July 2024: The Laurel Magazine

L aURe L

The Heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau

The Spirit of Place

Cashiers Plein Air Festival

July 14 - 20

Cover Artist, Bette Crowder

VOLUME TWENTY-TWO, ISSUE SIX

Publisher’s Note

We’d invite you to plunge into the Flash and Boom of the events previewed in this Laurel, and, of course, chat with the people you’ll meet along the way. Those conversations are part of the charm of life here, and we’ve been having them nonstop since the days of the Cherokee and their ceremonial fires.

But let us recommend to you, at least some time this month, to veer off the path and seek out the quiet corners of the Plateau. You’ll discover dazzlements of a more subtle nature, and you’ll be all the richer for the experience. Let our William McReynolds and Deena Bouknight show you the way!

With appreciation, Janet and Marjorie

JANET CUMMINGS Managing Partner janet@thelaurelmagazine.com

MICHELLE MUNGER Art Director mungerclan5@aol.com

SARAH FIELDING Account Manager sarah@thelaurelmagazine.com

MARLENE OSTEEN Writer marlene.osteen@gmail.com

DONNA RHODES Writer dmrhodes847@gmail.com

MARJORIE N. DEAL Managing Partner marjorie@thelaurelmagazine.com

LUKE OSTEEN Editor / Writer luke@thelaurelmagazine.com

EMILY MUNGER Account Manager emily@thelaurelmagazine.com

MARY JANE MCCALL Writer mjmccall777@gmail.com

THOMAS CUMMINGS Distribution Manager jothcu@yahoo.com

Contributing Writers: Mary Adair Trumbly, Sue Blair, David Stroud, William McReynolds, Stuart Ferguson, Debby Hall, Deena Bouknight, and Zach Claxton

Contributing Photographers: Susan Renfro, Mary Gillan Renfro, Greg Clarkson, Charles Johnson, Peter Ray, Terry Barnes, Ryan Karcher, and Colleen Kerrigan.

Copyright © 2024 by The Mountain Laurel, LLC. All rights reserved. Laurel Magazine is published eleven times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Laurel Magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel Magazine nor any of its staff is responsible for advertising errors, omissions, or information that has been misrepresented in or to the magazine. Any substantial errors that are the fault of the magazine will be subject to a reduction or reimbursement of the amounts paid by the advertiser, but in no case will any claim arising from such error exceed the amount paid for the advertisement by the advertiser. Visit us online thelaurelmagazine.com phone 828.526.0173 email info@thelaurelmagazine.com mail Post Office Box 565 Highlands, North Carolina 28741

Pages 14-67

Photo by Susan Renfro

Twisting the Lion’s Tail

Our July 4th celebrations have always had elements of solemnity and passion.

Artifacts of these celebrations past have been gathered by our own Library of Congress. Above is an image of the broadside that was sent to the 13 Colonies and posted for all to see. There was much jubilation on this day in 1776 although the hard work of independence—drafting the Articles of Confederation and 5 years of armed insistence –were yet to come.

A year later, on July 4, 1777, in Philadelphia, early in the war with England, a spontaneous celebration occurred that was described by John Adams in a letter to his daughter Abigail: My dear Daughter:

Yesterday, being the anniversary of American Independence, was celebrated here with a festivity and ceremony becoming the occasion.

In the morning the Delaware frigate, several large gallies, and other continental armed vessels, the Pennsylvania ship and row gallies and guard boats, were all hawled off in the river, and several of them beautifully dressed in the colours of all nations, displayed about upon the masts, yards, and rigging. At one o’clock the ships were all manned, that is, the men were all ordered aloft, and arranged upon the tops, yards, and shrowds, making a striking appearance-of companies of men drawn up in order, in the air.

The wharves and shores, were lined with a vast concourse of people, all shouting and huzzaing, in a manner which gave

great joy to every friend to this country, and the utmost terror and dismay to every lurking tory.

In the evening, I was walking about the streets for a little fresh air and exercise, and was surprised to find the whole city lighting up their candles at the windows. I think it was the most splendid illumination I ever saw. I had forgot the ringing of bells all day and evening, and the bonfires in the streets, and the fireworks played off.

I am your affectionate father, John Adams

In the 1870s, the Fourth of July was the most important secular holiday. Independence Day was declared a federal holiday on June 28, 1870. Even far-flung communities on the western frontier managed some sort of celebration.

Above: The Flag that has Waved One Hundred Years by Dominique Fabronius.

In a retrospective of rural life in the 1870s, Miss Nettie Spencer remembered the Fourth as the “big event of the year. Everyone in the countryside got together on that day for the only time in the year.

“There would be floats in the morning and the one that got the eye was the Goddess of Liberty. She was supposed to be the most wholesome and prettiest girl in the countryside — if she wasn’t she had friends who thought she was. But the rest

(left) The Flag that has Waved One Hundred Years by Dominique Fabronius.

of us weren’t always in agreement on that…Following the float would be the Oregon Agricultural College cadets, and some kind of a band. Sometimes there would be political effigies.

Just before lunch – and we’d always hold lunch up for an hour – some Senator or lawyer would speak. These speeches always had one pattern. First the speaker would challenge England to a fight and berate the King and say that he was a skunk. This was known as twisting the lion’s tail.

Then the next theme was that any one could find freedom and liberty on our shores. The speaker would invite those who were heavy laden in other lands to come to us and find peace. The speeches were pretty fiery and by that time the men who drank got into fights and called each other Englishmen. In the afternoon we had what we called the ‘plug uglies’ — funny floats and clowns who took off on the political subjects of the day…The Fourth was the day of the year that really counted then. Christmas wasn’t much; a Church tree or something, but no one twisted the lion’s tail.

In 1938, ninety-six-year-old Dr. Samuel B. Lathan recalled the Independence Day celebrations of his South Carolina childhood:

The Fourth of July was observed at Caldwell Cross Roads. The military companies of infantry would assembly here from the surrounding counties making up a brigade. A drill and inspection were had, and a dress parade followed. There was an old cannon mounted on the field. The honor of firing it was assigned to Hugh Reed, who had been in the artillery of Napoleon’s army at Waterloo and afterward emigrated to South Carolina. A great barbecue and picnic dinner would be served; candidates for military, state, and national offices would speak; hard liquor would flow; and each section would present its ‘bully of the woods’ in a contest for champion in a fist and skull fight. Butting, biting, eye gouging, kicking, and blows below the belt were barred. It was primitive prize fighting.

We still celebrate with barbeques and picnics, parades and fireworks, and the joyful flaunting of the colors.

Today we must call forth that same heroism in righting the wrongs against community and justice, predicated on the conviction that “All men are created equal.”

Happy Independence Day!

by William McReynolds

Fireworks Extravaganza

Fun is the order of the day on this Fourth of July. If you’re seeking the Crackle and the Flash and the Boom on the Fourth (and Fifth), cast your gaze skyward across Cashiers, Glenville and Sapphire.

Make sure you’re rested, hydrated, and ready to party this July 4th when Cashiers, Glenville, and Sapphire roll out the red, white, and blue carpet for your Independence Day festivities.

On Thursday, July 4 the entire family can enjoy a day of fun, games, music, and food at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley Resort. This Yankee Doodle Dandy Day will offer activities at locations throughout the resort including the recreation center, athletic field, and community center. There will be live music; games and contests; a kid’s fun zone; snow cones, popcorn, and hot dogs; a pitch and putt tournament; and a ducky derby. Festivities start at 10:00 A.M. and end at 4:00 P.M.

The annual Fireworks Extravaganza on The Green, presented by Landmark Realty Group, will take place on Wednesday, July 3, at 6:00 P.M., rain or shine, on The Village Green Commons Lawn. Entertainment will start at 6:00 P.M. with the Cashiers Community Chorus followed by The Caribbean

Cowboys, local favorites who have been entertaining audiences for over 30 years. Cashiers School of the Arts will also lead an interactive line dance tutorial and conga line during the event. Fireworks follow at approximately 9:30 P.M. Admission is free; however, donations will be collected to help with the cost of the event. The Village Green, a 501(c)3 non-profit, relies on the generosity of donations to continue bringing this event for free to the community.

Plan to bring lawn chairs and prepare to get comfortable and enjoy all the evening’s events. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Elevated Kitchen, Innovation Brewing, and Crossroads Custard. Please leave dogs at home due to the nature of the event.

A portion of Frank Allen Road will be closed starting at 6:00 P.M. and will not reopen until after the fireworks show. Parking will be limited along Frank Allen Road.

Lucky us, we get a second glorious fireworks show as the 27th annual Friends of Lake Glenville Fireworks Over The Lake, will be held on Friday, July 5, at approximately 9:30 PM. Everyone is invited to gather safely in their watercraft or on land to enjoy this always spectacular celebration. Get there early to ensure a good parking spot and to enjoy the 3rd annual Gala Boat Parade.

There are great viewing opportunities off 107 N. along the roadside from near Hamburg Baptist Church (south to the pullover/open areas along the lake). Be sure to have your vehicle entirely off the road and be mindful of traffic. Fireworks are held rain or shine, unless dangerous conditions develop, such as lightning.

The Friends of Lake Glenville is responsible for the organization and financing of this event and relies exclusively on private contributions from Sponsors and attendees. If you’d like to contribute, visit FriendsOfLakeGlenville. com/ Fireworks to donate.

by Mary Jane McCall

A Day of Celebration

Sure, Highlands is a small town, but there’s nothing little about its’ Fourth of July Celebration – a full day of fun, extending into the star-spangled evening.

Our own Donna Rhodes wrote this about Highlands’ Fourth of July, “It’s an excuse to consume mass quantities of everything: food, drink, barbecue, outdoor activities, and music. Then we finish it all off with big bangs and bodacious booms. It’s the holiday that welcomes excess.”

Donna’s right, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC promises a full slate of activities for everyone to enjoy:

On Thursday, July 4, attend an Independence Day Celebration. From 9:00-11:00 A.M. at Town Ball Field on Hickory Street, get your free materials to build and launch a soda bottle water rocket. It’s your chance to make a big splash.

Starting at 11:00 A.M., there’ll be free hot dog lunches

served at the Town Ball Field.

At 11:00 A.M., prepare yourself for one or all of these contests at the Town Ball Field: tug-o’-war, three-legged sack race, water balloon toss, and frozen t-shirt contests (a true ice-breaker), hosted by Town of Highlands Recreation Department.

Also, the Ladder Truck display and spray-down is set for 11:00 A.M.

Continuing at noon at Town Ball Field, MAMA (Mountain Area Medical Airlift) Rescue Helicopter, will touch down for a visit.

Later, at 2:00 P.M. on the Bridge at Mill Creek, witness the annual Highlands Rotary Club’s Duck Derby. (As our Donna would say, “Release the Quacken!”) It’s touted as the most exciting five minutes in Highlands.

After you’ve had a ducken’ good time, relax a bit and then join the town for The Business, the headliners for the Special Fourth of July Edition of the Outdoor Concert Series. Gather at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park for the music and the dancing and the good times from 6:00 to 8:30 P.M.

And then, fife and drum, please – it’s the grand finale of the day: Fireworks on the Fourth, presented by Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC, 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. The pyrotechnics will be visible from throughout downtown.

by Luke Osteen

Seeing Earth as a Grain of Sand

Author John Lane invites us to view the world through the eyes of a naturalist-poet at the Village Nature Series’ July 31 presentation at the Village Green in Cashiers.

In July, the Village Nature Series welcomes naturalist and author John Lane. Lane is professor emeritus of environmental studies at Wofford College and served as director of the school’s Environmental Studies Center.

Lane, who has been described as “a soldier for sustainability and a warrior for wildness” is an accomplished author, essayist, and poet; his many published works include My Paddle to the Sea, Circling Home, Chattooga, and Coming into Animal Presence. He was inducted into the South Carolina Academy of Authors in 2014 and is a co-founder of the Hub City Writers Project in Spartanburg.

An expert paddler, hiker, and ardent conservationist, Lane has explored far and wide but also remembers how a

favorite college professor “sharpened his eye” to “see the world in a grain of sand.”

His nonfiction works combine environmental history and landscape description with memoir and a keen appraisal of the idea of the Anthropocene, or human impact on the planet. Lane shows that geological landscapes and personal landscapes overlap and cannot be separated.

His most recent work, Gullies of My People, explores his family’s history intertwined with the Piedmont area of South Carolina, and demonstrates that “one of the best ways to read the past is to look for scars on the land.” Lane postulates that the story of a landscape can be lost over time, and that through “restorying” by reattaching memories and creating narratives, a conservation value can be

created that leads to new perspectives for evaluating and saving land.

John Lane’s lecture is Wednesday, July 31, at 5:30 P.M. in the Lewis Event Hall at the Village Green.

The Village Nature Lecture Series, which runs from April through September, is a joint program of the Village Green and the HighlandsCashiers Land Trust, and is sponsored by the Cedar Creek Club. For more information see hcltnc.org/2024-villagenature-series.html or villagegreencashiersnc.com/village-nature-series/.

by Lance Hardin, Highlands

Cashiers Land Trust

John Lane

July’s Groovin’

Groovin’ on the Green is just that – an irresistible invitation to cut loose on the emerald Cashiers Village Green. That means you’re invited to a powerhouse performance by The Wobblers – July 19.

Now that we’re deep into what’s shaping up to be the Plateau’s busiest Busy Season, we’re all invited to enjoy the happy sounds of Groovin’ on the Green – a bangin’ summer-long jam that has visitors and locals swinging all season long to performances by some of the area’s most entertaining bands.

“We here at The Village Green love being able to offer free and fun family programming, that’s accessible to everyone in our community, and that can be enjoyed without having to drive down the mountain,” says Ashlie Mitchell, the Village Green’s executive director.

For this month, Groovin’ is hosting The Wobblers on July 19. Sponsored by Premier Sponsor Landmark Realty Group.

The Wobblers are a South Carolina, eight-piece, genre-defying roots band pulling from New Orleans rhythms, and including elements of Memphis Soul, Chicago Blues, with heavy Hammond organ and brassy horns.

The band includes a four-piece horn section, piano, organ, guitar, bass and drums, and plays about half original music, and half eclectic soul infused rearranged covers – the song list is… long, very long.

The song list has continued to change over the years, with the spawning of new songs written by various members of the band. The theme usually goes back to a New Orleans soul sound with the brassy horns and second line rhythms played by Patrick Riley on the drums, with edgy, jazz elements mixed in that evoke the likes of Rhassan Roland Kirk, Sun Ra, and Thelonious Monk.

At other times the Wobblers sound will call to mind the sound of the Kinks, The Band, Dr. Dog, Elvis Costello, and NRBQ.

The Wobblers change the atmosphere wherever they play. The band takes you on a genre trip around the spectrum while always delivering a high energy professional show. Seeing the Wobblers live, gives the audience the feeling that they’re

at the best party to be at that night.

To ensure that The Village Green can maintain the ability to provide free concerts for the community, the purchase of a 10x10 tent rental supports this cause. Tents are provided, set up by the Village Green, and will be ready for use at your time of arrival!

Upon arrival, please check-in with the Community Event Coordinator at The Village Green table and to be sure you get to your correct tent.

Please bring your own chairs and tables. Rain or shine, the concerts kick off at 6:00 P.M. on The Village Green Commons Lawn,” says Mitchell. “Grab your lawn chairs and blankets, pack your picnic baskets and coolers, and four-legged friends are welcome to join in on the fun – as long as they remained leashed!”

by Luke Osteen

photo by Heritage Productions

The Sounds of Summer

The sounds of Friday Night Live and Saturdays on Pine are Highlands’ official Summer Soundtrack. The concerts are free, family-friendly and handicapped accessible.

If you’ve been around Highlands for a while you know that Friday and Saturday nights are made for live music.

If you’re just visiting, you’ll delight in making the same discovery.

Few communities offer such a diverse live music scene and these weekend outdoor concerts have become don’t miss dates for the music lovers among us. Friday Night Live at Town Square and Saturdays on Pine at the Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park, both sponsored by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC are held each Friday and Saturday night. Hours for both are the same, from 6:00 until 8:30 P.M. and both are free.

Bring your lawn chairs, put on your dancing shoes, and join your friends and neighbors for cool summer evenings spent listening to some of the region’s best music. These concerts are fun for all ages.

Friday Night Live is starting the month

with a bang truly worthy of the July 4th holiday on July 5 when crowd favorites Nitrograss light up the night with their blistering bluegrass. These bluegrass superstars feature two-time national champion banjo player, Charles Wood, whose blistering banjo lays the foundation of this group’s sound.

Silly Ridge Roundup, Highlands’ very own bluegrass band will play on July 12. These talented musicians always draw a crowd and they mix their bluegrass playlist with a bit of Americana and Folk.

Leadfoot Lily, composed of lifelong friends Dean English and Mike Hamilton, along with their wives, hit the stage on July 19 playing a setlist that covers every imaginable genre from bluegrass, country, rock, R & B to folk and pop.

Rounding out the Friday series on July 26 is Kettle a three-piece band that also plays an eclectic playlist, everything from alternative country to psychedelic

funk. Their lively sound is sure to bring out your inner dancer.

Saturdays on Pine features Blaze The City on July 6. This talented group is in demand across the Carolinas and brings crowds to their feet playing everything from funky dance rhythms to pop, rock, country, blues, and Motown sounds.

Hailing from Asheville, Dive Bar Divas bring their good time sounds to the stage on July 13. Get your groove on listening to pop, rock, soul, funk, and disco.

July ends with bands that play the best of the 80s so tease your hair, dig your shoulder pads, neon, and spandex out of storage, pop your collar, and prepare to dance the night away to the sounds of Lazrluvr on July 20 and The Breakfast Club on July 27.

For more information visit highlandschamber.org or call (828) 526-5841.

by Mary Jane McCall

Dive Bar Divas

The Bascom’s Community Day of Fun

At the heart of The Bascom’s Community Day 2024, set for 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Saturday, July 6, lies the heart of the community.

Community Day 2024 is coming up on Saturday, July 6!

For over a decade, The Bascom has welcomed the surrounding communities and visitors to the Plateau to join us for a day of hands-on artmaking for children and families, artist demonstrations, storytelling, fresh popcorn and more! This is a free event and open to the public.

This year’s event will host some exciting activities in partnership with our friends in the community. The Highlands-Cashiers Hospital will be bringing their Teddy Bear Clinic with a fun photo booth to The Bascom Terrace, the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust will be hosting a conservation-centered interactive booth, the Jackson County Green Energy Park from Dillsboro, North Carolina, will be providing glass blowing demonstrations with their

mobile glass forge, the Western North Carolina Woodturners will be making spinning tops for kids, and the Asheville Printmakers will be providing interactive printmaking demonstrations.

… join us for a day of hands-on artmaking for children and families…

The Bascom will be hosting a re-dedication of the Will Henry Stevens Bridge at 10:00 A.M. before the Community Day activities begin, so please join us in celebrating recently completed repairs to the bridge.

Three exciting new exhibitions will be on display in the galleries, including Glass Pioneers: Western North Carolina and the Studio Glass Movement, Press

On! with works by the Asheville Printmakers, and Fragmented Reality; an innovative presentation of photographic works by Erik Mace.

As always, the retail shop has beautiful handmade work from local and regional artists.

The Bascom would like to thank our Community Day sponsor for 2024, the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. We are pleased to partner with such an important community resource that believes in the visual arts as a catalyst for community well-being.

The fun happens from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. on The Bascom campus at 323 Franklin Road in Highlands.

by Billy Love, The Bascom

The twin farmers’ markets deliver the Plateau’s flavors of the season.

The twin farmers’ markets deliver the Plateau’s flavors of the season.

Really good farmers feed more than just the table. They also feed the soul. Prepare your table, taste buds, and soul for a peak encounter with the season’s plump, juicy, tasty delights of mountain and valley’s best.

The Plateau’s best local food producers are at Highlands Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street in Highlands, and Locally Grown at Village Green, Cashiers, every Wednesday, though October 30, 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M Exceptions: July 3 (for July 4 events) and August 7 (Cashiers Annual Antique Show).

Bonus: Village Green now has music to round out your produce-buying pleasure on select Wednesdays.

Producer-only vendors must be the creator of every product they sell. Vendors must farm within a 100-mile radius of Cashiers.

If you know your farmer, you know your food.

Feel free to chat with your growers-of-choice. For Village Green produce, vendors must farm within a 100-mile radius of Cashiers.

The Highlands Market provides a wide array of fresh produce, seafood, baked goods, plants, hemp oil plus hemp products, soy candles, herbs, sweets and other locally-sourced products. Add to that green onions, grape tomatoes, fresh lettuce, spinach and tender greens, sugar snap peas, and so much more.

Don Deal, manager of Highlands Farmer’s Market adds that if you are interested in participating as a vendor yourself, please contact him at (828) 342-8239.

Please contact shelby@cashiersgreen.com if you are interested in joining the Green Market as a vendor.

Both Markets are free and so is parking. Bring a big bag and a yummy menu to fill.

by Donna Rhodes

CLE’s Diverse Summer Sessions

A trio of presentations offered through the Center for Life Enrichment will focus on the climate challenge and the ways of a very clever artist. For more information on programs and registration, visit clehighlands.com, call (828) 526-8811, or visit the office anytime Monday through Friday, 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Barbara Jamison

Michael Rosenfeld

Dr. Marshall Shepherd

Michael Rosenfeld has won 11 Emmys for his news and documentary films during his career.

From his time as president of National Geographic Television to his current role as Executive Producer for PBS, much of his recent work has explored humanity’s relationship with nature, offering new perspectives in a world embroiled in climate change and loss of the natural resources that have the power to save us.

Join Rosenfeld on July 23 at the HighlandsCashiers Center for Life Enrichment on a journey exploring how best to save nature in the face of climate change and extreme weather events, offering indigenous perspectives and his own experiences creating award winning nature documentaries.

Two days later. CLE will host Dr. Marshall Shepherd. He is a meteorologist but you won’t see him giving the weekend weather forecast. You will see him advising NASA, the White House, Congress,

the Department of Defense, and even foreign governments on how best to deal with climate change and extreme weather events. He has served as both a fellow and the president of the American Meteorological Society. Shepherd has given multiple TedTalks and works at the University of Georgia where he is the Distinguished Chair Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences. On July 25 he will be speaking at CLE on how to better understand weather and climate.

Sculptor and painter (and Friend of The Laurel) Barbara Jamison is inviting CLE into her studio for a tour and art demonstration on Tuesday, July 16.

Jamison has developed her own unique process of liquefying acrylic paint before moving it around on the canvas in a combination of using palette knives, blowing air through a straw, and heating it with a blowtorch. The pigments come alive as they react with the water and heat, creating the vibrant paintings that have

come to characterize her art.

Her own work has been displayed in over 25 exhibitions and has won awards from the Charlotte Art Guild and the International Pastel Society. The Cashiers Chamber of Commerce recognized her work within the community granting her the Award for Advocacy of Arts & Culture. Both Shepherd and Rosenfeld’s events are $30 for CLE members and $40 for nonmembers. Jamison’s studio tour is $40 for members and $50 for non-members.

by

Matt Salerno, CLE Summer Programs and Events Assistant

Scan to learn more.

Orchard Sessions with Brandon Crocker

Brandon Crocker, The Orchard Session artist for July 11, transmutes the triumphs and tragedies of everyday life into musical magic. For updates and to book online visit Old EdwardsHospitality.com/ OrchardSessions.

Brandon Crocker

As the mercury rises, in the vanishing light of long summer evenings comes lots and lots of music on stages everywhere.

On those nights during that fleeting period of time before the sun sets and the long shadows begin to fall among the trees, I long to return to the Orchard Sessions at The Farm at Old Edwards to listen to music and be present amidst the gardens and among friends.

I am looking forward to Thursday, July 11, when Brandon Crocker takes center stage for an intimate acoustic concert, promising an evening of musical enchantment.

Crocker’s soothing vocals evoke the spirit of legends like James Taylor while infusing his own creative chord progressions akin to the brilliance of John Mayer.

Though deeply personal, Crocker’s music resonates universally transporting listeners to a time of simplicity and

emotional exploration. Through poignant storytelling and emotive lyricism, he navigates the human experience, offering solace and connection in a world often fraught with complexity.

Originally from Chicago, Crocker began his creative journey at a young age, immersing himself in theatre and music. He later pursued his passion at the Savannah College of Art and Design, focusing on Film and Photography, eventually making his mark in the bustling creative scenes of Hollywood and New York City. It was during his time spent abroad, particularly in locales like France and Brazil, that Crocker’s songs gained a profound complexity and depth; his music infused with a renewed richness of perspective.

This global influence shines through in his debut EP, Lazy Day, released in 2012. More than just an album, Lazy Day challenges contemporary norms while exploring the profound simplicity

of everyday life and relationships. As one fan eloquently put it, the EP invites listeners to bask in the serenity of a sunlit day, drifting away from worries and embracing tranquility on the water’s surface.

Join us for an evening of melodic reflection as Crocker’s songs transport us to a realm where time stands still. The shows begin each evening at 6:00 PM and finish at 8:00 PM. Admission is $25 for Old Edwards Inn and Half-Mile Farm Hotel Guests & Members, and general admission is $40 and 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 Old EdwardsHospitality.com/ OrchardSessions.

by Marlene Osteen

Open House & Trail Opening

Everyone (and their pets) is invited to the CH Humane Society’s Open House gala and the opening of Misty’s Trail – Saturday, July 13.

On Saturday, July 13, from Noon to 3:00 P.M., the CashiersHighlands Humane Society is celebrating our annual Open House and the 37th anniversary of our founding!

The event is family-friendly and petfriendly. That’s right, bring the kids and bring the pets for a day of fun-filled activities, including: a low-cost rabies vaccination clinic and free nail trim for pets; lunch and refreshments; music; pet portraits by Marty Boone; games and face painting for kids; raffle prizes and much more!

A very special event will kick off the Open House promptly at noon with a grand opening and one of our famous “ribbon-chewings.”

