life in our foothills
July 2012
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Welcome to the good life. Welcome to Life in our Foothills! life in our foothills
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June 2012
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Editor’s Note
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couple of weekends ago I found myself encircled by RVs, grills, fold out tables covered in heaping piles of food, live music and excited people milling about the grassy area around me. I felt as if I was back at my alma mater on a football weekend, but no, I was at the Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled. What a way to feel like I had really kicked off my summer! I met great people from all over our area and the southeast. I enjoyed listening to the lively music of Acoustic Syndicate with my husband and friends. I delighted in a cool June evening set against the backdrop of our beautiful mountains. This issue of Life in our Foothills is all about savoring summer, and what better place to do so than in the foothills of North and South Carolina? We’re excited to share with you stories that we think will pique your interest about your neighbors' hobbies, their philanthropic activities and even their homes. We also hope to give you a sneak peak at some of the events coming down the road, such as the New Harmonies exhibit coming to Landrum. There is more to enjoy about living in our area than we can possibly cover in one issue, but we sure are excited to try! Don’t forget, you can have this magazine mailed directly to your home by purchasing a subscription for $35, or you can pick up a copy for free across Polk County and Landrum.
Samantha Hurst, Editor samantha.hurst@lifeinourfoothills.com
On the cover Arnold Emery, a lifelong resident of the Landrum area and former owner of Arnold Emery Lumber Company, enjoys retirement by serving as a trustee for North Greenville University and occasionally shining up one of the antiques in his collection of cars to drive in a parade. Cover design: Samantha Hurst Photography: Doug Dickerson
PUBLISHER Betty Ramsey EDITORIAL Samantha Hurst Leah Justice Gwen Ring Barbara Tilly CONTRIBUTORS Barbara Childs Robin Edgar Gerda Hook Carol Lynn Jackson Gerald Pack PRODUCTION Doug Dickerson Samantha Hurst Gwen Ring MARKETING Matt Corn Nicholas Holmberg Betty Ramsey Lenette Sprouse ADMINISTRATION Jessy Taylor DISTRIBUTION Jeff Allison Jonathan Burrell Nick Elder Tony Elder
Life in our Foothills is published monthly by Tryon Newsmedia LLC. Life in our Foothills is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Tryon Newsmedia Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Life in our Foothills, 16 N. Trade Street, Tryon, N.C. 28782. Life in our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and upstate South Carolina. Please visit lifeinourfoothills.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $35 for one year by emailing subscribe@ lifeinourfoothills.com, or calling (828) 859-9151, ext. 101. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@lifeinourfoothills.com, or by calling (828) 859-9151.
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Features In Every Issue 8 SHORT STORIES
Honoring loved ones, making nods to history & raising a glass to the queen.
10 OUT & ABOUT
Celebrate the birth of our nation and experience music and arts at their finest.
12 FOOTHILLS FEATURED
Photos from a variety of events like Lennie’s Kids fundraiser, Spring into Summer and graduation.
78 WHY I LOVE THE FOOTHILLS
June Ellen Bradley shares why our foothills drew her back and how the beauty of local nature helps heal.
Arts & Culture 23 ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:
Musicians Phil & Gaye Johnson share their talents.
35 NEW HARMONIES
Landrum Library hosts historic celebration of music. New Harmonies event schedule, pg. 38. 6 LIFE INO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M
24 FUELING THE FIRE
Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival draws record crowd.
30 A CLASSIC COLLECTION
Arnold Emery keeps history alive with his cherished antique car collection.
51 STOP HUNGER NOW
Rotary Club of Tryon gathers local volunteers to pack almost 40,000 meals for school children in Haiti.
54 FOOTHILLS FASHION
This summer's fashion finest is all about details and embellishments - crochet, Aztec patterns and accessories.
58 WATER SAFETY
Make sure you know how to keep your family safe around the pool, lake or even ocean this summer.
Home & Food 40 HOMES WITH A VIEW
We give you a glimpse of three homes – in Lake Adger, Gillette Woods and Saluda – with views that will take your breath away.
45 COUNTRY LIVING COLUMN
Hunger for beauty can mean parting with unnecessary items.
47 FOOD FOR FOODIES
Carol Lynn Jackson gives you a look at some of the many local farms that provide this area not only with fresh produce, but also with locally-raised meats.
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50 RECIPE: OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN
This might seem like a simple idea but here's a way to make this favorite healthier.
Appointments 61 UPCOMING EVENTS
Prep for a summer of busy equestrian activities.
62 TR&HC CHARITY HORSE SHOW
See results from the charity horse show held by the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club Friday, June 8.
64 LEES ACHIEVES SUCCESS
Jodi Lees talks of success she's achieved in the dressage world with her Hannoverian gelding Markee.
66 THORN STAPLE OF DRESSAGE
Hokan Thorn, a staple of the local dressage clinic circuit, returns to the Tryon area.
67 RUSSELLS ON THE MOVE
Susanne and Lincoln Russell move to a new farm.
66 HEELAN'S CHOICE FOR VICTORY American thoroughbreds suit Heelan.
70 SUMMER CLASSIC
View Tryon Summer Classic show results.
72 PONY CLUBS
Keep in the loop on what our local pony clubs are up to this summer.
74 THEN & NOW: DEAD IN THE SADDLE Gerald Pack talks about life and death in the saddle.
74 DUDLEY REPORTS world.
Dudley the donkey shares his view of the equestrian
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SHORT STORIES
Blessing of the bricks Hospice of the Carolina Foothills held its annual Blessing of the Bricks and Remembrance Gathering May 23. More than 100 people gathered to remember and celebrate their loved ones, contribute plants to the ForgetMe-Not Garden, reunite with hospice staff and walk the Path of Remembrance.
Hospice House volunteer Don Cohenour and his wife, Jane, with staff member Wendy McEntire.
Quilt trail
going up in Landrum The Landrum Quilters Association is working to put together a quilt trail through the area. The Polk County Community Foundation’s Mary F. Kessler Fund awarded a grant to the organization to fund the creation of quilt blocks, exterior blocks painted with quilted designs – often both traditional and modern, to place at locations around Landrum. Sizes of the blocks range from 1 to 8 square feet. So far, quilt blocks will be created through the grant for O.P. Earle Elementary School, the Landrum Library, the Hospice Thrift Barn and Thermal Belt Habitat for Humanity ReStore. To apply to have a block made for your business or organization you can apply through the City of Landrum at www. cityoflandrum.com or www.landrumquilters.com. Quilt trails are popular tourist destinations in 30 states of the country. This quilt block currently resides at Landrum Middle School.
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SHORT STORIES
Janet Orselli
featured in 100 Southern Artists
Mill Spring artist Janet Orselli’s work is set to be featured in author Ashley Rooney’s book “100 Southern Artists” when it publishes later this summer. Rooney invited a variety of artists from across the southern region of the country - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia – to submit information about and examples of their work for the publication. This is a sequel to Rooney’s “100 New England,” “100 Mid-Atlantic” and “100 Midwest” coffee table books, which Schiffer Publishing published in 2011. Orselli works out of study space at the Mill Spring Agricultural Center. She plans to show work at Florida State University, the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art in Augusta, Ga. and at the 27th Annual Sculpture show in Lenoir, N.C. She will also have a solo show at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga. later this year.
Diamond jubilee festivities Her majesty Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee was celebrated royally in Tryon on Sunday, June 3 at a high tea hosted at the home of her ladyship Kimberly Noland. Noland’s guests enjoyed traditional high tea fare such as scones served with rich Devonshire cream and strawberry jam. America’s fondness for Britain’s lovely queen was acknowledged as the ladies raised their glass of a lovely citrus punch in her honor and shouted, "Hip Hip Hooray!" Shown left to right are: Francene Friday of Tryon, Anna Svard Thompson of Sweden, Gina Durand of Lake Adger, Carmen Keyser of Tryon, Sonya Noland of Tryon, Lauren Veale of Tryon, Carole Hall of Columbus, Janet Howell of White Oak Mountain and Marilyn Horne of Green Creek. Article submitted by Kimberly Noland. JULY 2 0 1 2
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OUT & ABOUT
CALENDAR OF EVENTS July 4 Fabulous 4th Metric Century Bicycle Tour 8:30 a.m., Harmon Field The Fabulous 4th bike tour includes a challenging course of 67.2 miles with a total climb equal to approximately 7,683 vertical feet. Registration at 7 a.m. at Harmon Field, Tryon, N.C. For more information, visit www.fabulous4thbiketour. org or contact Katie Malone at tricoach@windstream.net.
July 4 Columbus Fabulous Fourth Celebration July 4 at 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Downtown Columbus. The town of Columbus goes all out for the Fourth of July with music, games, amusement rides, tailgate market, craft and food vendors. This is a free family-friendly event that also includes a 5K run at 8 a.m. and fireworks around 9 p.m.
July 7 Coon Dog Day 5K Run
July 7 at 8 a.m., Saluda. The Coon Dog Day 5K run is part of the tradition of Saluda’s annual Coon Dog Day festival, which is now in its 48th year. Race Day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. at the The Party Place and Event Center in Saluda. For more information, call 828-7493676 or visit partyplaceandeventcenter.com/contact.
July 7 Coon Dog Day July 7 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Downtown Saluda. Come enjoy an old-fashioned community festival full of food, crafts and entertainment. Plus, the annual Coon Dog Day parade is always filled with unique individuals, giant raccoons and of course the hillbilly cars. In its 49th year, the Coon Dog Day is expected to draw thousands of visitors to Saluda.
July 12 Valorie Miller & Moses Atwood perform 7:30 p.m. July 12 at The Purple Onion in Saluda
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Enjoy live music such as that performed by these artists most any weekend in Saluda.
July 10, 17 & 24 Music on the porch July 10, 17, 24 Free music on the porch at the Melrose Inn in Tryon. Free music on the porch at the Melrose Inn in Tryon at 5 p.m. invites you to drop by and enjoy the evening filled with musical talent.
July 10 Bright Star Children’s Theatre Presents American Dreams July 10 at 10:30 a.m. at the Polk County Library in Columbus and 2 p.m. at the Saluda Library George Washington, Betsy Ross, Henry Ford and Neil Armstrong are just some of the 22 characters that come to life in this high-energy adventure.
July 10 Nocturnal Animals from Greenville Wildlife Refuge
5 – 6 p.m. July 12 at Landrum Library Ages 10-12 are invited to Landrum Library to come and see first-hand these nocturnal animals.
July 13 Summer Tracks Concert Series 6 p.m. July 13 at Rogers Park in Tryon. Marc Yaxley Trio, sponsored by TD Bank, takes the stage at Rogers Park in Tryon as the third in the Summer Tracks concert series. These are free concerts but donations are welcomed. Water, soft drinks, wood-fired pizza and ice cream are also often available for purchase.
July 17 Locket the Owl from Wild at Heart 11 a.m. - noon July 17 at Landrum Library First to fourth grade students can come to meet Locket the Owl.
OUT & ABOUT
July 17 & July 18 Action Animals July 17, 10:30 a.m. at the Polk County Library in Columbus and July 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Saluda Library Come meet a cockatoo, macaw, monkey, serval cat, binatrong, chinchilla and the worldfamous hypnotized chicken.
July 19-22 Seussical, The Musical 8 p.m. July 19-21 and a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, July 22 at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. The Tryon Little Theater and Tryon Youth Center come together to produce their annual summer youth musical.
July 21 Lanier Library Family Program 2 p.m. July 21, Tryon David Novak, storyteller, will present the annual Family Program.
July 21 Tryon Arts & Crafts Totem Bracelet Workshop 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 21 at the Tryon Arts & Crafts School. Collect your memory invoking trinkets or orphaned
earrings to participate in this jewelry making workshop with artist Louise McClure. For more information, contact Tryon Arts & Crafts School at 828-8598323 or visit www.tryonartsandcrafts.org.
July 24 Melvil Dewey, International Library Hip Hop Superstar July 24, at the Polk County Library in Columbus Melvil Dewey will perform at the library. Dewey is back in the studio recording his second album.
July 27 Summer Tracks Concert Series 6 p.m. July 27 at Rogers Park in Tryon. The Stray Birds and Phil & Gaye Johnson, sponsored by WNCW 88.7 radio, perform in the Summer Tracks concert series. These are free concerts but donations are welcomed. Water, soft drinks, wood-fired pizza and ice cream are also often available for purchase.
July 28-29 Tryon Arts & Crafts Felting Workshop 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. July 28 and
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. July 29 at the Tryon Arts & Crafts School. Felt artist Vicki Bennett will host the first in a two-weekend series of felting workshops. The first will focus on types of fiber and wool, dyeing wool and other fibers, how to "pull" the wool and more. For more information, contact Tryon Arts & Crafts School at 828-859-8323 or visit www.tryonartsandcrafts. org.
July 31 Pajama Party, Movie and Craft Program 6 p.m. July 31 at the Polk County Library in Columbus The library’s final summer reading program will be a pajama party for the whole family.
RECURRING EVENTS American Legion Post 250 Bingo Fridays, 7 p.m., 43 Depot St., Tryon. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Smoke-free.
Green Creek Farmer’s Market Every Tuesday 5 - 7 p.m. Green Creek Fire Dept. Landrum Farmer’s Market Every Saturday 7 - 10 a.m. Trade Ave., Landrum. Saluda Farmer’s Market Every Friday at 4:30 p.m. Downtown Saluda. Tryon Farmer’s Market Every Thursday at 4 p.m. McCown Street, Tryon. Wine Drinkers with a Reading Problem Every third Thursday, The Saluda Inn, Greenville St., Saluda. The group has been working on their summer reading selection, focusing on young adult books. The group meets the third Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at The Saluda Inn.
Columbus Farmer’s Market Every Saturday 8 a.m.-noon Courthouse Square, Columbus.
