Views from Whiteside

Hiking the trail along the top of Whiteside Mountain gives visitors a sense of standing on the top of the world. Located in Jackson County between Cashiers and Highlands, Whiteside reaches 4,930 feet at its highest point and affords those who make the journey a view for miles.

However, the weather in the mountains can quickly change. Hikers can leave their car with the sun on their backs and by the time they reach the summit, all they can see is the gray mist of the cloud surrounding them from all sides.

When that situation arises, people tend to make their way down the mountain as quickly as possible, but those who bolt straight for the parking lot are missing out. There is plenty to see on the two-mile loop trail that runs along the east face of Whiteside.

The trail to the summit is lined with wildflowers throughout springtime; including Trillium, Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel, Appalachian Bluet, Eastern Solomon’s-Plume, and Buckberry.

A visitor favorite, Trillium grows in a variety of colors ranging from deep purple to pure white.

“Beautiful species, they have pale pink flowers when first flowering, then as the blooms age they turn a deeper pink,” said Highlands Biological Station Educational Specialist Paige Engelbrektsson.

Buckberry is not only beautiful, but it’s also edible. “Buckberry, one of my favorite little shrubs,” said Engelbrektsson. “It’s everywhere. When ripe the berries are a dark purple-black and tart. It makes the perfect trail-side snack for many hikes around Highlands.”

Birdwatchers have plenty to see from falcons and vultures flying overhead, or they can turn their binoculars towards the trees and catch a glimpse of Goldfinches, Carolina Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, and several types of warblers.

Falcon nesting season is between January and August, and they can often be seen chasing away nosy vultures who fly too close to their nest.

Whiteside Mountain’s highest point is 4,930 feet and affords hikers a spectacular view of Cashiers Valley.

Cliff Saxifrage is found only in the central/southern Appalachians . A turkey vulture flies below the ridge on Whiteside Mountain. Rhododendrons getting ready to bloom. Trillium

Don’t let the weather’s unpredictability make you rush your visit to Whiteside Mountain. There’s majesty and mystery in equal measure all along the way.

Appalachian Bluet

A Dark-eyed Junco has a snack while perched on a log.

Bears are known to make appearances, but they tend to stay away from hikers.

A moss-covered granite wall runs parallel to the trail on the way to the summit and makes a great playground for a variety of salamanders, snakes, and snails.

The moss has a deep green color and grows directly on the granite enjoying a steady trickle of water coming down from the mountain top.

“Moss has extremely shallow roots and does best when there’s a constant moist environment,” said HBS Horticulturalist Rachel Martin. “A granite rock with water seeping over is just as good of a habitat as under some shady trees as moss is very opportunistic.”

The views from Whiteside Mountain are nothing short of spectacular and worth making the trip to see, but there is so much more for those curious enough to take a closer look.

By Brian O’Shea, Plateau Daily News

Don’t Overlook

The Smallies

There’s nothing shy about them – Smallmouth Bass are looking for a fight.

As summer sets in, I anxiously await the first day that I can grab my 6wt fly rod, and a handful of popping bugs in pursuit of one of my favorite fish that swims in North Carolina – the Smallmouth Bass. Smallies, Smalljaws, Bronzebacks, whatever you want to call them, they make for one heck of a good time!

In particular I’m referencing Smallmouth Bass that live in our local rivers and even streams (Tuckaseegee, Horsepasture, Little Tennessee, French Broad, Toxaway, Cullasaja, etc.). For me, moving water is far more interesting than still water, and pursuing gamefish that live in rivers and streams adds an extra element to the whole equation.

It’s all about the current, and how the fish you are in pursuit of use those currents to live and feed. For instance, Trout and Smallmouth Bass use current very differently. Trout feed primarily on aquatic insects, and they use the current to bring those insects to them, and they simply stay in, or close to the current to feed on the buffet line of offerings. Smallmouth Bass are primarily ambush predators feeding mostly on baitfish and crawfish. They use current breaks such as a big rock in the river to hide behind and surprise their prey. Once you understand what to look for, the next step is making your fly or bait look like something they would want to eat.

Smallmouth Bass are as strong a fish as they come, but the ones that live in the river are even stronger because they are constantly fighting the current. The saying goes that, “if they were tied together, a three-pound River Smallie would drag a 10-pound Largemouth Bass around all day long!”

They love to jump once they are hooked as well, adding to the drama of the fight!

Both fly rod and light spinning tackle are great tools of choice when pursuing River Smallmouth. Water conditions and weather play a vital role in maximizing your experience. Here in the mountains of North Carolina, the best time to go Smallie fishing is when it’s hot, and the water is low and clear. So basically, it’s exactly when the local Trout fishing is at its toughest (which kind of works out perfectly).