Saturday, July 13, also marks the official opening of Misty’s Trail, a beautiful path

in the woods on our 10-acre campus for our beloved dog walking volunteers. Our dog walkers will also get a new name that day.

Formerly known as the CHHS Hikers for Hounds, on July 13 we will debut new shirts for all of our volunteer dog walkers with our new group name – Gary’s Hikers for Hounds. The new name pays tribute to Captain Gary Maddox, the President of our Board of Directors and avid shelter dog walker, who passed away earlier this year.

The Open House will feature tours of our campus, the CHHS Canine Adoption Center, the CHHS Feline Adoption & Animal Care Center, the H.E.A.R.T. of North Carolina rescue vehicle, and a sneak peek of what we have in store for our shelter pets in the next year. Come share in the celebration of our

lifesaving work that has saved the lives of thousands of abandoned, abused and neglected animals in our community over the past 37 years.

Established in 1987, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located at 200 Gable Drive in Sapphire, 1 ½ miles east of the Cashiers Ingles in between Cedar Creek Club and Lonesome Valley on Highway 64. Our no-kill shelter is open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. For more information, call (828) 743-5752 or email info@ 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

Highlands Porchfest

Madison Owenby

When Madison Owenby returns to Highlands Porchfest on September 15, she’ll bring her deeply personal music and insurance against wardrobe malfunctions.

Highlands Porchfest is the Plateau’s premier community music festival.

Throughout 14 different locations, Highlands hosts over 40 musicians from every genre. The festival is free to attend and attracts musicians and visitors from all over the country. One of the artists returning to Porchfest this year is Madison Owenby.

Before the 2023 Highlands Porchfest, Madison had only performed at openmic nights. Her sound is heavily influenced by her love of jazz but she plays to her audience. Bouncing between genres ensures that “everyone has something they can sing along to.”

As she settled into the Fern of Highlands Boutique and set up her equipment, wrestling with pre-performance excitement and nerves, the unthinkable happened. She tore her pants. Performing in a boutique had its perks and after a quick wardrobe change, Madison wowed an audience with covers of some of her favorite artists, from Florence and the Machine to Amy Winehouse.

Growing up in Savannah, Georgia, Madison’s mom nurtured her love for music. She participated in the band and marching band where she played the baritone and took piano lessons. While driving in the car she and her mom would listen to Nora Roberts over the radio, singing along. She moved to the mountains of North Carolina for a fresh start and began attending Western Carolina University to study Business Administration and Law. She goes to school online while waiting tables to pay her own way.

Her work ethic is evident, as she even worked the morning of her performance at Lazy Hiker’s Outdoor Music Jam. She opened for Grizzly Mammoth and the band was so impressed with her that they offered her a spot singing with them in the future.

Madison has her heights set high as her dream would be to move to Nashville and play music full-time. She humbly admits that just playing the occasional gig would keep her happy but would also enjoy using her business degree to work

in the music industry.

For now, Madison is working hard to finish her degree while her music career is picking up speed. She is performing more gigs in the lead-up to her return to this year’s 2024 Highlands Porchfest. It is clear she has a love of performing but she is also excited to “see all the musicians. It was just fun walking around Highlands and seeing everyone play and all the different types of music.”

The 2024 Highlands Porchfest is organized by the Highlands-Cashiers Center for Life Enrichment and is free to attend and will be held on Sunday, September 15, from 1:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. in downtown Highlands.

For more information or to learn about sponsorship opportunities please visit highlandsporchfest.com, call (828) 5268811, or visit the CLE’s office anytime Monday through Friday, 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

by Matt Salerno,

CLE Summer Programs and Events Assistant

The Driving Force Behind Mountain Theatre Company’s Summer Season

A

troupe of supremely talented women ensures that The Show Goes On for Mountain Theatre Company’s spellbinding Summer Season.

While the performers take center stage in the vibrant world of 1950s Rydell High in Grease at Mountain Theatre Company, a talented team of women behind the scenes work tirelessly to bring the show to life.

Mountain Theatre Company hopes to shine the spotlight on the women-led production team of Grease with Hannah Wein (Lightning Designer), Cheyenne Dalton (Sound Designer), Vera Conrad (Stage Manager), Hannah Hodge (Assistant Stage Manager), Lea Gilbert (Production Manager), Hannah Bolstad (Production Electrician), Ali Dewey (Wardrobe Supervisor), Kristen Wright (Production Crew), and Hope Chellman (Production Crew) making up over 70 percent of MTC’s Production Team for the 2024 summer season.

Hannah Hodge is a returning MTC team member after previously working as a

production assistant for MTC’s 2023 season. Hodge has been instrumental in ensuring the smooth operation of all productions she is involved with. With a keen eye for detail and a calm demeanor under pressure, her expertise has been invaluable in bringing the show’s high-pace energy to life.

“I love the challenge of playing one big game of Tetris backstage while the show goes on,” says Hodge.

As she works tirelessly backstage making sure all props and set pieces sit perfectly in place, there is something so beautiful about “seeing the show from a new perspective.”

One of the new arrivals to the team this year is Sound Designer Cheyenne Dalton. Cheyenne has had multiple years of experience in the Orlando, Florida, theater scene, but is excited to make her MTC debut in this production

stating, “This is one of my favorite sound designs I’ve done,” and enjoys the position as she is “able to take part in the song and dance alongside the actors” while mixing all of the sound elements in the show.

All of these dedicated women, along with their male colleagues, have come together to create a truly unforgettable theatrical experience.

As we celebrate the show’s enduring popularity, let us also acknowledge the vital contributions of these women, who are breaking the glass ceiling in a male-dominated field to express their expertise and passion into each performance. You can continue to indulge in their work in our upcoming summer production of Catch Me If You Can, playing July 24 through August 10.

by Erin Leigh Knowles, Mountain Theatre Company

Nashville Songwriters’ Round

Thanks to a generous troupe of Nashville songwriters and musicians, Blue Ridge School is enriched through the 2024 Rivers Rutherford and Friends Songwriters Round, Saturday, August 24, at the Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau in Cashiers. For information on tickets, visit givebutter. com/5Q9VHA.

Rivers Rutherford

Join the Blue Ridge School Education Foundation as they present the 18th annual Nashville Songwriters’ Round featuring Rivers Rutherford and friends on Saturday, August 24, at the Keller Pavilion at the Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau at 558 Frank Allen Road in Cashiers. Doors open at 6:00 for dinner and social hour followed by the songwriters’ performances at 7:30 P.M.

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost two decades since the first songwriters’ round but this eagerly anticipated event has gathered steam every year and is now one of the year’s hottest tickets. It offers music lovers the perfect opportunity to get a glimpse into the creative process of some of Nashville’s most acclaimed songwriters and to enjoy intimate live performances of some of country music’s biggest hits.

This absolutely entertaining band of friends will bring you into their circle

for an unforgettable evening of fun, laughter, conversation, and music. Highlighting the evening is Rivers Rutherford, who has been the heart and soul of this fundraiser since its inception. Rivers was inaugurated into the big time at 21 years of age when The Highwaymen (Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson) recorded one of his songs. Number One hits and countless awards have followed, including Grammys, CMA and ACM nominations, and over 20 ASCAP awards. His songs have been performed by country music legends Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Lady A, and a host of others.

You’ll be having so much fun that you might lose sight of the fact that this is a serious fundraiser for a cause close to all our hearts-supporting educational opportunities for Blue Ridge School and Early College students.

Funds raised supplement the needs of

students and educators in a myriad of ways by providing money for professional development, print and audio resources, classroom materials, gift cards for teachers, a music artist-in-residence, a school nurse, and a social worker. Additionally, they support the “Give 5, Read 5” summer reading program, an after-school math tutoring program, the Muddy Sneakers Outdoor Learning Program, and much more.

For information on tickets visit https:// givebutter.com/5Q9VHA, or scan the QR code below. Individual tickets are $220 or you can reserve a table for 10 for $2,200. Purchase your tickets as soon as possible, as this event is always a sell-out and tickets go fast. Purchasing a ticket this year will put you at the front of the line next year.

Scan for tickets.

Running andPlaying

A new playground at Highlands Rec Park is the clear winner of the Twilight 5K Road Race and Walk – Saturday, August 17, through Highlands.

Although the Twilight 5K Road Race and Walk is an event attracting all ages for a day of activity and fun, its more serious side involves raising money for a worthy cause. Presently, the August 17 run event is focused on providing funds for a new playground at Highlands Rec Park

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Highlands, the Twilight 5K “helps with awareness, provides a healthy event for our community, and brings visitors to town,” pointed out Taylor. “We have been able to raise over $200,000 over the years for Highlands’ children’s education efforts.”

will be available around the Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park, Highlands Recreation Park, Highlands Ballfield, and Highlands Post Office.

Evening music begins at 7:30 P.M. The race is kid-friendly, with glow toys presented to children who attend. Plus, kids under 5 years of age can participate in the 5K for free and ages 5 to 9 for $10.

To sign up, visit highlandstwilightrun.com. Contact Taylor at (828) 200-9226 for questions or to sponsor the event.

Donations are encouraged during the event, but monies to support the new playground come primarily from Twilight 5K runners’ fees and sponsorships.

The Twilight 5K race this year begins at 6:00 P.M. at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. Registration and check-in for Twilight 5K will begin at 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, August 17, with early packet pick up the night before the race from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. at Highlands Recreation Park. Parking

by Luke Osteen

Scan to learn more.

In the Heart of Cashiers

The Cashiers Designer Showhouse, set for August 23-31, is a deep dive into gracious Plateau Living. Learn more at cashiershistoricalsociety.org.

Every year the Cashiers Historical Society scouts for the perfect home and setting for the Cashiers Designer Showhouse. Strutting their finest stuff, 15 Interior Designers revive the rooms with their style and top them all off with breathtaking decorating drama.

Showhouse Chair Cheryl Stanzione says, “This is our signature fundraising event. Over 3,000 people attended last year and with the amount of people that this event draws, it has become a significant revenue stream for Jackson County.”

On opening day, when the Showhouse magic sparks and interiors glow, the doors will swing wide to thousands of viewers. Eager attendees step into 2024’s star dwelling, a quintessential farmhouse in the heart of Cashiers. Gorgeous rooms will boast their beauty. And so will you.

For 2024, CHS wanted to present an existing home that invited both formal and informal activities for

year-round living. With 4-bedrooms and 4.5-baths, there is generous space for a growing family.

A screened, wrap-around porch welcomes the occasional lazy day for rocking and reading. A private guest suite above the garage and a separate recreation retreat featuring a full bar and covered deck exemplifies a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern convenience. Welcome to the ideal sanctuary of the mountains.

In addition to Showhouse tours, there are plenty of other visitor activities. Get ready for a whole lotta shakin’ with Shag dancing at Mica’s Restaurant on August 26, 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. Did you know that Clogging and the Shag (and, no, not the British version) are official North Carolina state entertainment dances?

CHS will list events at: cashiershistoricalsociety.org, Cashiers Historical Society’s Facebook page and @ cashiersdesignershowhouse Instagram.

Look there for more information about Showhouse special events such as Shag, Designer Panel discussions, High Tea, interactive demonstrations, vendors at The Village Green; and so much more. Showhouse dates are August 23 through 31, 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.; Sunday, Noon to 4:00 P.M. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance at cashiershistoricalsociety.org or in person at CHS, Chamber of Commerce, Rusticks and Acorns Boutique. Tickets will be available at The Village Green during Showhouse dates only.

Cheryl welcomes you to the 27th annual Cashiers Designer Showhouse, “Please come out and enjoy all that’s being offered, while supporting such a worthy cause.”

by Donna Rhodes

Refined and Fun

The North Carolina Baroque Orchestra will perform a free concert for everyone at Highlands First Presbyterian Church, Thursday, July 25.

The North Carolina Baroque Orchestra will perform in a 5:00 P.M. concert at Highlands First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, July 25.

The NCBO, a period instrument ensemble, was co-founded in 2011 by sisters and musical collaborators Frances Blaker and Barbara Blaker Krumdieck for the purpose of providing orchestral and chamber music opportunities for musicians specializing in baroque performance practice. The NCBO maintains a goal of presenting refined, stylistic, artistic,

and fun performances engaging both the players and the listeners in the stories and historical context behind the music. Musicians in the group come from all over the country. Co-founder Frances Blaker serves as Conductor and Artistic Director. First Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of Main and Fifth Streets. Handicapped accessible entrances are located on Church Street and on Fifth Street.

by Angela Jenkins

Highlands Food & Wine Festival

Cast your gaze to November, but you don’t need to adjust your belt just yet – the 8th Annual Highlands Food and Wine Festival is already taking shape.

The 8th Annual Highlands Food and Wine Festival is happening on November 7 through 10.

Spilling across iconic locations in Highlands – the Bascom Center for the Visual Arts, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park and Main Street - beneath the mountain ridges that loom above, the festival is a multisensory experience, intertwining chefs, winemakers, artisans and musicians.

For four days acclaimed chefs from around the region and throughout the nation will click knives and share stoves with celebrated local chefs.

Below is a preview of who to look for and a taste of things to come, as Highlands Food and Wine raises a toast to the men and women shaping the food industry:

Chef Jake Stone, Salthouse Catering, Charleston; Chef Joe Schafer, Electric Hospitality, Atlanta; Chef/owner Masatomo (Masa) Hamaya, O-ku,

multiple locations; Chef Dun “Junior” Vo, Noko, Nashville; Chef de Cuisine, Davis Taylor, Rhubarb, Asheville; Chef Ben Norton, Husk, Charleston; Chef Tyler Slade, Bargello & District 42, Asheville; Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Director, Chris Huerta, Old Edwards Hospitality Group, Highlands; Chef Jason Tardo, Half-Mile Farm at Old Edwards, Highlands; Chef Massimiliano Proietti, Paoletti’s, Highlands; Chef Jacky Cabler, Old Edwards Club Executive Chef, Highlands; Head Chef John Johnson, Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar, Highlands; Chef Markie McCullough Weinstein, Ugly Dog Pub, Highlands; Chef Joe Dimaio, Charleston Bay Gourmet, Charleston; Chef Trey McMillan, Low Country Oyster Co.; Chef Kyle James, Flour, Asheville; Chef Ashley Helms, Chestnut, Asheville; Chef Brian Crow, Corner Kitchen, Asheville

Many more local, regional and national chefs will be announced in the coming weeks.

Music has always been an important ingredient in the success and lure of the festival. And it has never been truer than this year when the weekend brings together an impressive roster of talent in a range of genres. Much like fine wine that complements a memorable meal, the festival’s curated music line up promises to the ideal accompaniment to four days of sensory extravaganza and revelry.

Thursday, November 7: Grand Tasting: Love Canon

Friday, November 8: Truckin’: Wilder Woods

Saturday, November 9: Main Event: Greensky Bluegrass

Sunday, November 10: A Shot at Redemption: Lee Fields Visit highlandsfoodandwine.com.

PAC’s Cullasaja Home Tour

Highlands Performing Arts Center is offering exclusive peeks into a trio of breathtaking homes in Cullasaja Club – 3:00 to 6:00 P.M. Sunday, July 21. For more information or tickets (only 120 will be sold), visit highlandsperformingarts.com.

Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to view three exquisitely decorated homes in Cullasaja Club. Nationally renowned designer and local Highlands resident Darren Whatley was just recognized in New York for his designs, and has spread his design talents on two of the homes. He’ll be on hand to speak about his design inspirations.

The tour will be staged from 3:00 to 6:00 P.M. Sunday, July 21. There’ll be nibbles plus wine and cocktails served to patrons and guest musicians performing at each home. There’ll be docents on hand to answer questions about construction details and unique design choices, plus tours of gardens and landscaping and spectacular mountaintop views.

Tickets $250 per person or $200 per person for groups of 10. Shuttle service will be provided from Cullasaja Club Clubhouse.

You can purchase tickets at HPAC, at (828) 526-9047, or at highlandsperformingarts.com

All of this in service to Highlands Performing Arts Center, which is enjoying a cultural renaissance thanks to last year’s ambitious expansion. Whether it’s the PAC’s staging of its own Concert Series or the livestreamed MET presentations, or Great Art on the Screen, or the breathtaking National Theatre Live performances or the absolutely irresistible PAC Educational Theatre showcases; or the presentations

by Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music Festival or Mountain Theatre Company or Highlands-Cashiers Players – this landmark has provided the setting.

“We’re the venue,” says Executive Director Mary Adair Trumbly. “We own and maintain the facility, and that’s fulfilling our primary mission – providing a quality venue for the performing arts in the Highlands-Cashiers area.”

That’s what makes it possible for these other enterprises to thrive on the Plateau and the possibilities became even richer with the unveiling of its gorgeous new theater. by Luke Osteen

Flower Power

It’s an entirely new level of Flower Power when Highlands Historical Society stages the 14th Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival. For more information, visit highlandshistory.com.

We at the Highlands Historical Society have planned an endof-August/early September celebration of the majestic dahlia with its kaleidoscopic array of colors and patterns and sizes.

We’ll launch the fun with our Elevated Woodstock Party, set for 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 27.

This far out party will be co-hosted by HHS and the Davis Family Vineyards at High Country Wine and Provisions and Highlands Smokehouse.

Dust off your 60’s clothes, get your groovy on and come experience an elevated Woodstock in Highlands as we lean into Flower Power with music, libations, good food, an art show, auction and other fun surprises.

Then on Thursday, September 5, it’s the Flower Power Poster Party at The Bascom.

Join us as we celebrate Dazzling Dahlia’s 2024 poster contest winner, Marina Tkach, and our youth winner, Nariah Godfrey, and their beautiful expressions of Flower Power. Cocktails and appetizers will be served and all are invited to this complimentary party co-hosted by the Bascom.

Get ready to roll – from 8:00 A.M. to Noon Friday, September 6, we’re hosting the Dahlia Depot at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. Calling all flower growers! Drop off your dahlias and other flowers at our tent in the park for use in the vignettes and arrangements to be sold. Your help and flowers are needed! We can use flowers of any type and greenery. All of the flowers used by the vignette designers are donated, so please bring as many as you can.

Then, from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. on Friday, September 6, and Saturday, September 7, from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., it’s

the Single Bloom Competition at The Bascom. Costs to enter are: $5 for one bloom, $10 for three blooms or $20 for up to eight blooms.

On Saturday, September 7, it’s the Dazzling Dahlia Festival!

Flower Power will be in full bloom as Highlands is draped in dazzling floral vignettes. There is no charge to enter the vignette competition or view the stunning arrangements throughout town. Judging will occur online.

We’ll cap the fun with the Flower Power Concert Saturday, 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. Steel Toe Stiletto will get everybody dancing with their groovy sound and stage show. Co-hosted by HHS and the Dahliabolicals, this concert is a gift to the Highlands community.

by Tracy Foor, Highlands Historical Society

Boots, Bourbon, Bigs Littlesand

Kick up your heels and howl at the moon, Big Brothers Big Sisters is staging Boots & Bourbon, at 5:30 P.M. on Thursday, August 8, at 240 Chimney Pond Farm in Glenville. To register, call (828) 399-9133.

Dust off your boots for a good cause – join us under the stars for an unforgettable evening at the first annual Boots & Bourbon event, all in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC.

This year, we’re pulling out all the stops to celebrate our community and raise funds for a fantastic cause.

Held at Chimney Pond Farm in Glenville, the evening will kick off with live music that will set the stage for a night of fun, friendship, and fundraising. Get ready to tap your boots to some of the best local bands and solo artists around.

Savor the flavors and indulge in our custom-curated bourbon and local beer flights, carefully selected to delight your taste buds. Specialty bourbon tastings are available. There’ll be sumptuous barbecue dinner, the perfect pairing for

our bourbon and beer selections. Then, get ready to raise your pen at our silent auction, featuring unique experiences you won’t want to miss. Dance the night away after dinner, hit the dance floor with live music celebrating your favorite hits.

… a night of fun, friendship, and fundraising.

It’s a great way to celebrate the impact we can make together for the children and youth of BBBSWNC.

BBBSWNC has dozens of children waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister. Bigs spend as little as an hour every couple of weeks with their Little, just hanging

out and talking. Some Bigs start out with their Little at school, during school hours. Some matches move on – or begin – as Community-Based Matches and do things like hike, bike, get a snack, or participate in other activities, many of which BBBSWNC organizes or has discounts for.

Caregivers and prospective Bigs can learn more at bbbswnc.org.

by Courtney Scarborough

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina

Scan to learn more.

Bluegrass Brunch, 10:30-1 PM, Highlander Mountain House.

JULY

July is a picnic and a red canoe and a sunburned neck and a softball game and ice tinkling in a tall glass. July is a blind date with summer.” — Hal Borland

July is a picnic and a red canoe and a sunburned neck and a softball game and ice tinkling in a tall glass. July is a blind date with summer.” — Hal Borland

Studio Alive, 10 AM, The Bascom.

HCCMF Concert, 5 PM, Village Green Lewis Hall, Cashiers. Come Sing! 7 PM, Little Church in the Wildwood.

Movies at PAC, 5:30 PM, Martin Lipscomb Theater.

Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar 14

Bluegrass Brunch, 10:30-1 PM, Highlander Mountain House.

Andreas Trunk Show, Main Street Gifts.

HCCMF Concert, 5 PM, Village Green Lewis Hall, Cashiers. Come Sing! 7-8 PM, Little Church in the Wildwood. Movies at PAC, 5:30 PM, Martin Lipscomb Theater. Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

ALHC Summer Colors

Fine Art Show, 10-5 PM, Sapphire Valley Community Center. Bluegrass Brunch, 10:30-1 PM, Highlander Mountain House. PAC’s Cullasaja Home Tour, 3:-6 PM.

HCCMF Concert, 5 PM, Village Green Lewis Hall, Cashiers. Movies at PAC, 5:30 PM, Martin Lipscomb Theater. Come Sing! 7-8 PM, Little Church in the Wildwood.

Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bluegrass Brunch, 10:30-1 PM, Highlander Mountain House.

Catch Me If You Can, 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Movies at PAC, 5:30 PM, Martin Lipscomb Theater.

Come Sing! 7-8 PM, Little Church in the Wildwood. Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist. Dancing on the Green, 7 PM, The Village Green.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist. Movies at PAC, 2 PM and 5:30 PM, Martin Lipscomb Theater.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Alkimya Jewelry Trunk Show, Wish and Shoes.

Locally Grown on the Green, 11 AM-3 PM, Village Green.

Adult Finger Painting Class, 2-4:30 PM, Whiteside Art Gallery. Patriotic Concert, Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 6 PM, Lewis Hall, Village Green. Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub. Fireworks on the Green, 6:30 PM, The Village Green.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Alkimya Jewelry Trunk Show, Wish and Shoes. Highlands Independence Day, 10 AM, Highlands Town Ball Field. Yankee Doodle Dandy Day, 10-4 PM, Sapphire Valley Resort. Live Music, Wobblers, 6 PM, Happs Place. Zahner Lecture Series, 6 PM, Highlands Biological Station. Blues Music, 6-8 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive. Fireworks, 9 PM, Highlands.

4

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Mountain Findings, 10 AM.

5 1 2 3

Alkimya Jewelry Trunk Show, Wish and Shoes. Luxury Bag Event, 10 AM, Bijou.

The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM.

Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Live Music, Nitrograss, 6-8:30 PM, Town Square.

Live Music, Rock Holler, 6 PM, Happs Place. The Texas Tenors, 7:30 PM, PAC.

Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub. Glenville Lake Fireworks, 9:30 PM.

Alkimya Jewelry Trunk Show, Wish and Shoes.

Will Henry Stevens Bridge Rededication, 10 AM, Bascom.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Luxury Bag Event, 10 AM, Bijou. Community Day, 12 PM, Bascom. Pop-Up Pipers, 4:30 PM, Highlands. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Live Music, Rock Steady Reggae Band, 6 PM, Happ’s Place. HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC. Live Music, Blaze the City, 6-8:30 PM, KH Park. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Studio Alive, 10 AM, The Bascom.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist. Dancing on the Green, 7 PM, The Village Green. HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC.

Studio Alive, 10 AM, The Bascom.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist. HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist.

Movies at PAC, 2 PM and 5:30 PM, Martin Lipscomb Theater. HCCMF Concert, 5 PM, Village Green Lewis Hall, Cashiers.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.

8 7 9 10

Kid Kollective, 10 AM-1 PM, The Bascom.

Cassis Trunk Show, 10:30 AM, Joan Anderson Interiors. Locally Grown on the Green, 11 AM-3 PM, Village Green.

Wellness Wisdom, 11 AM, Hudson Library.

Interlude Concert, 2 PM, First Presbyterian Church, Highlands.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist. Movies at PAC, 2 PM and 5:30 PM, Martin Lipscomb Theater. HCCMF Concert, 5 PM, Village Green Lewis Hall, Cashiers. Yoga in the Park, 6-7 PM, KH Park.

Live Music, Too Much Sylvia, 7 PM, Sapphire Valley Ski Slopes.

The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM.

Locally Grown on the Green, 11 AM-3 PM, Village Green. Adult Finger Painting Class, 2-4:30 PM, Whiteside Art Gallery. Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bazaar Barn,10 AM-2 PM. Cassis Trunk Show, 10:30 AM, Joan Anderson Interiors. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church.

Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Blues Music, 6-8 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Orchard Sessions, Brandon Crocker, 6 PM, The Farm at Old Edwards.

Zahner Lecture Series, 6 PM, Highlands Biological Station. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive.

Cashiers Plein Air Festival, Village Green, Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM. Family Concert/Ice Cream Social, 3 PM, First Presbyterian Church . Penny Pollack Show, 5:30-7:30 PM Jeanie Edwards Fine Art Gallery, Live Music, 6 PM, Happs Place. Blues Music, 6-8 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Zahner Lecture Series, 6 PM, Highlands Biological Station. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.

Cassis Trunk Show, 10:30 AM, Joan Anderson Interiors.

Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Live Music, Silly Ridge, 6-8:30 PM, Town Square. Laurent Perrier Champagne Dinner, 6-9 PM, The Farm at Old Edwards

Live Music, Blue Jazz, 6 PM, Happs Place.

Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Cashiers Plein Air Festival, Village Green. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.

Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird.

Live Music, Leadfoot Lily, 6-8:30 PM, Town Square.

Live Music, Macon County Line, 6 PM, Happs Place. Groovin’ on the Green, The Wobblers, 6-8:30 PM, The Village Green.

Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub..

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM. Andreas Trunk Show, Main Street Gifts. Fishes and Loaves Food Drive, 10 A M-1 PM.

Studio Alive, 10 AM, The Bascom.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM--6 PM, Highlands Methodist. HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC.

Studio Alive, 10 AM, The Bascom.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist.

Phoebe Rose Fiber Art Trunk Show, 11 AM-2 PM, Bungalow Boutique.

Movies at PAC, 2 PM and 5:30 PM, Martin Lipscomb Theater. HCCMF Concert, 5 PM, Village Green Lewis Hall, Cashiers.

Sky Valley Garden Club Arts & Crafts Fair, 10 AM, Sky Valley Country Club. Interlude Concert, 2 PM, First Presbyterian Church, Highlands. Adult Finger Painting Class, 2-4:30 PM, Whiteside Art Gallery. Book Signing: author Nancy Turner, 2 PM Highland Hiker Cashiers. HCCMF: Mozart, Martinis and More, 5:30 PM, Orchard House. Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub. Catch Me If You Can Opening Night, 7:00 PM, Highlands PAC.

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM. NC Baroque Orchestra 5 PM, First Presbyterian Church. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Live Music, Dillon and Co., 6 PM, Happs Place. Blues Music, 6-8 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Zahner Lecture Series, 6 PM, Highlands Biological Station. Bingo Night: Scaly Mountain Women’s Club, 6:30 PM, Highlands Rec Park. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive.

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM.

13th Annual Summer Pottery Show, 10 AM-4 PM, Bascom.

The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM.

Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird.

Live Music, Kettle, 6-8:30 PM, Town Square.

Live Music, Bull Street Band, 6 PM, Happs Place.

Catch Me If You Can, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC.

Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist.

Hanro Trunk Show, Lenz Gifts.

Movies at PAC, 2 PM and 5:30 PM, Martin Lipscomb Theater. Village Nature Series, 5:30 PM, The Village Green. HCCMF Concert, 5 PM, Village Green Lewis Hall, Cashiers.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist. Hanro Trunk Show, Lenz Gifts. Art League of Highlands-Cashiers meeting, speaker Steve Daniels, 4:30 PM, The Bascom terrace, HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC. A Playmore Soirée, Highlands Biological Station, 6 PM, Playmore Estate. 29 30 28

Hanro Trunk Show, Lenz Gifts. The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Locally Grown on the Green, 11 AM-3 PM, Village Green. Art Benefit, drawing 5 PM, Betsy Paul Real Estate. Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Catch Me If You Can 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC.

13

Marci Sherwood Show, 11 AM-4 PM Jeanie Edwards Fine Art Gallery, Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC. Live Music, Doug Ramsey, 6 PM, Happs Place. Live Music, Dive Bar Divas, 6-8:30 PM, KH Park. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Cashiers Plein Air Festival, Village Green, Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. ALHC Summer Colors Fine Art Show, 10 AM-5 PM, Sapphire Valley Community Center. Anniversary Event, 12-5 PM, Atelier Maison.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Mountain Findings, 10 AM. Andreas Trunk Show, Main Street Gifts. Fishes and Loaves Food Drive, 10 A M-1 PM. Marci Sherwood Show, 11 AM-4 PM Jeanie Edwards Fine Art Gallery, Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC. Live Music, Doug Ramsey, 6 PM, Happs Place. Live Music, Dive Bar Divas, 6-8:30 PM, KH Park. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

20

Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC. Live Music, The Remnants, 6 PM, Happs Place. Live Music, Lazrluvr, 6-8:30 PM, KH Park. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Cashiers Plein Air Festival, Village Green, Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. ALHC Summer Colors Fine Art Show, 10 AM-5 PM, Sapphire Valley Community Center. Anniversary Event, 12-5 PM, Atelier Maison. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC. Live Music, The Remnants, 6 PM, Happs Place. Live Music, Lazrluvr, 6-8:30 PM, KH Park. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

27

Pancake Breakfast, 8 AM, Scaly School House. 13th Annual Summer Pottery Show, 10 AM-4 PM, Bascom. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Book Signing: Nancy Turner, 2 PM, Highland Hiker-Cabin and Main.. Catch Me If You Can, 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC. Live Music, The Breakfast Club, 6-8:30 PM, KH Park. Live Music, 6 PM, Happs Place. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Alkimya Jewelry Trunk Show, Wish and Shoes. Will Henry Stevens Bridge Rededication, 10 AM, Bascom. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Luxury Bag Event, 10 AM, Bijou. Community Day, 12 PM, Bascom. Pop-Up Pipers, 4:30 PM, Highlands. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Live Music, Rock Steady Reggae Band, 6 PM, Happ’s Place. HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC. Live Music, Blaze the City, 6-8:30 PM, KH Park. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive. Pancake Breakfast, 8 AM, Scaly School House. 13th Annual Summer Pottery Show, 10 AM-4 PM, Bascom. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Book Signing: Nancy Turner, 2 PM, Highland Hiker-Cabin and Main.. Catch Me If You Can 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. HCCMF Concert, 6 PM, PAC. Live Music, The Breakfast Club, 6-8:30 PM, KH Park. Live Music, 6 PM, Happs Place. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

August

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 - SUNDAY, AUGUST 11

Cashiers 46th Annual Antique Show

The Village Green

With 40+ exhibitors from across the country and as far away as Great Britain, antique lovers will find a myriad of treasures of 18th and 19th European and American Furniture, including formal and country pieces, as well as lodge looks. cashiersannualantiqueshow.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17

The Rotary Club of Highlands’ Twilight 5K 6 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park

While many avid runners will find the course challenging enough, beginners, stroller pushers, and walkers can tackle it without becoming overwhelmed. There are some ascents and descents along the Plateau route. highlandstwilightrun.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 - SUNDAY, AUGUST 25

Mountaintop Art and Craft Show

Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park

From pottery and photography to weaving and basketry, you’ll find a wide variety of art and crafts. One thing our show specializes in is rustic furniture and wood accessories. Enjoy live music. Dogs and children welcome. highlandsartshow.com

ON THE HORIZON

Events

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

Zahner Conservation Series

6 PM, Highlands Nature Center

In this talk, Lori Williams will introduce the audience to one of our most unique Appalachian treasures, the Eastern Hellbender. highlandsbiological.org

AUGUST 23 - 31

Cashiers Designer Showhouse Showhouse at Monte Vista

The Cashiers Designer Showhouse highlights renowned interior design talent from across the Southeast and is the Cashiers Historical Society’s largest annual fundraiser. cashiershistoricalsociety.org

September Events

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Groovin’ On The Green 6:30 PM, The Village Green Groovin’ will feature Back Porch Orchestra. They started their journey as a modern band, and there’s no doubt that they’re shaped by their homegrown, traditional roots. villagegreencashiersnc.com

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Bel Canto 4 PM, Highlands Performing Arts Center

This yearly recital series is an affiliate of The Bascom, and proceeds go to supplement music education at two preschool programs, music education at our public schools, a college scholarship in the performing arts, and to the acquisition of art for special art exhibitions.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Oyster and Seafood Fest

September brings the last of summertime celebrations but, fortunately for oyster lovers, it also means the return of their favorite shellfish. Passed hors d’oeuvres, a lavish raw bar, and creative cocktails will set the stage for deliciousness to follow in this fun seafood dinner with live music at The Farm at Old Edwards. oldedwardshospitality.com

EVENT SERIES

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 - 7

Dahlia Festival

Highlands

Dust off your 60’s clothes, get your groovy on and come experience an elevated Woodstock in Highlands as we lean into Flower Power with music, libations, good food, an art show, auction and other fun surprises. highlandshistory.com

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Porchfest

1-6 PM, Highlands Downtown Highlands will transform into a stage for the third annual Porchfest - a one-day, family-friendly musical event that’ll see musical acts performing across the town. An impressive event presented and organized by the Center for Life Enrichment. highlandsporchfest.com

Photo by Susan Renfro

Surrender to the Falls

Despite its multiple names, Twin Falls is a cascade of singular beauty.

It’s been written that Twin Falls has more names than an escaped convict.

It is mostly known as Twin Falls. Both falls, fed by Reedy Cove Creek, are about 75 feet tall. The waterfall on the left drops straight down while the one on the right is multi-tiered. At times, it’s a triple waterfall when the water flow is moderate to heavy as there is also a third smaller waterfall visible. The trail is flat and easy. The hike to the waterfall is only about three-tenths of a mile. An elevated platform at the waterfall provides an excellent view. Another viewing option is to scramble down about six feet taking you to the base of the falls. Either way, you will find that this waterfall is a sight to behold.

Directions

From Cashiers, Twin Falls is a 35-mile drive that will take less

than an hour to arrive. From Cashiers drive south on Hwy 107 a little over nine miles and make a sharp left onto Wigington Road. Drive two miles and turn right on Whitewater Falls Road. Go seven miles and turn left onto SC-11. Drive 10 miles and make a sharp left onto Estatoe Creek Road aka Roy F. Jones Hwy.

Drive approximately two miles and turn right on Cleo Chapman Hwy. Drive approximately three miles to where Cleo Chapman Hwy. turns to the right. Do not turn right. Go straight onto Estatoe Community Road and drive one mile to the first right, Holcomb Hollow Road. Drive 200 yards on Holcomb Hollow and turn left at Water Falls Road. Continue a short distance to the parking area.

From the intersection of Hwy. 107 and US 64 in Cashiers, NC, drive east on US 64 approximately 19 miles to US 178. Turn right and drive 6.5 miles to the South Carolina State

line. Continue driving on US 178 for approximately another 6.5 miles to Cleo Chapman Hwy., and drive a little over 1.5 miles to where Cleo Chapman Hwy. ends. At the intersection of US 178 and Cleo Chapman, there is an old structure that was once an old outdoor biker bar. Turn right on Estatoee Community Road and drive a mile to the first right on Holcombe Hollow Road. Drive 200 yards and turn left on Water Falls Road. Continue to the parking area.

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 for 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

Scan for more information on the many waterfalls in the Highlands and Cashiers area.

From US 64, take NC 281 North for 0.85 miles and bear left on Cold Mountain Road. Stay on the road. When it becomes unpaved, travel about 0.1 miles. Take the road on the right and travel for 0.1 miles 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 miles ahead. Waterfall GPS N35.16330 W-83.00674 Difficulty: The hike isn’t challenging.

Green From Ground to Crown

Those deep woods surrounding us are thrumming with vivid life.

The differences are extreme in this area from the winter months to spring into summer.

Still beautiful but bleak landscapes give way to a burst of green from the ground to treetops. Once vast views are sometimes obscured by dense foliage, yet trees and shrubs provide a feast for the eyes in their leaf shapes and hues or torrent of blooms.

Hiking, biking, and walking along the countless paths and trails on the Plateau is all more fascinating when there is some knowledge of what might be viewed.

Handy, backpack-size fold-out native tree, shrub, and wildflower identifier guides are available in many book and outfitter stores.

Details about what one might encounter is available from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission – visit ncwildlife.org/learning/species. A plethora of categories is provided, complete with photographs, details on habitat, species names, idiosyncrasies, etc.

In this area, for example, chipmunks are common. We all know that they store nuts and seeds in their mouth pouches and save them for later to eat. However, NCWRC shares that these adorable little creatures also eat amphibians, insects, and small birds! What?

And, speaking of amphibians, our creeks, streams, and rivers are loaded with salamanders – from ones that are slight and bright red to the prehistoric looking and sizeable Eastern Hellbenders. Salamanders are captivating critters and in order to protect them should not be touched, caught, or played with.

While snakes are feared by many who venture outdoors, they can be appreciated as well. Black snakes feast on rodents and even copperheads, which are prevalent in these mountains – as are rattlesnakes.

However, contrary to common myth: “While a copperhead bite is painful and should be treated as serious, it is not considered life-threatening,” states NCWRC. A bite from a timber rattler is serious and could be life threatening.

Yet instead of being afraid, just be cautious, realizing that both venomous snakes have markings that provide camouflaging among leaves, rocks, brush, etc. Avoid meandering off trails, and if encountering one of these snakes on a trail, leave it alone, walk way around it, and let people coming from the other direction know that it was spotted.

And, contrary to what one might see in movies or read in books, there is a right way and a wrong way to treat a snake bite. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informs that while waiting for emergency medical services or while being driven by someone to a hospital:

-“Lay or sit down with the bite in a neutral position of comfort.

-Remove rings and watches before swelling starts.

-Wash the bite with soap and water.

-Cover the bite with a clean, dry dressing.

-Mark the leading edge of tenderness/swelling on the skin and write the time alongside it.

-Do not pick up the snake or try to trap it. NEVER handle a venomous snake, not even a dead one or its decapitated head.

-Do not wait for symptoms to appear if bitten, get medical help right away.

-Do not apply a tourniquet.

-Do not slash the wound with a knife or cut it in any way.

-Do not try to suck out the venom.

-Do not apply ice or immerse the wound in water.

-Do not drink alcohol as a painkiller.

-Do not take pain relievers (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen).”

On a happier note, two of the most enchanting aspects of traversing Appalachian woods this time of year is coming across various lichens and mushrooms.

The U.S. Forest Service notes that lichens are broken down into three categories, crustose, foliose, and fruticose, and each one has a different texture, shape, and color. They grow on trees, logs, and rocks and can be enjoyable to evaluate and photograph. Like mushrooms, some lichens are edible, and American Indians such as the Cherokee sometimes used them for various medicinal and culinary purposes, as well as for dyes, but some are also toxic. Unless someone is a lichen expert, it is best not to ingest. And about this time of year, the monarchs converge. Besides a variety of dainty to stunning butterflies that are born and die here, the monarch butterflies begin to migrate through on their 2,000-plus-mile journey from the Northeast to where many will end up, in Mexico. They are recognizable by their orange, black, and white patterned wings. Look for milkweed and joe-pye weed and a number of other native summer flowing plants and a monarch may be feeding on it. In fact, milkweed nectar is their meal of choice because monarch larvae need milkweed plants to produce a chemical that makes them unpalatable to predators.

by Deena Bouknight

Force of Nature

Even the illustrious Dr. Franklin was wrong once in a while – the Turkey is a distant second to the magnificent Bald Eagle as our National Bird.

Bald Eagle photo by Ed Boos

There is nothing bald about the Bald Eagle, our national bird and symbol of strength and dignity.

The “bald” part of its name is taken from the Old English word balde meaning “white.” The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is native to North America where it dwarfs all songbirds. Typically, they weigh nine pounds. and have wingspans over seven feet.

Imagine their surprise when the first British settlers encountered this colossus of the woods, native to the “New World.” The female is larger than the male by 25 percent with the same plumage. 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 dizzying heights, 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.

Males court females with calls and flight displays. Courtship also involves chasing and acrobatic coupling not seen elsewhere in the avian world. The highflying 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!

Bald Eagles were in steep decline in the 20th century until they were given protection. After DDT was implicated in eggshell 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 birding from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society.

by

William McReynolds, Highlands Plateau Audubon

Highlands Bio Blitz

It’s no puzzle – Kevin Fitzpatrick’s Bio Blitzes are investigations into the mysteries and miracles of the local biosphere. You’re invited to participate.

Chances are you’ve seen Kevin Fitzpatrick of All Species Photography and his trusty sidekick, Bindi the Australian Shepherd, sporting around town in their little gray Subaru with the Bio Blitz logo and photographs on the side and wondered to yourself – “what is a Bio Blitz?”

If you’re lucky enough to catch up with Kevin and ask him about it, you’ll note that his eyes light up like a child’s at Christmas as he excitedly explains it to you.

It’s a meaningful way for folks of all ages to join the scientific community in a team effort to record as many different life forms in one location as possible in a short period, usually a day or two. No one is too young or too old to participate. It’s a chance for us all to enjoy quality time in the great outdoors by joining a team of scientists, naturalists, and community volunteers to collect data through pictures and words about the abundance

of flora, fauna, insects, and animal life in our communities.

Locally Kevin’s done them in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, working with ATBI (All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory) in the Smokies for over 20 years. In that time, they have recorded 1,083 new species. He’s also conducted several in conjunction with National Geographic, Highlands Nature Center, HighlandsCashiers Land Trust, and students from Rabun Gap Nacoochee School.

Kevin explains that, “Bio Blitz is much more than just a concerted effort to identify the species that live in a chosen location. It is a celebration of nature and the many wonderful forms that exist in any given place. When people of all ages and professions gather to take a closer look at their local wildlife, a tangible excitement builds. Bio Blitzes are very powerful tools for environmental education, conservation, community engagement, and are

invaluable opportunities to observe and record the effects of climate change on a region. They represent experiential learning at its best.”

Recording your findings is as easy as downloading the iNaturalist app from their website, inaturalist.org, and entering your observations.

Ed Smith, camp director at The Mountain, is very involved with Bio Blitzes and is hoping to immerse the camp kids in the Bio Blitz concept to learn about climate change. This is a natural fit since Kevin has found that younger students become very engaged in the process.

For more information, contact Kevin at kevinfp@me.com. Students interested in participating in a Bio Blitz should reach out as well.

by Mary Jane McCall

Annual Soirée at Playmore

Highlands Biological Foundation’s Summer Soirée, set for the grounds of the exclusive Playmore estate on July 29, is a celebration of the Plateau’s precious natural heritage. For tickets or more information, visit highlandsbiological.org or call (828) 526-2221.

Summertime in Highlands is synonymous with elegant social gatherings, and the Highlands Biological Foundation’s Summer Soirée is a highlight of the season.

Join HBF for their largest annual fundraiser on Monday, July 29, from 6:00 P.M. until dark to help support their mission of fostering biological research and education in the southern Appalachians. This year’s soirée will take place on the enchanting grounds of the historic “Playmore” property, graciously hosted by John Mitchener and Heath Massey.

Playmore, originally known as “Wantoot,” boasts a rich history dating back to 1879 when Samuel Prioleau Ravenel and his wife Margaretta commissioned its construction. This remarkable estate, built by Francis Poindexter, a master furniture maker and woodcarver, stands as Highlands’ first summer home.

In 1914, the Ravenel family sold Wantoot to Jules Blanc Monroe from New Orleans, who expanded the estate and renamed it Playmore. The property remained in his family for nearly a century, preserving its legacy. In 2020, John Mitchener and Heath Massey purchased Playmore and have since undertaken a meticulous restoration, ensuring that both the home and its surrounding structures retain their historical integrity.

The 136-acre Playmore estate, recognized by the National Park Service and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a testament to the region’s rich ecological and historical tapestry. The property features a variety of ecological zones, from lush cove forests to striking rock outcrops and serene open meadows, reflecting the biological diversity of the southern Appalachians.

This year’s soirée promises to be an unforgettable evening. Guests will have the unique opportunity to visit the

beautifully restored grounds of Playmore while supporting a worthy cause. Every dollar raised at the event will go towards advancing the Highlands Biological Foundation’s mission.

Tickets for this exclusive event are priced at $325 per person and can be purchased online at highlandsbiological. org or by calling (828) 526-2221. Spaces are limited.

The Highlands Biological Foundation invites everyone to join them for an evening of history, nature, and philanthropy at one of Highlands’ most storied estates. Your participation will help foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of our region’s unique biological diversity, ensuring HBF’s programs continue to thrive for years to come.

by

Winter Gary, Highlands Biological Foundation

The MysticalResilient Fern

Though they may seem to avoid the limelight, ferns are a fundamental component in a beautifully balanced Plateau landscape.

“Fern’s Song” Ferns unfurl in dappled light, Whispering secrets through the night.

In emerald green, they softly sway, A dance of life in the woodland’s fray. Their fronds caress the morning dew, In silent symphony, they renew.

Amidst the trees, they gently bend, A timeless tale that has no end.

No yard is complete without ferns, at least that is what I think.

There is something peaceful, serene, about their graceful form. Watching the soft movement of their fronds as a gentle breeze blows by looks like waves of green flowing through the garden. On The Plateau, we are fortunate to have several native species of ferns that love our mountains as much, maybe

more, than we do.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Christmas Fern is evergreen with dark, leathery fronds and can be found on woodland slopes, rocky outcrops and forest floors. While it may flatten out over the winter, I love that it sticks with us during those cold months reminding us of what was and what is to come.

Interrupted Fern, is named for the unusual pattern that develops from spore-bearing segments in the middle. These sweethearts are deciduous and can be found in a variety of places including stream banks, forest edges and moist woodlands. Those “interruptions” remind us that while life may not progress in a straight line, we still grow and carry on.

Cinnamon Fern, this one might be my favorite. Another deciduous fern, its striking, sturdy, upright fronds make a statement of elegance. Their serenity

reminds us to just be. For those who enjoy architecture I’d say these beauties, as a single specimen, are often the focal point of the garden. Their inner fertile fronds resemble cinnamon sticks, hence its name.

What lessons is Mother Nature teaching us through the ferns? For me it is Resilience and Endurance, Transformation and Growth, Secrets and Mystery, Balance and Harmony, and Tranquility and Peace.

Whether you admire them for their beauty, for their resilience, or revere them for their mystical nature, ferns captivate and inspire us those times we stop to admire their beauty.

Happy Gardening!

by Debby Hall

Discover the Wonders of Nature

The glories of our natural heritage come into focus with the 2024 Zahner Lecture Season, with presentations throughout this month, all the way to August 15.

This summer, the Highlands Biological Foundation invites you to discover the wonders of nature through the 2024 Zahner Conservation Lecture series.

Every Thursday evening at 6:00 P.M. through August 15 (excluding July 4), the foundation will host expert speakers at the Highlands Nature Center (930 Horse Cove Road) for a series of captivating lectures that delve into a wide array of topics, from ecological sovereignty and regional geology to NASA satellites and hellbenders.

These lectures offer a unique opportunity to expand your understanding of the natural world while engaging with leading conservationists, biologists, and environmental specialists.

Thanks to the generous support of local sponsors, the events are free and open to the public, making them accessible to all who wish to broaden their environmental knowledge and appreciation.

The 2024 series continues the tradition of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of Dr. Robert Zahner and

Mrs. Glenda Zahner for their efforts in land conservation on the HighlandsCashiers Plateau.

Here’s what you can enjoy this month:

July 4: No Lecture

July 11: Landscape Meanders: Design Ideas for the South Gateway Garden at the Highlands Botanical Garden

Warren Byrd, Jr. FASLA; Professor Emeritus; University of Virginia and Founding Principal; Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects

July 18: Fire, Acorns, and Kids that Stay with You Way Too Long: A Natural History of the Threatened Florida Scrub Jay

Dr. Sahas Barve, John W. Fitzpatrick Director of Avian Ecology, Archbold Biological Station

July 25: Climate-informed Forestry in the Southern Appalachians

Greg Cooper, Forest Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy

Then, we hope you’ll join us for these August lectures:

August 1: The Surface Water and Ocean Topography Mission: NASA’s New Eye in the Sky for Earth’s Water

Dr. Tamlin Pavelsky; Professor of Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences; University of North Carolina

August 8: Roaming the Wilds: Exploring NC Mammals Shore to Summit Dr. Aimee Rockhill, Associate Professor, Western Carolina University

August 15: All About Hellbenders! Lori Williams, Wildlife Diversity Biologist, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Don’t miss out on this chance to learn from seasoned professionals and explore the diverse and fascinating world of nature.

For more details on the lecture series, visit highlandsbiological.org. The Highlands Nature Center is part of the Highlands Biological Station, a multicampus center of Western Carolina University.

by

Winter Gary, Highlands Biological Foundation

High

A trio of books spotlight Highlands both past and present.

A60th anniversary: “High Lands” by T. W. Reynolds was published in 1964, the first book devoted to the history of this area, and covers Highlands, Cashiers, Glenville, Sapphire, and Lake Toxaway.

Thurlow Weed Reynolds was a retired journalist who spent his summers near Mirror Lake, and his winters in Riviera Beach, Florida.

“High Lands” was the first of his five books about the Southern Appalachians. In his 70s when he compiled his research, Reynolds interviewed folks in their 80s and 90s, who remembered the 19th century. He arranged his book according to his pet obsessions of cartography and etymology—maps and word origins. Tracing the derivations of area family and geographical names, he used Highlands as his starting point,

providing detailed tours stretching from Sylva to Walhalla, recounting what he learned of the inhabitants, notable events, and the natural surroundings. His prose is wry, yet full of admiration for the mountaineers. He is a combination of Thomas Wolfe and A.J. Liebling. Of earlier accounts, Reynolds says, “Most other books on the mountains only generalize and leave much untold

Times

with not enough information for one to ever find the precise locale of the related event. As with Heaven and Hell, only the general direction is pointed out…but as for just where the revenuer was shot, the skeleton found, or the dog fell off the mountain, the reader would like to be told enough to find the spot, and not just read about it.” Reynolds takes you there, with exact mileage, as in the old Depression-era WPA guides. Books by Reynolds are hard to find, but both the Hudson and Albert Carlton libraries have copies available for reading, as does the

Highlands Historical Society.

There’s another classic guide to our area that’s still in print: “The Summer Times” by Glenville resident Nancy Turner (another journalist and historian), first published in 1979 and periodically updated. Like Reynolds, Nancy arranges hers by driving tours, but centered from Cashiers. It’s the single best guide on everything to see and do in our neck of the woods today, whether it’s hiking, rafting, finding wildflowers, visiting historic sites, churches, etc. Her tours go all the way to Brevard and South Carolina. You

think you know everything to see and do here? I thought I did – and I was wrong. Nancy will sign copies of her “Summertimes” and “Wings” (astounding aerial photos of the Plateau taken by Gil Stose) at the Highland Hiker in Cashiers on Wednesday July 24, 2:00 to 4:00 P.M., and at the Highland Hiker Cabin in Highlands on Saturday July 27, 2:00 to 4:00 P.M.

by Stuart Ferguson

Mr. and Mrs. T.W. Reynolds

Pages 98-119

Photo by Susan Renfro

Capturing the Spirit of Place

The beauty and immediacy of the natural world inform every aspect of our cover artist Bette Crowder’s paintings.