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FOOTHILLS FEATURED
Lennie's Kids WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY GERDA HOOK
More than 125 of Lennie Rizzo’s closest friends gathered in the beautiful Tryon Estates main dining room on Sunday evening to eat, drink and celebrate his many successes helping stray animals overcome often-catastrophic injuries and illnesses and find forever homes. Take Jewell, for example, a dog near death from a rare disorder hard to diagnose and even harder to treat. Only Lennie’s dogged persistence gathered together a small “village” (local vets Drs. Robert Jones and Donna Raines; professionals at USC Upstate and loving follow-up care from Dogwood Farms) that finally pulled her through. Jewell, who made her appearance during the cocktail hour with her family, Heather and Brad, said “woof woof ” to all her fans. In addition to an elegant buffet, the event included a silent auction featuring artwork, jewelry and many other dog- and cat-related items, and a door prize drawing. Rizzo and his wife, Elaine, have lived in our area for six years. They moved here from Illinois to relax and retire after 20 years of operating a pet-sitting business with more than 200 clients. Six months later,
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he began volunteering for the Foothills Humane Society and raising funds in the community to save animals that would not have made it without extra help. 1. Lennie Rizzo and Brenda Norman. 2. Betsy and Bob Carr. 3. Josh and Astrid Goldstein of Dogwood Kennels. 4. Sally Rock, Russell Rock and Peggy Carter. 6. Pat Viera, Marilyn Yike and Roger Yike, long-time friends and supporters. 7. Dr. Donna Raines, El Peabody and Emily Clark.
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Friendship Council picnic WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY GERDA HOOK
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Folks started arriving early at Harmon Field June 2 to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the founding of the Thermal Belt Friendship Council. Inside the cabin, the big buffet table was loaded with picnic favorites — fried chicken, BBQ, black eyed peas, fried green tomatoes, cornbread and desserts to die for. All 150 seats inside were soon taken; the overflow settled on the deck. The council was formed during difficult times. After marching in Atlanta in 1986, the Ku Klux Klan targeted Tryon. Potluck dinners sprang up at the homes of blacks and whites throughout Tryon to plan their protest strategy. Merchants closed their shops and everyone in Tryon that day was asked to turn their backs on the Klan. More than a quarter century later, The Friendship Council is still building bridges and still gathering around food, according to Joseph Fox, a Tryon native and president for five years. “We’re making strides. Our MLK events draw hundreds every year; we also hold luncheons at local restaurants, and increasingly are involved with the arts community in order to reach out to individuals of all ethnic, racial, age and socio-economic groups,” he said. “In fact, we are committed to inclusiveness. Too much gets left off the table when you focus only on diversity.” 1. Janess Gale McDowell and Tyree McDowell. 2. Eleanor Rogers. 3. Pete Santos. 4. Kate, Laura and Chris Price. 5. Paul Nelson, Jeane Helms and Joseph Fox. 6. Lummie King. 7. Carroll Rogers. JULY 2 0 1 2
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Slow Food Foothills Slow Food enthusiasts gathered among the grapevines Sunday, May 20 at Overmountain Vineyards to celebrate local food and raise funds for the new organization. Stone Soup of Landrum catered the event, while Gigi Dover and The Big Love provided entertainment. 1. Lynette and Steve Whittenton. 2. Carol Lynn Jackson, Lucy Roberts, Sarah Huff and Lynn Sprague. 3. Sarah Huff, Lee Mink and Carol Lynn Jackson. 4. Cara, Mike and Annabel Bosco. 5. Carol Lynn Jackson and Lynn Sprague. 6. Katie and Mike Pittinaro. 7. Joe Pullara, Joey Pullara, Della Pullara, Ben Pullara with John Toomey. 14 LIFE INO URFO O THI L L S. C O M
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Landrum High School graduation
The Landrum High School Cardinals celebrated the graduation of 114 students from the Class of 2012 on Thursday, May 24. This year’s valedictorian was Sheryl Kaurq, while the salutatorian was Danny Bruce.
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1. Jordan Farmer and Bre Cuff. 2. Brandon Cannon and Coach Russell Mahaffey. 3. Garrison, Jeanette and Cole McDowell. 4. Renae Humphries and son, Jon. 5. Brian Culbreth, Class of 1991; Benjamin Culbreth, Class of 2012; and David Culbreth, Class of 1992. 6. Bernard, Aaron, Alex, Alanna and Jennifer Bryant. JULY 2 0 1 2
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FOOTHILLS FEATURED
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Relay for Life
Relay for Life Polk County held its annual event Friday, June 1. Numerous teams gathered along the track at Polk County Middle School to sell T-shirts, lemonade, roasted corn and more in order to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. 1. White Oak of Tryon team members Lisa Toney, Kim Raines, Pam Painter, Krystal Bastarache, Georgia Pack, Harriet Bastarache and Crystal Laughter. 2. Midway Baptist Church team members Virginia Denton and Melena Cochran. 3. Colin and Jimmy Searcy. 4. Maddie Blackwell and Hunter Kilgore. 5. Janice Russell and Naomi, Brandon, Jonathon and Hunter Cantrell. 6. Ethan Edwards, Will Arrowood, Rita Culbreth, Savannah Hipp and Dean Culbreth. 16 L IF EINO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M
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Kiwanis Golf Tourney
The Tryon Kiwanis Club held a golf tournament at Meadowbrook Golf Course May 11. This annual event raises funds for scholarships to graduating seniors, school playground enhancements and Terrific Kids programs in local schools. The Tryon Kiwanis Club meets every Wednesday at noon at the Congregational Church in Tryon.
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1. Tim Jackson, Craig Gillie, Chris Gillespie and John Gillie. 2. Mark McCall. 3. Rosemary Pleune and Bob Weiner. 4. Jeremy Woods. 5. Marjorie Neff and Lynn Montgomery. 6. Denny Rook, Lee Colburn and Chuck Davis. 7. John Gargiulo, Manfred Walter, Jeremy Woods and Roger Newman. JULY 2 0 1 2
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Saluda Women's Club Doo Wop Hop The Women’s Club of Saluda held a retro yet casual evening of dinner and dancing at the Saluda Center Saturday, June 2. The Saluda Doo Wop Hop raised funds for scholarships the women’s club provides each year to area youth. 1. Debbie Hahn and Holly Wildey. 2. Terry and Fred Baisden. 3. Inga Sandahl. 4. Sandy and Henry Bright. 5. Sophie Young, Zoe and Rob Parsons. 6. Cathy and John Rhodes. 7. Lynn and Ron Truskolaski. 8. Marion and Frances Fairey
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Polk County High School graduation
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Polk County High School honored its Class of 2012 with commencement ceremonies Friday, June 8. More than 180 seniors walked across the stage to receive a diploma this year, including Cade Underwood, who was named valedictorian. 1. Akeem Anderson and Joel Booker. 2. Ciera Wilson and Lindy Wicklund. 3. Craig Culbreth. 4. Davie Abril, Emily Antonio and Lee Arrington. 5. Miranda and Andrea Fisher. 6. Skyelar Defisher and Sarah Davis. 7. Katelyn Duncan. 8. Megan Conner, Hannah Clontz and Taylor Collins.
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FOOTHILLS FEATURED
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Spring into Summer
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On June 2, Polk Fit, Fresh and Friendly held the event Spring Into a Healthy Summer that included a community health fair at St. Luke's Hospital, an open house at Gibson Pool and trail walks. 1. Dr. Richard Edney, Dina Edney and Paula Stepp. 2. Keyanna Hill and Alishia Mills. 3. Laura Lynch and Patty Aldred. 4. Debra Backus, Ruth Richardson and Rachel Ramsey of Steps to Hope. 5. Kelsey Shelton and Leiah Yeomans. 6. Lions Club members Fran Goodwin and JoAnn and Jim Kearney. 7. Zachary and Jordan Holdcraft. 8. Marquise Hill and Marlo Longshore. 20 LIFE INO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M
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84th TR&HC Charity Show
The 84th annual Tryon Riding and Hunt Club Charity Horse Show was held Friday, June 8 at FENCE. The show pairs riders with various charities. The lucky charity winning $1,500 was the Kiwanis Foundation of Tryon.
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1. Show co-chairs Jennifer Smith and Linda Ketcham, with winning riders Camryn Hulsey and Lincoln Russell. 2. Lane Godard, son of J.P. and Megan Godard. 3. Grand Prix winner Daniel Geitner riding Jumbo Jet with Roger Smith, Jennifer Smith and Linda Lee Reynolds. (photo by Al Cook) 4. Sponsors of the $3,000 Still Creek Aqua Rehab Center Welcome Class, Kem and Linda Ketcham. 5. TR&HC Executive Director Laura Weicker; horse show co-chair Jennifer Smith; and TR&HC vice president Nancy Wilson. JULY 2 0 1 2
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Tryon Soup Kitchen On May 24, volunteers gathered in the Tryon Fire Department to serve and share a meal with their fellow Polk County area residents. The Soup Kitchen started this past winter as a means of providing at least one hot meal to locals who may not have many good meals to count on. Those who come by are not asked to give any money, but many make what donations they can.
1. Angela Carson. 2. Barbara Thompson, Mike Wheeler and Pam Searcy. 3. Kim Pack and Pam Searcy. 4. Meg Rogers. 5. Pat Hill. 6. Tank Waters and Marshall Lipscomb.
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Phil & Gay Johnson Interview by GWEN RING Photograph submitted
Traditional and contemporary folk, bluegrass, acoustic, Americana country music from the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. How did you get started doing country music? We have lived the country music tradition, incorporating into our sound almost all aspects of American acoustic music. Gaye, a native of Green Creek, grew up singing and playing music. Phil, on the other side of the country, discovered the roots of country music as a youth in southern California. We came together by accident backstage at a play at Santa Monica College during the fall of 1969. In 1972 we moved back east, got married and settled in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. There we initiated a live two-hour radio program broadcast weekly over WMRA-FM and completed a 13-episode bluegrass program for Virginia Public Television entitled, “Phil’s Ole’ Time Pickin’ Junction.” Later rebroadcast in several southeastern states, the bluegrass program spawned a sequel, “Phil & Gaye’s Song Swap Shop,” in 1977. In 1980, we created and produced a weekly live radio program entitled, “Cornbread & Sweetmilk Time” for commercial country music stations in North and South Carolina and released our first album, “Cornbread & Sweetmilk.” The program continued until 1983. By that In what ways do you participate in the local time we had made our first of four appearances on The community? Nashville Network’s “Fire on the Mountain” television We play at many local events including: festivals, series, as well as numerous appearances on public radio’s fundraisers, church services and local music venues. Gaye “A Prairie Home Companion.” teaches children’s music at Tuesday School and also the What do you enjoy most about the music culture Congregational Church. She also volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity resale store. We have participated in the here in the foothills? summer children’s theater productions. We are folk musicians who perform “acoustic music We participate in the Polk County Middle School’s anin the tradition.” This region has a strong roots music legacy. The music traditions of the southern Appalachian nual career day. Phil has taught beginning guitar classes at mountains is comprised of Scots-Irish folk tunes, dance Isothermal Community College. jigs, reels and ballads. When/where are your next few gigs? The music of the southern piedmont is based on Public performances include: African traditions that have evolved into blues, jazz and July 14 Feed and Seed, Fletcher a form of “Piedmont Blues,” which is a combination of July 27 Rogers Park, Tryon blues and ragtime styles. The foothills is where these two August 31 Landrum Library traditions meet and that's where the fun starts. JULY 2 0 1 2
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FEATURES
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BLUE RIDGE BBQ
FUELING the fire Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival experiences record numbers in 19th year Written & Photographed by SAMANTHA HURST
An unseasonably cool summer breeze swept across Harmon Field on the first night of the 19th annual Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival, drifting with it the tempting smell of smoked chicken and ribs and the sounds of carnival rides and live music. Happily for festival organizers, the comfortable weather brought a record number of attendees – likely close to 25,000 total for the weekend – through gates. “We couldn’t have been happier with the turnout,” said chairman Chuck Britton. That turnout lounged on the grassy area of the Harmon Field track jamming to Acoustic Syndicate, perused craft booths and squealed on amusement rides Friday night. If festivalgoers took a minute to stroll through Hog Heaven they would have seen another relaxed scene. Cookers were kicked back in lawn chairs with a cold drink and plates piled high with the Friday night potluck of, you guessed it – anything but barbecue! Come midnight, 3 a.m. or 5 a.m. - depending on their method – barbecuers began to stir in the late night air, coating pork butts, ribs, brisket and chicken with smoky rubs or sweet and tangy glazes. One might wonder what makes a man or woman load up an RV, hitch on a trailer behind it and cart themselves all over the country to cook barbecue in the wee hours of the night – many times spending more money than they could ever dream of winning. Well, bragging rights put a smile on a cook’s face. But Bobby Roberts of Two Old Men and a Grill said some prizes don’t cover the cost of his brisket and bragging rights only last until the next go round – sometimes less than a week
This page: Morris “Big Mo” Hampton of Blowing Rock, N.C. shows off a chunk of Kobe organic beef. Opposite page: Top left: Reserve and Grand Champions The Blue Bloods and Two Old Men and a Grill hold up their trophy platters, made by local artist Doug Dacey. Top right: Judges take bites of competition brisket. Middle left: Donnie Weddington of Lynchburg, Tenn. carves the fat off a piece of meat in preparation for the contest. Middle right: The Danberrys of Asheville perform for crowds of barbecue and music lovers. Bottom: Tamya Smith giggles as she looks over the side of a twirling ride at the Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival. Enjoying the ride with her were Tanijah and Nadia Crook. JULY 2 0 1 2
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BBQ WINNERS OVERALL 1. Two Old Men and a Grill, Bobby Roberts, Bessemer City, N.C. 2. The Blue Bloods, David Mauro, Hammond, La. 3. Cool Smoke, Tuffy Stone, Richmond, Va. 4. Pit Bulls Up in Smoke, Danny Coogle, Kennesaw, Ga. 5. The Smokehouse Mafia, Andrew Rasmussen, Taylorsville, N.C. 6. Redneck Scientific, Jerry Stephenson, Clayton, N.C. 7. Flaming Pig, Vickey Wilkins, Red Springs, N.C. 8. Chatham Artillery BBQ, Bill Anderson, Savannah, Ga. 9. General Porktitioners, Mike Herring, Fayetteville, Tenn. 10. Pappy Q, Tom Hillman, Fisherville, Ky.
