June 2024: The Laurel Magazine

L aURe L

The Heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau

Mountaintop

June 29 - 30

Publisher’s Note

Welcome to our June 2024 Issue! We’ll be brief – we’re anxious to close the laptop and get back into Plateau Life. Browse through this magazine and you’ll discover why we’re ready to ditch the office and join you Out There!

William McReynolds lays out the happiness woven into this month, with nearly every day marked with magic (there’s chocolate).

And then there are the people and events and wild things you’ll discover in these pages – a clear invitation to you. Join us!

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, and Zach Claxton

Contributing Photographers: Susan 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 14-63

Photo by Susan Renfro

Wooten Takes the Stage

The country-Southern rock sounds of Andrew Wooten animate the June 20 Orchard Session at The Farm at Old Edwards. For updates and to book online, visit OldEdwardsHospitality.com/OrchardSessions.

It’s now, in summer, when anywhere can be a stage and music makes its way out of the concert halls and into the outdoors, that the joy of music is most profoundly experienced.

In Highlands, it’s officially the season for the Orchard Sessions at The Farm at Old Edwards.

It’s a time when music lovers wind their way to the bucolic grounds of the orchard and settle under the boughs of trees, to gather and listen to the music.

On Thursday, June 20, as dusk descends, singer/songwriter and South Carolina native Andrew Wooten will take the stage.

A Marine veteran, Wooten grew up in Joanna, South Carolina, where he developed a love for music singing in the church choir and listening to his grandparents’ recordings on vinyl. As a

teen, he honed a style of what has been termed “country with a Southern rock and a hint of Appalachia” by listening to the tunes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tyler Childers, Metallica, and Benjamin Tod.

It wasn’t long before he realized he could write his own music. He has since released several EP’s, including his most recent, a full-length album, entitled Bury Them All. He told fans on social media that his songs and performances and recordings are “about the contemplation of life and death, happiness and sadness,” explaining that “these songs are my way of coping and dealing with things internally.”

Wooten’s been playing the guitar and singing for the better part of 14 years now, traveling with a gritty and soulful tone, playing venues across America, electrifying audiences,

Andrew Wooten

and building a fan following. He’s been praised for a sound that’s often described as “the vocal representation of a moonshine still covered by pines on a foggy mountainside somewhere in the Carolinas.” And it is the sincerity and vulnerability of his lyrics that forge a deep connection with his listeners, inviting them to join him on a shared journey through his music.

Shows begin each evening at 6:00 PM and finish at 8:00 PM – perhaps just in time for a showing of nature’s own Klieg light, the rising of the moon. Admission is $25 for Old Edwards Inn and Half-Mile Farm Hotel Guests and 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.

by Marlene Osteen

Best in Automotive History

It’s time to rev your engines – the 2024 Highlands Motoring Festival purrs onto the Plateau (there’ll be a few deep rumbles, too) June 6 through 9.

Get ready for the 17th annual Highlands Motoring Festival, happening from June 6 to June 9, showcasing the best in automotive history.

This year’s event promises a spectacular display of automotive exotica across categories, including the Brass era, cars from the pre-World War II era (1920-1940), and judged classics from later periods up to the 1980s.

For 17 years, devotees of the automobile have made the pilgrimage to Highlands to attend its namesake festival. What began in 2008 as a simple single day car show with 114 cars in attendance has evolved into an entire “holy” weekend for the motoring faithful. Voted Best Concours by Classic Motorsports Magazine in 2019, the festival has grown into an important community asset, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to local human needs charities.

The all-volunteer team of enthusiasts who stage the event recognize that a town as unique as Highlands deserves a car show of equal import.

The four-day festival kicks off on Thursday, June 6, with “One Lap of the Mountains.” One of the weekend’s most popular events, it is the first of two exhilarating driving adventures (the second is on Friday), designed to give 50 lucky drivers and their passengers a chance to experience the perilous turns, serpentine roads, and stunning mountain views of Western NC.

Enthusiasts are given another option to view an impressive array of vehicles at Friday evening’s Main Street Parade. Starting from Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park at 6:05 P.M., the parade historically includes 100 mostly antique and show cars – though anyone is welcome to participate.

The pinnacle of the weekend is Saturday’s “Classics in the Park,” a judged invitational car show. For those whose passion is automobiles, nothing is likely to beat the excitement of the chance to wander through acres of historic cars and consider the legacies of the 85 cars shown here.

Only the most prestigious and uncompromising supercars of the past are eligible and though most of the cars come from private

collectors who rarely take their cars out of the garage, this year three public museums are sending vehicles: the Brumos Collection, the Savoy Museum, and the Tampa Bay Automobile Association. These are rare works of art on wheels and history and guests and judges can expect to see some of the rarest and most historically significant automobiles of the 20th century.

Saturday evening brings a gala at the Vineyard at High Holly, featuring Bill Warner, founder of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. The weekend wraps up on Sunday morning with the free “High Octane” social and car gathering at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park, welcoming vehicles and cars of any age.

Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in automotive history and the motoring faithful in Highlands. For full details, visit HighlandsMotoringFestival.com.

by Marlene Osteen

Spare Parts Bluegrass Band

Summer’s Perfect Playlist

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

Few towns offer as diverse a live music scene as Highlands, much to the delight of residents and visitors alike.

Summer weekends come alive with the sounds of live music concerts on Friday and Saturday nights with 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. Hours for both are the same, from 6:00 until 8:30 and both are free.

Cast your cares away, put on your dancing shoes, and come out for both.

