Twilight 5k

Lace-up Your Running Shoes

Rain or shine, August 14 is a beautiful day for running in the 5K Twilight Race, snaking through Highlands. Interested participants can register at highlandstwilightrun.com.

Lace-up your running shoes.

We’re heading off to the August 14, 5K Twilight Race. The 5K route, beginning at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, past splendid Harris Lake at Highlands Park, is an exuberant fun race – a winding yet mostly flat course for participants of all ages and athletic prowess.

In the five years since the race started, participants have included a lot of kiddos with training wheels, along with strollers and walkers. So consider this race good for running enthusiasts at any age.

Once you’ve completed your course, you can celebrate your accomplishment with a complimentary beer from the Ugly Dog Pub and light-up necklaces for the kids. Awards will be presented to overall top male and female, top Masters, Grand Masters, Seniors Grand Masters, and top 3 finishers in each 5-year age division.

Performing free for all – racers or not – from 7:30 to 10:00 P.M. are McIntosh & the Lionhearts. Founded in 2019 by Brevard native, singer-songwriter and frontman Spalding McIntosh, the Lionhearts are a versatile ensemble of talented and established musicians. With its propulsive rhythm, their music is built on Spalding’s original songs, complex and engaging compositions on home, love, and the challenges of manhood.

As the pandemic disrupted last year’s race schedule, Organizer Derek Taylor is hoping that this race, “Will get us back to our more normal status.”

He is expecting about 300 participants and hopes to raise $18,000 – as they did for the May 2021 race – for the Highlands Education Committee, which supports Highlands School directly. Derek urges everyone to, “Please get off the couch and come run and help us raise money.”

Interested participants can register at highlandstwilightrun.com.

Early packet pickup is available Friday, August 13, from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. at Highlands Recreation Center. Participants should allow time to get checked in before the race begins at 6:00 P.M. the following evening. Parking will be available around Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, Highlands Recreation Park, Highlands Ballfield, and Highlands Post Office.

by Marlene Osteen

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Down Home & Home Grown

The twin local libraries proudly showcase the works of local writers.

Often, the visitors’ centers and historic museums are where people go to find local material and flavor. While both are viable avenues, libraries provide much in the way of local as well as regional resources.

Carlyn Morenus, Hudson Library’s branch librarian, noted, for example, “Hudson has a North Carolina collection that focuses particularly on this region – hiking, folklore, flora and fauna, regional geology, local history, and much more.”

At the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, Branch Librarian Serenity Richards calls attention to the NC LIVE HomeGrown ebook collection of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s titles.

In fact, theNC LIVE HomeGrown Collectionconsists of more than 4,400 locally-published ebook titles made available to more than 200 libraries across the state. The collection includes titles from North Carolina publishers like Algonquin Books, CrossRoad Press, UNC Press, Duke University Press, McFarland, Press 53, Gryphon House, John F. Blair, and Workman that are available in perpetuity with unlimited, simultaneous access, which means no holds, no checkout limits, and no wait lists.

Explained Richards about NC Live HomeGrown, “There is immediate access for everyone, at any time, forever.”

The Plateau is also home to writers of all genres. While they may not have their names in lights, as only a small percentage of artists – as well as athletes – actually become household names, they do provide quality content, story-telling, whimsy, and more based on experiences, research, and talent.

Both Hudson Library and Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library draw attention to area writers’ works by attaching “Local Author” spine labels on fiction and non-fiction books.

Occasionally, local libraries will also feature readings, talks, and book signings by area writers. For example, in June, Macon County’s Deena C. Bouknight – a writer for The Laurel magazine as well as an author of such Southern literary and historical fiction genre works as Light Fracture, published in April – spoke to audiences at both libraries. Visit fontanalib.org/highlands or fontanalib.org/cashiers to learn of upcoming events involving local authors.

Sweet August

William says we’re here in Admit You’re Happy Month. He’s always right about these things. C’mon, admit it, things are pretty good, aren’t they?

Yes, this month has been named the Admit You’re Happy Month. How good is that?

The Dog Days of Summer fall into August (July 3-Aug.11), “weather you can wear” was once an expression. Sirius rising.

August is also named Family Fun Month. Families should go out and have fun together this month. The more you get to know about August, the more you like it.

August is simultaneously the National Catfish, National Golf and National Eye Exam Month. Congress and the President of the U.S. declare the named national months, weeks and days. The first week in August, 1-7, is National Clown Week, so declared by Congress and by proclamation of President Nixon on August 2, 1971. This week, which became an International Week in 1991, recognizes those who “make us laugh and smile.” Oh, Pagliacci!

The second week is National Smile Week. I’m not making this up.

There are some interesting official days. The first Sunday in August is simultaneously Friendship Day and International Forgiveness Day. We can observe that!

August 8 is International Cat Day. Celebrated in most countries worldwide, this is “a day to enjoy our beloved feline pets” and pamper them (as if we don’t already). Every cat has its day. There are over 500 million domestic cats in the world. Calls to mind the Heinlein quote to wit “Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”

August holds numerous named days celebrating food: zucchini (8th), S’mores (11th), Kool-Aid (13th), Creamsicle (14th), spumoni (21st), Banana Split (25th), Bell Peppers (28th), marshmallows (30th) and trail mix (31st). Lots of good eatin’ in August. How about them peaches? August is National Peach Month.

August harbors some important days in history. On August 1 in 1790 the first U.S. census was completed: 4 million. Wild Bill Hickok was killed in a poker game holding Aces and 8s on the 2nd in 1876. On August 5, 1884, the cornerstone to the Statue of Liberty was laid, on Bedloe’s Island. On the 14th in 1937 the 2000-mile Appalachian Parkway was completed.

Montgomery Ward’s first mail-order catalog came out on August 18, 1872. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared “I have a dream” on August 28, 1963. A Pentium computer beat Chess Master Garry Kasparov on August 31, 1994.

And there are many birthdays: Jerry Garcia (8/1/1942); Martha Stewart (8/3/1941); Meghan Markle (8/4/1981); Lucille Ball (8/6/1911); Antonio Banderas (8/10/1960); Tim Tebow (8/14/87); Julia Child (8/15/1912); Mae West (8/17/1893); Al Roker (8/21/54); Count Basie (8/21/1904); and Mother Teresa (8/27/1910). It’s a fine birth month.

Aaahhh, Sweet August. We can do this! Just be happy and admit it!

by William McReynolds

Concerts on the Commons

Eat a Peach

Live Music is back on the Village Green! A pair of concerts, August 6 and August 20, will keep the beat going. For more information, go to VillageGreenCashiersNC.com.

Music will fill the air in August with Concerts On the Commons, a limited Friday night concert series for 2021.

These family-friendly concerts in August will showcase two bands with very different musical genres. The Allman Brothers cover band Eat a Peach will perform on Friday, August 6. And, one of Asheville’s best party bands, Emporium, will take the stage on Friday, August 20. Both concerts start at 6:30 P.M. at the Commons Amphitheater and Lawn.