BRISKET 1. Pork County Barbecue, David Hintz, Colfax, N.C. 2. Cool Smoke, Tuffy Stone, Richmond, Va. 3. Smoke on This, Jackie Price, Lenoir City, Tenn. 4. Chatham Artillery BBQ, Bill Anderson, Savannah, Ga. 5. Sue E. Pigg, Steve Wainscot, Clemson, S.C. 6. Two Old Men and a Grill, Bobby Roberts, Bessemer City, N.C. 7. The Blue Bloods, David Mauro, Hammond, La. 8. Quenivorous, John Bublitz, Del Rio, Tenn. 9. Rocky Top Smokies, Jonathan Upchurch, Monroe, N.C. 10. Carolina BBQ Company, Dale Duckworth, Hildebran, N.C.
CHICKEN 1. The Blue Bloods, David Mauro, Hammond, La. 2. Fat Back BBQ & Rib Shack, Corey Brinson, Fayetteville, N.C. 3. Two Old Men and a Grill, Bobby Roberts, Bessemer City, N.C. 4. Redneck Scientific, Jerry Stephenson, Clayton, N.C. 5. Cool Smoke, Tuffy Stone, Richmond, Va. 6. Flaming Pig, Vickey Wilkins, Red Springs, N.C. 7. Pit Bulls Up in Smoke, Danny Coogle, Kennesaw, Ga. 8. Hog Wild Neighbors, Donny Clayton, Dorchester, S.C. 9. Wicked Que, Jeff Campbell, Watkinsville, Ga. 10. BS Pitmeisters, Charles Fretwell, Boiling Springs, S.C.
ANYTHING BUT 1. Too Bad You're My Cousin, Hudson Denney, Greenville, S.C. 2. Craggy Mountain Smokers, Stuart McManus, Asheville, N.C. 3. Creekside Smokers, Harvey Hart, Swannanoa, N.C. 4. Mountain View Barbecue, Shane Blackwell, Columbus, N.C. 5. Sauced! BBQ, Scott Adams, Charlotte, N.C. 6. Backwood Smokin BBQ, Wally Capps, Candler, N.C. 7. Culture on the Cobb, Richard Ohrstrom, Tryon, N.C. 8. Texas Young Guns, Doug Lonidier, Pasadena, Texas 9. The Blue Bloods, David Mauro, Hammond, La. 10. Burning Desires BBQ, Kevin Cowan, Spartanburg, S.C.
PORK RIBS 1. Redneck Scientific, Jerry Stephenson, Clayton, N.C. 2. Killer B's BBQ, Jim Burg, Evans, Ga. 3. Kings Cooking, Chip Davis, Shelby, N.C. 4. Tenacious Q, Jason Bishop, Buford, Ga. 5. Deadhead Smokers, Tom Loflin, Kingsport, Tenn. 6. Two Old Men and a Grill, Bobby Roberts, Bessemer City, N.C. 7. Buttrub.com, Byron Chism, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. 8. Serial Griller, Mark Breen, Yorktown, Va. 9. Bald Hawg BBQ, Andrew Cloer, Simpsonville, S.C. 10. Sauced! BBQ, Scott Adams, Charlotte, N.C.
DESSERT 1. Carolina BBQ Company, Dale Duckworth, Hildebran, N.C. 2. Hogs & Kisses, Justin Hembree, Hendersonville, N.C. 3. Sloppy Seconds, Chuck Patterson, Otto, N.C. 4. Pigs In Heat, John Childers, Toccoa, Ga. 5. Two Old Men and a Grill, Bobby Roberts, Bessemer City, N.C. 6. Sleep Easy & The Midnight Smokers, Steve Taylor, Gaffney, S.C. 7. The Three Blind Hogs, Tiger O'Rourke, Greenville, S.C. 8. Hog Wild Neighbors, Donny Clayton, Dorchester, S.C. 9. Culture on the Cobb, Richard Ohrstrom, Tryon, N.C. 10. Texas Young Guns, Doug Lonidier, Pasadena, Texas
PORK 1. Bubba's Backyard BBQ, Jerry Burgin, Alexis, N.C. 2. Craggy Mountain Smokers, Stuart McManus, Asheville, N.C. 3. The Smokehouse Mafia, Andrew Rasmussen, Taylorsville, N.C. 4. Buttrub.com, Byron Chism, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. 5. Sleep Easy & The Midnight Smokers, Steve Taylor, Gaffney, S.C. 6. Blindog's Outlaw BBQ Gang, Drew Grega, Huntsville, Ala. 7. County Line Que, Tim Cooke, Greer, S.C. 8. Pappy Q, Tom Hillman, Fisherville, Ky. 9. Tenacious Q, Jason Bishop, Buford, Ga. 10. Two Old Men and a Grill, Bobby Roberts, Bessemer City, N.C.
WHOLE HOG 1. Oink, Cackle & Moo, Donnie Weddington, Tullahoma, Tenn. 2. Hogs & Kisses, Justin Hembree, Hendersonville, N.C. 3. Culture on the Cobb, Richard Ohrstrom, Tryon, N.C. 4. Kings Cooking, Chip Davis, Shelby, N.C. 5. A Taste of Carolina, Howard Wooten, Alexis, N.C.
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BLUE RIDGE BBQ away. What’s really in it for him? The friendships he makes along the way. “The Friday night get-togethers with all the cook teams – that’s the whole thing,” Roberts said. “It’s like a family reunion because you cook with these guys most every weekend.” Such a sentiment becomes quickly obvious as few pass by Roberts RV without walking up to slap the teddy bear of a man on the back. One cook team doesn’t have to walk far. In Tryon, and at most other competition sites, Roberts and David Mauro find their way to one another and set up their cook sites side-byside. The two and their wives first met at a barbecue competition in Pensacola, Fla. “We met them and just hit it off,” Roberts said. “We’ve been barbecuing together ever since at as many competitions as we both can manage.” When the two teams first met, the Mauros were just backyard barbecuers. With a bit of guidance from Roberts, Mauro was ready to turn pro by August of last year. “That man is the reason I’m doing what I’m doing, so to get this with him is amazing,” Mauro said of his barbecuing mentor, Roberts. “It’s like I told ya – this man taught me everything I know. My recipes are his recipes, just with my own twists put on them.” Mauro’s following a good example; Roberts’ win here in Tryon marked his fourth Grand Champion title in five months. The Blue Bloods’ win marked their third Reserve Grand Champion win. “We won Reserve Grand Champions the year we were at the Blues and Barbecue event near Hammond and that’s all she wrote,” David said. The Mauros went pro last August. “It gets addictive,” David’s wife, Celeste, chimed in. The Mauros plan to compete in 22 competitions this year, the Roberts will travel to almost 30. In Tryon Two Old Men and a Grill and The Blue Bloods won side-by-side, grabbing Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion titles, respectively. Top: Festival goers drooled over more than barbecue June 8-9 as dozens of classic cars rolled into Harmon Field. Middle left: Kids make their way to the top of the climbing wall. Middle top right: Chris Carroll of Carroll Woodcrafts demonstrates his craft outside the Tryon Arts & Crafts School booth outside the Tryon Arts & Crafts School booth at the festival. Middle bottom right: Two Old Men and a Grill traveled from Cherryville, N.C. to compete. Bottom: Jordann Stroud of Pisgah Forest proves her powerful aim at the balloon pop booth to win a prize.
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BLUE RIDGE BBQ
Snagging the overall win takes more than luck. Topping the points chart requires a team to consistently place in the top 10 in all four categories.
28 LIFE INO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M
Two Old Guys and a Grill also captured the Governor’s Cup, the State of North Carolina championship. “We’ve gotten pretty lucky a time or two,” Roberts said. Snagging the overall win takes more than luck. Topping the points chart requires a team to consistently place in the top 10 in all four categories. Roberts did just that, ranking third in chicken, sixth in brisket and ribs and 10th in pork. Other category winners included: Too Bad You’re My Cousin – Anything But; Carolina Barbecue Company – Dessert; Oink, Cackle and Moo II – Whole Hog; The Blue Bloods – Chicken; Redneck Scientific – Pork Ribs; Bubba’s Backyard – Pork; and Polk County Barbecuers – Brisket. Another local team, and the youngest to compete – Hogs & Kisses – took away second place in dessert and whole hog. So, it seemed a good weekend overall for
many. Sunday morning after the wheels on many cook teams’ trailers had rolled away and as volunteers cleared signs of the festival from Harmon Field, Roberts and his wife, Belinda, slowly packed up their camper and headed back to Cherryville. They weren’t in too much of a hurry, relishing their fourth Grand Championship so far this year, but they did have somewhere to be. “We’re off to another competition again Wednesday,” Roberts said. Organizers hope they’ll make their way back to Tryon next summer when the festival commemorates a huge milestone – its 20th year. “We’ve already got great plans in mind for next year – honoring cook teams, volunteers and some of the musicians that have been with us for the long haul,” said Britton. “We can’t wait to do this all again.” •
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FEATURES
a classic collection Arnold Emery makes investment in vintage cars
30 LIFE INO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M
Written by SAMANTHA HURST Photographs by DOUG DICKERSON
Authentic tan leather and shining chrome details of the cars resting in Arnold Emery’s two garages tease one’s mind into reflecting on their past owners – who they might have been and what memories they made in these bastions of early transportation. “These cars make me think about my younger days and I just can imagine the people who once drove them,” said Emery, a lifelong Landrum-area resident. Emery’s love of transportation in general runs deep and long. For 40 years he’s been an avid pilot – often manning volunteer flights for Greenville Shriner’s Hospital. There’s even a paved landing strip running behind his garages and up a small hill. “Back in my younger days I even did a bit of motorcycling, though I don’t do that anymore,” Emery said. Emery first pulled out his wallet more than 30 years ago for a classic black ‘39 Chevy that remains in his garage today. Emery had caught wind that a man in
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Top: One of Emery's favorite among the collection - a 1940 turquoise Ford. Middle: A vintage 1929 Chevrolet Coupe with white wall tires. Bottom: Another of Emery's beauties - a gray 1950s Dodge.
Spartanburg was restoring it, and as soon as it was finished, it came to rest at the foot of Glassy Mountain. “I don’t claim to have any highpriced antiques, but what I do have are all old and classic,” he said. Like a Kelly green 1952 Chevrolet. Emery purchased this car from its original owner. The man, a doctor, had received the car as a gift from his parents when he was a teenager. “I still can’t believe he sold it to me – he said he drove it on his honeymoon,” Emery said. Emery said he delights in thoughts of the lives that were lived out in these cars long before he owned them. His favorite car is the 1940 turquoise Ford sitting proudly toward the front of his first garage. He purchased this car about 20 years ago because it piqued memories of his younger days. “They were real popular cars and still are,” Emery said. “I owned two to 32 L IF E INO URFO O THI L L S. C O M
ARNOLD EMERY
One of Emery's two garages. This garage houses three of his replica cars.
three 1940 Model Fords when I was a younger man.” The first line of cars in the garage displays the 1939 Chevy Coupe, the 1940 Model A Ford, a vintage black 1929 Chevrolet Coupe with an “Ooga” horn and an unrestored brown 1979 Mercedes roadster. The back row is prized because all the cars are in their original state with no restorations done. “I really like the original unrestored cars myself because you are really looking at the original car from back in that day – nothing’s been changed,” Emery said. His unrestored collection includes a classic turquoise 1957 Cadillac - we’re talking the kind of car you envision outside a soda shop; a black 1967 Cadillac, a black Plymouth with Bonnie and Clydestyle suicide doors and a 1950 Model Ford with old white wall tires. Emery said the 1957 Cadillac might have gotten about 7-8 miles to the gallon
– when gas cost no more than 25 cents a gallon. “But, boy, it had some power in its day,” he said. Emery also takes pleasure in a roomy, gray beauty of a Dodge from 1950. Emery bought this car a few years ago with just 34,000 miles on it. For all he loves about originals, Emery doesn’t mind a good replica either. “These were rebuilt as close to the originals as possible. People who don’t know cars don’t know these are reproductions,” he said. “They’re pretty, and not only are they nice but they drive really well. ” Of the three replicas in his garage, Emery’s 1931 A Model Ford roadster carries some nifty extras, including a mother-in-law’s or rumble seat. “If you put up the convertible top your mother-in-law couldn’t tell you how to drive,” Emery quipped. This burgundy beauty displays side
glass etched with leaves and vines, Emery’s name embossed on the doors and gold starbursts on the front venders. There’s also a spot on the back where a luggage case proclaims, “Just Passin’ Through.” A 1937 Jaguar roadster replica boasts a six-cylinder Ford engine with automatic transmission making it an easy drive, Emery said. His third replica is a 1929 Mercedes. “I don’t really consider myself a collector. I would just stumble along one and know it was a good investment and that I’d get a lot of enjoyment out of it,” Emery said. “I never necessarily hunted a particular car out.” Instead he’d run across them in newspaper ads or by word of mouth. Emery’s love of transportation goes beyond cars, with an Ultralight aircraft and an old carriage stored in the back of the garage. He said the carriage is supposed to be very similar to the one driven
FEATURES
by Doc Adams in “Gunsmoke.” Emery found the carriage for sale on the side of the road several years back, complete with an old doctor’s bag in the seat. While Emery doesn’t see his collection as show cars, he does enjoy showing them off. “You get a lot of turning heads when you drive one of these around,” Emery said. “I use several of them in parades at North Greenville University.” Emery serves as a trustee at North Greenville where he earned his own associate's, bachelor's and honorary doctorate degrees. Emery retired and sold his lumber company, Arnold Emery Lumber, eight years ago. With retirement his Emery's replica 1929 Mercedes and the 1937 Jaguar roadster. wife said she “donated” him to charity as he spends much of his time serving on a variety of boards in Greenville County. •
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Landrum Library hosts historic celebration of music Written by BARBARA TILLY Photographs submitted
tion exhibit Aug. 4 – Sept. 16. Known as “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music,” the Some traditional forms of American exhibit explores the distinct cultural identities of American roots music – music, such as gospel, blues and bluegrass, are well known to most southern- music that has grown out of older folk ers. Country Western and folk music are traditions, evolving over time from also fairly commonly played and heard in Anglo-European, Native American and the region. But what about zydeco, tejano West African cultures to include diverse immigrant groups. Through a selection and klezmer? of photographs, recordings, instruments, Later this summer, you will have the lyrics and artist profiles, the exhibit tells a chance to learn about and celebrate all these forms of American roots music at distinctive American story. In conjunction with the exhibit is a the Landrum Library, which will host an interactive traveling Smithsonian Institu- series of free performances, including
concerts, lectures, storytelling and demonstrations, all related to American roots music. Performers and speakers include John Fowler, David Holt, the Brushfire Stankgrass Trio and numerous local individuals and groups. “This project is exciting because it offers such a variety of music, and it is all free,” said Ellen Henderson, a Landrum Library volunteer who has helped plan the New Harmonies project. “This is an unprecedented opportunity to hear a wide array of talent in a short period of time, without having to drive to Greenville, Spartanburg or Asheville. The JULY 2 0 1 2
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JOHN FOWLER
FIRECRACKER JAZZ BAND
JAY LICHTY
BRUSHFIRE STANKGRASS TRIO
GINGER THISTLE
PHIL & GAYE JOHNSON
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DAVID HOLT
NEW HARMONIES interactive exhibit further delves into all aspects of American music, including forms that will be unfamiliar to many of us here in the south.” Lee Morgan, director of the Landrum Library, has been working on bringing New Harmonies to Landrum since 2010. Through associates in the Spartanburg County Library System, she heard about the traveling exhibit and learned that it was scheduled to be in South Carolina in 2011-2012. She wrote a grant application asking for the Landrum Library to be one of the S.C. hosts for the exhibit. Originally, Morgan said, six South Carolina sites were expected to be chosen to host the exhibit over a year, but there were so many applicants that organizers decided to select 12 sites over two years instead. In the fall of 2011, she learned that Landrum had been chosen as one of those 12 host sites. The selection was made by the Humanities Council of S.C. as part of the Museum on Main Street (MOMS) project, a national/ state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The U. S. Congress provides support for MOMS. “New Harmonies is a good fit for the Landrum area,” Morgan said, “because this area has a rich heritage in music and also played an important role in the nation’s history. The exhibit focuses on music, but it also tells the story of the history of
America.” “One of the appealing aspects of this project is the spirit of cooperation and support from the various community groups,” Henderson said. Morgan agreed, saying, “New Harmonies allows members of the community to work together to provide something for the community as a whole. We plan to build on this foundation, working on other collaborative projects in the future.” Local sponsors for the Landrum New Harmonies project include Jackson Grove United Methodist, Landrum Friends of the Library, Landrum United Methodist Church, the Polk County Community Foundation/Mary F. Kessler Fund, Spartanburg School District One, Spartanburg County Public Libraries, the City of Landrum, The John L. Petty Family/Petty Funeral Home, the Landrum Area Business Association, The Susan Patricia Hodge Foundation and Whitney Blake. The exhibit will be open during regular library hours. Check for updates or schedule changes prior to any event: infodepot. org or 864-457-2218. All events are free. For outdoor library concerts bring your lawn chair or blanket. No alcohol is allowed on library property. Volunteers are still needed to staff the exhibit and to help at performances, Morgan said. If you are interested, call the library at 864-457-2218. See the following page for event schedule.
