Life in Our Foothills June 2022

life IN OUR

FOOTHILLS June 2022

Life in Our Foothills

CHAPLAIN

AT-LARGE

June 2022

Chris Osborn provides a calm and caring presence for Sheriff’s Office

Back Home Again The Gramling Opry House

More Than Just a Building Mill Spring Town Center

Avenue of the Stars Meet HERD’s New Arrival

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

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JUNE 2022

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FROM THE EDITOR

I

Jeff Allison Manager

ON THE COVER life IN OUR

FOOTHILLS June 2022

Life in Our Foothills

CHAPLAIN

AT-LARGE

Chris Osborn provides a calm and caring presence for Sheriff ’s Office

June 2022

More Than Just a Building

Back Home Again

Mill Spring Town Center

The Gramling Opry House

Avenue of the Stars Meet HERD’s New Arrival

$4.95

Chaplain At-Large

Chris Osborn provides a calm and

caring presence for Sheriff’s Office (Story on page 14)

Story by Claire Sachse 6

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

t’s easy to forget how lucky we are to live, work, and play in the Foothills. Our neighbors and fellow community neighbors are assets to our daily lives that we should always be thankful for. As spring changes over to summer, and school break, fun in the sun, camps, and events take center stage, let’s celebrate a few of the folks and organizations that make this area so unique, and such a blessing to be a part of.

In this month’s edition, we meet Chris Osborn, the Chaplain at Polk County Sheriff’s Office. For over 20 years, Osborn has ministered to and counseled those who protect and serve our community, as well as inmates, providing support upon their release.

Compassionate, resourceful, and easy-going, Osborn touches the lives of many in our small community.

We also visit with Rusty Hollifield, the owner of the Gramling Opry House. This historic building is home to one of the finest music venues around, and is a gem in the Gramling community that has featured musical acts both big and small. If you’re a fan of bluegrass, country, or classic rock music - do yourself a favor and check it out!

Next, we learn about the past, present, and future of the old Mill Spring School building, now known as the Mill Spring Town Center, as we focus on its legacy through the years.

These features and more await you in this issue.

So sit back, relax, and read about some of the highlights of life in our corner of the Foothills.

We hope you enjoy what we’ve put together for you this month, and as I do each month, I encourage readers to reach out and help us share your story. Email me at jeff.allison@ tryondailybulletin.com with any thoughts or ideas for upcoming issues. As always, thanks for reading!

Jeff Allison Manager

STAFF Manager Jeff Allison Graphic Design Allison Dale Marketing Kevin Powell Ben Bouser Distribution Jamie Lewis Administration Sydney Wilkie

life IN OUR

FOOTHILLS 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.

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CONTRIBUTORS Mark Levin, Writer and Photographer

Mark is retired from a career in education. In addition to the classroom he has had a lifetime of experiences earning a buck as a photographer, videographer, author, musician and camp director. You can follow his blog about people and places in the foothills at www.FoothillsFaces. com or check out his new podcast he enjoys with a friend of 50 years at www.garyandmark.com.

Linda List, Writer and Photographer

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.

Steve Wong, Freelance writer

Steve Wong is a freelance writer who lives in Gramling, SC. His work has appeared in many local magazines, newspapers and online outlets for the past 30 years. He will write about just about anything, but some of his personal interests include visual arts, theater, all things food, local music and local culture. He can be reached at Just4Wong@ Gmail.com.

Erin Boggs, Writer and Photographer

As a native of the Foothills, Erin has a life-long perspective of the people, culture and growth of our area. With a background in English, Anthropology and the Arts, she enjoys every aspect of the creation of a human-interest narrative. She is a lover of all things culinary, animals and lifetime learning.

Storme Smith, Writer

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, Writer

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

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

JUNE 2022

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CONTENTS 12

Calendar of Events

14

Chaplain At-Large

Chris Osborn Provides a Calming Presence for Sherif’s Office

20

Back Home Again

Gramling Opry House owner reclaims his roots

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More Than Just a Building Mill Spring Town Center adds to Legacy of Former Mill Spring School

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36

Appointments

Avenue of the Stars

44

Quick Bites

48

Marketplace

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Green River Plantation Tours

Green River Plantation 6333 Coxe Rd., Rutherfordton Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays in June, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Film Fridays

Polk County Public Library 1289 W. Mills St., Columbus June 3, 10, 17, 24 at 1 p.m.

Shop & Stroll

Downtown Saluda June 3, 5-8 p.m.

Summer Tracks: Ol’ 74 Jazz Band Rogers Park 55 W. Howard St., Tryon Summertracks.com June 3, 7 p.m.

Columbus Farmers Market 40 Courthouse St., Columbus June 4, 11, 18, 25 8 a.m. - noon

The Reflection, The Musical Tryon Fine Arts Center 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org June 4, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.

JUNE 4 The Reflection, The Musical

Tryon Fine Arts Center 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org June 4, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Saturday Night Lights

Tryon International Equestrian Center 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring Tryon.com June 4 & 11, 5-10 p.m.

Prison Break Art Pop Up Iron Key Brewing Company 135 Locust St., Columbus June 5, 2-6 p.m.