Friday Night Live celebrates traditional mountain music and

offers local and regional artists the chance to share their love of traditional and contemporary Appalachian sounds. June 7 brings long-time favorites The Foxfire Boys to the stage. On June 14 Spare Parts Bluegrass Band entertains the crowd with everything from delicate harmonies to blistering bluegrass runs. Curtis Blackwell returns on June 21 with traditional bluegrass sounds. Rounding out the month is the Johnny Webb Band. With a 50-year history in their pocket, this band has perfected the traditional country sound.

Saturdays on Pine shakes things up a bit with music of every kind and the bucolic setting invites you to bring a picnic, a cooler of beverages, lawn chairs, or a quilt and settle in for an enchanting evening under the setting sun.

The versatile High 5’s rock the stage on June 1 playing everything from rock, blues, Americana, country, and jazz. True blues legend Bill Mattocks brings his Chicago-style blues sound to the stage on June 8. Back Porch Orchestra will have you dancing on the lawn on June 15 as they cover hits through the decades. H C Oakes band rounds out the month on June 22. This band can play it all-rock, Americana, and country. Chances are you’ll hear a favorite in their playlist.

Please note there will be no concert on June 29 due to other scheduled events in the park. For more information call the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center at (828) 526-2112 or highlandschamber.org.

by Mary Jane McCall

The High Five Band

Back Porch Orchestra

Community Day 2024!

If you’re a full-time Plateau person, a part-time resident, heck, even if you’re just passing through, consider this an invitation to The Bascom’s Community Day 2024, set for 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Saturday, July 6.

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.

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

Find Your Groove

The 2024 Groovin’ on the Green Season picks up steam with a pair of June performances – Nero Simon & The Sunsetters on June 7, and The Commodore Fox Band on June 21. You can find more information at villagegreencashiersnc.com/concerts.

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, the June 7 Groovin’ will feature the rockin’ rhythms of Nero Simon & The Sunsetters.

They’re an American rock band formed in Atlanta in 2021 by singer-songwriter Nero Simon. Blending styles of classic rock and 70s California folk, this eight-

piece ensemble delivers a sun-drenched sound that invites you to discover a trove of original music filled with visions of sunsets, sand and surf.

With the Sunsetters, Simon sought to angle Americana music in a different direction, embarking on a sound that doesn’t draw its breath from the heartland or the mountains, but instead is firmly rooted at sea level, pulsating from the coastlines, islands and keys of the American South.

As one reviewer notes, the band’s music “takes a deeper dive into the Beach Boys’ more serious era, with none of their abstractions — a well interpreted soft-rock potpourri.”

The second June Groovin’, The Commodore Fox Band set for June 21. Commodore Fox can be described as “your favorite party band that plays all the rock and dance hits from 70s, 80s, to today!”

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 visit with the Community Event Coordinator at The Village Green table to check-in 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

A Full Day of Fun

Highlands’ Fourth of July Celebration is 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 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 icebreaker), 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 KelseyHutchinson 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

Red, White & Blue

Two evenings of pyrotechnics and pride mark Cashiers’ and Glenville’s Fourth of July celebrations.

Bring out the red, white, and blue and join your friends and neighbors as the skies over Cashiers and Lake Glenville explode with colorful fireworks this Fourth of July. As in years past, you’ll have the opportunity to celebrate with your community at not one but two sparkling displays.

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 with the Cashiers Community Chorus, followed by The Caribbean Cowboys, local favorites who have been entertaining audiences for over 30 years. Fireworks follow at approximately 9:30. Admission is free; however, donations will be collected to help with the cost of the event. The Village Green 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.

We know that rousing pyrotechnic displays simply whetted your appetite for more, so you’re in luck 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. 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.

Of course, neither of these events would be possible without the cooperation of the Cashiers-Glenville Fire Department, so here’s a big shout out to those dedicated men and women who keep us safe.

by Mary Jane McCall

All ThingsFungi

This month’s presentation of the 2024 Village Nature Series, set for 5:30 P.M. Tuesday, June 25, at the Village Green Commons in Cashiers, will explore the mystery and the subtle glory of mushrooms.

Lizza Bixby

The Village Nature Series, a joint program between The Village Green and the Highlands Cashiers Land Trust (thanks to a generous grant from Cedar Creek Club), is offering Mushrooms 101 at the Village Green, 5:30 P.M. on Tuesday, June 25.

Join Lizza Bixby as she weaves a terrific journey around all things fungi!

In this one-hour presentation, Lizza will break the veil of mystery and briefly explain mushroom foraging in our area, at home mushroom growing, and how it can be great for your garden.

She will also cover some exciting mycoinnovations sure to get you excited. Grab your boots and join us for this exciting mushroom discovery hour!

Lizza is planning to do a hands-on work-

shop type of presentation that allows people to learn how to grow mushrooms at home, and she will bring specimens to show off! She’s the former Director

…Lizza will break the veil of mystery and briefly explain mushroom foraging in our area…

sponsored series of lectures. Visitors and residents learn about wildlife in the area and various features of their natural habitats. Previous presentations have included a focus on raptors, black bears, reptiles, the environment, and more.

of Education at Mushroom Mountain, and is passionate about foraging, cultivating, and cooking mushrooms. Her life’s dream is to learn and share as much about the fungi kingdom with the world as possible. She believes that fungi are our future and is excited to share why!

Since the spring, residents and visitors to the Plateau have been able to participate in the monthly The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and The Village Green-

The Village Nature Series begins at 5:30 P.M. on the last Tuesday of the month through September. It’s located at The Village Green Commons on Frank Allen Road. For a complete schedule, visit villagegreencashiersnc.com/ village-nature-series.

by Hope Corbin, Highlands Cashiers Land Trust

Scan to learn more.