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NEW HARMONIES EVENT SCHEDULE Sunday, Aug. 5, 3:30 p.m. OPENING RECEPTION John Fowler: Appalachian Stories and Music Landrum Library A master harmonica player, storyteller and ballad singer, Fowler co-hosts a weekly old-time radio show on WNCW-FM.
Saturday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m. Miller and Rowe Consort Jackson Grove United Methodist Church Michael Miller, a classical guitarist, and David Rowe, who plays the hammer dulcimer, incorporate original compositions,classical, Celtic, old-time and hymns into their program. Sponsored by the Susan Patricia Hodge Foundation.
Thursday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m.
OUTDOOR CONCERT The Trophy Husbands Saturday, Aug. 11, 7 p.m. Landrum Library OUTDOOR CONCERT Presenting an eclectic repertoire embracing Americana and David Holt: Music and Stories folk/rock, this group from the Tryon area is noted for its from the Southern Mountains great harmonies and unique arrangements. The four-piece Landrum Library ensemble consists of Doug Dacey, vocals and guitar; Stan Four-time Grammy Award winner David Holt is host of Halbcat, vocals and upright bass; Andy Costine, vocals and public television’s “Folkways” and PRI’s “Riverwalk: Clas- guitar, and Lee Holroyd on drums. sic Jazz from the Landing.”
Sunday, Aug. 12, 3:30 p.m. LECTURE Dr. Tracey Laird, “Cultural Preservation: A Southern Louisiana Case Study” Landrum Library Dr. Laird, Charles Loridans Associate Professor of Music and Chair at Agnes Scott College, focuses this program on Cajun and zydeco music.
Thursday, Aug. 16, 7 p.m. OUTDOOR CONCERT Brushfire Stankgrass Trio Landrum Library, The trio’s music, which includes the influences of hip hop, jazz and reggae, has been called “quintessential modern mountain music.” 38 LIFE INO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M
Saturday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m.
NEW HARMONIES STREET DANCE Downtown Landrum Bruce Greene, featured artist, preservationist and nationallyrecognized old-time fiddler, is joined by musicians Doug Rostick, Danny Henderson and Robert Burns. Sponsored by the City of Landrum and the Landrum Area Business Association.
Sunday, Aug. 26, 3:30 p.m. LECTURE/DEMONSTRATION Dr. Warren Carson, “Folk Roots of Contemporary Gospel Music” Landrum United Methodist Church Dr. Carson, professor of English and assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs at USC Upstate, presents a short history of gospel music with a small choir demonstration.
NEW HARMONIES
Thursday, Aug. 30, 7 p.m. OUTDOOR CONCERT Phil and Gaye Johnson Landrum Library Music in the traditions of southern Appalachia: Guitar, mandolin and dobro with harmony vocals. Songwriters and storytellers, the Johnsons offer a unique blend of Western swing, cowboy blues, folk, bluegrass and country music.
Sunday, Sept. 9, 3:30 p.m. Gingerthistle: “Roots Music of the South” Landrum Library Ben Seymour and Becky Cleveland, the husband-wife team known as Gingerthistle, trace traditional folk music from the Blue Ridge Mountains back to Celtic roots.
Tuesday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.
LECTURE/PERFORMANCE Jay Lichty Thursday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m. Landrum Library OUTDOOR CONCERT North Carolinian Jay Lichty builds one-of-a-kind custom East Tennessee State University Student Pride Band handmade acoustic guitars and ukuleles. A musician all of Landrum Library his life, Lichty was a home builder until the downturn in the ETSU offers B.A. degrees and minors in bluegrass, old time economy. After handcrafting a ukulele in his newfound free and country music. time, he took a guitar-building workshop and his new career began. Friday, Sept. 7, 8:30 a.m. Sponsored by the Mary F. Kessler Fund/Polk County Community East Tennessee State University Student Pride Band Foundation. Landrum High School Auditorium
Saturday, Sept. 8, 4 p.m. LECTURE/PERFORMANCE Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers: “The Music of Early America” Landrum United Methodist Church Focused on folk hymns in the shape note tradition Featured during Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, the group features primarily Mars Hill College choir alumni and music faculty. Sponsored by the Susan Patricia Hodge Foundation.
Thursday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m. Firecracker Jazz Band Landrum High School Auditorium The band captures the joyous energy of jazz roots, paying homage to early 20th-century jazz, including that of Dixieland and New Orleans.
Exhibit in Kirksville, Mo. 2009 JULY 2 0 1 2
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HOME + FOOD
homes with a view Written by ROBIN EDGAR Photographsby Doug Dickerson & submitted
Seated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, our area is replete with beautiful mountain vistas, lush greenery, showering waterfalls and glistening rivers and lakes. It’s no wonder that local realtors often have clients looking for a home with water and mountain views. When they find what they are looking for, in the words of Saluda homeowner Lucy Holman, “It can bring the peaceful energy and gentle feelings that give balm to the heart and soul.” Holman found it and so did the other two sets of homeowners featured in this piece. 40 L IF EINO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M
HOMES WITH A VIEW
Noblecrest Looking for their special home with a view, Tryon residents John Thomas and Richard Yurko agreed to “just take a look” at a place on Dug Hill Trail that was slightly over their price point. When they turned the corner and saw the circular stone terrace that looks out on the magnificent views from east to west, they said, “We don’t care if it’s a double wide, we want this place!” After living there for five years, Yurko and Thomas still marvel at the spectacular colors unique to each season. Taking into account its history and attributes, they decided the proper name for their home should be “Noblecrest.” Originally built by Forest Noble III from Chicago in 1955, the house sits on a prime site in the recently developed Upper Crest area of Gillette Woods and is archi-
The patio view on a spring day from John Thomas & Richard Yurko's home outside of Tryon. (photo suabmitted)
tecturally designed to fit perfectly on a ridge top. It has long views from the front to the east and close-up views from the back to the west of Hogback, Rocky Spur and Melrose mountains. “There is no spot in the house which does not have these very impressive views in any weather and in any season,” said Yurko. “The view is always present, so you are captivated by the clouds and sky, the trees and the vegetation, the shadows and the mist and the birds. It feels like you are living outdoors.” What adds to the unique views from the house is that it has no hallways. Each room has its own special, almost seasonal, vantage point so you are always aware of the changes in nature. The main room, which most of the rooms open from, has expansive windows that look upon impressive
mountain views over a large stone terrace with a fishpond and stonewalls to the west. The formal living room has windows that afford views to both the front and back of the house. Surrounded by stone terraces with large windows and patio doors to the terraces from every room, the home has a large covered porch to the east, which is a cool respite on late summer afternoons. “When you are walking the dog, gardening or doing house chores, you instinctively stop to observe because it's always changing,” says Yurko. “For about 20 minutes during the winter sunrise, there is a bright red, fiery glow of reflected light on the mountains to the west. After sunset, there is a constantly changing pink and orange glow lingering over the mountain ridge line that slowly turns to purple before night.” JULY 2 0 1 2
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HOME + FOOD Jeff and Ellen Glass' home on Lake Adger. (photo submitted)
The Glass House Although they enjoyed their home and neighbors off-lake on a 13-acre parcel in a wooded area, Jeff and Ellen Glass were on the lookout for a place on Lake Adger with fantastic views. They had lived in riverfront homes before and longed to get back to the water. A real estate agent by trade, Ellen knew the value of “location, location, location,” so three years ago, when her brother-in-law offered to sell them his home perched high on a bluff above beautiful Lake Adger, she was thrilled. “With spectacular lake and mountain views, we can enjoy greeting our wonderful neighbors as they meander by in their boats and taking in the majestic mountains beyond,” said Glass. Becuase of their last name, and the extensive use of the glass across the back of the home that offers a window to the outside world, they decided to call 42 LIFE INO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M
their home “The Glass House,” which is inscribed on a plaque attached to one of the columns at the driveway entrance. Built in 2003, this magnificent estate is situated on 3.68 lush acres. The original owner had 650 truckloads of dirt moved out or relocated on the home site in order to create the ideal location to enjoy a truly spectacular lake and mountain view. As you drive onto the property, you are welcomed by a 50-foot waterfall near the front door. Once inside the two-story 4,200-square-foot post and beam construction home, you are immediately drawn into the great room, where the northwest view of the lake and the mountains beyond is framed in knotty pine and cedar around the floor-to-ceiling windows in the back of the house. The master bedroom and kitchen, on opposite sides on the first level, also have
glass doors to the back that offer full advantage of the views. On the second level, the open bridgeway between the two wings affords the same fantastic view of the lake as well as mountains beyond. Spending most of their time on the flagstone back patio that overlooks a slope, lushly planted with knockout roses, Shasta daisies and golden cypress, the Glasses refer to the swing there as the "best seat in the house." “No matter where the stresses of the day have taken us, we always know that we can decompress with glass in hand and sit on our favorite patio swing to gaze at our tranquil views,” said Glass. “Our favorite thing to do is to watch nature at its best — all types of wildlife, gorgeous sunsets (with our western exposure) — and our neighbors at play on the lake."
HOMES WITH A VIEW
Lucy in the Sky To find that special property, Lucy Holman and her husband, Don, drove up Ocean View, which was just a dirt road off of Howard Gap at the time. She wanted to be able to see the “night light” show of the lights from Columbus to Charlotte, N.C. and from Spartanburg to Greenville, S.C. “I remember Don asked, ‘Just how far do you want me to drive up this terrible bumpy, winding mountain road?’ and I said, ‘Just drive till the road ends,’” she recalled. When they finally got to the end, they stood on a tree stump and spotted
Melrose Mountain on one side. Through a keyhole cut in the trees to the south, they could see a hint of the valley. They knew they had found the right place and built “Lucy in the Sky,” a 1,900-squarefoot log cabin in 1995. Holman, who has lived there fulltime since 2002, had the deck rebuilt with Cumaru, a durable specialty wood from Brazil, to take advantage of the yearround views from the outside. She says the view is ever-changing and sometimes sees a skyscraper in downtown Spartanburg or watches the strobe light turn at the Greenville airport. She also loves
Lucy in the Sky. (photo by Doug Dickerson)
to look west toward Saluda to catch the vivid winter sunsets. “The colors of fall are unbelievable here - even on misty days they glow like lights. I also adore the pale new colors that appear in early spring and love watching the seasonal colors travel up the mountain from the valley below, just a little more each day,” she says. To complement the view, the south side of the house is a wall of 12 windows. It is framed with 6-by-6 boards that run the whole length and width of the windows in a “saw-tooth” design at the intersections. When the moon is full, JULY 2 0 1 2
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The Holman's view from their home off Ocean View, which was just a dirt road off of Howard Gap at the time the couple decided on this area for their mountaintop abode. (photo by Doug Dickerson)
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it seems positioned directly at the top two of those windows. The glass doors on the east side of the house frame the sunrise with such a clear view that the lights of the Bi-Lo grocery store can be seen. The dining room is a half circle with five windows and two glass doors from which to view the sunsets, and the deck on three sides of the house is the perfect spot for soaking in the scenery from the east, south and west. “Being here year round is like being part of this mountain and truly one with the seasons. I love the company of the many wild turkeys, a shy red fox, the long black snake, the raccoons and the bear. I believe they are just being generous with their land to allow me to be here, and I feel welcome and truly unafraid,” said Holman. “I am truly Even the Holman's dog enjoys a bit of deck blessed and give thanks that I have this viewing every now and then. (photo by Doug Dickerson) honor of living in this special place.” •
COUNTRY LIVING
Room designed by Gillian Drummond. Photo by Christopher Kolk.
