Highlands Child Development Center

Last year, when the pandemic turned work and home life upside down, childcare bore the brunt of the upheaval, as centers throughout the country shut down.

But despite the physical risk, the HCCDC, The Highlands Child Development Center (highlandscommunitychildcare.org) remained open to support the needs of the working families of the community – essential workers or families who are trying to work from home whose employers do not understand that working from home with a small child is often hard.

Since its opening in 2005, the center is the only year-round, statelicensed, five day per week, ten hours per day childcare program in the Highlands Township, that accepts infants, and provides care for children 8 weeks to five years of age.

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation of families had been described as “a global childcare crisis” created by a fundamental market failure.

For too long, parents have had to struggle with the high cost of care while childcare providers have been incredibly undervalued and underpaid. It simply costs more to provide care than many families can afford. It is estimated that over 35 million children under five years old are sometimes left without adult supervision, a factor often linked to economic pressures on parents to work.

“The role of HCCDC in allowing parents to provide for their families while their children are being cared for and nurtured is crucial to the prosperity of the community,” said Ann Flynn, HCCDC spokesperson, “These are the children whose parents staff the restaurants, grocery stores, and many other establishments and provide the service on which our community relies.”

Paying for these programs is expensive and the center relies upon contributions from grants and individuals.

As Cathy Manning of HCCDC elaborated, “With the country, and particularly childcare in the US, still being bogged down by Covid,

Keeping a Job and Childcare

Highlands Child Development Center provides a lifeline to families trying to survive this Covid-shaded work environment.

there haven’t been any new programs initiated recently.

This year we were fortunate to receive a grant from the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation to provide tuition money to parents who were struggling to be able to afford childcare during the pandemic. HCCDC also received a significant increase in the support provided by Mountain Findings, also an indicator of the importance the community puts on making childcare, particularly infant childcare available to working parents. We also wanted to show our leadership this year and the value we put on our teachers, so we increased wages across the board for our employees.”

HCCDC is asking for our help so that they can continue to provide the service on which the community depends, and which will allow the children to thrive. A $50 gift will buy new books for the center’s library, and $100 provides a new tricycle for the playground. A new crib, bedding, and rocking chair can be added to the center with a gift of $1,000. Please visit highlandscommunitychildcare.org to contribute.

by Marlene Osteen

A Big Good-bye, a Big Hello

The Center for Life Enrichment’s Executive Director Sandy Carlton steps down after 30 years of dedicated and wise leadership.

Sandy Carlton

It’s often said that an organization is only as strong as its foundation.

For the Center for Life Enrichment, Sandy Carlton has been that foundation for 30 years. In October, Sandy retired from her position as Executive Director.

“As someone who loves to learn, CLE has been the perfect fit. Since its inception, the quality of presenters and courses has continued to be top notch,” she said. “The rich array of topics offers something for everyone. It has been a pleasure working with a very dedicated board of directors over the years. The enthusiasm of the directors and staff, as well as the membership, is contagious and makes me confident that CLE will continue for many years into the future.”

Sandy has been an integral part of CLE since its inception back in 1992. She has watched CLE grow from an organization of 50 members to an organization of 500 plus memberships. Sandy energetically kept the CLE classes organized and running. She has earned the respect of all who have had the pleasure of interacting with her over the years. Her encouraging personality, dedication, and selfless hard work are reflected in the success and growth CLE has experienced under her guidance as Executive Director.

As the business backbone of the organization, Sandy has served and worked tirelessly with many Presidents and under numerous boards over the years.

Mark Whitehead presided as President for three years and said, “Sandy Carlton’s retirement marks the completion of a long and successful time as Executive Director of The Center for Life Enrichment. I was fortunate to work with Sandy during my time as a volunteer, Board member, and President. Sandy was with CLE from the beginning and guided all of us. During my tenure when we had a small office and no classroom her knowledge and organizational skill kept 60 classes running smoothly all over Highlands. Sandy is a great friend and will be missed.”

Former President Ed Mawyer worked closely with Sandy and commented that “CLE would not have succeeded without Sandy and her settling presence. A true joy to know and work with. A friend for life.”

CLE’s current President Lee Garrett says, “For 30 years Sandy has been the face of CLE to our members and guests. She has devoted countless hours to make CLE a special place for ‘life enrichment.’ Thanks, Sandy, for a job well done.”

Sandy plans to be involved at a reduced capacity as a consultant for CLE, but is eager to travel, work in her garden, read, and enjoy life with her husband Bob and their two Rottweiler dogs.

The CLE Board unanimously appointed Fallon Hovis as CLE’s new Executive Director. CLE President Lee Garrett comments, “Fallon brings a broad array of skills to CLE, and she will do an outstanding job in her new position” All who have had the pleasure to interact with Sandy over the years from presenters, Board members, and volunteers realize that working with Sandy was truly an exceptional experience!

The Angel Giving Tree

Greystone Inn is inviting people in the Lake Toxaway/Rosman community and across the Plateau to participate in its Angel Tree celebration, which assists local children and disabled seniors.

Lake Toxaway Charities and The Greystone Inn are again joining with Rosman area schools to provide gifts and food for over 200 pre-qualified school children, the elderly and disabled in this third annual Angel Giving Tree celebration.

