Laurel Magazine: April 2020

a e

L UR L The Heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau

Concert Series Highlands Live Music Weekends pg 14

When Art Goes Seismic Our cover artist, Leslie Jeffery

April 2020

November - May

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CON T E N T S April 2020

14 What To Do

16 HCP’s Silver Season

50 Arts

56 Meet the Maker Julie Berger

68 Dining

68 4118 Kitchen + Bar

84 Shopping

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86 Plateau Picks

98 Outdoors

102 The Tree Swallow

110 History

111 Timing is Everything

118 Lifestyles & Wellness 126 Chemo Hair

132 Giving Back

136 Wishes That Change Lives

142 Business Highlights

142 Living and Loving Here

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A howling good time that benefits lucky cats and dogs.

Gateway to Knowledge

A Paw-ty with a Purpose

Cashiers Library

44 Calendar | 79 Dining Guide | 81 Accommodations Guide | 90 Highlands Map | 92 Cashiers Map | 130 Service Guide | 160 Advertiser’s Index

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VOLUME EIGHTEEN, ISSUE THREE

JANET CUMMINGS Managing Partner

janet@thelaurelmagazine.com

MARJORIE CHRISTIANSEN Managing Partner marjorie@thelaurelmagazine.com

MICHELLE MUNGER Art Director mungerclan5@aol.com

SARAH FIELDING Account Manager sarah@thelaurelmagazine.com

LORNA ALEXANDER Account Manager lorna@thelaurelmagazine.com

LUKE OSTEEN Editor / Writer luke@thelaurelmagazine.com

DONNA RHODES Writer dmrhodes847@gmail.com

MARY JANE MCCALL Writer mjmccall777@gmail.com

Publisher’s Note We hope our April issue of Laurel finds you healthy and happy.

Naturally, we’re always wishing that you’re healthy and happy, but this sentiment takes on added weight at this particular time.

As we’re going to press, the entire world is unsettled by the specter of the Novel Coronavirus.

That means that all the events and good things that we’ve previewed here may not happen when their appointed time arrives.

That’s especially painful for Easter Week and Earth Week Celebrations. Both should serve to remind us to treat our neighbors with kindness and compassion, and to tread more gently upon this fragile world.

Sincerely, Janet and Marjorie

Visit us online thelaurelmagazine.com phone 828.526.0173 email info@thelaurelmagazine.com mail Post Office Box 565 Highlands, North Carolina 28741

THOMAS CUMMINGS Distribution Manager jothcu@yahoo.com

Contributing Writers: Jane Gibson Nardy, Mary Adair Trumbly, Sue Blair, Dr. Anastasia Halldin, David Stroud, Jeannie Chambers, William McReynolds, Sue Aery, Ann Self, Zach Claxton, Charlotte Muir, Mary Abranyi, Ashby Underwood, and Chris Wilkes Contributing Photographers: Susan Renfro, Greg Clarkson, Charles Johnson, Peter Ray, Terry Barnes and Kevin FitzPatrick Copyright © 2020 by The Mountain Laurel, LLC. All rights reserved. Laurel Magazine is published eleven times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Laurel Magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel Magazine nor any of its staff is responsible for advertising errors, omissions, or information that has been misrepresented in or to the magazine. Any substantial errors that are the fault of the magazine will be subject to a reduction or reimbursement of the amounts paid by the advertiser, but in no case will any claim arising from such error exceed the amount paid for the advertisement by the advertiser.

WHAT TO DO Pages 14-44

W H AT TO DO

Highlands Weekend

Music Magic

Frank & Allie

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce provides the off icial soundtrack of the season with its dual concer t series, launching in May. Friday Night Live concer ts take place at Highlands Town Square from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Saturdays on Pine are at the KelseyHutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street and also begin at 6:00 P.M.

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f you ask a native Highlander of a certain age what he or she used to do for entertainment in this seemingly sleepy town, chances are they’ll look to a faraway horizon for the briefest of pauses, get a wry smile on their face, and softly mention Helen’s Barn.

That structure, it really was a barn, was a roadhouse for all the things that make a quiet Southern town spring to life on Saturday nights.

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Local bluegrass bands would show off their licks, precision teams of local kids would demonstrate their clogging talents, adults and their offspring would square dance with abandon, and enthusiastic sets of buck dancing would spontaneously erupt.

This writer knows three people who were conceived in that parking lot.

Well, as you’d imagine, the shuttering of Helen’s Barn in the early 1980s left a gaping hole in the town’s social calendar.

That’s why the Highlands Chamber of Commerce has, with fanfare and more than a bit of local pride, introduced its twin concert series – Friday Night Live, and Saturdays on Pine.

Friday Night Live concerts take place at Highlands Town Square from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Saturdays on Pine are at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street and also begin at 6:00 P.M. These concerts offer the chance to hear some of the finest

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Kurt Thomas

Concert Series 2020

May - October

music the region has to offer and are free to everyone.

Friday Night Live features traditional mountain music, and an opportunity for the audience to participate by singing, clapping, tapping their feet, or dancing if the mood strikes. It’s audience participation at its best and the bands feed off the energy.

Saturdays on Pine is rock and roll, often mixed with a dash of country goodness or smooth soul. It’s a delirious opportunity to bring a blanket, open the picnic basket and enjoy the sensations of live music under a pristine nighttime sky.

And though the Chamber has made every effort to capture all the wonderful things that made Helen’s Barn a Highlands institution, keep the peach bounce at home.

For more information about Saturdays on Pine or Friday Night Live, visit highlandschamber.org or call (828) 526-2112.

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s twin concert series are still slated to launch in May. We’ ll let you know about any changes.

May 22 May 23 May 29 May 30

May Friday Night Live Concert - Silly Ridge Roundup Saturdays on Pine - The Caribbean Boys Friday Night Live Concert - Trudition Saturdays on Pine - Ashley Heath & Her Heathens

June 5 June 6 June 12 June 13 June 19 June 20 June 26 June 27

June Friday Night Live - Byrds & Crow Saturdays on Pine - Eli Mosley Friday Night Live - Frank & Allie Saturdays on Pine - Hurricane Creek Friday Night Live - Johnny Webb Band Saturdays on Pine - Americana Jones Friday Night Live Concert - Trudition No Concert

July 3 July 4 July 10 July 11 July 17 July 18 July 24 July 25 July 31

July Friday Night Live - Foxfire Boys Saturdays on Pine - The Wobblers Friday Night Live - Southern Highlands Saturdays on Pine - Kurt Thomas Band Friday Night Live - Mountain Dulcimers Saturdays on Pine - Shane Meade Friday Night Live - Sycamore Flats Saturdays on Pine - Silly Ridge Roundup Friday Night Live - Byrds & Crow

Point phone camera at QR code to read more about View the complete listing of Highlands Chamber Events.

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W H AT TO DO

HCP’s Silver Season Highlands Cashiers Players’ production of “The Unexpected Guest,” has been postponed.

We will let you know as information is updated.

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he last time Highlands Cashiers Players performed an Agatha Christie mystery was 15 years ago in 2005. For the 25th, or silver season, HCP is excited to present Christie’s “The Unexpected Guest” as the spring play.

An incredibly prolific writer, Christie is one of the best-selling novelists of all time.

Her famous work, “The Mousetrap,” has the distinction of being the world’s longestrunning play. Born in Devon England in 1890, she began writing in 1920, just after the end of World War I. Christie wrote over 79 novels, 40 of which feature her character Hercule Poirot. Many more showcase her other great detective, Miss Marple. Some critics point out that the plots of Agatha Christie’s novels are basically formulaic: murders, committed by ingenious methods, are solved by interrogating the main suspects then bringing them all

together and revealing the murderer.

It is particularly exciting to note that “The Unexpected Guest” stands alone because, remarkably, it does none of these things!

First performed in 1958, this play utilizes neither Poirot nor Marple and we do not find the mystery solved until the very last lines.

As a director, I am thrilled HCP has chosen this play. The many plot twists will make it fun to mislead the audience. “The Unexpected Guest” is unique among Agatha Christie’s plays and therefore a particular challenge for me. I have directed a melodrama, a Neil Simon comedy, a romantic comedy and a historical drama. “The Unexpected Guest” will be my first attempt to direct a mystery.

The show has been cast and rehearsals have begun. Learn more about this remarkable cast and the progress they are making with the production in the May Laurel.

Be sure to come see “The Unexpected

W H AT TO DO Guest� at Highlands Performing Arts Center, Thursday through Sunday May 21-24 and the following Thursday through Sunday May 28-31. Mark your calendars and come help solve the mystery!

by Donna Cochran, Highlands Cashiers Players

Point phone camera at QR code to read more about Highlands Cashiers Players.

Agatha Christie

Donna Cochran

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Gateway to Knowledge Albert-Carlton-Cashiers Community Library is closed through April 30.

We’ll let you know if this changes. However, keep in mind that the library offers a completed collection of e-books, e-periodicals and online film streaming services.

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ooks, periodicals, movies, music, and more – yes. But libraries are also resource hubs. Serenity Richards, branch librarian for the Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library, pointed out that the public may not consider the plethora of free resources available. All that is required is transportation to the library and time.

In fact, according to a Gallup survey in January, Americans averaged 10.5 trips to libraries in 2019. Thus, pointed out WORLD magazine in February, the new data indicates libraries constitute the “most common cultural activity Americans engage in.” Movies rank second to libraries.

Richards said books may be the draw, but often library visitors begin to realize that at their fingertips, with only a library card, there is some sort of free education, help aid, informative reference, etc. available to them.

And, due to technology, e-resources are especially popular.

“We offer eBooks, eAudiobooks,

eMagazines, streaming video, Mango language learning, newspaper archives, homework help, test prep, eGovernment resources, genealogy resources, and so many databases,” said Richards. “We can help people set up their devices to access these resources and walk them through the process of using the different services.”

Instead of purchasing audio books, for example, library users can download the OverDrive app on a smartphone, computer, or tablet, “add a title” – or search for available audio options (non-fiction, educational books, novels, and more); when the book is available for a week’s loan, the library sends an email. If the user does not finish listening to the book within the week, he or she simply requests it again, downloads it, and the book picks up where it left off. With a compatible aux cord for a smartphone, the book can be listened to in a car to help pass time during commutes and trips.

Besides e-resources, Richards says, “All

W H AT TO DO during April we’ll be available to help people with filling out the Census. This is the first time that people will be able to do the Census online and we’ll have computers and staff available each day to help people with the new process.”

The United States Census of 2020 will be the 24th United States Census in our nation’s history. National Census Day is April 1. The Census is important in that the information helps determine how funds are spent, what governmental programs are in need, the number of seats in Congress – and much, much more. The U.S. has counted its population every 10 years since 1790.

Finally, Richards reminded that April’s recurring programs at Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library in Cashiers are “going strong.” An overview of the programs and services are available by visiting fontanalib.org/cashiers.

Serenity Richards

by Deena Bouknight

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Wishin’ You

Were Fishin'?

The Three River Fly Fishing Festival, is postponed until fur ther notice.

We will let you know as information is updated.

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he Three River Fly Fishing Festival returns April 30 through May 2, offering anglers from near and far an opportunity to enjoy a weekend of fly fishing fun and camaraderie.

Now in its 10th year, this fundraiser for the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund offers men and women of all ages the chance to fish our miles of beautiful streams and rivers, while raising money for a worthwhile cause.

Organizers raised a record $20,000 last year and hope to bring in 30 teams this year and raise $30,000 through sponsors, silent auctions, and team entry fees. Thanks to their many sponsors all dues, tickets and donations go directly to the scholarship fund.

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that, “the fly fishing tournament gives me an opportunity as a member of the community (I live in Atlanta but own a home in Highlands and plan to retire to Highlands) to showcase all that makes this place so special...the strong sense of community, the active interaction of the local businesses in supporting the residents, and a connection to nature that surrounds the town (the mountains, the streams, the endless trails, and, oh yes, those beautifully elusive trout).

Simply heaven.”

Festivities start on Thursday, April 30 with an opening night reception at Lullwater House.

On Saturday morning there will be a public casting clinic at Harris Lake near downtown Main Street.

This free event will offer novices a perfect opportunity to learn the basics, while the more seasoned angler may find that they too can pick up a pointer or two. Bring your own equipment or the Highland Hiker will have equipment available.

Teams of two will fish all day on Friday and Saturday on local waters. Each team must catch fish from the three types of rivers in our area: delayed harvest, hatchery supported and native. Teams can be guided or self-guided and the Highland Hiker can help with guiding arrangements if necessary.

New this year, there will be a free lecture open to the public at the Highlands Nature Center, at 4:00 P.M. on Friday, May 1.

Guest speaker James Meador, the Aquatics Manager at Mainspring Conservation

W H AT TO DO

Universal Class

The myriad learning oppor tunities offered by Hudson Librar y ensure that patrons’ minds remain nimble.

S Trust, will speak on native trout and streams.

This year’s festival itinerary also includes a special performance at the Highlands PAC by Trout Fishing in America on Friday, May 1. This entertaining duo has been writing songs, playing and touring together for 40 years.

Tickets are available to the public for this event with all proceeds going toward the scholarship fund.

Saturday, their final day of fishing concludes with a closing night banquet and awards ceremony at Midpoint.

Entry fees are $500 per team. For more information, to register a team or to become a sponsor, contact Hilary Wilkes at hilary@highlandhiker.com, or call (828) 526-0441.

pring has sprung. Time to think about doing, seeing - and learning something new.

Just the place to acquire new skills and knowledge is the Hudson Library.

A brand new addition is Universal Class.

“Love learning but want to acquire new skills at your own pace?” prompts Carlyn Morenus, branch librarian. “Using your library card, you can gain free access to Universal Class, an online education resource with more than 500 classes in over 30 areas of study. And, many of the classes qualify as continuing education units and patrons can take multiple classes at a time, all for free with your library card!”

She added that the range of classes is extensive: from knitting to dog grooming, feng shui to finance, digital photography to entrepreneurship, and much more.

“We’re delighted to offer Universal Class to our patrons. There’s sure to be something of interest for everyone.”

Classes are led by skilled instructors so that “students” are able to gain a deeper understanding of and even master a particular subject. Classes are taught through videos, assignments, quizzes, tests, and options for social media interaction with other learners.

Universal Class participants are also able to learn at their own pace.

Cardholders can access Universal Class at fontanalib.org/online-resources. Cardholders additionally have at their fingertips, through this same site, e-government resources to glean important information regarding federal entities such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Affordable Care Act, and Social Security, as well as state and local agencies.

Plus, Hudson Library continues to obtain the latest books, magazines, DVDs, etc., so that visitors can stay current; and author programs and community events are ongoing. In fact, April is Earth Day-focused, collaborating some functions with Highlands’ Earth Week 2020. Beginning April 23 and running through the 30th, there are family friendly earththemed storytime presentations and KidZone programs, Community Coffee with Mayor Patrick Taylor, an informational repurposing plastics workshop, and much more. Special attention is paid to Earth Day/Earth Week this year due to the 50th anniversary celebration of the national observance.

by Mary Jane McCall

The Hudson Library is closed through April 30.

We’ll let you know if this changes.

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W H AT TO DO

Easter on the Plateau Well, almost ever y Easter Week celebration has been cancelled because of health concerns.

Please check back for the latest developments.

Editor’s Note: With the threat of Covid-19 looming over ever y thing as we sent this issue of Laurel to the press, the events outlined in this ar ticle may be subject to change or even cancellation. Your best gambit to obtain accurate, up-to-date information, is to visit thelaurelmagazine.com, cashiersareachamber.com, or highlandschamber.org.)

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s in years past, there are heaps of events and services slated for the Easter Season on the Plateau.

The twist in the tale this year is that everything, everything is up in the air.

As these words are being printed, the country is in the midst of a national emergency and people are feeling unsettled.

Though there have been no reported cases of the Novel Coronavirus on the HighlandsCashiers Plateau, everyone is being cautious about staging community events. Some local churches are even now streaming their services rather than allowing their congregations to gather.

That means that what we’re cataloging here may vanish like the morning haze in Horse Cove.

Check with the sites outlined below before you set out to any events or services.

Cashiers Community Chorus will present a concert, “The Weeping Tree,” at 2:00 P.M. on Palm Sunday, April 5, in the newlycompleted Main Hall of The Village Green

Commons in Cashiers. It’s open to everyone.

An indoor labyrinth will be set up at the The Village Green Commons Hall in Cashiers from noon to 4:30 P.M. during Holy Week. Throughout the week prior to Easter, people will have the opportunity to walk an indoor labyrinth for private prayer and reflection. The labyrinth is an ancient tool for meditation. “Walking the Labyrinth” has reemerged today as a metaphor for the spiritual journey.

The Village Green Commons Hall will be open from noon until 4:30 P.M. where a portable indoor labyrinth will be located in the Balestiere Community Room for individual devotional use.

The Highlands Stations of the Cross begins at noon on Friday, April 10, at Our Lady of The Mountains Catholic Church. Beginning at the Catholic Church, participants will walk through Highlands, stopping at various places to read an account of the walk Jesus made carrying his cross to Calvary. The procession, to which

W H AT TO DO everyone is invited, will carry a cross and sing familiar hymns. It takes about 30 minutes and the path will end at First Baptist Church of Highlands.

Cashiers area churches will also once again observe walking the Stations of the Cross in The Village Green. Participants will meet at 4:00 p.m. Friday, April 10, at The Village Green Commons on Frank Allen Road in Cashiers. In the event of rain, the Stations of the Cross will be held in the new indoor venue, in the main hall of the Commons.

And, of course, little ones 10 and under are welcome to the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Gazebo at the Cashiers Crossroads at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 11, for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Everything is free, and the event, complete with an appearance by the Easter Bunny, is perfect for photos.

The annual Easter Egg Hunt held at the Highlands Recreation Park is

on Saturday, April 11, at 11:00 A.M. Highlands Recreation Park employees ensure that plenty of eggs are hidden and kids under 10 will delight in filling their baskets with brightly colored eggs and treats.

On Sunday, April 12, Cashiers-area churches will celebrate Easter with the annual Community Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00 A.M. at the Gazebo and Lawn of The Village Green.

The location in Highlands was, as you’d guess, still being determined. Your local church and The Highlands Chamber of Commerce will have that information as Easter nears.

Area restaurants will be rolling out their finest Easter Brunch menus, so for a special treat call early for reservations at your favorite restaurant and enjoy the taste of Spring.

by Luke Osteen

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Celebrate Spring with

Drew Holcomb

Drew Holcomb

Unfor tunately, this event has been cancelled. All Spring Concer t ticket holders will receive refund instructions via Universe ticketing at the email address used for purchase. We look for ward to Highlands Food & Wine Festival, Nov. 12 - 15.

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ighlands Festivals Inc. is staging a spring concert at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park in Highlands the evening of May 9, featuring the music of Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, with additional special guests to be announced.