Eclipse: Guests/Featured Members Show

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Tryon Painters and Sculptors N.FOOTHILLS Trade St., Tryon LIFE IN78 OUR

JUNE 17 Summer Tracks: Peter Karp Band

Rogers Park 55 W. Howard St., Tryon Summertracks.com June 17, 7 p.m.

TryonPaintersAndSculptors.com Through June 11

Simone, Sandburg & The American Symphony Tryon Fine Arts Center 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org June 11, 7:30 p.m.

JUNE 11 Simone, Sandburg & The American Symphony Tryon Fine Arts Center 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org June 11, 7:30 p.m.

PacJAM Music Workshop for Adults Tryon Fine Arts Center 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org June 13-16

PacJAM Camp for Youth

Tryon Fine Arts Center 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org June 13-17 Culminating performance on June 17

Summer Tracks: Peter Karp Band

Rogers Park 55 W. Howard St., Tryon Summertracks.com June 17, 7 p.m.

Hummingbirds: From Your Yard to Central America … and Back!

Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve 179 Wood Thrush Lane, Mill Spring ConservingCarolina.org June 18, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

NC Foothills Farm Tour

Various locations in Polk and Rutherford counties ncfoothillsfarmtour.com June 25, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

S.A.S.Y. Art Camps

Tryon Fine Arts Center 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org June 27 - July 1

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CHAPLAIN

AT-LARGE

Chris Osborn provides a calm and caring presence for Sheriff’s Office

F

14

Story and Photography by Claire Sachse

or years, he carried his “office” around with him in a hand-held plastic file box because his job took him all over the county, at any given time of day or night. Nowadays, in the new Polk County Sheriff’s Department, Chaplain Chris Osborn has an actual office, with fresh gray paint, desk, laptop, chairs, bookshelves, phone, and lots of room for boxes of donated Bibles.

For over 20 years and through four sheriff administrations, Osborn, 71, has ministered to and counseled members of Polk County’s law enforcement agencies, fire departments and EMS, as well as their families.

Thoughtful and soft-spoken, he also leads a ministry for inmates, assisting them with their spiritual

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

needs while incarcerated, and providing support at their release.

He is, according to his boss Sheriff Tim Wright, compassionate, resourceful, and easy-going in an environment that can be stressful and dangerous.

“The fire department is what got me started,” Osborn recalled about his life of public service which includes 22 years with the Mill Spring Fire Department.

After a fire in which two children died, Osborn’s son, who was also a firefighter, was “shook up” emotionally, as the children were cousins of their own foster children. Osborn, who had pastored Faith Temple Baptist and Silver Creek Baptist over his long career, approached the fire department about becoming its chaplain to assist members

through tough times.

“They’re human, too, and things affect them,” Osborn says of the county’s public servants who see trauma on a more frequent basis than the general public.

“The suicide rates, divorces, and addictions … the state and national statistics are amazing,” he said. “Different things bother people different ways.”

“Law enforcement is a very stressful job,” says Wright. “The situations you see and are exposed to while on the job can weigh on a person and can sometimes bring about depression if an individual doesn’t know how to cope or express their emotions.

Chris is here for that very reason.

If someone needs to talk, look for advice, or have a general conversation with someone who

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is a voice of reason, sincere and honest, Chris is the one to go to.”

It isn’t just after an event that law enforcement calls upon him.

Sometimes they need prayer before embarking on a dangerous mission. Osborn recalled a moment when he gathered federal marshals and SBI agents together to pray before going out on a raid.

Or sometimes, officers need encouragement at the start of a regular work shift, so he’ll offer a 30-minute prayer service in the training room.

Community outreach is another facet of his work.

He attends the department’s Back to School Giveaway, holiday activities hosted by the sheriff’s office, drug take-back events, and Shop with a Cop, a nationwide event where members of law enforcement take 16

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

children shopping for Christmas presents. He also leads devotions at the Senior Center on Tuesday mornings.

“In a typical day, Chris makes contact with individuals and organizations that the sheriff’s office may be able to partner with in ways to benefit our community,” says Wright.

The chaplain job may technically be a parttime county position, but Osborn says it is a “24/7 calling” and he is always available to whoever needs him, including the school system. He has assisted with counseling for students and faculty when students have died, and he has conducted funerals for two students in recent years.

“Those are the hard ones,” he said quietly. Children

TOP: At an inmate’s request, Chaplain Osborn will share the Celebrate Recovery Study Bible which is based on eight recovery principles found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and on the underlying Christ-centered 12 steps of the Celebrate Recovery program. It is available in English and Spanish.

ABOVE: One aspect of Osborn’s work is to minister to officers facing spiritual challenges brought on by the demands of the profession. One way to do that is to rely on advice by and for law enforcement officers specifically. “Law enforcement is a very stressful job. The situations you see and are exposed to while on the job can weigh on a person and can sometimes bring about depression if an individual doesn’t know how to cope or express their emotions,” says Sheriff Wright.

Osborn, left, pictured at Polk Central Elementary’s Kindergarten registration event in April, frequently attends community outreach events like this one on behalf of the Sheriff’s Department. According to Sheriff Wright, at right, “Chris always seems relaxed even at the special events the Sheriff’s Office hosts. He is able to talk to anyone he meets and is well known in the community.” (Photo Polk County Sheriff Instagram)

have been a large part of his life. He has three children with his wife of 53 years, Judy, nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren with one more on the way, and was a foster parent to many over the past 20 years.

