April 2023: The Laurel Magazine

L aURe L

The Heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau

Rusticks

Opening for its 31st Season

Documenting Ordinary Life

Cover Artist, Betti Hankey

April

pg. 116

Publisher’s Note

As far as our staff can tell, author Mary Mapes Dodge never set foot on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau (she died in 1903), but she somehow, in her correspondence with her sister Mildred, sent us this message for the April 2023 Issue of The Laurel: “April’s coming up the hill!”

Thanks, Mary! We know! We’ve filled this issue with events and activities and comings and goings to remind us all that this is the month when life blossoms and inserts a measure of bounce in its step.

Join us in these pages as we illuminate the truth at the heart of Mary’s proclamation.

Thank You!

Janet and Marjorie

in

the

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.

Contributing Writers: Ann Self, Mary Adair Trumbly, Sue Blair, David Stroud, William McReynolds, Sue Aery, Zach Claxton, Ashby Underwood, and Mary Abranyi. Contributing Photographers: Susan Renfro, Greg Clarkson, Charles Johnson, Peter Ray, Terry Barnes, Ryan Karcher, and Colleen Kerrigan.

JANET CUMMINGS Managing Partner janet@thelaurelmagazine.com

MARY JANE MCCALL Writer mjmccall777@gmail.com

MICHELLE MUNGER Art Director mungerclan5@aol.com

MARJORIE CHRISTIANSEN Managing Partner marjorie@thelaurelmagazine.com

DONNA RHODES Writer dmrhodes847@gmail.com

MARLENE OSTEEN Writer marlene.osteen@gmail.com

THOMAS CUMMINGS Distribution Manager jothcu@yahoo.com

SARAH FIELDING Account Manager sarah @thelaurelmagazine.com

LUKE OSTEEN Editor / Writer luke@thelaurelmagazine.com

DEENA BOUKNIGHT Writer dknight865@gmail.com

WHAT TO DO

Pages 14-53

photo by Susan Renfro

Bear Shadow Music Festival

Now in its third year and named for the enigma that the Shadow of the Bear casts annually across Whiteside Mountain, the festival returns to Winfield Farms in Scaly Mountain the weekend of April 28-30. This three-day outdoor event packs a roster of standout talent and an eclectic mix of genres and artists.

Headlining the show are: Spoon, Friday, April 28: Spoon’s 10th album, Lucifer on the Sofa, released September 2022 was nominated for the Best Rock Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

The Head and The Heart, Saturday, April 29: Known for pairing modern rock with classic folk-pop elements in a way which is catchy, familiar, and compelling, they’ve been met with

bearshadownc.com .

mainstream media enthusiasm since the release of their 2013 album Let’s Be Still.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Sunday, April 30: Through his career as a member of the Southern rock legends the Drive-By Truckers, fronting his own band the 400 Unit, and as a solo artist, Isbell has grown into one of music’s most brilliant songwriters.

Opening acts for the show include: Fruit Bats on Friday, April 28; Neal Francis on Saturday, April 29; and Amythyst Kiah on Sunday, April 30.

But festival veterans know that a good chunk of the action occurs between the Big Acts.

They’ll be signing up for Summit & Sound, a hike through Brushy Creek Preserve set for 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. Friday, April 28.

Bearfoot in the Park, A one-hour yoga flow, will be staged at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park from 9:00 to 10:00

A.M. Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30.

If all the activity makes you want to cool off, you’ll want to sign up for Live Stream, set for 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Saturday, April 29. This is an exclusive flyfishing experience, guided by the experts at Brookings and Musician and Angler Woody Platt of the Steep Canyon Rangers.

And throughout the weekend, there’ll be Musician Clinics that’ll give patrons the chance to learn techniques and riffs from Bear Shadow artists. For more information and tickets visit bearshadownc.com

by Marlene Osteen

The side events during the day add color and texture and fun to Bear Shadow. For details and reservations, visit

Spoon NealFrancis

JasonIsbellandthe400Unit

TheHeadandTheHeart

Summit&Sound

Summit&Sound

BearfootinthePark

Easter Inspirations

You can sample the sublime savories served up by Chef Craig Richards at a dinner at The Farm at Old Edwards, Saturday, April 8. Cost is $185 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Book now at oldedwardshospitality.com/events .

It’s spring on the Plateau, and nowhere is the season celebrated more enthusiastically than at Old Edwards Inn. Just in time for food lovers, or really anyone in search of an inspiring meal, and especially those interested in sampling impeccably executed Italian dishes is Chef Craig Richards’ dinner at The Farm at Old Edwards on Saturday, April 8. In a career spanning more than two decades, Richards has run the kitchens at two of Atlanta’s most respected establishments –Tavola and Ecco, followed by more than four years as culinary director of the Ford Fry empire. In 2019, Richards and partner Billy Streck opened Lyla Lila, the restaurant that the NY Times cited as, “exactly the diverse, sophisticated and comfortable restaurant Atlanta’s booming Midtown neighborhood needed.”

Despite some initial hardships stemming from the Pandemic, the restaurant has thrived, accolades and rave reviews have poured forth – a feature in The New York Times 2021 Restaurant

List and a spot on the semi-finalist roster of the James Beard Foundation Awards in two categories, Best Chef Southeast and Outstanding Wine Program.

Richards, who got his start under the tutelage of the grand matriarch of Italian cuisine, Lydia Bastianich, has spent a career mastering the craft of pasta making.

Frequently viewed as a “pasta magician,” his obsession has not diminished. He describes his menu at Lyla Lila as, “Italian in spirit and technique” but with an “expanded pantry” featuring Georgia grown ingredients – with dishes that spotlight flavors found throughout Italy and Southern Spain.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution noted that pasta is, “the star of the show,” and that, “No matter how you like your pasta – stuffed or baked, cut straight and long or into short, twisted shapes – you can find it here, made in-house.”

Richards cooks with a flourish. Take for example the superb

wagyu beef and black truffle ravioli. His version of lasagna is a showstopper; a hedonistic 13-layer crispy duck lasagna, that’s fried then baked – no dry noodles here. It’s a dish that Forbes Magazine likened to, “a religious experience,” confessing that, “if this dish were the last bite I took on earth, that would be fine.”

Meanwhile, not to be missed are the seasonal Mediterranean accented dishes; for example, cold-smoked scallops with green harissa and snapper in squash and basil-pistachio pesto.

With a menu designed around seasonal crops from the Farm at Old Edwards, the al fresco affair also incorporates a few Italian Easter traditions. The multi-course dinner is filled with spring’s most vibrant flavors, alongside wine pairings courtesy of the Old Edwards sommeliers.

by Marlene Osteen

CraigRichards

Fishing for a Cause

During the first weekend in May, fly fishing afficionados will have an opportunity to traipse through streams and along waterways within a boundary of 2,200 miles of fishable rivers in Western North Carolina – all in the name of fun and fundraising.

The 12th Annual Three River Fly Fishing Festival is May 4-6 and will enable up to 50 teams to compete for prizes and the distinction as the most skilled regionally in regards to fly fishing.

The region’s three main rivers, Chattooga, the Cullasaja and Nantahala, as well as myriad other streams and rivers, is where tournament fishing takes place. Competitors must achieve a catch in one native river; one hatchery supported river; and one delayed-harvest river. Participants have an opportunity to catch brown, brook and rainbow trout, primarily.

Chris Wilkes, an owner of Highland Hiker, which is one of the main sponsors of the event, explained that all proceeds from the $500 per two-person team entry fee benefits the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund for Highlands School graduates.

This year, there is “fun for the whole family” in terms of luncheons, an opening night reception, a closing night banquet, prizes, entertainment, and more.

“This event is very well supported and participated in,” said Wilkes, who noted that last year’s tournament drew at least 25 teams. “Coca-Cola is a big sponsor, encouraging teams from its corporation to participate, and it provides a 3-to-1 financial match. That’s a really big deal.”

Additional sponsors are companies who manufacture fly fishing equipment as well as individuals and businesses.

Pat Gleeson of Highlands-Sotheby’s, another tournament sponsor, explained that anyone can register for free online. But if they want to participate as a team, they must submit the entry fee by the start of the tournament.

The schedule includes the Opening Night Cocktail & Skills Competition, set for Thursday, May 4, at 6:00 P.M., at which time the tournament’s rules will be addressed. For more information, visit 3riverflyfish.com, or contact Chris Wilkes at (828) 526-5298.

by Luke Osteen

The Three River Fly Fishing Festival, set for May 4-6, offers plenty of challenges for both veteran anglers and clever novices of all ages.

Revel in The Good Things

There’s wonder all around us – it deserves more than a single day to be noticed. Happy Earth Day.

Even though the Plateau’s communities aren’t staging any fullblown Earth Day ceremonies, I hope you’ll consider this issue of The Laurel as our version of a Plateau-wide Earth Day celebration.

This shouldn’t be too surprising, since 21 years ago Marjorie and Janet promised to spotlight the astonishing natural bounty that surrounds us in every edition of this magazine.

That means that our pages have always featured Audubon reports courtesy of the wise William McReynolds; observations by the good people at Highlands Biological Station (the Return of Otters to Highlands!); hiking trails and wild destinations outfitted by Deena C. Bouknight; and the breathtaking photos

from area photographers – and in this issue, Tiho Trichkov; and profiles of artists who are energized and inspired by that touch of the wild that touches everyone on the Plateau.

Or consider this issue and the people whose lives are built around the proposition that all of the creatures that share this landscape with us are deserving of respect and kindness –Killer Bees Honey, Bella View Farms, and the two big-hearted women profiled in our Women Who Shape The Plateau feature: Kaitlyn Moss Villarreal and Jenny Smith.

If all of this doesn’t convince you to cherish the Goodness of this Planet, this Plateau, I’d invite you to find a trail that you can explore with fresh eyes. Open

your senses and your imagination and see if you can’t sense something magical and renewing.

If you can’t get out on a trail, see if you can’t cultivate a relationship with the birds that pass by every morning. I began this practice in the first scary days of Covid and now, every day, I’m visited by a raucous troupe of Ravens. Or the generations of racoons that appear on my porch at twilight and scratch on the door for a scoop of dog food. Astonishing.

Whether you choose to recognize Earth Day or simply incorporate an awareness into your daily routine, please know that we’re happy to accompany you on your journey. Revel in the Good Things!

by Luke Osteen

photo by Andrew Renfro

Easter’s Special Appeal

Easter at Old Edwards Inn is celebrated with exuberance and a measure of elegance.

On any given weekend the threshold for making guests feel welcome and entertained is set higher at Old Edwards than most anywhere. Still for Easter weekend the always attentive and inventive staff manage to pole vault over normal guest expectations. Inviting at any time of year, Easter weekend at Old Edwards suggests a special appeal. Perhaps, it is the combined appeal of the bucolic setting, the onset of spring, new clothes, and the holiday air in one of the country’s most gracious and charming inns. For youngsters and their winter-weary parents, Easter at Old Edwards offers an enticing variety of activities and a relief from days forced indoors. Pleasure is certain to be found in the dizzying array of pastel hued eggs and dazzling decorated bonnets at the egg decorating and bonnet making session on Saturday. Guaranteed to be fierce is the competition at the Sunday Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday

when the children romp gleefully on the Lodge Lawn and scramble for prizes. And there’s likely to be much wonder and joy on the children’ faces when the Easter bunny visits and appreciative grins as their own faces are boldly painted.

Still the smart folks at Old Edwards understand there’s more to Easter weekend than peeps and chocolate bunnies. Somewhere between searching for eggs and tying your bonnet there’s brunch – arguably one of the most celebrated brunches of the year. Executive Chef Chris Huerta brings a refined seasonal menu to Madison’s Restaurant where Easter brunch is prepared with thoughtfulness and care using ingredients grown in the Inn’s gardens and provided by regional farmers and purveyors. The light and airy dining room has an inviting old warm charm with its stone walls and rich earth tones and overlooks Main Street in Highlands.

Weekend Itinerary as follows:

Saturday, April 8

Easter Egg Decorating and Bonnet Making from 3 to 4 P.M. in the Lodge Lobby (for hotel guests)

Sunday, April 9

Dine on a Special Three-Course Easter Brunch in Madison’s Restaurant from 11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. Open to the public *Reservations Required

$68 Per Person, $30 for Children Under Twelve; Tax, Gratuity, and Beverages

Not Included

Easter Bunny Visit from 1 to 2 P.M. on The Lodge Lawn (for hotel guests)

Easter Egg Hunt starts promptly at 1:30 P.M. on The Lodge Lawn (for hotel guests) Face Painting from 1 to 3 P.M. on The Lodge Lawn (for hotel guests)

For more information visit: oldedwardshospitality.com/events

by Marlene Osteen

Easter Events on The Plateau

Easter will be celebrated across the Plateau, with events at both the Village Green in Cashiers and Highlands Rec Park.

For as long as the little communities that dot the HighlandsCashiers Plateau have existed, Easter has been celebrated in many different fashions – sometimes in churches, sometimes in community services outdoors and sometimes in deeply personal individual rituals and commemorations.

The Village Green in Cashiers is taking the community celebration reins this year with its Stations of the Cross, set for 3:00 P.M. Good Friday, April 7, on the Commons Lawn. It’ll be led by local clergy and everyone is invited to participate.

set for children 11 years old and younger.

Hundreds of treat-filled Easter eggs will be scattered around the park for hunters who will be divided according to age.

Attendees are asked to bring their own baskets and cameras to the egg hunt.

The Easter Bunny’s scheduled to lead an Easter Egg Hunt at the Highlands Rec Park at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 8.

…everyone is charged up and ready to hunt as soon as the Easter Bunny gives the signal.

Highlands Churches Easter Schedules

the front lawn at 7:00 A.M.

Maundy Thursday, April 6

From the sublime to the silly, The Village Green will host its Easter Egg Hunt at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 8. It’s

“We urge our little hunters to arrive a little early, because we start promptly at 10, and everyone is charged up and ready to hunt as soon as the Easter Bunny gives the signal,” said a Rec Park spokeswoman. “We’ll make sure that the littlest basketeers get their chance to score some Easter Eggs, too.”

Highlands will not be hosting community-wide Easter services, though Highlands United Methodist Church will once again present its beautiful floweradorned Cross on the church lawn. Churches that had finalized their opportunities to worship as of press time are listed below, but all area churches are planning meaningful services, open to all.

Highlands United Methodist Church:

Palm/Passion Sunday, April 2 services at 9:09 and 11:00 A.M.

Service of Healing, April 5

6:00 P.M. in the Faith & Fellowship Center

Holy Thursday Service, April 6

5:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary

Good Friday Service, April 7

5:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary

Easter Sunday, April 9

Sunrise Service at the Easter Cross on

Easter Worship Services

9:09 and 11:00 A.M.

Potluck Easter Brunch

10:00 A.M. in the Center

Easter Egg Hunt

10:00 A.M. on the front lawn

Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church:

Holy Thursday Mass, April 6

6:00 P.M. at St. Jude

Good Friday Liturgy, April 7

3:00 P.M. at St. Jude

Easter Vigil Mass, April 8

8:30 P.M. at St. Jude

Easter Sunday Mass, April 9

9:00 A.M. at St. Jude; 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady of the Mountains

First Presbyterian Church

Palm Sunday, April 2

11:00 A.M. Service of Scripture & Song

6:00 P.M. Service followed by a dinner in Coleman Hall

Good Friday, April 7

10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Self-Guided Prayer through the Stations of the Cross

Easter Sunday, April 9

11:00 A.M. Love Wins (Pastor Emily is guiding the church through a year-long examination of love in 2023, hence “Love Wins” on Easter Sunday)

Church of the Incarnation:

Holy Eucharist in Historic Chapel Monday–Wednesday, April 3-5, Noon, Maundy Thursday, April 6, 6:00 P.M., Nave

Good Friday, April 7, Noon, Nave

Easter Vigil, April 8, 8:00 P.M., Nave

Easter Morning, April 9, 9:00 and 11:00 A.M., Nave

by Luke Osteen

Second Annual Dog Show

It turns out every dog has its day –confident canines are invited to join the Second Annual Highlands Dog Show, 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. Saturday, April 8, at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park.

If your dog is a standout (for whatever reason), there’s a place for her in the Second Annual Highlands Dog Show, set for Saturday, April 8, at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Sponsored by Landmark Realty, dogs will be competing in four categories – Best Trick, Happiest Dog, Best Behavior, Looks Like Owner – and Best in Show. It’s free to enter and any age, and breed, any size is welcome. There’s no entry fee and, let’s face it, any contestant is a Good Dog!

by Luke Osteen

Orchard Sessions at The Farm

The stories and songs will pour out of Mike Kinnebrew at an April 20 Orchard Session at The Farm at Old Edwards. Book online at oldedwardshospitality. com/orchardsessions .

For three years, singer-songwriter

Mike Kinnebrew has been thrilling audiences at the Orchard Sessions at The Farm at Old Edwards. Applauded by audiences for his expressive warmth and richness of voice, Kinnebrew takes the stage on Thursday, April 20, for a program of irresistible musical storytelling that makes clear why he’s an Orchard Sessions favorite. Kinnebrew makes music that is lucid, alive, and typically delivered with a sense of wonder that he gets to air his songs at all. Though he defines himself as a “songwriter who hates writing songs,” he persists in the hopes that, “when I sing about my life, my story, my secrets, my dreams, my fears — someone out there will hear their own story, and in that moment, we are both less alone.”

The past year has brought new ventures – playing on the main stage at the Brookhaven Cherry Fest where

he opened for rock icon Joan Jett, performing back-to-back sold-out shows at Atlanta’s Eddies Attic, and releasing three new singles. The releases, honest and biographical, are full of sketched out dramas from his life as a father, friend, and husband, and never fail to excite on a purely musical level.

In What’s Left of Me, a song written during his first few months of sobriety, he takes inventory of his life and what left. Realizing that he’s no longer young, he reflects on issues of substance abuse and the decision to stop drinking.

Although In My Heart was written for a friend who was widowed shortly after her wedding day, it’s a song for anyone grieving.

The composition Can’t Let Christmas Go captures the feeling of loss that we all experience as the magic of Christmas slips away.

This year, Kinnebrew continues to

endear listeners with his country-folk renditions – on February 10 he fulfilled a longtime dream to headline Atlanta’s Buckhead Theatre, performing for a sold-out audience. And he’s begun writing a new album, to be recorded this summer and released in the fall.

He tells me that he can’t wait to return to Highlands, “to play my songs in that magical setting. Of all the shows and stages, I’ve played nothing quite matches the sweetness and purity I feel when I get to share my songs at the Orchard Sessions.”

Old Edwards Inn and Half-Mile Farm hotel guests and members: $25. General Admission: $40 (Online tickets are open to the public now). Cash bar and complimentary light bites will be served.

by Marlene Osteen

MikeKinnebrew

Scan to learn more.

Weekend Concerts

Lace up your dancing shoes – Highlands’ free weekend concerts return next month – Friday nights at Town Square and Saturday evenings at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

If you’re a fan of live music, you can’t help but be energized by the return of Highlands Weekend Concert Series, the evening soundtrack that’ll be part of Highlands life through the end of October.

Friday Night Live is provided by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/ Visit Highlands, celebrating traditional mountain music, and offering local and regional artists the chance to share their love of traditional and contemporary Appalachian sounds. Shows are every Friday night in Town Square from 6:00 until 8:30 P.M.

Saturdays on Pine, held at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park every Saturday night from 6:00 until 8:30 P.M., shakes things up a bit with music of every kind.

The fun starts on Friday, May 19, with a performance by Cashiers resident Jay Drummonds. Locals might think of Drummonds as a primo family man

or the concrete guy (he operates a thriving concrete business, Highlands Foundations Inc.) or a church musician (one of his treasured pastimes) or performer at The Ugly Dog Pub and other local venues. But did you know he’s one of Nashville’s best yarn-spinning, story-tellin’ singer/songwriters?

On Saturday, May 20, it’s The Boomers’ triumphant return to the Plateau. Their performances have ranged from the ’97 President Clinton Inaugural Ball to the 2012 NFL Owners Meeting with hundreds of wedding receptions in between. The song selections and consistent quality of their live performances ensure that they’ll always draw an electric Highlands crowd.

Speaking of drawing an enthusiastic audience, save room on your dance card for Silly Ridge, slated for Friday, May 26. They’re a Highlands-based troupe offering an eclectic blend of americana, bluegrass, and folk music. The band

showcases the talents of Knight Martorell (banjo, harmonica, harmony vocals), Dave Mueller (mandolin and lead vocals) and David Crisp (guitar and lead vocals).

They’ll be followed the next evening by The Swingin’ Richards. Their mission statement is a simple one: Rock the House! The Swingin’ Richards came into fruition in 2001, opening for James Brown. Now you may say that’s pretty good for a debut, yet there’s good reason the guys were able to float their boat on something like this – Dues and Persistence. You can hear it pay off with their return to the Plateau.

For more information, call the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center at (828) 526-5841 or visit highlandschamber.org

by Luke Osteen

Continuing Education

The Village Nature Center is an introduction to the Wild Things that share the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau with us. Join them April 25, when ecologist Sonya Carpenter presents Investing in the Biodiversity of Cashiers: Creating a Sustainable Future for a Complex Ecosystem.

“ Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself,” said John Dewey, an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Myriad opportunities exist on the Plateau, practically all-year long – via the libraries, sundry organizations, various clubs, and more – to regularly pour into one’s mind and intellect regarding all types of subjects.

The annual late-spring-to-fall Village Nature Series in Cashiers is just one of those eye-opening, sometimes mindblowing experiences. Co-hosted by The Village Green and Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, and sponsored by Cedar Creek Club, the series features experts in numerous fields presenting on such topics as wildlife, habitats, conservation, and local cultural heritage.

The mission of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is “to protect valuable natural

resources for all generations.” The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust conserves the forests, wetlands, and vistas that are home to the greatest number of rare and endemic plants and animals in the Southern Appalachians. The mission of The Village Green is to preserve and enhance land for the community’s civic, spiritual, academic, recreational, and cultural activities to maintain the quality of life for all citizens and visitors to the greater Cashiers area. This 13-plus-acre park is located in the heart of the Cashiers community – at the crossroads of Highway 64 and Highway 107.

This year, the Village Nature Series will present on a wide array of topics, from Forest Therapy to Amazing Animal Adaptations to Composting. Presenters are highly knowledgeable about their topics, primarily devoting their careers to the study of a particular subject. And, it is that extensive knowledge that is

shared with the public, often making the presentation interactive with live animals, visual aids, and more.

This educational lecture series is held at The Village Green Commons in Cashiers on the last Tuesday of every month from 5:00 – 6:00 P.M. beginning in April and ending in September. The July 25 presentation will be held at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. These programs are free and familyfriendly; no registration is needed, and the programs take place rain or shine. For the 2023 Village Nature Series schedule, as well as descriptions about each event and its presenter, visit hicashlt.org/2023-village-nature-series. html or villagegreencashiersnc.com/ village-nature-series.

by Deena Bouknight

SonyaCarpenter

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Talking Trout

The 2023 Jan Wyatt Symposium focuses on the intricacies of Trout Fishing in Western North Carolina, June 15 at Canyon Kitchen at Lonesome Valley. For tickets or more information, visit cashiershistoricalsociety.org .

The rushing streams and ambling brooks that lace the Plateau are one reason that this corner of the Southern Appalachians is a natural fly-fishing destination. It’s why pros Matt Canter and Chris Wilkes write columns in this magazine. And there’s an article in this Issue devoted to the fishing opportunities at Lake Toxaway.

That’s why it shouldn’t be a surprise that the topic of this year’s Cashiers Historical Society’s Jan Wyatt Symposium is “Talking Trout: The History and Evolution of Native Trout & Fly Fishing in Western North Carolina.”

The rushing streams and ambling brooks…are one reason that this corner of the Southern Appalachians is a natural fly-fishing destination.

The symposium’s set for 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Thursday, June 15, at Canyon Kitchen at Lonesome Valley. Sponsored by McKee Properties, Brookings Anglers, and Lonesome Valley, it’ll benefit the Cashiers Historical Society.

Speakers include friend-of-The-Laurel Canter, who’s the co-owner of Brookings Anglers in Cashiers and Highlands; Sally Jennings Hudson of the Jennings family from Lonesome Valley and founder of Sunburst Trout Fish Hatchery; researcher Dennis Chastain, who has found evidence that our native brook trout species might have been established because of the efforts of Wade Hampton III bringing specimens across the Continental Divide to Cashiers Valley; and outdoorsman Herman Walker, who will dive deep into our native trout species, their habitat requirements, and the history of fly fishing. The afternoon will consist of six tents with activities for the participants to visit – Fly Fishing Exhibit; Casting Lessons with Brookings Guides; Bamboo Rods with John Hollifield; and City Lights with Chris Wilcox.

by Luke Osteen

Scan to learn more.

Much More

Throughout April the twin libraries are reminding their communities, they’re about a lot more than books.

This month celebrates National Library Week, April 23-29, with a concentration on 2023’s theme as “There’s More to the Story.”

Indeed, expressed Hudson Branch Librarian Carlyn Morenus, “There are so many varied services we offer to the community.”

Serenity Richards, branch librarian for Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, echoed her Fontana Regional Library colleague’s sentiments: “We’re so much more than books.”

Books may have been the primary feature of libraries when the American Library Association was created in 1958. However, as our country modernized and grew, more than 100,000 libraries across the country became rural and urban hubs for gathering, education, fun, and – as Richards pointed out – “much more.”

A recent The New York Times article, titled “A Love Letter to Libraries,

Long Overdue,” espouses: “It’s easy to romanticize libraries. But the fact is, they’re not ‘just’ about the written word. Were they ever?…The modern library keeps its citizens warm, safe, healthy, entertained, educated, hydrated and, above all, connected.”

Within all the FRL branches, visitors have access not only to countless printed books, but e-books and audiobooks as well. Plus, there are opportunities to take classes – in person and online – obtain helpful information on a number of topics, such as taxes, aging, mental health, and legal issues, and hear guest speakers share about projects, new books, organizations, and “much more.”

For enjoyment purposes, each library offers a selection of movies for children and adults, and parents/caretakers can bring little (and big) ones along for story times, crafts, acting classes, and special age-appropriate events.

Richards noted, “In April, we’re continu-

ing our Writers Workshop because it’s been so popular, both our Tech Times will be in full swing on alternating Wednesdays between Hudson and Cashiers, and our afterschool STEAM programming will be continuing.”

And the best part? Most of what the libraries offers is free to the public. There are free current newspapers and magazines accessible; free wireless internet access; free notary services; free public-use computers; free technology assistance; free streamed movies; and, much more.

As The New York Times reminds, “You might go there to dry off or to cool down. To study for algebra or to read a romance novel. To stock up on thrillers or to take stock of your less-than-thrilling life. To meet a friend or to be alone. For a bit of excitement or for a moment of calm…libraries are the beating hearts of our communities.”

by Deena Bouknight

Driver for Life

The legendary Corky Coker is lending his deep reservoir of automotive knowledge and one of his equally famous roadsters to the Highlands Motoring Festival.

Corky Coker, of Chattanooga, Tenn., became involved in the Highland Motoring Festival last year after hearing about the event for several years.

He literally grew up surrounded by vintage automobiles due to the family business of Coker Tire Company, which was started in 1958. Coker Tire Company met the niche opportunity of manufacturing tires for all types of vintage cars throughout the United States and internationally – even for countless historic-themed movies, such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and recently Jungle Cruise, and Yellowstone 1923.

Coker’s father, Harold Coker, handed over the vintage segment of the family tire business and “told me to make a go of it.”

The business became the largest supplier of collector vehicle tires worldwide. Coker

also acquired Honest Charley Speed Shop, which he molded into a garage that restores vintage cars for collectors.

Since Coker’s entire life has been immersed in many aspects of the automobile industry, he was naturally interested in becoming involved in the annual Highlands Motoring Festival, June 8-11.

The fundraiser provides a packed schedule of motoring and exhibition events, and Coker will be participating with a few friends staying at his Lake Glenville home.

Although Coker owns a number of vintage cars, and his family in Chattanoga maintains The Coker Museum, he said he cannot pinpoint a favorite car. “The car that I consider my favorite is the one I’m driving that day,” he said.

Some of the autos in his family’s collection include a 1914 Stutz Bearcat, a 1909 Thomas Flyer, a 1912 Alco, and a

1957 300 SL Mercedes Roadster, among many other cars, motorcycles, and vintage trucks and buses. He said he is not certain which car he will enter in the festival, but believes it will probably be the 1909 Thomas Flyer, which is “a very rare car; its sister car won the Great Race from New York to Paris in 1908, and a 1961 movie was made about that race starring Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood.”

Coker pointed out that the June festival educates spectators regarding various makes and models of cars. “Each car has a story,” he said, adding that he tries to glean as much information about an automobile’s history each time he has purchased one.

For more information about the festival and a schedule of events, visit highlandsmotoringfestival.com.

by Deena Bouknight

CorkyCoker

Season’s Bounty

Highlands Rotary pitches in to place the Highlands Community Table back on the calendar. Naturally, you’re invited – 6:00 P.M. on the first Tuesday of every month at the Highlands Community Building.

Highlands Rotary has always been about serving its community, and this meal was the most recent demonstration of that generous spirit.

Though the Highlands Community Table was only established in 2016, it’s the continuation of a tradition that dates back to nearly the founding of the town.

From its earliest days, Highlanders have enjoyed gathering for a delicious meal and the promise of lively conversation. Highlands Inn and Old Edwards Inn offered family-style meals for their guests and boarders and residents. Later, Bill’s Soda Shop and The Mountaineer Restaurant filled the niche.

That’s why the establishment of the Highlands Community Table in 2016 resonated so deeply and so immediately with Highlanders.

From its earliest days, Highlanders have enjoyed gathering for a delicious meal and the promise of lively conversation.

The Plateau’s two green markets are a celebration of the landscape’s bounty and a tribute to the men and women who make it all possible.

Spring is a season of new beginnings, hope, and joy and a time to enjoy the signs of life springing up all around us. For many of us, that means planning spring meals that herald the start of the verdant growing season on the Plateau. Fresh, local products are a joy to shop for and add color and flavor to your table that are unequaled by products from store shelves.

After a particularly wet gray winter, it is with joy that we go in search of fresh flavors for our tables and here on the plateau we don’t have far to look. The Plateau is home to two wonderful farmer’s markets – The Green Market-Locally Grown on the Green in Cashiers and Highlands Marketplace in Highlands.

The Green Market-Locally Grown on The Green, Cashiers’ farm stand and local market begins this season on April 19. Held every Wednesday from 2:00 until 5:00 at The Village

Green Commons Pavilion, this is the place in Cashiers to go for the freshest and finest products. Admission is free and parking is plentiful.

This market is “producer only,” meaning that the vendor must be the grower or producer of all the products they sell. Vendors must produce within a 125-mile radius of Cashiers. This extended radius ensures that we have access to the longest possible growing season and the largest selection of products available.

Highlands Marketplace at the Kelsey Hutchison Founders Park begins on April 1 and is held each Saturday from 8:00 A.M. until 12:30 P.M. There’s something uniquely wonderful about starting your weekend strolling through this colorful marketplace as the dew still glistens on the grass while finding the freshest ingredients for your weekend brunch.

Both markets provide the unique opportunity to talk to the people who actually grow and produce the food. This is farm-to-table fresh with an extraordinary personal touch. These hard-working vendors take pride in bringing their products to you and are always happy to answer any questions.

The selections at each allow you to fill your basket with naturally grown meat, fresh dairy items and eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, jams, jellies, honey, pickles, and freshly baked breads and baked goods. You’ll also find locally made beauty and wellness products and craft items as well as an abundance of flowers and plants for your home and gardens.

These markets represent our communities at their best so plan to visit them throughout the season. You can buy local and eat well. That’s pure happiness.

by Mary Jane McCall

Local kitchen wizards Debbie Grossman and Kristy Earp Lewis and a platoon of loyal volunteers shepherded these gatherings that offered delicious meals (with dessert, always dessert!) and the aforementioned conversations. The ambient chatter was spirited, sometimes raucous, and always good natured. Well, somebody ring the bell – Highlands Community Table is back on the calendar!

You – whether you’re a year-rounder, or a seasonal resident, or someone just passing through – will find a place at the table, at 6:00 P.M. every first Tuesday of the month at the Highlands Community Building. You don’t need reservations, there’s no entry fee (although donations are gratefully accepted) – show up prepared to eat well, chat with old friends and make new ones. Come armed with tales of children and grandchildren, and feel free to share a laugh.

by Luke Osteen

Keeping OurPlateau Pristine

All About The Music

The hills are alive when The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center stages its Music Week, April 23-28. For more information and registration, please visit themountainrlc.org/ music-week.

The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center is hosting Music Week April 23-28. Participants will have daily opportunities for group and individual participation and instruction in songwriting, guitar, voice, ukulele and more with event coordinators and leaders Rod MacDonald, Aidan Quinn, and Christine Stay of Friction Farm and Tret Fure. You can venture in lightly, explore something new, or dig in deeper and hone your craft. There will be plenty of music appreciation sessions: history through the lens of song, discovering fun, unexpected musical connections across genres, song circles and concerts.

Rod MacDonald has appeared on stage with Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow, Odetta, Tom Paxton, the Violent Femmes, Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, Dave Van Ronk, Emmylou Harris, Richie Havens, Ani DiFranco, Tom Chapin, Jack Hardy and David Massengill. He’s performed at festivals in Philadelphia, Winnipeg, Florida, South Florida, Riverhawk, Boston, Kerrville, Greenwich Village, Falcon Ridge, New Bedford Summerfest, Port Fairy (Australia) and Trowbridge (UK), and on the radio program Mountain Stage. He was reportedly the first American singer to tour the newly independent Czech Republic in 1991, and has made 40 tours in Europe since 1985, nearly all of them with NYC bassist Mark Dann.

Join your neighbors, friends, family and co-workers for the annual Plateau Pickup on Saturday, April 15. Volunteers will begin at Kelsey- Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street at 8:30 A.M., where they will receive their geographic assignment. Stretches of US 64, NC 28, NC 106 and parts of downtown Highlands will be covered.

Groups, families and individuals are welcome!

Volunteers will receive a light breakfast, a safety vest, gloves, pick-up tools, garbage bags and a thank you t-shirt. A boxed

lunch will be served to volunteers when they return to the park at Noon.

“Last year more than 130 volunteers collected nearly 15 tons of garbage,” says Kaye McHan, executive director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands. “It is so nice to see the community come together to beautify our roadways.”

Plateau Pickup is organized by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands and is part of Litter Sweep, the N.C. Department of Transportation’s biannual statewide roadside

litter removal initiative.

To participate, send an email to events@highlandschamber. org or call (828) 526-5841. For more information about Plateau Pickup or other Highlands events, visit highlandschamber.org

by Johanna Fein, Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC

Friction Farm combines storytelling, social commentary, and humor to create songs of everyday life, local heroes, and quirky observations. Their lyrically rich, harmony-driven songs earned them spots as Kerrville New Folk Finalists, Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists, and South Florida Folk Festival Songwriter winners. Friction Farm’s latest CD, Evidence of Hope, debuted at Number 10 on the Folk Radio Chart.

Tret Fure began her professional music career in her teens. By her twenties, she was playing guitar and touring with Spencer Davis. Her solo career blossomed as she became well-known in women’s music. Tret is a prolific writer whose heartfelt lyrics and impressive fingerpicking keep her songs on the folk radio charts. For more information and registration please visit themountainrlc.org/music-week or call (828) 526-5838.

by Luke Osteen

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Falcon Nesting

O.K., the photograph is a joke. We begin this new month, after all, on April 1, April Fool’s Day. This is my prank. That said and done, please be assured that I know that those who are fans of our beloved Laurel magazine and read this column are anything but fools. You’re in the know and in on the joke.

The jocular “Falcon Nesting” photo above is decades old and has been passed around by many. April Fool’s Day is centuries old and has been endured by millions over the years. Its history is both arguable and moot.

The historical speculation I like is that April Fools’ Day dates to Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, after the Council of Trent, when the Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar. On the Julian calendar the new year began with the spring equinox around April 1. Those who lagged in making the change and continued to celebrate a new year on

April 1 became the butt of jokes and were called April fools.

The best April Fool’s Day prank is credited to the BBC in its 1957 broadcast of the program Panorama. A two-and-ahalf-minute video was broadcast about the “spaghetti harvest” in southern Switzerland.

The video, seen by an estimated 8 million viewers, showed a family in the canton of Tacino in southern Switzerland harvesting a bumper crop of the pasta from a “spaghetti tree” and laying it out to dry in the sun.

festival was by respected broadcaster Richard Dimbleby. The archived video can be viewed online at youtube.com/ watch?v=tVo_wkxH9dU

Its (April Fool’s Day) history is both arguable and moot.

At the time, this Italian pasta was not well known in the UK and some Britons were unaware that spaghetti is made from wheat flour and water. Many knew better, of course, but hundreds of viewers called in asking how to grow spaghetti trees. They were told, tongue in cheek, to “place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”

The fulsome harvest, viewers were told, followed a mild winter and the disappearance of a fictitious Spaghetti Weevil. Some of the footage was shot in a hotel in Castagnola, Switzerland. The voice-over describing the harvest

We might not be bothered by this pesky day in the future because Congress is considering a bill that would eliminate the designation of April 1 as April Fool’s Day.

by William McReynolds

Beware: April Fool’s Day is upon us once again.

Beneficial Bingo

Grab a card (or two) – Highlands Rotary Bingo is back on the Community Calendar.

Fun and fellowship combine to benefit Plateau nonprofits when The Rotary Club of Highlands hosts bingo nights. Held monthly at the Highlands Community Building next to the ballfield, bingo events adhere to North Carolina’s State Bingo regulations so that attendees experience a true, competitive, but entertaining activity.

The Rotary Club of Highlands member Bob Baxter coordinates the club’s calendar and notes, “Bingo is also a chance to support our community nonprofits, win a little cash, and sometimes prizes as well.” Each bingo session focuses on and supports a different nonprofit. Attending The Rotary Club of Highlands bingo night enables residents and visitors to learn more about each beneficiary organization. In fact, each spotlighted beneficiary organization typically raises money from sponsors that support their mission, explained Baxter. “During the bingo night event, these sponsors are

recognized on the tables.”

He added, “It takes about seven Rotarian volunteers to work at each bingo night event as logistics, promotion, working with the nonprofits, and more is involved.”

Rotary bingo events are planned way in advance, but each one is held on a Thursday evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Capacity at the Highlands Community Building is around 100, with an average of 60 participating in each bingo event.

On Thursday, May 11, the Counseling Center will be the beneficiary. Baxter, who’s an executive coach at Clear & Present in Highlands, pointed out, “The Center serves the Plateau with therapists on a sliding scale for those who need financial assistance.”

Offered Leslie Manning, executive director of the Counseling Center, “May is National Mental Health Month, so on May 11 we’re looking forward to ‘Beeing Kind’ through Bingo and serving up bee-themed food and

prizes! ‘Bee’ sure to stay tuned!”

Thursday, June 29th’s bingo session supports the Gordon Center for Children, which – as its mission statement identifies – “promotes the cognitive, physical, emotional, social and spiritual development of the children in a warm and safe environment.”

July 27 is for the Scaly Mountain Women’s Club, which provides educational scholarships; October 26 is for Wreaths Across America, which exists to distribute wreaths on military graves; and, December 7 is for Shop with A Cop, which involves law enforcement and first responders providing Christmas shopping opportunities for underprivileged children. For more information about upcoming bingo events, contact Bob Baxter at rbax47@gmail.com, or visit highlandsrotary.org and click on “events.”

by Deena Bouknight

Elevate Your Expertise

With its bustling new slate of programs and presentations, The Center for Life Enrichment offers a behind-the-curtain glimpse of the world. Visit clehighlands.com to learn more about CLE classes.

The Center for Life Enrichment enthusiastically welcomes one and all to CLE’s 2023 season kick-off. Get ready for a rewarding mix of academic-style lecturers and nonacademic programs, covering a diverse array of topics that covers nearly 100 programs. It’s like being up-close-andpersonal with top-notch experts and scholars addressing scores of hot topics from around the world.

Elevate your expertise in political and current affairs presentations from esteemed diplomats and experts. Explore political law and litigation presentations from internationally distinguished attorneys and a former White House counsel. Plunge into book discussions from Pulitzer Prize-winning authors. Ignite your urge to be inspired in art, craft, gardening, and more. Tour Home and Garden Tours of the Plateau’s most enviable properties. Learn from the best in art workshops, culinary demos, and botanical walking tours of the Plateau’s flora and fauna.

CLE also organizes the annual Highlands Porchfest, where over 30 musicians from every genre perform at numerous hosting businesses/organizations downtown Highlands. Highlands Porchfest 2023 is set for Sunday September 17.

Program registration opening dates are based on your membership level as follows:

Chancellor, Dean, Chairman and President Members opens

April 3;

Patron and Benefactor Members opens April 10; Friend Members opens April 17; Family and Individual Members April 24; General Public opens May 1

Some programs, such as Home & Garden Tours, Author Cocktail Receptions, and Culinary Demos have a small group capacity and often sell out quickly. Please consider increasing your membership level to participate in earlier registration to ensure your participating in these popular and limited programs.

Here’s a sneak peak of two June programs:

Vignettes from 39 years of Diplomacy: The Foreign Service Behind the Curtain, Thursday June 8, 10:00 A.M. to Noon; $30 members/$40 nonmembers, Presenter: Ambassador Gene Cretz.

Ambassador Cretz served in India, China, Egypt, Syria, Israel and Libya, some of the most challenging nations in the world. He witnessed many historical events firsthand like Tiananmen Square. He helped blow the whistle on Gaddafi. He was a senior American official (exposed to vital inside information) to the governments of Mubarak, Netanyahu, and al-Assad.

Mr. Cretz will also discuss how/why diplomats remain critical

in a world increasingly dominated by direct leadership interactions and non-traditional ways of doing business, including cyber intrusions and zoom meetings.

China in 2023: A Year of Living Dangerously Friday, June 9, 10:00 A.M. to Noon; $30 members/$40 nonmembers; Presenter: Robert Goldberg.

For 10 years, Robert Goldberg has been a Principal with The Scowcroft Group, a Washington DC-based consulting group which provides insights and analysis about US and global geopolitical and economic issues. Mr. Goldberg’s focus is on China, Northeast Asia; regional security (Southeast Asia); and Indo-Pacific Framework economic institutions.