Hunger for beauty Lack of complication, simplicity of a clean slate Written by GILLIAN DRUMMOND
We all hunger for beauty. It is that rare commodity that can be defined differently for each person who longs for it. For some it is a Monet painting of lily pads in the pond at Giverny, for others it is the newborn foal on a bright spring day. Still others swoon over the windows at Saks at Christmastime or are dazzled by the view from an Appalachian mountaintop. There is apparently no common denominator, no rules that make something beautiful. The expression, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” is one that is familiar to us all, yet, when we think about it, there are certain ineffable qualities common to all beauty. Years ago, I took the four principles laid out by the inimitable New York decorator Marian Hall (always referred to as Miss Hall by her clients and col-
leagues) as my bible for decorating. They were: character, continuity, color and comfort. These four “golden rules” can be applied to anything beautiful. This is not “ivory tower” talk; this is straight talk. For beauty is also order, direction and discipline. It is not easy to clean out the messy corners of our lives, be they literal or figurative. We cling to the mementos of the past like drowning sailors to life preservers. What woman doesn’t have a dark recess in her closet where the dress that is a size too small, or a hat bought in a dizzying moment of joy, resides, never to be worn again. We are too tenderhearted to throw out the ugly soap dish given to us long ago by a then “dear friend.” Youth is almost always beautiful and over the years I’ve tried to understand why. I think it is the lack of complica-
tion and the simplicity of a clean slate. Take a tip from your young friends and clear the decks of superfluous old memories and old artifacts. There’s a definite difference between an antique and dust souvenir. On the other hand, it’s enormously important to know what to keep. Twenty years ago I helped a young woman passionate about the arts. She worked hard to encourage young artists, often helping them to exhibit. At one of these events, she found herself buying all of the one-of-a kind hand-printed suede pillows designed by an artist she had helped. Together, we found a wonderful couch, covered it in a complementary fabric and the cushions fit perfectly into the decorating scheme. They are in my client’s house to this day. A good decorator can help you JULY 2 0 1 2
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Think
Globally...
Shop
locally!
Support your local merchantS
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throw out the clutter and create an environment in your home that allows you to feel confident. This is particularly important today when so much money has found its way into building and renovating homes. I’ve held the hand of many a client who’s discovered that money isn’t the primary ingredient to good taste. In the 1980s, I lived on the East Side in New York City not far from Madison Avenue. One of my good clients lived in a building on Park Avenue that overlooked the Frick Museum. In that same building, with its white-gloved elevator men and marble-floored entrance hall, lived a middle-aged couple who had recently found themselves millionaires because of a risky but very successful investment in Microsoft. My friend adored them because of their warmth and kindness. They were looking for a decorator, she said, although they’d recently spent several hundred thousand dollars renovating their apartment. When I asked “Why so soon?” my friend said, “You’ll see!” What I found on my first visit was every decorating cliché of the period. Chintz and tassels, and salmon pink. An ornate fireplace and a huge crystal chandelier shouted at each other from across the expanse of Bessarabian carpet on the living room floor. Windows were swallowed up in extravagant treatments that prevented anyone but the most daring from seeing the lovely views of Central Park over the museum below. Each carefully picked piece of furniture was enormous, as though giants lived in the apartment. And this became more absurd when I met my friend’s neighbors. They were tiny! Ten months and many heart-wrenching decisions later, I helped my new clients transform the decorating disaster into an enchanting and tasteful apartment that suited them perfectly. How did I do it? By asking them one important question: “What do you like?” Deep down, we usually know what we like. It may be a color of a bird’s wing, or the feel of a much-loved chair, the view out of a window, the look of moonlight on a new cut meadow. We may only be able to describe what we like by remembering the way it smelled or the way it sounded. But somewhere, deep inside we know what it is! I think it is important work of an interior designer to find out what the client likes even when the client can’t articulate it. So often, both the client and the designer resign themselves to the clichés of decorating because the answers don’t come easily. It’s part of the hard work of finding beauty in our lives that we take the time to define what is beautiful for us. And if it doesn’t contain some essence of Miss Hall’s Four Golden Rules, think again. Gillian Drummond has her design firm Drummond House Co. in Tryon. You can see her website at www.drummondhouseco.com or reach her at gillian@gilliandrummond.com. •
Beef, pork, chicken ......mmm!
Adapted from the Mulan Soundtrack, “A Girl Worth Fighting For” Written by CAROL LYNN JACKSON Photographs submitted
of raising livestock, horrific images of millions of animals surface. Their suffering cruel lives with little or no possibility We all benefit when we strive to short- of movement or freedom, only to finalize en the links in the chain from pasture to in an assembly-line death is too much plate. Satisfaction at the table is insepafor this meat-loving carnivore to bear. rably linked to conscientious custody of Realizing that this “agro-industry” versus the field and the pasture. agricultural method to farming animals is When looking at commercial practices how the majority of Americans eat meat
today, it’s no wonder the vegetarian and vegan populations are increasing and for reasons beyond religion, personal taste, finances or health. It’s just plain impossible for many of us to support the “modern day animal farm,” as Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini put it. Rather, Petrini says, the food consumer is the “co-producer who JULY 2 0 1 2
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Chickens peck around for food on one local farm. (photo submitted)
should stress the importance of an eater’s partnership and bond with the farmer.” Not to say that I am vegetarian. To the contrary, I haven’t met a meat I didn’t like, though wild boar and turtle are my least favorites. The smoky pork chop, the well-seasoned rare grilled ribeye steak and the rotisserie chicken with potatoes and mounds of vegetables are some of my local favorites! And because I am not a vegetarian, I believe it’s my responsibility to stand against certain types of livestock raising and processing. Animals are sentient beings and not mere agricultural products. I only want to eat animals that had a life without maltreatment, suffering and fear: a life that has allowed them to live as free as possible to express their natural behav-
the exchange of monies for this food remains local, with the farmer reaping the greatest percentage. The terrific news for life here in our foothills is that small-scale, high-welfare animal farms are abundant. The creation of their positive farming conditions means better health and less stress for the animals. This means less disease and use of drugs that have repercussions on human health and the environment. As a collective, let’s teach our children well, iors. The native American offered a share the Slow Food story in our schools, prayer of thanksgiving to the animal soul within our circles and most importantly and to the Great Spirit upon its kill. This on our tables. philosophy, be it animal or plant, fruit In what seems to be a paradox, by or fish, removes destructive links in our consuming only from conscientious promeat systems and benefits nutritional ducers, meat-eaters can help the animals health and environmental sustainability. and the environment while enjoying Wendell Berry, the Kentucky farmer heritage flavors and nutrition once again and poet, famously said, “Eating is an at the table. agricultural act,” to which I respond, On the following page, find some “Agriculture is a gastronomic act.” I’ve farmers you should know. Read and learned that, in committing to local and learn, and then go meet these terrific organic as strictly as I can, superlative producers at farmers markets in our area tastes and variety in my food choices or give them a visit on their farm. Reesbest appear when I know the face and tablish the connection we should all have place of my farmer and his and her seed to the sources of fresh, local, healthy and choices, growing practices, animal welfare delicious food. (information cited from www. and traceable distribution. In this case, polkcountyfarms.org and www.asapconncetions. we might add, we discover that much of org)
Don Andrews , CFP (828) 692-9006 117 W. Barnwell St. Hendersonville a075036@allstate.com
© 2011 Allstate Insurance Company
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FOOD FOR FOODIES
Farmers You Should Know ACHIN’ BACK ACRES
Achin’ Back Acres is a small family-run farm in Green Creek. Rosa and Hank both developed a love of farming while growing up on family farms. They believe in treating their animals humanely and using sustainable agricultural methods to provide fresh, high quality local food to the community. Offerings: Grass-fed beef, eggs and chicks. Primary marketplaces: Direct Farm Sales, Polk Tailgate Markets, PolkFresh TradePost, Manna Cabanna, Plum Natural in Forest City, Café at the Mall, Forest City, 10 N. Trade St. Bakery, Beneficial Foods and a CSA beef co-op. Contact: www.achinbackacresfarm.com or 828-863-4377.
CAMP CREEK FARM
This 42-acre farm is located on the headwaters of Camp Creek in Saluda. Tom and Shelly DeKay raise Katahdin and Dorper crosses which are bred for parasite resistance and body structure. The lambs for breeding stock are available after they are weaned, usually mid-July. Market lambs for meat are available November through April. Their sheep are raised on grass and only supplemented with grain during gestation. Lambs are on pasture and supplemented with a locally mixed creep feed during their growth period. Run a flock of approximately 20 ewes and 30 lambs per season. Offerings: Lamb, fresh mountain trout, Red-Ranger chicken and eggs. Primary marketplaces: Saluda Tailgate Market, Direct Farm Sales. Contact: www.campcreekfarmsaluda.com or 828-606-5460.
GLENREID FARM
In 2009, Steve Reid purchased two parcels of land just over the Polk County line out of Green Creek into Rutherford County. A family run farm with his two sons, they cultivate an abundance of nutritious grasses and forage that naturally sustains their livestock in harmony with nature. There are never any artificial stimulants on their livestock. Offerings: Grass-fed Boer goat, Berkshire pig, Cornish-cross chicken. Primary marketplaces: Manna Cabanna, PolkFresh TradePost, Direct Farm Sales. Contact: www.glenreidfarm.com 828-863-2567.
RESTORATION FARM
Restoration Farm officially began in 2009 with the vision to restore the plantation roots of the property, focusing on sustainable living through family and community cooperation. Originally part of the Green River Plantation, the farm is situated on fertile land along the Green River. Dawn Jordan and her family pasture heritage poultry like Maran chickens for eggs and meat and Bourbon Red turkeys. Sustainable Living weekend workshops are offered six times per year in a lodge on the river. Offerings: Heritage poultry including Maran chicken eggs and meat and Bourbon Red turkeys. Primary marketplaces: Columbus Tailgate Market, PolkFresh TradePost, Direct Farm Sales. Contact: www.restorationfarm.net, restorationfarm@ hotmail.com,704-692-4358.
SWEET GRASS FARM
Sweet Grass Farm is a multi-generational farm located on Smith Dairy Rd. in Columbus. It has been in operation since the 1950s. It is a seasonal, all natural, pasture-based farm that doesn’t use antibiotics or hormones and does use local grains for food. They are transitioning from conventional cattle grazing to managed intensive grazing, where the cows will be constantly rotated, mirroring the Joel Salatin method of Polyface Farms in Virginia. Offerings: Cornish-cross pastured poultry, grass-fed beef in summer 2013. Primary marketplaces: Direct Farm Sales, occassional tailgate markets. Contact: sweetgrassmeats@gmail.com, 828-894-8934.
LUNSFORD FARMS
Remember the good old days when everyone knew their local farmer, postman, and neighbor by name? Kevin and Meg Lunsford run a family-owned and operated farm with pastures and fields in Henderson & Polk County. Purchase is available wholesale and in bulk for the general public, restaurants, markets, camps, etc. Offerings: Hormone, steroid and feed antibiotic-free USDA certified Angus beef and pork. Primary Marketplaces: Hendersonville Farmers Market, Direct Farm Sales. Contact: www.lunsfordfarms.net, lunsfordfarms@bellsouth.net, 828-551-9330.
MAPLE CREEK FARM
Located in Rutherford County, just off Womack Road, Maple Creek Farm is run by Keven and Kitty McCammon. A familyfarm featuring the Texas Longhorn, they offer hayride-style agri-tours, tastings, and educational opportunities. Pastured and grass-fed, no hormones, steroids or antibiotics are used. Offerings: Grass-fed, all natural steaks, burger, and sausage, tanned hides and horns. Primary Marketplaces: Manna Cabanna, The Firehouse Inn in Rutherfordton, Direct Farm Sales. Contact: 828-286-8069. JULY 2 0 1 2
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Oven-Fried Chicken This moist and crunchy chicken dish is a perfect example of “local gourmet comfort food.� Serves 6 3 c. cornflakes, crushed to a rough crumble 1.5 c. all-purpose flour 1.5. t. kosher salt 1.5 t. freshly ground black pepper pinch of cayenne pepper 2 T. chopped fresh thyme or marjoram 1 c. well-shaken buttermilk 2 local eggs dash of hot sauce 6 boneless chicken breasts 6 oz. peanut oil
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a shallow dish combine the cornflakes, flour, salt, pepper, cayenne, and herbs. In another shallow dish combine the buttermilk, eggs and hot sauce, and stir to combine. Dip the chicken breasts in the buttermilk mixture and then the cornflake mixture, thoroughly coating each piece of chicken. Heat the peanut oil in a large frying pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in batches and fry until the breasts are golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels. Place the chicken on a large baking sheet and put in the preheated oven to bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Serve hot or at room temperature. Chickens provided by Restoration and Sweet Grass Farms in Polk County. Recipe provided by Farm Fresh NC by Diane Daniel and Laurey's Catering in downtown Asheville..
FEATURES
STOP HUNGER NOW Helping feed children of Haiti Written and Photographed by LEAH JUSTICE
Riley Ballentine and his family helped pack meals for kids in Haiti as part of the Stop Hunger Now project. (photo by Leah Justice)
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On June 2, volunteers gathered at the open-air gym at Harmon Field to pack the food. A local fundraiser to help feed children in Haiti brought all types of people and families lending a hand this year. Among those helping were one Columbus couple and their three young sons. Amy and Charlie Ballentine brought Dylan, age 9, Andy, age 7, and Riley, age 5, and they all pitched to fill and load bags of food. “It’s important to remind the kids their world is bigger than Columbus and they have to be responsible for people other than themselves,” Amy Ballentine said. “Food is a basic necessity I tend to take for granted myself. Being there gave them the chance to think about things they have.”
This was the Ballentines' first year volunteering for Stop Hunger Now. They joined with the Congregational Church of Tryon and said after their experience they definitely plan to help again next year. Amy Ballentine said the experience was very positive for the boys. She said she thinks they surprised themselves. “When they got there, they just wanted to help,” she said. “At the end of the day they were tired, but happy they had a chance to help.” Stop Hunger Now started locally three years ago as a Rotary Club of Tryon project and has continued to grow to help feed children in Haiti. On June 2, volunteers gathered at the open-air gym
Top: Joe Wray. Middle: Rachel Vining. Bottom: Jim Jackson.