35th Annual Artisans Show

Mountain Artisans Arts & Crafts Show will be staged June 28-29 at the Ramsey Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

Laura Walkingstick

Mountain Artisans Arts & Crafts Show is celebrating its 35th Annual Summertime Show, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29, inside the upscale Ramsey Center on the Western Carolina University campus in Cullowhee.

This event features 60 local craftsmen’s original art and heritage crafts at great prices. Included is wood turning, quilting, master jewelers, Appalachian and pine needle baskets. Our local beekeepers have real sourwood honey. Some of our Cherokee Artisans will be demonstrating their heritage art. We are honored to have teacher and artist Laura Walkingstick, making her corn shuck dolls.

Laura has been making art full-time for a living since 2021. She’s an instructor and offers cornhusk doll workshops locally, and at the prestigious John C.

Campbell Folk Art School, collages and museums. She is self-taught in doll making. She started cloth doll making around 2006 and 2016 she began making Cherokee cornhusk dolls. She lives on the Qualla Boundary in Cherokee, her birthplace. In 2014 she received a BA in studio arts in ceramics from the Institute of American Indian Arts College in

…features 60 local craftsmen’s original art and heritage crafts…

Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2018 received her MA in Art Therapy and Counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Her art pieces are narratives that she wants to invoke discussions around healing from traumas. Her subject matters are based on personal, family and historical traumas. She likes to

experiment in different materials and try certain topics that are considered sensitive to some. Her creative process starts with childhood memories and childhood toys.

She hopes that her audience will relate to childhood toys that prompt fond or indifferent memories, inspiring healing through her art or invoke talks around mental health awareness.

Guitarist Ronnie Evans will be performing throughout the day.

There’ll be free convenient parking and concessions.

For more info, check out mountainartisans. net, or email djhunter155@gmail.com.

by Luke Osteen

Exploration & Discovery

The Center for Life Enrichment’s 2024 curriculum unveils the world and the people who give it flavor.

The Highlands-Cashiers Center for Life Enrichment is back for another exciting season of exploration and discovery. With more programs and events than ever before in the organization’s 32 years, there is sure to be something for everyone this summer!

On Wednesday, June 12, from 10:00 A.M. to Noon, acclaimed artist, master craftsman, and author Alan Shuptrine will lead a presentation on the history of gold leaf and the lost art of water gilding. Drawing on experiences from his time in Florence, Italy, as a guest instructor for a Master’s Gilding course, Shuptrine will explore examples of gilded works and address the importance of the marriage between fine art and framing. Following his presentation, attendees will have an opportunity to try their hand at laying a leaf on a frame or sculpture piece!

On Thursday, June 13, from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M., folks are invited to join Shuptrine at one of Highlands’ beautiful private homes to discuss his book, “I Come From a Place.” Focusing on the

land, people, and culture found along the Appalachian Trail, Alan highlights our ancestors hailing from the United Kingdom and their influence on our culture today. Additionally, he will share stories about his childhood and upbringing in Highlands.

Those with a creative streak and an eye for style are invited to join in the fun at Rusticks on Thursday, June 20, from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. Stacie Platt, Rusticks’ Interior Designer, will lead a presentation on current design trends and how to incorporate them into your home. The discussion will be followed by a demonstration of a fun, easy way to dress up your dining room table for a dinner party. Whether you prefer a timeless, classic aesthetic or like to change things up, this event is sure to provide an abundance of interior inspiration.

On Wednesday, June 26, 2:00 to 4:00 P.M., author Mario Cartaya will present a lecture inspired by his book, “Journey Back Into The Vault: In Search of my Faded Cuban Childhood Footprints.” Born in 1951 in Havana, Cartaya’s story sheds

Jennifer Pharr Davis and Alan Shuptrine

Mario Cartaya

light on one of the most relentlessly complicated, international political dynamics of the last 60 years: the tortured relationship between Cuba and the United States. Through his powerful storytelling, Cartaya will discuss how he reclaimed memories lost during his metamorphosis into an American, his journey to find inner peace, and his rediscovery of 1950’s Cuba, its historical contrasts with the Cuba of today, and the island’s evolution challenges going forward.

For more information on programs and registration, please visit clehighlands.com, call (828) 526-8811, or visit the office in the Peggy Crosby Center in Highlands anytime Monday through Friday, 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

by Audra Bullard, Center for Life Enrichment

Stacie Platt

Yum to

the

Very Last Crumb

The true taste of the Plateau is offered Wednesdays and Saturdays through the season.

The Highlands Farmers’ Market is held most Saturdays through October, 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street in Highlands.

The market provides a wide array of fresh produce, seafood, baked goods, plants, hemp oil plus hemp products, soy candles, herbs, sweets and other locallysourced products. Add to that green onions, grape tomatoes, fresh lettuce, spinach and tender greens, sugar snap peas, wild ramps, and more. Your table shall runneth over with bowls and ladles and jars of yum.

Locally Grown on The Green, known for its locally grown produce, welcomes first class vendors offering an array of pastries, confections, farm-fresh veggies and herbs, and more homegrown goodness.

Shelby Batchelor, Community Event and

Volunteer Coordinator of The Village Green in Cashiers, says, “We will have live music on select Wednesdays starting this month, and the market will continue to provide a great variety of local goods from our new and returning vendors. In addition, Elevated Kitchen Food Truck will be at The Village Green during our new market hours.”

The Village Green’s farmers’ market is a haven for food enthusiasts and those seeking locally grown ingredients. Locally Grown (at Village Green) continues every Wednesday, though October 30. Exceptions: July 3 (July 4th events) and August 7 (Cashiers Annual Antique Show).