Bette Crowder, accomplished watercolorist, has been the Artist Liaison for the Cashiers Plein Air Festival the past eight years.

Plein air (outdoor painting) is her passion. It connects the artist to nature and has produced some of the world’s finest artists. Among Bette’s favorites: Renoir, Monet, Homer, Wyeth, and Sargeant.

Bette’s paintings begin with the excitement of a scene. On completion, she’ll

decide if it’s a gift, for display, for sale, or for sheer joy. Her paintings start with sketching views on a drive through a rural countryside, or travels abroad, attending plein air events, or simply enjoying the beauty that nature provides.

Time, weather, terrain, and other constraints challenge the plein air artist’s ability to complete their work. Often Bette takes photos and finishes work in her studio.

An eager student, Bette feels there is always more to learn and, thus, improve.

The excitement of trying new techniques inspires continued studies with many internationally-known artists.

Bette is a Signature Member of the Florida Southwest Watercolor Society, member of the Florida Watercolor Society, Art Center Sarasota, and Tampa Regional Artists.

Recently, one of her paintings was

selected for display in the treatment center of a well-known cancer facility.

She said, “That’s better than any monetary award, knowing that the painting might make a patient’s day a little brighter.”

Working as the Artist Liaison for the Cashiers Plein Air Festival, July 15-20 at The Village Green, Bette meets many of our country’s top plein air artists. She says, “That, in itself, is inspiring. I’ve discovered being a professional plein air artist requires a lot of perseverance, determination, and a basic

love of nature, architecture, and the amazing unexpected.”

This year Bette’s obtained permission for participating artists to visit secured areas rarely-seen. This will generate unique, distinctive paintings for the general public’s viewing.

In addition, she’s encouraging leaders of children’s summer activities to involve their participants in the Quick Paint event, held on Saturday, July 20. Hopefully, observing artists paint might generate interest in plein air painting. Visit cashierspleinairfestival.com for

more information.

Bette says, “Volunteer time is just one way of giving back to the community that has brought so many years of happiness to my family, all of whom have enjoyed the many activities at The Village Green.”

Jeannie Edwards Fine Art Gallery, located on the hill of 4th Street in Highlands, features Bette’s available gallery paintings. Contact Bette at bettecrowder@gmail.com or (941) 928-0655.

by Donna Rhodes

The Place We Call Home

The sweet, holy truths about home and sanctuary are explored in Penny Pollock’s new exhibit, launched with a special showing at Jeanie Edwards Fine Art Gallery, July 18, 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. For more information, email Penny at pennywave@yahoo.com, or chat with Jeanie at her gallery – 223 South 4th Street in Highlands.

Jeanie Edwards and Penny Pollock

Any day is a great day if Penny Pollock is the headliner. When you need a cup full of thought-provoking delight she is the one to brew it up.

Here’s what she is steeping now: Home. Home is refuge, a roof over your head, safety, shelter, protection. She’s translating metaphors associated with home, particularly nesting (soft feathers and fur) into tender icons, in soft shapes and delicate colors, each encaustic painting tells its heart-warming story. She encourages thought about what sanctuary means to us. In religion, sanctuary is a sacred place, set apart from the profane, ordinary world. All living things, people, animals, even plants, have sanctuaries, familiar places, roosting boughs, comfy caves, secretive eaves, a special chaise, a flower bed under a warm sky, a cluster of moss and rocks on a sloping hillside.

“People say they don’t feel safe outside their homes these days,” Penny says. And many doubt their homes are even safe. Penny continues, “We, as women, always try to do so much with other women and animals. That prevails in my latest collection, The Place We Call Home.”

“Refuge provides shelter and protection,” Penny continues. “Nesting is different. It is arranging and creating a place where people feel comfortable and safe.

“The nesting is more creative – your expression of your environment. I collect nests that birds leave. I see they’ve woven my dog’s hair, random fibers, twigs, and local moss into gorgeous works of art. Humans can’t create what nature does.

“Nests are metaphors of homes, how things feel to us. Our dog’s hair makes a safe nest for fledglings. Birds borrow

from nature. Feathered friends, dogs, and people live together, using each other’s materials (hair, threads, feathers, down). In the end, Nature always makes a full circle…and a nest.”

The Place We Call Home is Penny’s first in a series. Two more series are in the queue. Penny uses her art to help define and understand the world …its loss, grief, and ultimately, forgiveness. Her images are simple, yet penetrating. They are universal, relatable to all. They deepen with every viewing. And, as she says, “Cherish what we can as long as we can and as long as we are here.”

See her special showing at Jeanie Edwards Fine Art Gallery, July 18, 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. Enjoy her The Place We Call Home exhibition, accompanied by tasty hors d’ oeuvres and Penny’s uplifting images. pennywave@yahoo. com, (805) 798-1418.

by Donna Rhodes

photo by Susan Renfro

Iconic Covered Bridge Reopened

Back in business, The Bascom’s Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge is a callback to a glorious past and a gateway to a beautiful experience.

The Bascom is delighted to rededicate the Will Henry Stevens covered bridge this month, celebrating the recent repairs to this iconic structure. The renovations ensure its preservation for years to come, providing future enjoyment for visitors to the Plateau.

The Will Henry Stevens Bridge is a defining feature of The Bascom campus and is cherished by the community. Named in honor of Will Henry Stevens, a Southern Modernist painter who practiced both in North Carolina and in New Orleans, the bridge celebrates his legacy.

In 2023, The Bascom undertook repairs to the understructure of the bridge to ensure its functionality for the years to come. The bridge was acquired for The Bascom with the help of the Coleman and Winingder families who had strong ties to Will Henry Stevens and who are the founders of the New Orleans

Academy of Fine Art.

Bascom Executive Director, Karin Peterson, states that “as an example of the American tradition of covered bridges, The Will Henry Stevens Bridge is an integral and iconic part of The Bascom grounds. Serving as the welcoming entrance to our rustic campus, the bridge perfectly frames the rural farm setting which is revealed as visitors cross it.”

The bridge was recently featured in

… an example of the American tradition of covered bridges…

the official publication for the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, where the interesting history of the bridge was detailed.

Originally constructed in the early

1800s as the Bagley covered bridge in Warner, New Hampshire, it spanned the Warner River. By the 1960s, the bridge had fallen into significant disrepair and was slated for demolition. Bridge wright and restoration conservationist Arnold M. Graton purchased the structure for $1, numbered the parts, disassembled the bridge, and put the parts into storage until it found a new home in Highlands. In this spirit of preservation, The Bascom has continued to be the steward of the renamed Will Henry Stevens bridge, ensuring its legacy endures for future generations.

We would like to thank our community for their support in preserving the bridge and invite all to enjoy one of our region’s most beautiful placebased amenities. The re-dedication ceremony will take place on July 6 at 10:00 A.M.

by Billy Love, The Bascom

Plein Air Artists

Come to Cashiers

The beauty and glory of the Plateau takes center stage with the return of the Cashiers Plein Air Festival July 14-20.

This summer The Village Green brings back their beloved Cashiers Plein Air Festival, an art competition and sale featuring nationally and internationally acclaimed Plein Air Artists.

Join us – 19 invitational artists will set up their easels to capture the beauty of our Cashiers and Plateau areas July 14th - 20th!

The artist’s original pieces will be displayed for viewing and sale at the gallery within Lewis Hall at The Village Green – 160 Frank Allen Road in Cashiers. The Gallery is free and open to the public, from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., July 18-20.

Proceeds from the sale of artwork, the purchase of event tickets, and Benefactor Packages all go towards supporting The Village Green, which has become known as The Heart of Cashiers.

Benefactors of the Cashiers Plein Air

Festival will have special preview access to the artist’s work at the Benefactor Preview Party (private Benefactor event) on Wednesday, July 17, and they will also have early access to the gallery, daily at 9:00 A.M., an hour prior to being open to the public.

The week of Cashiers Plein Air Festival is filled with special events, ticketed and open to the public that will showcase their art. Three festival artists will present live demonstrations on July 17-19 and offer insights into their method for painting, scan the QR code below for tickets.

Artists compete for juried awards which are then presented at the Artist Award Gala, a summer soiree on Saturday, July 20th at The Village Green. Guests mingle with the festival artists while enjoying live jazz music, cocktails, delectable hors d’oeuvres, and desserts with an artful flair.

Plein air is French for “open air.” Artists have long painted outdoors, but in the mid-19th century working in natural light became important to a realist art movement in Barbizon, France. French Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissaro, and PierreAuguste Renoir did much of their work en plein air.

For a complete schedule of festival events, purchase Festival Event Tickets, a listing of the invitational artists as well as how you can become a Cashiers Plein Air Festival Benefactor can be found at cashierspleinairfestival.com or scan the QR code.

Thank you to The Village Green 2024 Premier Sponsor –Landmark Realty Group.

by Ashlie Mitchell, The Village Green Scan to learn more.

Emmy WinnersAward On Stage Highlandsin

The Highlands Fourth of July celebration stretches into the Fifth with the arrival of the Texas Tenors at the Highlands Performing Arts Center.

The Texas Tenors

Are you getting ready for the July 4th Celebration on the Plateau?

The Highlands Performing Arts Center has a special concert on Friday, July 5, that you won’t want to miss to continue your holiday celebrations.

The Texas Tenors will be performing Patriotic songs, Pop, Broadway and Classical Crossover, all live!

The Texas Tenors are the most successful music group and the third-highest selling artists in the history of America’s Got Talent!

Since appearing on the series in 2009, JC, Marcus and John have performed over 2000 concerts, recorded five studio albums, produced two PBS specials, and have written two children’s books. They’ve won three Emmy Awards, The Gelett Burgess Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature, and the distinction of being Billboard Magazine’s #10

Classical Artist in the World. Their albums Outside the Lines, Rise, A Collection of Broadway and American Classics all debuted at Number One on the Billboard Charts.

The Texas Tenors are the most successful music group and the third-highest selling artists in the history of America’s Got Talent!

These classically trained, versatile tenors were recently honored to be included among the top 50 acts in the world and the only vocal group from the US invited to appear on NBC’s America’s Got Talent: The Champions. And they were proud to be inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Texas Tenors invite you to celebrate a huge milestone with them – 15 Years

together! On their 15th Anniversary Tour, you will hear new music along with rousing patriotic favorites and everything from country to classical. Come and celebrate with the boys and make some new and lasting memories at a concert experience you’ll never forget.

Highlands Performing Arts Center is located at 507 Chestnut Street. Tickets are available at HighlandsPerformingArts.com.

by Mary Adair Trumbly, Highlands Performing Arts Center

Scan to learn more.

Mozart, Martinis and More

When the HighlandsCashiers Chamber Music Festival blends Mozart with the breathtaking natural setting of The Orchard House at Old Edwards Inn, the result is transcendent. Reservations can be made at: h-cmusicfestival.org/ special-programs.html or by calling (828) 526-9060 for required reservations.

Vega String Quartet

If music has its season, and Mozart has his ardent fans and martinis have their pleasure then now is the time to step into the enchanting world of “Mozart, Martinis and More.”

The extraordinary event takes place on Wednesday, July 24, during the renowned Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival.

This is the concert experience where you can have a drink, a bite to eat and listen to one of history’s greatest composers, Mozart.

It’s the perfect moment to be dazzled by the music of Mozart as performed by the Vega String Quartet, accompanied by the flutist James Zeller. The program promises a celebration of the timeless genius of Mozart and a masterful tour through his vibrant masterpieces –his compositions coming to life in the hands of the Vega Quartet. Indeed, the quartet’s harmoniousness and expertise

in interpreting classical music has been recognized by the New York Times as having “a kind of clean intoxication to it, pulling the listener along.”

Joseph Skerik, Vega’s new violist will make his festival debut for the occasion.

Certainly, one of the central pleasures of what promises to be a most gleeful evening will be the setting at The Orchard House at The Farm at Old Edwards. Sipping a martini has never felt as sublime or elegant as when enjoyed in the Orchard House. It’s one of the most inviting spaces to hear chamber music and perhaps the only concert hall that offers a room flooded by natural light, with views of bucolic grounds and acres of lush gardens and green spaces. It’s a chance to mix and mingle with your friends and the members of the orchestra while enjoying martinis and indulging in delectable hors d’oeuvres from the talented chefs at Old Edwards. Well known and regarded for his Southern-inflected

cuisine, Chef Chris Huerta’s reverence for local provisions and seasonal cooking is evident in every menu and taste that emerges from his hyper-creative kitchen. “Mozart, Martinis and More” is sponsored by and made possible by the generosity and ongoing support of Dianne and Myron Mall; Jack Sapolsky and Richard Bordeaux. They invite you to join them and discover the magic that unfolds when the genius of Mozart meets the virtuosity of the Vega String Quartet and enjoyments of food and mixology. Refreshments will be served before the concert and a cash bar will be available. $100 per person includes two drink tickets.

by Marlene Osteen

Scan to learn more.

Music and Generosity

The 32nd Annual Bel Canto Recital will be held at 4:00 P.M. Sunday, September 8, at Highlands Performing Arts Center. Tickets will be available mid August. For information about this recital series, please call The Bascom at (828) 526-4949.

(top) Bel Canto’s Dr. Michael Crowe presented funding for musical education to representatives of the Plateau’s early education programs.

Bel Canto just made monetary contributions to Highlands School, Highlands Community Child Development Center and the Gordon Center – all from the proceeds of last year’s Bel Canto and the generosity of our patrons.

And of course, we’re turning our attention to the 32nd Annual Bel Canto Recital, which will be held at 4:00 P.M. Sunday, September 8, at Highlands Performing Arts Center. This series has always included not only opera, but Broadway favorites as well as a few surprises.

This year’s concert will continue in that tradition. The concert will be followed by a sumptuous dinner at Highlands Country Club, giving our audience a chance to meet and talk with our performers.

The performance will feature a quartet of internationally recognized singers -- Soprano: Toni Marie Palmertree; Mezzo Soprano: Anna Kelly; Tenor: Derrek Stark; and Baritone: Daniel Belcher.

We’ll tell you more about these dynamic performers and our plans for this 32nd incarnation of Bel Canto in next month’s issue, but we wanted to highlight the very tangible ways in which our patrons have enriched the lives of the Plateau’s children.

by Dr. Michael Crowe, Bel Canto

Showcase for Outstanding Artists

The Summer Colors Fine Art Show, set for July 2021 at the Sapphire Valley Community Center, is a showcase for the region’s outstanding artists.

The Summer Colors Fine Art Show, set for July 20-21 at the Sapphire Valley Community Center, is a showcase for the region’s outstanding artists.

Each year, the Art League of HighlandsCashiers sponsors two fine art shows, one in the summer and one in the fall.

The first of these, the Summer Colors Fine Art Show, will be hosted again this year by the Sapphire Valley Community Center, 207 Sapphire Valley Road in Sapphire. The show is Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21, with hours both days 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Admission and ample parking are free to this indoor, juried event, although donations are gratefully accepted. Twenty-five talented local and regional artists will have on display and for sale paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media, as well as other works of ceramics, photography, wood, glass,

jewelry and fiber. Among the artists exhibiting are those from North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.

This is an excellent opportunity to browse out of the weather, meet the artists and perhaps find that perfect piece for your home or office. We hope to see you there!

by Zach Claxton, Highlands-Cashiers Art League

Scan to learn more.

2024 Interlude Series

First Presbyterian Church of Highlands will stage a pair of free performances for the public this month in its Interlude Concert series.

2024 marks the 26th anniversary of the Interlude Concert series, sponsored by First Presbyterian Church of Highlands.

The concerts provide a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life –a time to relax and enjoy a variety of music. Visitors to Highlands are especially invited to attend these concerts.

Each concert is free, and dress is casual. All concerts are at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesdays and will take place at Highlands First Presbyterian Church.

The series kicks off on Wednesday, July 10, with a performance by tenor Timothy Miller entitled “Songs of Love,” featuring music of Schumann, Gershwin, and Puccini, with pianist William Ransom. A native of Augusta, Georgia, tenor Timothy Miller is an active performer with both national and international credits. Operatic roles include First

Armored Man in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote, Parpignol in Puccini’s La Boheme, Un Messaggero in Verdi’s Aida, and more. In addition to a busy performance schedule, Mr. Miller is an

… The concerts provide a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life…

Assistant Professor of Voice and Music at Morehouse College and serves on the board of the Meridian Herald.

Pianist, Artistic Director, master teacher, editor and judge for international competitions, William Ransom appears around the world as a soloist with orchestras, recitalists, and chamber musicians. He is the Mary L. Emerson Professor of Piano at Emory University and founder and Artistic Director of the Emory Chamber

Music Society of Atlanta. He has served as Artistic Director of the HighlandsCashiers Chamber Music Festival for many years.

The concert is jointly sponsored by the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival and First Presbyterian Church of Highlands.

Then on Wednesday, July 24, the Trey Clegg Chamber Singers will be featured. Founded by Artistic Director Trey Clegg, the Chamber Singers is a group of 20 voices from among the 70 voices of the Trey Clegg Singers Inc., Atlanta’s premier multi-cultural choral ensemble. With a mission to inspire the passion of reconciliation, equity, and harmony, this selectively auditioned ensemble performs at the highest level of choral discipline and standards. by Angela Jenkins

Mountaintop Art and Craft Show

Back and somehow even bigger, Mountaintop Rotary’s Art and Craft Show returns to Highlands’ Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on August 24 and 25.

Mountaintop Rotary’s Art and Craft Show returns on August 24 and 25 at the KelseyHutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street in Highlands. Hours are from 10:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. on Saturday and 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. on Sunday. This two-day event sets a new standard for art festivals with over 118 of the most respected and sought-after artisans throughout the southeast and beyond, a testament to its broad appeal.

Visitors love the show because it’s a one-stop shop for every imaginable craft or work of art in every conceivable medium. Vendors return year after year because they love the location and the people.

For one vendor it’s the joy of returning home to the mountains. Jose Green is a graduate of Highlands School and fell in love with painting as an elementary school student under the tutelage of his

art teacher, Cynthia Strain. These days, this retired police officer transforms reclaimed wood into fine art paintings, often portraying wildlife or landscapes. Jose paints subjects from the mountains to the seas, paying homage to both his hometown and his many years spent in Charleston, South Carolina.

There’s also a kid’s zone with activities for children, including the Teddy Bear Hospital hosted by the HighlandsCashiers Hospital. Here sick bears are cared for by the children with the assistance of local medical personnel. The hospital provides every child with a bear to treat and take home. There’s music too, provided by bluegrass sensations Nitrograss, who will play each afternoon from 1:00 until 4:00 P.M.

While the delightful works of art, family fun, and music are what draws the crowds, let’s not forget that this effort is Mountaintop Rotary’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Attendance

and parking are free, but donations are welcomed and encouraged so they can continue to make a difference through their charitable projects.

Responding to needs both locally and globally, their donations, totaling over $35,000, have provided muchneeded support to organizations like the Counseling Center of Highlands, Highlands student scholarships, and the Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic among others. Internationally they supported At-Risk Afghan families who aided the US and funded medical equipment for a remote hospital in Bolivia.

For more information on the show, visit highlandsartshow.com or visit their Facebook page for the latest updates.

by Mary Jane McCall

DINING Pages 124-143

Photo by Susan Renfro

The (not so) Secret Garden

Tucked away a half-block from Highlands’ Main Street like, yes, a secret garden, The Secret Garden Courtyard Market and Modern Fast Food serves up fresh selections every day. For more information or to place an order, call (828) 305-7509.

On a splendid Saturday afternoon last month, Tricia and I were strolling through KelseyHutchinson Founders Park, taking in the Highlands Motoring Festival’s glittering centerpieces.

It’s impossible not to be seduced by those beauties, and the bustling crowds were testament to pull of these glorious fusions of art and precision engineering. But just a few steps away from the

crowds and the ballyhoo was a refuge, almost a secret garden.

Nope, that’s not right. Not “almost.” Literally, The Secret Garden Courtyard Market and Modern Fast Food.

In a little over two years, Rachel Lewicki’s little bistro, located at Village Square, has become something of a local landmark – a quick getaway from the stressors of the day or the season (or the bustling Motoring Festival).

The Secret Garden, tucked in the courtyard on Highlands’ Oak Street, offers fresh takes on classic bistro fare – soups, salads, sandwiches, made for quick sampling shares with your dining companions.

You can eat your selections inside, at a cozy counter space, or outdoors at the tables and patio chairs of the courtyard. There’s something about eating outdoors that sharpens the senses, and The Secret

Garden’s dishes ricocheted around our palates like a pinball.

We’d chosen The Basic Chick, a freshlymade chicken salad on a croissant; and The Godfather – a dazzling concoction of salami, shaved ham, pepperoni, onion, provolone cheese, shredded lettuce, banana peppers, drizzled with Italian dressing and served up on a pressed sub roll, elegant in its simplicity.

Both were impeccable in their flavor and presentation. We ate with embarrassing haste and minimal conversation, which I suppose is the highest compliment you can pay a meal.

But let me step back from this and once

more focus on The Secret Garden itself. In addition to its daily selections of soups and sandwiches, the place is filled chockablock with gourmet items you can take home – soup mixes, dips, sweets and savories, exotic chips, and pickles.

Tricia opted for Unicorn Tears’ Mad Tasty Pure Sparkling Water. Now that may not sound special, but then you read the label and discover that it contains 20 mgs of hemp extract, which is as close to a walk on the Wild Side as you’re going to get one block from Main Street. And at the center of all this is owner/ chef Rachel Lewicki. When she’s not in the kitchen preparing the day’s fare,

Rachel is behind the counter, chatting with her customers and ringing up their selections.

Rachel grew up in Highlands and she delivers all of that warm, local charm in generous dollops. You can chat about the day, exchange little bits of news and gossip, or just revel in the neighborliness of it all.

by Luke Osteen

more.

photos by Mary Gillan Scan to learn

Tastes of Summer

For a splash of summer fun, let’s get a little playful (and just a bit deadly?)

By now we’re all in a summer state of mind – determined that our days should be breezy and easy; more fun, less drudgery in all things – including what we choose to drink.

And because summer is the season of vermouth - an herb and spice filled fortified wine with guts – it should be part of your summer entertaining plan.

Particularly Spanish Vermouth, where it’s a lot more than a drink. It’s a national pastime, a lifestyle, as much an activity as it is a beverage. Here it holds a special place, often enjoyed during the “Vermouth hour” amidst the sweltering heat of the day. Served over ice, dosed with seltzer and dressed with an orange and a fat Spanish olive, it stands as a refreshing elixir against the summer heat.

And there’s no limit to what vermouth can do. From the classic Americano (Campari, sweet vermouth, soda water),

to the straightforward Milano Torinos (just Campari and sweet vermouth), and the bubbly, citrus-forward Vermouth Royale (lime and lemon muddled together and mixed with vermouth and crème de cassis), each as lovely served on a tree shaded deck as enjoyed poolside.

For a decidedly more dangerous way to beat the summer heat you could follow Hemingway’s path and spice up that vermouth with Absinthe and a dash of bubbles. Called “Death in the Afternoon,” the drink is named after his 1932 treatise on bullfighting and the cocktails is as much about the duality of flavors – fiery Absinthe pierced by the tickle of sparkling wine – as Hemingway’s book is about the dual emotions of fear and courage. (Pour 1 oz. Absinthe into a champagne flute, add 1 oz. chilled vermouth, top with chilled champagne and a lemon twist.)

Then again you could reimagine the

classic Spanish cocktail “tinto de verano” by substituting red wine with vermouth for a combination that leans a bit rounder and more herbal. To make it, start by choosing a bold red wine or red vermouth, pour over ice, then cut with a citrus-forward soda to brighten and add effervescence – 7Up or Sprite.

And for those among you for whom no summer day is complete without a glass of Rosé, how about Rosé slushy style? This easy drinking “frosé” cocktail might just be your new favorite porch pounder. The blender-and-ice treatment will work on any bottle of rosé wine – put 4 oz. wine, 1 oz. Crème de Pamplemousse, ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice, 1 cup crushed ice, into a blender and process until smooth. Float ½ oz. Campari on top and garnish with a lemon wheel.

by Marlene Osteen

A Beloved Family Classic

Chef de Cuisine Brandi Peters delves into her Family Recipe Box and resurrects a company-worthy dish drenched in warm memories.

One thing is for certain. We all need a recipe in our repertoire that smacks of home and comfort and ease in making.

Such is the dish that Chef de Cuisine, Brandi Peters, of On the Verandah fame brings us this month.

Peters, who migrated to the Plateau eight years ago from St. Petersburg, Florida, has been minding the stoves at the restaurant for four years. Two years ago, she earned status as Chef de Cuisine.

Challenged to produce a new chicken dish for the menu, Peters was reminded of a treasured family recipe for chicken and rice. A one-pot dish that fed the family fully and economically, it had been passed down by the generations of women that preceded her. What resulted was Chimichurri Chicken, a revitalized rendition of a beloved family classic.

Brandi Peters’ Chimichurri Chicken with Rice and Beans

Note: At the restaurant, the Chicken is

served atop the black beans with the rice placed alongside on the plate

For the Chicken Chimichurri Ingredients

For the Chicken

1 1/2 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts

1 tablespoon olive oil

For the Chimichurri Sauce

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

Brandi Peters

1 bunch parsley

½ bunch of cilantro

1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves

¼ cup red wine vinegar

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

¾ cup olive oil

Salt and pepper

Directions

Step 1: Make the sauce:

On a cutting board, smash and coarsely chop the garlic with ½ teaspoon salt. Mash the mixture using the side of your knife until a coarse paste forms. Move the paste to the side of the cutting board, then chop the parsley, cilantro, and oregano together with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Combine the garlic paste and the chopped herbs and chop and mash until the herbs are bruised and fragrant. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add the red-pepper flakes, black pepper, vinegar, and extra-virgin olive oil; stir to combine.

