We treat every patient like family. Our heart badges symbolize our commitment to providing expert care with uncommon compassion. We understand that every patient is someone’s parent, friend, or loved one, and we care for them with that in mind. Every day, AdventHealth ER nurse, Taylor, wears her commitment to caring for patients like she would her daughter, with love and expertise.
We’re here to deliver personalized, lifesaving care when every minute counts.
Linda List’s career was spent in the food industry, often surrounded by chocolate and candy. Retirement and the Tryon Daily Bulletin have provided the opportunity for her to share her writing. Growing up in New York on the Canadian border, she lived most of her adult life at the foot of the Rockies in Golden, Colo. And is now enjoying life in Landrum the foot of the Smokies.
Kirk Gollwitzer is a freelance writer, musician, photographer, videographer, and real estate broker specializing in buying and selling homes and horse properties. A former key figure and co-founder of the Tryon International Film Festival, he has done several documentaries and has written two novels.
Storme Smith is a writer who lives in the Foothills of North Carolina. He is the co-founder and publisher of Buno Books, and has a passion for the arts. He also enjoys writing about the history, sports and unique people and places of our area.
Pebbles is the “spokespony” for HERD, or Helping Equines Regain Dignity, a local nonprofit that saves equines from dire conditions and in many cases slaughter. She dictates her monthly columns about her adventures, and what a rescue organization does, to Heather Freeman. Pebbles and Heather can be reached through HerdRescue.org
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
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1005 South Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782
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With over 500 rented spaces, the Tryon Antique Mall & Marketplace makes the perfect shopping experience. We are a one stop shop for all! We offer vintage, antique, and primitive items, and much more!
Some of the retailers available in the mall include Wet-It, Danica Designs, RADA, Umgee, Smoky Mountain Roasters, and Skinny Syrups, along with many more!
Jeff Allison Publisher
(Story on page 22)
By Kirk Gollwitzer
April arrives with the Foothills beginning to stir—dogwoods in bloom, warmer afternoons settling in, and a renewed sense of energy across our communities. Spring has a way of highlighting not only the natural beauty of our region but also the spirit of the people who call it home.
In this issue of Life in Our Foothills, we’re featuring a few of the people and places that continue to shape the character of our area.
We begin in Saluda with Sabrina Romero of eArthly Minds, a creative gathering place for artists and art lovers alike. As the gallery approaches its fifth anniversary, Sabrina shares its inspiring story and some exciting updates about its future.
We also speak with Andy and Linda Haynes about Lynncote, an estate just outside Tryon with a fascinating history. Additionally, we learn about the Meeting Place in Columbus, a lifeline for local seniors that offers meals, activities, wellness programs, and connections to essential services.
And of course, we hear from our resident “spokespony,” Pebbles!
You’ll find all of this and more in this month’s edition of Life in Our Foothills. As always, I encourage you to share your thoughts, story ideas, and local highlights with me at jeff.allison@tryondailybulletin. com.
Thanks for reading!
Jeff Allison Editor
Publisher & General Manager
Jeff Allison
Graphic Design
Nathalie Adams
Marketing
Lynn Cromer
Stacey Cullen
Distribution
Jamie Lewis
Austin Heffner
Administration
Jennifer Sattler
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 LLC. 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 Manager, Life in Our Foothills, 16. N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782, or email to jeff.allison@ tryondailybulletin.com. Life in Our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and Upstate South Carolina, and online at www.tryondailybulletin.com. Subscriptions are available for $30 per year by calling 828-859-9151. To advertise, call 828-859-9151.
Tryon Builders takes pride in creating exceptional equestrian facilities that blend timeless craftsmanship with thoughtful functionality. Every aspect of our barns is meticulously designed with the horse and owner in mind, ensuring the highest quality materials, and seamless efficient layout.
Our
Tryon Fire Department Community Easter Egg Hunt
April 4, 10 am - 11:30 am
Harmon Field
Gardening For Life Project Native Plant Sale
April 11, Noon - 5 pm
Congregational Church of Tryon 221 Melrose Ave., Tryon
TFAC at the Movies - Four Weddings & a Funeral
April 14, 7 pm
Tryon Theatre
45 S. Trade St., Tryon
Stubborn Mule Candle Making with Peaks & Petals
April 16
Landrum Farmers Market Opening Day of Market
April 4, 8 am - noon
Landrum Farmers’ Market
221 W. Rutherford St., Landrum
Stubborn Mule Restaurant & Brewery
501 N. Howard St., Landrum
Art of Nature Photography Workshop
April 18
Tryon Arts & Crafts School
373 Harmon Field Rd., Tryon
Aspire Polk County Spring Fever Family Fun Festival
April 18, 11 am - 2 pm
Stearns Park
Stage Door Jazz: Sellick, Bergeson, Stevens
April 19, 3 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center
34 Melrose Ave., Tryon
27
Guiding Reins 3rd
Annual Golf Tournament
April 27, 8 am - 2 pm
Brights Creek Golf Resort
Conserving
Speaker
The Birds We Love
April 14, 2 pm - 3:30 pm
Saluda Library
44 W. Main St., Saluda
Saluda Grade Trail
Conservancy Spring Forum
April 23, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Polk County High School
TDDA Fourth Friday
April 24, 5 pm - 7 pm
Downtown Tryon
Harmon Field Half & Morris Fun Run
April 25, 8 am
Harmon Field
Tryon Painters & Sculptors: Harmonies of the Foothills Opening Reception
April 25, 5 pm - 7 pm
TPS Gallery
by Storme Smith
Just off E. Main St. in Saluda on Pearson Falls Road, behind a small cluster of businesses, a colorful gallery filled with handmade art is quietly entering a new chapter.