As with all things returning following the effects of the pandemic and like many similar venues across the country, changes have been made to the concerts in 2021 to ensure the viability of concerts and other community events in Cashiers for the future.

This includes advance sales of reserved box seats and general admission seating. Boxes are sized to accommodate groups as few as four and as large as eight to 10. A limited number of tent spaces are also available for sale. Boxes are priced to reflect an average $10 per seat. General admission seating is also available for $5 per seat. These seats are on a first come, first served basis. Depending on demand and availability, walk up sales may be possible.

Picnics and coolers are always welcome, but there will not be food or beverage vendors this year. Dogs are allowed, but must be on a leash and under the control of their owner at all times.

A full schedule of live music events is on the Concerts page of The Village Green website. Information includes not only the dates and performers with links to purchase tickets on Eventbrite, but also a downloadable guide to the new procedures and a map of the venue showing the Commons seating schematic. You can visit VillageGreenCashiersNC.com/Concerts to learn more.

by Ann Self, Executive Director The Village Green

Authors Visit Local Libraries

A pair of Author Talks at Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library and Hudson Library will focus on the emotionallywrought issues surrounding pregnancy in the 21st century and the life-and-death decisions that informed every aspect of the lives of refugees displaced by World War II.

Kristin Harmel

The Plateau has been graced with the presence of top authors throughout the summer months.

Kristy Woodson Harvey discusses her new book, Under the Southern Sky, at 3:00 P.M., August 6, at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library and at 12:30 P.M. August 7, at Hudson Library in Highlands. Kristin Harmel, whose latest book is The Forest of Vanishing Stars, speaks at 3:00 P.M. September 3 at the Cashiers Library, and 12:30 P.M. September 4 at Hudson Library in Highlands.

Hinting at the plot, Harvey explained that Under the Southern Sky evolved after a friend was faced with a tough decision: what to do with leftover frozen embryos.

“Interestingly, I had done a lot of research on in vitro and modern fertility as a part of a project I worked on in Journalism School about women’s health. So I knew a lot about this topic going into it. Of course, I needed to update my knowledge and figure out what the pressing issues were right now, relating to frozen embryos.”

Harvey’s latest novel fits into the same vein as her other works in that it is “a distinctly Southern story with family and friendship at its core,” she said, “But there is definitely more of a modern issue…a father having to decide what to do with frozen embryos after his wife dies.”

Winding out the summer author series is Kristin Harmel, whose latest book, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, is a story “of incredible resilience and survival against the odds.”

Without giving away too much, she said writing the World War II, research-intensive novel meant: “There were so many little details to get right, from the actual real-life plight of refugees who survived in the forest, to the way shelters called zemliankas were built into the earth so that people could survive the winter, to the way people stayed alive when food was scarce. I hope people who read the book are reminded that we all have more strength within us than we know.”

Harmel’s writing process, besides extensive research, involves meticulous outlines, a first draft, more research, and several rounds of editing.

She’ll be appearing at Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library at 3:00 P.M. Friday, September 3; and at Hudson Library at 12:30 P.M. Saturday, September 4.

Both Harvey and Harmel are looking forward to visiting the mountains. Harmel has never visited, but Harvey said the HighlandsCashiers area is “hands down” her favorite. And both authors fully support libraries. Harvey called them “the beating heart of so many of our communities,” noting that so many writers credit libraries for sparking interest in reading at a young age. “Honestly, they’re magical, and I value them enormously,” added Harmel.

For more information about upcoming author talks, visit https:// fontanalib.org/cashiers or https://fontanalib.org/highlands.

by Deena Bouknight

Beer, Bark & Barbeque Bark, Beer & Barbeque, set for August 17 at The Farm at Old Edwards, is a howling good time and the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society’s main fundraiser. For tickets or more information, call (828) 743-5769.

The 10th annual signature fundraising event in Highlands for the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society returns to The Farm at Old Edwards on Tuesday, August 17. The evening features a live and silent auction combined with live music, beer, wine and spirits, and a scrumptious southern barbeque dinner from Cashiers Farmers Market.

Bark, Beer & Barbeque will be limited to just 150 guests this year. Tickets are $220 per person and a portion of the ticket purchase is a generous, tax-deductible contribution to support our lifesaving mission of rescue, spay/neuter and adoption, and community outreach programs such as humane education, summer camps, rabies vaccination clinics, pet therapy and a free food pet pantry.

A highlight of this preeminent fundraiser for the CashiersHighlands Humane Society will be the presentation of the coveted awards for CHHS Humane Heroes of the Year. Three awards will be bestowed to recipients who have significantly contributed their time, heart and resources to help further the mission of CHHS on behalf of the abandoned and neglected animals in our community.

Bark, Beer & Barbeque is the “must-attend” party for party animals on the Plateau and has always sold out quickly, so reserve your seats today! To charge your tickets by phone, please call (828) 743-5769.

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 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. 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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Along Came a Spider

Alyssa Fuller will spin a fascinating account about our most mysterious neighbors on the Plateau when the Village Nature Series presents Along Came a Spider at 5:00 P.M. August 31 at the Village Green Commons.

Spiders are some of the most misunderstood and feared animals on the planet, but they are also fascinating and familiar creatures that we share our surroundings with every day. Join the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and the Village Green on August 31, at 5:00 P.M. for a live presentation at the Village Green Commons in Cashiers as local spider expert Alyssa Fuller demystifies the spiders and their closest kin.

This Village Nature Series presentation, Along Came a Spider, will explore the natural history, diversity, and the important ecological roles that spiders play and peer into their often-unseen lives as top predators in the world of arthropods.

Learn to appreciate and live alongside spiders as allies around our homes and gardens. We’ll also discuss their medical significance, their promising potential as models for a variety of valuable biological research projects, and observe live specimens from the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and around the world. This program is free and is open to all ages, Kids welcome!

The Village Nature Series is co-hosted by The Village Green and Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and features experts in their field presenting on wildlife, habitats, conservation, and local cultural heritage. These events are held on the last Tuesday of every month during the summer season.

Thank you to Cedar Creek Club for sponsoring these programs!

The Village Green is a 13.2 acre public park located in the heart of Cashiers, North Carolina, at the crossroads of Highway 64 and Highway 107, providing a place for community members and visitors to gather for events and to enjoy nature.

The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that protects more than 3,500 acres of biologically diverse mountain landscapes, rare habitats, wildlife corridors, and headwater streams in the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau (Learn more at hicashlt.org).

by Julie Schott Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust

Surveyor’s Footsteps

A cartographer’s dream, Ellicott’s Rock’s crucial place in history is explored in detail with a lecture at Cashiers Historical Society’s Dowden Pavilion, 1940 Highway 107 South, 11:00 A.M. August 5. For information, call (828) 743-7710.

Cashiers Historical Society invites you to join them for their second lecture in their annual Mountain Heritage Lecture Series, on August 5 from 11:00 A.M. until 12:30 P.M. at the Dowden Pavilion on the grounds of the Zachary-Tolbert House. Admission to each lecture is free but donations are always appreciated.

