CEDAR MOUNTAIN NEWS FOR THURSDAY MARCH 26, 2020

DARK SKIES PROGRAM

The Dark Skies program scheduled for March 28th at the CMCC at 2:00 pm has been canceled. It will be rescheduled for a future date.

CMCC

The Cedar Mountain Community Center has canceled the April Board Meeting and April 13, potluck program. As we progress through the pandemic we will probably need to cancel the May and maybe the June potluck as well. We will keep you posted.

COMING BLOOD DRIVES

These are the blood drive dates for 2020 as assigned to The Cedar Mountain Fire/Rescue Auxiliary by the Red Cross; April 18, June 20, August 22, October 24, and December 19 from 8:30a – 12:30p.

During this time when fewer folks are leaving their home, the supply of blood products is running very low. Therefore there are extra blood drives being held where special precautions are being taken to assure the safety of those wanting to give blood. Still, it is your choice to go to these public places, or not. Two blood drives will be held in our area in the coming weeks; on April 2nd at the Davidson River School (Ecusta Road) from 9:00am to 1:30pm you are welcome to give blood.

SHERWOOD FOREST LADIES GOLF LEAGUE SEEKS NEW MEMBERS

The Sherwood Ladies Golf League is seeking new members for its upcoming season. The league plays 9 holes every Monday morning from April 6th - October 12th. The April starting time is 10 AM. The league is open to any golfer, any age or ability level, who is interested in fun, yet competitive 9-hole play. New members are welcome at any time during the season. For more information, please email Lin at lk3596@yahoo.com.

CEDAR MOUNTAIN HISTORY SUBMITTED BY ALEEN STEINBERG

THE FROZEN CHOSEN EASTER SUNRISE 2007

The Easter Cantata at Symmes Chapel, a tradition for the folks in Cedar Mountain, has been a part of these hills for over 60 years. This Sunrise Service, held at Pretty Place perched on the side of Cleveland Cliffs out at Camp Greenville is a labor of love and dedication; first, the music and script must be chosen, then auditions, followed by weeks of practice and rehearsal for the members of the choir of Rocky Hill Baptist Church. The beauty and simplicity of the words and music, coupled with the magnificence of the setting, attracts the believers from as far away as Asheville and Greenville.

The crowds may vary but the story remains constant as does our being at nature’s mercy. Maybe rain, maybe fog, might be clear, may be mild and breezy, always a crapshoot for the faithful.

There had been a tough freeze here over the weekend, and the apple, blueberry, and peach growers were hit hard, as were the flowering shrubs and trees that had been in full bloom, early because of the very warm weather weeks earlier. It was literally freezing this Easter morning, temp at 0530 was 19°, wind chill in the low single digits, as we wound our way along Solomon Jones Road on our way to the service. Once in the Chapel, we found our seats and hunkered down to find warmth in whatever way we could. The crowd looked like a bunch of homeless wrapped in blankets, sleeping bags, comforters, foil survival sheets…..wearing hats and mittens, sweaters, shawls, coats, ponchos, parkas, we all huddled together to keep warm.

The choir had on blue parkas under their red robes...with the pointy head coverings and flowing robes they looked like members of a Monastery, or as one wag put it, a sinister sect. Gloves of all descriptions held the music, and some faces were wrapped in mufflers till time to sing arrived. With their backs to the winds off the mountains, the choir hunched up, shivered and shook till the passion of their story and music took hold. The Cantata was memorable, with music, solos and a rap-like beat that carried my spirit to the sunrise that was coloring the Eastern sky.

Afterward, the breakfast left no one wanting. The crowd gathered in the Camp’s dining hall for country cooking at its best; fruit, juice, eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, grits, potatoes, and sausage gravy on homemade buttermilk biscuits. We came, we thawed, we ate, we gave thanks for the remarkable little community of Cedar Mountain and people that care.