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 lemon, juiced

1 tablespoon butter or olive oil

1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon

Directions

Step 2: Make the chicken: Pat the chicken dry. If thickness varies greatly, pound to an even thickness, about ½-inch. Rub half the chimichurri all over the chicken and let sit for at least one hour or refrigerate overnight and bring to room temperature before cooking.

Step 3: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Wipe off excess marinade from the chicken and cook until juices run clear, about 5 minutes per side for thighs and 4 minutes per side for breasts. Serve with remaining chimichurri spooned over top.

For the Rice

Ingredients

2 cups White or Basmati Rice

4 cups water

2 tablespoons dry chimichurri rub

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350-degrees.

Step 2: Pour rice into a bowl and fill it with cold water. Swirl the grains, using your fingers. Tip out any starchy water, and repeat until water runs almost clear.

Step 3: Combine rice and water in a pot and bring rice to a boil on the stovetop. Stir, cover, and put it in a 350-degree oven to cook through (about 17 minutes for most white rice). Rest it covered at room temperature, for 10 minutes.

For the Black Beans

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 yellow onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 15 oz can black beans, not drained

½ cup water, more if needed

1 Large Diced Tomato of your choice

1 Teaspoon of Onion Powder

1 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder

1 Teaspoon of Black Pepper

1 Teaspoon of Paprika

1 Teaspoon of Ground Cumin

1 Teaspoon of Guajillo Pepper

1 tsp red wine vinegar

Directions

Step 1: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.

Step 2: Add the beans, water, tomato, and seasonings. Lower heat, cover and simmer about 15 minutes stirring occasionally and adjusting water as needed.

Step 3: Pour in the vinegar, taste for salt, and serve.

by Marlene Osteen

photo by Susan Renfro

Third Annual Sunday Supper

Sam Fore, the superstar chef serving up the 3rd Annual Sunday Supper at Old Edwards – set for Sunday, August 25 at The Farm at Old Edwards – delivers a South Asian twist to downhome cooking.

Chef Sam Fore

Old Edwards is forever at the forefront of tastes and trends as the team at Old Edwards continues to entice and tantalize with new reasons to visit. In this case it is the 3rd Annual Sunday Supper on Sunday, August 25, at The Farm at Old Edwards. More exciting still is that it is dinner with guest Chef Sam Fore of TukTuk in Lexington, Kentucky – the woman dubbed, “the Sri Lankan Snack Queen.”

After growing up in North Carolina, Fore returned to her birthplace in KY in 2012 and while creating websites for high end restaurants, she started bringing them a taste of her home cooking. One thing led to another, and she envisioned melding Southern ingredients with the Sri Lankan food she made with her mother. “I call Sri Lankan food the love child of Indian and Thai food,” Fore says. “I make what I grew up eating and then mix in everything we raise in Kentucky.”

In 2016 she started a pop-up series that spread nationally, along with her reputation as a creative and imaginative cook. She’s been a media darling ever since – her take on tomato pie graced the cover of Food & Wine in 2019, she was named one of Plate Magazine’s Chef to Watch, one of Southern Living’s Cooks of the Year, and one of Taste of the South’s Taste50. Along the way, she’s caught the attention of the culinary world – honored by the James Beard Foundation Awards as a finalist for Best Chef Southeast and a member of the cast of Christoper Kimball’s Milk Street, which airs nationally on PBS stations. Last September she opened TukTuk.

For her menu at The Farm, Fore envisions a Southern Sunday Supper with a twist. Based on the vibe at TukTuk Snack Shop, each dish will be reimagined with distinctive ingredients, herbs, and spices, delivering surprising and delightful bursts of flavor. The proposed menu

starts with a tomato and onion salad with fried eggplant and a fresh hit of tamarind vinaigrette.

Next, briny crab is a delicious special occasion dish with silky toothsome pasta. For the main course, there is TukTuk’s signature fried chicken with coconut garlic gravy, and St. Louis style ribs punched up with fermented chile honey and fennel pollen.

“On the side” are butter beans with sausage, creamed corn, and okra & tomatoes. Fore’s reputation for elevated snacks is evident in the served lagniappes of lacquered cornbread, mustard carrot pickles, sweet and sour onion relish, and coconut sambal.

For more details and to book online visit, oldedwardshospitality.com/events.

by Marlene Osteen

Fresh and Flavorful

For John and Tanya Saporito, Zookeeper Bistro (Slabtown Road in Cashiers) is their life’s work, and a labor of love.

They wake early and work late into the afternoon – rising before dawn to work the long hours of mom-and-pop restaurant owners. Six days a week John and Tanya Saporito open the doors of their Cashiers’ Restaurant, Zookeeper Bistro, at 5:45 A.M.

As she’s done for 15 years, Tanya, is in the dining room getting ready for the breakfast service – welcoming by name her regular guests, ensuring that servers are close at hand and observant and that everyone is seated at their favorite table. In the kitchen John commands the culinary crew – his daughter Carly and her husband Howard at his side – the trio keeping a watchful eye over the cooks as they gently poach the eggs for the benedict and griddle pancakes to the perfect stage of fluffiness.

Zookeeper Bistro opened 18 years ago anchoring the far end of a row of wood-framed shops on Slabtown Road in Cashiers. In 2009, the Saporito’s bought the restaurant – keeping the name and retaining the décor but overhauling the menu. They had spent their previous years in Orlando, accumulating experience at a Hilton resort on Disney property – 15 years for Tanya and 18 for John.

When they decided it was time to leave, they searched Western, North Carolina, visiting Brevard, Black Mountain and Asheville, for the perfect place to live and work.

When they found Cashiers, they stopped looking.

“We love it here, we love the community, it’s a great place to live, it’s a wonderful laid-back area,” said Tanya.

Now in its second decade, Zookeeper continues to turn heads and attract lines for the flavorful, destination-worthy dishes served mornings and afternoons.

Breakfast is fun and energetic and worth waking up for!

John has filled the menu with everyone’s favorites – omelets and French toast and 2-egg plates, then tweaks the offerings creatively – adding Belgian waffles and avocado toast and breakfast bowls and wraps. Decadent eggs benedict is the star of the menu at brunch and offered in four renditions – crab, California, garden and classic.

Comforting lunch dishes feel fresh and flavorful, reminding diners that the menu continues to evolve – like the classic BLT served California style with avocado.

Tanya and John Saporito

And it’s hard to imagine that anything could be better than the Philly Cheesesteak – a sandwich of sautéed rib eye, crisp-edged onions and oozy provolone cheese. Vibrant substantial salads highlight the flavors and sweetness of fresh fruits and vegetables and celebrate the beauty of the seasons, while burgers are appropriately unctuous meaty and juicy.

Twice over the years the Saporitos have updated and refreshed the interior, added an outdoor patio with colorful umbrellas, and though the customer favorites will always remain, they continue to fine tune the menu to accommodate changing tastes.

Although they no longer serve dinner, they regularly host private events in the evenings.

And though as Tanya says “it’s no longer the small town it was when we arrived, people still want to be here. There’s no place we’d rather be.”

Zookeeper is open 7:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., Six days a week during season, and five days a week otherwise.

by Marlene Osteen

by Mary Gillan

photos

The Pleasures of Southern Hospitality

The Orchard continues to evolve and innovate, continuing a trend begun 25 years ago. Discover for yourself the changes wrought by brothers Chad and Travis Boswell

– The Orchard Restaurant and Events Barn, 905 107 South in Cashiers.

The Orchard Restaurant in Cashiers was a decaying picturesque 100-year-old residence that had seen better days when Chad and Travis Boswell purchased it a quarter century ago.

For the Boswell siblings, the decision to convert the building into a restaurant was just one natural progression. Their grandparents were long time restaurant owners in Florida, and the brothers had worked their way through high school and on summer breaks from college at UNC Chapel Hill at their father’s restaurant in Cashiers – the Oakmont Lodge and White Goose Café.

From their previous gigs working with their father, they brought with them the knowledge of how to create an inviting space and an affinity for delivering a restaurant offering casual, truly friendly service. It soon became apparent that the answer to “where to eat on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau?” was “The Orchard.”

Since its opening in 2000, Chad has overseen the operation of the dining room and Travis managed the kitchen and

private events.

Over the years, that proficiency and the success that followed has enabled them to expand.

A decade ago, they transformed an unused building on the property into a cozy guest cottage for two complete with a renovated interior and a screen porch. In 2017, an indoor/ outdoor barn was erected, expanding their capacity for events and allowing them to host private events.

And most recently a bar was added to the barn, adding a new dynamic to The Orchard’s offerings.

Situated in an outdoor but covered space, amidst views of the apple orchard, flower and herb gardens, and grassy lawn, the bar has become a popular spot for pre-dinner drinks and local get-togethers.

Led by longtime bartender Scott Tavernier, the bar offers a selection of subtly inflected Southern snacks that truly sing. Among the most popular items are the pimento cheese, smoked salmon, sour cream and Vidalia onion dip with house-made

BBQ chips, hummus in a variety of flavors, and charcuterie.

The Orchard continues to thrive under the direction of Restaurant Chef Iwayan Sudiartama, who cooks from a pantry that is both regional and global, with a motif that is primarily Southern – grilled quail wrapped in bacon, shrimp and grits, fried chicken livers on a bed of Anson Mill grits, crispy fried green tomatoes served with a baconhorseradish sauce.

But the most popular dishes continue to be the long-time favorites: Boswell’s crab cakes, a recipe passed down from their father, made with a heaping portion of lump crabmeat blended with herbs; preparations of local trout, and The Orchard chicken – a succulent all-natural chicken breast stuffed with apple, sage, walnuts and cheese.

The pleasures and Southern hospitality of The Orchard Restaurant, including the Barn Bar can be enjoyed Tuesday – Saturday from 5:00 to 9:00 PM.

For more information, visit theorchardcashiers.com.

by Marlene Osteen

Gillan

photos by Mary

Flipping for Flapjacks

Let’s raise a glass of OJ! The Scaly Mountain Women’s Club is bringing back their near-legendary Pancake Breakfasts – from 8:00 to 10:30 AM. July 27 and August 24 at the Scaly Mountain Community Center.

The Scaly Mountain Women’s Club was organized in 1988, when 14 like-minded ladies joined forces to provide scholarships to residents for post-high school/technical school education. The club has grown to over 80 members, currently supporting 15 students with their academic endeavors.

Our scholars receive eight semesters of college or technical college tuition in a reimbursement program. Since inception, the Scaly Mountain Women’s Club has raised over $500,000 for scholarships and donations to the community.

In addition to scholarships, the club supports several non-profit organizations such as The Highlands Emergency Council, The Scaly Mountain Historical Society, The Counseling Center of Highlands, The Sky Valley-Scaly

Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, and the Highlands Community Child Development Center.

Come enjoy homemade blueberry or plain pancakes, sausage, coffee, orange juice, and fellowship with your neighbors.

The first pancake breakfast of the Scaly Mountain Women’s Club was held Saturday, June 22, at the Scaly Mountain Community Center (Scaly School House) off Buck Knob/Dillard Road in Scaly Mountain, NC from 8:00 to 10:30 AM.

Like the June 22 event, the July 27 and August 24 breakfasts are completely organized, staffed and cooked by dedicated members of the club and their families and have always been viewed as an act of

community service and involvement. Come enjoy homemade blueberry or plain pancakes, sausage, coffee, orange juice, and fellowship with your neighbors. There will be games –corn hole, putt putt, etc. – with prizes awarded at the end of the summer. Last year, the prizes were fantastic hand-carved eagles and bears donated by an anonymous Scaly Mountain Crafters customer. Cost is $8/adult; $6/child; and $30/family.

For more information on this event or for a membership form to join this group of enthusiastic, hard-working women, contact scalymountainwomen@gmail. com. Everyone is welcome!

by Dee Vollmer, Scaly Mountain Women’s

Club

Plateau Dining Guide

The Kitchen CarryAway & Catering 350 S. Fifth Street (828) 526-2110

Lakeside Restaurant Smallwood Avenue (828) 526-9419

Dillard Road (828) 482-7040

the Verandah Highway 64 (Franklin Road) (828) 526-2338

(828) 526-4906

The Ruffed Grouse 270 Main

AREA RESTAURANTS

CASHIERS, NC

Buck’s Coffee Cafe - (828) 743-9997

Chile Loco - (828) 743-1160

Cornucopia Restaurant - (828) 743-3750

El Manzanillo - (828) 743-5522

On the Side BBQ - (828) 743-4334

Native Prime Provisions (828) 743-3743

Subway - (828) 743-1300

Ugly Dog - (828) 743-3000

Whiteside Brewing Company - (828) 743-6000

GLENVILLE, NC

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

HIGHLANDS, NC

Asia House - (828) 787-1680

Black Bear Cafe - (828) 482-7020

Lane, Lake Toxaway (828) 966-4700

The Blue Bike Cafe - (828) 526-9922

Bryson’s Deli - (828) 526-3775

Divine South Baking Company - (828) 421-2042

Dusty’s - (828) 526-2762

El Azteca - (828) 526-2244

Fressers

Courtyard Cafe - (828) 526-4188

Highlands Tavern - (828) 526-9002

Madison’s Restaurant - (828) 787-2525

Mountain Fresh - (828) 526-2400

The Ruffed Grouse - (828) 526-2590

Spinx Highlands - (828) 526-4191

The Stubborn Seed - (828) 200-0813

Subway - (828) 526-1706

Wild Thyme Gourmet - (828) 526-4035

LAKE TOXAWAY, NC

Grand Olde Station - (828) 966-4242

Los Vaqueros - (828) 966-7662

Sweetwater Perk & Creamery, LLC - (828) 577-0469

Villa Amato (828) 885-7700

SAPPHIRE, NC

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

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

Mica’s Restaurant - (828) 743-5740

Panthertown Cafe - (828) 862-3663

Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company - (828) 743-0220

Slopeside Tavern - (828) 743-8655

Plateau Lodging Guide

Accommodations on the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

HOTELS / MOTELS / BED & BREAKFASTS

Fire Mountain 700 Happy Hill Rd | Scaly Mountain firemt.com |

BREVARD, NC:

Meraki Escape - (828) 463-7440

CASHIERS, NC:

High Hampton Resort - (800) 648-4252

Hotel Cashiers - (828) 743-7706

The Lakehouse - (904) 753-0247

Landmark Vacation Rentals- (877) 926-1780

Mountain Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-0258

The Orchard

Guest Cottage - (828) 743-7614

Pebble Creek Village - (828) 743-0623

Silver Creek

Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-1999

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

FRANKLIN, NC:

Southern Belles

Glamping - (828) 371-9890

GLENVILLE, NC:

Innisfree Bed & Breakfast - (828) 743-2946

Mountain Lake Rentals - (828) 743-6875

Prime Property Rentals - (828) 743-3482

HIGHLANDS, NC:

200 Main - (855) 271-2809

Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-1717

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

Fairview House - (866) 526-8008

Half Mile Farm - (855) 271-7246

Highlander Mountain House - (828) 526-2590

Highlands House Bed and Breakfast - (828) 787-1186

Highlands Inn - (828) 526-9380

Highlands Inn Lodge - (828) 526-5899

Highlands Resort Rentals - (828) 526-5839

The Inn at Mill Creek - 828-526-9999

Lotts of Sky - (404) 395-4000

Lullwater House - (423) 488-2799

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

Outpost Inn (828) 482-7736

Park on Main - (800) 221-5078

Ray’s Roost - (678) 534-6870

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

Rockwood Lodge - (828) 526-8919

Silver Creek Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-2999

Trailborn Highlands (828) 482-1581

Valentine Manor - (561) 613-1496

The Wells Hotel - (828) 482-7736

Whiteside Cove Cottages - (828) 526-2222

SAPPHIRE, NC:

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

Foxhunt at Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-7667

Hampton Inn & SuitesCashiers-Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-4545

Mt Toxaway Lodge & Motel - (828) 966-4582

Sapphire Run at Whisper Lake - (863) 412-5734

Whispering Falls - (352) 470-4085

Woods at Buc - (770) 714-9211

SCALY MOUNTAIN, NC:

Fire Mountain - (800) 775-4446

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

LAKE TOXAWAY, NC:

Cabins at Seven Foxes - (828) 877-6333

Earthshine Lodge - (828) 862-4207

Greystone Inn - (828) 966-4700

Lake Toxaway Realty Company - (828) 508-9141

Photo by Susan Renfro

IT’S YOUR LUCKY DAY

Tuck a bit o’ luck into your wardrobe with this Arianne Elmy floral Good Luck Dress. Puffy sleeves complement this kicky outfit. It’s a cool blend of 60s style with what’s hot in fashion today. Get your good luck now!

Floral Top by Arianne Elmy | $ 360 Monkee’s | Highlands

NATURAL BEAUTY

These necklaces and bracelets are handcrafted using natural gemstones and pearls. Wear treasures of mountain and sea – and never resist the subtle bling of Mother Nature’s gifts.

Hand Crafted Jewelry | Assorted Styles Rusticks | Cashiers

Plateau Picks A few of our favorite things

TIME TO WINE DOWN

Expand your growing wine palette with four favorite wine labels. Uncork, sip, swirl - relax.

Belle Glos Rose $ 2599 | Simpsons Cuvee $ 54 99

Prisoner $ 54 99 | Raffaldini Montepulciano $ 44 99

Historic Toxaway Market | Lake Toxaway

SUMMER’S GIFT OF HYDRANGEAS

Invite clusters of hydrangea blossoms with their rich purples, pastel pinks, luscious lavenders, and stunning whites into your garden. Let these heavenly puffs of colorful clouds be your personal exterior decorator. Hydrangeas, Assorted Colors and Sizes | $40-$70 Highlands Lawn and Garden | Highlands

EMBRACE THE

Lounge in fashion while you get your cozy on. Relax and unleash your inner Comfort Queen, for if life gives you these lemony PJs, you’re gonna have the sweetest of dreams.

Sleepwear by PJ Salvage Tank $ 50 | Shirt $ 62 | Pants $ 62 Bella Cotn | Cashiers

FASHION ESSENTIAL

Blazers are the free-spirits of fashion. That’s why we love them. This classic, versatile jacket is a key component to any wardrobe. Buy it. Wear it with anything. Love it forever.

7 Diamonds Blazer | $195 Southern Way | Highlands

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Spice up your lighting with this classic ginger jar table lamp. Not only do these jar-lamps reflect fine taste, they fill your home with a welcoming radiance.

Oriental Lamp | $ 340 Brier Patch | Highlands

HAND-PAINTED BEAUTY

Imagine the perfect setting for this vintage, hand-painted coal scuttle. At the hearth, fill it with kindling. In the kitchen or a great room, fill it with birdseed, dog treats, or yarn for knitting. This functional and artful piece will be a warm addition to your mountain décor.

19th English Coal Bucket | $1200 Vivianne Metzger Antiques | Cashiers

Acorns Season of Events

The artisans whose labors give Acorns its unique panache and flavor will display their creations throughout the month.

Theresa Forman

The creative curators at Acorns, Old Edwards home décor and furnishing store, have a flair for discovering regional artisans and makers, while cultivating their careers through a series of pop ups.

July is more packed than ever with showings of the works of four gifted creators. There’s no denying there’s a certain artistic frisson in the air – from a display of the artful botanical paintings of Carol Misner to the nuanced oil renderings by Theresa Forman, and the artisanal honey of Killer Bees Honey and the exquisite pottery of Michael Hoffman.

Saturday, July 6 – Carol Misner Art Showcase: Misner, Highlands’ most sought after and popular artist, is widely admired for her paintings that reflect the simple beauty, grace and fragility of the botanicals they portray. The kinds of exotic plants and flowers and trees that inspire her are everywhere, some native to the Plateau,

and others come from her travels.

Saturday, July 13 – Theresa Forman Art Showcase: Working primarily in oils, Forman uses the plein air studies and photographic references to produce studio pieces that reveal the harmony found in nature. A painter associated with the Chastain Arts Center Community in Atlanta, Forman has distinguished herself with her landscapes and still life’s that reveal the beauty in nature.

Saturday, July 20 – Killer Bees Honey: Husband and wife team Sean and Denise produce the purest artisanal honey to be found anywhere. Sean likens honey to wine – a product of the land and the weather, flavored by its locale and sense of place. He explains that “Our Artisanal honey is nothing like the heat-treated, ultra-filtered, bland, off-the-shelf store honey. Tasting Killer Bees Honey, the first time is akin to eating a farm fresh egg or garden-grown tomato – your taste buds come alive with a host of flavors

you didn’t know were possible.”

Friday, July 26- Sunday, July 28 –Michael Hofman Pottery: Asheville artist Michael Hofman likes to say that, “The wonder of clay, and also the curse is that it can become anything.” Hofman creates objects that will be cherished for generations—exquisite porcelain, dinnerware, vases and serving pieces. Using materials that nature provides, Hofman employs glazes that dress each piece in a skin with dazzling colors that often mimic precious gems, stones, and weathered metals. Each is a work of beauty, a singular piece in a copycat world.

Acorns is located at 212 South 4th Street in Highlands. For more information, call (828) 787-1877 or visit oldedwardshospitality.com/designerpopup.

by Marlene Osteen

Allison Diane Fashion High

Since opening in 2018, Allison Diane has become the go-to boutique for all things effortless, offering a curated collection of chic womenswear, unique jewelry, and a diverse array of leather goods. Step inside and you’ll discover a store stocked with whimsical and wonderful things you never knew you needed – until now. You’re likely to want everything!

Whether you’re seeking a statement piece for a special date (their motto is ‘Dress like your famous’), hunting for a gift that will impress your Gen-Z niece, your sporty 60-year-old boss, or your extremely picky mom you’ve come to the right place.

From the in-house line by designer Maggie Dearth of t-shirts and caps adorned with Highlands’ landmarks, to a collection of Ciao Milano coats and jackets, trendy shoes from the Charleston Shoe Company and timeless cashmere pieces, they have it all.

Allison Diane 114 N 4th Street, Highlands (828) 526-5404

Hannah McCall (left) is wearing jeans by Unpublished, sweater by Urban Daizy, shoes by Dolce Vita, bag by Able, and jewelry by Brighton.

Vivianne Bryson (right) is wearing dress by Ninexis, cardigan by OST, shoes by Dolce Vita, bag by Abel, and jewelry by Brighton

The Vineyard at High Holly | Highlands, NC

photos by Susan Renfro and Mary Gillan Renfro

Haley’s Fine Lingerie Fashion High

One of Highlands’ newest stores, Haley’s overflows with lacey confections, and the heart-stopping beautiful lingerie that every woman covets. Walk into the wood-paneled storeroom on Carolina Way and discover a paradise of lace, silk, and satin in soft tones and brilliant colors filling cubby holes, adorning the walls and floating from hangers

Owner Haley Hays has been fascinated by lingerie since her grandmother took her to Paris and Rome when she was in middle school. She fell hard for fashion, took up sewing and taught herself how to make bras and panties

Afterwards she spent 6 years in retail, learning the trade before opening her store this spring. Her goal is to make every woman feel beautiful.

“If real empowerment is how you feel about yourself, then it starts with the first things you put on in the morning and the last things at night – in other words, lingerie.”

Haley’s Fine Lingerie 468 Carolina Way, Highlands 404-626-1980

The Vineyard at High Holly | Highlands, NC photos by Susan Renfro and Mary Gillan Renfro

Leah Grace Craig is wearing a romper by Madeleine Fig; slippers by Rya Collection

Wit’s End Fashion High

Highlands’ oldest retail store, Wit’s End, is still owned and operated by the Young family. Opened by Margaret Southard Young in 1940, the store originally sold porcelain and home accessories. In the 84 years that followed the store passed down to two more generations of the family – in the 1950s to Earl and his wife, Mary Lu and to Susie Young in 2006, who remains at the helm today.

In the mid 1970’s women’s dresses were introduced into the mix and the store now specializes in classic women’s apparel – featuring coveted brands from Kinross cashmere, Tyler Boe, Oliphant, CK Bradley and Anna Cate.

“It’s a small-town store packed with beautiful clothing and classic style,” Susie said. “Wit’s End has a devoted clientele of both local and summer visitors alike. Many of our customers remember fondly shopping with their grandmothers in years past, and a trip to Highlands is not complete without a stop at Wit’s End.”

Wit’s End

382 Main Street, Highlands (828) 526-3160

The Vineyard at High Holly | Highlands, NC photos by Susan Renfro and Mary Gillan Renfro

Leah Grace Craig (left) is wearing short set by Olivia James and purse by German Fuentes

Kay Craig (right) is wearing dress by Olivia James and purse by Neely & Chloe

Robin’s Nest Fashion High

There’s everything here you need at this moment to make your life a little easier – and crucially nothing you don’t need. Each of the collections at Robins Nest is carefully curated, concise, and considered – from apparel and jewelry, to wedding and hostess gifts.

Discover the jewelry lines worn by celebrities – Susan Shaw, Julie Vos, Kenneth Lane, and Karine Sultan –along with up-to-the minute fashion apparel from designers Gretchen Scott, Barbara Gerwit, Sugarlips and more. They also carry beautiful handbags and scarfs from Italy.

So, whether you’re looking for a perfect gift, or heading to a wedding or just out to dinner, Robin’s Nest has the perfectly designed and intelligent solution. Best of all, their dedicated team is available to offer advice on personal styling.