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STOP HUNGER NOW
at Harmon Field to pack the food, which consists of dehydrated food including rice, vegetables, protein and vitamins. This year’s event drew crowds all day volunteering to pack food to ship to Haiti. The Rotary Club of Tryon was joined by several organizations and churches this year and raised $9,500, which equated to 38,000 meals. This year’s group reached out farther than ever with major contributors being the Tryon Congregational Church, Holy Cross Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church of Tryon, Tryon Presbyterian Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, Kiwanis Club members, Rotary Club of Tryon members, Rotary Club of Tryon Foundation and community members at large. This year Boy Scout Troop 128 of Mill Spring also helped with the event. Six boys and four troop leaders helped set up. “They did a great job, let me tell you,” said McKeller. Project organizer Charles McKeller said last year the project packed 25,000 meals. “Three years ago we had a group go to Haiti and found a partner with the Haiti Outreach Ministries,” McKeller said. “They have a school and teach them how to read and give them an education and give them a meal. It may be the only meal the children get that day.” Following the mission in Haiti, the Rotary Club decided to join the Stop Hunger Now group that serves Western North Carolina. Last year Tryon Rotary decided to have its own project and this year set a goal to raise $10,000 and practically accomplished that goal. The food is packed on a truck and sent to a secure warehouse in Haiti obtained by the Haiti Outreach Ministries, which removes the packed meals and prepares them with water for the children as they attend school. Haiti Outreach Ministries Executive Director Pastor Leon, who has visited Tryon Rotary, oversees the operation and has said he takes pride in seeing that 98 percent of their resources go to the children. “We know it doesn’t pass through the government and gets to people who need it,” McKeller said. “Our club decided this is a great project for a great cause.” For more information regarding Stop Hunger Now visit www.stophungernow.org. •
Top: Sarah Phipps (right) and Lynn Montgomery. Middle: Group. Bottom: Linda Ligon.
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RECREATION
Foothills
FASHION
Photographs by SAMANTHA HURST
Head Too Toe owner Stacy Strickland kicks your typical cowgirl casual style up a notch by pairing this white crocheted skirt with brown cowgirl boots, a black tank top and brown belt. Crocheted white lace skirt, Lovely Girl, $34; brown belt, $45.
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SUMMER FASHION
Need a classy but fun summer dress to wear on a new date? Grab this fuschia one-shoulder dress, worn by Kelly Clinton, and pair it with hoop earrings and dressy sandals. Dress, Adrienne, $34.
Dress up your next summer backyard barbecue with this patterned sheer top over white capris, worn by Head Too Toe hairstylist Christy Osborn. Top, Toska, $25; earrings, $12.
All items on these pages are found at
HEAD TOO TOE SALON & BOUTIQUE 319 S. Trade St., Tryon
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RECREATION
All items on these pages are found at
LUCY'S BOUTIQUE 204 E. Rutherfordton St., Landrum
Above: Bring a pop of color into your wardrobe. This grass green knee-length dress worn by Lucy’s Boutique co-owner Lindsay Dobbins features ivory crocheted embellishments. Mudpie, $40. Right: Aztec prints have popped up all over this summer. Show off your eclectic side in this maxi dress with embroidered detail across the bodice. Yahada, $60.
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SUMMER FASHION
Left: Want to hit the trend points? Try this Aqua blue blouse with a modified bell sleeve over white skinny jeans and wedge sandals. Blouse, James & Joyce, $45; Shoes, Bamboo, $45; Necklace, $16. Above: Lucy's Boutique in Landrum carries a variety of accessories, handbags, shoes and even beach bags.
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RECREATION
Water safety Written by LEAH JUSTICE
Elizabeth Christian. Photo by Leah Justice.
Enjoying Gibson Pool for more than 50 years With summer heat area residents have many ways to cool down in the foothills by swimming in area lakes, rivers and private or public pools. For more than 50 years, Polk County residents have had the luxury of visiting the county-owned Gibson Park Pool in Columbus, where public swim times as well as swimming lessons are offered. Gibson pool, which originally served as a private club, was given to the county and was repainted and enhanced two years ago with picnic shelters. The facility started with only a the large pool and in the 1980s the county added a kid pool and what is referred to as the middle pool. The large pool is 8 feet deep and includes a roped-off shallow section and a slide in the deep end. Polk County Recreation Assistant Chris Zellner said safety is the pool’s number one priority, with 14 lifeguards on staff who are all Red Cross certified, two managers, a head lifeguard and 58 LIFEINO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M
six water safety instructors (WSI). “Safety is the main factor at Gibson Pool,” Zellner said. “There are always three guards on deck plus managers.” Zellner said lifeguards concentrate on preventing any negative experience in the deep end because of the detrimental effects, especially for children. “We don’t want anyone to have a frightening experience,” Zellner said. “It’s very hard to overcome that.” Zellner gives safety tips for any pool experience, saying the most important tip is to never swim alone. She said if someone gets in trouble in a pool the rule is to “reach or throw, do not go.” “If little kids are together and one falls in and can’t swim, the one on the deck shouldn’t go in because then you end up with two people drowning,” said Zellner. Home pools should have life-saving devices on the deck, including a long pole and a flotation device that can be thrown
WATER SAFETY
CPSC offers the following tips for pool owners: • Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool. • Instruct babysitters about potential hazards to young children in and around swimming pools and the need for constant supervision. • Completely fence the pool. Install self-closing and self-latching gates. Position latches out of reach of Hundreds gathered for the Gibson Pool opening June 2. Photo by Leah Justice.
out to a potential victim. Home pool owners should also be aware they should not dive in shallow water, Zellner said. Swimming lessons bring hundreds to the pool each summer, with beginner to competitive classes offered. Lessons are offered throughout the summer. Level 1 courses are offered for water exploration for beginners, with level 2 including primary skills. Levels 3 and 4 are for the more advanced swimmer, to work on stroke development, and levels 5 and up are for the most advanced swimmer, focusing on distance and performance. Lessons began June 5 and continue through Aug. 3 this year, with classes offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for all levels ranging between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Session are for two week periods for $55 for one person. For more information about Gibson Pool or swim lessons, call the Polk County Recreation Department at 828-894-8199 or the pool at 828-894-2646. The pool is located at 236 Park Street, Columbus. Season passes are available as well as the opportunity to rent the pool for a private party. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 260 children under five years of age drown each year in residential swimming pools and spas. The commission estimates that another 3,000 children under age five are treated in hospital emergency rooms following submersion accidents each year. Some of these submersion accidents result in permanent brain damage. Nationally, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death to children under 5. In some states such as California, Florida and Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children under 5.
young children. Keep all doors and windows leading to the pool area secure to prevent small children from getting to the pool. Effective barriers and locks are necessary preventive measures, but there is no substitute for supervision. • Do not consider young children "drown proof" because they have had swimming lessons; young children should always be watched carefully while swimming. • Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision. • Never use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, since children may become entrapped under it. Remove the cover completely. • Place tables and chairs well away from the pool fence to prevent children from climbing into the pool area. • Keep toys away from the pool area because a young child playing with the toys could accidentally fall in the water. • Remove steps to above ground pools when not in use. • Have a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere. Keep emergency numbers at the poolside telephone. • Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). • Keep rescue equipment by the pool.
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Your resource for local equestrian events and happenings
APPOINTMENTS
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APPOINTMENTS
Equestrian Events JULY July 3 TRHC Schooling @ FENCE. Info: Laura Weicker, office@trhcevents.org, 828859-6109. July 4-8 TR&HC Charity Horse Show II at FENCE. Info: Laura Weicker, office@ trhcevents.org, 828-859-6109. July 7-8 Eric Dierks offers private videoed lessons July 7-8. Videographer Erik Olsen will provide tapes of the lessons so that the rider can see areas in which they need to improve. The lessons will focus on dressage or jumping. Info: Eric Dierks at 703-297-2329 or by email at eric@ ericdierks.com. July 7-8 Paul Belasik Clinic at Blue Moon Farm. Info Sophie Clifton sophie@montana. net.
Eric Dierks won two blue ribbons at a recent MayDaz event. (photo submitted)
August 4 II on Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July RVPC Mounted/ Unmounted Meet15 at Dr. Joy Baker’s farm. Registration July 9-14 Movement in Horses Clini- will begin at 9 a.m. July 15, while each ing. Info: Trayce Doubek, tmdoubek@yahoo. cat Hulindalur Farm, Columbus. Contact: day of sessions will run from 9:30 a.m. – com. slyter@mac.com. 4:30 p.m. Baker’s farm is located at 239 Baker Drive in Tryon. For more informaAugust 11 tion, call 828-817-0315. RVPC Ratings Prep No. 3. Info: Trayce July 11 TRHC Set up Schooling Doubek, tmdoubek@yahoo.com. at FENCE. Info: Laura Weicker, office@ trhcevents.org, 828-859-6109. July 25-29 August 11-12 RVPC USPC Championships in Harmon Classics at Latta PlantaLexington, Va. Info: Trayce Doubek, tmJuly 12-15 tion. Info: Lewis Pack at 828-894-2721 or doubek@yahoo.com. TR&HC Charity Horse Show III harmonclassics@aol.com. at FENCE. Info: Laura Weicker, office@ July 25-28 trhcevents.org, 828-859-6109. August 18-19 Harmon Hopefuls @ Harmon Field. BRHJA Summer’s End at Harmon Info: Noreen Cothran 864-457-3557. July 14 Field. Info: Lewis Pack at 828-894-2721 or Greenville Foothills Pony Club harmonclassics@aol.com. Monthly meeting. Info chculbertson@ earthlink.net. AUGUST August 25 August 3-5 TR&HC Schooling Horse Trials at WinJuly 14-15 Progressive Show Jumping (Back to dridge Farm. Info: Laura Weicker, office@ Anita Curtis will host the workshop School) at FENCE. Info: Cathy Cram, trhcevents.org, 828-859-6109. “How to hear the animals,” levels I and psjshows@aol.com, 803-649-3505. JULY 2 0 1 2
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APPOINTMENTS
84th
Tryo n R i d i ng & H unt Club C h ari ty H o rs e Sh ow Written by Laura Weicker
Left: Crowds look on during the $25,000 Equestrian Sport Productions Grand Prix. Right: Helen Landon Terranova, aboard Creed, preparers to enter the ring for the $25,000 Equestrian Sport Productions Grand Prix as Roger Smith and Vic Russell look over the course. Photos by Don West.
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The weather couldn’t have been better as spectators and exhibitors came to watch the $5,000 Ariat /The Farm House Charity Jumper Challenge at the 84th Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show. Lincoln Russell and Camryn Hulsey took the blue ribbon and won for Kiwanis the top prize of $1,500. All of the randomly selected non-profits received a portion of the $5,000 purse, so no one walked away empty handed. All of the riders graciously donated their time, efforts and resources to participate in the event. They were awarded Tryon Riding & Hunt Club saddle pads.
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Exhibitors gather round to watch the Belmont prior to the $25,000 Equestrian Sport Productions Grand Prix. Photo by Don West.
AWARD S 1st Place $1,500 Kiwanis Foundation/Lone Oak Farm Lincoln Russell and Camryn Hulsey 2nd Place $1,000 Tryon Arts and Crafts School/Little Orchard Farm Ben Rosichan and Lily Hahn-Rosichan 3rd Place $700 Foothills Equestrian Nature Center/Blockhouse Sporthorses Kelly Kocher and Carolina Villanueva-Suarez
All of the randomly selected non-profits received a portion of the $5,000 purse so no one walked away empty handed. They were awarded Tryon Riding & Hunt Club saddle pads.
4th Place $500 St Luke’s Hospital Foundation/Blockhouse Sporthorses Lee Reynolds-Heelan and Emily Kocher 5th Place $400 Tryon Elementary School PTA/Blockhouse Sporthorses Kelly Kocher and Carolina Villaneuva-Suarez 6th Place $350 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Polk County/Still Creek Farm Megan Millon and Sydney Johnson 7th Place $300 Foothills Humane Society/Hobby Horse Farm Beth Perkins and Amy Barrington 8th Place $250 Children’s Theater Festival/Clearview Farm Jeanne Smith and Hannah Seigel JULYw 2 0 1 2
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Le es ac hi e v e s succ e s s w i t h Mark e e Written by BARBARA CHILDS
Jodi Lees of Rivers Edge Farms hopes to achieve high level success with Welmarkt “Markee.” (photo by Erik Olsen)
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Rider Jodi Lees recently earned her USDF gold medal on the 17.2 hand Hannoverian gelding Weltmarkt, or Markee as he is called. The USDF (United States Dressage Federation) requires two scores of 60 percent or higher at the intermediate levels of dressage and two scores of 60 percent or higher at the Grand Prix level at recognized USDF competitions to earn the USDF Gold Medal award. Scores must be attained from more than three judges at more than three shows. Markee is 15 years old and is owned by Sharon Cargill. The horse was not in "training work" when Cargill and Lees found him, and he needed to put on quite a bit of strength, weight and muscle to be able to perform the difficult work needed for the FEI Grand Prix level movements. In the past year with Lees, Markee has developed into a capable and happy Grand Prix athlete. It required many hours of work and education for both of them to train all the movements successfully. “There is no way to get to your first Grand Prix test successfully and competently without excellent instruction. I have been working with Robert Zandvoort the entire time that we have had Weltmarkt. Robert has been a necessary part of the team that has helped get Markee and me to Grand Prix. His consistent visits and his unwavering attention to my goals and to my training have been the foundation for my Grand Prix success," said Lees. Weltmarkt's owner, Cargill, has been a constant support for Lees and has maintained Markee’s program of acupuncture, chiropractics, massage and supplements. “It is by Sharon's generosity and our teamwork that we have built Weltmarkt up to his current level of performance," said Lees. It has turned out that Markee is delightful at shows. He is interested in the activity, has a lovely work ethic and enjoys all the attention he gets, but he buckles down and gets serious for his work in the warm-up. Lees and Markee have just returned from Aiken, S.C. and their third Grand Prix show, where they earned two more scores over 60 percent, which means that Lees is one score away from having all of the riding scores required for her "S" judging program. Lee is currently an "R" dressage judge, which means she can judge only through fourth level at nationally recognized shows. An "S" licensed judge qualifies judging through the Grand Prix level at national shows. She said the riding scores must be earned within eight years of applying for the license. She hopes
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Lees is one score away from her "S" judging program. (photo submitted)
to get the fifth score required with Weltmarkt within the next month. She said she should be able to apply for the "S" program at the beginning of 2013. “It is important for all of us to realize how difficult it is to get a horse and rider to the Grand Prix level. First, it takes a horse that has talent and the temperament to learn the physically and mentally challenging movements of the Grand Prix test. This takes years of education, dedication, training and instruction,” Lees said. “There are many road bumps along the way, like finding the right horse and keeping him sound, fit and mentally engaged. Plus needing excellent farrier and veterinary care, not to mention time and money - and of course, persistence.” Throughout Lees' riding career there have been benchmarks - all very personal and emotional. “It is a long road filled with ups and downs. Markee and I have worked so hard. I have cried tears of frustration and tears of joy from getting something finally right,” she said. “I have gritted my teeth and continued even through doubts. I have wondered “why” and then decided “why not.” When I wasn't fast enough to pick myself up, my incredible friends picked me up.” She said she could never have come this far in her riding career without the exceptional support of her husband, Bill. Lees said she was also thankful to have found an amazing new partner with Sharon Cargill. “Our two equine dreams melded, and out of that quest came Weltmarkt,” Lees said.