On August 5, Tom Robertson will speak on his work, Ellicott’s Rock: Surveyors’ Footsteps on the 35th Parallel. Tom is President of Cranston Engineering Corp PC in Augusta, but is a passionate historian who has authored over 20 articles on regional history and is a sought after speaker.

Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area is the only wilderness area that straddles three states: Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and spans three national forests: Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia, Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina, and Sumter National Forest in South Carolina.

This wild and scenic recreation area is enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts each year, but a lesser-known fact is that the original surveys of the area resulted in a boundary dispute in 1804 between North Carolina and Georgia that became known as the Walton War, during which Constable John Havner was killed.

Major Andrew Ellicott, a well-respected surveyor, was tasked in 1811 to determine the correct border between North Carolina and Georgia and end the dispute. His task was a long and arduous one in difficult terrain, accessible only by foot. His calculations out the border approximately 18 miles south of what Georgia claimed at the time. He inscribed the letters N-G on a rock that has subsequently been known as Ellicott’s Rock.

The boundary dispute didn’t end there, however. So two years later a group of commissioners from North Carolina and South Carolina set out to verify the location of Ellicott’s Rock. They found the boundary to be approximately 10 feet north of Ellicott’s Rock. They inscribed a second rock in that location which is officially named Commissioner’s Rock. Commissioner’s Rock was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1973.

For more information contact the Cashiers Historical Society at (828) 743-7710.

by Mary Jane McCall

Celebration of Education

Patti Callahan Henry

Author Patti Callahan Henry brings a message of hope and enlightenment to Celebration of Education, set for October 17. For more information, go to maconliteracy.org.

We at the Literacy & Learning Center are thrilled that the keynote speaker for our Celebration of Education is Patti Callahan Henry.

Patti is a New York Times, USA TODAY, and The Globe and Mailbestselling author of 16 novels, including Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis, which was shortlisted for the 2020 Romantic Novel Awards.

She’s been featured internationally, in hundreds of podcasts, videos, and radio show interviews (US, CA, AU, UK). In addition, she has appeared on National and Global TV including The Morning Show, 100 Huntley Street, and Your Morning. Patti is also the podcast host of her own podcast series: Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis and The Untold Story of Surviving Savannah. Her articles and essays have appeared on national and global levels: Southern Living, PINK, Writer’s Digest, Garden & Gun, Atlanta Journal, Birmingham Magazine, Portico, Career Authors, Love Magazine UK, Female First UK, Medium Magazine, Red Magazine UK, and more.

Celebration of Education is held each year to support the free educational programs offered by The Literacy & Learning Center. These programs include early intervention reading programs, in-school reading assistance, after-school programs, individual tutoring, adult literacy, a GED program, English as a Second Language, and even a reading program for senior citizens. More than 2,300 individuals on the Plateau benefit from these programs each year. For more information about The Literacy & Learning Center’s Celebration of Education, or its programs, please visit maconncliteracy.org

by Jenni Edwards The Literacy and Learning Center

Big Hats and Bow Ties

With its Big Hats and Bow Ties Brunch on Kettle Rock, set for Sunday, August 8, Highlands Historical Society resurrects a lovely tradition from a more gracious time. For reservations or more information, email hhs@highlandshistory.com, or call (828) 787-1050.

Highlands Historical Society invites the community to recapture a golden moment in Highlands History and attend their annual Big Hats and Bow Ties Brunch on Sunday, August 8, at 12:30 P.M.

This brunch is a homage to the legendary hostess powers of Doyenne Annie Linn Armor, who was known in the 60s and 70s for her Sunday pancake brunches at her home on Kettle Rock. An invitation to one of her brunches was much sought after and guests were treated like royalty. Still fondly remembered after all these years, the Historical Society delights in bringing the tradition back.

The event is hosted by George Lanier, in the reconstructed home of Mrs. Armor, which was originally built in 1915. This home features a panoramic view toward Blue Valley and South Carolina, and an exquisitely manicured lawn, perfect for a relaxed brunch with friends – wearing big hats and bow ties, in case you hadn’t guessed. Hats will be provided if you don’t have one you feel is suitable for such an occasion.

You won’t leave hungry as guests will be treated to a brunch fit for kings featuring pancakes (of course) and other items such as sausage, bacon, fresh fruit and beverages. Make plans now to join your neighbors and walk down Memory Lane, enjoying a gentler time when neighbors gathered for brunch and conversation.

Tickets to the event are $125. For more information please contact the Historical Society by emailing hhs@highlandshistory.com, or by calling (828) 787-1050. This event is the Historical Society’s primary fundraiser. The Highlands Historical Society is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Highlands for present and future generations.

by Mary Jane McCall

Zahner Conservation Series

The Zahner Conservation Lectures span the month of August with unique insights into the wild things on the HighlandsCashiers Plateau.

The annual Highlands tradition of Zahner Conservation Lectures continues this month!

These free lectures serve to educate and inspire the public through a series of talks from well-known regional scientists, conservationists, artists, and writers.

This month, the Highlands Biological Foundation will host four lectures focusing on a wide array of topics. They will be held on Thursday evenings at 6:00 P.M. between August 5 and August 26. Three of these lectures will be held at the Highlands Community Building while one (August 19) will be held at the Highlands Biological Station.

On August 5 at the Highlands Community Building: Nurturing Life in Your Backyard; Choices Within Our Control with Sonya Carpenter, co-owner of Canty Worley and Company. Learn about how native plants support native species of insects, birds and other wildlife and how practices in your own garden can lead to big changes.

On August 12, at the Highlands Community Building: Ant Invasions in the southern Appalachian Mountains with Dr. Robert Warren, Associate Professor at SUNY Buffalo State. In this lecture, we will discuss how two non-native ant invaders succeed and how they impact native ants and plants in southern Appalachian forests.

On August 19, at the Highlands Biological Station: Salamander Ecology in the Salamander Capital of the World with Dr. John Maerz, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia. This presentation will cover the aspects of Appalachian Mountain ecology that create and sustain salamander diversity, the threats to their persistence, and what efforts are underway to conserve these remarkable animals. On August 26, at the Highlands Community Building: Supremacy or Stewardship? An Exploration of ModernDay Anthropocentrism with Owen Carson, Botanist at Equinox Environmental. This lecture will explore major anthropogenic changes made to our southeastern landscapes over the past century, the lasting ecological impacts those changes have created, and our recent attempts to mitigate, restore, and prevent further large-scale destruction of natural habitat.

For a full schedule of lectures and how to participate in each, please visit highlandsbiological.org or call the Highlands Biological Foundation at (828) 526-2221.

by Winter Gary, Highlands Biological Foundation photo by Greg Clarkson

Camaraderie & Conversation

A gathering at Half-Mile Farm will bring together Southern Writers of the first order and their fans, August 8-10. For reservations, visit oldedwardshospitality.com/ calendar-of-events/ southernwriters.