If you’re not familiar with Highlands Festivals Inc., they’re the people who put together The Highlands Food & Wine Festival, and this concert promises to

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replicate that event’s glorious high spirits.

“There has been such an incredible response to Highlands Food & Wine, and we felt there was a real opportunity to offer our fans more,” says Casey Reid, partner of Eleven Events and Festival Director.

“Music has been a central part of the success of Highlands Food & Wine, so it seemed a natural direction to offer a music-focused spring event. This concert will continue the tradition of a world-class event created

in the unique and stunning location that is Highlands. This concert will work to further the work of Highlands Food & Wine as a catalyst to bring together locals and destination visitors in this beautiful mountain town.”

In addition to live music, attendees of the concert will be the first to know the lineup for November’s Highlands Food & Wine.

Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors are an Americana band whose musical stylings

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draw from their Memphis and Nashville roots. With an impressive discography of six albums, including a live recorded album in Nashville, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors have sold over 150,000 albums and have performed in seven different countries.

Their latest album, Dragons, which was released in August 2019, hit the U.S. top albums chart at No. 13.

This one night celebration of music promises to sell out quickly. Tickets are $60 for General Admission and $105 for VIP Admission, which includes prime stage viewing and hosted beer wine and spirits.

Cash bars and food vendors will also be available at the event, which will be held on the evening of Saturday, May 9.

Tickets to this exciting event are available at highlandsfestivals.com.

Highlands Festival’s Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors with Special Guests is proudly presented by Highlands Festivals, Inc. and sponsored by Highlands Chamber of Commerce, The Laurel, The Lofts on Main, Lupoli Construction, MAC, Old Edwards Inn & Spa, Highland Brewing, High Dive, TJ Bailey’s, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, The Ugly Dog, and WHLC Radio.

Editor’s Note: As we’re putting this issue of Laurel to bed, the Novel Coronavirus has thrown everyone’s plans into question.

As of right now, An Evening with Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors with

Special Guests is still happening.

“In the event of a date change due to Covid-19, Highlands Festival Inc will honor all ticket purchases upon rescheduling the event.,” says organizer Casey Reid. “For up-to-date information, visit highlandsfestivals.com.”

by Luke Osteen

Point phone camera at QR code to discover more about Highlands Food and Wine Festival.

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W H AT TO DO

Movies in the Fast Lane

We’re sorr y to all those explorers and seekers of family fun, Highlands Pool’s April 3 Dive in Movie, Dora and the Lost City of Gold has been cancelled.

Highlands Rec Park and Pool facilities are closed until fur ther notice.

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urf’s up dude! Well, not actually, but if you’re looking for some family fun of the aquatic nature you’ll definitely want to check out the Dive-in Movies at the Highlands Rec Park. Movies are shown on the first Friday of each month. Doors open at 6:30 P.M. and the movie starts at 7:00 P.M. Admission is $5 per person. Popcorn is free, with $1 refills.

The enclosed and heated pool and deck ensures that this family-friendly fun can go on year round. The water is always a balmy 82 degrees and the pool deck is between 80 and 90 degrees, so sit back and enjoy the tropical feel as you and your family enjoy the fun.

Don’t forget to bring your towels and floats if you plan on watching while in the pool, or if you’re planning on watching poolside and not actually taking a dip, remember those poolside temperatures and dress accordingly.

April’s movie is Dora and The Lost City of Gold, a family-friendly adventure that

sees Dora and her friends embarking on a mission to save Dora’s parents and solving the mystery of the City of Gold. Sounds like a perfect dive-in movie.

For more information on this splashing good time visit the Recreation Park website at highlandsnc.org/recreation-pool, or call (828) 526-1595.

by Mary Jane McCall

Point phone camera at QR code to read more about Highlands Rec Park Pool.

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Dream It. Then Drive It. Highlands Motoring Festival, slated for June 11-14, has added a pair of driving adventures that’ll test the carefullycalibrated suspension systems of its cars and the ref lexes of its drivers.

As of end of March, The Highlands Motoring Festival is still a go. We will let you know if that changes.

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he annual “One Lap of The Mountains” driving tour has become the festival’s most popular event. It has been expanded for 2020 with a second day of driving tours. It will be held on both Thursday June 11, and Friday, June 12.

This exhilarating driving adventure is a technical rally as opposed to a timed rally, designed to give drivers a chance to enjoy the scenery while staying together as a group. Event organizers plan a different course every year on roads chosen to provide the ultimate mountain driving experience.

Thursday’s One Lap of the Mountains Classic is a curated mountain driving tour of less than 90 miles including a lunch stop.

It’s open to vintage cars only and there are twenty slots.

The second Thursday drive, One Lap of the Mountains Speciale is a curated mountain driving tour of less than 90 miles, including a lunch stop and is open to interesting vehicles. Bonus judging points are awarded to those One Lap participants

who also show their driven car at Saturday’s “Cars in the Park.”

Friday’s One Lap of the Mountains Grande follows its tradition of a more ambitious 175-mile route. You’re invited to join the fun as 50 lucky drivers and their passengers will drive beautiful mountain “less traveled” roads and experience the camaraderie the One Lappers from past years have enjoyed.

One Lap of the Mountains will begin on Pine Street in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, also the site of the Saturday event, “Cars in the Park.”

We’ll do our best to accommodate your wishes, but spots will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. One Lap of the Mountains 2020 will be capped at 50 cars.

Awarding of points to those One Lap participants who also show their driven car at Saturday’s “Cars in the Park”, will be continued in 2020. All “interesting” cars are invited to participate in the One Lap, but please be advised that we will be navigating very mountainous and curvy roads. Make

sure your choice of wheels is up to the task!

This year’s route will encompass an approximate total of 175 miles of the back roads of Western North Carolina. There will be an organized lunch along the route where you can order from a menu. If all stays on schedule, we should return to Highlands no later than 4:00 P.M., and in plenty of time to rest up and prepare for the Friday night Welcome Party and Parade at The High Dive Tavern.

Saturday’s car show in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park has become “Cars in the Park Invitational.” All cars exhibited on Saturday will be invited through an application process available at the HMF website. The show cars will be selected to provide diverse and interesting groupings of vehicles for public viewing.

For information or to register, visit highlandsmotoringfestival.com.

by Steve Ham

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Gear Up for

Gardening

The Mountain Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale has been cancelled for 2020.

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he Mountain Garden Club will hold its Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 23, at the Town Ballfield on the corner of Hickory Street and Cashiers Road in Highlands.

The focus this year will be on creating pollinator gardens using many native plants.

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds are responsible for one out of every 36 A pr il 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

three bites of food we take each day. More nectar and pollen sources provided by more flowering plants and trees will help improve the health and numbers of these pollinators.

Everyone can make a difference!

If you’re considering a pollinator garden, any size is excellent. Planting window and patio containers to planting pathways, roadsides, and acreage not only help

pollinators thrive but also is very pleasing to us humans. Consider planting a variety of plants that bloom from early spring into late fall. The Memorial Day weekend plant sale will offer many flowering plants that prefer full sun as well as plants for shade gardens, dahlia bulbs and plants, Kokedamas, and other native plants to the Plateau. These plants have been obtained from local

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gardens, and carefully nurtured by garden academics. The club also supports garden club members. therapy at the Eckerd Proceeds from the Living Center and The Memorial Day weekend plant plant sale help the many butterfly sale will offer many flowering Mountain Garden and plant activities plants that prefer full sun as well as Club fund local with elementary plants for shade gardens‌ projects as well as and middle award renewable school students at scholarships for Highlands School. students taking their studies to a higher So, come to the plant sale on Saturday, level in several environmental-based May 23, at the ballpark. Don’t forget, only

cash and checks are accepted. Rain date is Sunday, May 24.

by Jeannie Chambers

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W H AT TO DO

Celebrating Suffrage The ex traordinar y women of courage and conscience who paved the way for the 19th Amendment will be recognized in Cashiers throughout the summer.

C

hances are you’ve heard the buzz about the Centennial Celebrations of the ratification of the 19th Amendment going on all around the country.

Culminating a 72 year struggle, this amendment finally secured for women the right to vote in 1920.

But did you know Cashiers is also celebrating the event in a big way?

Community events are being held throughout the season, beginning with local school activities – a poster contest, an essay contest, and a research paper competition with the prize being a three day all-expense paid trip to Washington DC to visit historic sites important to the suffrage movement.

The Cashiers Historical Society is sponsoring a full calendar of events, including a two day Symposium in June, a lecture series, and an historic exhibit at the Zachary-Tolbert historic site.

The Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library will host several films throughout the summer, beginning with Meryl Streep’s awardwinning “Suffragette.”

July highlights include a lunch at The Country Club of Sapphire Valley featuring a performance by dramatic historian Leslie Goddard as suffrage leader Alice Paul.

Later in July fashion historian Cornelia Powell will speak on “How Women Use Fashion to Reshape History and Win the Right to Vote” at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, followed by afternoon tea and discussion.

Capping off the summer’s activities will be a Grand Celebration at The Village Green on August 22.

In addition to numerous family activities and a Suffrage Stroll, Western Carolina University’s Theater Department will bring to town Roadworks, featuring students from the School of Fine and Performing Arts.

Visit cashiersxixamendmentcelebration.com for more information or contact Susan Bianchi at (202) 577-8585 or susanjbianchi@aol. com, or Linda Benge at (512) 431-5849 at lindabenge@mac.com.

by Ann Mckee Austin

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W H AT TO DO

A Paw-ty with a Purpose The Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society’s Pawsitively Purr fect Par ty, set for 5:00 P.M. Monday, June 22, at the Countr y Club of Sapphire Valley, is a howling good time that benef its its lucky cats and dogs.

For more information, visit chhumanesociety.org.

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fter procedures and surgeries and thousands of dollars in veterinary bills, today Churchill is heartworm-negative and cancer-free. His lifesaving recovery was made possible by patrons at our annual Pawsitively Purrfect Party, the single largest fundraiser of the year for the CHHS shelter pets.

Pawsitively Purrfect Party makes it possible for the nearly 500 animals we rescue each year to never have to worry about when their next meal might come, or where a soft, safe and warm place to lay their head might be, or how to receive any and all medical care they might need. Yes, it’s a fun party, but it’s a party with a purpose. A lifesaving purpose.

Pawsitively Purrfect Party kicks off the social season on the plateau in grand style on Monday, June 22, at the beautiful Country Club of Sapphire Valley.

New for 2020 is a 5:00 P.M. kickoff “Yappy Hour” featuring cocktails, followed by an exquisite dinner, silent and live auction, and live music.

Tickets are $195 per person ($390 per couple) and $1,800 for a table of 10. A portion of the ticket purchase is a generous, tax-deductible contribution to support our mission of rescue, compassionate care, spay/neuter and forever homes for the abandoned and neglected animals in our community.

To purchase tickets or for more information, please call (828) 743-5769 or email info@chhumanesociety.org. Make plans today to party with a purpose and support the rescued animals at the CashiersHighlands Humane Society!

Established in 1987, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located at 200 Gable Drive in Sapphire, one-and-a-half miles east of the Cashiers Ingles in between Cedar Creek Club and Lonesome Valley on Highway 64 East. For more information please visit us online at chhumanesociety. org. Tax-deductible donations to support our lifesaving work can be mailed to: CHHS, P.O. Box 638, Cashiers, NC 28717.

by David Stroud, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society 39 A pr il 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

W H AT TO DO

Earth Day

Turns 50 Covid-19 has the Plateau’s Ear th Day/Ear th Week celebrations have all been put on hold. Visit hicashlt.org, themountainrlc.org, and thebascom.org for information on upcoming events.

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ith a reverence for its natural heritage practically embroidered in the fabric of the HighlandsCashiers Plateau, you can bet that the local 50th anniversary celebration of Earth Day would be big.

In fact, it’s so big, it’s spilled over into an entire week.

“Our mountains are home to a plethora of rare and endemic species, the latter group occurring nowhere else on the planet,” says Sarah Pursel of HighlandsCashiers Land Trust. “The lush forests and cool rivers of the Plateau provide important habitat for so many.

“On April 20, join us for a guided hike from our newest public trail at Brushy Face Preserve to our oldest conserved property at Satulah Mountain Preserve. We will hike from an old growth forest valley with large white pines and trickling streams, up through a ridge-top old growth forest, and end at the rocky Satulah summit where you’ll experience breathtaking wide-range views that can’t be compared.

“If you are interested in getting your

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hands dirty, volunteer your time with HCLT, Mountain True, and the Coalition for Non-Native Invasive Plant Management on April 21 for an Earth Week Volunteer Workday at the Highlands Rec Park. Help us continue working on control efforts on privet and Oriental bittersweet along the Rec Park trails.

“If you’ve got young ones with a curious nature, we invite you to participate in the Earth Week BioBlitz on April 26. We will co-host this event with the Highlands Biological Station. We welcome community members and visitors of all ages to work together with experts to collect and identify the many kinds of flora and fauna that call our town home. We will explore both the Highlands Botanical Garden and HCLT’s Ravenel Park, home to Sunset Rock.

“Wrapping-up our Earth Day festivities, as part of our Village Nature Series on April 28, a panel of local experts will lead an important discussion about our changing climate and how it could affect us here on a local level. Each panelist will each give a short presentation followed by plenty of time

for questions and open discussion. Please join us for this free program beginning at 5:30 P.M. at The Village Green Commons’ new venue. VNS is co-hosted by HighlandsCashiers Land Trust and The Village Green. Mark your calendars for our May 26 program, Buzz-Worthy Bugs!”

To learn more about HCLT and its programs, visithicashlt.org or contact them at info.hitrust@earthlink.net or (828) 526-1111.

Naturally, conservation has been a driving force in the development of Highlands, dating back to the Foundation of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust in 1909.

Over the last century, the Land Trust has set aside 3200 acres of forests, wetlands, and vistas that are home to the greatest number of rare and endemic plants and animals in the Southern Appalachians.

The Highlands-Cashiers Plateau sits at the headwaters of six different watersheds so conserving land here protects drinking water throughout the Southeast.

The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, located at 3872 Dillard Road on the

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Yoga By The Lake outskirts of Highlands, has always cultivated a respect for the land and the Plateau’s living inhabitants.

It’ll stage a Tree Planting and Seed Bomb Workshop from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. Friday, April 24. The public is invited to attend.

“Come join us in planting pollinator-friendly trees and shrubs in our burgeoning food forest,” says Joey Kyle, the farm manager at The Mountain’s Many Hands Peace Farm. “We’ll be planting American persimmons, goumis, elderberries, and more. Plus learn how to make seed bombs with a custom mix of seeds for your desires. What better way to celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day!” Parking will be available in the large lot at the base of The Mountain. Light refreshments will be provided along with a mini-market of the farm’s wares. For more information, call (828) 526-5838 or visit mountaincenters.org The Bascom, Highlands’ little art museum with a regional reputation, will celebrate Earth Day in April with its monthly Pop Up Shop series featuring local and regional artists whose work explore nature and the environment.

An artist Meet and Greet open to the public will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. The monthly Pop Up Shop series, designed as a platform that allows local and regional artists to tell a larger narrative, explore new artistic concepts, and introduce their body of work to members and guests of The Bascom, has been captivating art collectors in the Greehey Atrium since 2018.

by Luke Osteen

Highlands Biological Station and Yoga Highlands are offering a mar velously sensual series of free yoga sessions from 5:30 to 6:30 P.M. May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3.

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indenwood Lake, located on the grounds of the Highlands Biological Station, has for decades been a source of spiritual comfort and renewal. Those who visit its hushed shores can feel its rejuvenative properties, and the richness of its flora and fauna can stir the spirit in profound ways.

That’s why Highlands Biological Station has partnered with Yoga Highlands to bring you Yoga by the Lake. These free sessions, open to everyone, are an opportunity to absorb the goodness and tranquility that nature offers.

Bring your yoga mat, and join Rachel Kinback (CYT 500) of Yoga Highlands on the first Monday of the month (May-August) for yoga at HBS’s newly-completed North Campus by Lindenwood Lake. You’ll be guided through breathing techniques and gentle movements that bring about a sense of well being and communion with the natural world. Please bring your own yoga mat and arrive a few minutes early to get settled in.

Donations to the Biological Station will be accepted.

Come connect with nature and unwind your mind and body from the bustle of Mondays.

These yoga sessions are free to the public, but donations to the Highlands Biological Station are accepted.

by Luke Osteen

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W H AT TO DO

Village Green Easter Week

The Village Green has cancelled all of its Easter Week events due to the Coronavirus situation. Also, the Village Play area has been closed until fur ther notice.

The Village Green is conser ved by a nonprof it organization that depends on contributions to maintain the park and provide such an exceptional venue for the community. It’s in the hear t of Cashiers, for the people of Cashiers. To learn more about these events or to make a donation, call (828) 743-3434 or visit villagegreencashiersnc.com.

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E

aster Week in The Village Green features special opportunities and events that celebrate the hope, renewal and joy of the Spring holiday.

Cashiers Community Chorus will present a concert, “The Weeping Tree,” at 2:00 P.M. on Palm Sunday, April 5, in the newly-completed Main Hall of The Village Green Commons.

This will be a wonderful event to begin Holy Week in Cashiers. “The Weeping Tree,” by the well-known Christian composer Joseph Martin, is a poignant portrait of the cross that incorporates beloved hymns, newly composed music, thoughtful narration, and simple, sacred symbols to create a touching testament of grace.

Throughout the week prior to Easter, people will have the opportunity to walk an indoor labyrinth for private prayer and reflection. The labyrinth is an ancient tool for meditation. “Walking the Labyrinth” has reemerged today as a metaphor for the

spiritual journey.

The Village Green Commons Hall will be open from noon until 4:30 P.M. where a portable indoor labyrinth will be located in the Balestiere Community Room for individual devotional use.

Cashiers area churches will also once again observe walking the Stations of the Cross in The Village Green. The ancient tradition of carrying the cross is a way of remembering how Jesus carried his cross to Golgotha. This walking devotional experience with 14 readings is open to residents and visitors in the area. It features scripture, prayer and reflection to recall the events of Good Friday.

Participants will meet at 4:00 p.m. Friday, April 10, at The Village Green Commons on Frank Allen Road in Cashiers. In the event of rain, the Stations of the Cross will be held in the new indoor venue, in the main hall of the Commons.

Residents and visitors to the Cashiers

W H AT TO DO area are invited to hop on over to the Gazebo at the Cashiers Crossroads at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 11, for the annual Easter Egg Hunt.

This egg-stravaganza is for children 10 years and younger.

Children will be divided according to age in three separate areas to hunt hundreds of colorful eggs scattered in the park. Be sure to be on time and bring your own basket.

As always, the Easter Bunny will make a visit for photos, so plan to also bring a camera.

