Who likes a picnic in the park? Lexington has the perfect summer picnic spot at Gibson Road Park. Damaged during the flood of 2015, much progress has been made in restoring it. Lexington folks who grew up in the 40s and 50s remember the lively pavilion with lighted jukebox blasting. Friends danced to favorite tunes. Some marriages resulted.

Restoring this park has been a town project as workers ready it for a grand opening. Bring your blanket and picnic basket. Large groups may rent a spacious shelter with ceiling fans, charcoal grill, stone fireplace and tables to accommodate 80 people.

DONNA BUNDRICK Griffin suggests taking a staycation this year. Pack your ice chest with fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, salads of chicken, ham or egg with whole-wheat crackers or bread and beverages. One of my favorites is a quick and easy kale salad. The ingredients are: 1 pound bag of washed and chopped kale, ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 cup orange blossom honey, slightly sweetened sliced fresh peaches, slightly sweetened fresh strawberries and/or slightly sweetened fresh blueberries, and finely chopped nuts. Pour kale into a large bowl. Pour oil over kale. Massage oil onto kale and let sit for 5 minutes. Pour honey over kale. Toss kale and honey together. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Toss with fruit and finely chopped nuts or serve on the side.

PRISMA HEALTH offers tips to avoid bug bites and poison ivy. Wear clothing with sleeves, especially in heavily wooded areas, tall grass or when hiking. Wear closed-toe shoes and tuck pants into socks.

Use an insect repellant with at least 20% DEET. Avoid scented perfumes when outdoors as they attract mosquitoes.

Make sure window and door screens will keep out flying insects. If camping or sleeping outside, use a bed net. Teach children not to kick or poke fire ant mounds.

Check your and your children’s hair and skin for ticks after hiking or camping.

Place an ice pack on painful bug bites or over-the-counter calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to soothe the skin.

ANNE BULL advises planning to see the Purple Martins on Lake Murray. The birds will leave in early August to migrate back to South America. Just before sunrise and sunset are the best times.

Contact Capital City Lake Murray Country at 803-781-5940 to schedule your tour.

RONNIE WINGARD just killed a 4-foot long rattlesnake with 10 rattlers at his deer feeders. Thanks to his trusty weapon, he escaped unharmed.

JENNIFER WILSON reports Lexington Medical Center is receiving national news attention for taking care of covid-19 patients. NBC News spent 2 days this month inside covid-19 units. The vast majority of these patients were unvaccinated. Correspondent Ellison Barber’s reports aired for 2 days on MSNBC with a report on NBC Nightly News. It was the 2nd time NBC News visited the hospital. You can see some of the reports on Lexington Medical Center’s Facebook page along with its blog, LexWell, at Blog.LexMed.com.

BLAIR AND ASHLEY Sims and children recently visited Costa Rica where they enjoyed snorkeling and offshore fishing.Being in the restaurant business, Blair and Ashley appreciate the tasty, authentic food.

THE HALFACRE reunion was at Edisto. They welcomed new family members.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN Rabon, Jim Snell, Earl McLeod, Heidi Black, Anna C. Derrick, Paula Jacobs, Beth Mathias, Retha Sox, Angela Addy Adams, Chief Haycraft, Emily Sous, Ron Redd, Fran Felkel, Marie Parkinson, Luke Loreck, John Turner, Mickey Maxwell, Jimmie Kaiser, Cole Catalanotto, Laney Rodgers, Ali Cato, Tommy Miles, Josh Busbee, Cameron Glover, Teresa MacFawn, Eliott Marr, Parker McInnis, Ariel Rabern, Erin Stoudemire, Jake Torbett, Roy Windham, JT Brodowski, Wade Keisler, Ron Redd, John Sink, Wade Billings, John Lester, Katie Sayles, Tami Smith, Marge Spears, Pamela Brown, Mark Hendrix, Michael Jeffcoat, Sierra Lewis, Daniel Robinson, Bubba Easler, Brogdon Gamble, Kristin Hook, Chloe Morris, Julian Sharpe and Tyler Shealy

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