When looking for a good place to park the car and get out and wade, you want to look for lots of current breaks and rocky shoals. Typically, those types of areas in the river will hold the highest concentrations of fish. To learn more about these overlooked fish, stop into your local fly shop!

by Matt Canter, Brookings Fly Shop

Plateau Playground

A new alpine coaster at Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center will add to the number of irresistible attractions to be found at Scaly Mountain, Sky Valley, and High Holly.

The pastoral communities of Scaly Mountain, Sky Valley and High Holly are pooling resources to spread word about the enormous recreational possibilities offered to locals and visitors, a prospect made even more urgent with the introduction of an alpine coaster at Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center.

Wiegand Sports USA has begun construction on the coaster, which will utilize gravity and a precisely engineered braking system to ensure that riders enjoy a fast, safe ride. It’ll also make use of the mountain’s natural contours to incorporate curves and drops into its course.

This new attraction fits in with an advertising strategy taking shape as this portion of the Southern Appalachians copes with an unprecedented wave of visitors finally freed Covid quarantines.

“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.

“There are exclusive attractions of significant importance to visitors like Sky Valley Country Club, one of the best courses in the mountains; Highlands Aerial Park, rated by TripAdvisor in the Top 10 percent of Outdoor Recreation Attractions in the World; year-round tubing at Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center; a stocked trout pond, and other supporting adventures. There’s hiking on the famed Bartram Trail and the complementary trails of Highlands Aerial Park, Sky Valley, and the adjoining Nantahala National Forest. Waterfalls of Sky Valley and Middle Creek provide native trout fishing at both locations. Falconry exhibits, wedding venues, lodging options, Wine Vineyard, local cafes, and equestrian overnight lodging for riders and mounts add to the impressive list.”

by Luke Osteen

An Adventure to Yellow Mountain

Yellow Mountain rewards adventurous hikers with spectacular vistas.

Black lab Shabadoo atop Yellow Mountain photo by Bowen Grove @bowen_grove

Serious hikers, lace up your hiking boots, pack your backpack with lots of trail-worthy snacks and water, and head to Yellow Mountain, one of the area’s most challenging trails, and one more than worthy of the effort.

At 5,127 feet Yellow Mountain is the tallest peak in the area.

The trail head starts on Buck Creek Road at Cole Gap and is easily recognizable by a National Forest Service sign. There are usually cars parked there, too, as the trail is a popular one.

Allow 4-6 hours to make the approximately 10mile round trip. The total mileage sounds manageable to experienced hikers, but don’t be fooled, the route to this mountain peak is a roller coaster of ascents, descents, switchbacks and just enough level hiking to allow you to catch your breath.

The return trip is nearly as challenging as the ascent.

Yellow Mountain is your ultimate and most rewarding goal, but you’ll summit three additional peaks along the trail as well. First is Cole Mountain, a short distance from the beginning. Then comes Shortoff Mountain and hikers may well remember the challenging switchbacks to this summit as one of the most difficult portions of the trail. Here you’ve reached an elevation of more than 5,000 feet. From here the trail is a series of dips and climbs, passing Goat Knob, your third mountain peak, before arriving at your final destination, Yellow Mountain. Word of caution, on this final segment of the trail, pay careful attention to trail markers to make certain you remain on the right path.

The views from the summit of Yellow Mountain are stunning. The 360-degree view is one of the area’s most remarkable, and the layered view of distant mountains is awe-inspiring, especially when you climb the preserved historic fire tower located on the peak.

The tower was built in 1934 and was used until 1969, housing solitary fire watchers who scanned the surrounding forests for signs of smoke and acted as an early fire alarm system. The tower fell into disrepair until the mid-1980s when it was restored and listed on the National Historic Register.

by Mary Jane McCall

Cashiers Sliding Rock Falls, not to be confused with Sliding Rock north of Brevard, is a great local swimming hole for families. It was formed over time by the headwater of the Chattooga River flowing over the rockface.

At the bottom of the slide, you’ll find a nice sand-bottom swimming area. There are potholes at the middle of the slide that older kids and adults can cautiously jump into.

It’s best for the younger ones to slide closer to the trail to avoid the potholes.

We last visited Sliding Rock during a beautiful evening in early July when there were just a few others present. We particularly enjoyed viewing the waterfall with the surrounding rhododendrons in full bloom. There is a trail on the left side of Sliding Rock leading to some pleasing small cascades.

Trailhead directions

From the intersection of Highways 64 and 107 in Cashiers take 107 south 1.75 miles to Whiteside Cove Road. Turn right and continue 2.8 miles to the bridge over the Chattooga River. There are pull-offs close to the bridge where you can park.

From Highlands, drive east from the center of town on Main Street. At the edge of town, the name of the road changes to Horse Cove Road. Continue approximately four miles to Whiteside Cove Road.