“This year has continued to be a difficult time for our neighbors struggling to provide basic necessities during Covid and remote learning for students,” says Shannon Ellis, who owns The Greystone Inn with her husband Geoff.

A tax-deductible donation of $250 sponsors a child ages Pre-K through high school. This provides a complete set of new clothing for each student from jackets to shoes and a Christmas stocking filled with needed items such as soap and toothpaste and a small gift. Each child also receives a larger wrapped gift from Santa, and the family gets a food box. If there are other children in the family, your donation provides gifts for them too.

“Staff at the four Rosman-area schools will shop, wrap and deliver the gifts to the students and their families.” says Shannon. “Everyone is invited to visit The Greystone Inn and their Angel Tree from December 3 through December 24. Wooden angel ornaments representing each child will decorate the tree.

“If you’re not able to visit in person, we hope you can support by visiting The Greystone Inn website, click Reserve Now and choose Sponsor an Angel. You can choose the age of your ‘angel’, from school-aged children 4 to 18 or local seniors,” says Shannon. “Holidays are joyous times, and your gift ensures these local children and seniors will know they are not forgotten. Thank you on behalf of the students, their families and our elderly and disabled neighbors, Lake Toxaway Charities and The Greystone Inn. May you have a very joyous holiday season!”

To sponsor, please make check payable to Lake Toxaway Charities and mail check to Lake Toxaway Charities, PO Box 163, Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 or visit www.thegreystoneinn. com

For more information, please call Sherry Minnich at (912) 269-6508 or Paulette Todd at (828) 966-4700.

“Please participate and adopt as many angels as you choose,” says Shannon. ”With your check, enclose a note with the age and gender of the children you wish to sponsor if you have a preference. Santa’s elves will select one or more for you from the tree. To adopt a senior, please write ‘senior’ on the ‘for line’ on your check.”

by Luke Osteen

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Now, that’s certainly a hard statement to live up to when you live in the most magical place on earth!

But being surrounded by such natural beauty, God’s amazing creatures, the best people to work with and so much more, it’s also hard to dispute.

Well, it is December and the possibility of some snowy days and even a White Christmas does lead one to believe the opening line a little more.

We at Carpe Diem Farms count our blessings no matter the time of year. We have just celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving, the lighting of the town and its trees, enjoyed hot chocolate in the park, Santa and Mrs. Claus’ first appearance, the store windows lit for the holidays and joy on many faces. How blessed we are.

We also care for an aging herd of horses who have dedicated years and years of their lives to the service of helping people heal themselves by exploring their own potential through the equines. We’ve experienced miracles that happen when humans expose themselves to the magic of horses. Many people must overcome a lot of personal fear because they feel dwarfed by these majestic animals or they’ve experienced unpleasant encounters in the past. Once they move beyond fear, the walls come down and the healing, growth, and magic flows.

We are into our 25th year of being here on the farm and 31 years since the foundation was formed. We wouldn’t be here without the help of so many who believed in the work we do and for which we are grateful.

As the horses age and as some we know will be departing the earth soon, we are reminded that this is the most wonderful time of the year.

May this season give you time to pause and count your blessings and be reminded. From all of us at Carpe Diem Farms, have a wonderful holiday season and a joy-filled New Year.

Hooray for Neighs!

Here’s a sweet holiday message from the good people at Carpe Diem Farms (and the horses that they care for).

by Sue Blair, Carpe Diem Farms

Shop With a Cop

A group of dedicated law enforcement Elves are ensuring that local children understand the true meaning of Christmas. To help share a bit of holiday cheer, mail your contributions to Caroline Cook, P. O. Box 2785, Highlands, NC 28741 or take them to Highlands Police Department, 372 Oak Street, next to Highlands Playhouse.

It is December and it is time for Shop With A Cop to begin. This program provides Christmas for children who would have little or no Christmas. Each child is given a $100 gift card from Walmart in Franklin, and they Shop With A Cop.

The children recommended to participate in this program are identified by various sources – their teachers, churches, neighbors, family and many times law enforcement officers. Applications are available from the Sheriff’s Office in Franklin.

The children are told to buy something for themselves and something for someone else.

Then with the remaining funds the children may purchase anything they wish.

In the past necessities for the home were discouraged. However, Sheriff Robbie Holland and his officers realized there was a great need. One year a child only got water and another only food for the family.

In many cases where the need goes beyond the $100 the officers who are shopping with the children bring out their own wallets and make the extra purchases possible.

Retired Major Andy Shields recalls a precious little girl approximately 5-7 years old, whom he’d shopped with the year before, who was so excited to be shopping with “her cop” again.

The girl’s father had died the morning he picked the little girl up. The family, knowing the child’s excitement, decided not to tell her until later due to her looking forward to this event for so long.

While shopping with “her cop” she insisted on getting warm gloves for her Daddy – the purchase was made. The little girl was told of her father’s passing when she returned home. Her father was buried with the warm gloves.

Many of these children need things like warm coats, shoes, socks, undergarments, and as mentioned before necessities for the home. Simple essentials most of us take for granted.

Your donation is tax deductible. Please make out your check to Shop With A Cop or SWAC.

by Caroline Cook