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

Feel free to chat with your growers-of-

choice. If you know your farmer, you know your food. Ask him or her to fill up a bag of freshness just for you.

Take it home and give those ingredients your special touch. Stir up a crockful of homecooked love, fresh from the farm right across the river or down the road. If it’s grown by your neighbor, it tastes so much better than pre-packaged, storebought food from miles away.

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’re interested in joining the Green Market as a vendor.

Both markets are free and so is parking. See you there!

by Donna Rhodes

What to Love About June

William gets it right –there’s magic embedded within this month! And chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate!

Chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a cherry on top at Sweetwater Perk and Creamery in Lake Toxaway at 15886 Rosman Highway.

Nature comes alive in April and May but it’s during the month of June that being alive becomes a love affair. Cole Porter said it best: Birds do it, bees do it

Even educated fleas do it

Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

June, named after Juno, the Roman goddess of fertility and vitality, is a favorite wedding month. That’s true across the world:

In Spain, the best upper sets do it Lithuanians and Letts do it

Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

What’s not to love about June?

But wait! There’s more. June 16th is Father’s Day in the US and 111 other countries. In the U.S. we have celebrated Father’s Day since 1910. LBJ proclaimed

the 3rd Sunday in June Father’s Day in 1966. Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972. We love our fathers, those with us and those in memory.

June is other things as well. June 20 has the most daylight hours of any day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and marks the first day of summer. June also has its own bug, the June Bug, not to be outdone by May with her May Fly. It is our Tiger Swallowtails, however, abundant in June, that steal our hearts. Our azaleas are still in bloom. This is a lovely month.

June has many days that commemorate chocolate. June 2nd is National Rocky Road Day: marshmallows, nuts and chocolate. The next day, June 3rd, is National Chocolate Macaroon Day. The 7th is Chocolate Ice Cream Day. June 26th is Chocolate Pudding Day. Chocolate in all forms, how good is that?

So, what’s lovely about June other than falling in love, weddings, fathers, sunshine, butterflies and chocolate? This is the Great Outdoors Month in the U.S. and the National Smile Month in the U.K. The 6th is our National Yo-yo Day. The 9th is Donald Duck Day. I’m not making this up. The 20th is Ice Cream Soda Day. We can do this.

In shallow shoals English soles do it

Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it

Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Have a lovely June, from your adoring neighbors at the Laurel magazine.

by William McReynolds

Happenings at The Libraries

There’s nothing sleepy at the Plateau’s twin libraries – they’re revving up with activities for all ages. For information on Cashiers, call (828) 743-0215, or visit fontanalib.org/cashiers; On Highlands, (828) 526-3031, fontanalib.org/highlands.

Jacinta Hart Kelho

If you haven’t visited one of our local libraries recently, you’re missing out.

In Highlands and Cashiers, the June calendar is brimming with fun and educational things to do and explore.

Summer is in full throttle, as the Cashiers Community Library kicks off the 30th Anniversary Summer of Celebration with events for children and adults.

Meanwhile, Highlands’ Hudson library continues its long history of service to the community, dating back to 1884.

Carlyn Morenus, Branch Librarian at Highlands’ Hudson Library says that, “June has us in high gear for summer visitors/residents.”

The June calendar features summer learning programs for children up to age 17 and special weekly programs at Kids Zone, every Thursday at 3:30 P.M. The pages come alive during “Family Storytime” on Thursdays at 10:40, and

on Fridays, families and children can get creative during crafternoons and bond over their love of games at boardgame sessions. Children will find more reasons to visit, including “EcoSplash” on June 6 (a wildlife and water presentation); “Reptiles” on June 13, and the live music extravaganza, “Big, Bang, Boom” on June 20. Learning to explore nature responsibly is the focus of “Leave No Trace,” a presentation by Panthertown on June 27.

For adults, there’s a conversation with Highlands Mayor Pat Taylor on June 28 and the American Red Cross Blood Drive on June 25. Alabama author James Ray Brown will discuss his recent release Death in McComb: the Patrick Allen Story, inspired by a true story about workplace tragedy on June 7.

On June 26, New Mexico author Jacinta Hart Kelho will talk about her book Mountain Lion Rises, a memoir of grief and family tragedy due to the death of a

child, and her struggles to recover from serious injury while parenting a challenging, traumatized adopted child.

At Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, Branch Librarian Serenity Richards is excited about this year’s Summer Learning Program Theme: “Adventure Begins at Your Library.”

Anyone with empty bookshelves to fill will want to mark their calendar for the Friends of the Library Book Clearance from June 11-15.

All books in the Library Meeting Room will be for ‘sale’ by donation, and members are urged to bring boxes and bags to stock up on great deals!

Color Course returns on June 17, where all ages are encouraged to “wear white and be covered in color” as they run the field, navigate the obstacle course, and play field games.

by Marlene Osteen

Paint SomethingPawsome

Paint Your Pet is a fun and frisky time built on love and beauty – Monday, July 22, at Sapphire Valley Resort Community Center. To register or for more information, visit to chhumanesociety.org/ paintyourpet.

Ihave always said that I can’t even draw so much as a good Stick-Man. And it’s true. So, when I first heard about the concept of Paint Your Pet, my immediate reaction was “Count me out.” That is one time I am glad I didn’t listen to my first instincts.

I had the time of my life. And if you thought I was having fun, just look at this picture and see the expression on my beautiful bride’s face.

This was taken last fall at a Paint Your Pet event in Bryson City to benefit my wife’s shelter. We’ve always talked about doing a joint fundraiser to benefit both no-kill shelters, and we’re finally doing it.

We’re bringing Paint Your Pet to Sapphire next month, and it’s our firstever combined fundraiser to support Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society and PAWS Bryson City.