On Sunday, April 12, Cashiersarea churches will celebrate Easter with the annual Community Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00 A.M. at the Gazebo and Lawn of The Village Green. The service features live music, scripture and an uplifting message with the backdrop of a beautiful sunrise over the

mountains. Those attending are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.

“The Easter Sunrise Service is always a meaningful and memorable event for family and friends,” says Ann Self, Executive Director of The Village Green.

The Village Green provides a beautiful, free public space, however it is conserved by a nonprofit organization that depends on contributions to maintain the park and provide such an exceptional venue for the community. It’s in the heart of Cashiers, for the people of Cashiers. To learn more about these events or to make a donation, call (828) 743-3434 or visit villagegreencashiersnc.com.

by Ann Self, Cashiers Village Green

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W H AT TO DO

A PR IL March may get the credit, but April is the month that delivers on the promise of Spring.

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All 2 the events that 3 we’ve previewed here may not happen when their appointed time arrives.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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Please be sure and call ahead before attending.

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• Cashiers Community Chorus presents “The Weeping Tree” concert, 2:00 P.M., Main Hall of The Village Green Commons. (828) 743-3434.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

WHAT CAN YOU DO INSTEAD?

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• Community Easter Sunrise Service, 7:00 A.M. Gazebo and Lawn of The Village Green.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

• Dive-In Movie, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, 7:00 P.M., Highlands Pool, (828) 526-3556.

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• Stations of the Cross, noon, Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse.

• Stations of the Cross, 4:00 p.m., Village Green.

• Laurel reception for artist Leslie Jeffery, 5:30 P.M., at Studio 106.

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• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• Easter Egg Hunt 11:00 A.M. , Village Green Gazebo.

• Easter Egg Hunt 11:00 A.M., Highlands Recreation Park.ß • Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

You can still take walks outside, shop for essentials, and enjoy your online community of friends.

Stay connected in other ways. Check in on your loved ones and friends frequently.

Keep informed about what is happening in your neighborhood.

20in your community; 21 food pantries, 22financial donations, 23 personal hygiene 24 items.

Give19 to people in need • Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• The Bascom Pop Up Shop 11 A.M. to 2 P.M., thebascom.org.

• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

Buy online gift certificates to your favorite local stores and restaurants--and use them when this is over.

Be a neat freak. Keep everything as clean as possible.

Wash your hands. Early, often, thoroughly.

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• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• The Art League of Highlands-Cashiers meets 4:30 P.M., The Bascom atrium. followed by presentation by artist Carol Misner.

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• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

• Village Nature Series: ”Earth Day, Every Day: Climate Change Explained”, 5:30 PM, The Village Green Commons Hall, (828) 743-3434.

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• Movies, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• Spring Open House, 1-4 PM, Pinnacle Anti Aging, (828) 743-7437.

• Art Raffle Drawing, 5:30 P.M., (828) 743-0880.

• Three River Fly Fishing Festival, April 30 through May 2.

• Dine Out to End HIV, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

If you’re going to spread anything, spread help, compassion, and humor.

Above all, do not panic. Remember: Like all outbreaks, this too will eventually end.

44 A pr il 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

24 View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar

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Old Edwards Hospitality Group is Temporarily Closed As we con�nue our dedica�on to the health and safety of our guests and team, we have made the decision to close all Old Edwards Hospitality Group businesses un�l further no�ce—including hotels, spa, restaurants and retail.

We hope you are all staying safe with your families, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.

For updates visit OldEdwardsInn.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

ARTS Pages 50-64

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When Art

Goes Seismic H

A browse amongst the ensorcelling works of Leslie Jeffer y is a detour into the unexpected.

ighlands/Cashiers painter Leslie Jeffery is happiest when she’s brushing, pressing, dripping, smearing, swirling, dotting, texturizing, or making any of her signature marks on a super-size canvas.

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Here’s how she describes her work: “My paintings feature texture, light or heavy; marks of all kinds; deep colors; patterned backgrounds; drips and various mediums.

They convey energy, lyrical or frenetic. They convey mood, serious or lighthearted. I feel

successful when I believe the last one is my best one.”

Leslie is an abstract expressionist, a creator of free-flowing, emotionally inspired non-representational shapes and colors, ideas removed from concrete realities,

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Leslie Jeffery

tossed together in a tumble of Wow. When a viewer becomes totally immersed in one of Leslie’s paintings, those colors, shapes, and textures can be seismic.

While her abstracts deck many a hall and wall, it’s probably her iconic bird nests that you recognize the most. She’s sold scores of them to delighted collectors from South Florida to North Carolina and beyond.

A couple of years ago she and Mary Lou Bilbro combined energies, opening the beautiful Carolina Gallery to support

many fine artists in the region before the building was sold and re-commissioned. If you’ve missed seeing her work in that venue there are plenty of ops to enjoy more of it around town.

During the season, she’ll be showing at the 4118 Kitchen + Bar, the gift shop at The Bascom, and on “Open Studio” dates at her home in Highlands. In winter, if you’re in the St. Petersburg, Florida, area, look for her work in a variety of exhibitions.

To contact her about a commission or

upcoming events, call or text her at (727) 743-1130 or call locally at (828) 524-0887.

You can also email Leslie at ljartwork@ yahoo.com or visit lesliejeffery.art.

by Donna Rhodes

Point phone camera at QR code to view more of Leslie’s art.

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A RTS

Bringing the Outside In

The Ar t League of Highlands-Cashiers has its f irst meeting and presentation scheduled for April 30 at The Bascom.

The only problem, The Bascom is currently closed and at this time we simply don’t know if it’ll be open when April 30 rolls around.

Keep checking with us and we’ll let you know about the Ar t League’s meeting and The Bascom itself.

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he Art League of HighlandsCashiers kicks off its 2020 season at 4:30 P.M., April 30, in The Bascom atrium with a wine reception. At 5:00 P.M., botanical artist Carol Misner will give a presentation of her work.

Ms. Misner, a former math professor, began her professional art career nearly two decades ago in Birmingham, Alabama.

A friend who’s an interior designer recognized the quality of her work, and encouraged her to begin selling her work instead of giving it away.

She took his advice, and her friend’s interior design company became her first venue. Her work’s popularity grew, and she began receiving recognition across and beyond Alabama.

While attending the Atlanta Market, she took her portfolio to the Wendover Art Group, and she was immediately added to their stable of artists. Her work was highlighted a few months later at the High

Point Market.

Ms. Misner has been a recurring featured artist for a number of auctions for major charities in Birmingham, including First Light, The Exceptional Foundation, and Art Blink. Additionally, she received the high honor of being chosen by Birmingham AIDS Outreach, which selects only one artist per year, to feature at its Arty Party fundraiser.

Carol has developed a unique technique, generally working in monochromatic acrylic washes, by applying several layers of paint, each as the previous layer dries. Those familiar with her paintings immediately recognize her distinctive style. Since moving to Highlands in 2015, she has produced many works of local flora.

Blackberry Farm, a luxury hotel and resort in Walland, Tennessee, has commissioned over two dozen of her paintings in which Highlands’ plants were dominant.

She says of her recent work, “My paintings depict the things that people really love

A RTS about Highlands. My renderings bring the outside in.�

Misner’s original works and limited edition giclee reproductions grace homes and businesses throughout the United States and can be purchased directly from the artist, as well as locally at Acorns of Old Edwards Inn.. Her website is carolmisnerstudio.com.

This informative presentation and the wine reception are free, and the public is invited. For more information about the Art League, visit artleaguehighlandscashiers.com.

Carol Misner

by Zach Claxton, The Art League of Highlands-Cashiers

Point phone camera at QR code to learn more about the HighlandsCashiers Art League.

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Cho-Liang Lin

Have a String Fling The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival unveils a dynamic 2020 season of bright new stars and seasoned ar tists with a worldwide reputation.

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Hermès String Quartet

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he Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival will celebrate its 39th season of bringing world-class Chamber Music performed by internationally-known performers in creative programs to Cashiers in style, moving into its new Cashiers home at the stunningly beautiful Village Green Commons.

The sound, the look, and the ambience of the new space will enhance the concert-going experience and match the magic that happens on stage.

The Highlands concerts will continue at the acousticallyperfect Performing Arts Center on Chestnut Street.

Founded in Highlands in 1982 by Dr. Lucas Drew, “the Dean of American Double Bassists,” the festival has emulated its founding models – the idealism of the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont, coupled with the varied programming of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York.

The festival is now amongst the oldest and most extensive summer Chamber Music Festivals in the United States.

This summer, the season proper begins on July 3 by welcoming world-renowned violinist Cho-Liang Lin making his Festival debut, joined by Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey for twice the star power.

Also new this season are the brilliant Hermès String

Quartet from Paris, pianist Anastasia Huppmann from Vienna (in a program of “Champagne & Chopin”). Superstar violinist Ray Chen will electrify our stages for the first time.

Also new to the Festival, the Hollywood Trio featuring pianist Inna Faliks; and harpist Bridget Kibbey – called “the Yo-Yo Ma of the Harp.”

We welcome back the Attacca String Quartet who just won a Grammy, and our final Gala on August 9 brings together two favorites – The Eroica Trio and violinist David Coucheron with the Festival Chamber Orchestra.

You can check out all the exciting offerings of the Festival online at h-cmusicfestival.org/. Join us this summer to celebrate “Chamber Music at its Best” in a beautiful new setting!

Point phone camera at QR code to read more about the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival.

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A RTS

From Broken

to Brilliant S

For ar tist Julie Berger, a bounty of wisdom and beauty is contained within something as simple as a pebble.

ometimes the very ground we walk on becomes our life’s metaphor.

For artist/therapist, Julie Berger, the mountains bubble up beautiful gems.

To her, a random, scarred chip of craggy cave-rock, tumbled and polished, reveals its energy and mystery just as troubled souls, guided by her counsel, discover their own hidden power and beauty.

Julie shares personal ragged edges.

She understands the hero’s quest. She is a cherished 12-step program sponsor/ counselor who’s been there, done that, and is now a respected guide for others.

You’ve probably visited Mountain Mist Gallery in Cashiers. Julie and husband, David opened it in 2012. It features

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David’s majestic mountain vistas and Julie’s magnificent jewelry.

Growing up a full-of-life child, Julie wasn’t, and still isn’t content unless she has projects galore. When she’s not rock-hounding or jewelry-making or in counseling sessions, she’s painting birds (and other critters). A few years ago she took David’s painting class. Voila! Another of her secret talents emerged. Now whimsical bird images, brimming with personality (people can’t stop raven), are so popular they virtually fly out the gallery window.

Julie is deeply spiritual. She says, “Faith and spirituality have taken root in me over the past few decades. I am very involved in 12-step. I marvel at the miracle of receiving a

human at his/her lowest point and watching him/her turn around. It’s an honor to be part of that process. That transition resonates in my artwork. Once the dirty, broken, and raw stones are polished, they transform into treasured adornments.”

Julie is also an author of inspiring accounts documenting her life’s journey.

Her books, paintings, and jewelry are available at Mountain Mist Gallery. Visit the website: mountainmistgallery.com. Or call (772) 233-7744 or (407) 620-2685.

by Donna Rhodes

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Bascom’s Power of 10

The Bascom is currently closed.

We will let you know when that changes.

A

Julie Berger

s we celebrate this new decade and the promise it holds, it’s also important to reflect on the past.

As such, this year The Bascom selected The Power of 10 as the guiding theme for our exhibitions in 2020 because the phrase speaks to many topics of significance. Through The Power of 10 series of exhibitions, The Bascom will highlight not only the great contributors to art from the past, but also those yet to come.

If you find yourself in Highlands any time in April, you’ll be able to see three wonderful exhibits at The Bascom which are linked to our theme.

Narrative / Abstraction / Iteration, April 4 – August 2, showcases works by 19 female artists selected by guest curator Jean McLaughlin, former Executive Director of Penland School of Crafts. The exhibiting artists represent a wide variety of disciplines that will engage a variety of subjects.

By selecting 19 females for Narrative/Abstraction/Iteration, homage will be paid to the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. To further recognize the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, The Bascom is showing selected pieces in Women Artists of the Permanent Collection, now through August 30.

To highlight the decade-long Three Potters’ Symposium, we are presenting Three Potters Retrospective, March 22-June 21, curated by The Bascom’s Director of Ceramics Frank Vickery, in conjunction with this year’s Symposium on June 6. The retrospective showcases one piece from every artist who has been a presenter in the Symposium over the last 10 years. The Three Potters’ Symposium is a one-day event held in June.

The Bascom is located at 323 Franklin Road in Highlands. For more information, visit our website thebascom.org. Admission to exhibits is always free!

by Teresa Osborn The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts

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Aiming the Right Direction

A new team of directors is helming Highlands Playhouse’s sensational 2020 season.

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ighlands Playhouse directors are known for their legendary leadership.

Year-after-year they deliver high-quality performances with sold out-shows. Theaterlovers salute the Playhouse’s success with the highest of praise: “Just when you think it can’t get any better, they raise the bar!”

Playhouse directorship is unparalleled.

Artistic directors and assistants climb the creative ladder learning from the theater’s masters. 2020’s new Artistic Director, Marshall Carby, and Assistant Artistic Director Jimmy Lewis rose through the ranks wearing a variety of hats.

Jimmy is a long-time fan favorite, most recently starring as Cabaret’s lead in addition to playing the role of the Big Bopper in Buddy. Oh, baby, he knows what you like! Jimmy’s a New Yorker, a Disney Tour regular, and an overall supremely-talented performer/director.

Marshall Carby, Bill Patti’s protégée, has directed several performances for the

Playhouse. With Bill’s support, tutelage, and blessing, Marshall skillfully steps into the artistic director’s spotlight.

Lance Matzke, Highlands Playhouse managing director, says, “Marshall’s an exceptional educator who’s pumped … excited to accept his new role. You’ll remember his outstanding performance in Guys and Dolls last season. He’s ready to launch 2020 with the crowd-pleasing Mama Mia, a delightful show based on ABBA’s captivating melodies, tight harmonies, and unforgettable lyrics.”

Tickets are on sale right now. Check Highlands Playhouse website for more details. While you’re at it, think about taking your own spotlight as a 2020 Playhouse volunteer. Catch a movie. Or inquire about becoming a patron. No matter what level of participation you choose, continue to follow Highlands Playhouse successes on Facebook and Instagram.

by Donna Rhodes

A RTS Around Back at Rocky’s Place is closed at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t view its gallery online. They promise to quickly ship any purchase you make.

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hen you think about the masters of art, one usually thinks about Rembrandt, Picasso, and Van Gogh, but at the gallery, we think of Mose Tolliver, Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Howard Finster, and R. A. Miller, the masters of Folk Art! We have the work of all four of these masters in the gallery, but the one we hold near and dear is R.A. Miller, as he was a Georgia boy and lived and created his art just down the road from the gallery in Rabbittown, Georgia.

R.A. Miller was born in 1912 and made his home and his studio on the very same piece of property where he lived all of his 94 years.

How did he spend his time all those years on this tiny piece of land?

Over the years, he did a little of everything, mostly working in the cotton mill, but he also spent periods of time working on a farm, working at a gas station, selling firewood, and delivering baby chicks, but the job, or calling, that inspired his art the most was that of preaching the gospel in a Baptist church.

Religious pieces make up a good body of his

work. A characteristic message on many of his pieces is “Lord Love You.” Whether cut-outs, drawings, or whirligigs, angels and devils play a huge role in his repertoire.

Once glaucoma ended his preaching career, he used his art pieces to continue spreading the word of God. “Blow Oskar,” painted in patriotic red, white, and blue, did not depict Uncle Sam, but rather his cousin. Oskar would ride by R.A.’s house at all hours and lay down on the car horn. R.A. decided to fix him up but good and immortalize his cousin by creating “Blow Oskar” and placing him on the hilltop so that all the passers-by could see it.

To see many representative selections of R.A. Miller’s work, in all the forms, stop by the gallery. In addition to his art, we worked with R.A. several years before his death in crafting our first “Folk Time” watch, showcasing none other than his “Blow Oskar.” A limited number of these timepieces were produced, and a few are still available.

Rabbittown’s R.A. Miller at Around Back at Rocky’s Place

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2020 Concert Season

At this time, The Highlands Per forming Ar ts Center’s Concer t Series remains unchanged. Check back to see if this schedule undergoes alterations.

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he Highlands Performing Arts Center has unveiled a Concert Season filled to bursting with passionate music and outrageous comedy.

Beginning Sunday, June 14, it’s Broadway with Countertenor Terry Barber. This rare countertenor uses extraordinary vocal range, versatility, and a Masters degree in historically informed performance, to entertain. A truly international artist, Barber has been a soloist for the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Moscow’s Svetlanov Hall, to name a few. Tony-nominee Grace Fields will accompany Terry on the piano and vocals.

On Saturday, June 20, bluegrass favorites Seldom Scene return to Highlands PAC by demand. Since forming nearly 50 years ago, The Seldom Scene has brought both freewheeling joy and immaculate musicianship to their take on bluegrass, offering up spirited interpretations of songs from limitless genres.

If comedy is your tonic of choice, mark your calendar on Saturday, June 27, for Men are from Mars – Women are from Venus: Live. The Off-Broadway hit comedy is a oneman fusion of theater and stand-up, and is a light-hearted theatrical comedy. Moving swiftly through a series of vignettes, the show covers everything from dating and marriage to the bedroom.

Neil Zirconia brings a treasured Tribute to Neil Diamond on Saturday, September 5. The remarkable talent of Neil Zirconia has expertly captured the essence and the passion of Neil Diamond, with all of the movements, expression, style and music that has made Diamond the greatest entertainer of our time.

Be sure to reserve your seats for the Saturday, September 19 performance of Bravo Amici. Combining the essential elements of classical crossover – pop, Broadway, the West End and opera – this group of endlessly talented friends and stage stars melt hearts and blow minds in every

A RTS theater where they perform.

On Sunday, September 27, it’s Fleetwood Mask, the ultimate tribute to Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mask is endorsed by Fleetwood Mac founder Mick Fleetwood!

The Friday after Thanksgiving, it’s bluegrass with Sideline, a pedigreed six-piece powerhouse whose style has set the pace in Bluegrass for over two decades. In 2019, Sideline won the IBMA Song of The Year Award for Thunder Dan. To listen to Sideline reminds the fans of why so many people fell in love with bluegrass in the first place.

Please check highlandsperformingarts.com for a complete listing of the Live via Satellite Series: Met Opera – National Theatre of London – Great Art on Screen.

All concerts begin at 7:30 P.M. Tickets are available online at HighlandsPerformingArts. com Highlands Performing Arts Center is located at 507 Chestnut Street. (Like us on Facebook and Instagram.)

by Mary Adair Trumbly, Highlands Performing Arts Center

Seldom Scene

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Elevated dining

Currently, 4118 Kitchen + Bar is open for Curbside deliver y Tuesday - Saturday 11:30 am - 7:00 pm. Call 828-526-5002 to order. We’ll let you know when that changes.