“It is important for all of us to realize how difficult it is to get a horse and rider to the Grand Prix level. First, it takes a horse that has talent and the temperament to learn the physically and mentally challenging movements of the Grand Prix test. This takes years of education, dedication, training and instruction.” - Jodi Lees
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Hokan Thorn will be teaching in Campobello in the beginning of July. (photo submitted)
Tho r n , s ta p l e o f Tryo n dr es s age c li ni c ci rcu i t Written by BARBARA CHILDS
Hokan Thorn has been coming to the Tryon area giving clinics and lessons and competing in dressage for about 10 years. Thorn will be at Patty Shedlow’s China Farm in Campobello the beginning of July. Over the last 30 years he has successfully shown through every level in dressage from training to FEI. Hokan started riding at the age of three on the island of Gotland on the Baltic Sea. He began his serious training as a dressage rider when he was 16 after spending some years with jumping and eventing disciplines. “I always maintain a commitment to finding the best in a horse and rider, and giving the rider the skills and techniques to achieve the best of their riding that they can accomplish,” said Hokan Thorn. Hokan comes regularly to China Farm on the average of a monthly visit. 66 L IF E INO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M
“This area has my favorite tack shop, The Farm House, where I always find something I need, and then after the clinic, you will find me hunting ceramic pots on the outside of town," said Hokan Thorn. Hokan enjoys every day he has with his horses and riding. “I am intimately attached to my horses. Their welfare, initiating a program to get them to their physical peak, laying down flying changes and all the training work I so love and enjoy with them,” he said. “I thrive on seeing them progress with the achievements each horse offers to me. Every horse offers their rider the opportunity to obtain a goal. I am currently showing a few young horses from first level to Intermediare 1. They are showing great promise. I am also working with my own homebred mare, Gabrielle by my old stallion, Oskar.” Call Shedlow at 864-457-2526 or 404-275-8888 for times and dates of Hokan’s clinic.
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R u s sel l s o n mov e t o fina l ly fa rm Written by BARBARA CHILDS Photos submitted by Lincoln and Susanne Russell
After running their business from Motlow Creek Equestrian Park for the last five years, Lincoln and Susanne Russell have moved to the quiet and peace of Finally Farm on Carriage Row Rd. in Hunting Country. The pair will continue to train their clients' hunters and jumpers there in Hunting Country. Finally Farm is a beautiful facility with 20 stalls, heated wash racks, office, all weather ring, extensive turn outs for the horses, and, of course, access to the FETA trail system. The Russells found Finally Farm just as Annie Maunder was starting to make plans to retire happily to her new private farm in Green Creek. Maunder has been gracious enough to share her space until she moves and her barn is finished being built. There is a happy balance of the eventing and hunting disciplines with Maunder and the hunter and jumper disciplines with the Russells. The Russells' son, Allister, will take some cross country lessons with Annie and mom Susanne is very happy about that prospect. The benefits of being closer to home, as well as having the peace and privacy of training and giving lessons at Finally Farm, have been a great blessing, the Russells said. The Feta Trails will keep the horses in good conditioning so they will not be ring sour, and their time of relaxation after campaigning in the shows will be good for their mental time of relaxing. JULY 2 0 1 2
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Ame ri c a n Tho roug h b re d : Hee l a n ’ s c h oi c e fo r v i c to ry Written by BARBARA CHILDS
Lee Heelan enjoys showing her thoroughbred jumper, “Chance,” whose show name is "Watrals Gentleman.” That was the name he raced with and he came with it. “I'm a little superstitious about changing names, but everyone knows him as ‘Chance,’” she said. But the American thoroughbred has always been Heelan's favorite breed and has proven her successful. Her hunter "Pescado" is a South American Thoroughbred. Heelan said he loves his job as a hunter, even though she sometimes shows him in the jumper ring. “It's good to keep him sharp with a good ground person. When I was 12 years old, I rode with Joey Darby and Kelly Kocher was working for him as a working student. We became friends, and I was thrilled when he decided to move to Tryon,” she said. “We have the same basic teaching methods, and he has been a great help for me at every stage of my riding career. Joey was a fabulous teacher, too..” In recent years, Pescado and Heelan have been champion or reserve in the amateur owner hunters at shows such as Kentucky, Biltmore, Gulfport, Folsom, River Glen, Auburn, Atlanta and Tryon. Heelan and Pescado were fourth in the USEF national horse of the year 68 L IF E INO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M
awards for amateur owners for two years in a row. More recently, they were second in the Nickerdoodles Hunter Derby at Harmon Classics. Chance and Heelan have been consistent in the High Amateur Jumpers and Mini Prix events. In recent years, they have been second in the $15,000 Grand Prix in Folsom, La. and second in the Germantown Classic of $10,000 and Champion in the High Amateur Jumpers at Serenity Farm. Chance has won numerous $5,000 Mini Prixs. “He is one of the most consistent horses I have ever had," says Heelan. Heelan does not recall any time in her life where she has not had a pony or a horse. When she was 2 years old, her mom and dad bought her a pony. There was an immediate bond there. Heelan started taking lessons with Katie and Johnny McCashin at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, N.C., and that is where she entered her first horse show. Her mom purchased her a fancy pony, “Some Fun” when she was 8. Then Heelan started to work with Joe Darby and competed on the Florida Circuit. Some Fun was a large pony of 14.1 hands. Heelan was elated when she won on the Florida Circuit with him. “Able Archer” was leased for Heelan when she was
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Above: Pescado claims the Amateur Owner Hunter Championship in Atlanta. (photo submitted.) Opposite page, left: Agedoorn (Ozzie) wins the Open Jumper Stake in 1985 at the Baltimore Jumper Classic in Baltimore Md. (photo by Judy Buck.) Opposite page, right: Watrals Gentleman (Chance) at the Folsom Grand Prix in Folsom, La. (photo submitted.)
11. This horse won at the Garden and helped her make the transition from pony to horse. When Heelan was 12, her mom received a call from her Aunt Marie Reynolds who lived in Southern Pines, N.C. A young girl had brought her horse over to her ring to ride and Aunt Marie felt it would be the perfect horse for Heelan. The horse was "Ides of March,” and he became a famous junior hunter for Heelan. The grand junior hunter championship at Washington International is given in his honor. During her junior years, Heelan wanted a jumper, and her mom decided to get her a good one. Her mom contacted Ronnie Beard and Robert Ridland and they found Heelan a magnificent hunter called "Patriot's Way.” "Patriot's Way" and Heelan won the Garden, Florida, Texas, Devon and every major show in the country. Being champion and reserve at Harrisburg and Devon in the Regular Conformation Classes against the professionals was quite a feat for a youngster from North Carolina. About that time, Robert Ridland
found Heelan "Agedoorn,” the jumper who was her dream horse. “I have been fortunate to have trained with the best trainers in the country - Kenny Wheeler and Joey Darby in the hunters and Rodney Jenkins and Robert Ridland," Heelan said. After winning the Grand Prix in Dallas on Agedoorn, Heelan represented the south at the Summer Olympic Festival, winning a silver medal. “Living in Tryon is like being on vacation all the time. Since finding the love of my life, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. The fabulous weather enables me to ride horses in the morning and do barn chores, and then I have time in the afternoon to hit the links for a round of golf. “It is great to be able to go to the barn and tack up Chance or Pescado and go for a ride around the farm and enjoy God's country,” Heelan said. “When summer comes, we enjoy the river swimming hole, which we call “the redneck riviera,” and there is always rock hopping in the creek. Having water on three sides makes Tantara Farm a very special place.”
“It's good to keep him sharp with a good ground person. When I was 12 years old, I rode with Joey Darby and Kelly Kocher was working for him as a working student. We became friends, and I was thrilled when he decided to move to Tryon,” she said. “We have the same basic teaching methods, and he has been a great help for me at every stage of my riding career. Joey was a fabulous teacher, too. His training was to think for yourself, unlike the trainers today who want you to depend on them.” - Lee Heelan
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Summer Cl a s s ic Hor se Sh ow r esults Blue skies shone brightly as a week filled with exciting competition, fabulous parties and perfect weather culminated at the 2012 Tryon Summer Classic Horse Show. The event, held at FENCE (Foothills Equestrian Nature Center) took place May 31- June 3 and was managed by Aiken-based Equus Events. The show again benefited the Tryon Hounds (www.tryonhounds.com). It featured a $2,500 USHJA National Derby sponsored by Reflections Farm and Brick Church Farm on Friday evening and a $10,000 Jumper Classic sponsored by The EMO Insurance Agency and Martha Hall on Saturday evening. Friday night belonged to Karen Kelley of Charleston, S.C. and Laura and Meredith Mateo’s Uncle Luc as they strode to an impressive win in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Reflections Farm and Brick Church Farm. “I loved the course, all unrelated and off your eye,” Kelley said. “It felt as if we were on an outside course and that ring is so fun as all the spectators really make it feel exciting and special… Luc and I had a grand time. Another A-plus, plus job by Equus Events!” The pair brought in an 84 from round one as they came into the second handy hunter round in second place behind Don Sheehan and the Margaret Edge entry of Chosen, who scored an 87. In the handy round, Kelley’s bold ride and Luc’s handiness earned them the top score of 85, giving them the 70 L IF E INO URFO O THI L L S. C O M
win with a two-round total of 169. Sheehan and Chosen placed second with a 164, followed by Mador Du Chaufour and Glen Hartigan with a two-round total of 158. The course, designed by Toledo, Ohio native Joseph Carnicom, received rave reviews from the riders. They said it included many unrelated lines and options, giving the horses and riders a chance to show off their ability but also allowing young horses a chance to compete in a derby setting. The Tryon Summer Classic is known for its hospitality and Friday night did not disappoint as the Tryon Hounds were on hand, providing an exhibitors dinner under the VIP tent during the class. Saturday evening featured a $10,000 Jumper Classic, sponsored by the EMO Insurance Agency and Martha Hall, and the annual Parade of Tryon Hounds. The Tryon Hounds annual benefit dinner also took place under the VIP tent during the class. The Hare and Hound of Landrum catered the event. A record crowd was on hand to watch 21 horse and rider teams compete over the course. With four riders making it to the jump off, last proved to be best as Brian Gjetley of Aiken, S.C. and his Piks Pistelero took home the blue. Another Aiken-based rider, C n’C Stable’s Christina Jason, took home second place aboard her Tamino. Creed and Helen Landon Terranova were third and Vick Russell and Lilly Hahn Rosichan’s Lucky One rounded out the top four. Riders and trainers were also treated to a special reception ringside during
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the Jumper Classic, graciously sponsored by Gagne International, JF Gagne and Carsten Peters and Team Phun. Sunday, the final day of the show capped off a beautiful week of horse showing as many of the Tryon Hound’s perpetual trophies were awarded to some of the show’s grand champion and high point riders. Some of the winners included: • Hoffman Van Wieren Trophy for Grand Champion Hunter- D’Artagnan owned by Ashley Hodges and ridden by Don Sheehan • Federick B Farwell Grand Champion Amateur OwnerDiplomat and Elizabeth Eubank • The Fox Creek Farm Challenge Trophy Grand Junior Hunter- James Bond and Amanda Young • The Red Frazier Memorial Grand Pony Hunter - Louis Vuitton and Libby Gordon • The George Webster High Point Short Stirrup - Savannah Smiles and Jennifer Bauer • Grand Adult Hunter-Smitten and Angela Millon • Grand Children’s Hunter - Lover Boy and Claudia Pollex For complete results contact Equus Events at 803-643-5698 or visit www.equusevents.com This page: Brian Gjetley and Piks Pistelero. (MVP Photos) Opposite page: Karen Kelley and Uncle Luc (MVP Photos) JULY 2 0 1 2
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RV P C
May 12 Harmon Hopeful Show
Photographs by Olivia Gould
1. RVPC member Grace Blanton riding Cupcake in a walk/trot flat class at the May 12 Harmon Hopeful show. 2. RVPC member Nicola Rountree-Williams riding Tiki in a walk/trot/canter flat class at the May 12 Harmon Hopeful show. 3. RVPC member Abby Billiu riding Spanky in a walk/trot/canter flat class at the May 12 Harmon Hopeful's show. 4. RVPC member Maren Daniels riding Katrina in a 2' hunter over fences class at the May 12 Harmon Hopeful's show.
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5. RVPC member Amanda Morfinos riding a friend's horse in a 2'9'' hunter over fences class at the May 12 Harmon Hopeful's show in preparation for the switch-ride at her C-3 rating in July. 6. RVPC member Sammie Firby riding Dixie in the 3' jumper classes at the May 12 Harmon Hopeful's show. 7. RVPC member Sammie Firby riding Legacy in the 3' jumper classes at the May 12 Harmon Hopeful's show in preparation for the Carolina Region Show Jumping Rally.