He has also performed funeral services for family of law enforcement, and three memorials for K-9s who are considered valuable members of the law enforcement family.

On the other side of a heavy, black, steel door at the end of a hallway in the sheriff’s department is the jail, and another aspect of Osborn’s work.

Before Covid-19, he conducted services on Sundays and Thursdays for the inmates. Covid has changed their ability to gather, but Osborn still visits, cell to cell, distributing Bibles, devotional magazines and self-study booklets provided by Gospel Express Ministries, a prison ministry in Lynn. To those who request it, he delivers the Celebrate Recovery Bible which uses the 12-step process, Biblical principles, and testimonials. He also assists inmates with the process of setting up virtual family visits via video link.

Not every inmate is Christian, he says, and he “deals with a wide variety of belief systems and no belief system.” When he is unfamiliar with a particular religion or belief system, “I

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(828) 859-9341

www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com JUNE 2022

17

Google it,” he says while gesturing to his laptop.

“I’ve learned more about the world’s religions here than I ever did in Bible school,” he says. Osborn earned his Associate, Bachelor and Master of Ministry degrees from Mid-Atlantic Bible Schools in Rock Hill, S.C. and his Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Covington Theological Seminary in Rossville, Ga. The problems inmates face upon release is often complex and overwhelming. Part of Osborn’s ministry is to assist inmates with getting back on their feet in society and on the right path. He provides a booklet with phone numbers of resources, advice for forming healthy friendships, establishing a support network, and where to go for rehab if needed.

Or, it could be as simple and practical as having a proper set of clothes to wear upon release.

“An inmate could have come in during the summer wearing flip flops and shorts and get released in winter with six inches of snow on the ground,” he said. In those cases, he draws upon a network of church friends, and can secure donations of shoes

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

One end of Osborn’s office features bookshelves with pamphlets, booklets, Bibles, and other reading material intended for officers and inmates alike.

and clothes for those who need them.

Wright says that Osborn also provides a “voice of reason” to inmates.

“He is available to inmates and their families,” says Wright. “He helps guide

people in the right direction spiritually and provides accessible resources within the area.”

The path inmates take upon release varies, Osborn recognizes, with some

On a recent early Wednesday morning prayer service for officers, Osborn reflects on nuggets of wisdom found in Proverbs 10. When you throw a rock in a pond, the ripples affect the whole pond, he said. “Think about the people you’ll meet today,” he told those gathered. “Everybody you meet you’ll make some kind of impact on their lives. You make more impact than you maybe realize. Will we make a good impact?”

recidivism and some success.

He has been approached in public by former inmates who thanked him for his counsel while they had been incarcerated.

He ran into a former inmate at an event recently who had since married and made strides in life.

“Life’s hard, and reality hits people when they come through [the jail]. You never get used to the sound of that door closing.

But it’s good to see a positive outcome, and we have those from time to time,” he said.

“Hope is always available,” he says, “and it’s just up to the individual whether they choose to accept it. You’ve always got a choice, and every choice has consequences, whether good or bad. I don’t really get down. If I can help one person, it’s been worthwhile.”

Despite now having an office, Osborn doesn’t look completely “settled in.” Although two bookcases have been neatly organized with pamphlets and plaques and Bibles, there are still boxes upon boxes of Bibles and booklets and pamphlets stacked by his desk. The walls are somewhat bare, save for a bulletin board.

And there is still the ever-present plastic file tote-box sitting at the ready within easy and convenient reach, a reminder from his earlier days that the office of chaplain is not confined to any one room, but within him, portable, and at-large.

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BACK HOME

AGAIN The Gramling Opry House Gramling Opry House owner Rusty Hollifield reclaims his roots Story by Erin Boggs Photographs by Erin Boggs with contributions from Rusty Hollifield

R

usty Hollifield loves the old Gramling Store building and its history. When he obtained the space in April 2020, there was a lot of work to do to prepare it to be a quality live music venue.

Five months of hard work later, in September of that year, he was finally ready to open the Gramling Opry House. A lot of big-name country and bluegrass artists came there to play then, due to the limited number of venues being open at that time.

The walls were masonry so he had to optimize the sound by covering them with wood paneling. Rusty says “If you don’t have something on top of that to absorb the sound it results in what BACKGROUND: The historic Gramling Store building where the Opry House is located BELOW: Rusty’s hard work at the Opry has provided the Gramling community with a beautiful venue to listen to good music BELOW RIGHT: Gramling community members enjoying a show at the Opry

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MORE INFORMATION The Gramling Opry House is located at 14811 Asheville Hwy, Inman, SC 29349, and their phone number is 864-921-6650. You can check out their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/TheGramilngOpryHouse for announcements JUNE 2022 of upcoming performances such as the summer series, and other news.

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is called slapback.” Rusty’s improvements and knowledge of sound optimization have resulted in many local and bigger name musicians and bands commenting on how high-quality the sound is at the Opry.

Besides the sound improvements, the over 125-year-old historic building also needed to be restructured inside to accommodate heating and air, a new bathroom, an upgraded stage, and all digital sound system, all of which Rusty himself restored and completed as a labor of love.