No painting skills are necessary.

In fact, the less artistic you feel you may be, the more fun you will have. Just ask me. Send us a head shot photo of your pampered pet when you register (details below) and our artist partner with Be a Light Painting will have customized for you that evening a line drawing sketch of your pet on a 16” x 20” canvas ready for you to paint. Brushes, paints and aprons will all be supplied. Attendance is limited, so please register soon.

Paint Your Pet is Monday, July 22, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Check-in begins at 4:30 P.M. Early check-in is encouraged so that you have two full hours to paint your pet. Paint Your Pet takes place at the Sapphire Valley Resort Community Center, 207 Sapphire Valley Road in Sapphire.

The cost for Paint Your Paint participants is $50 ages 16+, and $30 children ages 8-15. To register, pay and upload your pet’s photo, please go to: chhumanesociety.org/paintyourpet.

And the fun doesn’t stop at 7:00. Our animal-loving friends at Slopeside Tavern are offering a special dinner promotion for Paint Your Pet participants. After you have created your pet’s masterpiece, walk right next door to Slopeside Tavern after the event and present your Paint Your Pet ticket, and not only will you enjoy great food and friendly service, Slopeside will donate 25 percent of each dinner’s purchase to our shelters.

Net proceeds from this event will be split 50/50 with the CashiersHighlands Humane Society and PAWS Bryson City, both 501(c)3 non-profit no-kill animal shelters rescuing, caring for, and finding forever homes for abandoned and neglected animals in western North Carolina.

by David Stroud, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society

Rotary’s Art & Craft Show

A cherished summer tradition, Highlands Mountaintop Art and Crafts returns to exuberant life – June 29 and 30 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Mountaintop Rotary’s Art and Craft Show will be held on June 29 and 30 and again on August 24 and 25 at Kelsey-Hutchinson 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 from throughout the southeast and beyond, a testament to its broad appeal.

Serious collectors adding to their collections will find just what they’re looking for. Many return year after year to see their favorite craftsmen’s new offerings. The merely curious will find themselves realizing what they’ve been missing all these years.

To the delight of many visitors, there are always several local artisans represented as well. One such vendor is local photographer Larry Brannon of Level Four Images. Larry has been attending this show since its inception 19 years ago when a few artisans gathered

under umbrellas in Village Square. His photographs capture the heart and soul of Highlands and at 90 years old he still can be seen out and about in the area capturing that perfect moment. Don’t miss a chance to stop by and share a few stories with him. As he says, “this show is all about the interaction with people.”

Darren and Michelle Gillett of Scaly Mountain Crafters enjoy bringing a sampling of the items they carry from local artisans in their brick-and-mortar store at 8106 Dillard Road, as well as their own hand-turned wood items including pens, bowls, and kitchen utensils. They are proud to provide a space for 108 local artists to display their work and love the opportunity to bring a sampling to this event. A portion of all their sales, at this show and in their store, are donated to local programs addressing food insecurity.

Children will enjoy the kid’s zone from 1:00-4:00 P.M. each day, featuring face painting and the Teddy Bear Hospital hosted by Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. This clinic for sick bears is staffed with medical personnel who provide children

with bears and help them diagnose and treat the bear’s boo-boos. The hospital provides every child with a bear to treat and keep.

Also featured each afternoon from 1:00 until 4:00 P.M. is bluegrass music by Nitrograss. These bluegrass superheroes feature two-time national champion banjo player Charles Wood, whose blistering banjo lays the foundation of this group’s sound.

The event is free, but donations are accepted and encouraged as it is Mountaintop Rotary’s largest fundraiser and allows the club to achieve its goals of helping families and children in need, both locally and internationally. Each weekend also features a Silent Auction with generous donations from the artisans in attendance as well as from our community.

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

Mountain Theatre Company’s Grease rumbles onstage with room-filling energy and enough hit tunes to fill a 1957 Rock-Ola. Book tickets now at mountaintheatre.com or by calling (828) 526-2695. Grease runs June 5-22.

Put on your leather jackets, poodle skirts, bobby socks and slick back that pompadour as Mountain Theatre Company presents the musical comedy classic, Grease, this summer. Directed by me and choreographed by Raymond Lamar Bennet (Broadway’s Moulin Rouge), the production will begin June 5 with an Opening Night pluss All Access event that includes complimentary champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and a backstage tour with the cast and creative team.

MTC audiences have come to expect the very best talent on their local stage and this production of Grease promises the perfect mix of singers, actors, and dancers that will portray the students and faculty of Rydell

High. Jack Baugh (Off Broadway: The Office! A Musical Parody) and Katherine Lindsley will star as Danny and Sandy, respectively, with Zachary Bigelow (National Tour: Anastasia) as Kenickie,

Ashley Rubin (National Tour: Grease) as Frenchy, Sarah Santos (NCL: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical) as Rizzo, Grace Crugnale (RCCI: Cats) as Marty, Kate Jerecki as Jan, Brooks Andrews as Doody, and David Gaztambide

…will feature songs from both the film and stage versions loved by generations of audiences.

as Roger. The cast also features Robert Rice (Global Tour: The Sound of Music) as Vince Fontaine, Lori Nielsen (National Tour: Menopause the Musical) as Miss Lynch, Jillian Worthing (NCL: Six: The Musical) as Patty Simcox, Galvin Yaun as Eugene, and Catrina Contini as ChaCha, with Jackson Dunlap, David Benjamin Perry, Marissa Spahn, and Savannah Worthington in the ensemble. Audience favorite Emanuel Carrero (MTC: Jersey

Boys) will make cameo appearances as the Teen Angel for select performances. Mountain Theatre Company promises the production will be “a true spectacle for the entire family” and through special licensing will feature songs from both the film and stage versions loved by generations of audiences. The production will feature sets by Tom Hansen and costume design by Beck Jones, vocal direction by Lori Nielsen, lighting by Hannah Wien, and sound design by Cheyenne Dalton. With a book and score by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease features such tunes as “We Go Together,” “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightning,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Beauty School Dropout,” and “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.”

by Scott Daniel, Mountain Theatre Company

Executive Artistic Director

A Time to Give

By spotlighting the nonprofits of Southern Jackson County, the 2024 Community Volunteer & Resources Expo – set for 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 12, at Lewis Hall at the Village Green Commons –strengthens the entire community. Everyone is invited.