Robin’s Nest 426 Hwy. 107, Cashiers (828) 743-2004

photos by Susan Renfro and Mary Gillan Renfro

Kay Craig (left) is wearing pants by Robell, Vest Jacket by Lulumary, scarf by Dapatta Designs, shoes by Chinese Laundry, purse by Pratesi Castalia Italy, and jewelry by Lannie

Leah Grace Craig (right) is wearing maxi dress by Sugarlips, scarf by Elizabetta of Italy, shoes by Chinese Laundry, purse by Save My Bag and jewelry by Lannie

Kirk Moore

The Slow Flower Experience

Oakleaf Flower and Garden, which has become a must-visit Highlands retail destination over the decades, has moved to a more expansive location – 330 South 2nd Street.

Oakleaf Flower and Garden has new digs. From its Main Street location (in the same space once occupied by the legendary Stone Lantern) to a larger home on 2nd Street, owner/plantsman/designer Kirk Moore has taken advantage of the opportunities built into this fine old mountain home.

Oakleaf Flower and Garden is more than a retail store – it’s an experience. Moore’s knowledge and life permeates.

“I’ve been a landscape architect since the 1970s, but I also have a master’s in historic preservation. That flavor is

conveyed in the store, with books on antiques and historic gardening.”

Moore’s store supports the “slow flower” movement by purchasing at least 65 percent of plants and flowers grown on the Plateau.

That’s also where the new move gets even more interesting.

“We’ll be selling Plateau-grown plants and flowers and heritage trees that’ll look beautiful in any local garden or landscape plan,” says Moore. “I think it’s important that we nurture the botanical

treasures that’s part of the Plateau’s natural heritage.”

With the luxury of extra space, Moore has carried over items from his personal collection, specializing in iconic pieces from the American South from the 20s, 30s, and 40s.

Before making your way to these coveted antiquities, feel welcomed by the indoor gardening space, full of exotic indoor plants, ceramic pots and heritage gardening tools. Paintings from regional artists adorn the walls. A working flower studio and pots loaded with Highlands

Naturally, Oakleaf will continue to sell ornamentals, pots, orchids, decorative items, herbs, and much more. And Kirk will still be offering his expertise for greenery and floral arrangements, weddings, and gatherings and events.

You can learn all about this at Oakleaf’s award-winning website, oakleafstyle.com, but you really owe it to yourself to take a casual stroll through the new location and soak up all the beauty and possibilities.

by Luke Osteen

Susan Renfro

perennials await valued clients and guests in the back of the shop.

photos by

Original Luxury Handbags

Calling all fashionistas! Join Bungalow828 Boutique in Cashiers for an exclusive trunk show featuring the stunning creations of Carol Rose Ridenour, the artist behind Phoebe Rose Fiber Art on July 23 from 11:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Sink your fingers into designer Carol Rose Ridenour’s extraordinary stitchery. Caress the scrumptious textures. Delight in the dazzling colors, both inside and out of each original luxury handbag. Relish the energy of the fabric’s vibrancy, its sheer joie de vivre. If you are lucky enough to already own one of these creations, you have crossed over onto Fashion’s Ultimate Awesome.

With an artist’s eye and the precision hands of a surgeon, Carol found her true passion in crafting lavish handbags. Each of Carol’s bags makes a statement where functionality meets the Aesthetic. Her larger bags cater to those who enjoy a big tote, her medium size bags cater to one’s smaller routine, and her latest lite-size is designed for keys and phone.

Carol (sometimes along with her daughter-collaborator) scours the countryside, gathering swatches, sometimes bolts of the finest crafted

textiles on the planet. Tweeds, cottons, velvets, and upholstery fabrics are her favorites. French Chantilly Lace, a true luxury statement and Pakistani handembroidered fabrics can cost upwards of a thousand dollars a yard/meter. Carol finds their remnants at fabric shows, flea markets, exotic fibre suppliers, all much less than retail. She knows where the best finds are hiding and seeks them out for her customers’ exceptional taste.

Carol’s bags are sold all over the U.S., from Florida to Maine, California to North Carolina. A large part of her success is every bag she creates is an original. She might make five that are similar, using same color palette, but each bag is your work of art. Another attraction to her work is that it’s sturdy and durable. The quality leathers she uses for handles are substantial weight.

Carol says, “My bags are guaranteed to give you years of pleasure.”

She also wants readers to know she

is preparing her fall line, and those colors will be added to the current line at Bungal owBoutique, which is her exclusive retailer.

On July 23, Bungalow828 Boutique in Cashiers is hosting a exclusive Phoebe Rose Trunk Show and you’ll get to experience Carol’s latest designs. Bungalow828 Boutique is located inside Fusion Yoga & Wellness at 21A Lance Road.

“Let us know you’re coming and receive a free gift upon arrival,” says Mary Abranyi, the owner of Bungalow828 Boutique. “We’ll also be serving a late lunch to include iced herbal tea, hot herbal tea, smoothies, plus tea sandwiches, fruit and granola, parfaits, and other yummy goodies.

Email info@fusionyogaandwellness.com or call (828) 743-9530 to secure your place at the trunk show, and to learn more about the treasures to be found at Bungalow828 Boutique.

Cashiers New Children’s Boutique

Children’s Edit is a beautiful bazaar of children’s fashions for everyday fun and special occasions, built upon a foundation of friendship. Browse through the collection and revel in the attentions of owners Megan Gorrie and Claire Posey – 36 Village Walk in Cashiers.

Children’s Edit, located at 36 Village Walk in Cashiers is the newest children’s boutique in town, and judging by the foot traffic in the store the day we visited we’d say it’s already a hit.

It’s easy to see why.

Stepping into this bright, welcoming store is a treat for the senses with the beautiful displays of children’s clothing in neutral and earthen hues with subtle pops of color mingled with the softest pastels.

It’s visual candy for the shopper’s soul and then you reach out to feel the softness and quality of all the fabrics.

Owners Megan Gorrie and Claire Posey like to say that the best things in life start with good friendships, so it’s only natural that this successful business started as a dream project by these two sorority sisters. Megan has two children and Claire has three and they often laugh

that this is a hobby that spiraled into a boutique that now has two locations. No small feat for an endeavor started in 2020 at their dining room tables.

It’s a labor of love but its roots go much deeper than that. These two friends are healthcare workers. During the pandemic, they found themselves on the frontlines of the health crisis. Megan cared for patients on ventilators during the early days of Covid-19, donning a hazmat suit each day even as she was expecting her second child. Claire has a background working in burn units and assisted at her husband’s pharmacy during Covid.

They were eager to find an uplifting way to unwind and relieve stress. Everything was shut down so the idea of an online children’s store popped into their heads. It also served an immediate need since everyone was shopping from home at that time. Working from their dining

room tables they started their online business and by 2022 had their first storefront in Birmingham, Alabama. Spring forward to May this year and their second storefront is now open in Cashiers. Their carefully curated selection of children’s clothing and accessories is truly one of a kind, featuring sought-after American lines, as well as many European lines known for their impeccable quality and timeless looks.

There’s so much more than clothing: bedding; blankets; sheets; pillows; swaddles; bibs; bonnets; hats; swimwear; lovies; teethers; books; gift sets; accessories; pajamas; and the list goes on.

They carry boys’ and girls’ sizes from newborn to 8 and are open 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday.

by Mary Jane McCall photo by Mary Gillan

Legacy andVision

New owner Ellen Roberson maintains Toby West Home’s commitment to gracious Southern elegance and concierge level service. For more information, visit the showroom/gallery/studio at 341 Highway 64 W Suite 103 in Cashiers, visit tobywesthome.com or call (828) 743-9117.

Ellen Roberson

For more than a decade, design buffs and lovers of fine furnishing have frequented the much-loved Toby West Home for its wonderfully edited mix of furniture, lighting, accessories and art.

For others, the draw of the place has long included the possibility of securing a coveted English or European antique, discovered by Toby West on one of his many buying trips abroad.

Originally founded as Toby West Antiques in Highlands by Toby West and Tom Hayes, the store moved to Cashiers in 2012, quickly gaining recognition for its elevated design sense – an aesthetic that Atlanta Home Magazine defined as “synonymous with gracious Southern hospitality, with a little swagger.”

Following the death of West in 2019, associate Ellen Roberson joined the leadership team, committing to carry on West’s legacy and vision.

A longtime proprietor of a corporate Atlanta travel company, Roberson was already a Highlands homeowner for a quarter of a century when she moved to town full time and began working with West and Hayes in 2016.

Roberson brings her own creative energy and design sensibilities into the store and has been pivotal in expanding its product offerings, culminating in the introduction of the Mandeville Collection last year—an artisanal line of upholstered furniture designed by Tom Hayes, featuring sofas and chairs.

Stepping into Toby West Home feels like entering a meticulously designed living space – showroom artfully arranged to showcase the potential of one’s own home. An abundance of eye candy awaits. From heirloom classics designed to be passed down to the next generation to style fundamentals that transcends trends, all the essentials for a well-curated home are here.

Offering a wide array of accessories, from antique pottery to coffee table books, and candlesticks, Toby West Home stands out as the exclusive retailer of Charlie West pottery lamps and a sought-after destination for authentic antler chandeliers from Stag Ridge, crafted from real antlers in Cashiers. The collection also features original art pieces from skilled Southeastern artists, displaying a mix of artistic genres.

Roberson likes to boast that “we have an incredible team of individuals and so much of the success of our business is a result of a team effort. I couldn’t do this by myself. Hayes and West had the incredible foresight to put together an elegant and sophisticated store in the mountains, it’s a real gift.”

by Marlene Osteen

Visit Our Advertisers

WEST END

1. On The Verandah Restaurant

2. Highlands Smokehouse

3. High Country Wine & Provisions

5. The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts

6. The Bascom Shop

7. The Dave Drake Ceramic Barn at The Bascom

SOUTH END

22. Trailborn Highlands

25. 4118 Kitchen & Bar

27. Dauntless Printing

32. Cosmos Flowers

37. Lupoli Construction

38. Allen Tate/Pat Allen Realty Group

39. Highlands Decorating Center

45. Don Leon’s

47. M & Co.

48. ACP Home Interiors

50. The Summer House

51. Nancy’s Fancys/ The Exchange

60. Divine South Baking Company

MAIN STREET

101. Main Street Nursery

104. Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center

106. Los Vaqueros

122. Highlander Mountain House & Ruffed Grouse Tavern

124. Landmark Realty

126. Shiraz Oriental Rug Galleries

128. Primary Kitchen + Bar

132. Elevation: High Fashion for Women

134. The Southern Way

136. Dutchmans

141. Main Street Gifts

146. Wit’s End Shoppe

147. Calders Coffee Cafe

148. Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry + Wine Shop

152. Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty

153. Allison Diane Clothing

158. C. Orrico

160. TJ Bailey for Men

163. Spoiled Rotten

166. Annawear

167. The Christmas Tree

169. Country Club Properties

170. Highlands Pizza Place

174. Elena’s

175. Monkee’s

180. Bijou

185. Ristorante Paoletti

187. The Dry Sink

190. Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro

191. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Meadows Mountain Realty

195. Old Edwards Inn

196. Madison’s Restaurant

197. The Wine Garden

198. Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar

203. Country Club Properties

208. Highland Hiker Shoes

210. Creative Concepts Salon

211. Highland Hiker

WRIGHT SQUARE on MAIN

(Factoid: Named after Whiteside hero)

114. Edward Jones

115. Preferred Properties of Highlands

117. Country Club Properties, Wright Square Office

ON THE HILL

300. Highlands Gem Shop

302. Wish & Shoes

303. Mirror Lake Antiques

305. Jeanie Edwards Fine Art

306. Acorns

308. Highlands Burrito

310. McCulley’s

311. Martha Anne’s on the Hill

312. The Ugly Dog Public House

313. Old Edwards Inn

318. Peggy Crosby Center:

- Center for Life Enrichment

- The Kitchen Carry Away & Catering

- Highlands Cashiers

Health Foundation

319. Lakeside Restaurant

SPRING VILLAGE

400. Jannie Bean Fine Custom Jewelry

403. Oakleaf

406. Brookings Fly Shop

VILLAGE PARK

613. Cleaveland Realty

616. Fressers Courtyard Cafe

618. Secret Garden

619. Christie’s Internatonal Real Estate

Highlands Cashiers

CAROLINA VILLAGE

701. Mountain Life Properties

704. Creekside Village: - Suncoast Equity Management

708. Haley’s Fine Lingerie

709. Wayah Insurance

710. The High Dive

710. The Hideaway at The High Dive

711. Roots & Vine

712. Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals

NorthHighlands,Carolina

NORTH END

801. Green Mountain Builders

805. Art Highlands Gallery

808. Whole Life Market & Nectar Juice Bar

809. Hotwire Communications

812. The Outpost Inn

815. Highlands-Cashiers

Chamber Music Festival

815. Highlands-Cashiers Players

815. Highlands Performing Arts Center

815. Mountain Theatre Company

816. Fairview House

OUT NC 106

➡ Peak Experience

➡ Highlands Outpost

➡ Allan Dearth and Sons

Generators

➡ Fire Mountain

➡ Highlands Aerial Park

➡ Vineyard at High Holly

➡ Sky Valley Country Club

OUT 64 WEST

➡ Jackson Hole Gem Mine

OUT 64 EAST

➡ Black Rock Design Build

➡ Berkshire Hathaway

Homes Services

Meadows Mountain Realty

➡ WHLC

➡ Highlands Lawn & Garden

➡ High Camp

➡ Highlands Rock Yard

➡ Rejuvenate Laser Center

➡ Reclamations

➡ The Brier Patch

➡ Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group

➡ Highlands Dermatology

➡ Roman’s Roofing

VISIT FRANKLIN

➡ The Attic Antiques

➡ Diva’s on Main

➡ Highlander Roofing

➡ Whistle Stop Antiques

VISIT CLAYTON

➡ Butler Galleries

➡ Downtown Clayton, GA

➡ Mountain Lakes

Physicians Group

➡ Mountain Home Spa

➡ Porch Living

➡ Willow Valley RV Resort

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

Being added to our listing is easy! Simply advertise with The Laurel.

Visit Our Advertisers

NORTH 107

2. Zookeeper Bistro

6. Slab Town Pizza

16. Stork’s - Wrap. Pack. Ship.

19. The Look Boutique

20. Mountain Mermaid

21. Sashay Around Ladies Boutique

THE SHOPS AT CASHIERS COMMONS

22. Joan Anderson Interiors

25. Bella Cotn

27. Bird Barn & Garden

28. Cashiers Kitchen Co.

30. Bombshell Hair Boutique

31. The Watershed Shoppe

33. Zoller Hardware

AT THE CROSSROADS

37. Landmark Realty Group

39. Cashiers Farmers Market

CHESTNUT SQUARE

43. A Jones Company

45. Cashiers Valley Real Estate

47. Lehotsky & Sons, Builders

54. Mountain Home Consignments

55. Fusion Yoga & Wellness

55. The Bungalow Boutique

57. Kellar Williams Great Smokies

59. Las Margaritas

EAST 64

62. Laurel Terrace:

- Natural Element Homes

63. Alexander Gardens:

- Victoria’s Closet

- Victoria’s Closet Shoes & Purses

- Vic’s for Men

72. Ingles Plaza

- Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group

75. Carolina Rustic Furniture

76. Blue Ridge Bedding

79. Jennings Builders Supply

VILLAGE

WALK

80. A-List Antiques

80. Josephine’s Emporium

80. Beth Poindexter Luxe

80. Laura Moser Art

82. The Village Hound

82 Dana Kelly Oriental Rugs

85. Children’s Edit

86. Nora & Co.

87. The Corner Store

89. Nearly New Furniture Consignment

90. Gracewear Boutique

96. Dr. Anita Dormer

SOUTH 107

102. TJ Bailey’s for Men

105. Atelier Maison

105. ID.ology Interiors & Design

105. Living Stone Design + Build

107. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

Meadows Mountain Realty

108. Landmark Realty Group

110. McCulley’s

111. Rusticks

111. Cashiers Designer Showhouse Tickets

112. Vivianne Metzger Antiques

113. Brookings Fly Shop & Cashiers Village Outfitters

115. Chestnut Cove

116. Tampa Bay Trust Company

121. Robin’s Nest

122. Landmark Realty Group

123. Caliber Fine Properties

128. Mountainworks

Custom Home Design LTD.

130. The Cashiers Store

136. Cashiers Sotheby’s International RealtyThe McKee Group

137. Bounds Cave Rug Gallery

138. The Orchard Restaurant, Events Barn & Guest Cottage

140. Mountain Motor Coach

THE VILLAGE GREEN

142. Village Green Commons

143. The Village Green

WEST 64

145. Edgewood Antiques

146. Shoppes On The Green: - Sugar Creek Custom Cabinets

154. Cashiers Valley Smokehouse

155. Cashiers Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center

155. Cashiers Designer Showhouse Tickets

156. Creekside: - Toby West Antiques

157. Sotheby’s International Realty

165. Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry

172. Whiteside Art Gallery

173. Betsy Paul Properties

176. Lenz Gifts

DOWN 107 NORTH

➡ Bazaar Barn

DOWN 107 SOUTH

➡ Silver Run Reserve

➡ Cashiers Historical Society

➡ Cashiers Designer Showhouse Tickets

VISIT BREVARD

➡ Allen Tate/Beverly Hanks

➡ Brevard Music Center

➡ Number 7 Arts

VISIT CULLOWHEE

➡ Four Seasons Landscape

VISIT GLENVILLE

➡ Crawford Construction

➡ Happ’s Place

➡ Smoky Mountain Transportation

VISIT LAKE TOXAWAY

➡ The Greystone Inn

➡ Los Vaqueros

VISIT SAPPHIRE :

➡ Burlingame

➡ Sapphire Valley Real Estate

VISIT SYLVA :

➡ Baxter’s Tree Service

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

Being added to our listing is easy! Simply advertise with The Laurel.

Pages 182-191

Photo by Susan Renfro

Getaway to Nature

For a luxurious, languid getaway, look no further than Blue Ridge Falls RV and Glamping Resort, 1476 Blue Ridge Road across from Lake Toxaway. For more information or to reserve your spot, visit blueridgefallsresort.com.

We’ve been spending a lot of ink over the last three years, pointing out the natural splendor and the beguiling history and the absolutely charming personalities that have made Toxaway and Sapphire such prime getaways from the cares of 21st century life.

We’re sorry it’s taken us so long to get to Blue Ridge Falls RV and Glamping Resort, a luxurious destination smack dab between Cashiers and Brevard.

But with new owners Melissa and Adam Kwiecien, it seems like the perfect time to correct this oversight!

“As a family owned and operated resort, we offer a variety of amenities to make your stay comfortable and convenient, including full hookups, laundry facilities, bathhouse, pavilions for gathering and walking trails,” says Melissa. “Our 11-acre property is surrounded by woods with hiking trails on site. We

have 36 RV sites and Glamping Tents. A short drive away you can experience national forests and state parks. Our area is known as the Land of the Waterfalls with over 250 waterfalls to walk, hike or bike to.”

I latched on to Melissa’s mention of glamping (it turns out that concierge camping is an amenity I’ve been waiting for my entire life).

“Our Rustic Glamping Tent includes a king size bed and bunk beds for three,” she says. “All linens are provided. Electric is also in the tent for charging any devices you wish to charge. A short walk away and we have a full bath house, laundry facility and outdoor kitchen for all your meals. Our tent also has a dining table and outdoor chairs. It wouldn’t be camping without a fire pit as well!”

That fire pit is a tradition that stretches back to the Cherokee

who lived here and who knew the value of a communal fire where everyone was invited to gather and talk.

I’ve learned to treasure the impromptu conversations and sudden friendships that sprout around fire pits, and for an inveterate chatterbox like Tricia, they’re pure catnip.

“There are so many waterfalls to explore, and the French Broad River, the third oldest river in the world, is also just minutes away, where kayaking, tubing and fishing potential abound,” says Adam.

“If you’d prefer to stay dry, thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails await nearby as well, throughout the Nantahala (including Panthertown) and Pisgah National Forests, in addition to Gorges and DuPont State Parks. From mountain biking to rock climbing, the region’s outdoor recreation is top in its class.”

by

Luke Osteen resort photos by Mary Gillan

Adam, Melissa, Louis, Bentley, and Everleigh Kwiecien

Lake Toxaway’s Engine

In the midst of the busy Summer Season, The Historic Toxaway Foundation takes stock of its progress and its ambitions.

The Historic Toxaway Foundation, which in the span of seven years has become an economic and social engine for Toxaway, Rosman and Sapphire, is considering its undertakings and projections for measured, sensible growth.

That reflection and transparency is built into the foundation’s DNA – it’s a diverse collection of full and part-time residents, established as a nonprofit in 2017 to provide a unified voice for these storied mountain communities.

Each member contributes a unique set of talents and experiences that help us in our mission “to preserve Historic Toxaway’s past while preparing for its future.”

“The foundation continues to engage in the important business of Upper

Transylvania County (Rosman, Quebec, Lake Toxaway, Sapphire), including encouraging more year-round business support, working with Transylvania County, the Town of Rosman, and City of Brevard to focus on locals’ and tourists’ needs, endeavoring to find solutions to affordable/work-force housing challenges, educating the Community about the history of Upper Transylvania, therefore, informing the future of the footprint–and, listening to our Neighbors, to address their current and future “day-to-day” living needs,” says HTF’s Nory LeBrun.

Its branch organization, the Business Alliance of Upper Transylvania now has a membership of 133 and is growing monthly.

“This organization, fully funded by the Historic Toxaway Foundation, supports local businesses with website and social media assistance, weekly online business info via the Red Feather Guide, and, from April-December a printed version of the Guide distributed throughout the footprint,” says LeBrun. “An attractive business map has also been produced by HTF to support local businesses---this map is available throughout Upper Trans, and appears in The Laurel Magazine--and, HTF financially subsidizes BAUT Member advertising/editorial participation in The Laurel. Although, BAUT, is a version of a Chamber of Commerce, there is no fee, and HTF assists wider interest in BAUT area, by extending Alliance information through

the Brevard/Transylvania and Cashiers Area Chamber Members.

As previously mentioned, this year and last, HTF has been working on the “development” that is now “The Village at Longcliff” since 2018, when HTF commissioned a private Small Area Plan, that advised the approximately 110 acres of land as a desired “town center.”

Within the total ”Village” acreage, approximately 45 acres is an established Conservation Easement – in the next 18-24 months the Historic Toxaway Foundation, in cooperation with the “Longcliff” development team and North American Land Trust, will raise $2.3 million to reconfigure/update an existing trail system, establish outdoor educational facilities, and construct a safe overview of Upper/Lower Bear Wallow Falls – among other easement projects that will benefit both local residents and visitors. The centerpiece of all this, converting private land into a

public asset.

And then there’s the cultural side of the foundation – In 2023 it funded, produced, and presented three ‘Sunday Night Stories’ (approximately 30-minute short films/documentaries): two focused on the History of Lake Toxaway and Sapphire, circa 1890’s-1916, “Turn of the Century, Toxaway” (when the Lake Toxaway dam broke in August 1916); and subsequently, the period after the dam broke and was rebuilt in 1960, “The Rebirth of Toxaway”; the third shortmovie was based on the history of PARI (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute) situated on land between Rosman and Balsam Grove.

“We worked with the Author of a recent book about PARI, Craig Gralley, to present the video and excerpts from the book,” says LeBrun. “PARI is a known secret that many residents are not aware of; all of the events were held at the Grand Olde Station Restaurant on the shores of

Lake Toxaway, and had great attendance.

“More importantly, HTF will have three additional ‘Sunday Night Stories’ this Summer – two encore presentations, and a new short-film, about The Greystone Inn, from the Moltz home (1912-13) to present day. The new location for ‘Sunday Night’s’ is Golden Farm in Lake Toxaway.

As its core mission, HTF is passionate about Community involvement – Board Members hold positions on the “Heart of Brevard,” TCTDA (Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority), Housing Assistance Corporation (affordable and work-force housing), the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce, and Board members mentor youth in the county, as well as assisting elderly resident’s initiatives.

Visit historictoxaway.org if you’d like to support HTC or learn more about its mission.

by Luke Osteen

Pages 198-205

Photo by Susan Renfro

Memories of Life in Cashiers

“Wherever you go, there you are”… and Bud Hyatt’s book tells you where “there” is.

Robert W. “Bud” Hyatt spent an idyllic boyhood in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s in Cashiers, roaming the forests and countryside, hiking up Chimney Top, Whiteside and Rock Mountains, and enjoying the opportunities at High Hampton.

A descendant of Barak Norton, one of Whiteside Cove’s earliest settlers, the grandson of Doug Bradley, High Hampton’s longtime caretaker, Bud is related to some of Cashiers’ founding families.

Fortunately for us, Bud is a good storyteller with a fine memory for the people and places, sights and sounds around the place we now call home. His stories, some 100 of them, have been brought together by The Cashiers Historical Society into a delightful book—an important historical record – entitled Keep a Good Backlog on the Fire – Memories of a Cashiers Valley Boyhood. The title recalls preserving the home hearth in the winter; the whole book kindles warmth and affection year-

round in our own down-home hearts. Bud’s remembrances include what it was like walking to and waiting for the school bus in the snow and when Mam traded her wood burning stove for her first electric stove. The occasional trip to Sylva was “a big deal,” full of wonder and delight. This is a time capsule: There’s nary a mention of TVs, smart phones or social media.

The lyrical text sings like a country song, full of poignancy and longing. The reader goes with Bud down country roads full of memories of places and people, some now passed. This was their time.

If you’re a lifetime local, this book will call you out. If you grew up here--working, perhaps, at High Hampton in season, going to the local schools, making lifelong friends--this is a fine remembrance of your life. Expect a close encounter with self. Nostalgia never had it better. For the rest of us, those Cashiers and Plateau residents who grew up elsewhere and moved here later in life, Bud’s book

tells you where you have landed. Wherever you were, you are here now and Bud tells you where here is. These local kids climbed the same mountains before us, admired the same falls and scenic overlooks that we now enjoy, and in this book we experience the beauty of our geography and culture anew through them.