Rusty, a bass player, has a life-long love of music. He even started his own recording studio called Trinity Recording and Sound, which first was in a basement studio in Boiling Springs and then moved to Mill Street in Inman. He specialized in southern gospel music and did sound and recording for Grand Old Gospel Reunion in Greenville. Later on, he sold the recording studio to former Marshall Tucker Band members Rusty Milner and Tim Lawter, who were relocating their studio from Spartanburg to Inman.

Rusty started learning how to play bass when he was around 12, and by age 14 he and his brother and two cousins had put together a little instrumental band where

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they would play mostly on his back porch, but also occasionally at Rusty’s high school in Boiling Springs. Later on, he started playing with a local country band which spun off into a three-piece southern rock band. From 1978 to 1980 Rusty started traveling with a local quartet called The Dixie Prophets. He also played with his late wife Angie’s family’s band, called Family Tradition, a southern gospel group for whom his wife wrote a lot of music. He also played bass at Mt. Zion Tabernacle near Lake Bowen for many years.

Until the mid-1970s, the building TOP LEFT: The one and only Larry Cordle is a special guest at the Opry BELOW LEFT: Musical instruments left behind by previous tenants of the building decorate the walls of the Opry House RIGHT: You will notice the repurposed tin panels on the walls, which Rusty says have been in the community since the 1930s FAR TOP RIGHT: Denise O’Shields, Linda Corn Conners and Ed Burrell of Classic Country FAR BELOW RIGHT: Freshly made desserts are ready for you at the Opry

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ABOVE: A collection of notable acts who have performed at the Opry and with Rusty RIGHT: The “autograph wall” that Rusty decided to leave intact when he refurbished the interior, has signatures from many notable local and national artists

where the Opry now stands housed the General Store for the Gramling farms, with gas pumps out front, and the family ran their brokerage business for the dairy, peaches, apples, strawberries and cotton in the upstairs office. Rusty’s uncle managed Gramling’s family dairy farm, and Rusty and some of his family members worked there and in Gramling’s peach shed. For many years, almost everyone who worked in the one square mile of the town worked for the Gramlings.

Rusty says, “Gramling at one time was a hustling bustling one square mile town, and I used to run over there and buy candy and drinks and snacks at the store.

You could cut cheese off the block right there in the store. It was just a cool little place. My uncles and dad all worked for the Gramling family so we’ve got some roots there. It’s fun to be there.”

Rusty’s girlfriend and fellow bluegrass 24

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

music lover Suzanne says the little dance floor gets filled up on country music nights. Another dance floor-filling band is Highway 8, which plays both old country as well as beach music. A band called Classic Country plays southern rock and country music. Both Vic Velvet and Tommy Mossburg of Chesnee are also regular performers.

Mossburg plays in several different bands. “He gets out here with the kids and brings his guitar and plays it backward over his head. The crowd loves him,” Suzanne says. Mossburg plays in several different bands that range in genres from the ’50s, 60’s and 70’s top 40 radio hits to country music. Notably, famous musician and Nashville-based songwriter Larry Cordle, who wrote top hit songs “Highway 40 Blues” and “Murder on Music Row,” performed in April of this year. Two of Rusty’s favorite groups right now are Bluegrass bands called IIIrd

Tyme Out and Balsam Range. These days he sometimes plays with Suzanne’s son Wyatt Spearman in their two-piece band called The Gramling Grass. Steel guitar, bass and dobro musician Lee Dill has also played music with Rusty for years.

During the fall after Labor Day and all during the winter, they are open every Friday and Saturday. They have country music on Fridays and Bluegrass on Saturdays. In addition to all the great music, at their concession stand they also offer a tasty menu of handmade southernstyle foods as well as homemade desserts made by Suzanne’s mother. The cakes are never out of the oven for more than an hour and a half before they show up at the concession stand on Friday nights. Their delicious coffee comes from a company they tracked down in Black Mountain, NC. “Everything we serve there is fresh and high quality,” Rusty says.

This summer they are going to try

something new since many people are out of town on vacations, and that is to do a summer concert series every other weekend, May through August. They’ve gotten several local bands and also some big-name groups who will be playing. The Opry has a following of people of all ages from the growing Gramling and Inman area, and is gaining notoriety even beyond this area.

In addition to various musical instruments from the former Frank’s Coffee House and Music Hall, which operated in the building before the Opry, you will notice that hung along the walls of the interior are pieces of old tin siding. Rusty explains “That tin has been in this neighborhood, in different places, including my own house, since the 1930s. My neighbor Lonnie Corn back in 1977 took that tin off his house because they were going to put asphalt shingles on it. I was into hotrods

back then so I took the tin and built myself a little garage out of it, which stood until a few years ago during a big snowstorm.

I collected all the tin when it collapsed. I was finishing up here one night and I had all the walls painted, and I thought, man these walls need something on them. So, I thought about the tin, and now it has another new life.” He opted to keep the original back wall intact, which is full of autographs from all the performers who played there over the years at both Frank’s and now at the Opry.

The Opry House is both a natural progression and a nostalgic place for a local music lover like Rusty, where he could have a venue to host all kinds of performers. He says, “I entered into this venue thing because I love music. That’s the reality of it. Unless you’re a big-name star, you just have to love what you are doing, and you don’t think about the money.”