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o Tricia and I were at the crumbling edge of a long day at the far end of a long work week. It was a cold, wet evening and the week had rendered us like a couple who’d been held underwater for a long time.

Every instinct told us to head home and settle in for a long winter’s nap. Netflix and Chill – except that that sounded like too much work.

But the assignment was to go to 4118 Kitchen + Bar, that seductive little gem that’s stashed at the far corner of Highlands Plaza.

And here’s a bit about 4118 that I wrote three years ago that suggests that maybe I’m better at this review game than some guttersnipe online posters suggest: “4118 Kitchen + Bar fills a particular niche in the Highlands restaurant landscape. It’s carefully calibrated to foster conversation, from hushed intimacies to lively friend-tofriend-to-friend debates.

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“It fills the same space that in the UK would be occupied by the corner pub, a gathering spot where you and your love or you and your friends can unwind the day or rev up the night. What elevates 4118 far above its across-the-pond cousins is the inclusion of a terrific menu and complete bar overseen by a very clever bartender.”

You see, the reason I’m dredging this up at this late date is because that’s precisely what we discovered when we stepped in on this damp and supremely dreary evening in 2020.

We were greeted just inside the door by a young woman who just a few years earlier had been in our Sunday School class. Her absolutely brilliant smile and open-arm hugs, delivered with unalloyed delight, were an immediate burst of sunshine upon our dismal mental landscape.

Then, once we got to our table, a couple of friends sidled up to chat and commiserate

and share a funny story.

See what I said about the cherished neighborhood pub atmosphere?

There was joy in this place, and warmth, and a measure of delight that I thought had been lost earlier in the week.

This feeling was complemented by the performance of our server, Sandi.

She’d been the only server to make it in tonight, and she was astonishing.

Naturally, you’d imagine she’d end up like that poor Spinning Plate Guy on The Ed Sullivan Show, barely keeping up with a situation that courted chaos with every passing moment.

Nope.

Sandi maintained order throughout, using a magical combination of fast softshoe last demonstrated by Gene Kelly in An American in Paris, the sly calculations of a senior project manager at CERN, and an unassailable gentle humor that sparked her tables.

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Executive Chef Adam Bresnahan

And then there was the menu.

Naturally, we went for Comfort Food, something to soothe our ruffled feathers and perhaps deliver the nostalgia of sunnier days.

For me, that’s Fish & Chips. For Tricia, it was a Chicken Pot Pie. The fish was a healthy serving of beerbattered cod, a spadeful of hand-cut fries, and (this is important), a bottle of malt vinegar.

See how this resonates with that nearly forgotten evocation of a neighborhood pub?

And that Chicken Pot Pie? Well, it was the size of Tricia’s head and baked golden brown.

Inside was a heavenly melange of yukon gold potatoes, carrots, celery root, sweet potato, and pearl onions.

Executive Chef Adam Bresnahan oversees a wonderfully creative kitchen and his talents are at the height of their creative flowering.

Need proof? Consider my Small Plate choice – Cuban Wontons! These were precisely what you’d imagine, an Asian/ Caribbean hybrid of roast pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles and mojo mustard, folded into little triangles. Holy Cats! How has the Nobel Prize Committee overlooked this little contribution to international harmony? I reluctantly shared with my

dining companion.

And that mention of a clever bartender?

Well, I’m pushing my word count, so let me just mention One in the Chamber – a straight-up seduction of the senses composed of Bulleit Bourbon, ginger-mint syrup, fresh lime, and candied ginger.

It’s as close to the tonic for a dreary night and a lousy week as I’m ever to encounter.

4118 Kitchen + Bar is located at 64 Highlands Plaza. Their phone number is (828) 526-5002.

by Luke Osteen

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B A Mash-up of Southern & Italian Jack Austin’s personally developed Bucatini recipe blends Old World traditions with distinctly Southern Appalachian f lavors.

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ehind the swanky exterior and vibe of the award-winning Old Edwards Inn is the talented, personable and welcoming General Manager Jack Austin.

An impeccably dressed powerhouse at work, Austin is an affable and unpretentious guy with a dry wit and a wry smile, who is most comfortable at home donning an apron and working the stoves. His culinary ethos, a celebration of the season and Southern Appalachia is on full display in his recipe of Bucatini with Ramps and Benton’s Bacon.

Available for only a few short weeks in April, Ramps are a kind of leek that hardly exists west of the Mississippi. From Georgia to Quebec, ramps grow wild in the woods and are mostly foraged, as does fabled Tennessee ham and bacon curer, “King of Pork” Allan Benton, who digs for ramps on his Tennessee property. Below Austin combines the smoky goodness of Benton’s bacon with earthy and garlicky ramps for a dish that explodes with flavor. This mash- up of haut Southern food and traditional Italian

is a dish to dream about and make as soon as you can.

Austin points out that “You could use pancetta instead of bacon, and spaghetti or linguine could easily substitute for bucatini, but bucatini is more toothsome and great for soaking all that flavor. You could use spring onions, I suppose, but this recipe is all about the ramps for me. Nothing matches their flavor and I’ll make it every April as often as I can get holds of some ramps.”

Bucatini with Ramps and Benton’s Bacon Ingredients: 2 bunches (about ½ pound) ramps or substitute 2 bunches of spring onions with 1 mashed garlic clove 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil ½ cup diced Benton’s Bacon Salt and Pepper to taste 1 cup dry white wine 1 ½ cups chicken stock 1 pound bucatini ¼ cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese

DI NI NG Step 1: Trim roots of ramps (or spring onions); separate white bulbs from green leaves. Rinse each under warm water and pat dry. Cut the ramp or spring onion into ¼ inch slices and the ramp leaves or onion greens into 4-inch long strips.

Step 2: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until it softens and releases some fat – about 3 minutes.

Add the sliced white ramp or spring onion bottoms with the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until they soften and become translucent about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper Step 3: Add the wine and cook until reduced by half – about 5 minutes.

Add the chicken stock, reduce the heat to low and simmer 15 minutes or until the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat Step 4: While the sauce is cooking,

bring a large port of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the water and drain the pasta Step 5: Add the pasta and the reserved ramp leaves or spring onion greens to the pan with the sauce and raise the heat to medium and toss the contents of the pan until everything is combined. Add pasta-cooking water as needed if pasta seems dry.

Step 6: Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with cheese.

Note: Ramps may be found in local farmer’s markets or seasonally on line at dartagnan.com.

Visit bentonscountryham.com for Benton’s products.

Jack Austin

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Make Summer Even Sweeter

Cake Bar and Cake Bar at Mill Creek somehow raise their seduction quotient with an even more ex traordinar y menu and a full calendar of events and music.

Though Cake Bar and Cake Bar at Mill Creek are closed for sit-down dining and snacking, you can still take home their ex traordinar y creations.

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he word is out about Highlands newest sweet spot, Cake Bar – and now, Cake Bar at Mill Creek.

Indulge your sweetest dreams with a slice (or two) of their scratch-made treats, like their signature Chocolate Heaven and Grilled Banana Bread, as well as Party Muffins, Ginormous Cookies, Cheesecake, Specialty Cakes like Caramel, Red Velvet, Carrot and Coconut – and the daily specials (Strawberry Shortcake, anyone?).

Cappuccino and Espresso are also available, as is a perfectly paired selection of house and premium wines by the glass.

Making the season even sweeter, their calendar is filling up with soirees and special engagements. On Easter Saturday, Cake Bar at Mill Creek will host the talented and just totally cool Carlton Chamblin. Spend the afternoon enjoying the tastes and techniques of the perfect shrubs and popular mocktails. Later that evening, come get your fill of live jazz with Tyler Kittle and Company, as they swing standards and a variety of long-time favorites. On May 9, Friday Night Jazz begins for the season with Tyler & Co. as well.

In June, Cake Bar at Mill Creek is excited to present the Somm Sessions, a chance to brush up on your wine knowledge with some of the brightest minds in wine, whether you’re just getting into all things oenophile or have a Spectator-worthy

wine collection.

Also, their “Meet the Winemaker” events will offer exclusive opportunities to meet the makers of some pretty amazing juice.

The fun continues out at the original Cake Bar with Storytime. Come spend an afternoon with your favorite little person and some Party Muffins, listening to some amazing tales and of course, some Happily Ever Afters! Stay tuned for times and dates.

Be sure to follow these two rolling enterprises on Facebook@ Cake Bar and Cake Bar at Mill Creek, as well as Instagram @cakebarhighlands. For more information, email fun@ cakebarhighlands.com.

Point phone camera at QR code to read more about Cake Bar.

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Chadwick Boyd,

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The Chadwick Boyd Chefs in the House dinner has been cancelled. However, Old Edwards has lots of delicious events planned for the Summer and Fall months.

Visit www.oldedwardsinn.com/events for information.

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hadwick Boyd, the visiting celebrity chef at the May 1 Half-Mile Farm “Chef in the House” dinner series, is more than just that.

Actually he’s a sort of food mogul– author, teacher, television host, marketer, culinary raconteur, innovator, brand spokesperson, food stylist and James Beard Foundation journalism judge.

And if all that seems intimidating, it’s not.

Even in a brief chat, he reveals himself as a down-to-earth guy, impassioned about food, and eager to share. He’ll tell you straight away that he was raised in a restaurant family that included cooks and farmers, where food was always center stage. Early on he secured an original copy of Betty Crocker’s Cookbook for Boy and Girls (which he still has), rushing home daily from school to study, dream about and experiment with the recipes.

He launched his first culinary enterprise at age seven when his grandfather built a lavish roadside stand to house “Chadwick’s Refreshments,” selling beverages and brownies. At age 10 he hosted his first formal dinner party in honor of his Mom’s birthday, serving Steak Diane and Twice Baked Potatoes. By then he had graduated to the adult version of that cookbook.

A descendant of Virginia-born

Grandparents, he refers to himself as “cellular Southern.” Perhaps it was the Southern foods on the family table that inspired his decision to attend the University of North Carolina in Charlotte.

In any case, he found a home in the region, settling in Atlanta 26 years ago – where his business is still headquartered.

He tells me that the evening at HalfMile Farm is the first time he’s telling his Southern food story. That tale will be told through the ingredients on the plates that night – through collards, via pork from Georgia’s White Oak Pastures, and Georgia honeycomb, Georgia peanuts, with herbs from the Old Edwards Garden, by way of Benton’s bacon and with ramps.

He envisions the night as a joyful and happy celebration of May Day – an experience, beyond just dinner. It will begin on the Apple Lake Dock with a cocktail of Strawberry Rosé Spoon Jam with Rosemary-infused Gin. From there, guests will progress New Orleans-wedding style, strolling en masse across the lawn, accompanied by music, to the fire pit.

There the feast will commence with bites of Double Crusted Chicken Bites with Salted Honeycomb and Georgia Peanut Biscuits stuffed with Creamy Collard Greens.

The dinner menu is opulent, yet restrained;

a Southern indulgence, a procession of dishes comprised of regional ingredients that have been coaxed out of the ordinary.

For instance, Salad of Benton’s Bacon with mustard greens, confit green tomatoes, Bibb lettuce in a spicy lemon dressing – a modern day BLT. And there’s a spring vegetable Pot Pie with ramps, spring peas and baby carrots bathed in celery cream gravy, and a fantastic charred Vidalia onion blossom with Georgia shrimp ceviche.

That White Oak pork, it’s gently roasted with rosé fresh plum and herbed pecans.

Desserts, all sublimely Southern and luxurious, don’t disappoint – Coconut Chamomile Layer Cake, Lemon Cookies and Strawberry Cornmeal Biscuit Trifle with Basil Cream. The accompanying wines will showcase the nuance and taste differences that comprise the full range of rosé wines, – beginning with the light and crisp and crescendo to a finale of the most full-bodied sparkling rosé wine.

For more information, visit halfmilefarm. com/ChefsInTheHouse. Call (828) 7872635 to reserve your spot now.

by Marlene Osteen

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Dine Out to End HIV Dine out for Life has been postponed until a later date. We will keep you posted.

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ighlands’ On the Verandah Restaurant is joining fine restaurants across Western North Carolina for Dining Out for Life, set for Thursday, April 30.

On the Verandah will donate 20 percent of its proceeds from that day to the Western North Carolina AIDS Project.

The annual event occurs across the United States and supports community-based organizations serving people living with or impacted by AIDS. In 2019, the Asheville region, which includes Highlands and Cashiers, ranked in the top 10 DOFL cities in the country – outranking New York and Chicago.

For Allan Maxwell of On the Verandah, the event has a special resonance.

“As a child of gay parents, growing up in the 80s and 90s, I witnessed the AIDS epidemic firsthand – my parets’ friends picked off one by one,” he says. “I am very proud of On the Verandah’s locally exclusive role in this cause that is very dear to my heart. It is my wish that one day, all of my fellow Highlands restaurateurs will participate in Dining Out For Life.

Participating is easy. Just make plans to dine at On the Verandah on April 30. If you won’t be on the

Plateau to participate, simply find a restaurant from the list of participants at diningoutforlife.com/ city/Asheville.

HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, made its presence felt beginning in 1981, first gradually and then dramatically. HIV has since evolved before our eyes, becoming less aggressive and more insidious, especially in the West, but it is still a major health problem.

Proceeds from the event will benefit WNCAP, which works to assist the local community access HIV prevention tools, receive medical care, and to aid people survive and thrive in a world where there remains ample stigma surrounding the virus.

For reservations, call On the Verandah at (828) 526-2338. It’s located at 1536 Franklin Road (on the shore of Lake Sequoyah.

Interested readers can follow WNCAP on Facebook at facebook.com/wncap or get more information about the Asheville Dining Out For Life event at diningoutforlife.com/city/Asheville.

by Marlene Osteen

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To see who is offering curbside takeout during this crises, visit highlands-cashiers.info/covidassist

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Plateau Dining Guide

Children’s Menu

thelaurelmagazine.com/cuisine

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS 64 Highlands Plaza

(828) 526-5002

The Bistro at Wolfgang’s

460 Main Street

(828) 526-3807

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Brunch HQ

137 Main Street

(828) 820-8686

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The Dive In Food Trailer

476 Carolina Way

(828) 526-2200

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Fire + Water Restaurant

Reservations Required

(828) 526-4446

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465 Main Street

(828) 787-2990

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350 S. Fifth Street

(828) 526-2110

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(828) 526-9419

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490 Carolina Way

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(828) 526-2277

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(828) 526-2400

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(828) 526-2338

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440 Main Street

(828) 526-4906

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310 Main Street

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(828) 743-3000

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(828) 743-7711

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4118 Kitchen + Bar

Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar *

The Kitchen CarryAway & Catering

Lakeside Restaurant Madison’s Restaurant & Wine Garden Meritage Bistro Midpoint Mountain Fresh On the Verandah

The Ugly Dog Pub Wolfgang’s Restaurant

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HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS 4118 Kitchen + Bar - (828) 526-5002 Asia House - (828) 787-1680 Brunch Headquarters - (828) 820-8686 Bella’s Junction Cafe - (828) 526-0803 Bistro on Main/Main Street Inn - (828) 526-2590 The Bistro at Wolfgang’s - (828) 526-3807 The Blue Bike Cafe - (828) 526-9922 The Bridge at Mill Creek - (828) 526-5500 Bryson’s Deli - (828) 526-3775 The Cake Bar at Mill Creek - (828) 421-2042 Calder’s Coffee Cafe - (828) 526-0020 Dusty’s - (828) 526-2762 El Azteca - (828) 526-2244 El Manzanillo - (828) 526-0608 Fire + Water Restaurant - (828) 526-4446 Fressers Courtyard Cafe - (828) 526-4188 Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar (828) 787-2537 The Kitchen CarryAway & Catering - (828) 526-2110 Lakeside Restaurant - (828) 526-9419 The Log Cabin - (828) 526-5777 M-brace - (828) 787-1212

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Takeout Only

Dress Code: C Casual

Madison’s Restaurant & Wine Garden - (828) 787-2525 Meritage Bistro - (828) 526-1019 Midpoint (828) 526-2277 Mountain Fresh - (828) 526-2400 On the Verandah - (828) 526-2338 Pescado’s - (828) 526-9313 Pizza Place - (828) 526-5660 Paoletti’s - (828) 526-4906 Rosewood Market - (828) 526-0383 Tug’s Proper - (828) 526-3555 Subway - (828) 526-1706 SweeTreats Deli - (828) 526-9632 The Ugly Dog Pub - (828) 526-8364 Wild Thyme Gourmet - (828) 526-4035 Wine Garden at Old Edwards Inn - (828) 787-2525 Wolfgang’s Restaurant - (828) 526-3807 CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS Buck’s Coffee Cafe - (828) 743-9997 Canyon Kitchen - (828) 743-7967 Chile Loco - (828) 743-1160 Cornucopia Restaurant - (828) 743-3750

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Cork & Barrel Lounge - (828) 743-7477 El Manzanillo - (828) 743-5522 The Greystone Inn - (828) 966-4700 JJ’s Eatery and Canteen - (828) 743-7778 Mica’s Restaurant - (828) 743-5740 On the Side at Cashiers Farmers Market - (828) 743-4334 The Orchard - (828) 743-7614 Randevu Restaurant - (828) 743-0190 Restaurant at Greystone Inn - 828-966-4700 Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company - (828) 743-0220 Slab Town Pizza (STP) - (828) 743-0020 Subway - (828) 743-1300 The Blind Mule - (828) 553-8978 The Falls Cafe and Grill - 828-877-3322 The Library Kitchen and Bar - (828) 743-5512 The Ugly Dog Pub - Cashiers - (828) 743-3000 Table 64 - (828) 743-4135 Wendy’s - (828) 743-7777 Winslow’s Hideaway - (828) 743-2226 Zookeeper - (828) 743-7711 79 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

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A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

LODGI NG

Ad On Page

In Room Microwave/Fridge Cable/Satellite TV Banquet Facilities Wireless Internet Pet Policy

Accommodations on the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

Pool Whirlpool Rooms Exercise Facility

On Site Restaurant

Plateau Lodging

On Site Bar/Lounge

thelaurelmagazine.com/lodging

HOTELS / MOTELS / BED & BREAKFASTS 19386 Rosman Hwy | Sapphire

blackbearlodgeofsapphire.com | (828) 553-6535

Fire Mountain

700 Happy Hill Rd | Scaly Mountain

firemt.com | (800) 775-4446

Half Mile Farm

214 Half Mile Dr | Highlands

halfmilefarm.com | (855) 271-7246

445 Main St | Highlands

oldedwardsinn.com | (866) 526-8008

Highlands

highlandsfairviewhouse.com | (866) 526-8008

5078 Whiteside Cove Rd | Highlands

whitesidecovecabins.com | (828) 526-2222

Black Bear Lodge of Sapphire

Old Edwards Inn and Spa

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VACATION RENTAL AGENCIES Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals

