Waterfall Guide

Road. There is a replica of a water wheel mill at the turn. Drive 1 mile and turn right into Sky Valley Resort. Drive another half mile and turn right on Tahoe Lane leading to the falls.

Happy Trails!

by Ed and Cindy Boos

At a Glance Waterfall Guide

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

HIGHLANDS Bridal Veil Falls

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

Dry Falls

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

Bust Your Butt Falls

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

Glen Falls

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

Upper Middle Creek Falls

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

CASHIERS Silver Run Falls

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

Whitewater Falls

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

Cashiers Sliding Rock

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

Spoonauger Falls

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

Schoolhouse Falls

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

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

Something for All Ages

Who’s ready to explore Where the Wild Things Are? The Highlands Nature Center has an entire season of fun and discovery — 930 Horse Cove Road.

Calling all nature lovers. The Highlands Nature Center is back in full swing with a variety of fun, family-friendly programs made possible by the Highlands Biological Foundation! Explore the Nature Center’s natural history exhibits, meet live animals, explore our Kids Exploration Room, and more Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. For those interested in diving a bit deeper, join us for our free, daily educational programs. Offerings include garden tours, animal feedings, nature art, and more. There’s something for all ages and interests, and no registration is required.

For those looking for after-hours adventures with the family, join us for our free Nature Center Nights programs each Tuesday night through July 26. Discover strange and fascinating facts about our slimy salamander friends, meet live owls while learning all about these amazing nocturnal raptors, or unlock the history and mystery of the night sky as we study the stars. Registration required. This summer, the Nature Center will also be hosting a slate of new programs including MAPS Education Stations for those interested in learning about vital bird conservation research at the Highlands Biological Station as well as Crafty Critter programs focused on different nature-related topics each month. Learn more about these and other upcoming programs at highlandsbiological.org. Be sure to check out our printable program calendar and hang one on your fridge. The Highlands Nature Center is part of the Highlands Biological Station, a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University. … meet live owls while learning all about these amazing nocturnal raptors.

by Winter Gary Communications & Events Coordinator, Highlands Biological Foundation

The Plateau’s Great Outdoors Month is given color and voice by an irrepressible choir of birds.

June is the official Great Outdoors Month in the U.S, so declared by presidents and the U.S. Senate. In the avian world, this month is the “last hurrah” for most of our Wood Warblers, such as the beautiful Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Hooded, Black-throated Blue and Blackthroated Green Warblers. The males will be singing their spring songs to attract females in the territories they established in May. Many of these birds already have raised and fledged their young. June is still a great time, however, to watch for birds carrying nesting materials, such as grasses, mosses, and other downy materials with which they line their nests. Usnea, the gray-green lichen, a Spanish Moss look-alike, is plentiful on the tree bark in our temperate rainforest and is a vital source of nest material for these warblers. Fur from dogs, rabbits, and other critters is also used.

Other colorful birds to watch for in June include Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting, both of which will visit your feeders. Scarlet Tanagers prefer well-wooded areas and tend to perch and sing high up in deciduous trees. Their song is very much like the American Robin, but has a rough quality, as if the bird has a sore throat! In fact, learning the song of the Robin, Grosbeak and Scarlet Tanager will lead you to many great looks at these knock-out birds.

The difference is in the quality of the song rather than in the tune, with the Rose-breasted Grosbeak having a smoother, whistling quality – you might consider this bird the trained opera star of the three. At the other end of the spectrum, the

A Season of

Bird Song

Scarlet Tanager song has a burry quality to it. So, the next time you see a Robin, stop to listen to it – there are plenty around. They will be nesting in June too, in large cup-shaped nests featuring sturdy mud walls wrapped in grasses and lined carefully with finer materials. June is a glorious bird month here in the mountains. Listen for the sonorous lotharios in the trees and then train your binoculars in that direction. Happy June birding from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. The Highlands Plateau Audubon Society, focused on enjoying and preserving birds and their habitats, is a Chapter of the National Audubon Society and a 501(c)(3) organization. For information on all our activities and membership, please visit highlandsaudubonsociety.org.

by William McReynolds

Pretty and Preserved

Onion Mountain invites you to rev up for a hike and unwind in a quiet pasture.