He will speak on China’s international relationships regarding Russia, the U.S., and the Asian-Pacific nations. He’ll address questions about China’s leadership, economic growth, its effect on global security, and more.

Visit clehighlands.com or call (828) 526-8811 for the latest details.

by Fallon Hovis, Executive Director, Center For Life Enrichment

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TiananmenSquare

CulinaryDemos

CulinaryDemos

Home&GardenTours

Hands in The Dirt

Highlands Mountain Garden Club’s Plant Sale, set for Saturday, May 27, at the Town Ballfield, is a once-a-year opportunity to green-up the Plateau.

The warm winter has given gardeners across the Plateau ample time to plan and prepare for their summer gardens and landscaping projects, and now that spring has arrived it’s time to put those plans into action.

There is no better place to start than with a visit to the Highlands Mountain Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale. This year the sale will be held on Saturday, May 27 from 9:00 A.M. until noon at the Town Ballfield at the corner of Highway 64E and Hickory Street.

Alfred Austin said it best: “The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature.” Local gardeners and plant lovers live the glory of gardening, enjoy its awe-inspiring beauty, and are always eager to share with others.

That’s why plant lovers in the know always mark their calendars for this

annual sale, because it’s a once-a-year opportunity that allows everyone the chance to purchase native plants grown by some of the most accomplished gardeners on the Plateau. No big box plants here, these have all been lovingly cultivated in native soil and are plants native to our region, so they are ideally suited to our unique ecosystem. They will grow and thrive for years to come. There will be as many as 30 to 40 different types of plants, from those that attract pollinators such as bee balm, astilbe, and clematis, to the always popular Hosta in its many varieties, Cinnamon Ferns, Creeping Jenny, Coneflower, Bleeding Heart, Forsythia, Iris, Daylily, and many other offerings, including Dahlia bulbs.

If you’ve admired a plant in any local garden, you’ll most likely be able to purchase it here and have a chance to chat with the gardeners who have

lovingly tended to those plants from seedling to sale.

This is the perfect time and place to chat with the Garden Club members and have them answer your gardening questions.

This is the Highlands Mountain Garden Club’s largest fundraiser of the year and proceeds are used to fund scholarships for local students who are studying horticulture, environmental studies, and education, as well as for other community projects, conservation efforts, and community gardens. It is a chance to beautify your garden while giving to a good cause.

Be prepared to come early as the sale is extremely popular and long lines form quickly. Cash or check only, please.

by Mary Jane McCall

REDEFINING

LUXURY

REAL ESTATE MARKETING

RESULTS

DRIVEN, EXPERIENCE

FOCUSED

THE 2022 LEADING BROKERAGE ON THE PLATEAU

Achieving the highest transactional dollar volume and the most transactions closed per HCBOR MLS.

At our core, we firmly believe that success is best measured by the relationships we cultivate with our clients. That’s precisely why we take immense pride in offering a premier service that caters to the needs of both buyers and sellers alike. With our dedicated team, you can expect nothing less than next-level personal attention, expert guidance, and solutions that are driven by results.

Connect with our team today and experience for yourself the kind of difference a strong, collaborative relationship can make.

RECREATION & CREATION

Pages 60-71

Waterfall Stunner

High Falls rewards the adventurous and the energetic with its spectacle and hidden delights.

Thousands of people – locals and visitors alike – drive the curvy stretch of U.S. Highway 64 (Highlands Road) through the Cullasaja River Gorge in Nantahala National Forest to view dramatic Cullasaja and Dry Falls. Yet, fewer people have experienced the powerful flow of water cascading down West Fork Tuckasegee River in the Tuckasegee Gorge.

Referred to as High Falls or Cullowhee Falls, the 150-foot waterfall truly presents a spectacular flow when extra water is released periodically from the dam above (visit https://lakes. duke-energy.com for dates and times). Typically, however, the flow of the waterfall is based on rain amounts.

Access to the High Falls trailhead is at 1966 Pine Creek Road, Cullowhee; GPS coordinates 35.198262, -83.159715. The parking lot with informational signage is across the street from restrooms and a Lake Glenville beach/park.

While the trail is wide, with built-in log or stone stairs along

much of it, the descent is steep. In fact, the 3/4-mile trail descends 650 feet in elevation – which, of course, means that it ascends the same amount during the climb back out of the gorge. But, the sights, sounds, and views are well worth the 1.5-mile round-trip hike. A hiking stick is recommended to assist and steady hikers going down and back up the trail.

Moss-covered boulders, rocks, and logs, as well as ancient Cherokee tree markers (limbs bent to indicate direction and locales), sheer stone cliffs, and sundry smaller waterfalls are viewable while meandering the trail.

At one point, a stone cliff runs beside the trail and features cave-like pockets that could very well house creatures, large and small. Water from rain and springs flows down areas of the cliff gorge, so that natural hues range from light and dark browns to light and dark grays; native seedling plants also grow on slight ledges along the massive stone face.

The Duke Energy-owned trail includes well-built bridges and

benches – besides the painstakingly constructed stairways. While the descent to High Fall is intimidating, knowing that one must climb back up to the trailhead, seeing the actual waterfall is worth any concerns. The backdrop to the powerful flow is a forest-topped sheer rock cliff. And the sound of the river below is soothing and meditative.

Kayaking signs indicate the opportunities for the recreation when the dam is released, but the trailhead warning offers: “The whitewater opportunity is recommended for expert/ advanced paddlers skilled for Class IV and V rapids.”

Yet, the trail can be traversed year-round, and the picturesque waterfall at the trail’s end rivals other – more popular waterfalls – available for viewing around the Plateau.

For a video of the dam released and flowing over High Falls, scan code below.

by Deena Bouknight

Scan to view video.

Peregrine Falcons

This bird is no joke. Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) are powerful birds that nest on cliffs and can be seen in our area including the cliffs of Whiteside Mountain.

About the size of crows, adult peregrines vary regionally but usually have bluegray wings, dark backs, brown-spotted buff undersides and white faces with black stripes down their cheeks. Like other raptors, they have hooked beaks for tearing flesh.

These are deft hunters that feed on other birds, pigeons and ducks being favorite prey but including large and small songbirds. They also eat bats. Their pointy wings and long tails are built for speed. Cruising speed while searching for prey is upwards of 35 mph. Air speed when pursuing another bird reaches 70 mph. Dives from dizzying heights a halfmile up, called stoops, achieve speeds of over 200 mph, making this is the fastest animal on the planet.

The female is larger than the male. They do not build nests but rather scape out shallow bowls on cliffs or gravel substrates that hold the eggs and fledglings. The male presents the female with several possible nesting sites, and she chooses one.

Two to five brown spotted eggs are incubated for 29-32 days. Fledging occurs 35-42 days later. The mated couple will produce only one brood a season.

Mid-century last, Peregrine Falcons neared extinction and were put on the list of Endangered Species. The use of DDT as a pesticide was the cause of a rapid decline in the population. DDT was found to cause eggshell thinning, resulting in eggshells breaking while being incubated. We almost lost them.

Since the ban on DDT in the 1970’s, Peregrine Falcon populations have recovered, and they are no longer listed as endangered. Today they are

found across most of the continent and throughout much of the world.

Happy April birding from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. Look for these formidable birds in the sky as fast-moving silhouettes with pointed wings, long tails and a call said to be an alarming rehk rehk rehk or a raucuous wiSHEP koCHE koCHE koCHEcheche. You’ll know it when you hear it. Use your Merlin listening app.

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, visit www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org

by

These venerable raptors live year-round in our area.

William McReynolds Peregrine Falcon by Peter Green

Living In The Wild

The B.E.A.R. Task Force, which was instrumental in Highlands being named a BearWise Community in 2021, has some simple steps to ensure that we all remain on good terms with our furry neighbors.

In the spring, bears are leaving their dens, and boy, are they hungry after not eating for a few months!

They are searching everywhere for food, and that could include your yard. But just because they are hungry is no reason to feed them, because that will only encourage them to stick around. As many of us know, that can lead to trouble...bears getting in the car and causing serious damage.

Or bears coming into your house, which is obviously not a good thing. So do whatever you can to keep bears wild and living in the wild, not in our neighborhoods.

To that end, the Town of Highlands prohibits the intentional feeding of bears, as well as providing access to garbage or other foods. If you know there are bears in your area, please follow these simple steps.

• If you’ve been feeding birds over the winter, now is the time to put the feeder and seed away. Bears have extremely sensitive noses and can smell food from over a mile away. Therefore, simply bringing in the feeders at night won’t deter bears, as they’ll be attracted to the seed leavings on the ground. Besides, bears are active during daylight hours, not just at night.

• Keep your doors closed and locked. You wouldn’t

believe how easy it is for a bear to open a lever-type door handle.

• The same goes with cars. Never leave food or wrappings in your car, and just in case, close the windows and lock the doors.

• Keep your trash inside until trash day or use a bearresistant trash container. Highlands requires bearresistant cans.

• If you do have bear activity, alert your neighbors so they can take steps to prevent problems.

• If you live in Highlands city limits and have a problem with a bear, please report it on the town’s website, where you will find a link for BearWise. At that page you can also find a great deal more information about bears and local ordinances.

If you do see a bear, just keep your distance and enjoy it, allowing it to move along. Keep dogs under control at all times. Bears might look sweet, but they are wild animals and must be respected as such.

by Cynthia Strain

photo by Cynthia Strain

Mother Earth Springs Forth

Soak up all of the season’s goodness – join the experts at The Highlands Nature Center for a Wildflower Walk through Highlands Botanical Garden, or a fun Earth Day celebration.

April, to me, feels like a breath of fresh air. Spring is here, sunlight lingers a bit more each day, and slowly, everything is starting to awaken.

Associated with new beginnings, environmental awareness, and cultural celebrations, there is much to look forward to this month. And what better way is there to spend the early weeks of spring than strolling through the Highlands Botanical Garden? The Highlands Nature Center has a schedule of programs that may be just what you need to emerge from winter hibernation. Beginning on Saturday, April 1, the Highlands Nature Center will be hosting biweekly Wildflower Walks. This is no April Fool’s joke. These free, community programs are led by knowledgeable guides that will take you on easy strolls through the Botanical Garden to explore stunning displays of spring wildflowers and learn about their unique characteristics and habitats. You can also learn

tips and tricks on how to best curate your home garden using native plants that attract and support our local wildlife, especially pollinators.

These walks will be each Wednesday and Saturday in April from 4:00 to 5:00 P.M., and all are welcome to join in!

A special highlight this month will be Earth Day. Celebrate the beauty and wonders of Earth at the Nature Center’s Earth Day Extravaganza on Saturday, April 22, from Noon to 3:00 P.M. Grab your family, and get ready to explore and appreciate the natural world with a scavenger hunt that will have you searching high and low for Earth’s treasures throughout the garden. A prize may be in store for participants!

Then, tap into your creative side with nature art and DIY crafts that will inspire you to use recycled materials to make beautiful, eco-friendly creations. Whether you and your family members

are budding artists, intrepid explorers, or nature enthusiasts, there’s something for everyone at this free, community event.

Also, just a friendly reminder that there is no need to wait for these programs to enjoy the wonders of the Botanical Garden – the garden is free and open to the public each day! Stop by on your own time to explore the diverse collection of native plants and flowers found on the Plateau, there is always something new to discover and admire.

For more information about these and other spring programs, please visit highlandsbiological.org. The Highlands Nature Center and the Highlands Botanical Garden are part of the Highlands Biological Station – a multicampus center of Western Carolina University. These programs are made possible by the Highlands Biological Foundation.

by Winter Gary, Highlands Biological Foundation

Invest In Our Planet

There are some simple steps you can take to help preserve our planet and this precious Plateau.

This year, Earth Day will be recognized on April 22, originating in 1970, it now involves more than a billion participants in more than 190 countries annually, making it the largest civic observance in the world according to EarthDay.org

The theme this year is “Invest In Our Planet.” If each individual chooses to “invest” their time, energy, or resources, collectively we can affect a positive impact to protect the natural resources we all treasure.

Consider “investments” of your time or energy:

• Limit use of pesticides and landscape with only native plants

• Commit to recycle more – use a container to make separating paper, glass, and metals easier, take advantage of the many convenient recycling drop-off locations in Cashiers and Highlands

• Use a guidebook or take a guided

nature walk to learn more about the plants, animals, and geology of our area

• Pick-up trash when out walking and participate in community clean-up events

• Join HCLT at a volunteer workday at one of our conserved properties

Likewise, consider “investing” your resources:

• Keep reusable shopping bags in your car for easier use – they hold more and don’t rip!

• Set-up recurring contributions to environmental organizations with missions you support.

• “Buy local” whenever possible, particularly perishables like produce.

• Be mindful regarding consumption of plastic - use a refillable bottle and enjoy our great mountain water!

• Support businesses that invest in the protection of their community’s natural resources, such as the “Dollars for

Preservation” program

We are fortunate to visit or live on the Highlands-Cashiers plateau surrounded by amazing natural resources. When hiking or exploring our environment, “investing in our planet” includes remembering the seven Leave No Trace principles (lnt.org), including: hiking on durable services (staying on trails, not cutting switchbacks), leaving what you find (letting the next visitor also enjoy the wildflowers and pretty rocks), disposing of waste properly (if you pack it in, be sure to pack it back out), and respecting wildlife (practice quiet observation from a distance, and never feed wild animals).

Looking for more ways to personally “invest” in the conservation of our beautiful environment? Follow Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust on Instagram at hicashlandtrust, on Facebook, check our website at hicashlt.org, or call us at (828) 526-1111.

by Lance Hardin, Highlands Cashiers Land Trust

photo by Susan Renfro

Documenting Ordinary Life

The entire world is a subject for cover artist Betti Hankey’s camera or paintbrush.

Betti Hankey is a triple-talent: a fine artist/painter, a photographer, and a movie maker. She shines in all three skills as mom, artist, and a very special educator. Art genes flow in her family, so it’s no surprise she’s always felt right at home with a paintbrush in one hand and a camera in the other.

In her junior year at Georgia State, cupid’s arrow struck, wedding bells rang, and she married her love, an Army soldier. She put college graduation on hold, and started a family. Everything

was fine until Fate intervened and took her husband in an untimely accident. Her life upended and left with two small children, she collected herself and went back to GSU. By the time she finished her Masters she’d degree’d in Art Ed, Elementary Ed, and later, Special Ed certification. While art was always her first love, there were rumors of the arts being the first to go in budget cuts, so Elementary Ed gave her a solid career.

As a dedicated observer of people, with their unique idiosyncrasies, shapes, habits, and forms, Betti’s

paintings, photos, and movies were the perfect canvas to showcase all her social fascinations. Since The Woman (formerly Venus) of Willendorf, which she had the honor of viewing in Austria, the human figure has been Art’s – and Betti’s – dominant subject.

In her classroom, Betti used movie-making as a story-telling/teaching platform. Students re-enacted myths, classic tales like Beowulf, societal commentary, accounts of personal experience, and much more. Kid-challenges were much easier to discuss and understand in the

context of a play. Students did all the script-writing, costuming, set design, acting, staging, and filming. Gifted children, who required satisfying experiments, thrived under Betti’s tutelage.

While Betti spends much of her current time in Highlands, she makes a circuit with family and friends (forever-fans of her artwork) in Georgia and Florida. They welcome her paintings, especially her social commentary, and proudly display

…she’s always felt right at home with a paintbrush in one hand and a camera in the other.

them in their homes. Her images are iconic: laundromats, vintage restaurants, barns, motels, churches, pigs, whatever strolls across her path that tells a story. Even though she is not in the art business, she is in the business of pleasing herself and those in her immediate circle with her creations.

Typical of Betti’s concepts is the painting of a Guatemalan artist, caring the tools of his trade like a cross. It’s that kind of

insight that throws a powerful punch into her process.

You might catch Betti in season at the Art League meetings, or about town, snapping her trademark photos, or dining with her best friend and husband of 44 happy years, Corb, or teaching Bible Study. She welcomes a chat. It just might provide the seed for a new painting or a movie.

by Donna Rhodes

Martha’s Whimsical Style

The Art League of Highlands-Cashiers launches with a presentation by Wizard of the Clay, Martha Sutherland-Wright, April 24 at The Bascom.

The 2023 season has arrived! For the first time in many years, the Art League did not go completely dormant during the winter months. Some full-time resident members met monthly for lunch and fellowship. Those attending kept up to date on each others’ off-season activities and discussed ideas for 2023.

The first meeting of the League’s 2023 season will be held at The Bascom at 5:00 P.M. on April 24, following a social at 4:30. This year’s first speaker will be Art League member Martha Sutherland-Wright. After semi-retiring from a 40-year career as a CPA, Martha had more time to pursue other interests. One of those was becoming a volunteer at the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, which led her to heavy involvement in the first Old Edwards/Humane Society fundraising event. Frank

Vickery, head of the Bascom’s ceramics program provided table centerpieces to be auctioned in support of the fundraiser. As Martha got to know Frank, she was immediately interested in leaning more about clay art. She began taking classes, and in the process found a fulfilling second career.

She was hungry to learn everything about the clay art form, and through hard work, she developed a whimsical style of soughtafter animal and birdhouse pieces. Her work recently earned her acceptance into the prestigious Southern Highlands Craft Guild, an organization of some 800 members across nine states, who work in a variety of mediums.

Her bird homes are built and sculpted from slabs of clay. Sometimes the base is thrown and then altered. She uses stoneware or earthenware; after the pieces dry, they are then bisque

fired to 1,850 degrees. Afterwards, oxides, underglazes, slips and/or glazes are applied. Finally, they are then fired at Cone 5, which is 2,160 degrees, in an electric kiln. Her work can be seen at the Bascom, Mountain Nest Gallery in Black Mountain, the Craft Guild galleries at Biltmore Village and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Martha’s web site is wayswithclay.com, and her Instagram presence is @marthasutherlandwright. Martha’s presentation will provide the perfect way to kick off the 2023 season!

For more information about the Art League, visit artleaguehighlands-cashiers.com.

by Zach Claxton, Art League of Highlands-Cashiers

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The Shapes Of Fire

The Bascom partners with the Green Energy Park in Dillsboro for a dazzling new exhibition.

The Bascom partners with the Green Energy Park in Dillsboro for a dazzling new exhibition.

Works of art in clay, glass and metal have at least one thing in common: the requirement of fire to shape forms into solid objects for viewers to behold. The physical energy required to create such objects is often forgotten once they sit on a pedestal in a gallery.

Artists who make work at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro face the fire every day as a routine part of their practice and have the unique opportunity to witness the power of technology to recapture landfill methane to fuel forges and foundries.

Their works are on exhibit at The Bascom beginning this month.

Green Energy Park: Building Art and Community with Renewable Energy is curated by Green Energy Park Executive Director Timm Muth, provides Bascom

audiences the opportunity to learn about renewable energy and its role and potential for art making. The Jackson County Green Energy Park utilizes clean, renewable energy resources to encourage economic development, provide environmental protection, and offer educational opportunities that seek to create a more sustainable future for Western North Carolina.

Methane gas from landfills is a potent greenhouse gas that left unchecked can negatively impact the environment. Burning methane gas in a controlled environment produces carbon dioxide (c02) and water (H20) in the combustion process. Therefore, burning landfill gas as fuel, the Green Energy Park provides direct and immediate improvements to the environment and local air quality while providing affordable studio space for artists and crafts people working in glass and metal and educational opportunities for the community.

Guest curator Timm Muth has over 30 years of experience in the energy industry. Prior to his leadership at Green Energy Park, Muth helped design and manage nuclear facilities, fossil fuel stations, hydropower, solar and wind power installations, and biomass resources such as landfill gas.

Leading the effort at the Green Energy Park since its inception in 2005, Timm brings to the project an enthusiasm for renewable energy, belief in the power of community, and the ability to turn what could be into what is.

The Bascom is enthused to share in partnership the great work being undertaken at JCGEP where art, community and sustainability converge.

Green Energy Park: Building Art and Community with Renewable Energy opens April 22.

by Billy Love, The Bascom

April Brings Three

Highlands Performing Arts

Center rolls the thunder and brings the passion with a trio of MET Operas. Check out HighlandsPerformingArts. com for more information, tickets, and memberships.

We’re getting into the spirit of the season when April brings three MET Operas for your enjoyment.

Saturday, April 1, at 12:30 P.M. features Verdi’s Falstaff. Baritone Michael Volle stars as the caddish knight Falstaff, gleefully tormented by a trio of clever women who deliver his comeuppance, in Verdi’s glorious Shakespearean comedy. Maestro Daniele Rustioni takes the podium to oversee a brilliant ensemble cast that features sopranos Hera Hyesang Park and Ailyn Pérez, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano, contralto MarieNicole Lemieux, tenor Bogdan Volkov, and baritone Christopher Maltman. Runtime is three hours.

On Saturday, April 15, the MET presents Der Rosenkavalier by Strauss at Noon. A dream cast assembles for Strauss’s grand Viennese comedy. Soprano Lise Davidsen is the aristocratic Marschallin,

opposite mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard as her lover, Octavian, and soprano

Erin Morley as Sophie, the beautiful younger woman who steals his heart.

Bass Günther Groissböck returns as the churlish Baron Ochs, and Markus Brück is Sophie’s wealthy father, Faninal.