Five of the best writers in the South will gather at Half-Mile Farm from Sunday, August 8, till Tuesday, August 10, for the first-ever Southern Writers Series.

The idea for the series had its genesis when travel journalists Cele and Lynn Seldon visited Old Edwards earlier this year. In conversation with General Manager Jack Austin, they recalled the 2015 OEI event “Word, Wine and Friends” attended by authors Pat Conroy, Cassandra King Conroy, and Ron Rash. Charmed by Lynn’s remembrance of that time and his recounting that “Pat fell in love with Highlands,” Austin determined to launch an annual writers series.

Although the debate about whether there is a defining characteristic or commonality of the Southern Writer lingers on, it is inarguable that the participating authors are giants among them.

On the lineup are:

Poet and novelist Ron Rash, who Janet Maslin of the New York Times considers, “one of the great American authors at work today.” She is not alone. He has received the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, a Sherwood Anderson Prize, two O. Henry Prizes, and a Guggenheim Fellowship, among almost twenty other awards and distinctions.

Cassandra King Conroy, the widow of acclaimed author Pat Conroy, is a New York Times- and Southern Booksellers-best-selling author of five novels and one book of nonfiction. Her latest release is a memoir, Tell Me a Story, My Life with Pat Conroy.

Charleston-based Mary Alice Monroe is a New York Times-bestselling author of more than 27 books, including The Beach House, which was made into a movie starring Andie MacDowell. Monroe has earned numerous accolades and awards, including induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame.

Cele and Lynn Seldon, a Beaufort, South Carolina-based couple, are prolific freelance travel journalists and have published hundreds of articles in magazines, including Southern Living. They co-wrote two books entitled 100 Things to Do Before You Die and the coffee table book Our Vanishing Americana, a SC Portrait. Lynn is also the author of Virginia’s Ring.

Billed as a “few fun days of camaraderie and conversation,” the series is a complimentary experience for guests of Half-Mile Farm.

In the course of three days, participants will have an extraordinary occasion to engage with the writers in intimate and casual settings, including Sunday and Monday social hours hosted by the writers, with live music and casual eats. Books will be available for sale and signings. Also on the schedule, a Monday afternoon writers’ roundtable and book signing. On Monday and Tuesday mornings, breakfasts with the novelists will feature recipes from Cassandra King Conroy’s soon-to-be-published cookbook.

Guests will be treated to swag and gifts from the Pat Conroy Literary Center and cheese biscuits from Mary Martha Greene, author of The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All.

by Marlene Osteen

Mike Kinnebrew

Orchard Sessions

The tunes of Mike Kinnebrew, the artist performing at The Farm at Old Edwards on August 26, are deeply personal and have a special resonance with Highlands. For reservations, visit OldEdwardsHopitality.com/OrchardSessions.

Orchard Sessions, the live music monthly concert series at The Farm at Old Edwards, is slated for Thursday, August 26.

Join fellow music lovers as they surrender to the magic of the music of singer-songwriter Mike Kinnebrew and the serenity of a mountain summer night.

Forget the days’ or past year’s irritations, whether small or not-sosmall, and indulge instead in the idyllic setting amidst the boughs of fruit trees. Gaze at the sky as the sun sets, and the moon rises, and the stars alight.

Listen to Kinnebrew play the songs he writes from the heart – lyrics that weave relatable and familiar narratives. Like the title song from his latest album, One Way to Find Out, written for Old Edwards General Manager Jack Austin that speaks to a watershed moment in his life. Or the stand-out track from the same album entitled, Daring You to Fall in Love with Me, that tells the tale of a fellow musician and his quest to romance the woman who was to become his wife. (By the way, the title was snatched from a line in Beach Music by Pat Conroy – Kinnebrew’s favorite author and an undeniable presence on the Plateau).

At age 14, in Atlanta, Kinnebrew’s Dad taught him to play the guitar. Today, the music which he performs, writes, and records sways between country and folk.

It was influenced by the artists played on the radio of the family station wagon – among them, the Beatles, the Monkees, and Elvis. But Kinnebrew also loved songwriters that seemed to be saying something significant, and he fell in love with the sounds of James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Tom Petty, and the Indigo Girls. In an interview with City Lights host Lois Reitzes, Kinnebrew said that he considers one of his roles as a musician is that of a storyteller, “I talk, and I write and play to feel less alone. When I am singing and feel a connection with the audience, it hopefully makes us all feel less alone.”

Kinnebrew’s wife Lindsey will accompany him on stage on vocals and keys. The intimacy and honesty of their shared performance is sure to touch a chord with lucky listeners.

The show begins at 6:00 P.M. and finishes at 8:00 P.M. There is a $25 cover charge for the public, with online sales opening two weeks in advance. Every ticket includes light bites and a cash bar. The session will move indoors to the new Orchard House in the event of rain. For updates and to book online, visit OldEdwardsHopitality.com/ OrchardSessions.

by Marlene Osteen

All Things Artful

In addition to the artistic creations on display, the Mountaintop Rotary Art & Craft Show offers an irresistible array of treats to enjoy at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park or to take home, August 28 and 29.

Karen Fincannon

Asummer tradition in Highlands since 2006, the Mountaintop Rotary Art & Craft Show is also the premier show in the area. Enjoy the next show on Saturday and Sunday, August 28 and 29.

With a reputation for high quality products, these events showcase some of the area’s most talented artists, photographers, wood workers, glass makers, weavers, potters, jewelers, etc. The variety of products is simply amazing!

Here is a sample of some things you’ll find there: Cindy’s Bits and Pieces cookies, crackers & brittle; hot pepper products by Chile Today, Hot Tamale; Rapha hand-crafted CBD products; Shade Tree Farms soaps & sprays; All Things Canvas hats and bags; End of the Road Studios painted canvas collages. Remarkably, these products are all made in our area by the exhibiting artisans.

The June show was a rousing success, bringing in the largest crowds ever. In August you will see many of our popular “regulars” as well as some new vendors, so each event is different from the last. But wait, there’s more!

The alluring aroma of kettle corn will draw you in for some deliciousness. Fressers Courtyard Cafe will offer a special menu for the show. And you can enjoy music in the pavilion while you eat or browse.

The Mountaintop Rotary Art & Craft Show is free, but donations are most welcome! Proceeds go to Rotary’s fuel and scholarship programs, plus other efforts that benefit the local and international community.

The shows run from 10 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. They’ll be staged downtown in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street. For more information, text or call coordinator Cynthia Strain at (828) 318-9430 or visit the Facebook page.

by Mary Jane McCall photos by Colleen Kerrigan

The Hills Are Alive

John McCutcheon’s Songwriting Camp is a hand-on approach to learning the traditions and innovations of folk music, August 8-12 at The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center. To register or for more information, visit themountainrlc.org/johnmccutcheons-songcamp.

John McCutcheon

If you’re not sure about the truth about the Hills Being Alive with the Sound of Music, you need look no further than The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center on August 8-12.

