I remember when I heard years back that the Adams Country store was re-opening. This was most welcome news, both for the public and for me personally as I have a history with the store that goes back to the late 70s. Back then my sister and brother-in-law were running a bicycle touring company, Suwannee Bicycle Tours, and they were headquartered in the Adams Country Store. When I first walked inside the old building I felt that I was taking a peek into the past. The place was suffering badly from the ravages of time, but it still had a certain faded glory that was warm and comfortable. Years later, when they auctioned off many of the contents of the store, I bought one of the old ledgers that contained hand-written entries of every sales transaction. My ledger is from 1898, and to read it is to step back in time. I felt a connection to the place and worried that it, like so many other old country stores, would fall prey to the ravages of time and disappear.

Raymond Cheshire, who had a deep connection and love for the old place, bought it and did a complete restoration, saving it from falling into the ash heap of dim memories. He had a lot of help during that time and when Billy and Brenda Gipson came to help with the restoration, they too fell in love with the store and White Springs. They eventually became the proud owners of a new business located in the grand old building. They offered antiques, collectibles and hand-crafted items. I was impressed with the quality of their offerings. They were hoping to install an old fashioned soda fountain where you will be able to by ice cream, milk shakes, sundaes and root beer floats. They took in some items on consignment, including quality antiques and crafts, and they also had a large inventory of reclaimed lumber, rescued from old houses and barns. When I asked Brenda what she wanted to say about the store, rather than talk about what they were selling, she talked about what she wanted people to experience when they visited. “I want people to take a step back in time, to a simpler and more peaceful place where they feel a sense of peace, hope and happiness.”

I knew right then that Billy and Brenda Gipson were on the right wavelength. They knew that the store was a business opportunity, but more than that they also knew that it was a very special place, perhaps even a place that can foster moments of spiritual reflection on the good things in life and days gone by. They were operating the kind of business and vision that I like to support and I wrote about their happenings at the store and their involvement in other community activities, such as the Mother’s Day Teas and the Christmas Tour of Homes, many times over the years! Now they are leaving us and I’ve been told that the Adams Country Store will possibly be up for sale. For the last time, they will be open this Thursday through Saturday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and many items in the closing sale will be marked down as much as 50 percent. This may be your last chance to visit the Adams Country Store for a while, so go and find some precious bargains and say goodbye to Brenda and Billy. We will miss them. Nothing lasts forever, but it sure was good while they were here!

Like many of you, I’ve been swept up in the March Madness of the college basketball tournament and along that line I want to share with you some news about a White Springs basketball champion. Monique Bryant was an outstanding player at Hamilton County High School and she earned a basketball scholarship to the Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), where she has been following her hoop dreams for the past two years. The FSCJ Blue Wave women’s basketball team had two of their players selected to the Mid-Florida All-Conference Second Team and Monique was one of them. At 5-foot-5, Monique is by no means the tallest player on the court wherever she plays, but she is certainly the hardest worker, practicing hours every day and playing at such a high level that she led the team in scoring this past season, averaging 13.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2 steals per game. Monique is a testament for all of us on the value of hard work, team play and following your dreams. White Springs is very proud of you Monique Bryant!

Do you know about the White Springs Seed Lending Library? It takes place every week at the library on Mondays from 1-3 p.m. You might ask, “How can I borrow seeds?” The basic idea is that you checkout seeds from the library, plant the seeds, let some go to seed, and then return some of these next generation seeds for others to borrow. Don’t worry; returning seeds to the library is not a requirement and there are no fines if you don’t return seeds. If you do want to donate commercially grown seeds, make sure they are open-pollinated (non-hybrid, non-GMO).

A Suwannee County Master Gardener, White Springs Library’s own John Lacefield will be available each Monday to answer and research questions you might have about planting, and to share information on how to grow according to local agricultural suggestions. The library has a wide selection of books about seed saving and organic farming to assist patrons in their gardening efforts. The seed lending library will also host guest speakers once a month to share information about gardening. To participate, you must have a current Suwannee River Regional Library Card.

A White Springs Seed Lending Library Presentation, “Building a Bird Garden: How you can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants,” will be held at the library on Monday, April 15, at 1:30 p.m. We know you love native plants but what about birds? Want more to visit your yard? What is the relationship between native plants and birds? What are the challenges that birds face? How can you help? This program will be presented by Jacqui Sulek, President of Four Rivers Audubon and Member of Sparkleberry Chapter, Florida Native Plant Society. This is a chance for gardeners and bird lovers to get some expert advice on attracting and sustaining birds and is sponsored by UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension Master Gardener Program.

The White Springs Library also has weekly activities throughout the month. Monday-Friday, 1-6 p.m., Coloring; Tuesday, 3-4 p.m., Teen Drama; Tuesday, 4-5:30 p.m., Teen Anime Club; Thursday, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Story Time. For more information, call the White Springs Library at 386-397-1389.

A group of about a dozen folks from White Springs joined me for a trip to Wellborn to try out their new restaurant, the Country Charm. We were greeted by a very friendly staff and they had a very complete menu and affordable prices for what turned out to be very generous portions. Everyone was happy with their meal, and I can personally vouch for the liver and onions that Merri and I had, which was cooked to perfection. Our area has many good restaurants and we want to welcome Country Charm to the fold!

Well, once again I’ve said enough, but I do want to remind you that if you have news you want to share, you should let “Life in White Springs” help. We’re always glad to hear about goings on in the community and will be glad to share anything that is appropriate for this column. I am thankful that we truly are all connected, and I hope that we can continue to feel proud of who we are and where we’re headed, and that we all appreciate how White Springs and its surrounding region is a very special place, to be honored and protected. As always, I look forward to seeing you out and about, enjoying your community and your life in White Springs.

Walter McKenzie

386-303-1394

lifeinwhitesprings@gmail.com