For nearly five years, eARThly Minds Gallery has served as a creative hub for local artists, handmade crafts and community collaboration. Now, owner Sabrina Romero is guiding the space into its next phase, one that she says feels both challenging and exciting. “This year definitely feels like a new chapter,” Romero said. “For a long time, we ran this together, and now it’s just me. It’s different, but I’m really excited about what comes next.”
Romero is referring to the departure of her former business partner, Kristen Mode, who helped launch the gallery in its earliest days. The two artists opened the shop during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a space that neither of them fully anticipated would grow into a long-lasting creative collective for artists across the foothills.
“We started with the idea that we wanted a place where artists could display their work and be part of something together,” Romero said. “We didn’t know exactly what it would become. We just knew we wanted to make something special.”
Now approaching its fifth anniversary on June 26, the gallery continues to evolve under Romero’s leadership.
Romero’s journey to the small mountain town of Saluda began far from the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Originally from Miami, Florida, she moved to Western North Carolina with her family 17 years ago, when she was 14. But her connection to the region began even earlier. “The first town my parents ever brought me to when we visited the mountains was Saluda,” Romero said. “I was probably eight or nine years old. I remember
thinking how small it was compared to Miami.”
Despite that early impression, the mountains eventually became home.
“I’ve lived in Tryon for about eight years now,” she said. “My kids go to school here, and this community really became part of my life.”
Romero balances life as a gallery owner with raising her two young sons. Their creativity is already beginning to show.
“They actually have some of their art in the shop,” Romero said with a laugh. “One of them has made about $200 this year selling his drawings.”
Encouraging creativity in children is something Romero takes seriously.
“I want them to grow up knowing their creativity matters,” she said.
The concept for eARThly Minds Gallery emerged during one of the most uncertain moments in recent history. In early 2020, Romero was eight months pregnant and working in the service industry alongside Mode at the Purple Onion restaurant in Saluda.
“When COVID hit, everything changed overnight,”
she said. “I was pregnant and working in a restaurant environment, and it just didn’t feel comfortable anymore.”
Around the same time, Romero had begun experimenting with resin art, a technique that involves embedding objects in clear resin to create decorative pieces. She started selling her work online while spending more time exploring the region’s art scene.
“I remember walking through downtown Asheville and seeing all the little art stores,” she said. “And I just thought, ‘I want something like this, a place where artists can show their work together.’”
When Romero shared the idea with Mode, the opportunity came quickly.
“She told me she knew about an empty space in Saluda,” Romero said. “We came to look at it the very next week.”
The storefront had previously housed a small retail shop but had been vacant for some time. For Romero, it felt like the perfect place to begin something new.
“We walked in and just knew we could turn it into something,” she said.
From the beginning, Romero envisioned eARThly Minds as a collaborative space where artists could share
their work and support one another. Today, the gallery features artwork and handmade goods from about 50 artists across Western North Carolina and nearby areas, including Asheville, Hendersonville, and Spartanburg.
“Everything here is local,” Romero said. Artists rent display areas in the shop, with monthly rates typically ranging from $30 to $50, depending on the space size.
For the first four and a half years, Romero did not take a commission on sales, charging only rent to give artists a chance to showcase their work. However, recognizing the need for sustainability, she began charging a 20 percent commission this year. Despite this shift, the gallery’s mission remains focused on community and creativity.
“A lot of artists work from their kitchens or bedrooms,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of providing a visible space for their creations.
Romero’s own artwork plays a central role in the gallery. Her resin pieces incorporate natural materials she gathers while exploring local forests and trails.
“I love to forage,” she said. “Most of the things I use are real — mushrooms, plants, butterfly wings, shells.”
Her sons often help collect materials.
“They’ll bring me little acorns or mushrooms they find,” she said. “They love being part of it.”
The resin process requires careful preparation and safety precautions.
“It’s toxic while it’s curing,” Romero explained. “So
When you donate to Habitat ReStore, you help local families build strength, stability, and a place to call home.
I have a full ventilation system in my studio and protective equipment. It’s kind of like being a mad scientist.”
To balance the technical work of resin art, Romero also creates paintings and mixed-media drawings.
“That’s the type of art I can do anywhere,” she said.
Romero believes the gallery’s greatest impact may be its role in artists’ lives.
“Art is therapy for a lot of people,” she said.