The 2024 Community Volunteer & Resources Expo will be held on Wednesday, June 12, from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. at Lewis Hall at The Village Green.

Sponsored by the Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library, Big Brothers Big Sister of Cashiers and Highlands, Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, First Citizens Wealth Management, and The Village Green, this third annual Community Expo is designed to connect nonprofit organizations operating on the Cashiers-Highlands Plateau with individuals looking for opportunities to apply their skills and energy.

After successful Expos in 2022 and 2023, the sponsoring organizations are expecting even more participation

from local nonprofits and community members looking to volunteer their time and energy.

Participating nonprofits will set up booths in Lewis Hall in The Village Green and participate in skills-building

… individuals seeking support resources or opportunities to volunteer are invited to attend the Expo…

seminars and networking sessions during the day on June 12.

Then, from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M., individuals seeking support resources or opportunities to volunteer are invited to attend the Expo and learn more about local organizations providing services to the Plateau community.

The Expo offers a chance for community members looking for new adventures to make a difference in someone’s life by volunteering with worthwhile organizations providing critical local services and support.

These nonprofit groups are seeking individuals with big hearts, time, and skills to share.

Calling all local nonprofits organizations and community members to come and Get Connected at the 2024 Community Volunteer & Resources Expo.

For more information, contact me, Danielle Hernandez, (828) 399-9133.

by

Danielle Hernandez Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cashiers and Highlands

The Taste of Scotland

The mountains are ringing with the happy sounds of the 25th Taste of Scotland Festival & Highland Games, June 14-16 in Franklin.

The Taste of Scotland Society will hold its 25th “Taste of Scotland Festival & Highland Games” on Saturday, June 15, at the Macon County Fairgrounds in Franklin, with a free Ceilidh and Parade at the Gazebo downtown on Friday, June 14, and “Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan” at the Presbyterian Church of Franklin on Sunday, June 16.

Society President Suzanne Brice says, “We’ll be taking over the weekend and making it a little bit of Scotland! The Taste of Scotland is the largest cultural event in our area, and we hope that you will come to learn and have fun.”

The festival will fill the fairgrounds for the third year from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Entertainment Chairman Jim Gordon reports, “Celtic rock group Tuatha Dea will be back, performing downtown at the Gazebo on Main Street Friday evening and throughout the day Saturday

at the Festival.”

Also performing will be singer/songwriter “Trip Rogers,” local duo Norma Jean Zahner and Jim Gordon of Wild Mountain Time, and Misty Mountain Dulcimer Ensemble out of Murphy, North Carolina.

Scott Medlin will bring the three teams of Heavy Scottish Athletics to put on both men and women’s Scottish games. The Jamestown Pipes and Drums will lead the clan parade, beginning with Clan Gordon as the 2024 Honored Clan.

The Border Collie demonstration is always popular, along with Falconry, for the first time this year. There will be Scottish Country Dance lessons for all who wish to try, Scottish Cuisine (try some Haggis or a Scotch Egg, yum!), food trucks, vendors selling Celtic merchandise, and, of course, men in kilts!

A unique part of our games here in

Macon County is the participation by the Cherokee Historical Museum, returning again with dancers, storytellers, artists and athletes to illustrate how the colonial Scottish traders interacted with the Cherokee in the early days of our country.

Historical seminars, Celtic music groups, games of strength, Scottish vendors and food all day. Adult entrance fee is $15; ages 6 to 12 years $5; age 5 and under are free. For more information, call/ text the Festival at (828) 332-1567 or visit tasteofscotland.org.

“Taste of Scotland Festival is a nonprofit organization,” says Brice. “Many thanks to all our volunteers and sponsors for making this year’s festival possible!”

by Norma Jean Zahner

Bourbon and Bluegrass

Oh, what a night! REACH of Macon County gets a big boost with its Bourbon and Bluegrass roof-raiser, June 28 at Highlands Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit reachofmaconcounty.org.

What do you get when you mix a rockin’ good time with a fundraiser for REACH of Macon County?

Mark your calendars for June 28 and find out when REACH hosts Bourbon and Bluegrass, an evening of excellent food and bourbon, topped off with a concert featuring Kentucky’s Number One bluegrass band, Bourbon Revival.

This event will be held at the Highlands Performing Arts Center starting with a buffet and bar featuring bourbon specialty drinks at 6:00, followed by the concert at 7:00. Tickets are $250 a person and are available at highlandsperformingsarts.com/special-events.

REACH of Macon County provides comprehensive services to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. In the last year, REACH served 780 victims providing more than 23,000 services. Additionally, REACH provided 131 victims and their children with

emergency shelter, housing survivors for a total of 3,514 nights. REACH is a vital and compassionate resource for these victims at a time when they most need it.