CHRISTINE’S CORNER by Christine Pace

IT'S HERE! COVID-19 has reached Transylvania County, as expected, and precautions are being publicized because of it. It is suggested that any food purchased to-go is removed from its package as soon as you get home, and your hands washed immediately. Grocery stores will remain open though some hours have been cut. Special times have been set up when the elderly can shop exclusively; Ingles Market offers this service from 7 to 8am, while Bi-Lo's special hour is 8 to 9am. Both Ace Hardware and Lowes are still open. When I went to the Post Office on Monday I was asked to remain at least 6' away from the other 2 customers. It's easy to forget! I wore disposable gloves and a special mask, and of course, washed my hands at every opportunity. "I plan to do more letter-writing during this time of self-sequestering." As of Tuesday, I am staying home; not going anywhere. "Well, I did go to the dump." ROCKY HILL BAPTIST CHURCH SERVICES Dr. Leland Holland, the pastor of Rocky Hill Baptist Church, said this about last Sunday at Rocky Hill: "We had 18 in our worship service in the Family Life Center. We can seat, with a proper social distance of 6 feet, about 30 people." Some residents chose to listen to a pre-recorded message on the radio which plays at 11:00am on FM 87.9. The signal reaches about 2 miles and if you can't hear it try listening to the radio in your car. At this time pastor Holland is planning to continue holding Sunday morning service at 11am in the Family Life Center. To check on changes, cancellations or other questions please call Dr. Holland at (828)862-5611. LIFE GOES ON Sadly our friend & resident Virgie Heath is banned from Mission Hospital in Asheville where her husband Bud Heath is undergoing procedures for a kind of "treatable" Leukemia. Bud should be home in a week, but in the meantime please lift Virgie up as she misses being with him. The hospital has banned all family & friends during the COVID-19 outbreak. So far I have completed paintings on 7 gourd birdhouses in the past 3 weeks since I started staying home more; even before the first case of COVID-19 was known to be in our county. On social media (Facebook) I have been nominated to "post a photo each day for 10 days of one of my pups". I began a challenge to other gourd artist friends to post "recently-completed gourd art", one a day, for 14 days. Missionary Mayra Torres is still staying at my home while she sells her home in Georgia. She too is staying in. With Mayra's help, I have half of my storage building/workshop cleaned out now. Following her example, I too am taking a short walk each day, with one or both of my pups on a leash. I'm not going far. On Wednesday the youth of Carr's Hill Baptist Church offered some grocery products, including paper products that are in short supply, to the elderly who did not wish to go to the grocery store. My oldest granddaughter, home from college now, has offered to go to the grocery store for me. Actually I have noticed kind offers from so many groups and individuals it warms my heart! As the saying goes,” We’re all in this together, and we WILL get through it." I am saying prayers for everyone reading this column as well, for our country and for my far-away friends & family.

AROUND THE HOUSE by Linda Young

I often spend several days in a row without going anywhere and it hasn’t bothered me until now. You don’t always miss something until it’s gone.

Thank goodness our neighborhood alliance is helping to decrease trips to town. I bought a corned beef last week and forgot the cabbage. A kindly neighbor got one for me when he went to town. Thanks Doug. Another wonderful neighbor offered to make a trip to the “dump” for me. Thanks Eric. We all need to watch out for each other.

Having to be extra cautious when going out is also unsettling. I had to go to Wal-Mart Monday and was appalled at the lack of caution displayed by 99% of shoppers. I wore Nitrile gloves and disinfected them coming in and out of the store. I saw only one other customer taking any caution at all. She was wearing Nitrile gloves and a mask. A few employees were wearing gloves as well. The most caution I saw was in the line for the pharmacy. People were keeping the 6 foot distance recommendation.

Thank you for reading The Cedar Mountain News. Your contributions are encouraged and welcome. We’d love to hear what’s going on if you would like to share. Please email your news or any questions to cedarmountainnews@gmail.com by Monday evening.

Take care of yourselves.