One of Mainspring Conservation Trust’s main goals is to preserve properties for perpetuity and for public use. Several spots exist throughout the area where anyone can park, walk, hike, and bike. Many of the properties have historic and/or botanical significance. In early April, a ribbon cutting took place to recognize Mainspring’s newest public trail, at Onion Mountain, 3575 Ellijay Road, just off Highlands Road. Although few parking spots are available currently for the site, the area is located next to old pastoral land with a significant stream – a perfect reflection spot before embarking on a day hike. Overseeing this 325-acre, donated-land project has been Kelder Monar, Mainspring’s Stewardship Manager/GIS Specialist. He shared some aspects of the site: “The property contains the entire watershed on an unnamed tributary to Ellijay Creek. It has several forest types, including Rich Cove Forest, Montane Oak-Hickory Forest, Chestnut Oak Forest, and Acidic Cove Forest. There are also smaller natural features, such as seeps, rock outcroppings, and open glades. In general, the Onion Mountain area has occurrences of mafic soils, which can lead to unique plant communities. I realized right away that this property was different in terms of the habitat.” And there are plenty of native flowering plants, including Bloodroot, Robin’s Plantain, Rue Anemone, and Wild Hydrangea. The main path, dubbed Kelder’s Klimb, is approximately a four miles out-and-back hike with a 1,000-foot elevation. However, there are other trails – indicated with small signs – that are named for Mainspring employees, due to the donors’ long-time involvement with and support of Mainspring Conservation Trust. Although some work, especially the trailhead’s stairs and initial path, was achieved by volunteers, much of the trail system follows former logging roads and paths. Some have been completely cleared while others are still under initial maintenance.

“There are miles of trails to explore,” said Monar. A trail off Kelder’s Klimb is Sarah’s Sojourn, which leads to a narrow waterfall plunging from across the trail from way above to way below – along an all-rock route. Also off of Kelder’s Klimb is Molly’s Meander, another somewhat challenging out and back path. Kelder’s Klimb ends with decent views to the east through the forest from the trail, across the Ellijay watershed. Currently, parking is limited at the trailhead, and a kiosk and the property’s main signage has not yet been installed. A kiosk with map for the parking area, and a brochure with map that hikers can carry with them is forthcoming. Googling the address takes drivers to the parking area. For more information, contact Mainspring at (828) 524-2711.

by Deena Bouknight

When asked to share my thoughts on the game, to be honest, I was a little intimidated. But after some consideration, I agreed to the undertaking and hopefully it will be found and appreciated for its intent. In my 16 years here, what I see more than anything from our returning golfers is a challenge in battling the shift from golf in their winter homes to golf up on the mountain. Because of our elevation and cool climate, we have a different terrain and thus different grasses and different feels, which can make for a tough transition. Firm Bermuda fairways down the mountain give way to lush Bentgrass fairways that thrive at 4,118 feet. Greens up here are still coming out of their winter slumber and will often require a little more pop in your putting stroke to get the ball to the hole. As a result, we usually see a “spring bump” in handicaps from players across the board.

Half of the battle to solving this problem is just recognizing that there is an issue. Dialing in yardages will be important with the ball flying further at 4,000 feet of elevation. It may also take you some time to get comfortable with wedges both around the green or on full swings. Where the club might have skipped across the turf on Bermuda, you may see a little more digging when hitting off Bent or Bluegrass. And once you’re on the green, the ball will certainly roll differently in the mountains than it does at sea level, not only due to different grass types, but also because of the undulating terrain. All of this to say, don’t hit the panic button just yet if you see your scores ballooning the first couple of weeks or so. Take in all the factors, get in some quality practice time and be patient. Your game will adjust. by Jordan Kenter, PGA Director of Golf, Highlands Cove-Old Edwards Inn

Jordan Kenter

The Trials of Turf

While you’re considering the Big Game, pay attention to the landscape around you.

ARTS

Pages 96-121

Painting Joy

For cover artist Carla Gignilliat, an abiding sense of mystery and reverence lies at the heart of her works.

When Carla Gignilliat spreads her joy across a canvas, viewers tap into it and feel the love – so much, in fact, that galleries have trouble keeping her landscapes in stock. Born in Wisconsin, raised in Iowa, Carla has a vast artistic resumé. Immersed in art growing up, creating things of beauty were second nature to her.

But, in true level-headed manner, she wanted to practice a trade that promised a reliable income. In short order, she’d earned a Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology. She adored working with babies. Her focus was everything from the neck up: tolerating food and textures, bottle feeding, motor skills for feeding and speech, and cognitive skills like how to play and problem-solve. After working as a speech pathologist for a dozen years and establishing a family, she says, “I felt a calling to pursue artwork more consistently. I had been taking art classes in Atlanta before having a family. After realizing that trying to create artwork at home with two very young children was almost impossible, I took the plunge and rented a small studio to engage in art more seriously.” She’s been in her studio for five years now.

