CEDAR MOUNTAIN NEWS FOR THURSDAY 7-9-20

2020 CENSUS

Submitted by Candy Gray

Perhaps you have noticed the sign at the Cedar Mountain Community Center reminding ALL of us to complete the 2020 census form. Perhaps you are like me saying I ALREADY did this, so why am I getting another form/request? All I can ask is please have patience and recognize that the completion of this census (every ten years) is an enormous task, and is required by LAW. Census workers are working daily to assist in collecting this information.

Beware of scams. As always, we must be vigilant and aware that there are unscrupulous individuals who are trying to collect information from you that can be used for their financial gain and your financial loss. The census form or census workers will NEVER ask for your social security number. The form or worker will NOT ask for donations or political affiliation. And, of course, your bank/credit card information should never be disclosed. If you are asked for this, it is a scam

You may ask “Why is it so important that I provide this information to the federal government?” Basically it is because it BENEFITS US and OUR COMMUNITY and every one of us on a personal level! This information is used for planning our futures, our children’s’ futures, and even our grand children’s’ futures. The following is a brief and incomplete list of programs impacted by our census: Head start, educational grants (like Pell), housing assistance, employment training, vocational rehabilitation, prevention of child abuse, prevention, and treatment of substance abuse, support of firefighters, prevention/fighting of forest fires, restoration of wildlife, and health care including Medicare, and Medicaid. At the higher level, it provides for the establishment of legislative districts for voting, highway planning and construction, and grants for public transit.

Please help! Go online and complete the census form or fill out the paper copy that was left in your mailbox or hanging on your door. No postage is required for the paper form. Complete information is needed/required for every home, summer, and winter residence. Our community needs your assistance and you will thank yourself for it in the years to come.

LOCAL NEWS:

CEDAR MOUNTAIN CAFE Lucia Gerdes, owner of the Cedar Mountain Cafe gave an update on the hours & days at the cafe: "We are open 5 days a week from 9-6. We are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. We decided not to open our dining room at this time. However, we have plenty of dine-in options between our patio and the tent we erected in the yard for people to dine in. For on-site dining, we have erected an order tent in the yard where people can order food and drinks before they sit at a table.

Other than the safety measures we are taking for COVID-19, a few other big changes are that we serve breakfast all day! (We may run out of some things later in the day like biscuits, but you can order off the breakfast menu all day). We don't allow dogs on the patio, but we do allow them under the tent. We also updated our menu by having lunch and dinner on one menu, and added a few changes to our breakfast. We also have frozen dinners like lasagnas, meatloaf, risotto, and Indian Butter Chicken designed to feed two that can be ordered and picked up. We have also picked up some hand sanitizer and laundry detergent that can be ordered off our online menu. Online ordering can be found at https://www.toasttab.com/cedarmountaincafe/v3." Folks can call the Cedar Mountain Cafe at (828)884-5272.

STUDIO 276 Sarah Yarborough Dearbaugh is booking small outdoor painting classes now at Studio 276. Grab your friends & your face masks and make plans for a fun evening of art! Sarah can be reached at (828)808-7210, by email at: studio276.art@gmail.com or visit her web site at: www.studio276.art

CREEKSIDE MARKET Creekside Market is showing outdoor movies, free, on Friday nights. Their "Alive After 5" events are ongoing on Saturday evenings, with live singing starting around 6:00pm. Please call them for more information: (828) 885-2810 WHISTLESTOP MARKET The end of June we heard you could pick up some oysters, trout, mussels, scallops or salmon fillets at the Whistlestop Market produce stand. They also have Linz meats: Hangar filet, and ribeye. They always have delicious tomatoes, corn, veggies. Look for scrumptious blueberries, and SC peaches too! And lots of "Lotsa Loaves"!

Check out the Booboo bins. Lots of “tired” useable produce can be found there. It also saves good food from being wasted. Whistlestop Market can be reached at: (828)877-5081. NO VBS THIS YEAR Due to the Corona virus there will be no Vacation Bible School at Rocky Hill Baptist Church this year, or at any churches in Transylvania County that I've heard of! LIBRARY The Library is still open Monday thru Saturday, 10:00am to 5:00pm. You can use the restrooms there too! The computers can be used although at a shortened time period. The library number is (828)884-3151 Christine reports the safety measures are in full swing in the library. She has been checking out books and CD's almost every week.