Cashiers Sliding Rock

Sliding Rock Falls is a hidden gem in Whiteside Cove that’s perfect for anyone longing for a splash in a cool mountain pool.

Bear left and drive approximately five miles to the bridge over the Chattooga River. There are pull-offs close to the bridge where you can park.

Hike description

The trailhead can be found on the north side of the road adjacent to the river. Hike the easy 100 yards to Sliding Rock. If the water flow is good, you will probably hear the sound of the waterfall at the trailhead.

by Ed and Cindy Boos

At a Glance Waterfall Guide

Enjoy this sampling of area waterfalls, for a deep dive visit thelaurelmagazine.com/recreation.

HIGHLANDS Bridal Veil Falls

From NC 106 in Highlands, drive 2.3 miles west on US 64; Waterfall GPS: N35.07180 W-83.22910 Difficulty: You can park your car in a little parking area and walk 50 feet.

Dry Falls

From NC 106 in Highlands, drive 3.15 miles west on US 64 to a parking area on the left; Waterfall GPS: N35.06884 W-83.23869 Difficulty: There are lots of steps you must go down to get behind Dry Falls.

Bust Your Butt Falls

From NC 106 in Highlands, drive 6.35 miles west on US 64 to the pullout on the left; Waterfall GPS: N35.09268 W-83.26573 Difficulty: Don’t stop on the road itself!

Glen Falls

From the junction of US 64 and NC 106 in Highlands, drive 1.75 miles south on NC 106 and bear left at the sign for Glen Falls. Take Glen Falls Road, not Holt Road. Drive 1.05 miles to the parking area. Waterfall GPS: N35.03128 W-83.23829 Difficulty: There’s some climbing involved here.

Upper Middle Creek Falls

From the intersection of NC 106 and US 64, follow NC 106 South for 9.3 miles. Exactly 1 mile before you reach the Georgia state line, and about 0.3 miles after NC 106 crosses Middle Creek, a yellow School Bus Stop sign will be on the right. Park on the right side of the road right at the sign. Waterfall GPS: N35.00714 W-83.32916 Difficulty: The four-tenths of a mile hike is not strenuous but it can be confusing.

CASHIERS Silver Run Falls

From US 64 in Cashiers, head south on NC 107 from 4.05 miles – there’s a pullout area on the left. Waterfall GPS N35.06599 W-83.06558 Difficulty: No difficulty.

Whitewater Falls

From US 64 west of Lake Toxaway, take NC 281 for 8.5 miles and turn left at the sign for Whitewater Falls into a parking area. Difficulty: Not strenuous, though the paved path is a bit uneven.

Cashiers Sliding Rock

Cashiers Sliding Rock, a million miles from the cares of the 21st century, is easy to get to. From the Cashiers Crossroads, travel south on NC 107 to Whiteside Cove Road. Head down the road for 2.6 miles to where the road crosses the Chattooga River and pull over just across the bridge. Difficulty: A piece of cake.

Spoonauger Falls

From Cashiers, travel on NC 107 8.2 miles. The name changes to SC 107 – travel for 4.9 miles. Turn right onto Burrells Ford Road. Drive approximately 2.0 miles to the Chattooga Trail parking area on the left (look for the Forest Service Bulletin Board) Hike north on the Chattooga Trail, which roughly parallels the Chattooga River for 0.25 mile, then cross Spoonauger Creek. Immediately on the right will be a side trail. Difficulty: There’s nothing tricky.

Schoolhouse Falls

From US 64, take NC 281 North for 0.85 mile and bear left on Cold Mountain Road. Stay on the road. When it becomes unpaved, travel about 0.1 mile. Take the road on the right and travel for 0.1 mile to a parking area. Take the trail to the right of the information kiosk. At the intersection, proceed straight on Panthertown Valley Trail. Turn left onto Little Green Trail. Schoolhouse Falls is about 0.15 mile ahead. Waterfall GPS N35.16330 W-83.00674 Difficulty: The hike isn’t challenging.

Scan for interactive map of waterfalls in the Highlands and Cashiers area.

Wild Indigo

For ethereal beauty and mountain hardiness, the wise choice is the Wild Indigo Girls.

Folks on the Plateau take their gardens seriously.

Gardening here is a way of life, a pastime, a passion, a source of pride, and most certainly a topic of conversation. At many homes, the outdoor spaces flow so effortlessly into the indoor; the first “room” we enter is actually outside. I guess it’s why we are endlessly looking to enlarge our gardens and seeking new plants to fill them.

It’s for that reason that I asked Rachel Martin, Horticulture specialist at the Highlands Biological Station, for suggestions on native plants that may be less familiar.

Martin was happy to suggest two plants from the native Baptisia species – the Baptisia australis (Blue Wild Indigo) and Baptisia alba White Wild Indigo).