That’s when The Mountain’s offering John McCutcheon’s Songwriting Camp, open to anyone who’d like to learn the essentials of creating folk songs that resonate with the heart.

McCutcheon is a Grammy-nominated folk musician and songwriter and he’ll be leading an intense, intimate songwriting Master Class at The Mountain.

As an instrumentalist, he’s a master of a dozen different traditional instruments, most notably the rare and beautiful hammer dulcimer. His songwriting has been hailed by critics and singers around the globe. His 30 recordings have garnered every imaginable honor, including seven Grammy nominations. He has produced over 20 albums of other artists, from traditional fiddlers to contemporary singer-songwriters to educational and documentary works. His books and instructional materials have introduced budding players to the joys of their own musicality. The four-day workshop will include:

Four days of both the theoretical and hands-on practice of songwriting.

The first day will be an exploration of traditional music and forms: the most solid basis for creating songs and narratives that both move and last.

John’s “kamikaze” songwriting drill: how to write quickly and clearly for specific events and issues.

A survey of other writers and a deconstruction of their techniques: Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Guy Clark, Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Melvina Reynolds, Jean Ritchie, Bruce Springsteen, Stan Rogers, and others.

A workshop on song presentation and performance.

One-on-one critiques and “wood-shedding” with John.

Open-mic/sing-arounds each evening.

Q&A sessions with John.

Participants will also enjoy the spectacular grounds of The Mountain, and delicious homemade meals are included in the program.

To register or for more information, visitthemountainrlc.org/ john-mccutcheonssongcamp

by Luke Osteen

Scan for more info

Growing Hemp in Macon

Though it’s been maligned in recent decades, hemp has a long history as a favorite crop of American farmers. CLE offers a tour of a local hemp farm on August 30. Call (828) 526-8811 or register online at clehighlands.com

Even those who consider themselves to be in fine tune with their olfactory senses will find it incredibly difficult to describe... does it have a main floral note?

Maybe you could describe it as having hints of balsam, or was that citrus that you smelled? Undoubtedly you will smell the hemp flower yards away even before you arrive at the gate of the fields.

It’s hard to imagine that hemp fields were scattered across North America at one time in our history. In fact, in the 1700’s farmers were even legally required to grow hemp which was used for different products, such as paper, lamp fuels and ropes.

After the U.S. passed the Controlled Substances Act in 1970, hemp farming was eventually banned altogether. After decades of being forbidden, hemp and all its derivatives became fully legalized, allowing farming operations like Appalachian Growers to explore some other uses for the plant — its health benefits.

The Center for Life Enrichment talks with Macon County’s very own hemp farmers, Steve Yuzzi and Lori Lacy of Appalachian Growers.

Lori enthusiastically describes how they became involved in the industry, “Appalachian Growers became a reality in 2017 once North Carolina started the Industrial Hemp Research Program. The quest to cultivate the purest hemp was the most important mission for our team. My daughter introduced me to CBD oil in helping her manage inflammation from two auto-immune diseases. I began using CBD oil to assist me in improving my sleep issues...I was a believer after the first night! We found that many products on the market at the time were not made with the purest and tested materials.”

Join CLE for a unique tour of Appalachian Growers hemp farm on Monday, August 30, from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

The hemp industry is ever growing and ever changing – there’s so much to learn about the process from seed germination to final product. It’s not just all of us at CLE that focuses on education, so do the folks at Appalachian Growers, “education plays a big role for us as well,” Lori says. “Any opportunity we can speak to educate people on the benefits of using Hemp derived CBD products, we jump on it!”

Lori is passionate about explaining the health benefits of their products, “If you are suffering from anxiety, inflammation, pain or sleep issues, CBD may be the rightsolution for you. It’s been amazing to hear all the testimonials on the relief our customers are receiving. Keeps us motivated to work harder!”

To be part of this unique tour and have one on one conversations with one of Western North Carolina’s most renowned hemp farmers, contact CLE at (828) 526-8811 or register online at clehighlands. com Cost is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Following the tour of the farm, participants will enjoy a light lunch.

by Fallon Hovis, Center for Life Enrichment photo by Josh Brandell

Love & Literacy

The enchanting handmade necklaces on sale at Dusty’s Rhodes Superette (493 Dillard Road in Highlands) are testament to the Plateau’s boundless creative spirit and its generous heart.

When creativity and caring come together, great things happen and our community thrives.

A perfect example of this is what is happening at Dusty’s Rhodes Superette this August. The talented and generous souls who simply refer to themselves as friends of the community have found a way to meld their artistry with giving back by making and selling one-ofa-kind necklaces, and giving the proceeds to a local nonprofit.

Their successful event in December raised over $3,000 for the local Food Pantry.

This summer the nonprofit they’re supporting is The Literacy Council and Learning Center.

Each unique necklace is truly a one-of-a-kind work of art and features one or more handcrafted ceramic beads, which are formed, fired and handpainted in an array of colors and designs. These beautiful creations are often combined with wooden beads and are then strung on suede cords of different colors and lengths. Whether vibrant colors and bold patterns are to your taste, or you prefer a more subtle pastel palette, you’re likely to find just what you need from their selections. Priced at only $20-$25 each, you’ll likely buy more than one.

They’ve chosen the Literacy Council and Learning Center as the recipient of the proceeds because they wanted to spotlight education since August is our back-to-school month. The Literacy Council is a valuable educational resource in our community for people of all ages. They offer programs for students such as after school enrichment, homework helpers and individual tutoring. They also offer programs for adults such as English as second language and GED classes, adult literacy programs and a senior book exchange.

The partnership of these caring crafts people with such a vital non-profit illustrates the love and caring that make our community special. Stop by Dusty’s in August and make your choices-they’ll be going fast.

by Mary Jane McCall

Journey to Freedom

Cashiers artist Wesley Wofford’s stirring Harriet Tubman statue makes its way to Bridge Park in Sylva with a ceremony at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, September 26.

The Jackson County NC NAACP Branch 54AB is proud to host Harriet Tubman – Journey to Freedom, a traveling monumental sculpture that will be on public display in Sylva from mid-September to mid-December.

The nine-foot, 2,400 lb. bronze sculpture will arrive on September 20, with the dedication ceremony to take place on Sunday, September 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. in Bridge Park, 76 Railroad Avenue in Sylva.

Academy- and Emmy-award-winning sculptor and Cashiers resident Wesley Wofford is the dynamic artist behind this inspiring work of art.

The monument of Harriet Tubman on her road to freedom represents a woman of strength, faith and confidence. The sculpture depicts Tubman leading a terrified, enslaved girl, broken shackles at their feet. Wofford placed the child behind Tubman to demonstrate how she is “very protective of her, shielding her from what was coming but also guiding her,” he stated.

Harriet Tubman “personifies a role model and hero, and we are proud to commemorate the resilience and contributions of strong women throughout history,” said organizers.

The statue was originally created for a private commission, but Wofford decided to share his copy of this piece with the public because of the overwhelming response to the sculpture on social media.