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MORE THAN JUST A

BUILDING

Mill Spring Town Center adds to legacy of former Mill Spring School

J

Story and Photographs by Storme Smith

onathan Swift once wrote, “Everything old will be new again,” and the Mill Spring Town Center adds more credence to the famous author’s well-worn axiom.

The 41,000 sq. ft. former schoolhouse, located near the intersection of NC Hwy. 108 and NC Hwy. 9, is undoubtedly old, built in the early 1920s, though the exact date of completion is still of some debate. One thing is for sure

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as it approaches an ambiguous centennial, however. The historic landmark continues to have an ever-changing but always communitycentered role, having spent its first 70 years as Mill Spring School, the last decade as the Mill Spring Agricultural Center, and now in its third incarnation as the Mill Spring Town Center.

Anwar Timol of Tryon purchased the property from the Polk County Soil and Water

BACKGROUND: The Mill Spring Town Center as it stands today.

TOP RIGHT: The school upon completion in 1928.

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Conservation District in 2019.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Anwar saw something unique within the walls as a former tenant.

A 20-year telecommunications veteran gave him the foresight to see the building’s technological potential.

“The center has the qualities of being a good data center, especially in the Isothermal Belt, which has a stable climate. Pangaea fiber and Windstream have service in the building. Duke Power and Dominion Natural Gas are nearby.

It also has a history with artists and agriculture, which have been important aspects of my life,” Anwar said.

Anwar and his wife, Megan, who trains dressage horses, have continued the building’s legacy in education, community, art, and agriculture while building their own.

His personal goals for the center are “to create higher-paying jobs, and to provide superior internet access while fusing technology with art

ABOVE: The Red Oak and massive Magnolia hold RIGHT: The sunflower windmill waiting on the ne LEFT: Ishmael Lord’s mural of cartoon horse Lil’ H

Fridays at 7:00 Rogers Park Amphitheater Tryon, NC

July 15

Peggy Ratusz & Reggie Headen

June 3

July 29

Ol’ 74 Jazz Band

Seth Walker Band

June 17

August 19

Peter Karp Band

Maya de Vitry Band

July 1

Aaron Burdett Band

‘22

in Voted Best 2021!

2018, 2019 & 2021

Rain or Shine!

Rain location inside Tryon Fire Station.

Bring chairs!

Presenting Sponsor

Deli Food, soft drinks & water available for sale.

Coolers allowed, but please no dogs.

Donations appreciated!

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www.summertracks.com

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

d so many memories for former students. ext breeze to blow.

Herc asking us to “Spread Love.”

and agriculture/nature.”

“I hope to establish a center for creative entrepreneurship that takes advantage of the proximity to Asheville, Charlotte and Greenville, all while realizing the benefits and quality of life that comes from living and raising a family in Polk County, N.C.,” he reflected.

While Anwar has a plan for the future, he also has a deep appreciation for the building’s past — a past filled with chalk dust and children’s laughter, but partially obscured by a fire that devoured the North Wing in 1940 along with the records office.

Officially recognized as a high school in 1925, soon after consolidating with Pea Ridge, Principal Bill Nesbitt would hand out its first diplomas in 1933 after a second consolidation with Silver Creek. The class of 1947 would be the first to attend all 12 academic years before a final merger with Sunny View. Eventually, it would be replaced as a high school by Polk Central in 1960 and continue as a grammar school through integration.

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It then became an elementary school in 1972, and would remain so until closing its doors in 1993.

The building would sit empty for nearly a decade until donated to the Polk County Soil & Water District in 2009.

Reopening as the Mill Spring Agriculture Center would add a new purpose as a meeting place for the community’s farmers. The renovation of the campus and structure would be made possible by over 17,000 volunteer hours.

Together they would add fruit trees, an exhibition rose garden, medicinal, dye and culinary gardens, and transform the classrooms into offices and studios.

Anwar gives a great deal of credit for the work done on the center before he arrived to Lynn Sprague and the folks at PCSWCD alongside county maintenance.

“They did a lot to get it

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

to where it needed to be,” he said, “although I had to do some significant work right out the gate. Their work put the Town Center and me in an excellent position.”

Walking onto the campus grounds, you’re likely first to notice Ishmael Lord’s massive “Spread Love” mural on the south side of the building, featuring cartoon horse Lil’ Herc. Lil’ Herc is a creation of a friend of Anwar and Megan’s that befriends and helps a young girl with disabilities.

The building’s colorful mascot and timeless motto watch over the sunlit eight-acre campus.

An original sculpture by local blacksmith George Matthews securely supports a thick iron bell and the names of the community members who spearheaded the building’s renovation. Each side of the original sculpture represents different aspects of the county’s agricultural

An inside view headed toward the auditorium.

George Matthews sculpture honoring the county’s agricultural roots.

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ABOVE: A patriotic view from the front steps.

FAR RIGHT: A faraway view of the building.

RIGHT: The 415-seat auditorium has amazing acoustics.

history while also reminding us of the importance of farming to the area’s past.

Fieldstone walls and antique farm equipment surround the building’s oldest residents, a giant magnolia and regal red oak tree. The trees appear to have provided as many memories to former students as the school itself. The twin giants served as home base for countless games, cover for more than one first kiss, and in recent years, shade to several weddings.