Carla Gignilliat

Even though she took a few art classes along the way, Carla considers herself a self-taught painter and marketer. She says, “I spend a lot of my time preparing artwork for ACP Interiors in Highlands to make sure they have a rotation of new and fresh paintings in the store.” She takes pride in working with each commission client, making sure they are 100 percent pleased with her work, guaranteed. Since the age of five, her husband has been a fan of Highlands. He introduced Carla to the Plateau in 2009. Four years ago, they purchased a place in Scaly Mountain. Carla fell in love with the vistas and landscapes became

her major focus. With the support of ACP and diligent marketing, her commission list is long and gratifying, and a delightful reason to go to work in an artist’s studio every day. Even …creating things of beauty though she’s no longer practicing speech were second nature to her. pathology, she’s content. She says, “I miss helping people and problem solving, but nothing compares to what I’m doing now.” See what Carla is doing by visiting carlagignilliatart.com, or by emailing her at cgignilliat@gmail.com, or seeing her work first-hand at ACP Home Interiors. by Donna Rhodes

Peter Ray

Photographer of Patience

Local photographer Peter Ray will present his work at the June meeting of the Art League of HighlandsCashiers, 5:00 P.M. Monday, June 27.

Local photographer Peter Ray will be the featured speaker at the Art League of Highlands-Cashiers meeting on June 27. A reception will begin at 4:30 P.M. at The Bascom, followed by Peter’s presentation at 5:00. The reception and presentation are free and open to the public. Peter, a Minnesota native with a career as a pastoral counselor, is a gifted photographer. Now residing in Asheville, he and his wife Martha had vacationed in Western North Carolina for more than 20 years, and in 2002 they moved to Highlands, built a house, and Peter took a job at Reeve’s Hardware. Peter became active in Rotary, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the Episcopal Church. Photography had long been a hobby of his, and his new surroundings offered unlimited subject matter. After his retirement in 2011, Peter had the time he needed to refine his photography skills, and photography became more than a hobby. The great outdoors is Peter’s studio. He is fascinated with all things Nature, but also with older manmade objects. Houses and other structures, cemeteries, gardens, and vehicles are all fair game. A subject that was of particular interest to him was the Cullasaja River. He had been drawn to the river since he first visited the area, but it soon became his passion. With an almost spiritual connection to the moving water and life cycle of the Cullasaja, he has seen it in every season and every mood. He has traced its journey of some twenty-five miles from its origins on the western shoulder of Whiteside Mountain to its confluence with the much larger Little Tennessee River in Franklin.

Inadvisably, he often risked life and limb to get unique images. In 2019, he published many of his photos in the book, The Cullasaja – A Mountain River of Wonder. Trying to reach Peter can be a challenge. Almost every day, he is out and about with his camera, adding to his eclectic portfolio of color and black and white photos. Please join us for what is certain to be an interesting and informative presentation. For more information about the Art League and its activities, visit artleagueofhighlands-cashiers.com.

by Zach Claxton, The Art League of Highlands-Cashiers

Imaginary Landscapes

Kate Averett Anderson brings a critic’s eye and an artist’s honed sensibilities to The Bascom’s Imaginary Landscapes: Stories of the American South. A Public Reception for Summer Exhibitions will be staged at 5:30 P.M. June 16. Visit thebascom.org f or information.

Kate Averett Anderson

In Imaginary Landscapes: Stories of the American South, Kate Averett Anderson draws on the multifaceted experiences of life in the South as told by a wide range of 20th and 21st century artists. Anderson’s curatorial vision is to engage with works that, together, create a continuum of stories stretching across time and experience, offering glimpses of the ever-evolving landscapes of the American South. To achieve this consideration of shared and disparate visions of the American South, Anderson brings together works of historic and contemporary artists in multiple media, from paintings and sculptures to immersive installations. A show about the South for Southerners, the exhibition offers new juxtapositions of works in conversation with place, identity, and the multiplicity of meanings that landscapes – real and imagined – can invoke. Kate Averett Anderson is herself professionally immersed in the cultural landscape of the South. A staff member at the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMC M+AC), Kate completed her art historical training first at UNC Asheville, followed by a master’s from Chapel Hill. Her development as a cu-

