Welcome to LIfe in Our Foothills
Puppy Love I
t was a tough assignment, but someone had to be volunteered to do it. That someone was me, and the assignment was to be photographed with a passel of puppies at the barn of Susan and Richard Wallahora to promote the kickoff of Foothills Humane Society’s photography contest, which opens this month. What is it about newborns that causes us to lose track of time, staring wide-eyed for hours on end in wonder, taking in every last small detail, losing chunks of our days to snuggling, cuddling, whispers and coos? I’m talking of not just human babies, but the furry ones as well. From the warmth that radiates from their round milk-filled bellies, to their puppy breath which smells so distinctly puppy-ish, to their soft closed-eyed whimpers, these puppies were absolutely the sweetest little sleepy morsels I’ve ever held. Just two weeks old at the time, they were being fostered by the Wallahoras, seasoned pros in the foster business, until FHS can find homes for them and their mama. Familiar to most in the county, FHS is a no kill animal shelter. Like any nonprofit, fundraisers are necessary year round to maintain operations. The photography contest, details of which are on the FHS website, foothillshumanesociety.org, will be one way to help spread the mission of the organization, share the stories of the families impacted through adoptions, and highlight the shelter’s variety of adoptable friends and companions. Meanwhile, the Tryon Daily Bulletin staff hopes you enjoy this February issue of Life in Our Foothills, a monthly magazine that shares a snapshot of all that we love about the foothills area in which we live. As always, we’d love to hear your story ideas and suggestions.
FEBRUARY 2017
General Manager Kevin Powell Editor Claire Sachse Contributors Gillian Drummond Dan Dworkin Kirk Gollwitzer Judy Heinrich Carol Lynn Jackson Michael O’Hearn Mark Schmerling Vincent Verrecchio Steve Wong Marketing Magan Etheridge Trish Boyter Production Gwen Ring Administration Erika Anton Distribution Jeff Allison Jamie Lewis
on the cover
Claire Sachse Managing Editor claire.sachse@tryondailybulletin.com 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 o reprint materials) to: Editor, Life in our Foothills,16 N. Trade Street, Tryon, N.C. 28782, or email to claire.sachse@tryondailybulletin.com. Life in Our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and upstate South Carolina. lease visit lifeinourfoothills.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $35 for one year by calling 828-859-9151. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@lifeinourfoothills.com or by calling 828-859-9151. 2
February 2017 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS
The portrait of Violet Erskine Parish-Watson, original benefactor of the Tryon Fine Arts Center, is from the family collection of Chris Bartol. Painted by British artist and society portrait painter, Dorothy Vicaji (1880-1945), it hangs in the Tryon Fine Arts Center lobby.