Jennifer Parzych from Hendersonville specializes in handcrafted suncatchers and jewelry, masterfully
utilizing wirework along with crystals and vintage components. Another shining star is Karen Corn of A Peacock’s Reverie, whose handmade and upcycled jewelry combines beadweaving and assemblage techniques. The Artisan Crone, also known as Amber Dawn, is a free spirit who crafts hand-carved items from avocado seeds, jewelry, and accessories, repurposing materials to keep them out of landfills. Artists like Liana Stadelmann and Tia of Live Sculpt share their passion for ceramics and watercolor, creating enchanting pieces that echo their appreciation for nature and fantasy. Each artist in the eARThly Minds Gallery contributes to a beautifully woven tapestry of creativity, celebrating local talent and sustainable practices while inviting art lovers to explore and connect with the world around them. Romero’s mother, Orfilia, also contributes
a distinctive handmade touch to the gallery with her crocheted creations. Having learned to crochet from her own grandmother, Orfilia only recently began expanding her work into intricate dolls, animals and whimsical fairy figures after discovering new patterns and techniques online. Her pieces, carefully stitched by hand, range from small toys to detailed character dolls, each taking several hours to complete. Romero said the work requires constant counting of stitches and careful attention to pattern, making it both challenging and meditative. The crocheted dolls have become popular with visitors, particularly families looking for unique handmade gifts, and Romero notes that the pieces often become keepsakes passed down through generations. For her mother, who once worked long and unpredictable hours for Delta Airlines, crocheting has become both a creative outlet and a way to share a
traditional craft with a new generation.
For Romero, stories like her mothers reinforce the importance of spaces dedicated to creativity.
“Behind every piece of art in here, there’s a story,” she said.
One of Romero’s newest projects is an outdoor deck behind the gallery, which she plans to use for live music, art demonstrations and creative workshops.
“This is the first year we’ll really be able to use it,” she said.
The space will allow artists to teach classes and demonstrate their craft, something Romero says has become increasingly important for creative professionals.
“Right now classes sometimes bring in more income than selling art,” she said. Romero hopes the deck will become a gathering space where artists can work, teach and interact with visitors.
“I want people to come here and experience creativity, not just shop for it,” she said.
As eARThly Minds Gallery approaches its fifth anniversary, Romero sees the milestone as both a celebration and a beginning.
Running the gallery on her own brings new responsibilities, but she remains committed to the vision that inspired the shop in the first place.
“I’m doing this because I love art,” she said. “I want people to walk in here and feel inspired.”
In a town known for its artistic spirit, Romero believes there will always be room for creativity to grow.
“There’s magic all around us,” she said. “Sometimes people just need a place to see it.”
A conversation with Andy and Linda Haynes Lynncote on the Hill
Story by Kirk Gollwitzer
For many years, like so many people who live in or pass through Tryon, Lynn, and Columbus, I have driven along Lynn Road and glanced up toward the crest of that small mountain where the stone house sits. It doesn’t announce itself. It doesn’t tower over the road. It simply rests there, steady and quiet, as if it has always belonged to that hill. You notice it without meaning to. For a moment, through the trees, you catch sight of stone and roofline and a sweep of sky behind it. Then the road dips and the view disappears. But if you’ve lived here long enough, you know that house. You recognize it. And at some point, you begin to wonder about it. I
always did.
There was something about the way it held the hill—something permanent, grounded, and quietly dignified. It had the look of a place that had lived through time.
The moment that finally pushed me from curiosity into action came years later when I saw an old photograph that had appeared in Life Magazine. It showed an older man and his dog standing at a window, both of them looking out over the mountains and down toward Harmon Field. It was a quiet image, reflective and deeply personal. The angle of the shot, the view beyond the glass, felt unmistakably familiar.
I asked around. Eventually, someone said, “You know… that might have been taken at Lynncote.”
The living room at Lynncote reflects the artistic spirit that has defined the home for generations, from Payne Erskine’s creative pursuits to the Haynes family’s continued love of art and music. (Photo credit by Kirk Gollwitzer)
That was the moment the story began to take shape in my mind.
I had known the owners, Andy Haynes and his wonderful wife Linda, for many years. Andy is a familiar figure in Tryon, a well-known local attorney who has spent decades working in real estate, wills, and trusts. I’ve enjoyed their company through the years in passing conversations and community gatherings, but I had never truly sat down with them to talk about the house. Until one afternoon, when Linda and Andy welcomed me into their dining room.
We sat at the table, sunlight coming through the windows, the sense of history almost tangible in the quiet of the room. From there, the story began to unfold—not as a formal interview, but as a conversation, the kind that moves slowly, guided by memory.
Andy is, in many ways, a child of Tryon. His connection to this town stretches back through decades.
“I grew up here knowing everybody,” he told me. “I mean, I knew people I went to kindergarten with. Some of them are still around. Some aren’t. But I remember all of it.”
He paused and added simply, “I just always loved this town.”
That love is easy to see. It’s in the way he remembers names, places, and stories as if they were yesterday.