Maestro Simone Young takes the Met podium to oversee Robert Carsen’s fin-de-siècle staging. Runtime is 4:42.

Saturday, April 29 brings Champion by the six-time Grammy Award–winning composer Terence Blanchard (Libretto by Michael Cristofer;) his first opera to the Met after his Fire Shut Up in My Bones triumphantly premiered with the company to universal acclaim in 2021.

Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green is the young boxer Emile Griffith, who rises from obscurity to become a world champion, and bass-baritone Eric Owens portrays Griffith’s older self, haunted by the ghosts of his past. Soprano Latonia

Moore is Emelda Griffith, the boxer’s estranged mother, and mezzo-soprano

Stephanie Blythe is the bar owner Kathy Hagan. Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for Blanchard’s second Met premiere, also reuniting the director-andchoreographer team of James Robinson and Camille A. Brown. Runtime is 3:20.

A pre-Opera discussion will begin 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the opera.

It’s not too late to become a member of the Highlands Performing Arts Center and still receive Member Benefits. The 2023 Concert Season is just beginning.

by Mary Adair Trumbly, Highlands Performing Arts Center

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National Audition Tour

Mountain Theatre Company’s National Audition Tour nets a strong slate of talent for its 2023 productions of Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, The Rocky Horror Show, and Home for the Holidays.

Mountain Theatre Company has just returned from their annual spring audition tour.

Scott Daniel, Executive Artistic Director, and Emanuel Carrero, Company Manager, traveled to multiple locations in February and March to cast MTC’s 2023 Mainstage Season.

The two biggest stops on this year’s audition tour were New York City and Lexington, Kentucky, where the 2023 Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) was held. Combined, these two cities welcomed over 1,000 professional actors, singers, and dancers to be considered for roles in Mountain Theatre Company’s upcoming productions of Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, The Rocky Horror Show, and Home for the Holidays.

Callbacks were then hosted for hundreds of these performers as Scott and Emanuel searched to find the very best

talent to bring to Highlands and the MTC stage this year. And that doesn’t include the countless video submissions they’ll also be viewing from actors all across the country.

Scott and Emanuel were joined in New York City by Erin Leigh Knowles, a familiar face on the MTC stage as a performer and Dance Captain. Erin led the dance call portion of the auditions in NYC, while Scott and Emanuel evaluated not only the talent and form of the dancers, but the speed and accuracy in which they learned the choreography. At SETC in Lexington, MTC not only auditioned performers but also interviewed hundreds of candidates for technical positions in the upcoming theatre season. Graduate level theater students and professionals were considered for a variety of roles including costume designers, wardrobe supervisors, stage managers, audio engineers,

stitchers, painters, and carpenters. These artists will join MTC production directors, scenic designers, lighting designers, and sound designers to bring the world of each show magically to life on stage for our audiences in Western North Carolina.

Mountain Theatre Company will contract over 100 professional artists to travel to Highlands, North Carolina over the course of their 2023 season, making them one of the largest employers in Highlands this year. As these talented professionals from across the country begin to arrive in town over the coming weeks, we can’t wait to see the spectacular shows they will create for us.

For more information on Mountain Theatre Company’s 2023 season, visit mountaintheatre.com

by Lindsay Garner Hostetler, Director of Marketing and Outreach, Mountain Theatre Company

ScottDanielandEmanuelCarrero

Singer-Songwriter Scotty B

Scotty Bendzlowicz’s music is infused with Plateau magic, filtered through a New Yorker’s sensibilities.

Scotty B., singer-songwriter/guitarist, describes himself as The City Boy who drank too much coffee and lived too fast. He was a Brooklynite/ New York City guy who was always buzzing, until he was introduced to the Highlands lifestyle by wife and in-laws. The area took his breath away. It rescued him from all that Northeastern hurry-up. He returns the favor by writing a musical thank-you to the Plateau just about every time he visits.

Now that’s a big ol’ stack of thanks-yous, since he heads to the mountains every available weekend.

He’d be here all the time were it not for his full-time tech job in Atlanta. And he likes it that way – a job that gives him the financial freedom to focus on just what he wants to do. No restrictions. Just easy-going shows at The Bridge, Porch Fest, Highlands Wine Shop, and more. Scotty B (musician stage name) says,

“I do what I love to do, and people respond to my material. I write about the mountains or my adopted/adored town of Highlands. A lot of my original material references local gathering places like Groovin’ on the Green and other public and private venues.”

That’s Scotty B’s niche, writing ballads and entertaining tunes about the icons, happy places and times of the region: local restaurants, shops, inns, fests, events, waterfalls, vistas, famous folk… the list goes on.

When asked why he writes about Highlands, he says, “I so identified as a city person in NYC, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Then I came to a small town. It’s magic in a tiny town. The more time I spend in Highlands, the more I romanticize it. It’s not part of my natural state. It’s fresh and new to me. City air can’t compare, and city streets can’t compete.”

Another of his passions is managing Porch Fest for its third year, scheduled September 17th. He organizes 30-35 artists situated around town in gardens and shady spots performing everything from rock to folk to pop to country. As a singer-songwriter, he has several playlists, including the aforementioned Highlands songs and then his other compositions born of experiences in New York, Atlanta, and other venues. He taps into his tech skills to produce videos, often a first performance. It’s a rush to get instant feedback on a brand new song.

Catch him on YouTube, Facebook, or email bakelitemusic@yahoo.com. He also performs live in Atlanta, often with other artists. He’s open to more venues and events in Highlands. Catch him locally or drop an email for more info.

by Donna Rhodes

ScottyB

Legends of The Fog

Tiho Trichkov’s “Legends of the Fog” has just been named a National Geographic Honorable Mention Winner.

It’s a rare to find a photographer who can capture one brilliant moment after another.

Tiho Trichkov is one of those exceptional pros. His latest, award-winning piece, “Legends of the Fog” was snapped on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The work is distinguished as a National Geographic Honorable Mention Winner.

Tiho describes how he captured his forest image, blanketed in a gauzy mantle of fog, with hints of fall color peeking through the trees.

“I was driving home from Asheville. Since it was a morning of mist and fog, I took the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. There was no rush, no traffic. Covid had slowed life to a crawl. I pulled over, drawn to the valley atmospherics. I grabbed my camera and zoomed in into

the forest. The composition and mood of the morning were unique. It was like the mountains were whispering to me. That side trip paid off. Mother Nature gave me a gift: I was creating Impressionism, not with paints, but with my camera.”

The composition and mood of the morning were unique. It was like the mountains were whispering to me.

Tiho, owner of HOP Gallery (House of Pics), came to the States in 2007. Since then, he’s lived-in or visited nearly every corner of the U.S., the Northwest excepted. But it was the North Carolina mountains where he planted his feet, tripod, and gallery –in the middle of Highlands.

“Legends of the Fog” is a limited edition of 30. Tiho looks forward to sharing his work with collectors in the area. Call him at (828) 200-0618, email info.hopgallery@gmail.com , or visit HOP and schedule a visit to hear firsthand his account of the fog and mist that magical morning.

You can also view his work at houseofpicsnc.com . Ask him about his other work, including commissioned pet portraits, horses, Monarch Butterflies, local panoramic landscapes, waterfalls, and photos from his many quests. HOP Gallery is located at 353 Main Street in Highlands.

by Donna Rhodes

TihoTrichkov

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Abeo In April

There never has been a better time to be or become a fan of Chamber Music.

One of the most prestigious and oldest summer music festivals in the United States, the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber music Festival’s reputation is rooted, at least in part, to the 23-year-long artistic residency of its director William Ransom. During his tenure, Ransom has enthusiastically endorsed and expanded the festival’s educational outreach program. Recently he announced the continuation of the Residency Program with performances and educational sessions scheduled April 28-29 by the award-winning young musicians of The Abeo Quartet.

In Nigerian dialect, the name “Abeo” is an expression of joy, chosen by the group to reflect their love for playing chamber music and sharing it with others. Sponsored by the Cullasaja Women’s Outreach, the quartet will fulfill the promise of their moniker,

engaging students and stimulating an interest in classical music at three area schools - Highlands, Blue Ridge and Summit in Cashiers. Equally important, they will bring chamber music concerts to residents of the Fidelia Eckerd Living Center who usually do not have access to live performances and, driven by an enthusiasm for developing new audiences, they will perform a free public concert on Saturday April 29, at First Presbyterian Church in Highlands.

“The festival loves presenting young rising stars to our audiences, and they make the perfect choice for our Fall and Spring Residencies, when we take them to all the area schools for programs for the students in the community,” says Ransom. “It’s always exciting to see the kids interact with such talented young musicians! Njioma Grevious, first violin with The Abeo, recently won First Prize and Audience Choice of the 2023 Sphinx Competition – one of the nation’s top honors – so we’ll all get to enjoy some of

the best young talent in the US.”

With a high level of refined and exciting playing and interesting programming, the Abeo Quartet has certainly made its mark. The ensemble was formed in 2018 at Juilliard as the inaugural Graduate String Quartet in Residence at the University of Delaware. In 2022, they were among ten quartets invited to participate in the 14th Banff International String Quartet and have appeared in Alice Tully Hall and at The Kennedy Center’s Reach Festival.

The Highlands-Cashiers Chambers Music Festival opens officially July 1-3 and continues with vigorous and exciting programing until the final session when it concludes with aplomb on Sunday August 6 with the Gershon/Cohn Final Gala Concert & Dinner. For tickets and more information, visit hcmusicfestival.org or call (828) 526-9060.

by Marlene Osteen

The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival is tuning up a spectacular season, previewing it this month with the Abeo Quartet.

AbeoQuartet

DINING

Pages 96-107

photo by Gil Stose

The Sumptuousness of Primary

Primary Restaurant and Bar, 310 Main Street in Highlands, serves lunch and dinners.

Dinner reservations are a necessity – (828) 526-3555.

Tricia and I embraced the promise of the season with a dinner at the beautifully appointed Primary Restaurant and Bar.

The mood was set when we walked in – this place is beautifullyappointed. But let me throw out some better adjectives, that more accurately convey why Primary is making a play for the upper echelons of the Plateau Dining Experience.

Let’s see what sticks – “Lush,” “Sybaritic,” “Sumptuous,” “Opulent,”

“Ritzy (a word that somehow lost its glamour in the late 1930s),” “Plush,” and “Splendid.”

Those seem more appropriate. What it means is that Primary’s new owners have given us a cozy boîte that begs us to slow down and enjoy the splendid ritual of dining and chatting and delving into the products of a sumptuous bar and a clever barkeep.

For Tricia, that magic elixir was a simple Margarita. Now I know some of you are saying, “That’s not evidence of a

clever barkeep – surely you could get a Margarita at Taco Bell.”

Well, first of all, Taco Bell doesn’t serve alcoholic beverages. Second, I’d remind you that we were visiting at the far end of a winter that had dragged on interminably and this is Tricia’s go-to foolproof drink. And third, she found it to be startlingly delicious and perfectly citrus-y which, she tells me, is a rarity in this unsettled century.

Well, I don’t find comfort in a mixed drink, but I found it on Primary’s

menu – Country Fried Beef Tenderloin. Country Fried Steak was what my Aunt Belle would make for me when we’d come to visit in Brevard. She made it with love and the attention that a Southern grandmother would lavish upon a family recipe.

But bless that Dear Woman’s heart, she never served up something as gloriously spiced and seasoned as Primary’s version, hand-breaded and topped with country gravy, and I’m certain she never in her life served anyone beef tenderloin. This feels like a betrayal, but I have to call it straight, right? Plus, the kitchen placed this chop alongside

Smashed Local New Potatoes and Grilled Corn Riblets.

(Let me interrupt this review to sing the praises of Grilled Corn Riblets! First Moses parted the Red Sea, and now this – don’t ever tell me that this isn’t a magical world! Let me say it thrice –Grilled Corn Riblets!)

Tricia’s Local Wagyu Ribeye was “magically tender.” Of course, that’s a hallmark of Wagyu, but the kitchen had perfected the seasoning blend and the entire plate – Smashed Local New Potatoes and Sauteed Asparagus Spears – elevated her selection into something transcendent.

Normally, I’d tell you about the desserts, but I’ve really blown my word count. My advice – just let your server describe them, then remember that they’re going to be made with the same care that went into your entrée, by the same people who crafted the ambience of this place, which is quickly becoming a Main Street Institution.

Reservations are necessary for dinner – visit primaryhnc.com . For lunch, “You takes your chances,” as the pirates used to say.

by Luke Osteen photos by Susan Renfro

Food Meets Music Bash

In addition to Bear Shadow’s reputation for its playful musical lineup, it’s also cultivating a rich culinary tradition.

There’s something new and extraordinary in the air this spring. And it has to do with the intersection of food and music at the third annual Bear Shadow Music Festival, from. April 28 through 30.

With its folk and R&B soul, country spirit, and rock and roll swagger, Bear Shadow draws everyone from faraway and nearby, from young to not, from hipster to nerd and everything in between to hear a lineup that’s just the right mix of talent and genre. And beyond the bright lights of the stage, there’s a top-notch roster of food vendors. With food offerings as elevated as the venue, this food meets music bash has a wealth of scrumptious ways to fill your plate and sate your appetite. From top end burgers to po boys and pizzas, from falafel to hoagies and from pulled pork to pork chop sammies, the culinary delights are as fetching as the headliners, and as compelling as is their music.

Read on for a taste of the incomparable

spread being served up on the sprawling grounds of Winfield Farms.

Kinfolk: Owners Emily and Brady have been serving up their succulent Southern fare since 2021. Always a hit are their terrific shrimp po’ boys and juicy burgers.

Smoking Good BBQ: Ruritan Barbecue Cookoff winner Kermit Terrentine says he started Smoking Good “as a way to keep his fans full, fat and happy.” Come for the luscious pulled pork, smoky barbecue chicken and oh-so-satisfying turkey legs.

Backwoods Bakery: A mom-and-pop shop known for their “lovingly crafted, thoughtfully sourced” artisan breads. A devoted gaggle of fans regularly flock to their Bear Shadow outpost for this archetype of Italian pizza.

Secret Garden Courtyard: Highlands native Rachel Lewicki will serve up sandwiches of uncommon excellence, including her justifiably famous, classic Italian hero – a variety of cured meats layered on crusty hoagies rolls.

The Scarlet Bee: Traditional Middle Eastern dishes from owner Matt Sawaya’s Lebanese family - savory spiced dips, beautiful mezze dishes like brightly flavored cauliflower shawarma and juicy, tender tenderloin kebabs.

Post 25 Kitchen & Lounge: Hits from the all-American cuisine of Hendersonville’s favorite restaurant – famous tiger wings, killer mac’n cheese and awesome burgers.

Life Raft Treats: Whimsical Ice-cream treats celebrating those goodies sold by ice-cream trucks of yesteryear - fashioned to resemble everything from fried chicken to bananas.

VIP attendees will be treated to elevated bites from celebrated local chefs, Chris Huerta of the Crafty Goat and Matt Weinstein of Indigo Road Hospitality’s Skyline Lodge.

For the complete scoop, visit bearshadownc.com

by Marlene Osteen

CelebratingWith Wine

Wine is central to the commemoration of both Passover and Holy Week.

April marks the beginning of spring, the season of hopefulness and two of the season’s biggest holidays. Uniting families around the globe Easter and Passover are rich in food traditions, and for both wine is essential to the celebration.

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave his apostles bread symbolizing his body broken for them and wine, symbolic of his blood to be poured out for their sins to be forgiven.

During the Passover Seder, each adult drinks four cups of wine representing the redemption of the Israelites from slavery under the Egyptians.

So, what should you uncork at your family’s feast? Whether you’re celebrating Easter, Passover, here are food and wine pairings inspired by these spring holidays.

For the Passover Seder: Never missing from the Seder table is gefilte fish –poached fish mixed with matzoh. Often served with horseradish it pairs well with

Chenin Blanc, Assyrtiko or a classic Sauvignon Blanc.

Another traditional starter to the ritual feast is matzoh ball soup – a chance to uncork your favorite bottle of bubbles.

For brisket, the most popular main course served at any Seder, it’s important to find a wine that matches the meat’s savory profile. Try Syrah, a grape whose wines drip with smoky flavor.

One of the main items of a Seder plate is a lamb shank. A terrific match for this hearty dish is Syrah or Tempranillo. Passover chicken which is frequently prepared with a sweet sauce demands a full-bodied white wine to bring out the sweetness in the sauce – like Semillon.

For Easter dinner: Eggs, forever present at Easter, demand something higher in acid and for this reason sparkling wines are the ideal choice.

For many families the centerpiece of the Easter table is roast lamb which practically

begs for a good glass of red. A French Bordeaux or a fine Cabernet Sauvignon will provide a harmonious complement.

From time immemorial, Easter dinner has meant ham and Riesling. This German white wine is a peerless partner with baked ham awash in a fruity, slightly sweet glaze. And it wouldn’t be Easter without an array of sweets – the most emblematic of all of course, is the chocolate bunny. As is always the case, it’s best to pair sweet with sweet. Try enjoying your bunny alongside a glass of Tawny Port.

Specific recommendations on the varietals mentioned can be found in Highlands at the Highlands Wine Shoppe, Bryson’s and Mountain Fresh Grocery, and in Cashiers at The Wine & Provisions Shop at the Hotel Cashiers, and the Wine Cellar of Cashiers.

by Marlene Osteen

Root To Leaf

When guests settle into their seats at The Farm at Old Edwards on Thursday, May 18, they will discover that their plates are filled with food as fresh and vibrant as the budding leaves outside. “Fresh” is not a word often used to describe the foodstuffs of the South, but it is in fact the very essence of guest chef, Steven Satterfield’s cuisine. Heck, he’s even written a book about it, Root to Leaf: A Southern Chef Cooks Through the Seasons. The book has served as Satterfield’s podium – a chance to bang his drum on behalf of Southern cooking and his advocacy for using the freshest and most local ingredients. An exhaustive and fascinating guide to the four seasons of vegetable life in the South, it is meant to be Satterfield’s call to simplicity and a contemplation of the light, bright tastes of herbaceous garden-fresh foods. Just released, is Satterfield’s second book – Vegetable Revelations, a study of how texture

affects the eating experience.

At Satterfield’s Atlanta restaurant Miller Union, dishes are based on the very best of those ingredients, serving as a starting point for an imaginative, improvisational menu. From its beginnings in 2009, Miller Union has brought an inventive vigor to what was then a staid Atlanta restaurant scene; described by food critic Bill Adison as “an antidote for jaded diners. He’s made a point of creating dishes that reflect the agrarian roots and ingenuity of the region. As Addison noted, he “has a knack for unpretentious food that transcends cliche.’ His dishes, beautifully prepared, are understated revelries, honest explorations of the modern South, with an emphasis on vegetables– farm eggs baked in celery cream; cornmeal hushpuppies with new Vidalia onion spread and trout roe; or seafood stew with peas, bok choy, and rice grits.

The clean, uncomplicated flavors and

honest simplicity of his dishes has not gone unnoticed. Satterfield and Miller Union have been recognized by national publications such as Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, and Esquire. Deeply committed to Atlanta’s progressive culinary community, Satterfield holds leadership positions with Chefs Collaborative and Slow Food Atlanta. In 2017, he won the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southeast award, and the website Eater included Miller Union on its annual list of the country’s Most Essential Restaurants. As the New York Times said, “He’ll make you a meal you won’t forget anytime.”

The evening will commence with cocktails in The Orchard and proceed to a seated five-course dinner to include recipes from Satterfield’s forthcoming book, accompanied by thoughtful wine pairings. To book online, visit OldEdwardsHosptality.com/Events.

Guests at Chef

Steven Satterfield’s

exclusive

Dinner at

The

Farm

at Old Edwards, set for Thursday, May 18, will be treated to all the goodness of the season.

StevenSatterfield

A Go-To Meal

Ashley Harllee’s extraordinary Lebanese recipe is easy and exotic.

This month C.K Swan owner Ashley Harllee brings us her “go-to spring/summer meal” – a delicious Lebanese offering inspired by her college days at Florida State University. The deeply personal dish of a local French restaurant chef who was married to a friend of hers, he often prepared it for neighbors on his days off.

Ashley recalls that “We feasted on great food and played boule in the back yard. One of my favorite dishes that he prepared was Moroccan Tandoori Chicken Kabobs. This dish reminds me of those days.”

It is, as Harllee explained, “Loaded with flavor, and a great meal for casual entertaining, both quick and easy, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests.”

The chicken kabobs are juicy, brightly marinated with lemon and garlic, and fragrant and herbal with a tangy bite from Za’atar, a Middle Eastern spice mix made from dried thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds.

The thick yogurt-based sauce blends perfectly; a cool refreshing condiment, good enough to eat by the spoonful.