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GFPC Power-packed pony club
Written by CAROLYN CULBERTSON Photographs submitted
How much Pony Club can you bundle into 32 hours? Just ask members of Greenville Foothills Pony Club, and they’ll let you know how it’s done. With school out, 25 members of the 40-member club experienced a power-packed camp at Riverbend Equestrian Park on June 9-10. Supportive parent volunteers served throughout the weekend to facilitate the schedule, feed the hungry members, oversee the service project, organize the club level testing and assist with mounted opportunities (trail rides and quadrille). Saturday included both mounted and unmounted instruction. Morgan Whitehead Harper of Waxhaw, N.C., a Carolina Region Pony Club A Graduate and a US Pony Club National Examiner, taught the participants to the USPC standards on the flat and over fences. Members participating ranged in certification from unrated to B. Two members celebrated jumping a course for the first time! Unmounted instruction topics were foxhunting opportunities and etiquette (taught by Emmie Osborne of Green Creek Hounds), D Rating Prep Information (taught by B certified member Rachael Wood), proper tack cleaning (taught by HB certified members Eric Wright and Carly Messamer), and bandaging (taught by C2 certified members Darbie Barr; Bridget Gallagher of Columbus; and Sammi Messamer). Several members also explored the area on a bareback trail ride, led by Stephanie Gibson. Pony Club members Saturday evening enjoyed a bonfire cookout (including s’mores), a scavenger hunt, clever member-presented skits and karaoke singing. The skits included comedy, drama and parody of Pony Club and the encompassing equestrian way of life. Early morning Sunday brought the D
Top (l to r): Alyssa Edwards, Will Zuschlag, Carter McInnis, Eliza Culbertson, Mallie Moore and Elizabeth Donohue. Bottom (l to r): Mary Wagner, Kylie Simms, Hannah Campbell, Victoria Wagner and Emily Thomas.
Testing, organized by Roger Sayers and led by GFPC A-certified member Eliza Culbertson of Greer, S.C., assisted by HB members, and scribed by C2 members. Members not testing were treated to Simon Says on horseback with Rachael Wood and quadrille instruction from Doug Messamer of Piedmont, S.C.; followed by a trail ride. C1 member Jordan Johnson of Seneca, SC was overheard during the quadrille, saying “this is the best lesson ever!”. During Sunday lunch, newly certified members were presented: Hannah Campbell, D1, D2HM; Elizabeth Donohue, D3; Alyssa Edwards, D3; Carter McInnis, D3; Mallie Moore, D3HM; Kylie Simms, D1, D2HM; Emily Thomas, D1, D2; Mary Wagner, D2; Victoria Wagner, D2 and Will Zuschlag, D3. If you are interested in finding out more about Greenville Foothills Pony Club, find us on the web at www.gfponyclub.org or on Facebook at Greenville Foothills Pony Club (SC/NC) or contact greenvillefoothillspc@gmail.com. JULY 2 0 1 2
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D ead in t h e s a ddl e Written by GERALD PACK
As former Master of the Greenville County was clear to me was that this man was turning a darker Hounds for 30 years, I’ve seen just about everything shade of blue. I undid the buckle, and then pulled the a person could possibly see out there in the hunt field reins through his clenched fists. After that, I removed — even death. I’ve been asked many times to write his feet from the stirrups and pulled him off his horse. about my experience in this area, having had someone Luckily, I was in the National Guard at the time and die in the saddle, not once, but twice. started CPR on him right then and there. I got a slight First of all, let me go back a way. During the early heartbeat, but only for a few minutes and then it was 60s George Webster and I started a partnership at his just me and him lying in the middle of the road, my and Emily Webster’s Blue Bound Farm, on the South hand around the reins of two horses, my brain running Carolina side of what is now Hunting Country Road. like a train. Back then, we did a lot of different things in the I couldn’t risk leaving the body behind in the event a horse business and one of those was to take guests of car came along and maybe ran over it. Fixing the reins the Pine Crest Inn out hacking. behind the stirrups, I chased the horses back up toward One particular guest had come down from Verthe stable hoping that Pete, the groom, would recognize mont. He was, in fact, the scientist who’d invented that something was wrong and come looking for us. the first heart value. It was a beautiful, spring day and Of course, nobody came, so I sat down beside the we’d enjoyed a great man and waited for Bobride. We were apGiven that Mr. Wedoff was secretary bie to come riding by on proaching the stable, horseback. She and her rounding the bend two children hacked this of the Tryon Hounds, we decided from Prince Road, and way most every afterto go on and hunt in his memory. he was telling me how noon about this time. he and his wife had Sure enough, Bobbie We figured since he’d died right beside came changed their plans to trotting through come to Tryon instead the Morgan Chapel Church, we’d been the woods right on of sailing to France schedule, drawn by my — how if they’d gone, given God’s blessing to do so. I know waving arms. “What’s they’d be getting off happening?” she asked. that Mr. Wedoff would have approved. “He’s dead,” I said. the cruise liner right about now. She looked at the I noticed his horse body. “Who do we call?” was beginning to fall behind, flipping his head and I decided to call John Petty and let his funeral home pulling at the reins. I turned to see him sitting rigidly handle things. in the saddle, looking as if he were about to pass out. By all rights, something like that should happen but I quickly jumped off my horse and grabbed the once in a lifetime. Yet later that same year, lightning reins just as the man slumped forward. It didn’t take struck twice. It was a crisp, fall morning and several long to realize that he’d stopped breathing. Clearly, of us were hacking to a hunt meet at the Old Covert I had to get him off and onto the ground. But his Bridge down by the Pacolet River where the now hands were frozen around the reins. They wouldn’t Golden Road dead-ends. We had loaded up the hounds budge an inch. in the truck and sent them on ahead to wait for us at At the time, I didn’t know that when a person dies, the staging area. I-26 was being built at the time, so we their hands clamp shut. About the only thing that decided to take it as a short cut.
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THEN & NOW
We were trotting along when suddenly, one of the riders, Helen Luitweiler, a retired stockbroker from New York City, starts screaming, “This man is dead!” We got everyone stopped, and George Webster, who never could handle stress very well, promptly handed over the reins of responsibility, saying, “Let me hold your horse.” By now, I’d had some measure of experience in these situations and was able to slide the reins through Mr. Wedoff ’s hands and get him on the ground. Fortunately, right in the middle of her chorus, I looked up to see Ronald Corn, who worked for Fox Covert Farm at the time, driving down the road in a shiny new, 440 Olds convertible. We propped Mr. Wedoff up in the back seat and sent him on up the hill in style, still attired in his tweed ratcatcher, his boots newly
polished, motoring off toward the old St. Luke’s Hospital. Given that Mr. Wedoff was secretary of the Tryon Hounds, we decided to go on and hunt in his memory. We figured since he’d died Then right beside the Morgan Chapel Church, & Now we’d been given God’s blessing to do so. I know that Mr. Wedoff would have apby Gerald Pack proved. Poor Mrs. Luitweiler. Two deaths in one year — she was beginning to think that maybe, at her age, it was time to quit fox hunting, or at the very least, switch hunts, what with my running streak of deaths. But I sold her a really nice horse that she rode for many more glorious years before she finally retired and left the hunt field, thankfully, not in the saddle. Stay tuned.
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Dudley Reports:
Equestrian activities heat up Written by BARBARA CHILDS Photograph submitted Dudley.
The Carolina Mule Association is hosting a ride at the Chattanooga River in Mountain Rest. All riders are welcome.
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It has been so muggy and buggy with the coming of southern sun. Ah, lazy days in the sunshine munching good green clover and grasses, stealing time in the gardens of Babylon up at the big house and pondering all the newsworthy events that are happening in the equine world. I’m still on a diet and that gets quite tiring, but exercise with Madeline is keeping me fit and trim and very cool. She and I are working on a thoughtfully crafted cookbook of glorious garden harvests - all for humans and vegetarian tastes. It should be a winner. Check out the recipe Madeline has chosen for this month. Here’s the scoop on the equine scene. Georgie Arrigio and Three Gables Farm in Tryon have formed a drill team. Horses and riders practice twice a week with 6-foot flagpoles mounted to their stirrups. The drill team is fine-tuning their routines and music for the Fourth of July presentation, which will be Sunday, July 1 with a barbecue afterwards. The horses will wear blue and red leg wraps for the event. Jodi Lees has earned her gold medal in dressage on Weltmarkt owned by Sharon Cargill. Lees will seek her next S dressage judge’s license for judging the FEI
levels at nationally recognized shows. Both have come a long way and are in a great partnership in this high level of dressage. Several Fresian Ster geldings from Holland are coming to Dark Knight Farm. Dudley's friend Madeline. They are beautiful and have blueblood line pedigrees. The Carolina Mule Association will host a ride at the Chattanooga River in Mountain Rest. All riders are welcome. It is not necessary to have a mule. Contact carolinamuleassoc.com for times and dates. The FETA number for trail updates has been changed to 828-894-0496. Call Ranger Rick to report a trail problem at 828-817-1878. Do not go around fallen trees or trail blockages. There’s a new progressive show jumping program being promoted in the jumping circuit in the Carolinas. PSJ is launching its Show Management Apprentice Program. Its objective is to offer participants a hands-on experience through all facets of the horse show
DUDLEY THE DONKEY
Spinach Tart Madeline’s favorite pick for the recipe of the month – a championship winner of a dish for your summer palate. INGREDIENTS 1 tart pan lined with pie dough 9 ounces baby spinach 4 tbls. Butter 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese 2 whole eggs and 2 egg yolks 2/3 cup heavy cream 1 tsp. Dijon mustard Salt and pepper DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400. Bake tart for 10-15 minutes. Cook spinach with ½ the butter and chop. Heat the rest of the butter and cook the onions ‘til soft. Place onions and spinach over bottom of the pie crust. Pulse cheese, eggs, yolks, cream and mustard in a blender or food processor. Pour over spinach and onions and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. Serve.
management process. It is the program’s belief that teaching these management skills to our future leaders now will ensure our equestrian based events to continue to become more effective, efficient and enjoyable for everyone. Dates for the program locally include Aug. 3-5, Back to School PSJ at FENCE in Tryon; Sept. 1-2 PSJ Pinehurst-Pinehurst, N.C.; and Sept. 22-23 PSJ Mullet Hall in St. John’s Island, S.C. Anita Curtis will be coming to Joy
Baker’s farm in Tryon July 14-15 to teach animal communication skills. “How to Hear the Animals” Levels I and II will be offered from 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 828-817-0315. Don’t forget the RVPC camp at The Fork. You can get more info by emailing tmdoubek@yahoo.com Our deepest sympathy goes out to Mike Pollard at the recent loss of his three beloved horses. Margaret Freeman will be mov-
ing here to Gillette Woods from New York. She is the associate editor of the “Horse Journal” and is on the editorial committee for the “USDF Connection.” She has covered five equestrian Olympic events and will be in London to cover the equine news at the Olympics held there this year. Libbie Johnson will present a basket of equine welcome gifts to her as she makes the transition here to Tryon.
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WHY I LOVE THE FOOTHILLS
June Ellen Bradley : Drawing inspiration from the foothills
Interview by GWEN RING Photograph submitted
June Ellen Bradley is a speaker, author and educator at Polk County Agricultural Center in Mill Spring. She is also a fine artist, naturalist, herbalist and botanist. Her studio is located within the Polk County Agricultural Center. What is your background? My background is in health, healing and artistic expression. I grew up Catholic with parents who were both in the medical field. We lived in Woodbridge, Conn. Our town was mostly Jewish and I learned to respect others' devotion as much as my own. I volunteered at the local hospital in high school when I wasn’t at swim practice. We were a family who believed in a solid work ethic, diet and exercise for health and had a strong educational focus. I went to Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., majoring in biology and government. I considered both law and medicine as potential career options. I chose art because I felt that beauty is an important value to express, especially the beauty of nature. What brought you to the Foothills area? My father initiated a move south while I was in college and there was no question I would follow him. We initially moved to Greenville, S.C. I worked on the Henderson County Courthouse mural and lived in Saluda in the early 90s. I just fell in love with Polk County. I moved here after 1992, when my father died. I tell people “I got here as soon as I could” because I just love the landscape, people and lifestyle. As a painter of landscapes, I drive around in visual ecstasy every day. What do you enjoy most about the Foothills? I enjoy the beauty of the mountains from the foothills, the skies at sunrise and sunset, the forests and wildlife and the passionate folks I meet along the way. As a naturalist, the ecosystem here is incredibly diverse and the botanist in me never tires of finding new plants to research and admire. I enjoy the agricultural heritage of this area and hope we preserve the rural character here. Do you have a favorite spot in Polk County, Landrum or the surrounding area? I love Beneficial Foods at Adawehi in Columbus for the fresh, high energy food that is local and organic. The walking trails, open to the public are a slice of heaven. You can bring lunch to the pavilion by the stream and enjoy the elements. 78 LIFE INO URFO O THI L L S. C O M
Bradley painted directional signs within the Polk County Agricultural Center for visitors to easily navigate the center. Photo by Gwen Ring.
How has your life changed since moving to the foothills? I will tell you that my gratitude, health and inspiration have continued to grow and flourish. I feel more connected to a sense of place. I have healed old wounds enough to deal with the challenges that living a full life invariably issue. I am thankful the trees don’t talk when I have ranted and raved at them about things that give me angst. Really, they are the best witnesses to passing emotional storms and they give back incredible healing energy. This area has an abundance of the healing energy and beauty of nature.
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Wishing You Well Flowers and balloons bring smiles to our patients, but at St. Luke’s Hospital, we deliver more . . . Since 1929, St. Luke’s Hospital has been here, caring for our friends and neighbors in the Carolina Foothills. As a small community hospital, we fill a huge need, providing access to life-saving emergency care, outstanding surgical care, and attentive, compassionate acute medical care. St. Luke’s Hospital is proud to offer the latest in diagnostic imaging, outcomes-based rehabilitation, respectful geriatric-psychiatric care, state-of-the-art orthopedic care and so much more. St. Luke’s Hospital remains committed to providing quality care… a safe, comfortable and caring atmosphere… medical services right here in our community. Flowers and balloons are nice, but at St. Luke’s, we deliver far more— exceptional care, close to home.
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