If you’re on a holy quest for beautiful, rock-solid garden performers that are easy to grow and also feed pollinators, Baptisia is all you could hope for from any perennial. The indigenous species are well adapted to local climates and also support native wildlife and ecosystems.

And as Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, said in his video on the subject, “They are tough, reliable plants.”

Drought resistant, virtually pest- and disease-free, once in the ground they’ll last forever. More importantly for Highlanders, they grow in the open woodlands, and the Blue Wild Indigo will thrive in partial shade.

It’s recommended to plant in the fall and make sure that the soil has lots of fertile organic matter. Though it’s a tough species, it will establish better when there’s better soil richness. Homeowners should be advised that wild indigos do get large – a consideration when deciding where to plant in the landscape. A mature specimen might grow to 2 to 3 feet wide, presenting like an appealing and rounded shrub.

The White Wild Indigo is the first to bloom, and with its dark blue stems contrasting with its pure white flowers atop a 2 to 3-foot spire, it’s a real dazzler. Perennial gardeners have long appreciated the Blue Wild Indigo (the 1992 North Carolina Wildflower of the Year) for its beautiful flower clusters of violet-blue blooms that sit above densely leaved plants that often grow to 4 feet.

Both plants are of particular interest for their seed pods, which develop fully in September and turn a shiny metallic color. When left alone and not deadheaded, they provide a unique auditory experience throughout fall and winter as well as a nesting habitat for native insects.

Visitors to the Highlands Biological Center can view both plants growing together by the Coker Laboratory Building. For more information about the center and to learn about this and other offerings, visit highlandsbiological.org.

by Marlene Osteen

Bad News For Bats

Luck may be running out for our diminutive nighttime neighbors.

If you’re like me, the long Covid scare brought me back to nature in a profound way.

I noticed, really noticed, the birds that surround my home and learned to recognize and truly appreciate their astonishing songs. I was startled to realize that these neighbors had individual personalities, and I devised strategies to allow them to begin to discern me as a discrete person rather than a human-shaped threat.

Tricia and I became close friends to a family of raccoons, and a lifeline to a wary possum that’d been bruised and battered by everyday existence.

And I’ve come to cherish a trio of Little Brown Bats that regularly perform entrechat and tour en l’air that’d cause the principals of Ballet Russe to weep in frustration and envy.

They’ve always been our nocturnal neighbors here in the shadowed mountains.

The Cherokee viewed the diminutive squeakers as bearers of good luck. According to their First Tales, an eagle, a hawk, and other birds shaped the first bat from a diminutive mouse-like creature. This little animal wished to participate in a ball game in which the beasts challenged the birds. Because they were four-footed, the mouse-like creatures first asked if they could play with the animals, which included a bear, a deer, and a turtle. But the larger animals made fun of how small the creature was and drove him away. He then appealed to the eagle, the captain of the bird team. The birds took pity on the little animal and fashioned wings for him out of the head of a drum made from a groundhog skin, creating the first bat. The birds won the ball game, with the agile bat scoring the winning goal.

But here’s the thing – it may be that luck is running out for bats here and around the world.

White-Nose Syndrome is a fungal disease that’s decimating our local bat populations and their neighbors across North America. When you add that threat to the supposed bat connections to the global Covid pandemic (none of which are true) it’s a bad time to be a bat.

If you’d like to help these little mosquito-gulpers, please support the mission of the Highlands Biological Foundation and the efforts of Bat Conservation International (batcon.org).

by Luke Osteen

There’s something spectacular about this bird, our National Bird, and I am eager to tell you about it.

First, let’s get to know this iconic raptor. The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is native to North America where it dwarfs all songbirds. Typically they weigh nine pounds. and have wingspans of up to 7.7 feet.

The female is larger than the male by 25 percent although the plumage is the same across genders. They have bright yellow beaks and legs, dark mottled body feathers, long white tail feathers and stunning white-feathered heads.

Bald Eagles occupy the highest reaches of the forest and sky. They soar on broad, flat wings, catching thermal convection currents that hold them aloft effortlessly. They dive at speeds upwards of 100 miles per hour. They perch and nest in the tallest trees in the forest.

Their nests are huge. Both male and female build the nest which they might reuse over the years, adding new branches and soft material each year. As a result, their nests, built at heights up to 180 feet off the ground, become massive, reaching weights of over one ton.

One to three eaglets occupy the nest for about 10 weeks before fledging. After fledging they linger around the natal nest for several weeks before launching independent lives in the forest. Maturity, breeding and their own nest come four or five years later. They are known to live 20 years in the wild. In captivity one lived to 50.

Now comes the spectacular part. Males court females with calls and flight displays. Courtship also involves chasing and acrobatic coupling not seen elsewhere in the avian world. The high flying male and female, at apex, lock talons, facing each other, and go into a spectacular tumbling free fall that ends moments later with the ground rapidly approaching and the pair breaking off into flight at the last second. How’s that for forming a pair bond!