Ashley Harllee’s Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Yogurt Sauce

4 servings

Ingredients

½ teaspoon kosher salt

Fresh black pepper to taste

Directions

For the Marinade

Grilled Chicken Kabobs

1

½ pounds skinless boneless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons dried za’atar or oregano

2 clove crushed garlic

1 ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper to taste

Lemon wedges foe serving Cucumber Yogurt Sauce:

¾ cup plain yogurt

¾ cup finely chopped cucumber, peeled and seeded

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

½ tablespoon fresh dill, chopped

½ tablespoon fresh mint, chopped

1. Mix lemon juice, olive oil, za’atar, garlic, salt, and pepper together.

2. Put chicken in a zip-locked bag and pour marinade over it

3. Marinate the chicken at least 2-3 hours or as long As overnight.

For the Kabobs

1. Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes

2. Prepare the Yogurt Sauce by combining the ingredients in a medium bowl. Refrigerate until ready to eat

3. Thread chicken onto the skewers. (4 kabobs total)

4. Grill over medium heat, and cook until chicken is cooked through, turning often about 12-15 minutes

Serve with Lemon Wedges, Basmati Rice or Rice Pilaf, lettuce, sliced tomato and onion and top with the Yogurt Sauce. by Marlene Osteen photos by Susan Renfo

AshleyHarllee

To see the most up-to-date information about dining on the plateau visit thelaurelmagazine.com/restaurants

Plateau Dining Guide

The Restaurants of the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS

Asia House - (828) 787-1680

Bella’s Junction Cafe - (828) 526-0803

Black Bear Cafe - (828) 482-7020

The Blue Bike Cafe - (828) 526-9922

Bridge at Mill Creek (828) 526-5500

Bryson’s Deli - (828) 526-3775

The Cake Bar - (828) 421-2042

Dusty’s - (828) 526-2762

El Azteca - (828) 526-2244

Fressers Courtyard Cafe – (828) 526-4188

Highlands Burritos - (828) 526-9313

Highlands Deli SweeTreats - (828) 526-9632

Highlands Pizza Place - (828) 526-5660

Highlands Smokehouse - (828) 526-3554

Highlands Tavern - (828) 526-9002

The Kitchen

Carry Away + Catering - (828) 526-2110

Los Vaqueros Mexican Restaurant - (828) 482-7040

Madison’s Restaurant - (828) 787-2525

Midpoint (828) 526-2277

Mountain Fresh - (828) 526-2400

Rosewood Market (828) 526-0383

The Ruffed Grouse - (828) 526-2590

The Secret Garden - (828) 305-7509

Spinx Highlands - (828) 526-4191

Subway - (828) 526-1706

Wild Thyme Gourmet - (828) 526-4035

CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS

Buck’s Coffee Cafe - (828) 743-9997

Cashiers Valley Smokehouse - (828) 547-2096

Chile Loco - (828) 743-1160

Cornucopia Restaurant - (828) 743-3750

El Manzanillo - (828) 743-5522

The Fix Bar & Lounge - (828) 743-7477

Happ’s Place - (828) 743-5700

Jim’s Place at Sapphire Country Store - (828) 966-4011

JJ’s Canteen and Eatery - (828) 743-7778

The Library Kitchen and Bar - (828) 743-5512

Mica’s Restaurant - (828) 743-5740

Mountain Cafe - (828) 577-0469

The Orchard - (828) 743-7614

Panthertown Cafe - (828) 862-3663

Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company - (828) 743-0220

Slab Town Pizza - (828) 743-0020

Slopeside Tavern - (828) 743-8655

Subway - (828) 743-1300

Town and Country General Store (828) 547-1300

Ugly Dog - (828) 743-3000

Villa Amato (828) 885-7700

Wendy’s - (828) 743-7777 Whiteside Brewing Company - (828) 743-6000

- (828) 743-2226

Plateau Lodging

Accommodations on the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

BREVARD, NC:

Meraki Escape - (828) 463-7440

CASHIERS, NC:

High Hampton Resort - (800) 648-4252

Hotel Cashiers - (828) 743-7706

The Lakehouse - (904) 753-0247

Landmark Vacation Rentals- (877) 926-1780

Mountain Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-0258

The Orchard Guest Cottage - (828) 743-7614

Pebble Creek Village - (828) 743-0623

Silver Creek Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-1999

The Wells HotelA Cashiers Experience - (828) 761-6289

GLENVILLE, NC:

Innisfree Bed & Breakfast - (828) 743-2946

Mountain Lake Rentals - (828) 743-6875

Prime Property Rentals - (828) 743-3482

HIGHLANDS, NC

200 Main - (855) 271-2809 Berkshire

- (828) 526-1717

Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-3717

The Chateau - (561) 613-1496

Fairview House - (866) 526-8008

Half Mile Farm - (855) 271-7246

Highlander Mountain House - (828) 526-2590

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

Lotts of Sky - (404) 395-4000

Lullwater House - (423) 488-2799

Old Edwards Inn and Spa - (866) 526-8008

Park on Main - (800) 221-5078

Ray’s Roost - (678) 534-6870

Rent in Highlands - CCP - (800) 684-2171 x 302

Rockwood Lodge - (828) 526-8919

Silver Creek Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-2999

The Wells Hotel - (828) 482-7736

Whiteside Cove Cottages - (828) 526-2222

SAPPHIRE, NC

Club Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-3441

Foxhunt at Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-7667

Hampton Inn & SuitesCashiers-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

SCALY MOUNTAIN, NC:

Fire Mountain - (800) 775-4446

The Vineyard at 37 High Holly - (828) 505-6190

LAKE TOXAWAY, NC

Cabins at Seven Foxes - (828) 877-6333

Earthshine Lodge - (828) 862-4207

Greystone Inn - (828) 966-4700

Lake Toxaway

Realty Company - (828) 508-9141

SHOPPING

Pages 112-117

photo by Susan Renfro

This quarter-zip is your perfect go-to for any outdoor adventure. Designed with a UPF 50+ sun protection and cooling IceFil Technology, this top remains breathable, airy, and incredibly soft!

Long Sleeve Sun Shirt $100

Elena’s | Highlands

Plateau Picks

A few of our favorite things

SURE TO DAZZLE

This gorgeous citron bead lariat necklace is an elegant addition to your jewelry collection. Highlighted by Gracewear’s trademarked shield, it serves as a gentle yet powerful reminder of the peace, protection and love of Christ. Wear it alone or layered with other necklaces.

33” Lariat Shield Necklace | $ 64 Gracewear Boutique | Cashiers

SWEET DREAMS

Your little one will be adorable and cozy in this alligatorthemed bedtime set. Featuring a cotton hook weave pillow, luxurious throw blanket, and cotton footed baby body suit.

Pillow $ 56 | Blanket $ 49 | Footed Onesie $34 A Jones Company | Cashiers

HIGHLANDS PRIDE

Show your love of cars and Highlands in this navy blue lightweight polo embroidered with the festival’s logo. Pre-order at highlandsmotoringfestival.com and pick up at Highlands Motoring Festival, June 8 - 11.

Highlands Motoring Festival Polo | $ 60 Highlands Motoring Festival | Highlands

TIMELESS FRAGRANCE

Known for its timeless scents of roses, lavender, and spice - blended with patchouli and vetiver, Claire Burke Original has legions of devoted fans world-wide. Choose how to deliver this fabulous fragrance in your home with options including room spray, candles, potpourri, electric fragrance warmers, and fragrance diffusers.

Claire Burke Original Home Fragrance Collection | $ 8 - $ 28

The Dry Sink Highlands

TIME FOR WHIMSY

This adorable elephant seems to be proclaiming that it’s time to relax, read, and find comfort in whimsy.

Decorative Clock $38

Nearly New | Cashiers

RELAX IN STYLE

This classic butterfly chair features a gently curving backrest and seat, it will hold you in utmost comfort. Crafted of real leather, this iconic chair is a stylish accent to any decor.

Leather Butterfly Chairs | $325 pair Bazaar Barn | Cashiers

SIP A CUP OF HISTORY

Oliver Pluff is a Charleston, SC based company preserving the tradition of time-honored teas. Each delicious cup is a toast to the quality of ingredients, and a tribute to the American story.

Oliver Pluff Teas | $13. 50 each The Cake Bar | Highlands

Shopping with a Soundtrack

The inclusion of select vendors into the mix gives Bear Shadow Music Festival its own exclusive bazaar, complete with an irresistible soundtrack.

The Bear Shadow Music Festival kicks off the weekend of April 28 through 30. Known for its heavy-hitting musical line up, boasting headliners Spoon, The Head and the Heart, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Bear Shadow has, in just three short years, became a cultural event. Much more than just about the music, Bear Shadow has grown into a melting pot of fashion, food, drink – both booze and non-booze – and brand experiences. These days the festival is equally well known for its lineup of stores from independent retailers in Highlands and beyond. In fact, during the festival the sprawling festival grounds of Winfield. Farms will turn into a shopping hub for area artisan makers and boutiques. Among the many good reasons to be excited this year, is the presence of Highlands’ T.J. Bailey’s, renowned for being one of the most fashionable places in town. Where else can you buy coveted

brands like Peter Millar to Brackish?

One of the most beloved spots in Highlands and Cashiers is The Highland Hiker, where you can shop for apparel and gear from Barbour to Patagonia and let them help you plan a hike or a fly fishing outing. You can find a curated selection of native American jewelry at Highlands Silver Eagle and select the perfect festival fashionable hat from Highlands Hatter. Pop into the Charmer Bee Company for hand-crafted beeswax candles and balms. Snag handmade leather bracelets and feather earrings from Wilmington, NC’s Dust & Sunshine. Handmade metal belt buckles inspired by nature are the unique appeal at Charleston’s HookNHide.

Venture to Shannon Whitworth

Art from Brevard to view a gallery of visual art anchored in the dual landscapes of the NC mountains and SC Lowcountry. Asheville’s Maadli Collective features artisan baskets

made in Uganda – designs that have the potential to both alter a dwelling and the life of the woman who made it. And don’t leave without taking home a wearable souvenir of the weekend – one of the artfully designed t-shirts, hats or blankets available at the Bear Shadow Festival Merchandise booth.

Visit the Highlands Chamber of Commerce site to discover everything Highlands has to offer and why any season is a good season for visiting. Stop in and chat with the good folks at the Highlands Cashiers Land Trust and learn why it has become the largest landowner in Highlands.

Stay tuned as more retailers join the Bear Shadow shopping hub! For more information, and tickets visit bearshadownc.com.

by Marlene Osteen

Scan to learn more.

Fresh for Spring

With an expanded inventory and the same blend of elegance and playfulness, Rusticks is ready for a busy season. Discover for yourself – visit their showroom at Canoe Point on Cashiers Lake.

Annually, Rusticks continues to offer design services throughout the winter months, but it closes its doors to retail customers in order to present brand new merchandising to correlate with the coming of each spring.

The Cashiers-based furnishings experience offers the latest “mountain chic’’ ambiance through its extensive offerings

of living room, dining room, bedroom, patio and outdoor furnishings, lighting, art, and accessories – everything needed to dress a new home or refreshen a well-loved one.

Rusticks reopens for the season on April 13, Thursdays through Saturdays, until May 1, when the store will be open every day but Sundays.

Stacie Platt, Rustick’s manager and Senior Designer, said she is excited about all the store’s new merchandise, which is being delivered daily. Styles and designs are based on extensive research of lines as well as travel to various home furnishings and décor shows. “We have some brand-new collections, such as Amber Lewis x

Loloi Rugs and Generation Lighting.”

She added, “We have exciting new items to pair with our signature Rusticks look. We present a little bit of the current trends, but we also stay tried and true to our modern take on rustic furnishings that our clientele loves.”

While Rusticks has been known for three decades for providing a complete approach to each room in a home, it has in recent years added a large selection of outdoor furnishings and outdoor rugs and accessories. “Clients are especially interested in what we have

for the outdoors, as spring is the time to decorate those outdoor living spaces,” said Platt.

Besides offering extensive lines for home décor – as well as complete interior design services – Rusticks is all about educating the public in regard to interior and exterior lifestyle. For example, on June 1, local dahlia expert Drew English will teach a plant container class; English is the head gardener of the High Hampton Dahlia Garden. More information about this event and others throughout the summer are available in

the store and via www.rusticks.com.

The original Rusticks shop was first located above the Greene & Associates architectural offices in Cashiers at Chestnut Square. However, its popularity resulted in the necessity to expand the store space in 1994 and again in 1996. Eventually, a new location was constructed -- Rusticks is currently situated within Canoe Point on beautiful Cashiers Lake. by Deena Bouknight photos by Mary

Gillian

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WEST END

1. On The Verandah

WRIGHT SQUARE on MAIN

(Factoid: Named after Whiteside hero)

113. Edward Jones

116. Bijou

117. Country Club Properties, Wright Square Office

SOUTH END

MAIN

ON THE HILL

303. Mirror Lake Antiques

305. Jeanie Edwards Fine Art

306. Acorn’s

310. McCulley’s

312. The Ugly Dog Public House

313. Old Edwards Inn

319. Lakeside Restaurant

SPRING

VILLAGE

CAROLINA VILLAGE

NORTH END

➡ Aery Chiropractic

➡ Peak Experience

➡ High Camp

➡ Highlands Outpost

➡ Highlands Aerial Park

➡ Vineyard at High Holly

➡ Fire + Water

➡ Black Rock Design Build

➡ Berkshire Hathaway Homes Services Meadows Mountain Realty

➡ WHLC

➡ Highlands Lawn & Garden

➡ Skyline Lodge/ Oak Steakhouse

➡ Highlands Rock Yard

➡ Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group

➡ Highlands Dermatology

For a complete listing please visit our website, thelaurelmagazine.com. Being added to our listing is easy! Simply advertise with The Laurel.

Visit Our Advertisers

Good Foods Finalist

The hardworking bees at Killer Bees Honey have won national recognition for their sweet labors.

For the last five years, we’ve been raving about Killer Bees Honey, the Lake Toxaway apiary owned by Denise Altay and her beekeeper husband Sean Collinsworth, and operated by, of course, a million Italian Honey Bees.

Although the company’s dramatic name may be a bit surprising, it’s not accurate.

“The actual killer bee does exist, but that’s not what we have because those bees, commonly known at Africanized Bees, are actually illegal in most states. Our bees are gentle and hardworking.

“Killer Bees’ apiary is surrounded by Pisgah National Forest, which is key to the purity and complex nature of the honey produced.”

All of that care, all of that healthy living has paid off, with Killer Bees’ products developing a rabid international customer base in the course of five years.

In fact, Killer Bees’ Sourwood Honey

has been nominated by The Good Foods Foundation as a 2023 Good Foods Finalist. The Good Food Foundation exists to celebrate the passionate and engaged, yet often overlooked, players in the food system who are driving towards tasty, authentic and responsible food.

Killer Bees’ honey is tested by thirdparty, independent labs to ensure that it is 100 percent unadulterated and toxin-free. They corroborate the results obtained by Collinsworth, one of a handful of Americans certified with both the Italian Registry of Honey Sensory Experts from the CNR Institute out of Bologna, Italy.

“We are the only American beekeepers to do so and publish the results on our website,” Denise added.

If you’d like to get to know more about this buzzing business that’s captured the palates and imaginations of the foodie cognoscenti, you can schedule a private honey tasting upon request and

at the location of your choice (not the farm, though).

“It’s a full presentation of the life of a hive and the crazy things that go on, along with a full honey tastingpairing, like a light lunch – along with champagne of course,” Denise says. It’s two hours and does not include the main attraction…the bees (they have to stay at the apiary and work). Minimum $750 for up to 10 people – we bring everything. Call us at (312) 909-5878.”

Killer Bees’ honey is available at such locales as Acorns Boutique and Calders Coffee Cafe in Highlands; Cashiers Farmers Market and Crossroads Custard in Cashiers; Sapphire Valley Resort Gift Store in Sapphire; Historic Toxaway Market, Bear Tracks Travel Center, and Headwaters Outfitters in Lake Toxaway.

by Luke Osteen

DeniseAltayandSeanCollinsworth

Fishing in Toxaway

The deep waters of Lake Toxaway offer challenges for serious anglers, and sublime comforts for those wishing to while away the time.

In this issue we note the upcoming Jan Wyatt Symposium on Trout Fishing in Western North Carolina. And of course, there’s the 3 Rivers Fly Fishing Tournament that’ll be staged in May.

And we’ve featured entire sections of The Laurel on Lake Toxaway and its people, yet somehow we’ve never written about the marvelous fishing opportunities waiting to be discovered.

Let us remedy this appalling oversight, with some quick facts for the serious anglers and those who’re just looking to spend a couple of idle hours.

Lake Toxaway is big, and its waters can be really deep. It’s home to healthy populations of brown and rainbow trout, large- and smallmouth bass, bluegill, walleye, and some enormous, bordering on scary, catfish.

Naturally, you’ll need a license, and you can buy one at Headwaters Outfitters,

Brookings Anglers or Highland Hiker.

If you’re a resident, a 10-day Fishing License is $9; an Annual License is $25, and a 3-day Trout Fishing License is $8.

If you’re a non-resident, a 10-day Fishing License is $23; an Annual License is $45; and a 3-day Trout Fishing License is $8.

Some people will tell you that you can simply buy your license online at ncwildlife.org

That’s true, but there’s one vital factor that makes buying one locally makes more sense: You’re able to chat with people who live here – who know all the tricks and techniques that’ll pay off in this unique ecosystem. Their advice and their tales are invaluable in helping you find the hidden spots that’ll pay off.

by Luke Osteen

HeadwatersOutfitters

HISTORY

Pages 132-135

photo by Susan Renfro

Written on The Walls

Graffiti adorning the walls of the ZacharyTolbert House provides a charming snapshot of a busy, loving household. Charlie Zachary, seen in the photo on the left in his Army uniform from the Spanish American War, is one of the cast of characters.

If you or your children were to write or draw on the walls of your home, there would probably be “unpleasantness” of some kind. It is considered to be graffiti and it is usually erased or painted over.

There is an exception – the graffiti found in the Zachary-Tolbert House in Cashiers. Graffiti found in a historic house such as the Zachary-Tolbert House is rare and offers important insight into the family, their guests, and the events of the time.

Visitors to the house museum will find walls with graffiti left over the years by each family and many guests. The writings include business transactions, measurements, dates of goods sold, poetry, secrets to be deciphered and while much is unknown – who wrote what and when for example, except for a message left on April 10, 1870.

According to Jane Nardy, Cashiers Historical Society historian

and a direct descendant of the Zachary family, graffiti was found on the walls of the ZT House in the late 1990s when the society was faced with the task of restoring and stabilizing the newly acquired historic house. The house had sat on a stone foundation for over 100 years and had sunk into the earth. With the floors sagging, the solution was to remove interior walls temporarily. A large crane

raised the house off the ground a few feet to enable the replacement of the stone foundation. When the workmen removed the interior boards, they noticed something in the dim interior of the house- graffiti!

After the restoration was completed, an intern from Western Carolina University made an index of the graffiti found. One special message was discovered. On a wall was the following- “Charlie Zachary took his first step on the 10th day of April 1870.” On April 13, 1869, Mordecai and Elvira (Keener) Zachary’s tenth child, Charles Franklin, was born in the house his father Mordecai built and it was in that same house that his first step was taken and recorded on the walls of the house.

The Cashiers Historical Society encourages visitors to examine for themselves the graffiti found on the walls of the ZT House as well as the other three buildings and grounds. The preservation of each building and the grounds is the commitment CHS has in preserving the tradition and the history of the Cashiers’ area for today and tomorrow. CHS is a 501(3)(c) organization.

by Sandi Rogers, Cashiers Historical Society

Highlands VillageSchool

Forget the school bus – it was a chore getting to the various schools scattered around Highlands.

We’ve all heard the old joke that when old timers describe how hard things were in the old days they often say, “When I was your age I walked five miles uphill to school.”

While it sounds a bit quaint today, it was actually true of early Highlanders who often did walk miles to school.

From the beginning our founding father, Samuel T. Kelsey, promised residents a first-class school, as evidenced in his promotional pamphlet in 1875. Through the years his vision has been carried forth, beginning with classes held at the old Billy Cabin Farm in 1875.

By 1879 the Highlands Village School opened in the center of town, where the Town Hall currently stands. It was here that renowned botanist and educator Professor Thomas Harbison established Highlands Academy, one of the first graded public schools in North Carolina.

In 1919 this school was replaced by the Town Clock School on Knowledge Hill, built on the hill behind the original school, on land where the Police Department currently stands. This two-story building included a four-sided tower on its roof to contain the town clock and the original schoolhouse bell, transferred to the new location and ringing out the hours for all to hear.

In addition to the school located in the town center many communities had their own one-room school houses which permitted students to attend classes closer to home. The first such school, the Shortoff School, opened in 1882, across from what is currently the Shortoff Church on Buck Creek Road. This school was replaced in 1906 by the Emmons Industrial School on the hill above the old schoolhouse.

Additionally, there was the Horse Cove School near the Whiteside Cove turnoff

from the Horse Cove Road, the Clear Creek School near the Sassafras Gap turnoff in Clear Creek, the Broadway Gap School in Turtle Pond, and the Flat Mountain School.

These community schools allowed students to attend classes closer to their homes though they often still had to walk several miles. This all changed in 1928 when all the schools in the Highlands district were consolidated into the Town Clock School, which meant that many students had to walk five to seven miles to attend school, often leaving before daybreak and carrying lanterns to light the way.

Classes continued to be held here until the current Highlands School was built in 1951. by Mary

Jane McCall

photo courtesy of the Highlands Historical Society Archives

The Work of Joe Webb

Thanks to his exquisite craftsmanship and uncompromising work ethic, Joe Webb’s cabins are still treasured, decades after their construction.