488 Main Street | Highlands

meadowsmountainrealty.com | (828) 526-1717

48

CCP Vacation Rentals

507 Main Street | Highlands

rentinhighlands.com | (800) 684-2171 x 302

2

401 N 5th St | Highlands

highlandsiscalling.com | (828) 526-3717

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17 US Hwy 64 E | Cashiers

landmarkvacations.com | (877) 926-1780

24-25

Silver Creek Vacation Rentals 341 Hwy 64 W, Ste 102 | Cashiers

ncliving.com | (828) 743-1999

34-35

Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals Landmark Vacation Rentals

HIGHLANDS 200 Main - (855) 271-2809 Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-1717 CCP Vacation Rentals - (800) 684-2171 x 302 Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-3717 The Chandler Inn - (678) 982-8406 The Chateau - (561) 613-1496 Fairview House - (866) 526-8008 Half Mile Farm - (855) 271-7246 Highlands House Bed and Breakfast - (828) 787-1186 Highlands Inn - (828) 526-9380 Highlands Inn Lodge - (828) 526-5899 Highlands Resort Rentals - (828) 526-5839 The Inn at Mill Creek - 828-526-9999 The Lodge at Old Edwards - (828) 787-2560 Lullwater House - (423) 488-2799 Main Street Inn - (828) 526-2590 Mitchell’s Lodge & Cottages - (828) 526-2267 Old Edwards Inn and Spa - (866) 526-8008

Park on Main - (800) 221-5078 Ray’s Roost - (678) 534-6870 Skyline Lodge - (828) 526-2121 Whiteside Cove Cottages - (828) 526-2222

GLENVILLE: Innisfree Bed & Breakfast - (828) 743-2946 Mountain Lake Rentals - (828) 743-6875 Prime Property Rentals - (828) 743-3482

SCALY MOUNTAIN: Fire Mountain - (800) 775-4446

LAKE TOXAWAY Cabins at Seven Foxes - (828) 877-6333 Greystone Inn - (828) 966-4700 Lake Toxaway Realty Company - (828) 508-9141

CASHIERS Cashiers Village Inn - (828) 743-7706 High Hampton Resort - (800) 334-255 The Lakehouse - (904) 753-0247 Landmark Vacation Rentals- (877) 926-1780 Laurelwood Inn - (828) 743-9939 Mountain Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-0258 The Orchard Guest Cottage - (828) 743-7614 Pebble Creek Village - (828) 743-0623 Reid Resort Rentals - (828) 743-5955 Silver Creek Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-1999

SAPPHIRE Black Bear Lodge of Sapphire - (828) 553-6535 Club Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-3441 Foxhunt At Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-7667 Hampton Inn & Suites Cashiers-Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-4545 Mt Toxaway Lodge & Motel - (828) 966-4582 Sapphire Run at Whisper Lake - (863) 412-5734 Whispering Falls - (352) 470-4085 Woods at Buc - (770) 714-9211 81 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

SHOPPING Pages 84-87

SHOPPI NG Victoria’s Closet

Blue Ridge Bedding

East of the Crossroads Each of these businesses are anxious to see you and show you why they’re unique.

Just wait for that glorious day when life returns to normalcy.

S

ome newcomers to the area survey the Cashiers Crossroads, with its Village Green and cluster of businesses and say, “Is this all there is to Cashiers?”

Of course, they’re missing the fundamental truth, that Cashiers is scattered all about them.

Take, for example, US 64 east of the Crossroads, it’s teaming with retail spaces and businesses.

Just this side of Chrysler Hill at 61 Hawk’s View is The Designer’s Market.

It’s the area’s largest design center for remodels and new construction of both residential and commercial spaces. The 12,000-square-foot design facility features mid- to high-end wall coverings, floor coverings, fabrics, draperies, paint and cabinetry to meet every need and every budget. You can stop in the showroom to see the possibilities or you can schedule an appointment by calling (828) 743-1400.

Further up the road, heading toward the Crossroads and just before you get to Ingles Shopping Center, you arrive at Blue Ridge Bedding.

“We carry the best mattresses and sleep 84 A p r i l 2 019 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

accessories in the industry,” says store manager Rita Waters. “We’re unique in that we have our delivery crew and since we’re right here in the mountains, we don’t have a problem scheduling deliveries.”

They’re open from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call (828) 577-6000 or (828) 743-6633.

Right next to Blue Ridge Bedding is Carolina Rustic Furniture. It’s also comanaged by Rita Waters.

“We specialize in authentic rustic furniture using real antique barnwood and natural woods like hickory and willow,” says Rita. “We have a large choice of good quality upholstered furniture. We also have a wonderful delivery crew and they provide white-glove service that’s much-appreciated by our customers.”

Carolina Rustic Furniture is open from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call (828) 743-6633 or (828) 577-6000.

Just beyond these twin businesses lies Ingles Shopping Center, with lots of little businesses tucked in.

That’s where Angel and Matt have set up their Paws on the Mountain, an utterly charming pet supply store for dogs and the people who love them.

They maintain a deep knowledge of dog needs and a commitment to products that promote optimal health and longevity including food, treats, interactive toys and supplements.

Paws on the Mountain offers the only selfservice dog wash on the Plateau.

Paws on the Mountain is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 A.M. until 5:30 P.M. and Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. For more information, email pawsonthemountain@ymail.com. or call (828) 743-7500.

Just a few doors down from Paws on the Mountain is Carpet and More, a full-service flooring store. George and Dodie Porter and their manager Alisha Reese maintain the local go-to place for every conceivable floor need – they sell and install carpet, hardwood, tile, vinyl, and LVP. And when Carpet and More say that they’re full service, they mean it – they provide services like carpet/rug cleaning, wood sanding and refinishing, and

SHOPPI NG VC for Men

carpet re-stretching.

Carpet and More is open Monday from 10:30 A.M. to 5:00 and Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. For more information, call (828) 707-7212 or visit carpetandmorenc.com.

S’more Kids Klothes, a Cashiers (and Highlands) institution since 2011, is known for its adorable children’s clothing and accessories.

But owner Sharon James had an observation – As “her children,” who’d been sporting S’more fashions since they were toddlers, grew older, they’d drop out of the store’s target clientele.

All that’s changed with S’more Kids Clothes’ move from Highway 107 South to its new, more spacious location at Ingles Shopping Center. The store still maintains its fun sense of style, but they’ve expanded to include an irresistible collection for older children.

Tangles Hair Salon, which opened in 1995, is a family-owned salon. Twin sisters Dawn and Denise are the owners and two of the five stylists providing quality service to the wonderful people of Cashiers. “”We are a full-service hair salon,” says Dawn. “we specialize in cuts, colors, and perms for all ages and gender. Come visit

The Designer’s Market

me, Denise, Debbie, Leeann or Taaron for amazing hair and local history, or you can call our Mom Glenda at (828) 743-1898 to make an appointment.

“We’re open Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and closed Saturday and Sunday to enjoy our families.”

Go a few hundred yards down the road and you come to a curious collection of shops.

Victoria’s Closet is something of a local legend for its eye-popping fashion surprises and its jaw-dropping prices. It’s a consignment shop, a fine consignment shop.

Case in point, seven years ago, this writer was in the shop to pick up an ad for my boss.

Now if you know me, you know my fashion sense is on about the same level as a chimp. A fairly clever chimp, but still. And I’m an editor for a teeny, tiny magazine in a teeny, tiny part of Western North Carolina.

I never have more than a humble jingle in my pockets.

So there I was, waiting, when my attention was captured by some sort of hat-thing that looked like it came out of an MGM musical from the 1940s.

Owner Kerry Stanger patiently explained to me that it was a “fascinator” and was a particular fashion choice of English women of the landed gentry. She said that the shop

had placed it on the shelf for the low, low price of $8.

Eight bucks I can handle.

Well, next year Tricia and I were at High Tea at Selfridges in London and perched atop her head was that slightly silly fascinator.

And it blended right in!

On the Tube back to our hotel later (we’d given the chauffeur the evening off), a young woman remarked that Tricia looked “posh.” Her young man said that I looked like a “wanker.”

Anyway, we got a lot more than $8 worth of fun out of that fascinator!

And while you’re right there, you might as well continue down the lane to VC for Men, a marvelous 1920s log cabin that’s a fine men’s consignment shop. Again, the emphasis is on fine. You’ll discover suits, slacks, shirts, shoes, sportswear, leather, and everyday wear.

If you need to get hold of these shops, call (828) 743-9575 for the women’s side, and (828) 743-1030 for the guys.

by Luke Osteen

85 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

SHOPPI NG

Inside and Out

Beauty is in the details of this vintage hand-painted porcelain and brass bowl that is beautifully painted on the outside, and inside.

Porcelain and Brass Bowl $ 395 Nearly New Cashiers

Get Your Dream Hair

This magical spray seals your hair against humidity & gives you the sleekest, silkiest, smoothest hair you’ve ever had. Got curls?

Try the moisture mist for perfect frizz-free locks.

Dream Coat | $28 Bombshell Cashiers

Pretty in Pink

When you need something that is little bit special, a Teri Jon dress is just the thing. Made of silk and wool, size 6.

Rickie Freeman for Teri Jon Dress | $198 Victoria’s Closet Cashiers

86 A p r i l 2 019 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

The Beauty of Wood 25”x 25”, 28” tall side table Side Table $ 650 Cabin Couture Highlands

SHOPPI NG

Authentic Belgian Linen

Fashionable Furry Friends We love these stylish, comfortable (so we’re told) and super cute clothes for our four-legged friends!

Libeco has been producing 100% Belgian linen for over 150 years. The result is a guarantee of quality, authenticity and ultimate luxury.

Sweater $18 | Hat $10 Woofgang’s Bakery | Cashiers

Pillow $210 | Throw $359 Tia Dana | Highlands

s k c i P u a e P la t

a fe w o f o u r fav o r it e fi n d s

Functional Artistry Hand-crafted in the USA, these dual-toned pottery bowls are as beautiful as they are practical. Perfect for chips and dips or soup and crackers!

Pottery Bowls | $25 Peak Experience | Highlands

Linen & Leather

Luxuriously designed with linen, leather trim and upholstery nails, this gorgeous set of 6 side chars and 2 arm chairs will transform any dining room table into a statement piece.

Bernhardt Set of 8 Chairs | $1800 The Blue Elephant | Highlands 87 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

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SHOPPI NG WRIGHT SQUARE on MAIN

Find Our Advertisers

(Factoid: Named after Whiteside hero) 109. Tranquility Cove Massage 111. Brunch HQ 113. Edward Jones 117. Country Club Properties

WEST END

1. On The Verandah Restaurant 4. The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts 5 The Dave Drake Ceramic Barn at The Bascom

To Franklin Lake Sequoyah

SOUTH END

13. 4118 Kitchen & Bar 15. Dauntless Printing 20. Crown Heritage Flowers 26. Lupoli Construction 31. The Laurel 32. Studio 106 35. ACP Home Interiors 36. The Summer House Bed & Bath 37. The Summer House 44. Blue Elephant Consignment Studio 46. Cake Bar & Chocolate Heaven

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100. Main Street Nursery 103. Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center 124. Landmark Realty 128. Tug’s Proper 135. Midpoint Restaurant & Lounge 140. The Book Nook 141. Bags on Main 142. Main Street Gifts 146. Wit’s End Shoppe 148. Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry + Wine Shop 152. Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty 160. TJ Bailey for Men 163. Spoiled Rotten 169. Country Club Properties 178. McCulley’s II 185. Ristorante Paoletti 190. Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro 191.Berkshire Hathaway To Clayton Homes Services Meadows Mountain Realty 194. Old Edwards Inn 195. Madison’s Restaurant 196. The Wine Garden 197. Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar 202. Country Club Properties 203. Mountain Fresh Grocery 207. Creative Concepts Salon 210. Highland Hiker

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ON THE HILL

SPRING VILLAGE

303. Mirror Lake Antiques 310. McCulley’s 312. The Ugly Dog Public House 313. Old Edwards Inn 318. Peggy Crosby Center: - The Kitchen Carry Away & Catering 319. Lakeside Restaurant

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810

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OAK STREET

601. Highlands Playhouse

VILLAGE PARK

610. Rachel B Kelly, LLC 613. John Cleaveland Realty

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➡ Tia Dana ➡ WHLC ➡ Black Rock Granite ➡ Center for Plastic Surgery ➡ Highlands Cashiers Hospital ➡ Cullasaja Club ➡ Roman’s Roofing

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801. Green Mountain Builders 813. Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center 814. Fairview House

811

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704. Creekside Village: - Cake Bar 707. Yoga Highlands 708. Cabin Couture 709. High Dive 710. Meritage Bistro 711. Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals

To Cashiers

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120 First Baptist Church of Highlands

CAROLINA VILLAGE

403. Warth Construction 406. Brookings

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Highlands Biological Station

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On the Hill 318 Peggy Crosby Center

Harris Lake

For a complete listing please visit our website, thelaurelmagazine.com.

Being added to our listing is easy!

Simply advertise with The Laurel.

91 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

Find Our Advertisers 16. Stork’s - Wrap. Pack. Ship.

19. The Look Boutique 21. Sashay Around Ladies Boutique

THE SHOPS AT CASHIERS COMMONS 30. Bombshell Hair Boutique

AT THE CROSSROADS

Four Seasons Landscape

VISIT LAKE TOXAWAY The Greystone Inn

CHESTNUT SQUARE

The Town and Country General Store

EAST 64

SOUTH 107

101. Narcissus 102. TJ Baileys for Men 103. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming 104. Brookings Fly Shop & Cashiers Village Outfitters 108. Landmark Realty 109. Ugly Dog Public House 110. McCulley’s 112.Vivianne Metzger Antiques 121. Robin’s Nest 123. Caliber Fine Properties 128. Mountainworks Custom Home Design LTD. 136. McKee Properties 137. Bounds Cave Rug Gallery

THE VILLAGE GREEN 142.Village Green Commons 143. The Village Green

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64. Alexander Gardens: - Victoria’s Closet - Victoria’s Closet Shoes & Purses - VC for Men 75. Carolina Rustic Furniture 76. Blue Ridge Bedding 79. Jennings Builders Supply

Grace Community Church

Cashiers Church of God 15

VISIT CULLOWHEE

37. Landmark Real Estate Group 41. Highland Hiker

54. Consignment Market 55. Cashiers Valley Fusion

NC 107

151. J Mixon Decorative Painting 155. Cashiers Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center 156. Creekside: - Silver Creek Real Estate Group 173. Betsy Paul Properties 175. Srebalus Construction 176. Lenz Gfts

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For a complete listing please visit our website, thelaurelmagazine.com.

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Being added to our listing is easy!

Simply advertise with The Laurel.

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94 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

Together at

Fairview

Mom Faiview Treat

to

Private Areas

Together Spaces

Gourmet Kitchen

Outdoor Spaces

10 Bedrooms • 12 Bathrooms • Sleeps 25 Family Celebrations | Holidays | Girlfriend Getaways | Business Retreats | Wedding Parties Reconnect with family and friends in the exquisitely renovated 1910 historic Fairview House estate in Highlands, NC. Park your cars and walk to Main Street’s shops, galleries, pubs, and restaurants.

Enjoy access to amenities at Old Edwards Inn and Spa, including spa and golf and signing privileges at Old Edwards’ shops and restaurants. | highlandsfairviewhouse.com | 866.526.8008 | centralreservations@oldedwardsinn.com

Fairview House is designed to give Mom a Mother’s Day gift she’ll cherish forever.

First, there’s room enough for everyone – the entire family, and those who are just like family. Since it’s on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, there’s an almost kaleidoscopic array of sights and activities that everyone can enjoy.

For Mom herself, Highlands offers a collection of shops that are unrivaled in the South, an astonishingly rich selection of restaurants, and the sublime indulgences offered by the Spa at Old Edwards Inn. And, since it’s Mom, she can finally, finally relax knowing that her family is well and truly taken care of.

Plan your family’s Springtime at Fairview 95 866.526.8008

A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

OUTDOORS Pages 98-105

OO UU TT DD OO OO RR SS

Easy Trail to

Bearwallow Falls Gorges State Park is closed until fur ther notice. We’ll update you when this changes.

B

earwallow Falls makes a for a quick roundtrip at Gorges State Park.

Upper Bearwallow Falls is an over 50-foot waterfall just half a mile from your car at Gorges State Park.

The half-mile Upper Bearwallow Falls Trail is well-maintained and leads down to a grand vista overlooking a waterfall from a

98 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

wooden deck. It’s an easy trek to the Falls and hikers often add Bearwallow Valley Trail to their agenda because the trailhead begins in the same parking lot as the Falls trail, and they’re both approximately half a mile in length.

Bearwallow Valley Trail is a .7-mile hike that leads visitors to an amazing view of

Bearwallow Valley, including Lake Jocassee in the distance.

Gorges is most known for Rainbow Falls, but Bearwallow is worth the afternoon to check it out. Luke Bleynat and Ryan McGreevy, both from Brevard, recently visited Gorges for the first time and said they made a good decision choosing Bearwallow

OUTDOORS

as their first destination.

“It’s my first time here and I really like it,” said Bleynat. “It’s an easy trail to the falls and then the overlook is great.”

McGreevy said he will be back in the future because the Falls and valley overlook are so accessible.

“It’s really pretty along the trail,” said McGreevy. “Plus, the trail is well maintained and clearly marked, makes for a good day.”

Both trailheads are located in the second

parking area, which is larger than the first.

The trailheads are on opposite sides of each other, Bearwallow Valley Trailhead is the one next to the newly-built pavilion and both are marked with signage.

Visitors can access Gorges State Park from two sides, Grassy Ridge on the west side and Frozen Creek on the east side. Bearwallow is located at the Grassy Ridge entrance.

The Grassy Ridge entrance is located just over 10 miles from Cashiers. Take U.S.

Highway 64 to N.C. 281 South. Travel about a mile to the Grassy Ridge entrance. From the entrance, drive one mile and turn left when you reach the new Visitor Center onto an unnamed road. Travel another mile to the second parking area called the Bearwallow Picnic Area.

by Brian O’Shea, Plateau Daily News

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OUTDOORS

L Ewe’ll Love This Plant Though it doesn’t hog the spotlight, diminutive Lamb’s Ear seduces with its subtle charms.

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amb’s Ear is such a sweet name for this plant. He may be a little shy to let you in on his real name, Stachys byzantine, but there’s nothing introverted about his presence in your garden.

Lamb’s Ear is native to Turkey, Iran and Armenia, and grows well in zones 4-8. It prefers full sun, but placing in a partial shaded area will be just fine. Even though this plant can live in poor soil conditions, the leaves may rot if allowed to lay on wet earth for too long, so mulching around the plants is best in areas that tend to hold water.