rator has continued through multiple curatorial projects focused on Black Mountain College, where her purpose is to share with the public the history of the legendary experimental school founded in 1933, and to extend the impact of the BMC legacy to engage with lenses that include identity politics, experimentalism, and multi-disciplinarity. …Anderson brings The Bascom is excited to continue together works of its commitment to supporting the historic and emergence of new arts professionals contemporary artists… through our guest curator program. Since late 2021, the organization has been working closely with Kate to conceptualize an exhibition about the South as part of our annual programming on the theme of Place. Kate Anderson exemplifies the energy and vision new curators are bringing to the art field, and we invite our visitors to engage with the artistic conversation she has created in the Bunzl Gallery. Imaginary Landscapes: Stories from the American South features works on loan from the Johnson Collection (Spartanburg) and Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (Asheville), as well as a number of contemporary artists. by Billy Love, The Bascom

Organic Fusion

Tina Curry found her destiny in the dirt. It’s a passionate devotion that’s marked by study and experimentation and an imagination that won’t be contained.

Most days you’ll find Tennessee sculptor Tina Curry happily up to her elbows in clay. But don’t mistake her for your ordinary clay artist. She’s all about breaking the mold. As a University of Florida graduate, she was well-prepared for her three-plus decades in graphic design. Then, four years ago, she liberated herself from a computer to pursue her passion full-time. Playing with clay was calling, no, shouting, her name. She had been creating with clay for more than 26 years along with working 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.. Yearning became learning, and she launched a new career. While Covid brought many artists to a standstill, it was a godsend for Tina. To improve her technique, she researched books and videos to study animal and human anatomy. She says, “My studio is in my home. So I could work 24/7. I saw Covid quarantine as a growth period.” She was fascinated with animals non-native to America. She gravitated toward African and Aussie wildlife. She says, “Having time to work on these projects was a great

Tina Curry

gift to me. I am teaching classes in clay now and doing the work I wanted to do. And, bonus, teaching has helped me to be a better sculptor.” “All my pieces are hand-built – no molds,” she adds. “Even though creations share similarities, they are still made one-byone. I love the challenge of making every sculpture different.” She is doing some bronze castings, though – a bronze horse, limited edition. She hints castings of other figures, animal and human, could be in her future, but her main production is one-at-a-time hand-sculpted forms. What makes her work unique? She says, “It’s in the firings. I don’t use glazes, so it’s not your typical firing technique. I construct my pieces out of high-fire stoneware that withstands temperatures up to 1900°. I also experiment with oxides, modified raku processes, and pitfiring, I combine combustibles like dried banana peel, manure, and coffee grounds. They carbonize into what I call organic fusion, leaving natural/neutral colors and emblazoned imprints. I apply horsehair straight onto the searing-hot surfaces leaving a distinct carbon trail.”

Tina is a member of Southern Highlands Craft Guild. She was selected among artists all over the state of Tennessee to design and create awards for the prestigious 2021 Governors Awards. Her work has been commissioned by the Knoxville Zoo and Calgary Zoo in Canada. Locally, find her creations at Jeanie Edwards Fine Art and Gallery in Highlands. Visit her website, curryoriginals.com, and Instagram@tinasculptress.

by Donna Rhodes / photos by Carlos Jones

Youth Theater

Highlands PAC Youth Theater keeps those dramatic skills sharp during the summer with a pair of Performance Classes – June 28-July 29 at Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. To register or for more information, contact Artistic Director Megan Greenlee-Potts at pacyouth.highlands@gmail. com or (828) 743-0215.

As any theater professional will tell you, the show never ends. That’s the message being spread to talented young people across the Plateau – Highlands Performing Arts Center’s Youth Theater Program is offering a pair of exciting Summer Performance Classes for students in grades 4-12 at Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library.

2022 Performance Classes at the Cashiers Library

1:00 to 2:30 P.M. Tuesdays for rising Fourth through Sixth Graders, June 28-July 26;

Final Dinner at 6:00 P.M. Friday, July 22 3:30 to 5:00 P.M. Wednesdays for rising Seventh Graders and Up, June 29-July 27;

Final Dinner at 6:00 P.M. Friday, July 29 “I like to remind parents that there are some critical lessons embedded in our classes, things they might not realize are taught in Theater – learning to take direction (literally), lessons about science, history, language arts, and technology,” says PAC Youth Theater Artistic Director Megan GreenleePotts. “Plus, this is a collaborative art form, so everyone has an important role to play and we learn to work together for the audience.” Class sizes are limited. Places will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Like all PAC Youth events, these classes and workshops are free of charge and open to all students in Western North Carolina, northwestern South Carolina, and northern Georgia. “I’m designing the classes so even if you can only make it to only one, it will still be fun and worthwhile,” says Greenlee-Potts. “I realize a lot of people will be on vacation in July. If you know in advance that you will miss classes, please let me know as, if the number of questions about summer classes is any indication of turn out, I’m anticipating a waiting list.” To register or for more information, contact Greenlee-Potts at highlandspac.info/youththeater, email pacyouth.highlands@gmail.com, text (828) 200-0889, or call (828) 743-0215.