Linda sat beside him, listening as Andy spoke. Much like her extended family before her, she has dedicated her life to the rich benefits of Tryon and its community, most especially through her deep and ongoing involvement with the Tryon Fine Arts Center, where she most recently served as past president. During her tenure, significant capital projects were completed, strengthening the institution’s long-term stability. She also chaired the Polk County Public Library Capital Campaign, helping secure the funding necessary for construction of the Columbus Library, and served as board chair of PBS North Carolina during its early transition to digital HDTV. There is a quiet steadiness about her, a warmth that makes you feel comfortable right away. Their life together is woven into the story of this house as surely as the stone walls that hold it up.
Andy gestured around the room.
“You’re sitting in a house with a lot of history,” he said. “A lot of it.”
The walls hold paintings—watercolors, oils,
sketches—many done by relatives. There are artistic sculptures placed carefully throughout the home. Nothing feels staged. Nothing feels like decoration for its own sake. Everything belongs.
“I’ve always loved art,” Andy said. “Always been drawn to it.”
He mentioned that Linda plays the ukulele, something she has enjoyed over the years, and that music has always been part of their life. Andy also plays guitar and often plays with other musicians in the community, sometimes joining in with Linda as she plays her ukulele. Music, like art, has long been part of the rhythm of life in the house.
Their connection to the arts runs deep. The house itself feels like an extension of that spirit— creative, thoughtful, and layered with memory. Andy began telling me about the attic, a space filled with trunks, boxes, and carefully preserved history.
“I’ve got letters up there from my grandfather,” he said. “Photographs. Old documents. I’ve kept everything.”
He laughed. “I even have my childhood collection of TV Guides. I don’t know why. I just kept them.” The house has become a kind of keeper of
memory, holding onto pieces of the past in a way that feels deeply personal.
Before continuing, Andy explained the name itself. “‘Lynncote’ means ‘cottage at Lynn,’” he said. “Family tradition says it comes from a Scottish meaning—a cottage on a rocky hill—but really it refers to this place, the little community of Lynn just below us.”
The story of Lynncote begins with the Erskines.
Charles and Emma Erskine came from Racine, Wisconsin, first visiting this area in the 1880s. Like many northerners of that era, they were drawn by the mountains and the climate. They came looking for something different, and they found it here.
“They fell in love with the place,” Andy said. “Just completely fell in love with it.”
When they arrived, they were surprised to discover how many other Midwesterners had already settled in this part of Polk County.
“They weren’t alone,” Andy said. “Sydney Lanier’s widow was here. And the Mimosa Inn was just across what is now Highway 108. That burned in 1916, too. That site later became what is now the GreenLife Inn.” It wasn’t an isolated mountain outpost. It was a com-
munity already forming.
“They found themselves among people from the Midwest and people from Tryon,” Andy said. “That mix was exactly what they were looking for.”
Emma also developed a fondness for the black community and loved to be in their company.
In 1892, Charles bought the hilltop property where Lynncote now stands.
Back then, there were no automobiles. Everything that went into building the house had to be hauled up the mountain by horse and wagon. “All the stone,
An early portrait of Payne Erskine, whose artistic life helped shape Lynncote’s enduring cultural legacy. (Photo courtesy of the Haynes family archives)
all the lumber—everything came up here that way,” Andy said. “You try to imagine hauling that much material up this hill with horses. It’s incredible.”
There was no electricity. No running water the way we think of it today. No fire department standing by.
“They were building this place by hand,” he said. The first Lynncote was completed in the mid-1890s and became a seasonal home. Charles was a musician, and music became part of daily life.
“On Sundays they’d invite people over,” Andy said.
“Charles played the piano. The children played instruments. My grandmother had to learn the harp so she could be part of the little orchestra.”
Emma Erskine was an artist, a writer, and a civic force. “She wasn’t just living here,” Andy said. “She was helping build the town.”
She played a key role in strengthening the Lanier Library. She helped shape land that would later become associated with the Tryon Country Club. She supported schools, the arts, and local institutions. “She believed in education,” Linda said. “She believed in the arts.”
Emma painted landscapes and portraits. She wrote books set in the North Carolina mountains. But even her writing came with barriers.
“She published under the name Payne Erskine,” Andy said. “She made it sound like a man’s name.”
Linda nodded. “That was the reality then.”
Andy added quietly, “She did all of this at a time when women couldn’t even vote.”
At one point, a comment was made that stayed with the family.
“Someone once said, ‘Emma prints money and her husband’s a millionaire,’” Andy said.
He smiled.
“Charles had the money. But Emma—she made things happen.”
After Charles died, she became even more deter-
mined.
“She built spec houses,” Andy said. “Bought land. Developed property. She figured out how to make a living.”
Then in 1916, tragedy struck.
“The house burned,” Andy said. With fireplaces and chimneys and no fire equipment to speak of, fires were common. For years, the stone remains stood.
“Artists came up here and painted,” Andy said. “People would spend time around the old structure before it was rebuilt.”
Emma lived in the lodge.