REACH provides a variety of services and specialized programs, including a 24-hour crisis and text line, therapy, support group, psychoeducational classes, transportation, safety planning and assessment, emergency shelter including a pet kennel, court advocacy, medical accompaniment, violence prevention education, and a rural advocacy mobile crisis team.

In 2015, REACH built a new emergency shelter which is the largest and most ADA accessible shelter in our entire region. Following the completion of the shelter, REACH began planning for a new victim advocacy center to replace their 120-year-old office, which is in poor shape. This center will provide expanded private spaces for counseling and services, a food pantry, and a comfortable, family-supporting space for medical services, including forensic

exams. The new space will be built on REACH’s existing property to provide ready access to shelter residents with the same security.

The total cost for the advocacy center is estimated to be $2 Million. Construction is anticipated to take 15 months. Funding partners include state and federal agencies along with a faith-based and public fundraising effort.

REACH would like to thank Ray and Diane McPhail, who have underwritten this concert. New Mountain Events will be providing the sumptuous bourbonthemed buffet.

One hundred percent of the ticket price will go to the capital campaign for the construction of the new client services building. This is your chance to enjoy a fabulous summer event while supporting the important work of REACH.

by Mary Jane McCall

Bourbon Revival

Roll the Picture

Grab your popcorn and take your seat, because the curtain rises this month on Highlands Performing Arts Center’s long-awaited Movie Experience in Dolby 7.1 Cinema Surround Sound.

“We’re finally ready – after years of delays and false starts and a global pandemic – to screen first-run Hollywood movies in Highlands Performing Arts Center’s Martin-Lipscomb Theater,” says PAC’s Director of Operations, Jack Austin. “Though we’re still working on getting certified by the different studios, I’m going to tell your readers that by the middle of June we’ll be showing movies in comfortable cabaret seating. All they need to do is visit highlandsperformingarts.com or thelaurelmagazine.com to see what’s playing.”

The road to Martin-Lipscomb Theater’s Cinema was fraught with confounding circumstances, punctuated by 2020’s Covid-19 turmoil.

“When we began this process back in 2019, there were five companies that were certified to install and calibrate the

latest digital movie projection systems today there are only two,” says Austin. “Of course, none of this would be possible if we didn’t have strong community support – especially from

…by the middle of June we’ll be showing movies in comfortable cabaret seating.

Rachel Friday and Jeff Schenck. Those two really made this happen. One of the mottos of Highlands Performing Arts Center is ‘Built for the Community, By the Community.’ Rachel and Jeff are the embodiment of that sentiment.”

If you’d like to contribute to this community effort, you can do so by purchasing on-screen ads for your business or organization.

According to PAC Executive Director Mary Adair Trumbly, PAC will be showing a mix of first-run movies, previous Oscar Winners, and classics. “And just imagine how much more impressive Live at the Met, Great Art on Screen, and National Theatre Live will be on the big screen with the new system.” “We’re going to appeal to the general public, and film buffs and people looking for a good time out on the town.”

“I love movies, but I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw one in a theater,” says Austin. “It’s such a hassle going off the Plateau and driving at night isn’t as easy as it once was. Now I can’t wait to spend a couple of hours watching a movie on the big screen. And with the cabaret seating and sharing a bottle of wine with friends – well, it’s a genuine experience. Stay tuned!”

by Luke Osteen

Bluegrass Brunch, 10:30 AM - 1 PM, Highlander Mountain House. TL&LC Swingin’ Soiree, 6-9 PM, The Farm at Old Edwards. Come Sing! 7 PM, Little Church in the Wildwood. Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar 9

HMF: High Octane, 8:30 AM, KH Park. Grease, 2 PM, Highlands PAC. Community Jam Sessions, 2-4 PM, Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library. Come Sing! 7-8 PM, Little Church in the Wildwood. Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM-12:30 PM, KH Park.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. BBBSWNC, Dia del Nino, 12-3 PM, Village Green Play.

Elizabeth Walton Trunk Show, 12-5 PM, The Bascom . Pop-Up Pipers, 4:30 PM, Highlands. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Saturdays on Pine, High 5, 6-8:30 PM, KH Park. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Grease, 2 PM, Highlands PAC.

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

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

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

Studio Alive, 10 AM, The Bascom. Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist.

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

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

Kids Village Nature Series, 4 PM, The Village Green. The Bascom Gala , 6 PM, The Bascom.

The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM.

3 2 4 5

Locally Grown on the Green, 11 AM-3 PM, Village Green Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub. Grease, 7 PM, Highlands PAC.

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Methodist Church. The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. HMF: One Lap of the MountainsGrande Tour, 8:30-4 PM, KH Park. Volunteer Fair, 11-2 PM, Highlands Recreation Center. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Grease, 7 PM, Highlands PAC. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.

Locally Grown on the Green, 11 AM-3 PM, Village Green. Community Volunteer & Resources Expo, 4-6 PM, The Village Green . Grease, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Studio Alive, 10 AM, The Bascom.

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

Cashiers Kids’ Color Course, 10 AM, Cashiers Rec Center. Gala for CHHS Shelter Pets, 6 PM, Country Club of Sapphire Valley.

Studio Alive, 10 AM, The Bascom.

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

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist. Village Nature Series, 5:30 PM, The Village Green. 18 17

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist. Art League of Highlands-Cashiers meeting, speaker Sue Fazio, 4:30 PM, Bascom terrace, 24 25 23

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.

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

Book Signing Brent Martin, 2-4 PM, The Highland Hiker Cashiers.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub. Grease, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC.

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM. Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Grease, 2 PM, and 7 PM Highlands PAC. Zahner Lecture Series, 6 PM, Highlands Biological Station. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Live Music, Dillon and Company, 6 PM, Happs Place. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive. Grease, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC.