by Luke Osteen

Mountain Theatre Company

Mountain Theatre Company raises the curtain on a slate of live theater productions that’ll carry through to the end of the year. For tickets or information, visit mountaintheatre.com or stop by Highlands Playhouse, 362 Oak Street.

Mountain Theatre Company at the Highlands Playhouse is setting the stage for a groundbreaking 2022 Mainstage Season! With its first season producing live theater under their new company name, MTC is anticipating its biggest season ever. Highlands Playhouse has traditionally produced live theater under a summer stock model, offering live performances primarily in the summer months. Last year the organization began to expand upon that, producing the smash hit, Music in Motion, in the fall and a sold-out holiday show in December. Seizing on that momentum from 2021’s hit productions and launching into a packed 2022 season, MTC will produce professional live theatre continuously from July through December. Scott Daniel and Emanuel Carrero, Executive Artistic Director and Company Manager respectively, traveled the east coast on an audition tour from New York City to Florida to find professional, top-notch talent for the Playhouse stage. They auditioned almost 1,000 actors and held call-backs for over 300 people before choosing the perfect casts for each production. Professional designers and technicians will bring their talents to the team as well, making MTC one of the largest employers in Highlands this year! Kicking off the 2022 Season is Jersey Boys, the Tony Awardwinning Broadway musical featuring the legendary hits of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The musical’s hit songs include Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, and many more. Sentimental Journey will follow, a unique and nostalgic production, paying tribute to the legendary USO shows of World War II. Featuring over 40 classic hits of the era including Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, Almost Like Being In Love, and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, this toe-tapping, finger snapping, high-stepping musical revue is sure to be a must-see. Next in the season lineup is Brooklyn: The Musical. This Broadway hit is a fast-paced, modern fairy tale, set on a street corner in Brooklyn, that tells a tapestry of stories as rich and poignant as the borough that inspired it. And in the grand finale of MTC’s 2022 season, it’s Home for the Holidays: A Christmas Tradition. Audiences will be dazzled by high-energy choreography, beautiful costumes, a triple-threat cast, and incredible live musicians Executive Artistic Director Scott Daniel says, “This spectacular selection of shows celebrates the gifts we have to give, the journey we take to share them, and the hands that guide us along the way.” All tickets are now on sale for Mountain Theatre Company’s 2022 Mainstage Season! Don’t miss this season at the historic Highlands Playhouse as MTC brings the curtain up on a whole new era of live theatre in Highlands!

by Lindsay Garner Hostetler, Director of Marketing and Outreach

Performances Galore

Those long-awaited live music performances are back on Highlands Performing Arts Center’s summer calendar. Tickets and information are available at HighlandsPerformingArts. com. Highlands PAC is located at 507 Chestnut Street.

Chris Collins Ariadne auf Naxos

The summer season is here! Live music is here! The Highlands Performing Arts Center’s Concert Season will begin on Sunday, June 19, with singer/songwriter Sherma Andrews Singing the songs of Legendary Ladies – Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, and Tina Turner. Sherma has toured and worked with many accomplished recording artists, including filling in for Whitney Houston during Enrique Iglesias’ World Tour. She has worked with Branford Marsalis, Britney Spears, and Donna Summer – and opened for Michael McDonald and Michael Feinstein.

Her songs have been played on The Young and The Restless, the movie Against The Ropes, The Sopranos and other TV shows. Sherma’s no stranger to the stage, having performed in Madison Square Garden, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Bergen Performing Arts Center, The American Music Awards, Teen Choice Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and many others. The next weekend, Saturday, June 25, features Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon, paying tribute to John Denver. Chris and the band have toured internationally together delighting audiences with their talent, warmth, and humor. Hailed as outstanding tribute artists for their authenticity and musical style, Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon have been receiving much acclaim from audiences in theaters, venues, and concert halls everywhere they perform. From sold-out shows to breaking a theater record for the largest audience ever to attend an event, Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon have emerged as top performers of John Denver’s music. The Live via Satellite Series brings three offerings in June.