Dr. Dana Murray Patterson, President of NAACP Jackson County NC Branch 54AB, emphasized the importance of this monument in North Carolina: “With North Carolina being home to more than 20 Freedom Road sites, we, along with our community partners, felt having such an inspiring representation of the remarkable story of Harriet Tubman here in Sylva would be an incredible opportunity to facilitate cultural understanding, create space for dialogue and share traditions that represent a diverse community. We are excited to share this emotional sculpture with our friends in Jackson County and beyond.”

For more information contact Jackson County Branch 54AB (NC) NAACP: jcnaacp54ab@gmail.com or call (828) 331-1803.

by Mary Jane McCall

Faraway from it all

The Highlands Biological Foundation’s summer soirée is an elegant celebration of the season and the wild things that live here. To attend this fundraiser, set for Monday, August 2, call (828) 526-2221 or visit highlandsbiological.org.

Dazzling social affairs are a long-standing tradition for summers spent in Highlands, and the Highlands Biological Foundation’s summer soirée is no exception.

Join HBF for our biggest annual fundraiser on Monday, August 2nd from 6:00 p.m. until dark as they raise money in support of their organization’s mission of stimulating and promoting biological research and education in the southern Appalachians.

This year, the festivities will be held at “Faraway,” the beautiful, historic home of Julia and Bill Grumbles. Built in 1898, the original structure was a Highlands landmark and was home to Dr. Mary Lapham, an internationally recognized local physician who specialized in treating tuberculosis in the early 1900s.

Much merrymaking has been held at this Satulah estate over the past 120 years, and HBF intends to keep the tradition alive next month with their Faraway Soirée!

Hosting this event is just another one of Julia Grumbles’ incredible contributions to Highlands. Last month, Grumbles concluded 10-years of service as HBF’s president, and her “Faraway” home is an ideal location to inspire our community to support the work of the Foundation. The event’s proceeds will benefit HBF.

Parking is limited for this event, so a shuttle service will be provided. For more information about HBF’s Faraway Soirée fundraising event and to purchase a ticket, please call the HBF office at (828) 526-2221 or visit highlandsbiological.org.

by Charlotte Muir, Executive Director Highlands Biological Foundation

• Ring of Fire musical, 2:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695. • HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., Highlands, (828) 562-9060. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

1

• Highlands Food Pantry 2Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789. • Highlands Biological Foundation Summer Soirée, 6:00 P.M. (828) 526-2221. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., Cashiers, (828) 562-9060.

Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet.

— Bob Marley

• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. 3 • Green Market 42:00 to 5:00 P.M., The Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434. • Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 P.M. St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub. • Ring of Fire musical, 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695. • Ellicott’s Rock lecture, 511:00 A.M., CHS Dowden Pavilion, (828) 743-7710. • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., below Highlands Methodist Church. • Highlands Wine Shoppe Weekly Wine Tasting, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. • Zahner Conservation Lecture, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2221. • Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive. • Ring of Fire musical, 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse.

• Big Hats and Bow Ties 8 Brunch on Kettle Rock, 12:30 P.M. Highlands Historical Society, (828) 787-1050. • John McCutcheon Songwriting Camp. August 8-12, The Mountain. • Ring of Fire musical, 2:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695. • HCCMF Gala Concert, 5:00 P.M., Village Green, Cashiers, (828) 562-9060. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Highlands Food Pantry 9Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

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• Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M., The Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434. • Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 P.M. St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub. • Ring of Fire musical, 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

11

• Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., 12 Highlands Methodist Church. • Highlands Wine Shoppe Wine Tasting, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. • Zahner Conservation Lecture, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2221. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive. • Ring of Fire musical, 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

• Elizabeth Locke Jewelry Trunk Show , Acorns, 15 (828) 787-2602. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Sunday Supper with guest chefs Steven Satterfield & Joseph Lenn, 6:30 P.M., The Farm. Old Edwards Inn, (828) 787-2602 • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

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• Bark, Beer & Barbecue, The Farm at Old Edwards, (828) 743-5769. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

17

• Cashiers Quilters meet 12:30 P.M. at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, cashiersquilters.com. • Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M., The Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub.

18

• Estelle and Finn Trunk Show, Wish and Shoes. • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M. • Highlands Wine Shoppe Wine Tasting, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. • Zahner Conservation Lecture, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2221. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive. • Curtains Up musical, 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse.

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• Author Events, 63:00 P.M., Commons Hall, (828) 743-0215. • Friday Night Live concert, Highlands Town Square, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2112. • Concert on the Commons with Eat A Peach , 6:30 P.M., Village Green, (828) 743-3434. • Ring of Fire musical, 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695. • Highlands Marketplace, 78:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. • Carolyn Goldsmith Trunk Show, Acorns, (828) 787-2602. • Bazaar Barn, 10 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. • Book Bites, 12:30 P.M., Hudson Library, (828) 526-3031. • Ring of Fire musical, 2:00 P.M. , 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse. • Jean Raffa book signing, 3:00 P.M. Shakespeare & Co., (828) 526-3777. • Saturdays on Pine, 6:00 P.M., Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. • Entertainment 6:00 to 9:00 P.M., Town and Country General Store.

• Elizabeth Locke Jewelry Trunk Show , Acorns, (828) 787-2602. • Kinross Cashmere Trunk Show, Wit’s End, (828) 526-3160. • Friday Night Live concert, Highlands Town Square, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2112. • Ring of Fire musical, 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• Elizabeth Locke Jewelry Trunk Show, Acorns. • Kinross Cashmere Trunk Show, Wit’s End, (828) 526-3160. • Bazaar Barn, 10 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. • Ring of Fire 2:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse. • Saturdays on Pine, 6:00 P.M., Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. • Entertainment 6:00-9:00 P.M., Town and Country General Store. • Highlands Twilight Run, 6:00 P.M. • Men are from Mars / Women are from Venus, 7:30 P.M., Highlands PAC.

• Michael Hofman Trunk Show, Acorns, (828) 787-2602. • Estelle and Finn Trunk Show, Wish and Shoes, (828) 944-9474. • Shu Shu Trunk Show, Narcissus, (828) 743-7887. • Friday Night Live concert, Highlands Town Square, 6:00 P.M. • Concert on the Commons with Emporium, 6:30 P.M., Village Green, (828) 743-3434. • Curtains Up musical, 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• Shu Shu Trunk Show, Narcissus, (828) 743-7887. 21 • Cashiers Designer Showhouse 2021, (828) 743-7710. • Bazaar Barn, 10 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. • Estelle and Finn Trunk Show, Wish and Shoes, (828) 944-9474. • Michael Hofman Trunk Show, Acorns, (828) 787-2602. • Curtains Up, 2:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse. • Saturdays on Pine, 6:00 P.M., Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. • Entertainment 6:00 to 9:00 P.M., Town and Country General Store.