“She stayed right here. She typed her books on a typewriter in that lodge. She painted there, too.”
Eventually, the house was rebuilt in the late 1920s using the original stone foundations.
Today, the property sits on roughly twenty acres of wooded land, rising above Harmon Field and the Pacolet River valley. The Tudor Revival–style home stands in a clearing at the top of the site, with the land dropping away on three sides.
Andy describes the layout simply.
A scene from a 1950 Life magazine feature captures the sweeping view from Lynncote’s windows, overlooking the valley below — a landscape that has inspired generations and remains largely unchanged today. (Photo credit: Life magazine archives)
“I don’t know the exact square footage,” he said. “But it’s got an adequate amount of space. It was limited by the footprint they could build around the original walls.”
The main level includes the living room, dining room, kitchen, breakfast room, and hallway. Upstairs are four bedrooms.
“There used to be another bedroom,” Andy said, “but they put an elevator shaft in later.”
Above that is the attic. “It’s enormous,” he said. “Five generations of things are up there.”
Outside, the property expanded over time. A pool and pool house were added.
“That building used to need a lot of work,” Andy said. “We fixed it up so the family could gather there.”
Inside the pool house is a regulation pool table that sat unused for years. “I kept that thing for over a decade. Finally put it back into use.”
In many ways, the property became what Andy calls a “family compound.”
“The great-grandparents built it as a summer home,” he said. “After my great-grandfather died, Emma came back. The house burned. She lived in the lodge.”
His grandmother later lived in the main house.
“She was really cool,” Andy said. “I lived here with her. She was much cooler than my great-grandmother.”
As Emma aged and began having strokes, her children placed her assets into a trust.
“She wrote letters for years asking to have things returned,” Andy said. The trust was divided into seven parts.
After Andy and Linda married in 1976, they lived in the lodge. “Eventually, people thought the place was a white elephant,” Andy said. But they loved it.
“With the blessing of the family, we found a way to buy the whole property.”
Linda’s parents later lived in the lodge until they passed. “So this place has really been a family compound for over a century,” Andy said.
Later, the conversation turned to how they met.
“I was about twenty-five, living here and working as a lawyer,” Andy said. “My social life was about zero.”
A mutual friend introduced him to Linda.
“At first I said no, I didn’t know anything about him,” Linda said. “We started dating in June of 1975, and got married in ’76.”
“And here we are,” Andy added.
They have raised children here. Collected art. Preserved letters. Continued the life that has unfolded on this hill for generations.
“It means a lot to us,” Linda said. “It’s not just a house.”
“We’re just taking care of it,” Andy said. “For the next people.”
Emma Payne Erskine left a legacy in words and art as well as land. Among her best-known published works are When the Gates Lift Up Their Heads (1901), The Mountain Girl (1912), and A Girl of the Blue Ridge
(1915), novels set in the North Carolina mountains that went through multiple printings. She also published poetry, including Iona, a Lay of Ancient Greece (1888) and The Harper & the King’s Horse (1905), along with additional novels such as The Eye of Dread and Joyful Heatherby (1913). Beyond writing, she painted dozens of landscapes of the Tryon area and portraits of people living in the surrounding countryside, leaving a visual record of the region in its earliest years.
And as I drove back down the narrow driveway, the house slipping from view behind the trees, I realized the feeling I’d always had when passing by was right.
Lynncote doesn’t just sit on that hill. It watches over the valley. And inside, the stories are still being told.
Lynncote is located on Lynn Road near Tryon, North Carolina. Historical details referenced in this article are drawn from family recollections, personal interviews, and the National Register of Historic Places documentation associated with the Lynncote property.
Emma Payne Erskine is depicted in this portrait, painted by her husband, capturing the quiet strength and artistic presence of the woman whose vision helped shape Lynncote’s enduring legacy. (Photo credit: Haynes family archives)
Question: I’ve Tried Everything for My IBS — Can Acupuncture Really Help?
Digestive disorders like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), and Ulcerative Colitis can significantly impact daily life by causing bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, urgency, fatigue, and food sensitivities.
These conditions often involve stress, inflammation, immune imbalance, and disrupted gut motility- all of which acupuncture can help to regulate. Here’s how:
1. Calms the Gut–Brain Stress Loop
The digestive system and nervous system are deeply connected. Stress, anxiety, and even lack of sleep can trigger flares and aggravate inflammatory bowel conditions. Acupuncture has a deeply calming effect on the nervous system, shifting the body from a constant state of “fight-or-flight” into a “rest-and-repair” mode, allowing inflammation to subside.
For many patients, reducing stress reactivity alone creates noticeable digestive relief.
2. Reduces Abdominal Pain and Cramping
Digestive conditions often involve increased sensitivity in the intestines. Even normal gas or digestion can feel painful.