The numbers of Bald Eagles in North America were in steep decline in the 20th Century until they were given protection from hunters. After DDT was implicated in egg shell failures among nesting birds and banned, eagles made rapid and full recoveries in some states. In 2007 they were removed from the official list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.

Today you can find Bald Eagles on the Plateau near large bodies of water and rivers. Imagine a large Bald, swooping down suddenly and catching a large fish in its able talons and just as suddenly flying away with a triumphant SCREEEEECH.

Spectacular squared!

Happy July from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society.

The American Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle photographed by William McReynolds

The noble Bald Eagle, who’s finally returned to the Plateau, is majestic even when it’s perched.

by William McReynolds, Highlands Plateau Audubon Society

photo by Susan Renfro

ARTS

Pages 90-111

Laura Moser learned early-on that chaos is a creature that can’t be controlled. You simply deal with it creatively.

How does she do that? She layers chaos with order, each element brushing against the other, until they cement a truce – dark peeking out through the light.

Every so often she figuratively throws her favorite things into a pot: graphics, painting, advertising, Nature. She ladles in icons, myths, romance, grooves, cursive curlicues, folds, reticulates, ridges, textured fabrics, vintage periodicals, fine and fancy papers. She simmers it all down to a fine reduction, then brushes, throws, etches, slaps, flings, slathers, and trowels it onto a huge canvas.

The result is rich, concentrated blocks of neutrals like charcoal, ebony, coffee, chocolate, onyx… with a vein of soothing calm crawling ‘round their corners. She layers again, this time with whites and tans and creams, and then digs, gouges, and presses – letting imagery, intentional or accidental, pop out – the shape of a pan or pot, a pleated dress, or the blur of a beating wing.

It’s physical work, but not in a masculine sense. Her creations are powerfully feminine.

Folded rice paper dresses tell scores of stories.

She says, “This concept is part of the Powerful Women Series. The dresses are made of rice paper which is translucent and beautiful, but also very strong. The dresses symbolize leaders. Emerging from the background are people they represent. In the folds of the dresses are the names of world leaders. The names of women important in the lives of clients can also be inserted in the dresses.”

Laura shifts her imagination from one series to another. One of her favorites is hummingbirds.

Blur of a

Beating Wing

For artist Laura Moser, the dynamic tension between Order and Chaos lies at the heart of her work.

She says, “Hummers are small, but they are powerful birds. They’re ferocious and fast, moving forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways. Given their size and weight they appear to defy physics. They are Nature’s tiny miracles and a delight to paint.”

While Laura’s work is more abstract than representational, to her, each painting tells a story. But she prefers her audience to assign their own stories, for those are truly the ones she trusts most.

To see more of Laura’s work visit her new gallery at 40 Burns Street, adjacent to Josephine’s Emporium, in Cashiers. Or see her on Instagram. Visit her Website: lauramoserart.com.

by Donna Rhodes

Scan for more info

Fairy Mirth & Magic

Fairy tales and happy endings lie at the heart of artist Barbara Desmond’s latest venture. To learn more, visit Desmond Fairy Company on Facebook.

Barbara Desmond, designer and smile-maker, leaves a fairy dust trail wherever she goes.

She, kids, and every grown-up’s inner child know that somewhere between dragonflies and stars, there are enchanted creatures called fairies who sprinkle magic and mirth. After recent challenging times, we all need imagination and the joy it brings. Barbara is doing her part to capture and spread it.

Desmond Fairy Company, Barbara’s latest inspiration, was in response to friends who’d fallen ill. “My friend had cancer and I wanted to give her something . . . a literal warm fuzzy. I created a soft, healing blanket, adorned with a large prayer pocket.”

Her blanket was cozy and comforting. Prayers and notes of reassurance from friends and family were right at hand in an embroidered pocket full of love.

The Fairy Company’s healing tree grew many branch products, including fairy blankets and fairy boxes for youngsters who are having a difficult time, emotionally and/or physically. The ornate, colorful, magical boxes are topped with a custom fairy figurine and filled with treasures chosen especially for the beloved recipient.

While Barbara is pleased with her business success, the icing and fairy-cherry on top is seeing the smiles on faces from diverse populations. A heart-felt smile crosses cultural, political, and religious boundaries in a heartbeat.

Barbara closes with, “If I can inspire you to use your imagination for a second, then my job is done.”

Visit Desmond Fairy Company on Facebook. Or catch her in regional shows and events.

by Donna Rhodes

Summertime & We’re Here!

Men are from Mars/Women are from Venus: LIVE, set for August 14, brings a measure of frisky fun to the Plateau; while Neil Zirconia offers A Beautiful Noise on September 17. For tickets and more information, visit HighlandsPerformingArts.com.