Bud Hyatt is a fine likeness of rural, mountain Americana. Appalachian Americana. Smokey Mountain Range. This is our history: first person and heartfelt. This is a lived history. The book reads like Bud is sitting in a rocking chair near an open fire, talking intimately to you. Expect longing, even melancholy. Enjoy the stories. These are our stories.

The Library of Congress will be quick to add this telling to their catalog, cross referenced under America Remembers, Appalachia, Western North Carolina, Cashiers, and Robert W. “Bud” Hyatt.

Thank you, Bud, for remembering us. by William McReynolds

(l to r): Jennifer McKee, Amelia Golcheski, Ann McKee Austin, Robert Gleason of The Cashiers Historical Society; Seated - Author Bud Hyatt

A History of Healing in Highlands

Clean air, pure water, and compassionate care were the hallmarks of Dr. Mary Lapham’s bold tuberculosis treatments.

Long before there were tiny homes and “glamping” was a popular outdoor activity, Highlands was home to a community of tent cottages, which housed people from throughout the South who hoped to find healing in the clean mountain air.

Built in 1908 by Dr. Mary Lapham, the Highlands Tuberculosis Sanatorium included a three-story house, which was added to, and substantial grounds on which were constructed 60 of the open-sided, one room tent structures.

Each tent cottage housed patients who referred to themselves as “Lungers” hoping to be cured from tuberculosis or other diseases of the lung. The famous photograph of the camp taken by Henry Scadin shows tents in rows along the hillside, connected by a raised boardwalk. Dr. Lapham practiced pneumotherapy, a method of treating lung disease that she learned in Switzerland, which involved collapsing the affected lung

followed by extended rest. Dr. Lapham firmly believed that the clean fresh air of Highlands was the perfect climate and her patients flocked to the camp yearround – some staying over the course of several years.

Tragically, in 1918, while Dr. Lapham was working for the Red Cross in Europe following World War I, a worker started a fire attempting to thaw pipes in the sanatorium building. The few patients in the building were safely removed, but the building was a complete loss and the sanatorium was closed forever. All that remained were the tent cottages.

Nurse Bernie Durgin had 25 of the tents moved to her property on Chestnut Street and continued to treat patients for a time. Other cottages became part of a hotel on 4th Street. Still others were relocated onto private property and used as guest cottages, storage rooms or woodsheds. The tent cottage that now sits on the Highlands Historical Society’s

property at 524 North 4th Street, was relocated in 2008 and has been restored to its original condition.

Museum hours for 2024 are Thursdays through Saturdays from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. and Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M.

Also, please join the Highlands Historical Society at one of these special events this season:

Dahlia Patron’s Party at High Country Wine and Provisions, Tuesday, August 27.

The 14th Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival, Thursday, September 5 through Saturday, September 7.

The Heritage Jamboree Descendant’s Reception, Saturday, October 12.

Walk in the Park, Saturday, October 26. For information about these events and more visit highlandshistory.com.

by Tracy Foor, Highlands Historical Society

20 Years of Good Things

Robin Armstrong Neil’s love of natural goodness has earned Whole Life Market 20 years of success and satisfied patrons. You owe it to your health to investigate its offerings –680 North 4th Street in Highlands or visit wholelifemarketnc.com.

(l to r):Autumn Cantrell, Robin Armstrong Neil (owner), Stephanie Matthews, and Rayne Hellstrom (co-manager)

Robin Armstrong Neil’s lifelong passion for healthy living and the blessings to be found in nature has brought the Plateau the landmark Whole Life Market, now celebrating 20 years of Good Things.

Robin is a true local. Born and raised in Highlands, her mother was a well-known and well-loved pharmacist and owner of Blue Ridge Pharmacy for 36 years and was always a huge vitamin advocate.

“I got my BA in Anthropology and BS in Botany from the University of Georgia.

“However, life plans shifted and I moved back to Highlands in the beginning of 2004 and began working part time for Jenny King, owner of Highlands Whole Life Supply, and by August I had bought the store from her.”

“Within a couple of months, I moved the store (next door to our current location) to expand,” Robin says. “Being a destination business seemed like a better

fit than being ‘on the hill’ where parking was a nightmare for regular customers. In 2011 we expanded again, moving into our current location and added

Nectar Juice Bar (inside Whole Life Market) in 2012. Nectar offers delicious, healthy, and organic fresh made juices, smoothies, shots and acai bowls.

“I have always recognized that I could not run the store on my own and have been blessed throughout the years with amazing employees.”

The store features a wide variety of high-quality supplements and herbs. Knowing and trusting what brand of supplements / herbs you buy is very important if you want it to be effective. Whole Life Market only carries companies that do third party testing, so you can be assured that the products you purchase from them will be effective.

Whole Life Market also carries a selection of organic and non-GMO foods,

including organic produce and meats plus all the health food staples.

In addition to healthy options to go in your body, Whole Life offers a selection of natural, organic, and non-toxic body care products (lotions, soaps, bath products) to take care of the exterior of your body, non-toxic products for your home, and natural pet products. It is your one stop shop for all things healthy.

Mark your calendar and plan to stop Whole Life Market on August 10, between 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and help celebrate 20 years on the Plateau! There will be lots of free samples and mini free acai bowls to try.

by Luke Osteen photo by Susan Renfro

Scan to learn more.

Meant to be Shared

Heritage Productions WNC offers precious mementos of lives and moments to be cherished through the years. Contact them at (404) 542-2773.

Matthew Eberz

“Every person has a story to tell; maybe it’s a life story, or a time when the storyteller beat the odds and won, or perhaps it is a tale of a love won … or lost. Whatever the story is, it is better shared.”

Matthew Eberz, owner/founder of Heritage Productions WNC and the creator of the above quote, believes personal stories are even better when they are preserved for future family generations.

He reminds us that after a friend or family member’s passing, he/she/they become a fading memory.

How often have you heard, “I wish they would have recorded their life remembrances. It would mean so much to the grandkids to hear our family stories in Grandad’s own voice?”

With the assistance of a photographic professional like Matthew, personal memories can become a video legacy,

one that can be passed down generationto-generation. Using video as a base for the telling of the story, Heritage Productions enhances it with images, historical research, music, and more to make the account a complete, informative, and lasting record.

“I have been in photography for many years,” says Matthew. “One day, I was listening to a World War II veteran giving a recount of his role in the war. I was so moved by the man, I asked if I could video him. He agreed. I was fascinated by both the story and the accuracy of his memory. I researched his account in the U.S. National Archives, then added images and documents from my investigation, and made a complete digital story for him and his family, which they loved. His illuminations of the overseas conflict have since been given to the World War II Museum in New Orleans.

“This encounter resonated so deeply, I knew it was what I wanted to do: help

capture individuals’ personal stories and record their remembrances for generations to come.”

Heritage Productions is not eventvideographers for weddings, or parties. Instead, they service those with particular needs, create legacy videos, and record and compile Celebration of Life commemorations.

Heritage Productions offers a discounted service for all veterans, and there’s no charge for World War II vets. Heritage Productions is a Highlands-based company. They travel wherever a story is ready to be captured.

by

Donna Rhodes

photo by Susan Renfro

Scan to learn more.

Photo by Susan Renfro

The Southern Woman Mystique

Southern Women are a conundrum to many.

From the cradle, they are taught to value their softness, attractiveness, charm. At the same time, they are trained to be strong, chock-full of steel, and downright plucky. If you are a Southern woman, or a Southern man who appreciates and loves one, you know exactly what I am talking about.

If this is foreign to you, the following

account shared by my friend, S.L. (a mental health counselor and animal advocate), will demonstrate the soft and the strong. She says:

“The water system of my turtle pool failed, so I hired a pool guy and his apprentice to repair it. When the pool guy came in, he looked me up and down and said, “You must be single.”

“Because I have turtles?” I replied.

She and the apprentice guffawed. The pool guy looked away, silent, clearly put in his place.

“My marshmallow-me used the turtle joke to soften pool-guy’s rudeness,” said S.L.

But she wasn’t going to let his remark linger in the air.

Politely, but straightforwardly, she asked, “Why did you say that?”

Tumbleweeds. Not a word from pool guy for the rest of the afternoon. She imagined he went home thinking, ‘What a ‘B----’!”

It’s 2024, and we’re still battling hardcore chauvinism. S.L. believes those who don’t understand the Southern soft-tough combo find it off-putting, ergo, “what a B----!”

For us, however, it’s our way of keeping peace and demanding respect, but all done with very few decibels, a few extra syllables (see Pat Allen’s quote), and a blast-furnace of self-assurance.

I asked several impeccable Southern Women on the Plateau to share a few words about their take on the Southern Woman.

Diane McPhail: “A Southern woman is nothing like she appears to be: soft, refined, polite, and compliant. A Southern woman is strength and grit behind the smile; power and persistence behind the composure; love and compassion behind the determined authority.”

Pat Allen: “Southern women: Lovely ladies with industrial strength, tenacity, and a sweet southern drawl that says it all! And the word “dahling” never has an “r”! And there is no such thing as a one syllable word in a Southern woman’s vocabulary!”

Marjorie Deal: “Beyond the genuine, welcoming

smile and aphrodisiac drawl, what is a Southern Woman? Let’s start with misconceptions. It’s not wise to confuse our kindness with fragility; our retreat with surrender; nor our silence with judgement. And finally – never, ever, underestimate a Southern Woman’s innate grit to rise from ashes. Even if she struck the match.”

Penny Pollock: “One can spot a Southern woman anywhere in the world. Southern women always take exceptional pride in their beauty and attire. They are welcoming and interested in learning, and their posture is always perfect. They have a certain decorum or etiquette, which stands out above others. Most importantly and their most admirable quality – they are uplifting to others!”

Kaye McHan: “Southern women have no choice but to be strong, our history demands it of us. If we don’t want to be thought of as a beautiful toy that is only smart enough to be barefoot and pregnant, then strength of character, self-worth, and resilience are our survival skills. For anyone that takes the time to get to know and respect us they will find an intelligent, passionate, authentic woman, that desires to uplift friends, family and community with all the sweet softness of a buttermilk pie.”

Janet Cummings: “Southern Women are strong, but graceful. Not just in their movements, but in their demeanor and care for others. Rosalyn Carter is a favorite example.”

Norma Jean Zahner: “Southern women are like the foods they are famous for – biscuits, buttermilk pie, and grits – soft and fluffy, sugary sweet, and hot and gritty!”

by Donna Rhodes / art by Norma Jean Zahner

Financial Focus® Avoid These Estate Planning Mistakes

By the time you reach retirement age, you may have accumulated a 401(k), IRA and other investment accounts, along with insurance policies and physical properties. You’ll use some of these assets to support your retirement, but the rest may end up in your estate — which is why an estate plan is so important.

So, to leave a legacy for your family and those philanthropic groups you support, you need a comprehensive estate plan — and you need to avoid making mistakes. Here are some of the most common ones: Procrastinating – Estate planning, and its implications about our mortality, may not be a pleasant topic to think about. Yet, putting off your estate plans can be risky. If you were to pass away or become incapacitated without doing any estate planning, the results could be costly for your loved ones. One possible consequence: If you haven’t at least created a basic, simple will, the

courts could decide how to divide and distribute your assets, and they may do so in a way you wouldn’t want.

Not updating wills and other documents – Drafting a will and other legal documents, such as a living trust, is an important step in your estate planning. But you shouldn’t just create these arrangements and forget about them. Changes in your life and among your loved ones — deaths, divorce, remarriage, new children and more — may result in the need for you to update your estate plans, so it’s a good idea to review them periodically.

Not updating beneficiaries – Similar to updating your will to reflect changes in your life and family situation, you may also need to update the beneficiaries listed on your financial accounts and insurance policies. These designations carry a lot of weight and can even supersede instructions in your will, so you’ll need to make sure they are current

and accurate.

Not properly titling assets in a trust –Depending on your situation, you may benefit from establishing a living trust, which may allow your estate to avoid the time-consuming and expensive process of probate. A living trust also helps give you control over how, and when, you want your assets distributed. However, you need to retitle your assets in the name of the trust for the trust to be effective.

Not choosing the right executor – An executor carries out your wishes based on the instructions you’ve given in your will or trust documents. But fulfilling an executor’s duties is not as simple as, say, following a recipe for a basic meal. Consequently, while you might just want to pick a close family member as executor, you need to be sure this person is competent, good with details and won’t be overwhelmed by the financial and legal issues involved in settling an estate. If your initial choice doesn’t have these

skills, you may need to find a responsible person outside the family.

Finally, here’s one more mistake: going it alone. Estate planning is not a do-it-yourself activity. To help ensure your estate plan addresses all the issues involved, you’ll need to work with a legal advisor, and possibly your tax and financial professionals, too.

Devoting the necessary time and effort can help you avoid many of the mistakes that threaten the effectiveness of estate plans — and the fewer mistakes you make, the better off your beneficiaries can be.

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

Todd Holder

Empowering the Mind

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation wants you to know about available mental health resources on the Plateau.

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation wants you to know about available mental health resources on the Plateau.

Mental health concerns have a profound impact on many individuals, affecting their overall well-being and quality of life. It is crucial to recognize the importance of accessible and effective mental health resources to help people seek assistance, receive proper treatment, and overcome their challenges.

The Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation has taken proactive steps to invest in mental health services for the community. In 2023, the Health Foundation provided seven grants that brought additional mental health resources to our area, enhancing the support available for those in need.

In addition to grants, the BEE Kind Mental Health Awareness initiative provided a unique way to observe Mental Health Awareness Month. Through programs and partnerships, the initiative was able to open conversations and reduce stigma around mental health and wellness. The Health Foundation and Counseling Center of Highlands also provided mental health resources to the graduating seniors at Blue Ridge Early

College, Highlands School, and Summit Charter School.

If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Speaking with your primary healthcare provider is always a good place to start. Additionally, here is a list of local and national resources available that provide a safe space for individuals to express their emotions, share their concerns, and receive professional guidance along their mental health journey.

These resources can include therapy, counseling, support groups, and hotlines.

Counseling Center, Highlands, counseling-center.org; Blue Ridge Health: brchs.com; Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers: highlandscashiersclinic.org; National Institute of Mental Health: nimh.nih. gov/health/find-help; Mental Health America: mhanational.org; Psychology Today: psychologytoday.com/us

During times of immediate crisis, knowing where to seek help is essential. For life-threatening emergencies, individuals are urged to call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room promptly.

In cases of suicidal thoughts or emotional

distress, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers 24-hour confidential support through calls, texts, or online chats with trained crisis counselors. Call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

For veterans specifically, the Veterans Crisis Line offers a similar 24-hour, confidential service that connects veterans and their supporters with trained responders for aid and guidance. The service is available to all veterans and those who support them, even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA healthcare. To access the Veterans Crisis Line, call 988, then press “1,” send a text to 838255, or chat online at veteranscrisisline.net.

The Health Foundation aims to help individuals dealing with mental health challenges by raising awareness of available resources and services and funding programs, initiatives, and partnerships with local organizations to ensure everyone receives the necessary support for a healthy and fulfilled life.

To learn more about the Health Foundation, visit hchealthfnd,org.

by Josh Bryson, Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

Maximizing Natural Beauty

For Anita Dormer, MD, opening a plateau office for her physician-only bespoke medical aesthetic practice is the culmination of a childhood dream. To learn about her transformative vision and the services that she offers, visit dranitamedicalaesthetics.com.

Dr. Anita, a leading physician in medical aesthetics and regenerative medicine, has journeyed back to her North Carolina roots after a distinguished career.

After 20 years as a triple boarded critical care pulmonary physician treating hundreds of burn victims, Dr. Anita became interested in the impact of human attractiveness on the mental and social well-being as well as overall physical health of the individual.

In recognition of her expertise in ARDS, ventilator associated pneumonia, and laser bronchoscopy of tumors, she was recruited to New York to serve as chairman of the pulmonary critical care department. After surveying the changing landscape of health care in university and hospital settings, she decided to start one of the first medical spas and has been recognized as “top doctor” in NY Magazine since 2001.

Originally from the Tar Heel State and after years working in bustling urban environments, Dr. Anita felt drawn back to

the tranquility of her childhood camping grounds in North Carolina. She returned to the area in the ‘90s but found the timing wasn’t right. Now, however, she’s making her permanent home in Western North Carolina, fulfilling a dream she had since she was eight years old.

“I used to come here to camp as a little girl and at eight told my mother I was going to live there,” she recalls. Having opened one of the first medical spas in the United States in 2000, Dr. Anita has been a trailblazer in the field. Her practice focuses on emphasizing a balanced ratio and symmetry in facial features.

One of her primary tools for accomplishing this symmetry is using fillers that stimulate collagen growth as well as Botox, Dysport, and other neuromodulators. “Beauty is in the millimeters, not in the yardstick,” she says, highlighting her meticulous attention to detail. “My method is to improve your appearance by maximizing your natural beauty using mathematics and by emphasizing your best features – not correcting every line and wrinkle. That is the magic!”

Dr. Anita Dormer

Dr. Anita’s passion for aesthetics goes beyond mere injections; she is an artist sculpting natural beauty rather than erasing lines. Her medical approach is deeply artistic yet scientific and mathematical, eschewing the superficial glamour often associated with aesthetic procedures. “I don’t follow wrinkles,” she explains. “I find your natural beauty and try to enhance it rather than make you look like someone else.”

In addition to her medical practice, Dr. Anita is deeply committed to community engagement. She believes in working with local businesses and supporting the community that welcomes her. “I want to work with the community and their businesses,” she affirms. “We all help each other out.” With her expertise, commitment to natural beauty, and dedication to community, Dr. Anita is not only enhancing appearances but also building relationships and enriching the lives of those around her.

by Marlene Osteen

photos by Mary Gillan Scan to learn more.

Preventing Common Sports Injuries

Tennis comes with its own suite of sprains, strains, and spasms. Take a few simple steps before you step on the court.

Dr. Kristin Lander

For many active residents in Highlands, racquet sports are not just sports; it’s a passion that keeps them moving, socializing, and challenging themselves.

However, with this enthusiasm comes the risk of sports-related injuries, such as the notorious tennis elbow. But fear not! With the right approach, you can continue to enjoy the swings and serves without the setbacks.

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is an overuse injury resulting from repetitive motion. It’s not exclusive to tennis players but can affect anyone who engages in activities requiring similar arm movements. The condition manifests as pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow, making it difficult to shake hands, turn a doorknob, or even hold a racket.

The good news is that with a few proactive steps, you can significantly reduce

your risk of developing tennis elbow and other common sports injuries.

Warm-Up Properly: Before hitting the court, engage in a comprehensive warm-up routine to prepare your muscles and joints. Focus on dynamic stretches that mimic tennis movements to enhance flexibility and reduce the risk of tears.

Strengthen and Condition: Incorporate exercises that strengthen the muscles around the elbow, wrist, and shoulders. Strong muscles provide better support and reduce the strain on your tendons.

Technique Matters: Often, injuries stem from incorrect technique. Working with a coach to refine your swings and stances can make a huge difference. Proper technique not only improves your game but also distributes the physical stress more evenly, sparing your joints and tendons from undue strain.

Rest and Recovery: Listen to your body. Adequate rest between sessions allows

your body to repair and strengthen. Ignoring pain and fatigue is a surefire way to invite injury.

Incorporating these strategies into your tennis routine can help keep the game enjoyable and injury-free. Remember, the goal is to play smarter, not harder. Should you experience persistent pain or discomfort, it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider equipped to manage sports injuries.

As a chiropractor with a focus on holistic wellness for active individuals, I can help you understand the underlying causes of your pain and work with you to develop a tailored plan that addresses your specific needs, helping you return to the activities you love with confidence and vitality.

by Dr. Kristin Lander, DC Highlands Chiropractic & Wellness

Hurdles in a Girdle

A busy life crammed with incidents and events allowed Pat Allen to craft Hurdles in a Girdle… Holding Life Together When You’re Bursting at the Seams . Contact her at pat.f.allen@gmail.com.

Pat Allen

Pat Allen and her adorable late husband, also named Pat Allen, moved to Highlands 30 years ago.

They opened a bed and breakfast, the Morning Star Inn. In the beginning, Ms. Pat had to fight disgruntled neighbors. In the eight years the Pats ran the inn and a successful cooking school, those neighbors learned and turned to love her.

Folks who know her will testify – she’s got spunk!

Two decades ago she became a top real estate broker. That launched a firm, Pat Allen Realty Group. Allen Tate Realtors out of Charlotte scooped up her thriving business, which remains number one in sales in the Carolinas and the country for independent firms.

And talk about independent – that she is! If she sets her mind to something, it will happen!

Three years ago, Pat had a serious, lifethreatening health scare. Her bowel was

perforated, resulting in an emergency procedure in Gainesville, Georgia. Little did she know E -Coli had spread through her body.

She is lucky to be alive, Her first thought was, “I would be dead, but embarrassed, that the bed wasn’t made and papers were strewn on the dining room table.”

This prompted her to think of a legacy to leave behind other than her two wonderful children. So she wrote and published a book: Hurdles in a Girdle…Holding Life Together When You’re Bursting at the Seams. It is a memoir to inspire women who feel stuck in a bad marriage/ relationship or unfulfilling job to jump the hurdle to something better that awaits on the other side.

Pat’s life has been filled with hurdles. She reveals them in full detail, once more exhibiting her spunk and determination. Her success of creating a multi-million-dollar firm was not easy, but her perseverance paid off. You will

be inspired when you discover that Jack Canfield, author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series and The Success Principles calls her book “a roadmap to life’s purpose.” It’s a must read.

Illustrating Pat’s spunky attitude, she had a fushia girdle made as seen on the book’s cover. She plans to wear it when she speaks to ladies’ groups.

With all of Pat’s successes, she always gives back to the community and supports many non-profits.

To learn more about this spunky lady, you can order Hurdles in a Girdle from Amazon or online Barnes and Noble. Watch for it in local stores soon. She’s already on the road with book signings, and she plans to speak to women’s groups around the country.

by

Donna Rhodes photo by Susan Renfro

Photo by Susan Renfro

The Best of Neighbors

Mountain Findings, a non-profit resale store located in Highlands moves a bazaar’s worth of furniture, home accessories, lamps, tools, linens, pictures, tableware, and more.

It’s hard to describe the phenomenon that is Mountain Findings (but I’ll try, since Marjorie and Janet pay me to do things like this!) the 501(c)(3) community thrift store that has been an integral part of our community for 57 years!

Operated entirely by volunteers whose numbers are pushing 80 this year and stocked solely with items given by generous donors and community collaborators, Mountain Findings has provided over $5.5 million in grants to area charities and non-profits that enrich

the lives and improve the circumstances of so many in our community and to student scholarships for Highlands High School seniors who attend higher learning institutions, community colleges, or trade programs.

Mountain Findings embodies the best of neighbors helping neighbors, and their success is a testament to what can be accomplished with giving hearts and a joyful countenance. In addition to all those dedicated volunteers and generous donors, joy just might just be the secret sauce of what makes this place run so

successfully and efficiently.

The volunteers have formed an almost family-like bond happily doing the often back-breaking work of keeping the showrooms organized and merchandise moving. Listen closely and you might just hear them whistling while they work. At the very least you’ll hear laughter.

Mountain Findings is a destination within itself. Shoppers love the place so much that many come by each week as much to visit as to see what’s new. One even brings the volunteers baked

goods each week.

They have committed themselves to providing an unparalleled thrift shopping experience offering an assortment of housewares, gently used furnishings, rugs, lighting, artwork, linens, glassware, silver, pottery, and more, so much more.

Many items are vintage or antique and while priced below value they are priced according to a percentage of the going market price. For those looking for such upscale pieces, you’ll likely find them here, but you can also find items to fit any budget. Thrifting and repurposing pieces is a thrilling experience and Mountain Findings successfully strives

to make it accessible to all. There are items at every price point here.

Anyone wishing to donate can drop off items 7 days a week by pulling to the rear of the building but please be mindful to leave only gently used items and no appliances, paints, batteries, electronics, building materials, or mattresses. They will also happily arrange pickup for those who have numerous or large items to donate. You’ll have to arrange delivery of large items you purchase but they will happily provide you with the names of individuals who can help.

Mountain Findings is located at 452 Spruce Street and is open from 10:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. Thursday through Saturday,

through October, and every other weekend during the off-season months.

For more information, keep an eye on their Facebook page, call them at (828) 526-9929, or visit mountainfindings.org.

by Mary Jane McCall

Photos by Susan Renfro

Scan to learn more.

An Ode to Poe

With apologies to Mr. Poe, the cats at the shelter face a future that’s anything but bleak.

Once upon a September dreary, while they pondered, weak and weary,

Three eight-week-old kittens were left with nowhere to go.

Found abandoned in Highlands and saved by a Good Samaritan

Were the scared and hungry youngsters named Edgar, Allan and Poe.

In their short lives all they felt were sadness, fear and woe,

And what little did they know.

Ah, distinctly we remember when last year in September

Those kittens’ fur like fiery embers first appeared at our front door.

Eagerly we pampered and we cared and unconditional love we shared

And our hearts swelled as we watched them prance across the floor.

A life complete it seemed, like some -

thing from a dream… or Might there be just something more.

The kittens, they grew stronger; their shyness seemed no longer,

“Sir,” said we, “or Madam, truly your adoption we implore;

They’ve done so well in coping and we honestly were hoping

That when you were so kind to walk inside our shelter’s door,

That maybe, just perhaps maybe, was the day we’ve been hoping for.”

Yet again, there was nothing more.

The fall became the winter and then came the promise of the spring,

But every passing day would bring the same questions as before,

Where is the forever home for Poe and when will he be adopted,

And what day will he enjoy all the love that lies in store?

Not today, an echo murmured back, a whisper not a roar, Merely this and nothing more.

Poe and his brothers Edgar and Allen are now 11 months of age,

Not a day spent in a cage and during all this time no tussles or nor

So much as a disagreement with other cats in their cageless room.

Caring for handsome Poe and his siblings has never been a chore

And because of all our love and caring, the scars those brothers wore

Are forgotten from their hearts, no more.