The gravel drive lined with rose bushes and fruit trees takes us around the back to a sunflower-shaped windmill turning steadily with the breeze, a functional sculpture made in the center’s working blacksmith 34

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

shop. A stand-alone brick building containing six furnaces and all the hard-hitting tools needed to shape metal, the blacksmith shop is another throwback to an even earlier time in the area’s history, before agriculture was the primary economic force. When the region’s rich mineral deposits first brought it to state and national attention, blacksmithing became a necessary art among the region’s farmers who could not waste time going into town every time they needed a nail or a horse threw a shoe.

One might expect the school bell to ring, rushing them to class as they walk through the entryway, while Principal A.B Wilson tells them to slow down. Anyone would feel

welcomed by the foyer highlighted by a colorful mural showcasing a celebration on the center’s lawn. The mural hangs above a community library box filled with the latest bestsellers while faux plants, giving examples of the local greenery, line the opposite wall.

The long polished wood floors and freshly painted halls lead to multiple offices, studio spaces and a 415-seat auditorium. The former classrooms now house a portraitphotography studio, Montessori school, artist studios, government offices and several businesses, including Anwar’s own data security company, CloudOgre.

Anwar is working hard for the building to be around for another

hundred years. “I plan to expand CloudOgre with a Data Center and other work from home technologies like UCaaS and basic internet access. The Data Center will serve as a place where cloud providers and businesses store their equipment to better operate their cloud services and apps.”

He further explained, “Today, companies use smaller/ edge data centers closer to the people to give people a better experience using their technology. We’ll be able to assist in the production, hosting and broadcasting of content.

Artists and entrepreneurs will have a place to grow their businesses. Of course, PCSWCD, Agricultural Economic Development, and other county offices and large companies will continue to have their home here.”

When leaving the building the sign out front tells us,

JUNE 2022

35

APPOINTMENTS

Stars AVENUE OF THE

A

36

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

By Pebbles

venue - a way of approaching a problem or making progress, is one definition of this straightforward noun. A broad road into a town or city, typically having trees at regular intervals along each side, is yet another. Our new arrival, born in HERD as a gift from the mare Mystic, fittingly relates to both.

It is no surprise that volunteer Bill McClelland finds all the newborn arrivals. He is up with the sun for morning chores. He tackles feeding time for nourishing

our expansive list of equines. The number of mouths to support has grown by leaps and bounds since our rescue, Helping Equines Regain Dignity (HERD), was founded. With so many young horses here on the ranch, we keep a feed logbook which is regularly updated on who is fed what and how frequently per day. Ten equines here need soaked alfalfa added to their diet, while others need a caloric balancer to keep their weight in check. It is too much for any one person to remember

JUNE 2022

37

without consulting our feeding guidebook these days. I of course stay on a low sugar and low starch diet plan to maintain my perfect figure for photo shoots.

It is always Bill that alerts us all when there are eight legs in the morning when only four were there at night check the previous evening.

Such is the case with the arrival of paint mare Mystic’s new colt, Avenue of the Stars. He came ahead of schedule to surprise us all. The size of this newborn foal was alarming, as he was so tiny for a horse colt. Healthy, with a beautiful build, and bright chestnut coloring, Avenue sports a unique tapered blaze of white on his face. He is a marvel to behold, even during his first moments, standing on his slim, trembling legs.

Avenue, the new HERD member, was discovered within an hour or two of being born. He was wobbly on his four feet and attempting to nurse. Minutes later, while resting under his mother on the ground, we could see his fairy fingers or eponychium, the soft capsule that protects the mare’s uterus from the sharp edges of the foal’s hooves during pregnancy and birth. The rubbery slippers also protect the mare as the foal travels along the birth canal. These fairy fingers begin to dry out and fall/wear away

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS WOV-Foothills Magazine May 2022-v1.indd 1

4/20/22 8:58 AM

Mystic eating lunch with Avenue by her side

JUNE 2022

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ABOVE: Avenue of the Stars’ first taste of hay BELOW: Avenue of the Stars taking a nap, rare to be on his back

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

the minute that they have contact with the air.

This perfect protective “hoofwear” design is there for an important reason. Predators are attracted to the smell of the mare’s placenta on the ground, so it is necessary for the foal and its mother to be able to move away from the birthing spot as quickly as possible — so the foal needs to have fully formed hooves at birth. During the foal’s first venture across the ground the soft hoof capsules are worn down to meet the level sole, revealing the hooves we are used to seeing. Since Avenue’s fairy fingers were visible, we knew he had recently made his arrival.

Mystic, his anxious mother, seemed as surprised by the new gift of life as we were.

However, she quickly took to motherhood like a duck to water. There was just one little hiccup.

Mother Mystic was not producing much milk and our new Avenue was hungry. As the day progressed, we all grew a bit concerned that Avenue was not receiving enough milk as he attempted nursing nonstop. The vet was called for guidance, and he made an appointment to come out and examine the pair the following afternoon.

Blood was drawn from both equines, and Mystic was checked to be sure she had cleared all the birthing materials. All was correct on both fronts but to increase her Mystic, with newborn foal Avenue of the Stars nursing on its first day

ST LUKE’S MEN’S HEALTH TUNE-UP and Car, Truck, & Bike Show

Saturday, June 11th

9 AM – 1 PM at Harmon Field To pre-register cars, trucks & bikes: Email Amanda.Thompson@slhnc.org or call her at 828-894-2693.

