CEDAR MOUNTAIN NEWS FOR THURSDAY 12-14-23

BLOOD DRIVE

Come give the gift of life, on Saturday, Dec 16th from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Cedar Mountain Fire Rescue Dept. at the corner of Cascade Lake Rd and Greenville Hwy.  Please sign up now at https://www.redcrossblood.org/.

ROCKY HILL BAPTIST CHURCH CHRISTMAS MUSIC

The Rocky Hill Baptist Church choir, under the direction of Rita Skerrett Lollar, and instrumental soloists will share the music of the Christmas season on Sunday, December 17th at 6 pm. Following the musical performance, we will gather in the Family Life Center to enjoy homemade sandwiches, salads, snacks, and sweet treats. All are invited to join us on this joyful occasion.

2023 MCGAHA CHAPEL CAROLING

The original wooden pews of the McGaha Chapel were filled with singers young and old on Sunday, December 3rd. The branches of the live Christmas tree held long-stemmed red carnations, and, in the mountain tradition, fresh greenery adorned the window ledges, altar, and doors. Old familiar carols and songs of reindeer, Santa, and jingle bells were enjoyed and sung by all. Santa Claus dropped in through the tall, aged front doors, and Rain, a very well-behaved border collie, greeted carolers at the door. The large group of singers then traveled by foot or shuttle to the Robin Hood Center for Christmas goodies and cider. Please join us on Saturday, June 1st for the summer sing-along as we sing 150-year-old songs and enjoy watermelon on the grounds. Mark your calendars! Both yearly events are sponsored by the Transylvania County Historical Society and the Sherwood Forest and Cedar Mountain Communities. The beautiful photo of Rain and the McGaha Chapel was taken this year by Jeff Testerman.

CEDAR MOUNTAIN CANTEEN GAME NIGHTS

The Cedar Mountain Canteen is now hosting family-friendly game nights on Fridays.  Team Trivia will begin at 6 p.m. every Friday.  Giant Jenga will be available outside on the covered stage, weather permitting.  A community puzzle, checkers, and chess are also available.  You can also bring your own game and invite folks to play.  Please also join us for a potluck dinner too.

BLUE RIDGE CENTER FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

The Blue Ridge Center for Lifelong Learning (BRCLL) offers classes for retirees and seniors, in person on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, or via Zoom. The classes are two hours in either the morning or the afternoon—no evening classes. The classes are priced around $40 each, and require no textbooks, homework, or tests!  Visit our website BRCLL.com to see class offerings and register, or call 828-694-1740, or email Gretchen Koehler at g.koehler@blueridge.edu

RENT THE CENTER

Are you looking for a venue to host a community event or meeting? Contact Caroline Chambers at 828-290-9662 to schedule. The Cedar Mountain Community Center is the perfect place for residents and visitors to gather, with a variety of events held throughout the year. From monthly summer potluck dinners to cooking classes and special occasions, The Center offers an opportunity to get involved and become part of the Cedar Mountain Community. Come join us for food, fun, and a variety of events!

AROUND THE HOUSE by Linda Packer Young

Did you know that 21 December is the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere?   Conversely, it is the first day of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.  Now you know where to go to start summer over early.

Our roof saga continues.  We thought the roof was done but got a call from the company that let us know that they had run out of ridge caps while doing the roof.  This was after all the rain we got.  No one let us know about this.  The guy in charge was to pick up the rest of the remaining debris and excess lumber they had left behind Tuesday afternoon.  He didn’t show.

I want to thank all those who contribute to the Cedar Mountain News especially, Patty Stahl, who is an historian and author who contributes many interesting articles to the Cedar Mountain News.  She also contributes many photos.  One of which is included in this edition of the news.  The dog in the photo is named Rain and goes everywhere with her owner, Candy Gray.  In this photo, Rain is happily serving as a greeter at the McGaha Chapel Sing last week.

Note: All news must be sent to cedarmountainnews@gmail.com.  Photos need to be high resolution to ensure printability. The deadline for the CM News is Monday evening or early Tuesday morning.