This is a great plant to introduce a child to the love of gardening. It is very low maintenance, and the lamb’s ear shaped, green leaves are velvety soft, and fun to touch. In late spring to early summer, the reward of a spiky pinkish-purple flower may be seen.

This is a great plant by itself, or along the edge of a garden, and the contrast in leaf color makes it perfect for contrasting garden color.

Hummingbirds and bees love this plant.

As a matter of fact, bumble bees have often been seen hanging around the water cooler on the leaves of Lamb’s ear plants. It seems the white hairs on the leaves collect and hold water from the morning dew, and the bees drink it up before they’re off to their buzzy day.

This plant has been used medicinally too. There’s an enzyme in the Stachys that has shown antimicrobial action against staphylococcus bacteria, known for the culprit responsible for pneumonia, sepsis, endocarditis and other ailments. Before using this or any plant for medicinal use, please check with your doctor.

There are usually available in local nurseries. These are good pollinators and you should have some in your life.

by Jeannie Chambers, The Accidental Gardener

OUTDOORS

S

o often when we plan to go fishing here on the Plateau, we check the weather and make sure conditions are favorable.

I myself am guilty of only wanting to fish on perfectly still and sunny days.

But let’s face facts, we live in a temperate rainforest and Highlands and Cashiers can get a lot of precipitation for a long period of time.

Even after the rain stops, water levels can be high and muddy for up to 72 hours after a storm. But just because water is high and off color does not mean you can’t catch fish, you just have to know how to work the water a little differently.

For instance, high and muddy water will change the behavior of the trout. When the current picks up, fish will have to spend more energy fighting against the flow causing them to seek shelter near the bank where the current is much weaker. They will also find their way toward calm pockets, log jams, or deep water where the current has

less energy. These are the places where you should focus your casts and drifts.

One enjoyable alternative to these conditions is being able to fish streamers.

Unlike flies that represent insects, these flies represent minnows, crayfish, salamanders, leeches, and other types of food sources that “move” about under the water’s surface.

Streamers are fun because there are no rules.

They can be fished upstream, downstream, stripped, jigged or dead drifted on retrieval.

These streamers are typically 1-6 inches in length and require a stronger rod that can generate enough power to cast them when they get waterlogged, typically from a 5wt to 7wt, depending on the river system.

Along with a strong rod, it can be helpful to fish a sink tip fly line as opposed to floating to make sure your fly can get down to where the fish are.

Fishing only in perfect conditions is a lot of time not fishing.

Fly Fishing in High Water Though it sometimes seems like the rain never stops, there are several strategies that’ll make you something more than a fair-weather f ly f isher.

by Chris Wilkes, Highland Hiker

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OUTDOORS

The Tree Swallow

Despite the uncer tain health situation facing the entire world, This lovely migrant has returned to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau in April. That’s a lovely grace note to hold onto during this unsettled time.

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he Tree Swallow, a radiant presence in field and sky, is a migratory bird that historically has returned to our area in May. With global warming, it’s becoming an April nester on the Plateau. Swallows have another association with April and that is the fact that the 1957 award-winning vinyl recording “April Love” by Pat Boone had on its B side the popular song “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano.”

All the mission bells will ring The chapel choir will sing The happiness you’ll bring Will live in my memory When the swallows come back to Capistrano

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That’s the day I pray that you’ll come back to me Lovely, the promised return of the longedfor sweetheart. By this artful contrivance, then, swallows are harbingers of spring love.

Capistrano swallows are Cliff Swallows. Our local iridescent blue and green swallows are Tree Swallows.

Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) are cavity nesters and will readily move into the right-sized nest box (fully specified at www. audubon.org). They often perch on and around their nest boxes, landing on nearby fences and wires as pictured in this month’s photograph. They are highflying acrobats whose winter flocks number in the hundreds of thousands and form great fluid vortices

in the sky before swooping down to roost at night. Because they are most visible on the wing and can make such a spectacular sight in the sky, the collective noun for a flock of swallows is a “flight” (of swallows).

These skilled aerialists feed mostly in flight on flying insects and closer to ground on berries, especially bayberries.

Their habitat is open fields near water or wetlands. They are widespread across North America, breeding during summer months in the northern U.S., Canada and Alaska and wintering on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts on down into Mexico.

Their nests are built mostly by the female of grass, moss, pine needles, weeds and feathers. Four to seven eggs hatch in 14

OUTDOORS

Naturalist & Mycophile Alerts

The Highlands Biological Station’s summer lineup of courses and workshops are an invitation to learn where the wild things are. For more information, For more information regarding our full summer workshop schedule, visit highlandsbiological.org or call at (828) 526-2221.

T or 15 days and the gaping beaks are filled by both parents.

Nestlings fledge 18-22 days after hatching.

The Tree Swallow’s song has been described as being a three-part vocalization of repeating chips, whines and gurgles. Sibley describes the call as “liquid chirping or twittering.” They are more likely to be seen than heard.

Happy April birding and warm wishes for April swallows from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society.

The Highlands Plateau Audubon Society, focused on enjoying and preserving birds and their habitats, is a Chapter of the National Audubon Society and a 501(c) (3) organization. For information on all our activities and membership, please visit highlandsaudubonsociety.org .

by William McReynolds,

Highlands Plateau Audubon Society

Point phone camera at QR code to read more about Highlands Audubon Society.

his summer, the Highlands Biological Station will offer a variety of workshops sure to interest Highlands residents and visitors These fun and educational courses are geared toward the community with options for all.

One workshop we are especially excited about is Mountains Piled Upon Mountains: William Bartram and Naturalists of the Southern Appalachians with Brent Martin from July 28-30. William Bartram provided Western North Carolina with one of our most important literary and artistic renderings of this landscape with his 1791 publication, Travels through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogulges or Creek Confederacy, and the Country of the Chactaws.

Participants will explore the Western North Carolina landscape and writings of Bartram through daily field trips, readings, and meetings with authors. At the end of the three days, students will have experienced the landscape of Travels firsthand and will have gained insight into the 18th century literary and intellectual world of Bartram, along with the cultural and natural history of western North Carolina at that time.

Another engaging workshop for our community is Mushrooms of the Carolinas led by Alan & Arleen Bessette along with Mike Hopping.

This workshop, from September 14-19, is designed for the beginner who wants a solid introduction to mycology and fleshy mushrooms of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, as well as for those participants looking for the opportunity to pursue their personal mycological interests. This seminar allows for individual guidance in a relaxed group setting with fellow mycophiles.

For more information regarding our full summer workshop schedule, visit highlandsbiological.org or give us a call at (828) 526-2221.

A

by Charlotte Muir, Highlands Biological Station

t the end of March, there’s been no change in this schedule.

We’ll let you know if events force a re-scheduling.

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OUTDOORS

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OUTDOORS

O

ur Audubon Contributor, the disconcertingly talented William McReynolds, captured this exquisite portrait of a Painted Bunting during a recent Florida sojourn.

Bill being Bill, he was reluctant to allow us to publish this shot.

“What has concerned me is that this is not a local bird and I don’t want to mislead anyone or be crassly opportunistic.

This is a photo and bird to enjoy but, truth is, in the world of avian photography this is not a remarkable shot.”

We disagree. Didn’t you feel a little shiver of joy when you first glimpsed this bold little fella? And in this issue that highlights the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, can you imagine a more eloquent image for the need for preserving this fragile, magical world?

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OUTDOORS

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OUTDOORS

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H ISTORY

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HISTORY Pages 110-113

H ISTORY

2 Dozen Years

of Delight

Cashiers Historical Society’s full-to-bursting Calendar of Events is built upon a shared passion for the Plateau’s storied past and a small army of tireless volunteers.

As far as we can tell from here at the end of March, Cashiers Historical Society’s plans for a busy 2020 season remain in place. At this time, Zachar y-Tolber t House will reopen in May.

L

ongevity and sustainability are two things that are often hard for nonprofits to achieve, but Cashiers Historical Society is the very picture of success on both counts.

Now in their 24th year this non-profit grows and flourishes. In a nutshell their mission is dedicated to preserving the identity of Cashiers through recognition of its history in publications, awards and projects.

In reality this organization blends the past and present seamlessly giving all a taste of where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going, and how interconnected all are.

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Twenty-four years is quite a milestone, but the activities and fundraisers that form their cornerstone are so successful that they are celebrating their own milestones this year.

The premier fundraiser, the always eagerly anticipated and well attended, Cashiers Designer Showhouse, is in its 23rd year.

Their Founders Day Celebration in May celebrates its 17th anniversary this year.

The Village Heritage Award and the Jane Wyatt Symposiums are 16 years strong, and the fun and fact filled Heritage Apple Day is celebrating 13 years.

How do they do it? Education and Events

Coordinator and Site Manager Sandi Rogers says it’s the hard working corps of volunteers and supporters whose investments of time, resources and creativity, keep it meaningful, fun and relevant.

The annual Calendar of Events offers something for people of all ages and interests which is what sets them apart.

Take, for example, their Jane Wyatt Symposium, held June 18-19 this year, which will feature “A National Milestone with a Mountain View-100 years of Women’s Suffrage in North Carolina.”

Follow that with Fundangle Sunday on

H ISTORY

Timing is Everything

L June 28, a day of front porch family fun and activities.

It also doesn’t hurt that their campus includes the Zachary-Tolbert House, a historical and architectural treasure, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Civil War Trails, and the lovely surrounding grounds, gardens, outbuildings and trails. This peaceful enclave invites one to step back in time and enjoy a respite from the daily grind.

This year we encourage you to see what it’s all about. Take a tour of the ZacharyTolbert House and pick up a copy of their calendar of events. Keep it as your handy reference of the season’s activities. You’ll soon see that the enthusiasm of all involved in this treasure runs deep, and you’ll visit again and again.

by Mary Jane McCall

Time waits for no one. It used to wait for Frank Walden.

ast month, thanks to DST, we added a little more daylight to our spring workday.

Whether Daylight Saving Time is your friend or foe, it is an irreversible part of our lives.

If we travel back in time to the late 1880s, long before we tried to lasso morning light and the setting sun, Highlands had a timely challenge of its own . . . no two clocks seemed to chime the same time.

Enter Highlands’ first druggist, Theron D. Walden of Metamora, Illinois. In 1885 he set up shop (and a bank) in the Martin Building at Fourth and Main, later home to Bill’s Soda Shop. The following year he built his home on 11 acres of land which experienced several incarnations over the decades, including Joseph Richert’s Blackberry Hill and later Toby West Antiques.

In April 1890, Walden organized Highlands’ first Freemason lodge in the Baxter Wilson Building. In 1892 he served as mayor.

Clearly Walden was an energetic soul with many interests, but his greatest passion was flowers. He was a cacti aficionado. He gathered over 350 varieties, the most impressive collection in the South. It was valued at $600, which was a huge sum in the 19th century.

What has all that to do with time? Walden’s son, Frank, worked at the drug store as a watchmaker and jeweler. Years later Frank became the go-to person to synchronize town clocks. Hotel keepers in particular needed reliable sun time to schedule their daily routines. Frank regulated the Post Office clock so that the town would have a standard hour and minute … the Plateau’s Greenwich.

Spend some valuable time of your own reading Ran Shaffner’s Heart of the Blue Ridge.

For additional info, go to highlandshistory.com or email highlandshistory@nctv.com.

by Donna Rhodes, Photo courtesy of Highlands Historical Society

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H ISTORY

D Kirk’s Raiders

Forget the legends, Colonel George Washington Kirk was a thug.

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uring the 1990s, one of my Cashiers cousins, the late Madge Dillard Merrell, asked me to find out who was the man behind “Kirk’s Raiders” or “Kirk’s Army.”

Since she was a child [born 1907] she had been told stories about the renegade group that, during the Civil War, had terrorized the civilian population of not only Cashiers Valley but all of Western North Carolina.

My subsequent research soon filled a box full of documents that told the life story of George Washington Kirk. He was a native of Greene County, Tennessee, which bordered Madison County, North Carolina. His wartime actions, some 150 years ago, are still remembered and talked about. What the Union called “brave acts,” the North Carolina victims called “atrocities.”

Recently, two area publications briefly

mentioned G. W. Kirk in articles, leaving the impression that he was a scoundrel who, with a band of bushwhackers and deserters, went from village to village stealing everything in sight and mistreating anyone who got in his way.

This description of his activities is accurate, but what doesn’t seem to be known is the fact that he was a bon-a-fide

…and collect together, rapidly, the straggling soldiers in that region…

Union soldier who was following orders.

Hear this…those orders did not excuse his cruel exploits. Yes, George W. Kirk was a commissioned officer of the Union Army. He was in his mid-20s when he first joined the Union Army and he was rewarded with steady promotions and increased responsibilities.

H ISTORY In early 1864, now with the rank of Major, Kirk got the following order: “Repair, without delay to the mountain district in the western part of North Carolina and collect together, rapidly, the straggling soldiers in that region and such efficient loyal citizens as you may enlist in the regiment which you are authorized to raise to be known as the Third Regiment of North Carolina Mounted Infantry. You may mount your regiment on private or captured horses.

As soon as you have from 100 to 200 men, descend upon the rebels and destroy stores and means of transportation” By the end of 1864, he was a Colonel.

In the spring of 1865, “Kirk’s Raiders” stopped at the home of the elderly Col. John H, Alley, in Whiteside Cove, Jackson County, North Carolina, where five children were sick with the measles. According to family descendants, besides the general looting, all mattresses in the house were carried outside, torn open and molasses

poured over the pile.

For a time after the end of the war, George Kirk had a job as a policeman at the capitol in Washington, DC. He died in California and on his tombstone in the Gilroy,* Santa Clara, California cemetery, is inscribed, “Col. George W. Kirk, 3rd NC Mounted Inf.” He lies alone with no family members nearby. *Gilroy, California is the Garlic Capital of the World.

by Jane Nardy Historian, Cashiers Historical Society

E

ditor’s Note: Last month we accidentally credited our Cashiers History, “When Panthers Roamed These Hills,” to Jane Nardy, when it was actually written

by Carol M. Bryson. We apologize for the error.

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H ISTORY

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H ISTORY

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H ISTORY

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LIFESTYLES & WELLNESS Pages 118-129

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

Navigating Local Health Needs

Highlands-Cashiers Hospital CEO Tom Neal outlines the recent changes and the future plans for this vital Plateau asset.

D

ear Family and Friends of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Since joining HighlandsCashiers Hospital three months ago, I have been impressed with the care and commitment of our outstanding team and the great pride from the Highlands-Cashiers community who consider our hospital, “their hometown hospital.”

During my time here, we have heard heartfelt concerns from members of our community and our own team about the present and future of Mission Health’s Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Eckerd Living Center and their transition to HCA Healthcare. I want to assure you that our commitment to our patients remains steadfast and at the forefront of all we do.

We understand the enormous trust placed in us to serve the Highlands community through the provision of excellent healthcare, and we take our responsibility very seriously.

It’s helpful to know that Mission Health selected HCA Healthcare as a partner because it offered the financial stability to help preserve and expand the high-quality healthcare our friends and families have come to expect. The promises agreed to at the time of the sale were critical to this decision, and our mutual commitment to them is unwavering.

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In that spirit, I’d like to share with you more details about what we’ve been able to accomplish in the past year and the new opportunities ahead to improve our future: With our more favorable patient financial assistance policies, as a health system we provided approximately $252 million in charity care, uninsured discounts and other financial assistance in our first full year of operation. This represents approximately $100 million more under the new HCA Healthcare policy than under Mission Health’s prior policy. You can find out more about our financial assistance programs, which we’ve recently made more accessible, via the main page of our website, missionhealth.org.

Across the 18 counties we serve, we’ve recruited more than 100 new providers (47 new physicians and 66 new advanced practice providers) over the past year, including some hard-to-fill positions in our regional hospitals serving the more rural areas of our community.

Among these is a full-time primary care physician starting in May 2020 to serve the Highlands-Cashiers community.

To help recruit and retain our team members, we increased the minimum wage across Mission Health to $12.50/hour last fall. Additionally, we recently provided market adjustments to raise the pay of those

in critical roles that help support excellent care at the bedside. We also added ways to reward our staff through programs such as HCA Healthcare’s student loan repayment program and a robust tuition reimbursement program, through which full- and parttime team members can qualify for up to $5,250 per calendar year – that’s double Mission Health’s prior program – in taxfree reimbursement for applicable higher education courses, including tuition, books and course-related fees.

Highlands-Cashiers continues to be a top performing critical access hospital, recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for its continued focus on quality and safety. Eckerd Living Center has also once again earned a 5-star rating from CMS. As your community hospital, we are committed to working with you to preserve and advance the quality of care, and to navigate the changing needs of our Western North Carolina communities. We want to be your provider of choice and employer of choice. That’s been our commitment for nearly 70 years, and it continues to guide our decisions today.

by Tom Neal, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital

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W

Superfoods of Life If you’re shirking your dietar y requirements, super foods may hold the key to staying healthy and happy.

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e have one life here on this earth and that Life is Precious!

It’s amazing that we are mostly in control of our own health in this life, but how often in a day do you think about improving your health, fighting cancer or losing weight? The simplest way that we can improve our health is eating better!

My mother was a good, mostly healthy, cook when I was growing up, but she also smoked. Even at a young age, I knew that smoking was not good. I begged her to stop, to no avail.

Finally, I picked up her cigarette while she was on the phone and started smoking it. From that moment on, she never smoked again! I had no idea the impact that I would have on her health, but she’s still alive and well today at almost 94!

We can have a long lasting impact on someone that we love and on our own health.

We can begin by eating more superfoods!

These are natural, healthy, clean foods that are extremely dense with nutrients –

vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

For just the minimal baseline of health, we really need to be taking in at least seven mostly raw fruits and vegetables (fist-sized servings) daily – yes, Daily!

We can certainly load our daily intake with superfoods and supplement with some concentrated form of superfoods, helping to take in the micronutrition that we need to protect our body.

Antioxidants prevent and reduce systemic inflammation, keeping the body from breaking down and rusting too fast.

Micronutrients help to keep the body lubricated – all the parts working smoothly with just the right formula for performance, including brain, digestion and elimination.

We need fiber to keep our heart healthy, our circulation moving, and elimination regular.

Fuel is basically the same in the body as it is in our car – we can’t run without it!

by Dr. Sue Aery, Aery Chiropractic & Acupuncture

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

W

hen I think of the word “Peace,” I often think about feelings of tranquility, satisfaction and harmony.

I think of it as an uplifting energy rooted in serenity and strength. I think of it as a place where we have achieved balance.

Sounds inviting, right?

Yet sometimes we live in spaces that are far from peaceful, spaces that can create disruptions and conflict in the relationships we have with ourselves and with others. You may not be able to control every experience you’re involved in but you are capable of controlling your mindset.