Neil Zirconia

The Highlands Performing Arts Center is open. We had two wonderful, in-person concerts in June.

Now we’re preparing for our August and September concerts.

At 7:30 P.M. Saturday, August 14, it’s Comedy – Men are from Mars/Women are from Venus: LIVE. This Off-Broadway hit comedy is a one-man fusion of theater and stand-up, and is a light-hearted theatrical comedy based on The New York Times #1 Best-Selling book of the last decade by John Gray. Moving swiftly through a series of vignettes, the show covers everything from dating and marriage to the bedroom. This hysterical show will have couples elbowing each other all evening as they see themselves on stage. Sexy and fast paced, this show is definitely for adults, but will leave audiences laughing and giggling like little kids! When Mars and Venus collide, the adventures are earth-shatteringly hysterical. It’s a great recipe for a date night out: a little storytelling blended with some comedy and a dash of sage wisdom from the book. A delicious evening of entertainment!

September brings Retro Rock/Yacht Rock to the PAC. On Friday, September 17, we offer a fabulous faux Diamond: A Tribute to Neil Diamond by Neil Zirconia. He will take you on an exciting journey down memory lane that only Neil himself can inspire. He’ll hold your attention with the onstage presence and charisma that is pure Neil. Not to mention his unique baritone voice and singing ability that so amazingly resembles Neil Diamond, you won’t believe your ears. The likeness is extraordinary. Neil Zirconia has perfected all the emotion, excitement and the magic that is Neil Diamond. People of all ages are touched by the power of his words and the beauty of his music.

More to come: Broadway by Bravo Amici, on Sunday, September 26; and more Retro Rock by Fleetwood Mask on Friday, October 1.

Tickets are available online at HighlandsPerformingArts.com – click on the red Performing Arts Center tab.

by Mary Adair Trumbly, Highlands Performing Arts Center

Inspired by Sesame Street’s mission, Scott Daniel, Executive Director of the Highlands Playhouse, wants to demonstrate that we’re never too old to Grow Smarter, Stronger, Kinder.

As we recover and re-community after Covid, the opportunity for change is now, and Scott feels theater is at its core.

“Sesame Street is how a community was built,” says Scott. “It’s a neighborhood that taught many generations about kindness and compassion, and what it’s like to be part of a community, from one end of town to the other. Not all people look, act, speak, think alike. It’s that diversity that makes us stronger, better.”

That concept segues into Scott’s curated July film series: movies that explore Community. What better theme for Highlands?

Ring of Fire and Curtains Up! are the theatrical center from which the movie choices radiate, harkening back to the iconic fire around which village stories were/are told.

The kick-off film is a nostalgic yet informative look at the most successful children’s television show in history titled Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street, followed by Queen Bees, starring Ellen Burstyn, James Caan, Ann Margaret, and Christopher Lloyd. Circumstances require Burstyn temporarily move into a retirement facility. There she encounters mean girls – the senior citizen kind.

Move from mean girls to mean streets with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. It’s a jubilant celebration of heritage and community, led largely by Dominican immigrants who re-communitied a poor, rough neighborhood. From dazzling direction to mesmerizing music, let your level of love for community sky-rocket, in this month of fireworks and festivity.

Scott points out that in its 8-plus decades of operation, the Playhouse has missed only two seasons: one at the beginning of World War II and the other for Covid. At a time when we needed entertainment and escape most, we couldn’t have it. Even so, the loss of it and so many other things has re-communitied us. We are more grateful, we are more empathetic, and, having been in isolation for what feels like years, we appreciate community more than ever.

The essence of theater/performance is story-telling. Playing a guitar with no audience or no fellow-musicians is fine for a while, but ultimately, it’s not enough. We need each other. Community and communication come from the same root, communicare: to share.

Theater is our community-builder. Like Russian dolls, we have communities inside communities. Inside Highlands we have the theater. Inside the theater we have a community of actors and tech specialists who have their own little communities, and inside those are families and clubs and organizations. And inside those are more connectors. It’s endless.

Covid reminds us there are no boundaries. We are all spokes on the same wheel. By taking care of each other, we keep turning. Theater is all about the metaphor of community.

Visit highlandsplayhouse.org for more details about the July movie series and the live stage performances.

Can You Tell Me How to Get to…

Community remains at the heart of Highlands Playhouse’s message and mission.

by Donna Rhodes

Tapping Into Ancient Symbols

Artist Gloria Hernando’s work draws upon a spirit that’s ancient and profoundly Feminine.

Gloria Hernando is a passionate, multi-faceted artist. At each turn she reflects new light, color, spirit, possibility, and discovery. Her roots run deep, tapping into ancient symbols and mysteries, making way for the feminine. She spins an invisible organic thread, connecting fire to light to earth to water to metal to air and sky.

