Effective at 7 a.m. May 26, face coverings will be required for all individuals 12 years of age and older in all indoor public commercial facilities, including libraries and public transit. This follows a 4-3 vote along party lines by county commissioners May 21.

The face covering provision does not apply in the following places or situations:

• While eating in any restaurant.
• For reasons related to any individual’s medical condition, disability or religious beliefs.
• In private offices.
• In areas of retail establishments, businesses and restaurants that are not open to the public.
• When complying with directions of law enforcement officers.
• During any worship, religious and spiritual gatherings, funeral ceremonies, wedding ceremonies and other activities constituting the exercise of First Amendment rights.
• In settings where it is not practical or feasible to wear a face covering when obtaining or rendering goods or services.

Guidelines for wearing a face covering include:

• It must cover both the mouth and nose.
• It must be snug.
• Don’t touch a face covering while wearing it or, if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
• When removing, do so by lifting ear loops or ties without touching the front of mask or your face and wash your hands afterwards.
• Wash the face covering with soap and water regularly or in the washing machine with other clothes.
• Do not put a face covering on anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious or otherwise unable to remove their own mask, or on children under 2 years of age.
• Do not use them as a substitute for social distancing, hand washing or staying home when sick.

See where the cougars and otters sleep overnight, meet black bears that are not commonly on display, learn the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round, observe a training session and find out why the animals call Grandfather Mountain home.

Offered on weekends, April – October.

Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning March 21.

The market will operate for as long as necessary, possibly expanding to other locations and days of the week as opportunity and demand allows.

Market Rules

• No customers or vendors exhibiting symptoms may enter the market.
• Maintain 6 feet of social distance at all times.
• One customer at a time for each vendor table.
• Only handle product you are purchasing. Products will be pre-packaged or bunched.
• Children, if they must attend with adult shoppers, must be closely supervised.

Anyone failing to comply with these conditions will be directed to leave the market.

Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest will reopen to the public effective 9a.m. May 13. To encourage responsible use and to maintain required social distancing, phased reopening will begin with allowing public access only to areas of the forest that promote movement-focused activities such as hiking. All areas and facilities of the forest will not be available during phase one of the reopening but will become available in accordance with Governor Cooper’s phased plan for reopening the state.

What can visitors expect during a visit to Rendezvous Mountain ESF during phase one of the reopening?

• Rendezvous Mountain ESF will be open Monday through Friday, 9a.m. until 5p.m.
• Most of the trail system will be open, and visitors should come prepared to access trails and to keep moving.
• Parking has been adjusted to allow for more spacing and to make it more feasible for visitors to maintain recommended social distance.
• While portable toilets will be available for visitors, restrooms will remain closed.
• Gathering areas of the forest will remain closed to encourage movement and separation. These areas include the following:
• all picnic areas;
• the McGee Forestry Center;
• the Bathhouse;
• the Ranger Station;
• the Logger’s Shack;
• the Office; and,
• the amphitheater.

As we move forward with this phased approach, we urge the public to adjust expectations, to be prepared, to stay local and to continue complying with CDC recommendations and guidelines. Visitors are asked to be responsible for individual best practices and to follow social distancing recommendations. Visitor behavior will be a key factor for providing continued public access and to avoid additional closures to the forest during this period of phased reopening. For phased reopening to be successful for public lands across our state, visitors must be good stewards and good neighbors. If you arrive during a busy time and find limited parking, the right decision is to return home and plan to visit another day at another time. If we are busy, expect other public lands, such as state parks and national forests, to also be busy. For up-to-date information about access to state forests in North Carolina, please stay tuned into https://ncforestservice.gov/COVID19.htm and NCFS social media accounts.

Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center celebrated the opening of its newest traveling exhibit, “Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions” on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The exhibit will run through the July 4th weekend at MGM, located at 24 Water Street in Old Fort. Admission is free.

FREE LUNCHES for anyone 18 years of age and under at the Ferguson Family YMCA. Simply drive up to our front door and let us know how many lunches you need, no questions asked.

For additional food for your family, pick up a FREE box of fresh produce at our Mobile Markets. Calendars are online at ymcawnc.org/nutritionprograms.

To our friends who’ve lost their jobs including those in the service industry and hospitality workers: Please join Food Connection for a free “to go” meal lovingly prepared by Wicked Weed Brewing’s Cultura thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor! We will be setting up in the parking lot against the Asheville Masonic Temple. We will be offering curbside service distributing meals from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm or until they run out.

For the safety of our beautiful community:
* If you come by car, please stay in your car at all times.
*There is 1 Entrance In By AMT and you will drive through and exit at the back of the lot.
• If you come by foot, please keep a social distance of at least 6 feet.
* Wear a mask if you have one
Thanks, y’all! We hope to see you Saturday!

Effective at 7 a.m. May 26, face coverings will be required for all individuals 12 years of age and older in all indoor public commercial facilities, including libraries and public transit. This follows a 4-3 vote along party lines by county commissioners May 21.

The face covering provision does not apply in the following places or situations:

• While eating in any restaurant.
• For reasons related to any individual’s medical condition, disability or religious beliefs.
• In private offices.
• In areas of retail establishments, businesses and restaurants that are not open to the public.
• When complying with directions of law enforcement officers.
• During any worship, religious and spiritual gatherings, funeral ceremonies, wedding ceremonies and other activities constituting the exercise of First Amendment rights.
• In settings where it is not practical or feasible to wear a face covering when obtaining or rendering goods or services.

Guidelines for wearing a face covering include:

• It must cover both the mouth and nose.
• It must be snug.
• Don’t touch a face covering while wearing it or, if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
• When removing, do so by lifting ear loops or ties without touching the front of mask or your face and wash your hands afterwards.
• Wash the face covering with soap and water regularly or in the washing machine with other clothes.
• Do not put a face covering on anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious or otherwise unable to remove their own mask, or on children under 2 years of age.
• Do not use them as a substitute for social distancing, hand washing or staying home when sick.

See where the cougars and otters sleep overnight, meet black bears that are not commonly on display, learn the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round, observe a training session and find out why the animals call Grandfather Mountain home.

Offered on weekends, April – October.