1) Begin by living more in the present moment. Take time to acknowledge the moment you are in, to smell and taste instead of just breathing and eating.

2) Take time to relax, adjusting your schedule, slowing down, and take that much needed breather.

3) Become aware of your breath.

4) Set intentions based on what you need and want.

5) Be mindful in actions and reactions, thinking through decisions in advance and leaving no room for volatility.

6) Honor yourself and others with respectful behavior and positive affirmations.

7) Practice patience and release the grip on perfection.

8) Express gratitude for what you have.

9) Live with a generous heart. Giving to others, no matter the level, is an act of kindness and the world needs as much of it as possible.

10) Take time to reflect.

In a world filled with uncertainty and differences, there’s always room for peace!

by Mary Abranyi, Mary is a Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Meadows Mountain Realty and the owner of Cashiers Valley Fusion Yoga

Peace For Life A 10-Step Practice for Anyone, Any time

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F Posturing Healthy Children Ensuring good posture in children can result in happy, healthy adults.

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amilies living on the Plateau have many natural elements for children to thrive. Room to roam in the forest provides a needed release for most all of us to balance out the tension of our sedentary society.

Some of the most deserving people of bodywork are children. Even in the most well-meaning of families, children exhibit some of the same postural stress as their caregivers.

You may wonder, ”how could a child have strain and tension?’’

As innocent and resilient as children are, their ability to carry and suppress tension is real. Children now take in far more digital information than children ever have before.

This can manifest as fatigue, malaise, irritability, confusion and depression.

During childhood, we make the body we will inhabit for life – the physical form, the brain, the organs. Early injuries and stressful situations can turn into the chronic

pain cycles and illnesses of adulthood.

Helping children can alter this in a positive way when guiding them in how to feel into their own skin, joints, muscles, and connective tissue. This can and often does lead to better living.

We all know the potential for children to learn is tremendous. Children’s body pain and strained gait patterns change rapidly with therapeutic bodywork.

Finding a practitioner sensitive to a family’s needs is a good find, but even then children may be shy or unable to describe the nature of what exactly they are feeling.

Giving new sensory language is a great benefit of integrative mind-body therapy and this may create a path of happiness for a child to awaken to their full potential.

by Chad Garner & Ashby Underwood, Yoga Highlands, Advanced Practitioners of The Ida P. Rolf Method of Structural Integration

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

S

Time for Some Financial Spring Cleaning

pring is officially here – and for many of us, that means it’s time for some spring cleaning around our homes and yards. But why stop there? This year, why not do some financial spring cleaning, too?

You can apply some of the same principles of traditional spring cleaning to your financial environment. Here are a few suggestions: • Clear your vision. As an investor, you need to take a clear-eyed view of your situation periodically. Are you on track toward achieving your goals? If not, what moves can you make to get back on the right path? You need to be honest with yourself to see if you’re doing all you can to help make progress toward your objectives.

• “De-clutter” your portfolio. You’ll probably feel much better about your surroundings when you de-clutter them – and the same may be true of your investment

portfolio. For example, do you own several investments that are virtually identical? If so, you might want to consider ways to help diversify your holdings.

• Recharge your batteries. When you do your household spring cleaning, you may want to check the batteries on your smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector and other devices. And as part of your financial spring cleaning, you might need to recharge your own investment “batteries,” so to speak.

You can do this in a few different ways. First, you can increase your contributions to your 401(k) or similar retirement plan every time your salary goes up. You can also try to “max out” on your IRA contributions each year.

(For 2020, you can put in up to $6,000 in an IRA, or $7,000 if you’re age 50 or older).

Another way to increase your investment voltage is to make sure you’ve got adequate growth potential in your portfolio based on

your goals and risk tolerance.

• Put your house in order. As part of your spring cleanup, you may want to check for damage on your roof, windows, siding and so on. But you also need to put your financial house in order, especially as it regards to protection. Do you have adequate life insurance? If not, your family could suffer if something were to happen to you. And have you thought about how you could pay for long-term care if you needed it? To retain your financial independence – and also to help protect your grown children from possibly having to deal with these costs – you may want to explore some type of long-term care insurance.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC s

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

The Timelessness of

Silver Run Thanks to a reverence for its past, Silver Run Reser ve offers a beguiling perspective on 21st centur y Cashiers life.

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ou can tell that Silver Run Reserve is built upon what were a trio of farms on the southern edge of Cashiers.

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the outlines of the fields, presented today as gentle meadows criss-crossed with a series of rambling brooks, and streams that can spring to bold life with the advent of an afternoon shower.

There are the remnants of orchards scattered throughout, epitomized by a

lone gnarled apple tree senteniled upon a rolling pasture.

You can feel that heritage in the roads themselves. They amble and wind, and they’re built to the contours of the crazy quilt terrain. Nature was respected, not overcome.

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

That feeling reverberates among the homes and the buildings themselves.

Locally harvested trees are used in the lumber and beams that are fundamental to the buildings, and they’re erected by men who’ve absorbed the lessons of generations of homesteaders. The same goes for the stonework that adorns so much of the construction here. Most of rocks and boulders and slabs are taken from local

streams and quarries just a few miles away.

The owners have taken pains to preserve the expansiveness inherent in its DNA. It’s a low-density community. That means you won’t find a rolling golf course or a clubhouse flanked by tennis courts. It means the sites are fashioned into large acreage estates.

And finally, there’s the timelessness of the place itself. When you walk through Silver Run, your first inclination is to

“Breathe Deeply.” The air is cool and clear and hushed, punctuated only by the calls of distant songbirds and the more urgent calls of crows. It’s easy to imagine that you’re still in the midst of those farms, that the 21st century is somehow held at bay.

by Luke Osteen

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

Chemo Hair Our beloved Donna has been f ighting a health issue with her characteristic courage and irrepressible good humor.

A hundred thousand hairs I’m told that’s how I started Now, left with only twelve My pate is broken-hearted It happened one sad morn A pelt upon my pillow Like a moth-eaten clump Scattered willy-nillow Save twelve little hairs If follicles could come over And nest upon my head I’d have a tiny comb-over.

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Curse the chemo doctors Who putrified my system They lied about the fallout I should have just dismissed them I wonder if a weave Could latch on to my dozen And make me look like Fur-dinand My Neanderthalic cousin I bought a rack of hats From elegant to funky Don’t deny you’re laughing When I wear my sock hat monkey

I reminisce the lyrics of The 60’s musical, Hair Gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen Where’s it now, oh, where?

I have no home for fleas I have no hive for bees No nest for birds, there ain’t no words For the loss of my wonderful hair.

by Donna Rhodes

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

High Flying Love For aviator Margie Shambaugh, life in the clouds was as natural as, well, learning to skate.

This year marks The Laurel’s Year of the Woman. It’s a joyful celebration of the 100th anniversary of American women being given the right to vote. Each issue, we’ ll be spotlighting the women of the Plateau who’ve immeasurably enriched the lives of their families, their communities, and the world itself.

This month, we’ ll reveal how a woman’s innate courage gave her a life among the clouds. But don’t bother asking her what happened on her honeymoon.

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W

hen you encounter Margie Shambaugh in her apartment at Chestnut Hill, she registers as an alert, enthused 93-year-old who refuses to succumb to the weight of her years.

That dynamic energy is revealed by the paintings that adorn her walls (products of her ongoing art classes) and the quicksilver nature of her conversations, which range from the deeply personal to the implications of the cable news cycles. And always, the gentle humor directed at herself and the world around her.

“I was born in Miami,” she says (and proves by pronouncing it “Miam-uh”). “When the (Second World War) broke out, I was in high school, working at a roller skating rink. To drum up business, the owner went around hiring pretty girls to work at the rink, just skating around. Well, I could hardly skate, but I guess I was pretty enough. He hired me and I learned to really skate.”

Whether it was her natural beauty or her confident skating technique, young

Margie caught the attention of the ruggedly handsome (and motorcycling) Bob Shambaugh, who’d soon become an airman with the US Army Air Corps.

The couple fell in love and decided to marry before Bob was shipped overseas.

The trouble was, if a student at her high school chose to get married, she’d be booted out. No exceptions.

Well, almost no exceptions.

Margie, who was president of the Student Council, somehow ensured an exception was made.

“I suppose I got enough friends and people on my side that the Dean of Women really had no choice but to let me continue my education,” she says. “I just had to agree that when I returned, I wouldn’t tell any of the girls about what happened on my honeymoon.”

It was also during this time that her best friend, Mary Gaffney, earned her pilot’s license, a rarity for a woman at the time.

Somehow, Mary coerced/beguiled her friend into getting her own license and before

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS long the duo were flying alongside each other, an even stranger sight in 1940s Florida.

When the war ended, Bob returned and he and Margie opened a small engine repair service that allowed them to indulge in what had become a powerful passion for both – flying for the love of flying.

Mary cheerfully threw herself into the crazier parts of aviation – frost flying (low level night flying over a vegetable crop lined with flaming barrels to circulate warm air and prevent freezing), sky-writing, and the no-room-for-error world of aerobatics.

But Margie had her share of drama. She once, from the cockpit of her own plane, watched Bob declare an emergency and set his plane down on a Florida double lane highway, complete with oncoming traffic. Fortunately, Bob and his little place emerged unscathed.

Eventually, the couple retired and, at the age of 60 Margie began her college career at the University of Florida. Throwing herself into her studies with the same level of passion that gave her mastery of flight,

she graduated with a Fine Arts degree with High Honors.

She worked as a volunteer coordinator at Ocala’s Appleton Museum of Art. Then, when she and Bob moved to Highlands, the couple opened another small engine repair business. Well, half of the building was devoted to repair jobs, the other half was an art studio, where Margie led extension art classes through Southwestern Community College.

And even that wasn’t enough, because she eventually became the volunteer coordinator at The Bascom.

Today, Bob is no longer with us, but Margie is ebullient in her life at Chestnut Hill.

“They take good care of me, and they make me laugh and they listen to my stories,” she says.

For Margie, it’s clearly a safe landing.

Margie Shambaugh

by Luke Osteen

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SB E URS V I NI C EE SS

ACCOMMODATIONS

ACCOMMODATIONS

BEAUTY

CABINETRY

CLEANING

CONSTRUCTION

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SBEURS V I NI CE ES S

HOME CARE

HOME DECOR

PICTURE FRAMING

PRINTING

REAL ESTATE

ROOFING

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SB E URS V I NI C EE SS

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SBEURS V I NI CE ES S

GIVING BACK Pages 134-141

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GI V I NG BAC K

Lend a Hand

Save the Land

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Forget Ear th Day! Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust’s celebration f ills up an entire week.

O

ur mountains are home to a plethora of rare and endemic species, the latter group occurring nowhere else on the planet. The lush forests and cool rivers of the Plateau provide important habitat for so many. We truly live in an extraordinary place and in honor of this year’s 50th Earth Day Anniversary, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust invites you to learn more, explore more, and do more to care for our special part of the world.

On April 20, join us for a guided hike from our newest public trail at Brushy Face Preserve to our oldest conserved property at Satulah Mountain Preserve. We will hike from an old growth forest valley with large white pines and trickling streams, up through a ridge-top old growth forest, and end at the rocky Satulah summit where you’ll experience breathtaking wide-range views that can’t be compared.

If you are interested in getting your hands dirty, volunteer your time with HCLT, Mountain True, and the Coalition for Non-Native Invasive Plant Management on April 21 for an Earth Week Volunteer Workday at the Highlands Rec Park.

Help us continue working on control efforts on Privet and Oriental Bittersweet along the Rec Park trails.

If you’ve got young ones with a curious nature, we invite you to participate in the Earth Week BioBlitz on April 26. We will co-host this event with the Highlands Biological Station. We welcome community members and visitors of all ages to work together with experts to collect and identify the many kinds of flora and fauna that call our town home. We’ll explore both the Highlands Botanical Garden and HCLT’s Ravenel Park, home to Sunset Rock.

Wrapping-up our Earth Day festivities, as part of our Village Nature Series on April 28, a panel of local experts will lead an important discussion about our changing climate and how it could affect us here on a local level. Each panelist will give a short presentation, followed by plenty of time for questions and open discussion. Please join us for this free program beginning at 5:30 PM at The Village Green Commons’ new venue. VNS is co-hosted by Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and The Village Green. Mark your calendars for our May 26 program, Buzz-worthy Bugs!

To learn more about HCLT and our programs, please visit us at www.hicashlt.org or contact us at info.hitrust@ earthlink.net or (828) 526-1111.

by Sarah Pursel, Highland-Cashiers Land Trust

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Wishes Change Lives

Lisa Mullins is still working hard to be ready for her May 16 Make-A-Wish hike, and she’s still seeking community suppor t.

For Lisa Mullins, ever y step she takes on her Make-A-Wish fundraising, set for May 16, is a loving gift to a child facing an unimaginable future.

L

ocal resident Lisa Mullins made her first hike benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2014, raising over $2,800.

That hike changed her life, as she spent the whole weekend meeting Make-A-Wish children and families. She heard first-hand how wishes granted changed the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions . A wish come true empowers children to fight harder against their illness. A wish gives children renewed energy and strength, brings families closer and unites communities.

Those stories are why she stays so proudly involved in hiking and fundraising for Make-A-Wish. She will make her third fundraising hike on May 16 starting at Upper Whitewater Falls in Cashiers, through sections of Georgia and ending in Oconee, South Carolina, 28.3 miles through rain or shine in one day. She invites you to join her cause by making a donation. Any amount is welcome The average cost of a wish is $6,000 and the Number One Wish is, of course, a trip to Disney! Everything is taken care of for the child and family. It is a time when they can enjoy and have fun. To be a kid and not have to think about hospital visits, doctors and treatment.

Lisa is proud to share the stories of Make-A-Wish dreams come true like Fiona, age 4, with lymphoblastic leukemia who wished to be a cowgirl at a dude ranch; Jose, age 15, with a kidney disorder wished to have a professional drum set to help him heal through music; and, Addison, age 6, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who wished to meet a unicorn.

She has Addison’s photo hanging in her office. Seeing her pretty face every day helps her know that her fundraising efforts and some pain on the trail are going to make children like Addison very happy!

Many of the hikers joining Lisa on this challenge on May 16 are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends of a child that has had a wish granted in the past. They understand how important these wishes are. Together they are hoping to grant more than 80 wishes this year in Western and central North Carolina.

Please join Lisa and her fellow hikers make dreams come true by making a donation. Every dollar is tax deductible and will be invested in children’s wishes.

If you’d like to donate, please log onto site.wish.org/goto/ lisamullins. Every bit helps.

by Mary Jane McCall

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Carpe Diem’s Circle of Life As you’d expect, the wonder ful equines at Carpe Diem Farms are immune to the anxiety that’s gripping the entire world.

Carpe Diem Farms can still use help from its volunteers, though. Contact Sue Blair if you’d like to help, carpediemfarms.org.

S

pring is breaking through at Carpe Diem Farms!

The Bradford Pears announce the awakening with their flashy show of magnificent blooms. The horses pick up their pace and oh, the shedding of winter coats. What we share with the birds from our daily brushings because the soft centers of their baby’s nests.

The circle of life on the farm.

April is the beginning of so much activity– repairs, renovations and getting everything ready for the season. We begin our exercise and training program for the horses. A slow and steady process to get all back in shape.

If you’d like to volunteer to “brush a horse” we’d sure welcome the help. We need all the help we can get!

Spring herd update: Princess, our senior Morgan, will turn 32 in June. She has wintered well, although she’s beginning to display signs of dementia. She does what many of us do, goes out a gate or into a stall and wonders why she did it!

Pumpkin, our adorable mini, continues to be personality plus. You always know what she wants! We believe she will be 31 this year.

Sweet Pea turns 25 this year. She is the last of our original herd.

She has been the inspiration for several models of Easy’s Slippers.

Horses around the world wear healing therapeutic slippers she helped me design with her lifelong hoof issues. (A special thanks to Jeri and Bill Mauldin who have been her “adopters” for years.)

Anna Banana is our alpha mare who’s been here since she was three months old, and she’ll turn 18 this year.

Tracy continues to heal. It has been 16 months and she continues to be an amazing patient. She gets frustrated some days and stays committed to be with her herd.

Violet, Izzy and Mercedes are our riding horses – they have their work cut out for them.

Carpe Diem Farms is an experiential educational foundation, “Exploring the human potential through equines.” If you’d like to know more, please visit carpediemfarms.org.

by Sue Blair, Carpe Diem Farms

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The Way Animals Are Treated The Highlands-Cashiers Humane Society’s David Stroud reminds us that it’s not just people who are feeling the effects of the Coronavirus scare.

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T

he Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society’s no-kill shelter remains open to the public but in consideration of the guidelines issued by national, state and local authorities, for (what we hope is a brief and yet) the foreseeable future, visits to our shelter will be by appointment only.

This will allow us to serve you under the safest possible conditions. For adoptions, donations, and other community outreach programs (see below), we respectfully ask that appointments be made Monday through Friday between 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. Please call us at (828 ) 743-5752 to make an appointment.

If you’re facing financial hardship and cannot afford to buy pet food, as long as donations continue (please see below) we can provide some food for your pet free of charge. We ask that your pet be spayed/neutered, and if not, we can fix your pet for free. After all, if feeding one animal is a hardship, think of how much it will cost to feed a litter of puppies or kittens!

There is no way to sugarcoat this. We need adoptions, we need fosters, and we urgently need donations. Please help if you can.

I realize these are uncertain times, but if you have been thinking of bringing a canine or feline companion into your home, what better way to self-quarantine and social distance

than with a shelter pet? Please consider opening your heart and home for the unconditional love of a CHHS shelter pet. You can see all of our adorable, adoptable shelter pets and download our adoption application here chhumanesociety.org. We will happily and promptly call you for an appointment to come meet your new best friend.

The cost to care for the homeless animals in our community has skyrocketed. If you can, please consider a donation to help CHHS care for this increased influx of pets with either a financial gift or a donation of food and supplies.

Donations of the wet food on our wish list would be very much appreciated! Our preferred dry food kibble for the CHHS shelter pets are large bags of Purina Dog Chow, Puppy Chow, Cat Chow and Kitten Chow. They are currently out of stock and therefore not on our wish list. If you find affordable and available Purina products in large sizes and would like to ship them or deliver them to us, we would be forever thankful and grateful. Our phone number is (828)7 43-5752 and our shipping address is: Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society; 200 Gable Drive; Sapphire, NC 28774

by David Stroud, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society

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GI V I NG BAC K

Nantahala Health Foundation Nantahala Health Foundation is looking to improve the quality of care provided to some of the most vulnerable in Western Nor th Carolina.

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A

new nonprofit created to support regional efforts to eliminate barriers to health has set up its headquarters in Franklin, appointed an experienced executive director and advancement officer, and moved ahead with an initial grant cycle.