Latin for Glory speaks volumes. Gloria’s given name is Latin for glory – the word overflowing with power, light, honor, and beauty. It has a spiritual connotation, but in a universal sense. As it is spoken, the o-sound is round and resonant and feminine-ly soft.

Gloria, an artist, interior designer, and student of architecture, is drawn to elemental symbols and the archetypal bull, which represents spirit, generative power, strength. On the surface the bull seems anything but feminine, but cultures ancient-to-modern revere its organic line, particularly the horns and the negative space between them, for horns and space mimic the shape and components of the womb, and from it creation comes.

Gloria, a Dominican-American, went through a personal crisis a while ago. To rise out of the abyss, she adopted the bull as a symbol and took to heart the power of her name. Her mission: to empower women (and men) through her iconic images.

Terra Mater, Latin for Mother Earth is Gloria’s current series. In Western literature, the hero’s journey is rarely that of a woman. In Gloria’s research and exploration, she is uncovering and celebrating the feminine. Classic tales of heroism usually focus on earth’s elements. Humankind is genetically-wired to fire, water, air. We can’t live without them, so it’s no wonder the arts are steeped in them. But this time, Gloria’s elemental journey is distinctly and divinely feminine. As she says, “We need more woman power!”

“My artwork and career are a journey,” she says. “I show the behind-the-scenes work. I communicate each step with my personal life. I invite people to join my journey on Instagram@latinforglory and my website, latinforglory.com.

by Donna Rhodes

Norma Hendrix, Honorary Lifetime Member of the Art League of Highlands-Cashiers, will be the guest speaker at the Art League’s July 26 meeting at The Bascom. A wine reception will be held at 4:30 P.M., followed by Norma’s presentation at 5:00 P.M.

Hendrix, an exhibiting artist for over 40 years, holds a BFA from Ohio University, an MA from Western Carolina University and an MFA from Northern Vermont University. She’s been an artist in residence at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont; and Atelier Four Winds of Aureille, France.

She was a professor of Drawing, Life Drawing, Painting and Art History at Western Carolina University from 1999 to 2009. She founded and served as Executive Director of Cullowhee Arts, an internationally-recognized non-profit from 2011 – 2020, which hosted national and international artists who taught workshops at Western Carolina University and other venues in the U.S. and abroad.

Earlier, she was Education Director at The Bascom in Highlands and founded Studio 598, a teaching studio and exhibition space. Hendrix has been guest curator at Western Carolina University’s Fine Art Museum, Carolina Gallery in Highlands, and the Cullowhee Arts’ ArtSpace Gallery in Sylva.

She has exhibited in solo and group settings and has twice received a North Carolina Arts Council’s “Regional Arts Project Grant.” The most recent award funded a mono-print project at Jeff Hirst Studio in Chicago, Illinois, culminating in the suite of work: “Land, Water, Air,” exhibited at the Cullowhee Arts’ ArtSpace. Hendrix’s artwork is held in private and public collections in the US, France and England.

Hendrix has a deep connection with nature; thus much of her work is expressed in semi-abstract landscapes. She has recently chosen to make her art using environmentally friendly materials: graphite sticks and powders, inks, mineral pigments and hide glue, water soluble and natural materials. Her supports are rice paper mounted on wood panels.

She will present a slide lecture, “Drawing from Presence,” which includes her recent work, and on-site drawings and photography that inspire her studio practice.

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

Drawing with Presence

H-C Art League Honorary Lifetime Member Norma Hendrix will present a program on her unique process of combining mindfulness and a deep respect for nature into her work, at 5:00 P.M. Monday, July 26, at The Bascom.

by Zack Claxton, Art League of Highlands-Cashiers

The 28th Annual Bel Canto Recital had to be postponed a year, but we’re back and better than ever with a great lineup of four performers.

We haven’t been completely inactive and were able to make donations to our beneficiaries – The Bascom, Highlands School, Highlands Community Child Development Center and the Gordon Center – and distributed scholarships to three local students thanks to our generous donors.

The recipients are: Anne Marie Moore, who will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill; Tessa Wisniewski, who will be attending Central Carolina Community College; and Abigail Nichols, who has chosen UNC-Charlotte.

The lineup put together by our talented Artistic Director, Stella Zambalis, is, as always, an outstanding group of performers.

They will be Kara Shay Thompson, soprano; Mary Phillips, mezzo soprano; Jonathan Burton, tenor; Todd Thomas, baritone, and, as always, our “Orchestra,” Dr. Stephen Dubberly, who has been with Bel Canto since its inception.

Kara Shay Thompson, soprano, continues to build her expansive stage career by creating characters that push the limits both musically and dramatically and has a career spanning many of the opera houses across the country from Sarasota to Chicago to Santa Fe and a repertoire of dramatic roles from Verdi to Beethoven to Menotti as well as numerous concert appearances.