Paging through Reuben Cox’s rich, atmospheric photographs in The Work of Joe Webb, transports readers to a less hectic time when both vacations and attention spans were longer. Webb (1881-1950) designed and built a handful of singular log cabins and two frame houses in Highlands in the 1920s and ‘30s.

Some of those structures are handsomely recorded in Mr. Cox’s 2009 monograph. Set amid lush rhododendron and mountain laurel, these rustic dwellings seem to capture the essence of summertime in the Mountain South. Their simple-yet-dignified interiors center on large stone fireplaces; the only decorative flourishes are the whimsical tree-branch tangles used for staircase balustrades and gallery railings.

to debark the logs, which were local chestnut and pine found near the work sites. Cabin-building was not a lucrative business; these same men also made – and sold – moonshine. One freelance distiller, Webb’s stepson Furman Vinson, had a special reduced price for the police.

Mr. Cox is more interested in capturing the “artistic whole” of Webb’s work than in providing a record of each building and says almost nothing about where they can be found or the people who lived in them. But Ran Shaffner’s Heart of the Blue Ridge reveals that inhabitants of Joe Webb houses have included professors from Vanderbilt and Clemson; a husband and wife who farmed silver foxes; and actress Collin Wilcox, who played Mayella Violet Ewell in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird. I’ve been in a few of Webb’s houses and they are literally awesome.

Webb and of his projects under construction. Their timeless quality stems partly from the older, large-format camera used by Mr. Cox, who grew up in Highlands and spent 20 years in NYC before moving to Los Angeles with his wife and daughter. There he is a sought-after luthier and his guitars are played by the likes of Jackson Browne, Jeff Tweedy and The National. “Really Good Rejects,” Alice Gu’s documentary about Reuben’s guitars, was premiered at last year’s SXSW festival.

If you don’t know someone who owns a Joe Webb cabin, you can visit the Highland Hiker and On the Verandah restaurant, which were built by Webb (indeed the latter was originally a windowless speakeasy called the Dugout, too conveniently located near the bibulous builder’s home and neighborhood of Webbmont).

Webb and his work crew built the homes entirely by hand, without power tools. Instead, the workers used crosscut saws, adzes for corner notching and drawknives

Though Mr. Cox’s images in The Work of Joe Webb were made in the 21st century, they resemble the book’s historic photos of

Reuben Cox’s The Work of Joe Webb is one supremely talented craftsman’s tribute to another. by

Stuart Ferguson, Local Historian, Shakespeare & Company

Pages 138-161

So Much To Talk About

The sisters saw it first – the love between Wendy Strong and Sam Lupas was meant to be. The obstacles vanished with a kiss.

In a way the story of Wendy Strong and Sam Lupas is a tale about the persistence of their two sisters.

As Wendy told me, “They had worked together for years and always had a vision that Sam and I would be a great match for each other.”

Sam recalls that “My sister would not leave me alone; she insisted I call Wendy.”

Still, the two resisted multiple attempts by their siblings to set them up – that is, until they talked on the phone.

It turned out they had much to talk about!

Both snow skiers and adventure seekers, they had a lot of mutual friends and had even worked for the same company in different summers on Nantucket. They agreed to go out.

It was the fall of 1988. Wendy, a native of Savannah, was selling advertising for Atlanta’s KICKS 101.5 radio. Sam, who had grown up in a small town outside of Philadelphia had just moved to Atlanta to help run a family business.

On their first date, they went to a restaurant in Atlanta’s Virginia-Highlands. They hit it off immediately.

“Wendy was not shy and spoke her mind. She’s smart and funny and beautiful and didn’t make a big deal out of the fact that I was a Yankee,” Sam said.

Wendy recalls that “Sam was super easygoing, with a very chill demeanor and a great sense of humor. He has beautiful blue eyes and a great laugh.”

Sam recalls that, “We talked about everything – travels, friends, skiing, our

mutual love of the mountains.”

He spoke of the several years he spent “bumming around Europe after graduating from the University of Vermont”and his career playing Lacrosse, both in college and for one year in Australia. He explained that before moving to Atlanta he had worked in New York for four years for a division of Dun and Bradstreet. Wendy told Sam that after receiving a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia, she had lived in Vail and Nantucket. And she revealed that she was in a long-time relationship with a college boyfriend.

So they became fast friends instead –spending weekdays; running, getting together for dinner with friends, and frequently talking late into the night. They refused to ruin what was fast becoming

a close-knit friendship. But they could only hold on for so long. After six weeks of platonic friendship, Sam said, “I want this to be something more and you’re with someone else, so I might just take a walk on the whole thing.” After their first kiss, Wendy agreed “It was going to be something more.” The relationship got serious quickly.

Wendy fell further for Sam when his brother’s first child was born. “Seeing him so touched by the experience after visiting the family at the hospital was the sweetest thing I had ever seen. That’s when I thought he might be the one for me.”

For his part, Sam knew it was meant to be from the start. “I knew from the first date,” he said, “I just loved the way she walked and talked and feeling like I was with someone I had known my whole life.”

In the ensuing two years their feelings

grew as they cemented their bond and got to know each other’s friends and family. Sam proposed the Christmas of 1990. They were married in Savannah, October 1991, on the weekend the Atlanta Braves won the pennant. For a time, they remained in Atlanta, got two labs and in 1993 bought a home in Buckhead. All the while they were visiting Lake Glenville, eventually buying property there. Their son Sammy was born in 1996, and in 1998 Wendy gave birth to their daughter Molly. It was then that they decided to leave Atlanta.

Before the birth of their children, they had invested in a “spec” house in Trillium in Cashiers. While overseeing that project, they realized there were opportunities for development in the area. They “took a leap of faith” and purchased a 100-acre tract in Lake Glenville and moved into the estate home on the property. Their third child,

Gracie, was born in 2003. The development of that tract – what became The Lake Club – was 13 years in the making.

In 2009 Wendy started Gracewear – an inspirational jewelry brand and eventually opened a woman’s boutique in Cashiers. Sam is a founding broker at Landmark Realty Group in Cashiers. As they reflect on more than 30 years of marriage, they count their children as their proudest achievement and credit their perseverance and faith for the success of their marriage. They remain each other’s best friends, and their greatest joy is, as Wendy recounts, “When we’re all together as a family – when I can cook good meals, and we can gather together at the table.”

by Marlene Osteen

Lauren Buckley Joins Creative Concepts

Lauren Buckley’s lending her expertise to the team at Creative Concepts, 541 Main Street in Highlands. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (828) 526-3939.

Lauren Buckley has joined the style team at Creative Concepts, which introduced stylist Valarie Welch just last month.

“I’m very excited to have Lauren join our team at Creative Concepts Salon,” says Salon Owner Lacy Jane Vilardo. “I feel like she has a lot to offer our clients. I feel she will reach an area in our business that isn’t being met. She has a wonderful personality and I know our clients will enjoy her. Extensions can be added for length, fullness, or both!”

Lauren’s a stylist with over five years’ experience. She’s master certified in Bellami professional extensions.

“I have experience with five methods

– Volume Wefts, Hand-Tied Wefts, Tape-Ins, K-Tips, and I-Tips,” Lauren says. “This allows me to custom-fit the method to each head of hair and each lifestyle.”

That sounds like an awful lot of laborintensive work drawing upon deep pools of creativity and aesthetic insight. But Lauren insists she has a foolproof method for keeping her creative instincts sharp and focused.

“When I’m not behind the chair, you can find me on one of the many hiking trails with my boyfriend Benjamin and our puppy Chubby”!

Lauren’s skills make her a natural complement for Creative Concept’s

entire suite of services and treatment, all delivered with a warm, personal attention.

Salon owner Lacy Jane works side by side with her stylists to provide expert cuts for women, men, and children. Creative Concepts is well known for their color services. Should you have a wedding, prom, or other special event coming up, schedule an appointment and you can pamper yourself with a full menu of amenities.

“Relax, Renew, Refresh” is Creative Concepts’ promise extended to all of its clients. To discover the entire range of services offered and to schedule an appointment, call (828) 526-3939.

by Luke Osteen

photo by Susan Renfro

LaurenBuckley

When I’m not behind the chair, you can find me on one of the many hiking trails…

Real Eating

This verdant season offers opportunities for marvelous healthy food choices.

Each new growing season is a chance to upgrade your nutrition. It’s spring in the mountains and there are many small farms, summer markets, and pick-your-own fruits and veggies to keep your table filled with the freshest, healthiest food available.

Real Food, as nature intended, provides the daily medicine we need to achieve and maintain an energetic state of health, especially since society is bombarded with denatured and packaged foods. Here are a few keywords and phrases to look for to see if your food is aligned with best Regenerative Farming practices:

Bioregional Local Foods: Research and support the food sources that are within a fifty-mile radius of where you live. Shopping in bulk saves on transport and processing expenses as well.

Farm-Direct: There is nothing more satisfying than supporting directly the

people and land that propagate your daily fare. Farmers are the first people to get my check every month and are blessed with gratitude at each family meal. Tip: Keep a cooler in your car this summer for roadside markets.

CSA “Community Supported Agriculture”: Local farms offer community based programs in which consumers pre-pay farmers for the upcoming growing season. In return, farms provide members with a weekly share of the harvest. This is an excellent way to eat a variety of the freshest, “in season” foods.

Nutrient-Density: There are timehonored ways to prepare and store foods that increase the nutrient content. The practices within your home of fermenting, stewing, making bone broth, canning, and freezing can improve your overall diet by increasing the available minerals, vitamins, fats, and proteins.

Pasture-Raised: Whether purchasing eggs, dairy, chicken, beef, pork, or lamb, the animal raised in a grassy field with fresh air has a better quality of life than an animal grown in confinement. Eating a natural diet including grass, insects, and fresh water, a nourished animal is stronger, healthier, and less likely to need antibiotic or growth-hormone amendments in the feed. Spring and early summer are excellent windows of opportunity to meet new sources of your Real Foods diet. These conscious people are the ones to pay generously to keep our local economy thriving and the most nourishing food on your table.

by Ashby

Underwood-Garner , Yoga Highlands and Rolf Bodywork and Movement Teacher

AshbyUnderwood-Garner

The Other Protein

Collagen has been in the health headlines for a while now. Let’s look more closely at what it is and why it’s important for our health.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, making up most of our connective tissues, joints and body parts. There are many types of collagen, but the most common are types 1-4, making up the most important components of the human body and helping with gut function, skin health and bone structure.

The collagen business has exploded over the past few years, boasting a huge economic surge in powder and capsule forms. Bone broth has also made big headlines during Covid as a great way to improve immune function.

Collagen, being a protein, can be broken down into amino acids and peptides, more easily digested in the smaller parts. This process is called hydrolyzation and can happen within healthy digestion and aided by vitamin C. Natural sources of

vitamin C are most of your fruits and vegetables, which also add great benefits to your health.

There are sources of collagen in some foods, including animal skins, cartilage, found in foods such as chicken, pork, beef and fish.

More recently, the supplement form has taken the front seat for more ease in sourcing on a regular basis. Some of the health benefits include skin health and elasticity, joint health and lubrication, eye health, heart health, gut health and bone health. These are all very important as we age and our connective and vital tissues such as blood vessels, begin to lose elasticity. Make sure that your sources are clean and backed by testing, whether you choose powder, capsules or bone broth.

When taking supplemental collagen, give it about 8 weeks to make a difference in your body and improve your health!

by Dr. Sue Aery, Aery Chiropractic & Acupuncture

Hard-working collagen is the key to a healthy body and happy living.

For the Students

Nurse Martine Salter joins the team at Highlands School to ensure the safety and good health of all students.

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation believes in good health and access to healthcare for everyone in our community.

With this mission in mind, the Health Foundation is excited to provide grant funding for a full-time school nurse at Highlands School.

Macon County Schools has hired Martine Salter, RN, to serve as the full-time nurse at Highlands School.

Nurse Martine received her undergraduate degree from Troy University and her nursing degree from Bainbridge State College. She has been a registered nurse for 14 years. Martine previously worked part-time with Macon County Schools and Highlands School as part of the enhanced protocols during the pandemic.

“I taught school before I became a nurse, so I really enjoy the setting and the culture of a school,” said Salter. I am hoping that by having a nurse on

campus, anytime an emergency comes up, I will be available to help. I know the need is there because I have been extremely busy since I started.”

Like the professional she is, Nurse Martine has a list of goals she’s bringing to her job.

“I want to make sure school personnel are trained as far as emergencies and medication knowledge,” she says. “I’ll be a resource for the children and the staff. I want to increase access to health care, strengthen prevention and population health, integrate students into health care systems, improve academic achievement, and increase time spent in the classroom.”

Martine stresses that parents can take comfort that there’s a trained medical professional on campus.

“I want people to know that we have a school nurse here in the building, which is a great asset because we have children

that have chronic health needs that need to be taken care of as well as unexpected acute things that pop up,” she says. “I can offer a variety of services that can provide an early diagnosis and I can make the determination to either notify parents to reach out to their primary care provider or determine if the child is healthy enough to go back to class.”

The school nurse has access to Telehealth through the partnership between Macon County Schools and Macon County Health Department.

“With school-based health being a critical need for our young people, our Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation is pleased to provide funding for Highlands School’s first full-time nurse,” says Robin Tindall, Health Foundation CEO and Executive Director.

by Luke Osteen

MartineSalter

On The Road

Luxury Pet Grooming offers concierge canine pampering – and owner Katie Horowitz makes house calls.

There’s a new dog grooming service on the road on the Plateau, and we do mean “on the road.”

Katie Horowitz of Luxury Pet Grooming is ready to roll her modernly-equipped mobile grooming van to your front door making life for pampered pets and their owners convenient and stress-free.

Simply open your door and step your pet into the welcoming arms of Katie who has over 23 years’ experience as a dog groomer, having graduated from the New York Dog Grooming School in 2001, and spending each year since perfecting her craft.

Initially working for others in the Manhattan and Soho areas, Katie and her husband Mitch soon opened their own grooming business in New Jersey which they operated for 18 years. All that changed when they vacationed in Western North Carolina and realized that this was where they were meant to be.

The natural beauty of our area, coupled

with the opportunity to spread their wings beyond the confines of city life into the wide-open spaces of the mountains, proved a lure too large to ignore. You’ve heard the saying “come for a weekend, stay for a lifetime?” They are living it!

They quickly found acreage large enough for their dream mini-farm, which is spacious enough to accommodate their family, their kennel of champion Portuguese Water Dogs, and a family of farm animals. They are cherishing every minute of their newly-found country home.

While life on the farm is rewarding, Katie’s first love is grooming and her extensive experience with all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and breeds of dogs made her realize that the one-on-one experience of a mobile unit would be ideal for dogs and owners. It’s much more convenient for pet parents, and much less stressful for dogs who feel safer and more

comfortable in their home environment. Her state-of-the-art van is fully equipped to handle the process from start to finish.

Lest you’re envisioning a noisy generatorpowered van of the past rest assured that the Luxury Pet Grooming van is batterypowered and whisper quiet.

Katie is also passionate about the health and well-being of all her critter customers and uses only holistic organic products on her four-legged clients. She keeps abreast of the latest products and advances by frequently attending dog grooming expos.

Whether you’re looking for a basic groom or a specialty trim to your breed’s standard, Luxury Pet Grooming is the one to call at (828) 707-4279. Also, visit their website at luxurypetgrooming. net and explore their Facebook and Instagram pages at Luxury Pet Grooming by Katie.

by Mary Jane McCall

KatieHoiowitzwithNorman.

Magical Moments

The vistas, fields and vast blue skies make the Plateau the perfect wedding setting.

It’s said that little girls dream of their perfect wedding from the time they are small, enchanted by the beautiful dresses, colorful flowers, and romantic scenery, but the lucky ones grow up to discover the beauty and bounty that the Plateau offers for their perfect day. Dreams come true here as our area offers a unique combination of small-town charm, fine dining, stunning natural beauty, incredible venues, and professional vendors.

Couples from across the country have realized that this majestic plateau offers the perfect location for whatever their

wedding needs, from elopements to grand occasions.

The Highlands and Cashiers areas abound with venues for every need, many of which will work with you to create your entire wedding from start to finish, ensuring that every detail is perfect, and nothing is overlooked. Additionally, top-notch vendors can provide any needed service including wedding planning, photography, catering, music, flowers, and transportation.

We’ve highlighted just a few of the many venues below that can help create your magical and memorable wedding:

The Greystone Inn, (828) 966-4700, is a majestic historic inn located along the shores of beautiful Lake Toxaway offering several options for your dream wedding, indoors or out. Choose from elegant indoor spaces, picturesque lawns along the shores of the lake, or even a small intimate ceremony on a handcrafted mahogany boat.

Half-Mile Farm, call (828) 787-2610 to speak with an Event Specialist. Pop the question, say I do, and make Half-Mile Farm the lasting tradition for all life’s romantic occasions. This luxury country inn puts you into a state of pure joy

and relaxation. It provides sumptuous amenities like an outdoor heated mineral pool (seasonal) with a poolside Jacuzzi, an on-site massage suite, a lake for paddling, gardens, and a country road for meandering. Nestled among 14 lush acres with panoramic views of rolling hills and sparkling lakes, this Napa-style setting is the perfect place to say “I do” surrounded by family and friends. Half-Mile Farm offers a graceful landscape where love blossoms. An expansive green lawn cascades down the hill to Apple Lake, creating a picture-perfect wedding scene exclusively for you and your guests. The recently lovingly preserved and updated 1870s farmhouse, with its front porch and sweeping view of the private Apple

Lake, is a fairytale setting for an intimate ceremony in nature.

High Hampton, (800) 648-4252, situated on 1,400 acres, lends itself to an idyllic mountain wedding destination. Inspiring views of Rock Mountain act as the backdrop to your special celebration. Treat your guests to re-imagined, regional cuisine in The Dining Room at High Hampton or The Tavern; and encourage their exploration of High Hampton’s historic grounds, tennis, croquet, pickle ball, on-property hiking trails, and Dahlia Gardens. The property’s accommodations of 18 Inn rooms, 40 cottage rooms, and three cottages offer wedding guests a haven

of refined, yet camp-like comfort with spectacular views of the surrounding property. Full-property wedding experiences are available over select dates September – May. Lonesome Valley, (828) 743-7696, is a luxurious wedding venue in Cashiers where couples can exchange vows against the backdrop of the largest box canyon east of the Mississippi surrounded by 1,000-foot granite mountain faces of Cow Rock Mountain and Laurel Knob. Afterward in the rustic and elegant Canyon Kitchen, their acclaimed culinary team works alongside each couple to curate a menu that is uniquely yours using fresh produce and organic

TheFarmatOldEdwards

LonesomeValley

TheVineyardatHighHolly

selections from the community garden and the surrounding area of western North Carolina. Whether you’re planning a wedding or rehearsal dinner Lonesome Valley promises an experience that will be cherished forever.

Old Edwards Hospitality, (828) 7872610, is a favorite wedding destination for many couples. With 11 venues to choose from they have options for weddings of every style and size, whether rustic, formal, or outdoor. Consider The Orchard House at The Farm – it enjoys exquisite natural light afforded by massive glass

doors that open to the lush English-style gardens beyond; or The Pavilion at The Farm, whose broad doors open into the 4,900-square-foot stone Barn Pavilion, with space to accommodate up to 275 guests. This indoor/outdoor area is bordered by lush perennial gardens and covered arbors, which mirror the rough wood siding and tin roof of The Barn (a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system is available in both the Pavilion and Barn). Old Edwards Club Chimney Terrace and Grand Porch feature rustically elegant architecture and

interiors that promote full relaxation and an incomparable air of carefree leisure. There’s also the Old Edwards Club Boardroom and Private Dining Room – a warm, welcoming ambiance will greet your guests in the private dining room at Old Edwards Club.

Skyline Lodge, (828) 526-4008, is a beautifully restored, mid-century motor lodge surrounded by the serenity of mountain views and dense forests with a variety of ceremony locations, including a covered Pavilion and outdoor space. Dreamy mountain-top weddings

feature the culinary creations of the nationally-lauded Oak Steakhouse along with expertly selected beverage pairings, exceptional service and unrivaled ambiance. This distinctive destination, pleasantly off the beaten path, is a complete package for guest accommodations, pre-event gatherings, photo-album worthy views, and the ideal place to return for anniversary celebrations through the years.

The Vineyard at High Holly, (828) 482-5573, is an idyllic mountain vineyard with an all-season open-air pavilion,

complete with a commercial kitchen and bar, perfect for a ceremony among the vines. Additionally, there are cottages accommodating up to 50 guests.

The Village Green, (828) 743-3434, offers Lewis Hall, a beautiful and versatile venue inside a picturesque park setting known as The Heart of Cashiers.

Lewis Hall is a grand 5800-square-foot enclosed venue with a large stage, fireplace, that can accommodate 200 guests. Included with the rental of Lewis Hall are the use of two garden courtyards, The Common’s Outdoor Pavilion,

and the two-acre Common’s Lawn. Both the Highlands Chamber of Commerce (highlandschamber.org) and the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce (cashiersareachamber.com) websites are great sources of information on venues and vendors.

by Mary Jane McCall

TheGreystoneInn

Half-MileFarm

TheVillageGreen

Should Investors ‘Go It Alone’?

If you’re going to enjoy a comfortable retirement, you should know, among other things, how much money you’ll need. And you may have a much better chance of knowing this if you get some professional help.