• Michael Hofman Trunk Show, Acorns, (828) 787-2602. • Cashiers Designer Showhouse 2021, (828) 743-7710. • Front Porch Family Fun: Cashiers Historical Society 1:00 P.M., (828) 743-7710. • Curtains Up musical, 2:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695 • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

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• Cashiers Designer Showhouse 2021, 23 (828) 743-7710. • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• Simon Pearce Trees Trunk Show, Acorns, 29 (828) 787-2602. • Mountaintop Art & Craft Show, 10:00 A.M., (828) 421-2548. • Curtains Up musical, 2:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695 • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., 30 behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789. • Art League of HighlandsCashiers meeting, 4:30 P.M., The Bascom, • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Cashiers Designer Showhouse 2021, (828) 743-7710. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

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• Village Nature Series, 5:00 P.M., The Commons, (828) 743-3434. • Betsy Paul Art Raffle, Cashiers-Glenville Fire Dept., (828) 743-0880. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

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• Cashiers Designer Showhouse 2021, (828) 743-7710. • Green Market, 2:00 to 5:00 P.M., The Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434. • Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 P.M. , St. Jude’s Catholic Church. • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub. • Curtains Up musical, 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695.

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• Cashiers Designer Showhouse. • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M. • Highlands Wine Shoppe Wine Tasting, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. • Zahner Conservation Lecture, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2221. • Live Music, On the Verandah. • Orchard Series, The Farm. • Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive. • Curtains Up musical, 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse.

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• Simon Pearce Trees Trunk Show, Acorns, (828) 787-2602. • Cashiers Designer Showhouse 2021, (828) 743-7710. • Beth Poindexter Trunk Show, August 27-September 6, Josephine’s Emporium, (336)420-6054. • Friday Night Live concert, Highlands Town Square, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2112. • Curtains Up musical, 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse, (828) 526-2695. 27 • Highlands Marketplace, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. 28 • Simon Pearce Trees Trunk Show, Acorns, (828) 787-2602. • Mountaintop Art & Craft Show, 10:00 A.M., (828) 421-2548. • Bazaar Barn, 10 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. • Cashiers Designer Showhouse 2021, (828) 743-7710. • Curtains Up musical, 2:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M., Highlands Playhouse. • Saturdays on Pine, 6:00 P.M., Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. • Entertainment 6:00 to 9:00 P.M., Town and Country General Store.

• Cashiers Quilters meet 12:30 P.M. at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, cashiersquilters.com. • Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. The Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub. View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar

RECREATION & CREATION

Pages 78-92

Royal Couple of the Forest

Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak’s feathered-finery and irresistible cheep-cheep songs elevates it to the top ranks of Plateau Avian Royalty.

The beauty of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) amazes with every close-in sighting.

The female is elegantly attired in an ermine breast vest with prominent white eyebrows and a cape of white-tipped feathers spanning 50 shades of tan to brown to black face makeup. The formally attired male has stark black and white plumage suggestive of a tuxedo with a bright rosy-red bib that, dramatically, looks like either a silk ascot or a cut throat. Males have pink-red and females yellow wing linings.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a member of the colorful Cardinal family, along with tanagers and buntings.

See for yourself: This is avian royalty!

A large bird, both male and female are almost as large as American Robins, and their habitat is deciduous and mixed woods where forests give way to meadows, openings and transitional fields. Their breeding and migratory range extends from the northern U.S. east of the Rockies and into Canada to the south as far as Central and South America.

Grosbeaks glean seeds and berries from shrubs and trees and catch insects mid-air. They are frequent visitors to bird feeders stocked with sunflower seeds.

Lotharios court females with wing, tail and head movements while singing their song.

Both members of the pair-bond build a nest of twigs, leaves and weeds 10-20 feet off the ground. She does most of the work. He guards the territory. Four eggs, usually, are incubated by both parents until the hatchlings appear in 13-14 days. Fledglings leave the nest 9-12 days after hatching. A second brood might follow.

Both males and females raise clarion voices in the woods, similar to the American Robin but more musical, louder, lasting six seconds and

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

consisting of as many as 20 notes. Both sit on the nest and, rare in the avian world, both sing while sitting on the nest. Their shrill calls have been likened to the sound of a tennis shoe squeaking on a hardwood floor. Recordings of their songs and calls are available online at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website.

Happy summer birding from the Highlands Plateau Audubon society. Look for these birds perching on horizontal branches below treetops.

The mission of the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society is to provide opportunities to enjoy and learn about birds and other wildlife and to promote conservation and restoration of the habitats that support them. HPAS is a 501 (c)(3) organization, a Chapter of the National Audubon Society. Visit highlandsaudubonsociety.org for information on membership and all activities.

by William McReynolds, Highlands Plateau Audubon Society photos by William McReynolds

Lightning Bugs at Dusk

Though his casts into deep mountain pools proved fruitless, a true blue angler’s twilight adventure was laden with moments of unalloyed excitement and hints of magic.

One of the silver linings of the Covid pandemic is that I have had an opportunity to explore the abundance of local trout waters in the mountains of Western North Carolina, all within 1.5 hours of my house. My jet-black, English cocker spaniel, Minuit, and I have hiked many a mountain stream in the last 18 months.

The fishing around here is mostly nymph fishing, which I’ve really learned to enjoy, especially using a Euro-Nymph set-up (the locals call it “tight lining,” if you utter the words “Euro Nymph” to a local, they’ll shoot you a funny look, then dismissively laugh while shaking their heads with pity).

But there is some dry fly fishing in the months of May and June and given the dearth of opportunities to fish an Adams, it’s an experience to treasure.

My local fly shop is called Brookings, where I have happily spent too much money in the last 12-18 months. Recently, while “provisioning” in the shop, the owner pulled me aside and rhetorically whispered “Want to know a place to go for rising fish at dusk?”

After giving him a “Do Black Bears Live in the Woods?! Look,” he proceeded to tell me about a few pools in the Pisgah National Forest, near Brevard, that are as calm as glass, right up until about 8:00 P.M., the point at which the Fishing Gods ring the dinner bell and these pools start to boil. Fish start working everywhere, mostly chasing emergers, but there are some sippers, too. Yellow Sallies, Sulphur and Caddis Hatches turn on and it’s pandemonium until dark (about 9:15 P.M.). They’re all wild trout, mostly 10”-12”, but there are some 18”-20” chunkers lurking in their depths.

Like a moth to light, I had to try it. It takes 1.5 hours to drive to these pools, working out to be three hours of driving for 75 minutes of fishing. There is a local joint called the Riverside Bar, owned by a British couple of Indian descent, within 10 minutes of these pools. It’s the Western North Carolina mountains equivalent of the Grizzly Bar and Grill (a Montana haunt, located near the banks of the Madison River in Cameron, Montana), except you stop for beer and dinner before you go fishing. Mom’s lamb curry is to die for and the local IPAs from Ashville are great, so I make an evening out of it. I’ve fished these pools a lot this summer. I have only seen one other angler at this time of the day. There is a resident muskrat that comes that keeps me company, but other than that, I’ve had the spots to myself.