Research shows acupuncture can: Increase natural painrelieving chemicals (endorphins), reduce overactive gut pain signaling, and relax smooth muscle spasms in the digestive tract
3. Helps Regulate Bowel Movements
Whether symptoms lean toward constipation, diarrhea, or alternating patterns, acupuncture can help regulate gut motility—the speed and coordination of digestion. Acupuncture strengthens muscles in the digestive tract, improving peristalsis and influencing nerve pathways to reduce urgency. Acupuncture also stimulates the release of neurotransmitters and hormones that regulate gut motility and keep things moving.
Patients report improved rhythm and predictability after a series of treatments.
4. Supports Immune and Inflammatory Balance
Conditions like ulcerative colitis involve immune system overactivation and intestinal inflammation. Acupuncture promotes the release of anti-inflammatory substances in the body brought on by increased circulation.
These anti-inflammatory substances modulate inflammatory markers, help regulate immune signaling, and support gut barrier integrity.
5. Treats the Whole Person—Not Just the Gut
Acupuncture works system-wide. By supporting sleep, calming anxiety, and improving energy levels, it helps create an internal environment where the digestive system can function more effectively.
When acupuncture is used alongside nutrition and lifestyle support, it can be a powerful tool for symptom management and improving quality of life.
by Storme Smith
The Meeting Place Senior Center, off Carmel Lane in Columbus, holds deep meaning for many residents of the foothills and for the dedicated team who work and volunteer there.
From the outside, it may look like just another community facility. Inside, however, it serves as a vital support system for older adults across Polk County, offering meals, activities, wellness programs, and connections to essential services.
“We call this The Meeting Place,” said Donna Carson, site coordinator for the center. “It’s a senior center, of course, but the name really reflects what happens here. It’s a place where people come together.”
Open Monday through Friday beginning at 8:30 a.m., the center quickly fills with activity. Some visitors arrive early to talk with friends over coffee, others come for programs or meals, and some stop by simply to spend time with people who understand the value of community.
“The biggest thing is making sure seniors have somewhere to go,” Carson said. “A place where they can socialize, where they have something to do, and where they feel connected.”
The senior center operates as part of the Polk County Health and Human Services Agency, which integrates sev-
eral county services under one umbrella. Assistant director Natalie Traschel said that structure helps ensure seniors have access to the support they need.
“Our mission is really to promote health and wellness and offer opportunities for seniors to connect with one another,” Traschel said. “We provide activities, we provide nutritious meals, and ultimately we want to help people age in place within their own community.”
The agency includes multiple divisions, including Senior Services.
“Polk County Health and Human Services has five divisions, and Senior Services is one of them,” Traschel explained. “By bringing everything together, we’re able to help people access the resources they need much more easily.”
For the staff at The Meeting Place, that coordination means they can connect seniors to a wide range of services, from transportation and nutrition programs to social activities and wellness support.
“If someone walks in here needing help, we can usually point them in the right direction,” Traschel said.
While the center’s current home in Columbus is familiar to many residents today, Polk County’s senior services date back nearly half a century.
Staff recently discovered records indicating that the county’s senior center program began around 1978, originally operating in the basement of the old St. Luke’s Hospital in Tryon.
“That’s what we recently found when going through some old paperwork,” Carson said. “The county senior center has actually been around since the late seventies.”
Over the years, the program moved through several locations before settling into its current building around 2010. Despite the changes in location, the goal has remained the same.
“The mission has always been to help seniors stay active and connected,” Carson said.
A large part of that mission comes through activities designed to keep seniors mentally and physically active. Julie Tremblay, who coordinates activities at the center, works to ensure there is always something happening.
“I really enjoy planning activities that get people in-
volved,” Tremblay said. “It’s about keeping them active and giving them something to look forward to.”
Tremblay also coordinates the county’s Senior Games, which encourage older adults to stay physically active while enjoying a bit of friendly competition.
“Senior Games are great because they show people that you can still stay active and have fun as you get older,” Tremblay said.
From fitness classes and games to creative programs and group gatherings, the activities provide both entertainment and important social interaction.
“You see people form friendships through these activities,” Tremblay said. “That’s one of the best parts.”
Another key member of the team is Shelby Davidson, the center’s social worker. Davidson often meets directly with seniors and their families to help navigate challenges that can arise as people age.
“When someone signs up for services, I may go into their home and talk with them about what they need,” Davidson said. “A lot of what we do is connecting people with resources.”
During those visits, Davidson may identify needs related to signing them up for Meals on Wheels, healthcare access or home support.
“It’s about helping them find what’s available in the community,” Davidson said. “Sometimes people don’t realize there are programs that can help them.”
Transportation is a particularly important service for seniors who may no longer drive.
“When people come here for lunch, they’re not just eating,” Dyer said. “They’re talking with friends and enjoying time together.”
The Meals on Wheels program extends that support to residents who are unable to leave their homes.
Dyer explained that the program provides more than
“I like to describe it as a face-to-face check-in,” she said. “Our drivers don’t just leave the food at the door. They actually hand it to the person.”
The Meals on Wheels program would not func-
tion without the help of volunteers who deliver meals throughout the county.
“We’re always looking for volunteers,” Dyer said. “Meals on Wheels really depends on people who are willing to give a little of their time.”