Consider these findings from a 2021 study by Dalbar, a financial services market research firm:

• Investors who worked with a financial advisor were three times more likely to estimate what they would have saved at retirement than “do-ityourself” investors.

• More than two-thirds of investors with a financial advisor were satisfied with the amount they would have saved at retirement, compared to about 27% of the do-it-yourselfers.

How do financial professionals help their clients in these ways?

First, consider the issue of determining how much money will be needed for

retirement. It’s not always easy for individuals to estimate this amount.

But financial professionals can help clients like you arrive at this figure by exploring your hopes and goals. How long do you plan to work? What kind of lifestyle do you anticipate enjoying in retirement?

Where would you like to live? How much would you like to travel? Are you open to pursuing earned income opportunities, such as consulting or working part time? Next comes the other key question: How much money will be available for retirement?

This big question leads to many others: How much do you need to save and invest each year until you retire?

About what sort of investment return will you need to reach your retirement income goals? What level of risk are you willing to take to achieve that return?

What is the role of other income sources

such as Social Security or any pensions you might have?

Having a financial professional help you gain a clear idea of your retirement income picture can certainly be reassuring. But there may be other reasons why “going it alone” as an investor might not be desirable.

For example, when the financial markets are down, as was the case for much of 2022, some investors make decisions based on short-term volatility, such as selling investments to “cut their losses,” even if these same investments still have solid business fundamentals and good prospects for growth. But if you work with a financial professional, you might decide to stick with these investments, especially if they’re still appropriate for your long-term strategy. Other times, of course, the advice may be different — but it will always be advice based on your goals, needs and time horizon.

Furthermore, if you’re investing on your own, you may always be measuring your results against the major market indexes, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But in reality, your portfolio should contain a wide range of investments, some of which aren’t contained in these indexes, so you might not be assessing your performance appropriately.

A financial professional can help you develop your own, more meaningful benchmarks that can show the progress you’re actually making toward your goals.

In some areas of life, going it alone can be exciting — but when it comes to investing for your future, you may benefit from some company on the journey.

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

Todd Holder

Highlands Police Chief Andrea ‘Sissy’ Holland puts a sunny face on a grueling job.

Every day on the news we see tempers flaring-up and metro-cities melting down. In spite of all the madness, Andrea Holland, Highlands’ Chief of Police, has a hopeful vision for our nation’s future policing. She believes the small, remote towns across America are law enforcement models from which big cities can learn, and thus, reset their broken-down systems.

“Growing up I wanted to be a productive member of society,” says Andrea Holland (who’s known to Highlanders of all ages as Sissy), now three years into her service as Highlands Police

Department Chief. “I wanted to be a pillar of the community – to help it and be involved in it. I wanted to make things better for all. Law enforcement was the way to reach the goals I set for myself, and I am fortunate to have met every challenge all the way up the ladder.

Police Chief was the only goal I hadn’t actively sought, but I’d put in the work, and Highlands does not discriminate, so I was elated, and a little bit scared, when I was awarded the Chief position.”

“I had a life plan that I would enter military and then go into law enforcement,” she continues. “My military

career was cut short, when luck took a wonderful turn – motherhood and a beautiful daughter. When she started school, I began working at the sheriff’s department. By 2004, I’d shifted my workplace to the jail and was promoted to court bailiff.”

Over the past few years, Sissy’s acquired degrees supporting her career objectives. This May she’ll be awarded her master’s in criminal justice with leadership focus. She, among many, are moving away from old-school, militaristic, bureaucratic law enforcement into a more civilized service-before-self mindset.

Chief Holland believes knowledge is the key to change and success. “I require my officers/staff to pursue their professional paths. I never ask anyone to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself. I lead by example.”

With 13 full-time and 9/10 part-time employees, she’s proud of her department’s diversity, currently 36% women. Studies confirm women’s contributions to law enforcement: public communication skills; calm management of domestic crises; problem-solving skills; multi-tasking abilities. To broaden her team’s diversity, she’s encouraging other groups/ethnicities in the community to consider police work.

There are always bumps in the road (for example, trying to protect her officers and residents during Covid), but she finds joy daily, often through giving a hand-up to those in crisis. One brave young boy puts a smile on her face. He was in an abusive situation. It took a few months, but Holland worked through the system to get him into a safe environment. To this day, when he sees her, everything falls away, tears well, and he gives her a million-dollar hug.

If you asked the incarcerated about their experience with Chief Holland, they are likely to say, “She talks to me like I’m somebody.”

…to help it (the community) and be involved in it. I wanted to make things better for all.

What a contrast to nightly news. Sissy is building one of those small town teams that’s a shining example of how to turn lives around with compassion. A little kindness goes a long way – hopefully all the way to metropolitan areas. It’s the little towns that sometimes have the quiet, but bigger voice.

by Donna Rhodes

Chief Holland

ChiefAndreaHolland

ChiefHolland,MayorPat Taylor, andOfficerBrittanyMaclean

Cheif Holland helpswith‘ShopwithaCop’

HighlandsChristmasParade

Itook Physics in high school.

I was much more interested in how boys, not light, traveled. Of course, light makes it possible to see boys. And if sun-up were delayed, I just hit the light switch so I could see stuff –and more boys.

Beyond that, what else would I need to know? Plenty, according to my teacher, Mrs. Cieplechowicz.

I should have gotten an A just for learning how to spell and pronounce her name. C-I-E-P-L-E-C-H-O-W-I-C-Z. That’s a soft “C” for a hard name.

Coincidentally, the only “C” I ever made in school, was in her class. Darn you, Cieplechowicz!

I do remember some of the physics terms she taught us: acceleration, collision, displacement, force, friction.

Everything I Know About Physics

Women Who Shape the Plateau

I thought, “Well, at least I’ll have an impressive collision vocabulary, if I ever have a car-wreck, or if my mom turns me into an object-in-motion and I collide with, say, a charging rhino.”

Aside from a heavy name, Cieplechowicz also had a heavy Slavic accent. This was in the 60s, a decade-and-a-half past WWII. We’d heard rumors about the U.S. pardoning Russian and German physicists to help with the A-bomb and space race.

What if she’d been one of the bad dudes, and now she’s torturing us with Physics?

Every day in the lab we puzzled over how the heck light got here. Did it travel in bundles? Did it travel in waves? Did it get here with Santa’s sleigh and Rudolph’s nose (my personal theory).

On the last day of class, Cieplechowicz

solved the bundles-versus-waves mystery. There it was on the very last page of the textbook: “Light travels in waves and bundles – maybe. More data required.”

What?? I spent a whole year of my life for a maybe?

As an adult who has ridden a lot of rodeos, I regard physics as Life-Guidelines: Don’t collide with cars, or mothers, or rotten boys, or extremely large, immovable hard stuff. It’s here that science and common sense should merge.

I leave you with this reflection: I finally know where bad light and the rotten boys end up: in prism.

The science of Physics doesn’t solve the mystery of Boys.

by Donna Rhodes illustration by Norma Jean Zahner

Jenny Smith and Kaitlyn Moss Villarreal

photo by Mary Gillan

A Compassion That Has No Limits

Thanks to a heart loaded with love and inexhaustible energy, Kaitlyn Moss Villarreal is surrounded by creatures great and small, at work and at home.

When you look back at it, Kaitlyn Moss Villarreal’s ascent to Cashiers Highlands Humane Society Shelter Manager seems as natural and inevitable as a dog rolling on a sun-baked roadkill. There was no way it wasn’t going to happen.

“When I first started working at CHHS nearly 10 years ago, I had all intentions of it being just a summer job,” she says. “I was working part time on the weekends and eventually started full time. After the summer was over, I realized that I was in love with the mission and decided to stick around. I worked my way up and took on the role of Admin Assistant and then eventually Assistant Manager.

Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. We were told that of the 120 dogs, only one had special medical needs. Yep. Kaitlyn picked the special needs dog first.”

Stroud’s observations are corroborated by Kaitlyn herself.

A Generosity Of Spirit

The sweet pastures of Jenny Smith’s and gentle comforts of her home are available to horses and assorted creatures looking for sanctuary.

If you’re a little foal like Juice, grievously wounded by a bear in an apple orchard, your life was transformed by your owner’s decision to call Dr. Brad Smith to your farm for emergency treatment.

Kaitlyn’s compassion for animals knows no limits,…

“I love feeling like I’m making a difference for not only our community but for the animals in our care. My coworkers can attest to the fact that I tend to gravitate towards the old, decrepit animals. Buddy, a senior plott hound that came to us as a stray was one of those. I was his person. We just clicked from day one. Over his time with us, he grew older and maybe even developed a touch of dementia. He would only get out of his bed if I came in to get him. I took him home with me of course but he was not a fan of the fact that I had another man living there (my husband)! He spent his last days with us. Just something about an old hound dog that just tugs on your heart a little more.”

That’s not simply because Dr. Brad (as he’s known throughout the Plateau), decided that you would survive the catastrophe, but also because he was accompanied by his wife, Jenny Smith.

us, and yet they’re often treated so badly when they’re no longer in top form.”

“In 2016, I actually left to work briefly at an inn. That was extremely eye opening for me. I was good at my job, but I was miserable. I missed getting dirty and feeling like I was making a difference. Two months went by and I came back to CHHS as Shelter Manager. I truly feel at home here.”

CH Humane Society Executive Director David Stroud has divined why Kaitlyn’s such a natural fit for the shelter, which has won a national reputation for its extraordinary level of care.

“Kaitlyn’s compassion for animals knows no limits,” he says. “Two of the best examples I remember came from rescues. In 2016 CHHS was among the first shelters in North Carolina to take in rescued dogs from South Korea. Thirty-one canines arrived in Raleigh and 30 of the 31 dogs were two years old or younger. The 31st dog was 10 years old, heartworm positive and had cancer. The ten-year-old was the first dog that Kaitlyn selected.

“The next year, we partnered with other animal agencies to rescue 120 dogs who arrived in Atlanta after surviving

Of course, Kaitlyn’s heart will not be limited to four-legged love of the slobbery kind.

We were told that of the 120 dogs, only one had special medical needs. Yep. Kaitlyn picked the special needs dog first.

“This past June, I actually welcomed my first child with my husband, Jonathan,” she says. “My free time now pretty much revolves around her. Georgia will no doubt be an animal lover just like me. We have four dogs that she’s obsessed with. We enjoy spending time with family and just being homebodies. We also enjoy camping and lake days.”

But let’s let her boss, David Stroud, explain why Kaitlyn’s found a place in our Women Who Shape the Plateau series: “CHHS is a better place because of Kaitlyn. And so is the HighlandsCashiers Plateau.

by Luke Osteen

Jenny, who’s known in the community through her compassionate work at the front desk at the couple’s Animal Wellness Hospital of Highlands (she placed a tender arm around my shoulders when it was time to let my beloved Pebbles go), also bears a tender heart that’s turned their farm (and home) into a sanctuary.

When Jenny was 12, the family moved to the mountains and it was finally her chance to own a horse. Since then, equines have always been in her life. She found equestrian work at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School and farms in this corner of Western North Carolina and Georgia – including Tarheel Farms in Franklin. It was in the latter that she was introduced to the lineage that produced Juice, the bear-attack survivor who’d find new life on the Smith’s farm.

It’s as though God turned on a ‘Vacancy’ sign at our place and all sorts of animals turned in,

In fact, it was her love of horses that brought her to her true love, the aforementioned Dr. Brad. “I’d brought my injured horse Missy to the University of Georgia Veterinary School for treatment – Brad wasn’t the attending vet, he was just a student,” she says. “When we came home, that student sent along a note saying that if Missy got worse I should call him. Later there was a note from that same student saying that if Missy got better to call him. Finally I got a message saying that if Missy remained the same to call him.

Soon enough, Little Juice was enjoying a swift recovery in the Smith’s pasture and learning to deal with Jenny’s herd of rescued and fostered animals.

“It’s as though God turned on a ‘Vacancy’ sign at our place and all sorts of animals turned in,” she said. “Our latest ‘guest’ is the kitty named Marbles, who showed up at our door. Marbles is an Inside Cat now.”

That generosity of spirit at the farm and at the animal hospital isn’t really a surprise, though. It had its roots decades ago, when she was a little girl in Boca Raton, Florida.

“I couldn’t ignore the animals all around us – I was the girl who’d somehow bring home the neighbors’ pets (dogs are always willing to follow kids),” she explains. “When I was allowed to take riding lessons – my parents had offered ballet, tap dancing, baton lessons, nothing stuck – I immediately fell in love. Horses are such amazing animals – they do so much for

“I tell friends that he’s the boyfriend who followed me home from school.”

Horses are such amazing animals – they do so much for us, and yet they’re often treated so badly when they’re no longer in top form.

Their marriage would produce two sons – Kyle 31 and Skyler 15, though there’d always be horses in the background.

“At the moment we’re caring for five rescued horses and a miniature horse named Sprinkles, who’s only 40 inches tall,” Jenny says. “Don’t feel sorry for Sprinkles, though, she’s able to boss around all the other horses.”

by Luke Osteen

GIVING BACK

Pages 166-181

photo by Susan Renfro

A Sanctuary for Disabled Animals

The fortunate animals who find their way to Bella View Farm Animal Sanctuary in Franklin are given a new lease on life. To learn more and to support this vital mission, visit bellaviewfarmanimalsanctuary.com .

Greg and Rhonda Farrell have opened their hearts and their Bella View Farm in Franklin to disabled baby farm animals.

The animals are welcomed to the farm to live out their lives with love and compassion. And though the project was conceived to provide sanctuary and a chance to live a protected life

for disabled baby goats, over time it’s welcomed disabled turkeys, horses, pigs, chickens, ducks, and bunnies (plus a couple of peacocks and a disabled emu).

“I was always drawn to the animals that no one wanted. Maybe they were too old, or only had three legs, or one eye, or the runt, whatever it was, my heart invariably went out to them,” says

Rhonda. “I always dreamed of having a farm where I could bring all the little misfits to live. Our own little world made up of happiness, kindness, and lots of love. I never thought that I would be able to do what I have always loved; care for ‘special’ animals.”

Both of the Farrells arrived at their Macon County farm as escapees from

hectic lives in New York.

“We bought 25 beautiful secluded acres – no neighbors, no ordinances, no noise, no passing cars, just peaceful, quiet, and untouched,” Rhonda says. “We named our place Bella View Farm after one of my horses. At the time I didn’t know the path we would be going down. Life is full of surprises, isn’t it?

“But here we are today. Taking care of special needs animals. The animals my heart was perpetually drawn to, finally I can give them the life they so deserve.

“We became a nonprofit sanctuary in April of 2018. We are still a work in progress. With Sanctuary life, there are always needs. “Yes, it can be physically, emotionally, and financially demanding. We have over 80 animals in our care, but when you’re doing something you love it’s not work...it’s a dream come true.”

Bella View Farm is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, funded entirely through tax-deductible donations. Rhonda said they are always looking for responsible, compassionate, and dedicated volunteers.

The farm is not open to the public due to the sake of the animals and the work involved. If you’d like to support the farm and its animals or learn more about its mission, visit bellaviewfarmanimalsanctuary.com by Luke

Osteen photos by Susan Renfro

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The Happiest Place on Earth

Nico is a recent addition to The Happiest Pack on Earth, the cheerful canines at Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society.

Ioften share with folks that I believe the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is The Happiest Place on Earth. Disneyland may have first coined that phrase when it opened in Anaheim, California in 1955, but I think CHHS has a legitimate claim to the slogan.

After all, unlike the house that Mickey built, our adoption fees won’t drain your bank account and our admission and parking are free.

But sometimes I get a few incredulous looks when I say that we’re the happiest place on earth. “You’re an animal shelter,” I have heard commented, “what could possibly be so happy?”

That’s easy to explain. While entrusted to our care, our shelter pets are happy, healthy, and free from fear, stress, and disease. As a no-kill shelter, all our endings are happy endings. The business that we are in is unconditional love and forever homes. And in between rescue

and adoption, our dogs romp and run in acres of outdoor play yards and our cats relax and roam in cageless playrooms and sunlit porches. Our Canine Adoption Center and Feline Adoption Center are two of the most modern animal welfare facilities in western North Carolina.

While entrusted to our care, our shelter pets are happy, healthy, and free from fear, stress, and disease.

One-year-old Nico is just one of the many happy temporary residents at our no-kill shelter. Nico arrived at CHHS last November after he was found as a stray in Highlands. He has been a playful friend to his fellow canines and we have observed he likes to be the alpha dog in the pack. Nico is doing well with his housetraining and rarely has a potty accident in his overnight kennel. We

believe Nico would make an ideal canine companion for a family who lives an active lifestyle.

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 50(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. Visit us online at chhumanesociety.org or call us at (828) 743-5752 for more information. 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

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New and Improved

A generous grant from the WNC Bridge Foundation allows The Literacy & Learning Center to boost its staff and expand its mission.

Meet our newest staff! The Literacy & Learning Center is thrilled to announce several organizational changes as of 2023, made possible by a capacity building grant from the WNC Bridge Foundation. This three-year grant provides TL&LC with funding for a new position to support their fundraising efforts to continue the growth and expansion of the organization. Previously the Marketing Manager, Jenni Edwards has moved into the Development Officer position. I’ve transitioned from Senior Programs Manager to the Marketing Manager position.

And finally, the TL&LC is pleased to welcome its newest member of their full-time staff, Caroline Cox. Caroline is the newly appointed Program Manager and has taken over the responsibility of the free programs The Literacy & Learning Center offers, including their after-school programs, which have been temporarily relocated to the Highlands United Methodist Church.

Caroline says, “I’m passionate about providing everyone with access to quality education, and I believe that TL&LC is meeting that need in Macon County.” With years of experience in the classroom, both in public and private schools, she is excited to create fun and immersive educational

experiences, and to see children grow in all aspects of who they are. Caroline’s favorite part of teaching is creating engaging hands-on lessons, which she has already incorporated into TL&LC’s after-school programs.

When Caroline is not working, she enjoys taking barre classes, taking her Bernedoodle on hikes with her husband, and exploring new cities. She and her husband attend Discover Church in Franklin. Caroline is also a CourtAppointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care.

TL&LC has also welcomed a prior and current after-school tutor as our new ESL teacher. Kara Long has 22 years of teaching experience in both Ohio and Georgia in elementary education. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from Ohio State University, and a certification in ESL education from the State of Georgia.

Kara says, “One thing I’m most excited

about being at TL&LC is being a part of a team to support the families in this community. I’m thrilled to work with children again in a tutoring capacity, and happy to have the opportunity to teach ESL to adults while making connections and learning more about the needs of those in our community.”

Kara adds that being able to communicate in English, both verbally and in writing, provides opportunities for growth and success for non-native speakers and she is excited to help others in this way. Teaching is her passion, along with gardening, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.

She and her husband have three adult children and two dogs, “all of whom are cherished and adored.”

Bonnie Potts, Executive Director of The Literacy & Learning Center says, “We are so grateful to the WNC Bridge Foundation for providing the means to hire new employees. Our strategic plan is to continue to expand and grow our programs, and I am so proud of our staff and volunteers, and all of the wonderful work they do.”

by Anna Norton, The Literacy & Learning Center

KaraLong

CarolineCox

Feeling the Love

An Honor To Serve

Jerry Hermanson steps away from a record of sterling service to The Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers.

This month marks the retirement of The Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers’ Executive Director Jerry Hermanson, a post he’s held for the last 17 years.

“I started two weeks before the first patient was seen on December 8, 2005,” he says.

With his characteristic modesty, Hermanson is quick to deflect our attempts to spotlight himself in this story.

“With the help of many volunteers and other staff we have treated over 6,000 patients providing over 11,000 patient visits,” he says. “With the generous financial support of members of our community, we have been able to provide many services needed by the low income, uninsured in our area. During

the more than 17 years I’ve been here, I’ve had the opportunity to serve on the Board of the NC Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (11 years) and am currently the Chairman of the Macon County Board of Health.”

In a way, his arrival at the Community Care Clinic seems predestined.

“I’ve been in health care management for 50 years,” he says. “Following my graduation from the MBA program in hospital administration at the University of Florida, my first administrative position was at Imperial Point Hospital, a 150-bed, short term, acute care community hospital which had recently opened in the North end of Fort Lauderdale.

I spent five years there getting it to profitability and establishing it as an important hospital in a very crowded

and competitive market. From there I transferred to the district’s largest hospital, Broward General Medical Center in down town Fort Lauderdale. This 744 bed hospital offered most services of a large major medical center and provided more services than any other hospital in the county.”

But his job here on the Plateau has proved to be one of the most meaningful.

“One of the most rewarding part of being associated with the clinic is that I can’t go anywhere in Macon and Jackson counties without seeing a friend, whether they are a clinic patient or clinic volunteer. What an honor it’s been to serve at the clinic.

by Luke Osteen

Like a sunny beacon of hope and learning, the Highlands Community Child Development Center has strengthened its mission to serve the littlest member of the community (and their families) with the addition of two new preschool rooms at The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation.

Generations of children whose parents work in Highlands (this writer’s son included) have relied upon the loving care and tender lessons offered at this quiet landmark, just one block off Main Street behind First Presbyterian Church of Highlands and now in the Church of the Incarnation on Main Street.

Director Pat Hedden and her staff ensure that these kids receive a safe place to play and rest and – this is important – are

introduced to the fundamentals of reading, math, and computer skills. When the children graduate at age 5, they’re socialized and ready for school.

