We were all so hopeful in January, a new year, new opportunities on the horizon, a fresh 12 months to get our crap together. Boy did that all go to Hell quickly. It's been an especially rough year for small businesses. First they were totally closed, then some opened, then some more opened, then some were closed again, and now they are open. It's tough to keep up, so here are three local places that I know are currently open.

The Staggering Ox has re-opened after an employee tested positive for COVID-19 on June 26th. Current, reduced hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m Sundays. And you can bet the SW Higgins location is the cleanest it's ever been!

Paradise Falls has also re-opened after an employee tested positive on June 26th (we've heard rumors that it's the same person from the Staggering Ox but cannot actually confirm that info.) P-Falls is rockin' regular business hours, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and their deck is a wonderful place this time of year.

The ZACC will re-open on Wednesday, July 15th after closing down to have all of their employees tested after a summer volunteer tested positive. Staff and volunteers tested negative, and their one positive case is at home in quarantine. They believe that their strict social distancing and masking rules were the main factor to avoiding COVID-19 spread among the staff. The Paint-Your-Own-Pottery Studio will be open regular hours beginning Wednesday at 10 a.m., and Architectural Impressions, a group art show of about a dozen local artists that was supposed to open last Friday, will open on the First Friday in August.

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