For many volunteers, delivering meals becomes a rewarding experience.
“They get to know the people on their routes,” Dyer said. “Sometimes that visit may be the only person they see that day.”
That connection often makes the program meaningful for both the volunteer and the senior receiving the meal.
“It’s a simple act, but it can mean a lot,” Dyer said. Throughout the day, The Meeting Place hums with activity. Conversations drift across tables, laughter echoes from activity rooms, and volunteers move in and out, preparing meals and organizing programs.
The center has become an essential part of many visitors’ daily routine.
“Socialization is one of the biggest things we provide,” Carson said. “People come here because they enjoy seeing their friends.”
The gym is free to Seniors.
Even the outdoor spaces around the building encourage that sense of connection. On sunny days, seniors often gather outside to talk and enjoy the fresh air.
Community groups occasionally use the space as well, bringing additional resources and services to those who visit the center.
“It really is a community hub,” Traschel said.
As Polk County’s population continues to grow older, the need for services like those offered at The Meeting Place will only increase.
Events such as March’s National Nutrition Month help highlight the importance of the center’s work while encouraging more seniors to learn about the programs available to them.
“These opportunities give us a chance to share what we do and reach people who might not know about the services we offer,” Traschel said.
For the team at The Meeting Place, the work is about more than programs and services—it’s about improving lives.
“If we can help even one senior make their life a little better, that’s what we’re here for,” Traschel said.
Carson said that the message is simple.
“We want seniors to know there’s a place here for them,” she said. “They’re always welcome at The Meeting Place.”
By Pebbles
Iam deeply invested in my good luck charms and tried-and-true superstitions. For example, I never walk under the ladder propped up to clean the stall fans. If a black barn cat crosses my path, I immediately change course. Horseshoes here are hung upright to catch luck and protect us all. With so much good fortune, I search diligently for four-leaf clovers in my pasture. I knock or paw on my wooden stall walls to avoid jinxing my excellent luck. Following this line of reasoning, I advise the volunteer team not to schedule the farrier or the vet on Friday the 13th. Let’s not even contemplate breaking a mirror or opening an umbrella in the barn. Oh, and I also hid a lucky rabbit’s foot in my grooming box. In my not-so-humble opinion, one cannot be too superstitious. It is almost as important as reading your horoscope, predicting your outcome, or, shall we say, “horsescope for us equines?”
By chance, have you ever heard someone say, “Rabbit Rabbit,” even if there wasn’t a wild or domesticated bunny in sight? Well, there is a reason for this ritual, too. One that may even convince you to start practicing it. I swear by the power of the rabbit. This practice is performed on the first day of each month. It is imperative to say “Rabbit Rabbit” before breakfast. Some say it must be the first words you utter as you rise in the morning. In my case, it is said before those first flakes of tempting morning hay. I am ravenous after fasting all night. This is my mantra, and I am sticking to it. How do you think we discover so many wonderful young horses that turn out to be superstars? And how is it that we also find perfect homes for them when they are ready to depart HERD rescue? It is all thanks to me and my good luck practices. The luck generated by Rabbit Rabbit is yours for 30 days … or so goes the folklore.
The research I recently conducted on the Internet, according to the Farmers’ Almanac, confirms that the phrase dates back to at least 1909, when a British periodical featured a girl who said “Rabbits!” on the first day of each month for good luck. Furthermore, President Roosevelt also reportedly rabbited every month without fail. In 1935, The Nottingham Evening Post wrote: “Even Mr. Roosevelt, the President of the United States, has confessed to a friend that he says
‘Rabbits’ on the first of every month—and, what is more, he would not think of omitting the utterance on any account.”
So, why do rabbits, and not horses, ponies, or even donkeys, carry this powerful luck? On this topic, I could find no concrete evidence. However, it may stem from the fact that, back in the Before Common Era, the Celts believed rabbits could communicate with spirits because they burrow underground.
The rabbit’s foot, especially the back-left one, has long been considered a good luck charm. In this instance, I am delighted that it is the rabbit foot, and not a small pony’s hoof, that is the prized object to carry in one’s pocket. According to Chinese culture, people born in a year of the Rabbit are called “Rabbits” and are believed to be vigilant, witty, quick-minded, and ingenious. The sign of the Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture.
Aside from Bugs Bunny, there is the most iconic rabbit of them all, the Easter Bunny. This rabbit’s roots trace back to pagan
traditions celebrating spring. The hare was a symbol of fertility in ancient cultures, particularly among the Germans. The first documented mention of the Easter Bunny in America dates back to the 1700s. Immigrants from Germany brought the tradition of an egg-laying rabbit to Pennsylvania. The Easter Bunny was popularized in children’s literature and today is a central figure in the annual celebration, symbolizing renewal and joy. Most people recognize Beatrix Potter’s work and her beautiful illustrations. This English author of children’s books created the lovable Peter Rabbit. He first appeared in 1902 and is immortalized as the mischievous, adventurous young rabbit who wears a blue jacket. Naughty Peter loves stealing carrots from the garden as much as I do.