Join us for The Met Opera’s premiere of Hamlet by Brett Dean, 12:55 P.M. Saturday, June 4. At 12:55 P.M. Saturday, June 18, we’ll offer the screening of Ariadne auf Naxos, by Strauss. There will be pre-opera discussions at 12:30 P.M. The National Theatre will present Henry V by Shakespeare on Saturday, June 11, at 1:00 P.M. (Warning: there is strobe lighting in this production.)

by Mary Adair Trumbly, Highlands Performing Arts Center

Co-authored Adventure

Mary Alice Monroe’s return to the Plateau is marked by a welcome return to the mysterydrenched island featured in The Islanders. She’ll be appearing at Hudson Library on Friday, June 10, at 12:30 P.M., and then at Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library at 3:00 P.M.

Mary Alice Monroe and Angela May

Author Mary Alice Monroe, who visited the Plateau’s libraries as a guest speaker last summer and plans to again this summer, has written numerous adult fiction books primarily focused on the South and conservationism.

Yet, The New York Times’ bestselling author’s latest venture is a co-authored project, with author Angela May. The middle-grade adventure novel, Search for Treasure (Simon & Schuster Aladdin Publishing, June 14, 2022) is a sequel to the writers’ The Islanders. In this sequel, 12-year-old Jake returns to his grandmother’s home on a remote South Carolina coastal island with his father, a wounded soldier dispirited from losing a leg in Afghanistan. Determined to cheer his father and his Dewees Island summer friends, Lovie and Macon, Jake sets forth on an exciting new mission he calls “Operation Treasure Hunt.” Monroe will share more about the new book when she speaks at Hudson Library on Friday, June 10, at 12:30 P.M., and then at Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library on June 10 at 3:00 P.M. She will speak and sign books at these events that are free and open to the public. Monroe found her calling in environmental fiction when she moved to coastal South Carolina many years ago. Her co-author, Angela May, is a former journalist. Married to a middle school vice-principal, she has a keen insight into the wants and needs of middle-grade children. The author points out that in Search for Treasure, Jake, Lovie, and Macon learn that real treasure is about far more than what is in a pirate’s chest. They discover the treasure of a rich father-son relationship, the support of community, and true friendship. The novel, which was written to appeal to adults as well, also offers a wealth of environmental lessons valuable to both youth and adults. The friends witness sea level rise, observe the consequences of disturbing alligators, and also experience countless interactions with wildlife: raccoons, egrets, dolphins, a river otter, and even share the miracle of bioluminescence. In Book Two of The Islanders series, Search for Treasure also continues the important rallying call for less screen time and more green time.

by Deena Bouknight

Raising Community Voices

The joyful sounds of the Cashiers Valley Community chorus are being extended far into the future thanks to a series of new initiatives. For more information, contact Judy Gray at cashierschorus@gmail.com.

Music builds communities, and the mission of the Cashiers Valley Community Chorus for the past six years has been to promote the joy of choral music through singing, performing, and showcasing local talent, according to Judy Gray, one of the group’s founders with Director Betty Morris. “The Cashiers Valley Community Chorus is beginning at ground zero in terms of being a 501(c)(3) in April of this year,” Gray explained. Currently, there is an effort to raise funds and secure grants for purchasing music, funding an accompanist, promoting the organization and concerts, and establishing a Cashiers Valley Children’s Chorale. A long-term goal of CVCC is participation in and with other community outreach associations, including VFW, the Chamber of Commerce, The Village Green, and more. In fact, CVCC is all about community outreach. It is an all-inclusive, all-volunteer musical community, welcoming singers of all ages and levels of experience. “While there are no auditions, the CVCC strives to offer to the community the best in choral music,” said Gray. “The CVCC

plans to mentor relationships with experienced performers and craftsmen in all aspects of musical performance. All we ask is a commitment to singing and a joy in performing.” Besides providing learning opportunities for children and youth through organizing a Children’s Chorale, CVCC plans to offer creative outlets for the area’s senior adults through instruction and guest presenters. “Community singing has a long history …the CVCC strives to here in the mountains,” said Gray. “So offer to the community the CVCC was formed by a group of singers best in choral music,… who were looking to perform varied and interesting works.” Concerts are held three times a year and have been open to the whole community. Church of the Good Shepherd, Cashiers United Methodist Church, and Christ Anglican Church provide some music and printing services. Also, music is borrowed from church libraries. However, monetary support is needed to continue growing the organization. Currently, CVCC is working on an Independence Day performance and welcomes involvement as well as ongoing support. by Deena Bouknight