“We love what we do, and I think the children can feel that love,” says Miss Pat (you’d be hard-pressed to find any child or parent over the last 40 years who calls her Mrs. Hedden). “It really makes a difference when they know that they’re being cared for by people who love them.”

The center relies upon the generosity of local groups and individuals – Old Edwards Inn & Spa, The Rotary Club of Highlands, Mountaintop Rotary, Bel Canto, Cullasaja Women’s Outreach, Dogwood Health Trust, The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, First

Presbyterian Church of Highlands, The Hack Foundation (Gerry & Avary Doubleday), Fibber Magee’s, and Mountain Findings. And, of course, this being the Plateau, the list can go on and on and anyone left off should consult this writer for a correction in a future issue – blame it on me, not those good people who keep everything going.

That’s quite a lot of support from a lot of organizations, but the center still relies upon generous contributions from individuals. If you’d like to contribute, visit highlandscommunitychildcare.org

Highlands Community Child Development Center boosts its reach with the addition of a pair of preschool rooms at The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation.

JerryHermanson

by Luke Osteen photos by Susan Renfro

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Carpe Diem’s Continuing Story

Helping Ukraine

Mountaintop Rotary Club of Highlands provides an important link to war-torn Ukraine.

Since last year, Mountaintop Rotary Club of Highlands has been extending kindness thousands of miles away in war-torn Ukraine. In a recent gesture, members collected and donated funds so that individuals in the country can build bunk beds for an orphanage in Ukraine. An unfortunate circumstance of this one-year war is that orphanages have become overwhelmed with children.

According to the club’s president-elect, Bill Kirkman, Mountaintop Rotary partnered with the Rotary Club Budapest to be the local partner in coordinating with a non-profit on the Ukraine border, which then carried the funds personally across the border to an orphanage in a tiny town near the

Sue outlines the random comings and goings, surprises and setbacks that arrive on a daily basis at the Farm.

At times it’s challenging to choose one topic for our monthly article. So much goes on every day at the farm. So, let me share a typical day in life at Carpe Diem Farms.

Morning begins early with lots of mouths to feed. Dogs Jethro and Ellie Mae; and cats Gracia de Dios and Lilly share the Lodge with me and wake up hungry without fail. While my coffee brews, their feeding begins and then it’s the outside critters…birds, squirrels chipmunks, boomers and the feral cat. It’s entertainment at its best!

Coffee in hand, it’s off to the stables.

The six horses eat at 8, noon and 4 every day, well-hayed in between and as the Spring grass grows are happy to munch the day away.

Tracy continues to require daily hoof and body work. Four-and-a-half years after her first hoof surgery she continues to be our biggest teacher. We invent new ways daily to keep her comfortable, moving and happy in her herd. What she has taught me and all the others who work with her is revolutionary!

One of the things we’ve learned to help make her comfortable includes looking at each foot and leg as independent while all needing to work together and be balanced. Much like tires on a race car.

Tracy’s surgical hoof, her right front, is two inches longer than her front left. The

impact of that disparity on her joints has been significant. In small increments we are making different custom Easy’s Slippers for each foot, trying to give her balance while relieving pressure. It’s making a difference, small steps, one day at a time. The blessing for us is that Tracy is an eager, willing participant, and teacher.

Stay tuned for the continuing story. Until next time, Carpe Diem!

Carpe Diem Farms is a 501(c)(3) educational foundation dedicated to “Exploring the human potential through equine.”

by Sue Blair, Carpe-Diem Farms

western border of Ukraine. Last year’s support was for Ukrainian refugees, and more than $10,000 was raised; this year’s project is to pinpoint a particular need involving children.

“The orphanage has been in dire need of new sleeping arrangements for the children in its care,” explained Kirkman.

“We are thrilled to be able to provide this much-needed support. It’s heartwarming to know that our efforts, along with the support of our partner club in Budapest, will make a real difference in the lives of these children.”

The Rotary Clubs worked with a local carpenter to build the bunk beds, ensuring that they are safe, comfortable, and durable. The new beds will provide a better night’s sleep for the children and

help promote a healthy living environment. All of the 63 new bunk beds (providing 126 sleeping beds) have been delivered to the orphanage.

“Bless those sweet children who have had their lives and hearts torn to pieces in this awful war,” said Robin Austin, a member of the Mountaintop Rotary Club.

If you would like to donate, you can send a check to Mountaintop Rotary at P.O. BOX 372, Highlands, N.C. 28741 or donate to the campaign on their Facebook page at Rotary Club of HighlandsMountaintop. For more information, contact Austin at (828) 446-6789 or Bill Kirkman at (404) 219-7498.

by Deena Bouknight

Morning begins early with lots of mouths to feed.

Faith in Action

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd has opened its grant cycle for non-profit agency applications – the deadline is May 1.

It’s true. Church people often say when God closes a door, He opens a window.

That was the case for Good Shepherd in 2020 when Covid restrictions forced the cancellation of its 35th annual Bazaar and Auction fundraiser. The auction had become a beloved Plateau tradition for which folks lined up in the early morning, long before the dew was off the dahlias, wanting to be first in line for the treasure hunt.

mission and work has touched the lives of more than 150,000 people on the Plateau.

We are always looking for an opportunity to make a transformative difference.

Church volunteers put on their thinking caps (and their masks) and opened the Bazaar warehouse to the public on weekends year-round. The Bazaar Barn was born.

A door had closed but a large window opened.

Since that time, the Church of the Good Shepherd has given away more than $750,000 to nearly 40 organizations, whose

“We have been blessed by the success of the Bazaar Barn, by the generosity of those who donate gently-used goods to us, and by those who shop our store every weekend,” said Bill Canby, chairman of the Outreach Grants Committee that is tasked with the responsibility to review each grant request and agency, then select those who will be awarded funding.

“We focus on those in need as Jesus described in the Matthew 25 Parable of Sheep and Goats,” he continued. “We are always looking for an opportunity to make a transformative difference.”

When a local family with school-aged children lost everything in a fire and had no insurance, the Barn outfitted their tempo-

rary quarters in a heartbeat, and the kids missed no school. Once a couple came in each week for five weeks. Every time, they purchased one room of furniture and accessories. On the sixth week, the lady came alone, not to buy more, but to say that while others boasted their new houses were furnished by the Pottery Barn, hers was completely furnished by the Bazaar Barn, and she had never felt so good about a new home.

Good Shepherd’s mission is “reflecting God’s love through our faith in action.”

The Bazaar Barn is faith in action.

For more information about grant applications, or donations to the Bazaar Barn, visit goodshepherdofcashiersnc.com

by Linda Quick photos by Mary Gillan

GoodShepherdmembersSkipRyan,BarnManager andRuthRuss,BarnBoardChair Scan

Returning to Schedules

A mid-winter crisis gave the Peggy Crosby Center a scare, but efforts underway at this very moment will ensure that things are back to normal within a few weeks.

It’s a familiar refrain for property owners on the Plateau – a leak in the bleak winter has thrown the Peggy Crosby Center into Emergency Mode and scattered its clients around Highlands.

The Peggy Crosby Community Service Center reopened when sprinkler system repairs were completed and returned to service on March 1,” says PCC Board Chair Robert E. Smith. “The main damages from the sprinkler pipe leak affected the end of the hallway upstairs.

Acupuncture Highlands, the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation, and the PCC office; and the Kitchen Carry Away and Catering downstairs. Both the Kitchen and The Center for Life Enrichment Lecture Hall were severely damaged as water came through the upstairs flooring onto the appliances, audio-visual equipment, walls and furnishings below.

“Each affected tenant is working either elsewhere or against a ‘soon as possible’ time to reopen in the building,” says Smith. “By the time this article is published we hope to have seen steadily increasing progress. The CLE will be open for our published schedule in May.”

If you have questions about the progress or the status of its scattered agencies and tenants, call (828) 526-9938.

by Luke Osteen

Funding For Musical Programs

The Gordon Center for Children provides compassionate, structured care for local children.

When Bel Canto’s Dr. Michael Crowe presented a check to the Gordon Center for Children last month, he was following through on this Highlands musical landmark’s founding principle.

“For 30 years, we’ve been providing funding for musical programs here at The Gordon Center and area preschools and Highlands School,” Dr. Crowe said. “We understand how important it is to introduce children to music and we know how vital the Gordon Center is to the entire community.”

Dr. Crowe is correct about the center’s importance. Through cooperation, partnership, and support from the Highlands United Methodist Church, the Gordon Center for Children provides early childhood education opportunities to families of Highlands and the surrounding areas. Their mission is to promote the cognitive, physical, emotional, social and

spiritual development of the children in a warm and safe environment.

Currently, three classrooms are open to children ages one through five.

The Nursery Class is open for children ages one to two. The Transition Class is open for children ages two through three. The Pre-School Class follows a Kindergarten prep curriculum and is open for children ages three through five, but the class is reserved for children the two years prior to beginning Kindergarten.

Activities include Chapel with Pastor Randy Lucas, Exercise with Tina Rogers, visits to Hudson Library, Music with Angie Jenkins, and visits from the Nature Center staff.

“Our town is growing, and with more families moving into the area, the need for childcare is growing as well,” says Center Co-Director Victoria Long.

“Even with both amazing opportunities

available in Highlands, this past year the Gordon Center had a waitlist of over 50 children.

“It’s our dream to expand both the afterschool program and the childcare program in the future to be able to accommodate more families, but to do that we first need to reinforce what we have so we can continue to provide excellent education and care to these children. As a non-profit, we keep childcare costs low so the families in the community can more easily afford to send their children here. We currently are running at a weekly deficit, and we rely on grants and donations from our generous community to offset our overhead costs.”

If you’d like to help, visit highlandsmethodist.org/gordon-center-forchildren. It explains the program and its opportunities, and allows donations.

by Luke Osteen

Dr. Michael Crowe presents a generous gift from Bel Canto to The Gordon Center.

Everything’s Coming Up Daffodils In Cashiers

Showstopping vignettes of daffodils are taking the spotlight throughout Cashiers.

Every year since the fall of 2019, Cashiers Area businesses surrounding the US 64 and NC 107 Crossroads plant daffodil bulbs in roadside beds.

The Cashiers Area Chamber’s Retail Roundtable under the leadership of board member Lec Hobbs of Highland Hiker, organized the wholesale purchase and installation of the multitude of flowers to create a dramatic visual cue when they bloom that Spring is arriving in the mountains! To date, more than 1,500 bulbs have been planted.

According to a reference in The Charlotte Observer, North Carolina daffodil varieties were descendants of flowers that were planted in England in the 1200s. They speculate those made their way to the New World, and then out west when the Cherokee who had fallen in love with this lovely undocumented alien, carried daffodil bulbs on the

How to Enhance Your Highlands Experience

Highlands’ 2023 Experience Guide outlines the places and personalities that animate this corner of the Southern Appalachians.

Trail of Tears from the North Carolina mountains to Oklahoma.

Here on the Plateau, the cheerful daffodil is typically among the first botanicals 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 advises daffodils are “long lived, increasing naturally from year to year; they stand up to cold and heat; they have many garden uses; and offer a fascinating array of flower forms, sizes, and colors. Given minimal care at planting, all thrive with virtually no further attention, not requiring summer watering and need only infrequent division. Finally, rodents and deer won’t eat them.”

In the past, 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.

Other Chamber Retail Roundtable projects have included 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, visit CashiersAreaChamber. com, call 828-743-5191 or email office@ CashiersAreaChamber.com

by Stephanie Edwards, Executive Director, Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce

The 2023 Experience Guide, produced by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC, is now available at the Welcome Center at 108 Main Street and viewable online at highlandschamber.org.

The annual Guide brings to life the people, places and events of our quaint mountain town. This year we highlight area personalities Matt Canter of Brookings Anglers, Betty Chrestman of Unfurl Massage and Bodywork and Chef Kimmy Vos of Highlands Tavern and our new Highlands Performing Art Center. We celebrate the natural spaces and beautiful places our residents enjoy every day and that draw visitors to our community from near and far - our waterfalls, streams and trails. Not to mention our Main Street shops, excellent

eateries and lively arts scene. We also showcase the myriad of special events that are held in Highlands throughout the year from Snow Fest @ 4118 to the Olde Mountain Christmas Parade and everything in between, including the following to add to your calendar:

April 15 – Plateau Pick Up

May 19 – Friday Night Live Outdoor Concert Series with Jay Drummonds

May 20 – Meander in May

May 20 – Saturday on Pine featuring The Boomers

June 1 – Volunteer Fair

With the anticipation of the arrival of family, friends or guests this season, the Experience Guide is filled with creative ideas to enhance any visit to Highlands.

Formed in 1931 to serve as the voice of business, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce has grown to provide services and support to businesses, residents and visitors. Conveniently located on Main Street in the MarchantParker-Davis Patterson House, our Welcome Center is open to all who visit, live and work in the community. To inquire about becoming a member or volunteer please visit the Welcome Center or call (828) 526-5841.

by Johanna Fein, Highlands Chamber of Commerce/ Visit Highlands, NC

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Live well. Run free.

A private, low-density mountain community, located five minutes from Cashiers, NC on the prestigious 107 South corridor.

With ve distinct residential o erings, including cottages and estate homesites, Silver Run Reserve features curated and natural amenities for indoor and outdoor fun and wellness. Call for more details.

WELCOME HOME.

828.342.3194

ME-12, 4.24 AC.

Premier mountain estate lot with 180 degree, long-range mountain views and an easy build site sitting close to the highest point in the community

MLS 101128

$1,600,000

FE-3, 8.48 AC.

Private farm estate lot with mountain and meadow views, and plenty of gentle space for lawns or private meadows

MLS 93392

$1,350,000

COTTAGES

4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, mountain modern getaways with wooded or mountain views on 0.5 acre lots

CT-9; CT-11; CT-13

UNDER CONTRACT: CT-10; CT-12

REPRESENTATIVE DESIGN

BOBBINS LAKE

THE LODGE CHIMNEY GARDEN

SILVER RUN CREEK

NATIVE TROUT FISHING

THE LODGE

GREEN SPACE

THE WATER PLANT

High Hampton

5 BR 5 BA / 1 HBA This sophisticated newer home is perched on a generous sized lot overlooking the Cherokee Campground park, and has a Chimneytop Mountain view. The location is ideal—in the heart of High Hampton and on the “original” side of the neighborhood, it is within easy walking distance to the club and Inn. Design South Builders and Kay Douglass Interiors rolled out their best to create this stunning home with an open oor plan perfect for family and guests. Approaching the home from the paved circular driveway and slate covered patio, one is greeted by wood, stone and cedar shake exterior detailing, a dutch door and gas lanterns. Many interior walls are painted shiplap, hardwood oors are nished with muted warm grey tones, specialty lighting is featured throughout and unexpected pops of color punctuate each room. In addition to the great room, kitchen, laundry and cozy keeping room,

OFFERED FOR $3,850,000

the rst oor features two bedrooms. The main bedroom with its own private deck and a bath with two vanities, two toilet rooms, soaking tub and shower is nicely separated from the rest of the home’s “activity.” A second bedroom is near the front door and has an en suite bath. Across the foyer is the powder room with “antique barn board” wallpaper. The sensitive site design of the house dictated a oor plan with an interesting angle best experienced when upstairs where there is a small loft “game room” and two traditional bedrooms with en suite baths. The nal bedroom is set up as a fantastic four-sleeper bunk and tv room, also with a private bath. This lovely home has a kid and dog-friendly yard with a re pit. The trail to the top of Rock Mountain is nearby! Most furnishings are negotiable and may be purchased separately from the real estate.

MLS 101511

Bullpen Road

3 BR 3.5 BA This absolutely charming, perfectly maintained 23.46-acre estate is surrounded by the Ellicott Rock Wilderness section of the U.S. Forest Service. Its private setting offers all the bells and whistles—small trout pond with concrete/stone dam and spillway, hiking trails, waterfall, fenced veggie garden, wood storage building, outdoor replace, and mature, well-maintained landscaping with just the right amount of lawn. The property has been owned by the same family for over 40 years, and the circa 1960s cottage has been painstakingly renovated and remodeled. It is compact and stylish, beautifully appointed with ne craftsmanship and architectural detailing throughout. The primary bedroom suite with a generous master bath on the main level has an overlook view of the pond and lawn. Also on the main level is an additional bedroom and home of ce. Upstairs includes a fantasy gable

OFFERED FOR $2,100,000

ceilinged bedroom and bath. The gourmet kitchen includes Wolf/SubZero/ Miele appliances, custom cabinetry, handmade tile ooring and Brazilian granite countertops. Extensive Azek decking connects the main house to the south wing, currently set up as a billiard room and screened porch, but able to be transformed into a guest suite with minor effort. For those who are interested in cars, hobbies and excellent storage spaces, the lower level includes 5 garage bays with heated workshops and a 2-car carport. The property is offered partially furnished, the owners will leave key pieces that are special and speci c to this home. This legacy property is one for the story books and is eight minutes from the front gates of High Hampton, and 10 minutes to the center of Cashiers.

MLS 101122

Beth Townsend

› Real estate professional 28+ years, with a Cashiers connection since 1970

› Experienced in area-wide construction projects, including being a team member of Wade Hampton Golf Club Development

› Consistently ranked as a Top Performer on the Plateau BethTownsendBroker.com

3.47 ACRES Pine Forest is a quaint, understated but upscale neighborhood just minutes from, and to the east of Cashiers. It offers paved roads, a community water system and recently installed ber optics. This lot is one of the most gentle dog and kid friendly properties here, sometimes referred to as “mountain- at,” but it also has a rise that offers ridgeline mountain views.

MLS 101528

Pine Forest $149,000

Snowbird

OFFERED FOR $1,840,000

lower pasture contains approximately 8 acres of fenced and unfenced land suitable for horses, goats, gardens or crops. The gated Snowbird neighborhood is known for its large tract layout, family and dog friendly lifestyle, and miles of private trails lacing through deep woods, open rolling elds, and across streams and waterfalls. MLS 101547

Snowbird

45.71 ACRES The East Whitt tract was named after the family who farmed the land for cabbage and cattle. Its gently rolling meadow makes it an ideal property for kids, pets, horses, and ying kites! The little one room log “Music Cabin” is a charming backdrop as it presides over activities there. A beautiful pristine stream runs along

OFFERED FOR $1,595,000

the boundary and through parts of the tract and there is a small shared pond. Snowbird’s private community hiking trail leads directly from this property to DuPree Falls, only a couple hundred feet downstream. Underground power is installed to this site, and there are excellent choices for homesites. MLS 101573

BETH

4118 Kitchen and Bar 4118kitchen-bar.com

A-List Antiques

Allen Tate/Pat Allen Realty Group patallenrealtygroup.com

Annawear annawearnc.com

Animal Rescue

Construction app-construction.com

Back at Rocky’s Place aroundbackatrockysplace.com

Maison

Balistreri Realty laketoxawayliving.com

Mountain Construction Engineering mountain-ce.com P 68

Mountain Spring Spas and Pools mountainhotspring.com

P 17

Mountain Theatre Company mountaintheatre.com P 85

Mountainworks

Custom Home Design, Ltd. mtnworks.com

P 61

Nancy’s Fancys P 68

Nearly New nearlynewnc.com

Old Edwards Inn & Spa oldedwardsinn.com

On the Verandah ontheverandah.com

Paoletti’s paolettis.com

Pat Calderone calderonegallery.com

94

141 Oak Steakhouse oaksteakhousehighlands.com

51, 162

101

86

142

The Bascom thebascom.org

82 Barbara Jamison Paintings barbarajamisonpaintings.com

Betsy Paul Art Benefit

Paul Properties betsypaulproperties.com

Bijou Jewelry bijoujeweler.com P

100 Caliber Fine Properties caliberfineproperties.com P 66, 67 Canyon Kitchen lonesomevalley.com P 10 Canyon Spa lonesomevalley.com P 10 Carolina Rustic Furniture carolinarusticfurniture.com P 27 Cashiers Chamber of Commerce cashiersareachamber.com P 134

Candy Shoppe P 141 Cashiers Kitchen Company P 171

The Cashiers Store thecashierstore.com P 70

Cashiers Valley Community Chorus P 45 Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals highlandsiscalling.com P 44, 162

Charles Johnson Fine Art Photography charlesjohnsonfineart.com P 142

Chocolate Heaven/Cake Bar P 193

Christine’s Home Decor christineshomedecor.com P 163

Classic Lighting & Design, Inc. classiclightinganddesign.com P 45

Country Club Properties ccphighlandsnc.com P 2

Crawford Construction P 12

Creative Concepts P 162

Cynthia Strain, Photographer/Author P 175

The Dancing Bear at the High Dive P 107

Dauntless Printing P 135, 163

Dawson County destinationdawsonville.com P 92

Diane McPhail, Artist P 86

The Dry Sink thedrysink.com P 154

Dutchmans dutchmansdesigns.com P 28

Edgewood Antiques & Fine Furnishings P 170

Edward Jones Investments edwardjones.com P 155

Peak Experience peakexp.com

Peggy Marra peggymarra.com

Petit Properties Real Estate petipropertieswnc.com

Preferred Properties of Highlands - Ann Scott ppoh.com

Primary primaryhnc.com

90

122

163

PARTING SHOT

by William McReynolds