Nantahala Health Foundation, which celebrated its first anniversary in February, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration addressing the social determinants of health in Western North Carolina.

Working with local agencies in Jackson, Macon, Clay, Graham, and Cherokee counties and the Qualla Boundary, Nantahala Health Foundation is addressing five areas that impact community health: education, economic stability, healthcare, neighborhoods and built environments,

and social and community concepts. They invest in communities by supporting local initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of health inequities.

It was a privilege to award almost $1.5 million this past December…

“It was a privilege to award almost $1.5 million this past December to Western North Carolina organizations with innovative projects designed to improve health outcomes for the people in our communities,” said Lori Bailey, the foundation’s executive director.

Access to healthcare and education were their most funded initiatives, with nearly 80 percent of funds going to 18 agencies

GI V I NG BAC K and non-profits. These include First Baptist Church of Franklin/Macon’s Medication Assistance Program; KIDS Place, which serves child and youth victims of abuse and neglect; and Southwestern Child Development’s work to support childhood education for ages 0-3.

Other initiatives supported included those involved in transportation, such as REACH of Macon County’s need to purchase a disability-equipped passenger van; agencies addressing poverty, such as Jackson County Department on Aging’s need to purchase hot pads to improve the quality of food delivery to those served

by Meals on Wheels; and those providing help with housing, such supplies for home repair and mold remediation requested by Mountain Projects.

By partnering with organizations offering innovative solutions to health disparities and boots-on-the-ground workers ready

to implement much-needed programming designed to enhance the quality of life for so many in Western North Carolina, Nantahala Health Foundation is committed making a difference in the lives of our citizens.

For more information and to find out

how to support these and future efforts, visit nantahalahealthfoundation.org or call (828) 634-1527.

by Mary Jane McCall

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BUSI NESS

Living & Loving Here With its remarkable natural beauty and its dazzling shops and constantly surprising restaurant choices, Highlands offers a not-sosubtle non-stop seduction.

When coupled with its busy community calendar, it’s game over.

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T

he Highlands Chamber of Commerce is a firm believer in the best place to live is the best place to visit. Just ask the hundreds of residents, full- and parttime, who claim Highlands as home. They don’t just live here; they love here.

And what’s not to love? The scenery will take your breath away. Day-to-day, often minute-to-minute, vistas shift from dawn’s early glow to a rainforest mist to glistening drops of refracted light glimmering in a mountaintop sun shower. It’s like living in an Impressionist painting, swathed in seasonal colors only a master could capture.

For that reason, it’s no wonder Highlands has become an art hub with a world-class fine art center, performing art center and theaters.

Fine arts demand fine food and wine and the plethora of fine dining establishments has put Highlands on the map as one of the South’s exceptional, award-winning culinary destinations. Highlands is home to six Wine Spectator restaurants! And the

shopping is a unique blend of individually curated businesses.

Our four-season climate offers a wide variety of outdoor activities including hiking in beautiful parks and nature trails, canoeing, rafting, snow tubing, zip-lining, snow skiing, arts such as photography and plein air painting, bird-watching, and an abundance of educational experiences.

For online information about the beauty and wonder of Highlands, visit Visithighlandsnc.com. Catch the High!

by Donna Rhodes

Point phone camera at QR code to read more about Highlands Chamber of Commerce.

BUSI NESS

I

n the fall of 2019, Cashiers Area businesses surrounding the Crossroads were busy planting more than 1,500 daffodil bulbs in roadside beds.

The Cashiers Area Chamber’s Retail Roundtable organized the purchase, courtesy of Dargan Landscape Architects, and installation of the multitude of flowers to create a dramatic visual cue when they bloom that spring is arriving in the mountains.

Here on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, the cheerful daffodil is typically among the first botanical to sprout among the high elevation flowering species. Despite some cold temperatures and occasional snow flurries in March, the flowers push their distinctive blooms up to signify the verdant season is just around the corner.

Southern Living says daffodils are, “long lived, increasing naturally from year to year; they stand up to cold and heat; they have many garden uses; and they offer a fascinating array of flower forms, sizes, and colors. Given minimal care at planting, all

thrive with virtually no further attention.”

This Chamber’s Retail Roundtable daffodil effort included not only individual business purchases and planting of the bulbs but also the engagement of youth group support in public areas like the Village Green. Planting was an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of environmental stewardship and the future payoff of investment in time and energy.

Last year, the Chamber’s Retail Roundtable also sponsored a Welcome Cashiers doormat hospitality campaign, a Cashiers 1833 flag promotion, and the Village Lights holiday display in coordination with the central park’s Christmas festivities and tree lighting.

For more information bout these events, visit CashiersAreaChamber.com, call (828) 743-5191 or email office@ CashiersAreaChamber.com.

What Daffodils Teach Us

If our current situation has you feeling anxious about the future, turn your gaze to the daffodils popping up all over Cashiers.v

by Stephanie Edwards, Cashiers Chamber of Commerce

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BETH TOWNSEND Owner / Broker,

LIZ HARRIS Owner / Broker,

CLHMS™ / GUILD™

CLHMS™ / GUILD™

ANN McKEE AUSTIN Owner / Broker

COLEEN GOTTLOEB Broker-In-Charge

We are grateful for our clients who helped make us the #1 office in total dollar volume sales within the Highlands-Cashiers MLS this past decade.*

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PHILIP BRADLEY Broker Associate

© DICK DICKINSON

WAYNE MONDAY Broker Associate

SANDY BARROW & JOHN BARROW Sales & Listing Team / Broker Associates

PAUL COLLINS Broker Associate

LOGAN CROCKER Broker Associate

IN TO T

#1

ES SAL

OLLAR VOLUME D AL

OFFICE TH

*

FO

R

CASHIERSHIGHLANDS, NC

19

DE

09

E PAST DEC

A

*reflects total dollar volume from 1/1/09 to 12/31/19 according to data from the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service

LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC MINNIE COLE HOUSE 619 Hwy 107 S / Cashiers, NC 28717 828.743.3411 / McKeeProperties.com 145 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

YELLOW MOUNTAIN

MLS# 85322 / $6,950,000

Cashiers/Highlands finest estate opportunity minutes from Mountaintop Golf Club, Old Edwards Club, Cashiers and Highlands. Centrally located between Cashiers and Highlands in beautiful western North Carolina, Yellow Mountain Preserve boasts the highest elevation on the CashiersHighlands Plateau at 5,100 ft and is a true legacy property. The 150 acre estate has roads and utilities in place for a low density estate development or can be enjoyed as a single family or shared family estate. The estate adjoins 12,000 acres of the Nantahala National Forest. A 26-acre gentleman’s farm site sits at 4,600 feet and provides

a peaceful 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains. The 360 degree stunning panoramic views from there include Cashiers Valley, Whiteside Mountain, Lake Glenville, and Sapphire Valley. All the views and natural surroundings combined with electronic access through a stoned entry, a paved road, high speed internet access and full cell phone coverage makes Yellow Mountain Preserve an exceptional and unique piece of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

619 Hwy 107 S / Cashiers, NC 28717 146 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

828.743.3411 / McKeeProperties.com

HIGH HAMPTON

MLS# 92477 / $1,295,000

5 BR / 7 BA: Reminiscent of the good old days of High Hampton, this lovely family home is filled with charm, light, happiness and inviting mountain style. From the long private driveway to the casual entrance that opens to the vaulted great room and on to the expansive floor to ceiling windows that frame the gorgeous view, this home will draw you in for the perfect mountain home. The spacious open great room, dining room and sun room area easily finds room for the entire family and friends. Three large bedroom suites on the main level have excellent views of Chimneytop and Rock mountains and offer easy accommodations without the hassle

of steps. The loft area above the great room provides the perfect slumber party area for the kids with 4 sets of built in bunk beds. Another room on the main level provides space for an additional bedroom or a library/ study complete with full bathroom. Two large guest suites downstairs are spacious and bright with beautiful mountain views. An expansive deck spreads along the front of the home’s upper and lower levels and is accessed from each room by large sliding glass doors. Also on the property is an adorable playhouse, tiny guest house, artist studio, or whatever one might want it to be.

LIZ HARRIS, CLHMS™ / GUILD™

828.342.3194 (c) liz@cashiers.com

McKeeProperties.com 147 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

MLS# 89365 / $2,250,000

4 BR / 4.5 BA: Located at the end of a quiet culdesac, this home nestled in the woods offers ultimate privacy and peace. A beautiful covered bridge spans three rainy day streams and leads to the front door where one is greeted by the warmth and casual mountain sophistication this home exudes. The spacious great room with vaulted ceilings, floor-toceiling dry stacked masonry fireplace, and walls of windows is both cozy and expansive. It flows beautifully onto the screened porch overlooking gorgeous views of Wade Hampton’s 2nd, 3rd and 4th golf holes and the mountains beyond. The porch offers vaulted ceilings with horizontal beam accents and a stacked stone fireplace. Just off the other side of

the great room is a lovely stone terrace garden surrounded by peaceful forest and native plantings. The elegant kitchen is the perfect size with appointments fit for a chef. Just off the kitchen sits the dining area that overlooks the golf course and the mountain views. Beautiful master bedroom and cozy den/library on the main level offers plenty of main level living space. The bright lower level features tall ceilings, great views from each bedroom and a charming family room perfect for a cozy evening indoors. A two car carport complete with storage and lovely perennial low-maintenance landscaping complete this perfect home package.

619 Hwy 107 S / Cashiers, NC 28717 148 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

828.743.3411 / McKeeProperties.com

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

MLS# 92247 / $1,290,000

4 BR / 4 BA: This beautiful cottage’s design and finishes are current and elegant with all the spaces perfect for a mountain home. The main level offers a large great room with soaring ceilings and floor-to-ceiling stone masonry fireplace. A lovely dining area and kitchen are situated just off the great room with excellent entertaining flow to the great room and outdoor screened Carolina porch. The porch offers a floorto-ceiling masonry stone fireplace and plenty of room for both a sitting area and dining area. The master bedroom suite on the main level also adjoins the covered Carolina porch and features vaulted ceiling and tall windows that fill the room with beautiful natural light. Another guest

bedroom and a den/office on the main level provide lovely spaces for guests to enjoy without accessing steps. Two generous sized guest suites and a large family room with kitchenette are located on the lower level.

The family room and the screened patio off the family room both offer floor-to-ceiling masonry stone fireplaces. Other features include powder room and laundry room on main level, additional bonus/storage space downstairs, and a two-car garage. This home is situated on a nearly level lot full of beautiful forest timbers, mosses, and ferns. It is an easy walk to Wade Hampton’s clubhouse and driving range.

LIZ HARRIS, CLHMS™ / GUILD™

828.342.3194 (c) liz@cashiers.com

McKeeProperties.com 149 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

A community that more than surrounds you with peace and beauty, it fills you up. Here you are free to roam and run... to hike and play... to seize the day and savor the moment.

HERE AT SILVER RUN RESERVE, YOU’RE FREE TO BE.

Welcome home.

SilverRunReserve.com

Estate homesites ranging from 2–12 acres. Built cottages ranging from $1.4 –1.6 M.

150 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

A beautifully amenitized, low-density community in

the cool mountains of

Cashiers- Highlands, Highlands , North Carolina

CREATE YOUR MOUNTAIN LEGACY TODAY.

LIZ HARRIS, BROKER / OWNER

liz@cashiers.com 828.342.3194 c 828.743.3411 o McKeeProperties.com 151 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

BALDROCK EQUESTRIAN COMMUNITY 3 BR / 3.5 BA: A handsome Equestrian estate located in The Divide at Bald Rock in a convenient location near the entrance to the community, and close to golfing, dining, and the beautiful mountain town of Cashiers. A mission style mountain lodge with approximately 4,745 heated sq. feet nestles in 6.55 nearly level acres overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Built in 2006 and featuring rough log beams, soaring T&G ceilings, stacked stone floor-to-ceiling fireplace & natural light encompass this modern, rustic home. A 3-Stall custom, top-of-the-line barn with pastures & arena, electrobraid fencing, unfinished guest space

MLS# 90104 / $1,500,000

above the barn with roughed in plumbing and electric, elevation over 4,000 ft, a location adjoining National Forest with endless horseback riding and hiking trails, make this an outdoor and an equestrian lover’s paradise. Bald Rock is a premier equestrian community just 10 minutes from Cashiers, NC and 30 minutes from Highlands, NC. The community and property boarders Panthertown National Forest, providing endless trails for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking. Discover some of natures finest enchanted forests, waterfalls, views, and rock outcroppings right outside your door.

619 Hwy 107 S / Cashiers, NC 28717 152 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

828.743.3411 / McKeeProperties.com

SILVER RUN RESERVE:

mountain modern cot tage

4 BR / 4.5 BA: A Meyer-Greeson-Paulin Benson designed home with 3,010 heated sq. ft. and ~650 sq. ft. of screened porch, featuring a floor

$1,400,000

plan with two master bedrooms on the main floor and two additional bedrooms on the second floor.

LIZ HARRIS, CLHMS™ / GUILD™

828.342.3194 (c) liz@cashiers.com

McKeeProperties.com 153 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

CHATTOOGA CLUB

MLS# 92974 / $1,075,000

3 BR / 3 BA: This adorable Tudor style cottage is located in the beautiful Chattooga Club in Cashiers NC. It offers 3 spacious bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, lovely clean finishes and selections throughout, a built in wet bar off the great room, stone fireplace in the living room, and a large covered Carolina porch with stone fireplace and plenty of room for outdoor sitting and dining, It’s nearly new condition makes it an excellent option for those looking for new and low maintenance. “For generations, families have escaped to The Chattooga Club’s pristine acreage for an upscale, intimate retreat. Here, a commitment to culinary excellence

and emphasis on everyday wellness combine to create a place where families can relax, renew, reconnect—and always return.” The beautiful Chattooga Club offers an array of amenities including a clubhouse with indoor and outdoor seating, bar, suites for guests, spa and fitness center, pool with covered seating area, bar and food service, a grill out and picnic pavilion, a beautiful lake for fishing, and canoing, an attended gated entrance and more! Club amenities are available to members and membership is by invitation.

619 Hwy 107 S / Cashiers, NC 28717 154 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

828.743.3411 / McKeeProperties.com

CEDAR CREEK WOODS

MLS# 91162 / $395,000

2 BR / 3.5 BA: This cute cottage in Cedar Creek Club is just a short walk to the lake and clubhouse! Great short range mountain views and frontage on the Horsepasture river. Master on main level. Spacious vaulted great room and open kitchen dining area. Guest bedroom and loft area upstairs. Covered porches on the front and back of the home. Join Cedar Creek Club and enjoy all the amenities and charm of this club located just 2 minutes from the center of Cashiers!

CASHIERS IN-TOWN

MLS# 89304 / $199,000

2 BR / 2 BA: Cute cottage just 5 minutes from center of Cashiers, NC. Stream and pond view. Remodeled in 2007. Silver Run Falls just 3 minutes away as well as many other great hiking trails.

LIZ HARRIS, CLHMS™ / GUILD™

828.342.3194 (c) liz@cashiers.com

McKeeProperties.com 155 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

LOTS & LAND

MOUNTAINTOP GOLF CLUB

MLS# 89580 / $675,000

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

CROSS CREEK PRESERVE

MLS# 90630 / $475,000

MLS# 91728 / $250,000

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

MLS# 91592 / $195,000

MOUNTAINTOP GOLF CLUB MLS# 89860 / $615,000

MOUNTAINTOP GOLF CLUB

MLS# 90107 / $475,000 MLS# 90106 / $395,000

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

MLS# 91289 / $225,000

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

MLS# 90109 / $125,000

LIZ HARRIS, CLHMS™ / GUILD™

McKeeProperties.com 156 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

828.342.3194 (c) liz@cashiers.com

A

#1 S

VOLUME B 2020

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CASHIERS, NC

FO

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Beth Townsend C PAST DE

BETH TOW NSEND,

beth@cashiers.com

A

C L HMS ™ / GUILD™

c 828.421.6193

Broker/Owner

o 828.743.3411 157 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

LEAWOOD

HIGHLANDS COVE

MLS# 91234 / $985,000

4 BR / 4.5 BA: This majestic mountain home is built to impress with a rare sunset facing view over Lake Glenville. Two outdoor living porches are screened and offer additional space for entertaining. The master bedroom on the main level offers privacy and its own screened porch.

Fantastic kitchen big enough for all the chefs in the house.

MLS# 92522 / $485,000

3 BR / 3 BA: This end unit, ground floor, condo has been meticulously taken care of over the years. Beautiful hardwood floors throughout the living space and high end wall to wall carpet in the bedrooms. The kitchen offers a breakfast table area, a wet bar and kitchen island. The screen porch is spacious enough for all of your outdoor entertaining.

PHILIP BRADLEY 843.224.5592 (c) / philip@cashiers.com

SAPPHIRE SANCTUARY

MLS# 91238 / $1,200,000

Stunning 63 acre property, bisected by Little Hogback Creek, is aptly named The Sanctuary. Enjoy beautiful mountain views while listening to the sound of rushing waters from the numerous small waterfalls. A picturesque cabin with kitchen and bath overlooks the creek, adjacent open-air bunk shelters and large decks.

SANDY BARROW 478.737.9664 (c) JOHN BARROW 828.506.9356 (c) 158 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

McKeeProperties.com

WADE HAMPTON

EMERALD COVE CONDO

MLS# 88678 / $1,985,000

5 BR / 5 BA: This magnificent estate-size home sits on 8+ beautiful acres with a spectacular mountain view! Elegant great room with floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, bright kitchen and breakfast nook.

Covered porch with fireplace. Two-story guesthouse sits just a short distance away.

MLS# 93065 / $177,000

3 BR / 2 BA: Enjoy year-round mountain views from this furnished, well-maintained condominium at Emerald Cove. Light-filled great room w/ fireplace opens onto spacious deck overlooking wooded area w/mountains beyond. Master suite has private deck, walk-in closet and large bath w/ jetted tub and shower.

UNDER CONTRACT

WILDWOOD MOUNTAIN

MLS# 92626 / $599,900

3 BR / 3 BA: Curb appeal abounds as you drive into the paved, circular driveway of this charming home. Spacious great room with floor to ceiling windows and stone fireplace. Well equipped kitchen, light-filled bonus room, and an inviting outdoor deck that overlooks the expansive, well-landscaped grounds.

WINSOME WAY

MLS# 91309 / $349,000

3 BR / 2 BA: Delightful log home with split floor plan and office/family room addition. Rich wood interiors and flooring add to the mountain feel of this home. Location is very private, with three porches for views all around. Long range winter mountain views, with additional privacy.

NO CLUB MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED.

SANDY BARROW 478.737.9664 (c) JOHN BARROW 828.506.9356 (c)

McKeeProperties.com

McKeeProperties.com 159 A PR I L 2020 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

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