Mezzo Soprano Mary Phillips, who has appeared in opera houses across the country and throughout Europe, is considered to be in the first rank of singer-actors. She made her Met debut in La Forza del Destino and has sung numerous other Verdi roles as well as many Wagner roles and others.

Jonathan Burton, tenor, is a “returnee” who has appeared in Bel Canto before. Burton has been praised for having “thrilling power and beauty” in his voice. Opera News proclaimed that he “produced a wonderfully shaded Nessun Dorma that included brilliant top notes” He has performed roles from Puccini, Verdi, Bizet to Rene Clausen’s

The Bel is Back

(L-R) Stella Zambalis, Jon Jurgens, Sarah Jane McMahon, Christopher Clayton, Sarah Nordin, and Tyler Putnam.

The Show Must Go On! Bel Canto returns to the Highlands Performing Arts Center on September 12 with a quartet of stellar performers. This event is always a sellout – mail your contact information to Bel Canto Recital, P.O. Box 2392, Highlands, NC 28741 or call The Bascom at (828) 787-2867.

Sarah Nordin, mezzo-soprano and Tyler Putnam, bass (2017 Bel Canto performance)

(L-R) Jon Jurgens,, tenor; Christopher Clayton, baritone; Sarah Jane McMahon, soprano, Sarah Nordin, mezzo-soprano and Tyler Putnam, bass (2017 Bel Canto performance)

A New Creation.

Baritone Todd Thomas, is recognized by opera companies and critics alike as one of the true Verdi baritones gracing stages today and has enjoyed great success in the Wagner repertoire as well. He was the Crested Butte Music festival Artist in Residence and sang the title role in Der Fliegende Holländer for the Shanghai Opera and was also invited to be a featured artist in the Wagner Gala Concert with the Shanghai Opera Orchestra.

The date (as always, the first Sunday after Labor Day) is September 12.

We always sell out, so get your reservations in early. The concert will be held in the Highlands Performing Arts Center and will be followed by a celebratory dinner at Highlands Country Club with the artists.

To contact Bel Canto and get on the mailing list, mail your contact information to Bel Canto Recital, P.O. Box 2392, Highlands, NC 28741 or call The Bascom at (828) 787-2867.

by Janet Grantham

The art of Leslie Jeffrey

For Leslie Jeffery, every landscape, every beast and bird, every mood of the ocean, deserves to be captured by her imagination and poured onto her canvas. You can view her work at Ann Lea Fine Art Gallery, 976 Hwy. 64 East in Cashiers.

To fully experience abstract art the brain must disengage and let emotions take over. It’s like a visual freefall. There are no handles to grab, no familiar safety nets. You just let go, glide around a canvas, and enjoy the ride.

Leslie Jeffery, master abstract expressionist, is happiest when she’s filling a huge canvas with marks, scrapes, and textures for her viewers to sail over, under, around, and through. These are catch-your-breath moments that bond the viewer and painting for life. Leslie’s grandmother,who helped found the Tampa Art Institute,lit her granddaughter’s artistic fire around six years of age. She took Leslie on plein air painting excursions. The out-of-doors, the pure sun-drenched colors, the immersion in nature (from Jacksonville, her birthplace, to Largo, Florida) all contributed to a magical union with the painting experience.

Representational images like sailboats, wildlife, and landscapes were favorite subjects that put Leslie on a path to study Art History and Constructive Design at Florida State University, receiving her degree in Art Education.

It’s not uncommon for an artist who masters representational images to leap into abstract expressionism. Realism is tight work. Abstraction is loose, and to many, a more rewarding practice. Leslie paints regularly in her studios in Largo and Highlands, where she spends her summers, completely absorbed in every artful application.

She’s a Signature Member of the International Society of Acrylic Painters (ISAP), the National Assn. of Women Artists (NAWA) and The Florida Artists Group. She is a Past President of Las Damas de Arte, a Tampa based group of women who exhibit together and raise money for art scholarships. Leslie was co-founder of The Carolina Gallery of Fine Art in Highlands. She’s presented twice for the Art League of Highlands-Cashiers at The Bascom. She exhibited a solo show Sounds of the Sixties at Mahaffey Theater, Duke Energy Center for the Arts in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Last year, Covid didn’t get in her way. She participated in the FLAG exhibition at Foosaner Museum in Melbourne, Florida. and she presented a solo exhibit Adios 2020 at Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa. She recently won First Place at Art Center Sarasota juried exhibition UNCHARTED (out of 270 entries) and First Place at Dunedin Fine Art Center in MAPPED OUT in April this year. To view her work, visit the new Ann Lea Fine Art Gallery at 976 Hwy. 64 East in Cashiers.

And if you want to know what her best piece is, she will say with a grin, “The one I just finished.”

by Donna Rhodes