There will be People’s Choice Awards for each car show category, health fair door prizes, healthy snacks, and T-shirts! All at no cost to you!

Made Possible by the Ann Jacob Toms Fund at Polk County Community Foundation.

St. Luke’s HOSPITAL

(828) 894-2693 StLukesNC.org

117 Harmon Field Rd Tryon, NC 28782 JUNE 2022

41

milk production, she was given a shot of Oxytocin, with five more to follow over two days. Maiden mares sometimes do not produce an abundance of milk. As the week progressed, Avenue grew rowdier and was gaining weight, so we all breathed a sigh of relief.

People may question how we produced the name, Avenue of The Stars, for this little colt. Well, it is kismet how it came about in a miraculous way. A kind angel donor, who was relocating from 42

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

California to Tryon, helped us save Mystic. Her only request was that we name the mare Mystic as a tribute to her deceased horse. Then another kind angel donor, also located on the West Coast, wrote us asking if we would like help supporting Mystic’s foal when we learned she was pregnant. Again, we gladly said yes and offered to let her name the foal in gratitude for the sponsorship. She requested the name Avenue of the Stars, based on her home address.

When the colt was born, we announced his arrival to HERD members with the appointed name.

Both donors were thrilled to see his photos. Both donors loved the name. The first donor, who sponsored Mystic, inquired how we came up with the name Avenue, as it happened to be the name associated with her professional company.

The coincidence was not lost on me. I have incredible instincts and intuition. The two women did not know each other. However, they

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PacJAM Summer Camp June 13-17 … 8:30-12 each day Final lunchtime concert June 17 To register or learn more tryonarts.org/pacjam PacJAM Adult Workshops June 13 & June 15 … 12:30-1:45 Introduction to Improvisation, all instruments with Carson Moore June 14 & June 16 … 12:30-1:45 Beginner Clawhammer Banjo with Amy Buckingham All-Instrument JAM with local musicians Will Trakas & Mallory Carter from Pretty Little Goat To register or learn more tryonarts.org/pacjam S.A.S.Y. Art Camps for Youth June 27-July 1 … Half day ages 5-7 Having Fun with Art; Animal Art; The Art of Printmaking; Music Camp June 27-July 1 … Full day ages 8-12 Origami; Drawing; Theater Camp: Lights, Camera, Action!; Selfies, portraits, and collage; Mural Painting; Music Camp; Wild & Wonderful Abstract Art Reception, exhibits and final presentation July 1 To register or learn more tryonarts.org/s-a-s-y-art-camps-2022 made staying alive and receiving diligent care possible for these two equines. Their generosity presented an avenue for the duo to reside comfortably in HERD. Before moving to our rescue, Mystic was being shipped to slaughter because she was so lame, she could hardly walk. None of us knew at that time Avenue was part of the package. Clearly, the outcome of this intervention was perfectly aligned in the stars.

We anticipate grand accomplishments for this spirited colt as his life unfolds. Possibly a stint in motion pictures based on his name. He might just possess a star on the celebrity sidewalk, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, after a career paved in prestige. Well, at least here in HERD among his adoring fans, our Avenue of The Stars can stroll the tree-lined drive with a confident step to his sweet stride.

TFAC-TLT Summer Theater Camp July 25-30 … M-F 9-3; Sat 9-11, ages 8-12 Students learn the ins and outs of theater, from auditions Monday morning to a fully staged public show with lights, sound, sets, props & costumes on Saturday!

To register or learn more tryonarts.org/summer-theater-camp pacjam summer camp sponsors

Matt Aldrich

34 Melrose Ave, Tryon NC 828-859-8322 www.tryonarts.org see tfac covid policy by event at www.tryonarts.org/events.

JUNE 2022

43

QUICK BITES

THAT’S

JUST

Peachy!

RECIPES FOR THE FOOTHILLS PEACH SEASON

By Claire Sachse

I

s there anything more summery than sitting under an old shade tree enjoying a juicy, sweet, locally grown peach? One of your to-do’s for June should include visiting a farmers market or roadside stand to purchase some of the area’s to-die-for peaches. You don’t have to go far. Spartanburg County leads South Carolina in peach growing; just search the horizon for the iconic

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

peach shaped water tower in Gaffney and you’ll know you’re in the right vicinity.

(Some people say it resembles a certain part of the human anatomy, if you use your imagination creatively.)

Since I like to highlight unusual and unexpected recipes for local produce, let’s peel on past the tried-andtrue peach cobbler, pie and crumble recipes and explore more daring non-dessert fare.

Let’s start with the summery cocktail of Ginger Peach Sangria. It’s sweet, but not too sweet, and packed with summer herbs. The base is simple: a bottle of white wine, a cup of Grand Marnier, and 3-4 fresh peaches, sliced.

Add a splash of ginger juice (or fresh grated) and a handful of mint and/or basil (also available at farmers markets) for an herby kick, but feel free to omit them for

a more traditional peach sangria. Add slices of apples, lemon, lime, oranges, or strawberries for an extra-fruity twist if you like. Mix the ingredients in a large pitcher, and let it chill for a few hours, or overnight. (wink, LOL, you’ll finish it off before then). It gets more peachy and herbaceous the longer it sits. Serve over ice.