I also relish celebrating Easter. Bring on those baskets laden with goodies, colorful eggs filled with peppermints, and horse
The Moore family, who also volunteered with us, helped us start our Easter tradition in HERD. They delivered rabbit ears and colored eggs to fill the decorative baskets. All the young HERD horses in groundwork training take their turn experiencing the magic of Easter costumes and decorations galore. It’s lots of fun for the equines and people, too. Of course, no one looks as cute as I do with my rabbit ears in place. However, two new miniature horses we recently rescued, Casper and Destiny, do give me a run for my money.
Following the pre-Easter celebrations here on the ranch, six young HERD horses will leave us. They are entering professional training to help them find welcoming new homes.
With all of us dressed up in rabbit ears, we send them off with best-of-luck wishes. You see, the presence of rabbits in one’s path is considered an omen of prosperity and positive change, like “Peter Cottontail, hoppin’ down the bunny trail, hippity hoppity, happy Easter Day.” The belief is that seeing a rabbit can herald new beginnings. Our HERD horses depart on April 1. You can count on me. I will be shouting out for them, Rabbit Rabbit, first thing that morning!
When it comes to baked goods, it’s hard to deny the appeal of a homemade brownie. Whether eaten on their own or paired with ice cream, brownies are a welcome treat that few can resist. Though chocolate dominates the flavor profile of brownies, these beloved treats can be enhanced with additional delicious ingredients, like pecans. Anyone who wants to throw a little extra flavor into their next batch of brownies can consider this recipe for “Pecan Brownies” from Lines+Angles.
Pecan brownies Makes 12 brownies
• 12 ounces plain dark chocolate, 70 percent cocoa solids
• 2 sticks of butter
• 3 large eggs
• 1¼ cups dark brown sugar
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
1. 5 ounces chopped pecan nuts
2. Icing sugar for decoration
3. Heat the oven to 325 F. Grease a 7” x 11” rectangular baking dish and line the base with non-stick baking paper.
4. Put the chocolate and butter in a pan and heat gently, stirring until melted. Allow to cool slightly.
5. Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl until pale and frothy, then add the sugar, a spoonful at a time, whisking until thick and glossy.
6. Gently fold in the melted chocolate mixture. Sift in the flour, baking powder, and salt, and fold in the pecan nuts.
7. Spoon the mixture into the baking dish, level with the back of a spoon, and bake for 40 minutes, until the top has a cracked appearance and the center is still a little soft to the touch. Do not overbake, or you will lose the famous sticky brownie texture. Cool in the pan.
8. Cut into slices and sift over a little icing sugar.
Easter is widely characterized as the holiest day of the year on the Christian calendar. Faith features prominently in modern Easter celebrations, which also include some secular traditions, particularly in families with young children. The Easter bunny and Easter egg hunts are not necessarily the focal point of Easter for adult Christians, but children greatly enjoy these traditions.
It’s customary to give young children a basket of treats on Easter Sunday. Though store-bought treats are easy to come by, homemade items can be even more special. This recipe for Easter-themed “Vanilla Cupcakes” from Lines+Angles is sure to get a laugh out of youngsters, who also won’t mind taking a bite or two of these tasty treats.
For the cupcakes:
• 4 ounces butter
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1¼ cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
For the grass:
• 4½ ounces unsalted butter
• 1⅓ cups icing sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon milk
• Green food coloring
1. For the cupcakes: Heat the oven to 375 F. Place paper cupcake liners in a 12-serving muffin tin.
2. Beat the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
3. Gradually beat in the eggs, mixing until fully incorporated.
4. Sift in the dry ingredients and gently stir into the mixture. Stir in the milk and vanilla until blended.
5. Spoon the mixture into the paper liners. Bake for about 20 minutes, until golden. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then place on a wire rack to cool completely.
6. For the grass: Beat the butter until soft. Sift in the icing sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in the vanilla and milk until blended. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of buttercream and set aside.
7. Beat the food coloring into the larger amount of buttercream.
To decorate:
• 11 ounces white sugarpaste/ fondant
• 4 ounces pink sugarpaste/fondant
• Icing sugar
• Mini sugar eggs
8. Spoon into a piping bag with a grass nozzle. Pipe on top of the cupcakes, starting at the outside edge and working in circles, pulling up and away when a buttercream strand is long enough.
9. Roll pieces of white sugarpaste into 12 medium balls for the bodies and 24 small thick rectangles for the paws. Reserve some white sugarpaste.
10. Brush the paws lightly with a little water and attach to the bodies.
11. Roll 12 small balls and 72 tiny balls of pink sugarpaste. Cut the larger balls in half and press into oval shapes. Brush lightly with water and attach to the paws. Attach 3 tiny balls to each paw with a little water.
12. Put the reserved buttercream into a piping bag with a grass nozzle and pipe a “tail” on each bunny.
13. Arrange the sugar eggs on the cupcakes.
14. Roll out the sugarpaste trimmings separately on a surface dusted with icing sugar, cut out flowers, and place on the cupcakes.
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