The challenge of these pools is they get the stuffing banged out of them during the day (they are 100 feet from the road), so the fish are super spooky and leader-shy.

In my first four trips to the pools, these fish so thoroughly whipped my butt, you could hear them laugh at each cast.

Determined to solve the mystery, I visited a local fly shop in Brevard to see if they had any recommendations. I pulled into the parking lot about noon, right as the half-day trips were ending. As I got out of the car, a Grizzly Adams of a guy came up to me and said: “I love your bumper sticker.” He was pointing at my Steal Your Face decal; another Dead-head, fly fisherman, just what the world needs. We instantly bonded.

As you’ve probably guessed, this guy turned out to be a local guide. I told him my dilemma, namely, I was getting skunked by some wily wild trout. Like any good guide, he first asked a few questions and immediately diagnosed the problem: I’d been fishing size 16 dries on 6x monofilament, when I needed to fish dries no bigger than 18, with droppers no bigger than 20-22 on 7x-8x fluorocarbon.

Uggghhh.

At 60, my eyes don’t work as well as they used to, so the prospect of tying size 22 midges at 8:45 p.m. seemed aspirational, but I’m nothing if not determined, so I loaded up on the recommended accoutrements and headed back for additional punishment (queue Mark Lester’s iconic line in Oliver).

How’d I do? I’m now 0-5. One fish rose to a dry; one fish hit my nymph.

I whiffed on both, of course.

At this point, even the muskrat was laughing.

There was one consolation, however, that right-sized my assessment of the evening’s shutout. As I was reeling in the remnants of my last failed cast, the lightning bugs put on a show. Hundreds of yellow fluorescent tails, blinking in unison, lit up the riverbanks; tree frogs scored and provided the musical accompaniment.

I sat, watched and listened until well after dark, leaving just before I succumbed to a riverside catnap. As I walked to my car, I swore I saw Robin “Puck” Goodfellow fly away in disgust. The opportunity to sprinkle his “love-in-idleness” tincture (leaving me to explain to my wife of 35 years why I was leaving her for the muskrat) foiled. It was one of those truly magical fly-fishing moments that reminded me that catching fish, as I’ve realized after 40 years of counting fish, is just the cherry on the sundae.

by Kirk Dornbush

Plateau Playground

A new initiative will trumpet the area’s extraordinary combination of outdoor recreational opportunities and communities built to accommodate resort guests of all ages.

The pastoral communities of Scaly Mountain, Sky Valley and High Holly are pooling resources to spread the word about the enormous recreational possibilities offered to locals and visitors.

“The Plateau Playground idea is to support the number one reason people come to our area – Outdoor Recreation,” says one of the organizers of the initiative, George Powell of Highlands Aerial Park.

“And it’s clear that the Plateau has wonderful dining, sophisticated shopping, luxury lodging, and a history of family visitation over the decades. That separates us from other communities that either overcommercialize the experience (for instance, Gatlinburg or Helen) or promote primitive hardship, like the Appalachian Trail.”

It’s the Plateau’s wide range of activities combined with a robust lodging ecosystem, all contained within a relatively small range that’s at the heart of the Plateau Playground marketing push.

“Our market is the family who recognizes the value of the mountain experience, hiking, nature, ecology, and history, while enjoying the comfort they are familiar with,” says Powell. “The 10-year-old grandchild gets the thrill of our environment while Grandpa gets to sleep in the comfort of a King Size Bed.”

The Plateau affords the opportunity for generational incentive to enjoy and appreciate the variety of outdoor experience in a controlled safe environment. It’s an offering that assures the older folks, while the youngsters are challenged to step out of the comfort of urban living.

“The family has varied interests and we meet those desires with Golf, Aerial Adventure, Tubing, Fishing, Hiking, Waterfalls, Gem Mining, and Shopping for daily activities, and for the evening there’s gourmet dining, music, theater, and pubs,” says Powell. “It’s a mix that’s unique to our area.”

“After much discussion, opinion poll groups, compromises and market research, we have decided on a brand for all the recreation opportunities in the Scaly Mountain, Sky Valley, High Holly area that will add to the Highlands experience,” says George Powell of Highlands Aerial Park. “It will involve collaborative advertising including free and paid social media as well as local print.”

This new initiative will focus on the unique experiences offered by those who visit the trio of mountain communities.

by Luke Osteen

The Medicine Man Flower

Joe Pye Weed Bloom

Even on those wet, wet summer days, Joe Pye Weed is standing by to brighten your landscape.

My father-in-law advised that, “It rains every day in the mountains.”

That was a prophecy borne out in 2020. With well over 100 inches reported, it was a genuinely soggy year. Spectrum News, deemed Highlands “the undisputed champion of rainfall with the highest precipitation reported in the nation, beating even the notorious rainy Northwest.”

Since dealing with excessive rain is no small challenge, I sought the advice of Rachel Martin, a horticulturist at the Highlands Botanical Center.

She says that it can be challenging selecting plants able to tolerate saturated soils and standing water. One that can is the 2017 North Carolina Wildflower of the Year, the Hollow Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium Fistulosum). Its name is that of an Indian medicine man, Joe Pye, who, as legend has it, used concoctions made from native wildflowers to cure typhoid – his brew so effective that it was credited for halting an epidemic.

An upright clump-forming perennial with clusters of lustrous pearly pink buds that open into tiny fringed blossoms of lavenderpurple flower, it has a mostly hollow stem. The late-blooming and long-lasting blooms will give way to lovely soft buff-colored seed heads, providing a welcome garden presence at a time when choices are limited.

Because this is a large plant, it towers anywhere from 4 to 6 feet tall; it should be planted where its stature can be appreciated – in a mixed border, in meadows, or in wild or other naturalized areas. The fetching large domed head looks good in the foreground, background, or anywhere else in the garden. Or, as one irreverent gardener noted, “A guy named Joe ain’t fussy.”

Spring or fall is most suitable for planting. It prefers full to partial sun and performs best in fertile moist, well-drained to seasonally wet, alkaline soils. Pinch the growth buds or even cut plants back by half in early summer to achieve stockier plants with smaller yet more abundant flowers. Divide the plants in fall as they go dormant or in the spring when shoots first appear to propagate new plants. Cut them back to the ground in late winter.

The merits of the Joe Pye Weed are considerable. Honeybees, bumblebees, and other long-tongued bees visit the flowers from summer to early fall, and mammals typically steer away. Another benefit often overlooked is that it brings into the garden a feeling of movement. Or, as one gardener rhapsodized, “I cannot think of a lovelier sight than the flower clusters of Joe Pye Weed swaying gently in the breeze and covered with the monarch butterflies that find the clusters much to their taste.”

Visitors to the Highlands Biological Station can discover the Hollow Joe Pye Weed at several spots: at the entrance bed adjacent to the Nature Center, on the North Campus pollinator garden, and along the edge of the Bog. As Rachel told me, “This prolific species will do well in a lot of different areas.”

by Marlene Osteen