:00 NIA Class
12:30 Yoga
5:30 Yoga

Tuesday Activities Schedule
10:00 Bridge
2:00 Chair Exercise

Wednesday Activities Schedule
9:30 Walking Group
10:00 Trash Train and NIA Class
10:00 NIA
6:00 Yoga

Thursday Activities Schedule
9:30 Knitting Group
10:00 NIA Class
2:30 Board Meeting (March 8)
6:00 Yoga

Covered dish supper--"Identity Theft Presentation" by Chief of Police, Tonya Lindsey - March 29 at 5:30pm

Friday Activities Schedule
9:30 Walking Group
10:00 Trash Train
10:00 Chair Exercise

Birthday Celebration March 9

Sunday, March 25 3:00Pm - Brevard Theater "Enchanted April"

For more information about activities at Saluda Senior Center call Donna at 828-749-9245.

The Saluda Senior Center provides many services to the growing retirement community in Saluda. Volunteers to provide these services are needed. They encourage you to share your time to help deliver meals on wheels or work in A Thrifty Barn retail shop. Please contact Donna at 828-749- 9245.

Basement Sale at A Thrifty Barn first and third Saturdays of the month.....great bargains!

March 9 No school for students, Teacher Workday
March 13 NC Writing Test
March 16 Book Swap for PreK-5 students
March 16 PTSO Board Meeting
March 19-30 3rd Annual Read-A-Thon
March 19 Grades 3-5 to Tryon Fine Arts Center to see "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe"
March 21 1/2 Day for Students, Staff Development
March 23 Saluda's Lego Robotics Team to Sunny View Elementary & Polk County Middle School
March 26-30 Guest Artist Residency: Martha Connerton
March 28-29 PTSO Book Distribution for PreK-5
March 30 Hot Dog Supper (4:30-6:00 pm in the cafeteria)
March 30 Kinetyx: Evening Dance Performance at 6:30 pm in the auditorium

Readers have requested that Saluda Lifestyles provide a listing of local church services. This is not a complete list but a representation of the denominations in Saluda.

Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
The Reverend Paula C. Morton
8:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist - Rite I
9:15 a.m. - Sunday School
10:30 a.m. - Holy Eucharist - Rite II with music

Saluda Presbyterian
The Reverend Gene Witherspoon
Adult SS 10:00 am
Worship Service 11:00 am

Saluda First Baptist Church
The Reverend Ray Talley, Interim
SS 9:45 am
Worship Service 11 am & 6:00 pm
Wednesday 7:00 pm

Saluda Methodist Church
The Reverend Tony Sayer
SS 10:00 am
Worship Service 11:00 am

No reports from City Hall this month.