Want to cause shockwaves at the church potluck? Upset 15 generations of mayo-based slaw-toting MeeMaws? This Asian Slaw salad, an easy 30-minute sweet and savory affair, should do the trick. Combine 6-7 cups crunchy shredded purple and green cabbage, a charred red bell pepper sliced, 2 chopped scallions, ½ cup chopped cilantro, ½ cup chopped basil (try Thai basil!) with some mint thrown in, 2 Thai chiles or 1 serrano pepper, diced, sea salt to taste, ¼ cup toasted peanuts, pepitas, and/ or sesame seeds, and of course, 1 thinly sliced peach. The dressing includes ¼ cup cashew or peanut butter mixed with 2 tablespoons white miso paste, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 2 to 5 tablespoons water, or as needed.

M a k i n g S c e n e s

Mix your salad ingredients first, fold in your dressing, and chill.

If MeeMaw doesn’t faint at the slaw challenge, she’ll definitely look at you up, down and sideways when you give her a slice of peach and prosciutto pizza.

You read that right, friends! It can be done! The ‘Can fruit go on pizza debate’ was settled a long time ago. Yes, it’s allowed. Place pizza stone in your oven and preheat to 450 degrees. I start with store bought 16 oz. pizza dough (don’t judge me), but you can make your own from scratch if that’s your thing. Brush with olive oil and 1 minced garlic clove.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add layer of sliced prosciutto to cover dough (about 3 oz.). Dollop ½ cup ricotta cheese onto dough, and cover with shredded or diced mozzarella (5 oz.) and ½ cup crumbled asiago cheese.

Arrange thinly sliced fresh peaches, skin on or off, (about 1 ½ peaches) on top of cheese. Bake 10-14 minutes, or until crust browns. While baking, combine 1 cup balsamic vinegar and ¼ cup honey in skillet and simmer for 15 minutes until vinegar has reduced. After removing pizza from the oven, sprinkle

it with ⅓ cup shredded basil and drizzle it with balsamic honey reduction. Chef ’s kiss! Enjoy!

COMING SOON 2022-23 Season Announcement

S i n c e

1 9 4 8

516 S. Trade St., Tryon • 828-859-2466 • www.TLTinfo.org JUNE 2022

45

QUICK BITES

A CHEF-WORTHY SUMMER CLASSIC INGREDIENTS Parmesan-Herb Fries: 1 package (16 ounces) Omaha Steaks Steakhouse Fries 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, minced 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, minced 1 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley, minced New York Strip Steaks: 2 Omaha Steaks Butcher's Cut New York Strips Southwest steak rub 1/4 cup grapeseed oil 2 ounces unsalted butter, cold Peppercorn Cream Sauce: 1/2 cup brandy

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

3/4 cup beef stock 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 teaspoons peppercorn medley, coarsely cracked salt, to taste pepper, to taste DIRECTIONS To make Parmesan-herb fries: Preheat oven to 425 F. Place fries on baking rack on top of sheet pan; bake 25 minutes, or until golden-brown and crispy.

In medium bowl, mix Parmesan cheese, thyme, rosemary and parsley until fully incorporated.

Remove fries from oven and toss with Parmesan herbs.

To make New York strip steaks: Season steaks gener-

ously with Southwest steak rub on both sides.

In cast-iron pan, add grapeseed oil and bring to high heat.

Place steaks in pan and sear 3-4 minutes on both sides for medium-rare doneness.

Remove steaks from pan and rest 8 minutes; reserve oil in cast-iron pan.

To make peppercorn cream sauce: Add brandy to reserved oil in cast-iron pan and reduce to 1/3 volume, about 1 minute.

Add beef stock and reduce by 1/3 volume, about 2-3 minutes.

Add heavy cream and cracked peppercorn medley to pan, bring to boil and reduce to simmer until thickened. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

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Keep Your Family Healthier with vaccines from Foothills Medical Associates or Saluda Family Medicine.

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

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Apply in Person: Steps to HOPE Thrift Barn 1810 SC-14, Landrum SC Come join the Monday-Saturday team at White Oak 10am-4pm Call of Tryon. Benefits 864-457-1099 (FT). Competitive for more pay. Great information. Steps environment! to HOPE is an Applications Equal Opportunity currently accepted Employer at White Oak of Tryon, 70 Oak $10 Off Spring Street, Tryon, NC Preventative 28782. White Maintenance (Reg Oak of Tryon is an $75) Rutherford equal opportunity Heating and Air employer.

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

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The Foothills Lifestyle

Our agency consists of agents who either grew up in the area and elected to stay here or agents who grew up somewhere else and selected to move here. Whether by election or selection, it is their love for this area that makes our agents excited about helping buyers or sellers experience that same feeling and enjoy the foothills lifestyle.

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BROKER/OWNER BARBARA BRICKER • ALEX FRAZIER KIRK GOLLWITZER • JOHN TOOMEY • TIM WRIGHT Experienced agents licensed in both NC & SC

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Active members of the community & sponsors of Foothills Humane Society, Tryon International Film Festival, Tryon Beer Fest, Steps to Hope, Summer Tracks, Tryon Painters & Sculptors, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Tryon Arts & Crafts School and Tryon Little Theatre