To the shelter pets like Poe for whom we provide a second chance to live,

Good health and hope we give when their outlook was quite poor,

We never stop believing and loving, and the animals who we care for

Want for nothing, and this commitment

coming from our very core: We will always be the voice for the voiceless for the creatures we adore, Until homeless animals are… Nevermore.

Established in 1987, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located at 200 Gable Drive in Sapphire, 1 ½ miles east of the Cashiers Ingles in between Cedar Creek Club and Lonesome Valley on Highway 64. Our no-kill shelter is open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.. For more information, call (828) 743-5752 or email info@ 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 photo by Marty Boone

Keeping Minds

Sharp SeasonAll

There are plenty of activities to keep children engaged throughout the Busy Season.

Summer is a time for carefree days, family adventures, and much-needed relaxation. But for parents, it can also mean a quiet worry — the dreaded “summer slide.” This refers to the potential learning loss students experience during the break from structured schooling.

Don’t fret! The good news is that the summer- slide can be prevented without turning your home into a classroom. Try some of these fun and engaging ways to keep your child’s mind active, whether you’re at home or on vacation.

At Home Activities:

• Read Everywhere, Every Day: Pack a library bag on your next outing. Encourage reading in different locations, such as the park, the lake, and the backyard hammock. Make it a family activity, and take turns reading aloud.

• Turn Errands into Learning Adventures: For older children, grocery

shopping becomes a math lesson with estimations and comparisons. For younger learners, pick up a Shop for Words card in front of Bryson’s market. Exploring a new hiking trail can become a science and geography adventure. Discuss what you see and learn about the Plateau’s flora and fauna.

• Get Creative: Arts and crafts projects encourage imagination and fine motor skills. Write and illustrate a story together about your summer adventures.

• Board Games and Puzzles: These classic activities are a great way to practice critical thinking, problem-solving, and vocabulary skills.

On-the-Go Activities:

• Travel Journals: Encourage your child to write and draw about their experiences. This helps with memory retention and storytelling skills.

• Visit Museums and Historical Sites: Learning doesn’t have to be

confined to textbooks. Museums and historical sites offer interactive exhibits and programs that spark curiosity and a love of learning.

Are you looking for a structured learning experience this summer? The Literacy & Learning Center offers engaging and enriching summer camps for kids! From Chef Camp to Digital Leadership Camp, TL&LC provides a fun and stimulating environment to keep young minds sharp and curious throughout the summer. In addition, individual tutoring options are available for students who need some extra one-on-one support.

Remember, by incorporating small, engaging activities into your family’s daily routine, you can prevent the summer slide, ensure your child returns to school in the fall ready to learn and grow and instill a love of learning!

by Anna Norton

The Literacy & Learning Center

A Peggy Crosby Thank You

Thanks to its generous partners, The Peggy keeps racking up successes, even in the midst of the busiest season of a busy year.

We keep saying it, but it never feels like enough: We are grateful to you for being a tremendous part of Peggy’s mission. Recently, we at The Peggy Crosby Center have been able to make invaluable improvements to our facility: LED lighting, carpets, upgrades for the parking area, and new plantings for the Pollinator Garden.

The Cullasaja Women’s Club helped keep us under the same roof, literally-speaking. Better put, it helped keep a roof at all on Peggy’s pate. CWC also donated money for the new LED lighting throughout the Peggy Crosby Center building. These exceptional lights brighten not only the offices and hallways, but our spirits. Another bonus, the new lights are cost-effective, lowering our monthly energy bills noticeably. Huzzah!

From ceiling to floor, we are grateful to Mountain Findings for giving us footing with new carpeting in three offices used by The Land Trust. This is what we mean: what you give us doesn’t stop

One link connects to another, then another, and pretty soon, the whole community is benefitting…

with us or even our building. It builds connections. One link connects to another, then another, and pretty soon, the whole community is benefitting from what your fund raising, donations, and more have contributed. Zowie!

The parking lot’s good ol’ railroad ties have played a huge service to tenants and visitors for decades, but it’s time to retire them. The Laurel Garden Club provided funds for their replacement, but this time

it will be lovely stonework tied, as it were, to the theme of gardens, pollinators, Mother Nature and the natural elements of the land. The Garden Club also provided upgrades for new plantings around the building including the Pollinator Garden. Yahoo!

We’re going to keep saying it: Thank you, thank you, thank you. And for all our huzzahs, zowies, and yahoos, it still falls short in thanking you for keeping Peggy healthy, thriving, and reliable for those who need it most. Donations keep our energy flowing in so many ways. Lowering costs make our rents affordable to our tenants. We thank you for your part in providing this vital role for our community on the plateau. Visit peggycrosbycenter.org for more information about how you can connect or give her another huzzah in the near future.

by Donna Rhodes

Unleash the Fun

HHighlands Dog Park Revitalization Brings New Life to Community Space

ighlands is going to the dogs. Local cats don’t care.

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visit Highlands, NC, in partnership with the Town of Highlands, have recently revitalized the Highlands Dog Park, situated behind the Recreation Center.

This collaborative effort aimed to improve both the look and functionality of the park, ensuring a top-notch experience for residents, visitors and their canine companions.

The revitalization project was driven by user feedback and focused on making the park more enjoyable and accessible.

Key improvements include significant drainage enhancements to keep the park dry and safe post-rainfall, an expanded pavilion area for relaxation and social gatherings, and new lush lawn areas providing a comfortable environment for both dogs and their owners. Additionally, essential repairs to the park’s fencing and the addition of a new entrance from the upper parking area.

A Yappy Hour Celebration was held to reopen the park where owners in attendance received complimentary dog treats, waste containers and frisbees provided by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Landmark Realty Group. Additionally, attendees had the opportu-

nity to meet The Park on Main’s newest foster dog, Bandit, and explore the park’s refreshed surroundings.

Tate Landscaping Services, Inc. handled the revitalization work and will maintain the park as part of their contract with the Town of Highlands.

Residents and visitors are invited to bring their pups to explore the newly updated Highlands Dog Park, a welcoming and safe space for all to enjoy.

by Johanna Fein,

Highlands Chamber of Commerce / Visit Highlands, NC

Andy Spraggins

Saving You Time and Energy

Spraggins Home Inspections offers uniquely personal, professional service in a high stakes field. For information, visit spragginshi.com or call (828) 482-7239.

At the heart of Spraggins Home Inspections, it all comes down to trust and reliability.

Says Andy Spraggins, who owns and operates the burgeoning business. “Our family moved our home inspection business here, to be closer to family and to raise our children in a wholesome environment.”

Andy’s lifetime of working in the building trades is vital to Spraggins Home Inspections’ rapidly expanding caseload.

With years of experience in building and home services, Andy has honed his skills in various areas, from installation and quality control to project management and completion of renovations. Andy’s diverse skill set uniquely equips him to inspect properties in the luxury real estate market, setting him apart from other inspectors.

“We simplify the process so our customers can save time and energy and focus on creating joyful moments in their new homes,” says Andy. “We leverage advanced technology to obtain accurate, actionable data about a home’s condition.

Our indoor air quality testing uses the most advanced technology available to tell you exactly what is in the air you breathe.”

“Inspecting houses is a lot of fun and I love the beautiful homes here and helping people get acquainted with their new spaces. It’s very enjoyable working with both buyers and sellers of residential and commercial properties. My wife, Laikin, has been a huge influence on the success of the venture and is the General Manager and Marketing Director.

As you’d expect from such a busy office, Andy offers other skills as well.

“I have several professional credentials which allow me to inspect for the presence of mold and radon. I am an FAA licensed drone pilot which allows me to fly my drone over your roof to inspect hard to reach areas and find things that might otherwise be missed.

“I work in tandem with real estate professionals to ensure that the home inspection process goes smoothly. Potential hurdles to the transaction are quickly identified and communicated.

Time is always of the essence, so the little things, like answering the phone and showing up on time are of critical importance. Writing reports with good photography and clear organization also serve to speed up and simplify the process.

“Pre-Listing Home Inspections are just like a buyer’s inspection, but take place before the home is listed. The report is then used to drive repairs and tackle deferred maintenance. This type of investment can significantly speed up the process of marketing and selling a home. Identifying potential problems while there is still time to complete repairs can create substantial homeowner savings as well, while preserving list price.

“I measure my success by the depth of understanding my clients have of their new homes and always make myself available for consultation after an inspection has been performed.”

by Luke Osteen

THE LEGACY CONTINUES

The McKee Group

Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty

Beth Townsend and Liz Harris, Co-Owners of McKee Properties, along with McKee Brokers, are continuing the legacy as The McKee Group brokered by Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty. Nearly half a century of local luxury real estate expertise is now backed by the Sotheby’s brand offering worldwide exposure and world-class resources for their clients.

SANDY BARROW JOHN BARROW CLAY CANTLER JESSICA HOHEISEL

BETH TOWNSEND LIZ HARRIS COLEEN GOTTLOEB MAGGIE ELMER

Coleen Gottloeb

A CERTIFIED LUXURY HOME MARKETING SPECIALIST (CLHMS)

“My husband and I have had the great fortune of knowing Coleen for more than 20 years. What started as new neighbors grew into a long friendship and working relationship.Throughout multiple real estate transactionsColeenrepresenteduswithpatienceandintegrity.Shenevertiredwhenwewereindecisive. Sheisalwayscommittedunconditionallytoherclientsinthelongrunandmostpeoplethatworkwithher remainfriendsforalifetime.Werecommendherwholeheartedly.” –ROSEMARY AND GARY M

“We have worked with Coleen on multiple purchases and sales over 20 years. She quickly learned our likes and dislikes with properties and has been very helpful as we looked for properties that fit our desires.Herassistanceturnedadreamintoreality.Sheispatientandthorough.Intheprocess,Coleen hasbecomeaveryclosefamilyfriend.WecannotrecommendColeenenough.” – KAY AND WATSON J

With over 25 years of real estate experience in the Cashiers area, Coleen is excited to be a part of The McKee Group brokered by Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty and carry on as the Broker-In-Charge. As a seasoned Broker she has crafted a career out of transforming the seemingly ordinary into the extraordinary. Helping to unite buyers and sellers in pursuit of their desires and dreams.

But it’s not just about the numbers and deals. Her true passion lies in forging connections, understanding the unique aspirations of each client and transforming their vision into a tangible reality. She prides herself on being not just a Broker, but a trusted confidant and advisor throughout the entire process.

A native of St. Cloud in central Florida, Coleen holds a bachelor of science in marketing from Florida State University, making her a third-generation Seminole. She earned her NC real estate license in 1996. Her professional designations include Certified Residential Specialist (CRS); Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI); Green; Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS); Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES); and a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS),

4 BR / 5 BA / 2 HBA / 2.15 ACRES Take advantage of this rare opportunity to own two homes on a private pond. This is a fantastic option for a multi-family retreat or investment property. The larger home has two bedrooms, two full baths with 2 half baths set in a serene, mountain environment. Its floorplan and design offer potential buyers an exciting opportunity to customize and transform it into their dream home. As you step inside, you’ll appreciate the abundant natural light that fills each space, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The house features a spacious interior that seamlessly leads to multiple levels of deck areas — both covered and open — perfect for enjoying the outdoors no matter the weather. There is

for $1,024,900

a large finished lower level with living space, half bathroom and workshop. The smaller dwelling is a charming two bedroom, three bath cabin with an upstairs sleeping loft. The lower level has been finished off and there are spacious covered decks on both levels. The grounds are a true highlight, boasting lush, mature landscaping which surrounds a charming private pond equipped with lighting and two decorative fountains. This feature adds a peaceful and picturesque quality to the property, making it a tranquil retreat. The property sits comfortably with ample space for both living and entertaining. The lot itself is generously sized, providing ample room for potential expansions or enhancements according to your tastes and needs. MLS 104362

Forest Offered for $989,950

3 BR / 4 BA / 1.52 ACRES Welcome to Buckberry Lodge, a meticulously maintained residence nestled in the scenic enclave of Sapphire, NC. This turnkey property offers a blend of comfort and practicality, ideally suited for both family living and rental income potential. Spanning three spacious bedrooms and four renovated bathrooms, each bedroom boasts new carpeting and private access to its own bathroom. The heart of the home features cozy gas log fireplaces, one each level, creating a warm ambiance perfect for relaxing evenings. The house is equipped with modern necessities including two washing machines and two dryers, catering to the demands of a busy household or a thriving rental operation. The owners have intentionally invested back in the property to

Holly

ensure it longevity by making upgrades and updates every year. Ask your agent for a full list of these improvements. The full basement offers additional space, serving as a recreational area and includes two additional king bedroom suites and storage. The ample porch space on both levels offers even more options for relaxing in the cool mountain air. Whether you’re looking for a serene family home or an investment opportunity with proven rental success, Buckberry Lodge represents a perfect blend of functionality, style, and prime location. MLS 104403

Forest Offered for $600,000

3 BR / 2.5 BA / 0.66 ACRES — Discover your Sapphire haven at this spacious 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath vacation home! This newly renovated cabin is the perfect mountain getaway. Whether you are looking for an investment property or your forever home, this quaint cabin has everything you need. All of the bathrooms have recently been renovated, so you don’t have to worry about the hassle of a project! Featuring a peaceful location with stunning forest views,

this property blends all of the comforts of home with the grand adventure North Carolina is known for. Located less than 4-miles from Sapphire Resort Ski Area and up to 7 waterfalls within 6 miles on the “Land of Waterfalls.” Rest up for another day of adventure by the wood burning fireplace and Smart TV. This home is turn key so that you can continue to generate great income as a short term rental. Buy the home today and let the rentals pay the bills! MLS 103470

Liz Harris

CONSISTENTLY A TOP-RANKED BROKER ON THE PLATEAU

“Liz Harris is on top of the Cashiers real estate market.She is proactive and creative and someone you want working for you.We’ve worked with her on several transactions and enjoy her personally as well as professionally.” – RENEE H

“Liz has successfully been my Broker on two occasions.First,she coordinated with other Brokers to get top-dollar for my home in Mountaintop.Next,she was able to secure a property I really wanted after it was just sold to someone else,and find a solution that satisfied everyone.In a word she is tenacious,and gets the job done.” – CHRIS E

LIZHARRISBROKER.COM

Get to Know Liz, Broker & Co-Founder of The McKee Group

Liz Harris stands as the preeminent Cashiers agent, boasting a top-ranking position over the life of the Highlands-Cashiers MLS. With an unwavering commitment and a genuine passion for her work, Liz has earned the trust and loyalty of her clients throughout her successful career spanning over twenty years.

Having been mentored by the esteemed A. William McKee, founder of Wade Hampton Golf Club, Liz possesses a deep understanding of the market dynamics and client needs. Together, they hold the record for the largest sale to date on the Highlands/Cashiers Plateau.

Specializing in the area’s finest communities, including Wade Hampton, High Hampton, Mountaintop, Lonesome Valley, and Chattooga Club, Liz’s reputation precedes her as the exclusive listing agent for Silver Run Reserve — a testament to her commitment to excellence and success in the industry.

With her leading record and expertise in large acreage land sales, and her involvement in successful new developments such as Silver Run Reserve, Schoolhouse Cottages, Laurel Meadow, and many other real estate investments, Liz brings a wealth of experience, and a direct access to land planners and builders. She is the ideal agent to guide clients in their search for land, whether for a private family estate or new development.

Having made Cashiers her home for the past 24 years alongside her husband Ben and two children, Liz intimately understands the communities and lifestyles that families seek in the area. Her personal experience and dedication to client satisfaction make her the perfect ally in the purchase or sale of your mountain retreat. With Liz Harris by your side, your real estate aspirations are in the most capable hands, ensuring a rewarding and successful experience.

Big Sheepcliff

4 BR / 4.5 BA / 6.27 ACRES Perched majestically atop the mountains of Cashiers, NC, this remarkable estate boasts an elevation of 4500 feet and offers a rare opportunity to experience magnificent mountain living. Sweeping vistas from nearly every room stretch across the expanse of Cashiers and beyond to the neighboring states of South Carolina and Georgia. Commanding over six acres within the gated community of Big Sheepcliff, the privacy and exclusivity of this estate is just a short drive from the town’s center. The handsome home has been meticulously remodeled from top to bottom, marrying modern luxury with timeless elegance. Rich warmth of antique timber accents infuses the home with a sense of history and authenticity. The expansive great room and adjoining family room are both graced by majestic masonry stone fireplaces that invite you to unwind and soak in the breathtaking scenery surrounding you. The expansive chef’s kitchen beckons culinary

for $6,989,000

enthusiasts with its generous proportions and top-of-the-line amenities. Entertain with ease in the elegant formal dining room featuring a beautiful masonry stone fireplace, or casually on the generous back deck which offers yet another stone fireplace, spacious sitting and dining areas and stunning endless views. Two primary suites on the main level offer a peaceful sanctuary complete with a cozy fireplace, lavish bath, and private porch retreat. Upstairs, two additional generously sized suites, each with their own private sitting room, provide comfort and seclusion for family and friends. Handsomely landscaped grounds showcase the fabulous views, extensive rock work and stone patios, creating inviting spaces for entertaining and relaxation. A large grilling/dining patio welcomes an evening grill-out and the nearby firepit is the perfect spot to gather under the starlit sky, for memories that will last a lifetime. MLS 104103

Cashiers, Hwy 107 South

Offered for $6,900,000

39.18 ACRES A rare opportunity to acquire this premier Cashiers, NC acreage located on the prestigious Hwy 107S corridor, 3-minutes from town! Much of the land is nearly level featuring a creek and stream running through it, and an elevated area offering great homesites with gentle topography and beautiful views of Chimneytop Mountain, Rock Mountain, Big Sheepcliff and others. This property would make a beautiful private estate just 3-minutes from the center of Cashiers and close to Wade Hampton, High Hampton, and Chattooga Club. This land also offers excellent commercial, residential or mixed use development potential with its excellent location, frontage on Hwy 107S, gentle topography, and views. MLS 101855

Silver Run Reserve * Offered for $6,500,000

5 BR / 5.5 BA / 8.57 ACRES This gorgeous 8.5 acre estate is located in the beautiful Silver Run Reserve, just 5-minutes from Cashiers. It features a brand new 5 bedroom home scheduled for completion at the end of April 2024just in time to enjoy for the upcoming Summer Season here on the plateau! The fantastic home is designed by renowned architect TS Adams and constructed by one of Cashiers’ finest builders, Harris Custom Builders. The gentle, rolling lot boasts beautiful views of Whiteside Mountain that sweep through the trees

and beyond into the Meadows of Silver Run Reserve. Silver Run Creek flows just below the house providing excellent fishing, natural plunge pools, and wading areas for children. This home is located an easy walking distance to all of Silver Run Reserve’s wonderful amenities, and is a convenient location within the community yet tucked back in the acreage for ultimate privacy. MLS 101991

*LOTS & NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION AVAILABLE!

4118 Kitchen and Bar 4118kitchen-bar.com P 140

A&A Property Cleanouts P

A Jones Company P 47

A-List Antiques P 202

Acorns acornshighlandsnc.com P 260

ACP Home Interiors acphomeinteriors.com P 39

Allan Dearth and Sons Generators adsemergencypower.com P 78

Allen Tate/Pat Allen Realty Group patallenrealtygroup.com P 9, 59

Allen Tate/Beverly Hanks allentate.com P 179

Allison Diane allisondianeclothing.com P 154

Annawear annawearnc.com P 214

Annell Metsker annell.com P 105

Around Back at Rocky’s Place aroundbackatrockysplace.com P 113

Art Highlands Galley arthighlands.com P 105

Art League of Highlands-Cashiers artleaguehighlands-cashiers P 115

Atelier Maison ateliermaisonco.com P 68, 69

The Attic Antiques theatticantiquesnc.com P 247

Balistreri Realty laketoxawayliving.com P 187

Barbara Jamison Paintings barbarajamisonpaintings.com P 5

The Bascom thebascom.org P 103

Baxter’s Tree Service P 222

Bazaar Barn P 30

Bella Cotn bellacotn.com P 170

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices meadowsmountainrealty.com P 172

Beth Poindexter Luxe P 164

Betsy Paul Art Benefit P 204

Betsy Paul Properties betsypaulproperties.com P 259

Bijou Jewelry bijoujeweler.com P 193

Bird Barn & Garden P 219

Black Rock Design Build blackrockdb.com P 228, 245

Blue Ridge Bedding blueridgebedding.com P 178

Blue Ridge Falls RV Resort bueridgefallsrvresortcom P 183

Blue Ridge Music P 116

Bombshell Hair Boutique P 195

Bounds Cave’s Rug Gallery boundscaverugs.com P 33

Brevard Music Center brevardmusic.org P 100

The Brier Patch P 119

Brookings Fly Shop brookingsonline.com P 89

Bungalow Boutique bungalow828.com P 202

Burlingame experience-burlingame.com P 180

Butler Galleries butlergalleries.com P 243

C Orrico corrico.com P 168

Calders Coffee Cafe calderscoffeecafe.com P 141

Caliber Fine Properties caliberfineproperties.com P 240, 241

Carolina Rustic Furniture carolinarusticfurniture.com P 178

Cashiers Antique Show cashiersannualantiqueshow.com P 89

Cashiers Chamber of Commerce cashiersareachamber.com P 201

Cashiers Candy Shoppe P 237

Cashiers Designer Showhouse cashiershistoricalsociety.org P 51

Cashiers Farmers Market cashiersfarmersmarket.com P 86

Cashiers Historical Society cashiershistoricalsociety.org P 203

Cashiers Kitchen Company P 219

Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty - The McKee Group P 65, 248-255

The Cashiers Store thecashierstore.com P 203

The Hideaway at The High Dive

P 137

High Camp HighCampNC.com P 4

High Country Wine and Provisions P 130, 131

The High Dive P 137

Highland Excursion mtntours.com P 72

Highland Hiker highlandhiker.com P 72, 85

Highlander Mountain House highlandermountainhouse.com P 55

Highlander Roofing highlandernc.com P 168

Highlands Aerial Park highlandsaerialpark.com P 72

Highlands Burrito highlandsburrito.com P 126

Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music Festival h-cmusicfestival.org P 109, 119

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation hchealthfnd.org P 217

Highlands-Cashiers Players highlandsperformingart.com/hcp P 31

Highlands Chamber of Commerce highlandschamber.org P 108

Highlands Dahlia Festival P 165

Highlands Decorating Center highlangsdecorating.com P 85

Highlands Dermatology highlandsdermatology.com P 215

Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry Wine Shop highlandsfineart.com P 22, 23

Highlands Food and Wine highlandsfoodandwine.com P 226

Highlands Gem Shop highlandsgemshop.com P 32

Highlands Lawn & Garden highlandslawnandgarden.com P 87

Highlands Outpost highlandsoutpost.com P 72

Highlands Performing Arts Center highlandsperformingarts.com P 102, 107, 224

Highlands Pizza Place P 127

Highlands Rock Yard highlandsrockyard.com P 84

Highlands Smokehouse highlandssmokehouse.com P 122

Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty - Andrea Gabbard sothebysrealty.com P 120

Highlands Transportation Company P 47

Historic Toxaway Foundation historictoxaway.org P 185

Historic Toxaway Market historictoxawaymarket.com P 184 Hotwire P 27

Hummingbird Lounge oldedwardsinn.com P 262

ID.ology Interiors & Design idologydesign.com P 71

Jack’s Upholstery P 160, 229

Jackson Hole Gem Mine jacksonholegemmine.com P 50, 72

Jannie Bean janniebeandesigns.com P 83

Jeanie Edwards Fine Art jedwardsfineart.com P 101

Jennings Builders Supply jbwnc.com P 235

Joan Anderson Interiors joanandersoninteriors.com P 219

John Cleaveland Realty jcrealty.com P 206

Josephine’s Emporium P 206, 229

Katherine McClure katherine-mcclure.com P 104

Kellar Williams Great Smokies P 236

The Kitchen thekitchenofhighlands.com P 126

Lake Toxaway Company laketoxaway.com P 189

Lakeside Restaurant lakesiderestaurant.info P 127

Landmark Realty Group landmarkrg.com P 53, 149, 229

Las Margaritas P 140

Laura Moser Art lauramoserart.com P 5

Lehotsky & Sons lehotskyandsons.com P 160, 228

Lenz Gifts & Luxury Linens P 10

Leslie Jeffery lesliejeffery.art P 112

Living Stone Design + Build livingstonedesignbuild.com P 70

Longcliff longcliff.com P 188

The Look Boutique P 21

Los Vaqueros P 143

Lupoli Construction lupoliconstruction.com P 57

Luxury Home Services

Rent In Highlands-CCP rentinhighlands.com P 48

Robin’s Nest robinsnest-cashiers.com P 28

Roman’s Roofing romansroofingnc.com P 195, 229

Roots & Vine roots-vine.com P 136

The Ruffed Grouse Tavern highlandermountainhouse.com P 55

Rusticks rusticks.com P 11, 82

Sapphire Valley Real Estate sapphirevalleyrealestate.com P 92

Sashay Around P 19

The Secret Garden P 135

Shiraz Rug Galleries shirazruggalleries.com P 49

Sky Valley Country Club skyvalleycountryclub.com P 72

Slabtown Pizza slabtownpizza.com P 136

Smoky Mountain Transportation P 63

Sotheby’s International Realty P 146, 147, 207

Southern Way P 84

Spoiled Rotten spoiledrotten2.com P 46

Spraggins Home Inspections spragginshi.com P 19

Stork’s Wrap, Pack & Ship P 15

Sugar Creek Custom Cabinets sugarcreekcustomcabinets.com P 166 The Summer House by Reeves summerhousehighlands.com P 52

Suncoast Equity Management suncoastequity.com P 222

Sweetwater Perk & Creamery historictoxawaymarket.com P 184

Tampa Bay Trust Company tampabaytrustcompany.com P 225

Tarah’s Beauty Bar P 228

TJ Bailey’s for Men tjbmens.com P 150

The Exchange P 200