BUILD A BIRDHOUSE CONTEST (for all ages)

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Drop off of entries between 9:30-10:30 am at the Cedar Mountain Community Center.

Judging 10:45 AM to noon (Closed to the public)

Announcement of awards will be at noon – Pickup of entries until 1:00 p.m.

Entries judged on craftsmanship, aesthetics, and imagination.

Separate entry levels for youth, families, and adults.

Pre-register at http://sherwoodforestfriends.org/events/birdhouse-contest/

There will be modest prizes and treats in store for you to enjoy.

This contest is sponsored by Sherwood Forest Friends, Nature Nuts, and the Cedar Mountain Community. All attendees should wear masks and practice physical distancing during drop off and pick up.

CEDAR MOUNTAIN HISTORY Contributed By Patty Stahl

In the summer of 1928, Mrs. Hugh R. Walker invited the members of the Businesswomen’s Club of Brevard to Seeshore, her family’s summer home in 1928 and later, a year-round residence. Mrs. Hugh Walker was the Transylvania County historian, Mary Jane King Walker McCrary. Mrs. McCrary authored the book, Transylvania Beginnings: A History. Her father was Alexander Henry “Doc” King and the King family has owned the properties at Seeshore from the 1920s.

Seeshore is the area on both sides of Hwy 276 just before the entrance to the East Fork Road as you drive toward Brevard from Cedar Mountain. The property contained five named buildings and a small lake. Harley Raines shared an account from his uncle Deaver Raines, born in the year 1900. Deaver told Harley that in 1923 he helped to dig the lake at Seeshore, using a mule and drag pan. According to the 1930 census, Mary Jane is widowed, living at Seeshore and the president of the Walker Insurance Company. Family documents indicate that she lived in Twill Do, the small home on the hill across from the lake. In April of 1930 other family members, including her father and brother, lived in other homes there along the highway. Her father died later in the year and, by 1940, she had married Carl McCrary and was living in Brevard.

Over the years the buildings at Seeshore have served as residences, a restaurant, stores, a Girl Scout Camp, and the Eight Crafters’ Shop. “Uncle Buck’s” was the most recent business with bear carvings for sale and a store. In the late 1960s the 8 Crafters Shop carried works from local artists, some of them being Southern Highland Guild members. In the 1957 Cedar Mt. scrapbook, Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Masters are shown in their home at Seeshore, working on their enameled jewelry featured by the Guild.

As you drive by Seeshore on your way to town, imagine the old and unpaved road, a less hurried drive and a party on a warm summer’s evening at the edge of Cedar Mountain. Below is the 1928 account.

Enjoyable Picnic of Business Women’s Club from the Brevard News June 21, 1928

Generally pronounced the most enjoyable gathering of the Business and Professional Women’s Club ever held was the picnic given by members of that organization on Monday evening at “Seeshore,” the summer home of the club president, Mrs. Hugh R. Walker.

The regular business meeting was postponed until a later date and the evening was devoted to features of a social nature, all of which were thoroughly enjoyed by the members and visitors present.

The pleasures of the occasion included boat rides on the pretty lake adjoining the cottages, piano and Victrola music, games and frolics on the lawn, and a bountiful picnic lunch served on the spacious porch overlooking the lake and the beautiful mountains visible in all directions. Just before leaving for the evening, a watermelon feast was greatly enjoyed. Lighted Japanese lanterns hung on the rustic porch and at frequent intervals around the lake added to the charm of the scenery and the enjoyment of the evening.

After several hours happily spent, the merry crowd reluctantly departed for their homes, all expressing the wish that such an enjoyable evening night might be spent at this delightful meeting place.

AROUND THE HOUSE by Linda Young

I’ve been getting lots of tips on Nextdoor on how to deal with unwanted Carolina Bats. It’s not so much that they are not wanted; it’s where they choose to “hang out” at night. It’s right by my main entrance about 30 feet up. Their “processed” nightly snacks are extremely evident right by the walk. I purchased a bat house a couple of years ago but can’t figure out how to put it up or where. I don’t “do” ladders anymore either. Also, how do you persuade the bats to move into it?

Thank you for reading The Cedar Mountain News. Your contributions are encouraged and welcome. We’d like 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 and others by wearing your masks, washing your hands and keeping social distancing recommendations. Lives may depend on it.