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM. Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Grease, 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Orchard Sessions, Andrew Wooten, 6-8 PM, The Farm at Old Edwards.

Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Zahner Lecture Series, 6 PM, Highlands Biological Station. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM. The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. HMF Parade, 6 PM, Highlands. Friday Night Live, Foxfire Boys, 6-8:30 PM, Town Square.

Live Music, Chris Walker, 6 PM, Happ’s Place. Groovin’ on the Green, Nero Simon & The Sunsetters, 6-8:30 PM, The Village Green. Grease, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.

Taste of Scotland Games, Franklin. The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM.

Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Friday Night Live, Spare Parts Bluegrass Band, 6-8:30 PM, Town Square.

Live Music, Blue Jazz, 6 PM, Happs Place. Grease, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC.

Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub..

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM.

The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM.

Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Groovin on the Green, Commodore Fox, 6-8:30 PM, The Village Green.

Friday Night Live, Curtis Blackwell Band, 6-8:30 PM, Town Square.

Live Music, Macon County Line, 6 PM, Happs Place. Grease, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC.

Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM-12:30 PM, KH Park. HMF: Classics in the Park, 9:30 AM. KH Park. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM. National Theatre Live, Fleabag, 1 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Live Music, Doug Ramsey, 6 PM, Happ’s Place. Saturdays on Pine, Bill Mattocks, 6-8:30 PM, KH Park Grease, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive. 8

Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM-12:30 PM, KH Park. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

Low Country Shrimp Park. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Live Music, Rock Holler, 6 PM, Happs Place. Book Signing, Brent Martin, Saturdays on Pine, Back Porch Grease, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM-12:30 PM, KH Park. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM. Low Country Shrimp Boil, 12 PM, KH Park. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Live Music, Rock Holler, 6 PM, Happs Place. Book Signing, Brent Martin, 2-4 PM, Highland Hiker on Main Saturdays on Pine, Back Porch Orchestra, 6-8:30 PM, KH Park. Grease, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Mountaintop Arts & Crafts Festival, 10-5 PM, KH Park. Spotlight, Mountain Theatre Co., 5 PM, Wildcat Ciiffs Country Club. Come Sing! 7-8 PM, Little Church in the Wildwood. Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

30

Amphibians & Reptiles w/ Balsam Mountain Trust, 10:30 AM, Albert Carlton-Community Library. Locally Grown on the Green, 11 AM-3 PM, Village Green. Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM. Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-6 PM, Highlands Methodist. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Zahner Lecture Series, 6 PM, Highlands Biological Station. Rotary Bingo The Gordon Center, 6:30 PM, Highlands Recreation Center. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM. 4:30 PM, Jeanie Edwards Fine Art. Hummingbird.

Oakes Band, 6 PM, KH Park. Live Music, Doug Ramsey, 9 PM, High Dive.

Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM-12:30 PM, KH Park. Pancake Breakfast, 8-10:30 AM, Scaly School House, Buck Knob Rd. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM. Pauline Marr Show, 11:30 AM4:30 PM, Jeanie Edwards Fine Art. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Saturdays on Pine, The HC Oakes Band, 6 PM, KH Park. Grease, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, Doug Ramsey, 6 PM, Happs Place. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Locman Watch Event, 10 AM-5 PM, Bijou, Highlands. Bourbon & Bluegrass, 6 PM, Highlands PAC. Friday Night Live, Johnny Webb Band, 6-8 PM. Town Square. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Live Music, Alamo Band, 6 PM, Happs Place. Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub. 27 26 28 29

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Locman Watch Event, 10 AM-5 PM, Bijou, Highlands. Sweet Sensations Booth, 10 AM5PM, Rotary Art & Crafts Show. Mountaintop Arts & Crafts Festival, 10-5 PM, KH Park. Art Benefit, drawing 5 PM, Betsy Paul Real Estate. Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock & Roll, 7:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird. Live Music, Remnants, 6 PM, Happs Place. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive. Highlands Marketplace, Breakfast,

July Events

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

Cashiers Fireworks Extravaganza

The Village Green

The annual Fireworks Extravaganza on The Green will take place rain or shine, on The Village Green Commons Lawn. Entertainment will be provided by rhythm and blues band Continental Divide, and a fireworks show starts around 9 PM featuring 1000s of colorful bursts! villagegreencashiersnc.com

SUNDAY, JULY 14 - SATURDAY, JULY 20

Cashiers Plein Air Festival Cashiers, NC

Cashiers Plein Air Festival features internationally acclaimed painters who set up their easels to capture the beauty of the North Carolina Mountains. cashierspleinairfestival.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 - SATURDAY, AUGUST 10

Mountain Theatre Company’s Catch Me If You Can Highlands PAC

This high-flying musical comedy is based on the unbelievable true story of one of the most famous con artists in history, Frank Abagnale Jr., and the hit film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. Catch Me If You Can is a rousing musical set during the jet-set age of the 1960s. mountaintheatre.com

ON THE HORIZON August Events

THURSDAY, JULY 4

Highlands Independence Day Celebration

Highlands, North Carolina

Enjoy a family fun day of Water Rockets, Hotdog Lunch, Field Games, Ladder Truck Spraydown, Duck Derby, Live Music, and of course - Fireworks. visithighlandsnc.com

SATURDAY, JULY 20 - SUNDAY, JULY 21

Summer Colors Fine Art Show

Held at the Sapphire Valley Resort Community Center, this event will feature the original artwork of talented regional artists. Paintings, photographs, glass, wood, one-of-a-kind jewelry and other original artwork will be on display and for sale. artleaguehighlands-cashiers.com

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

EVENT SERIES

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

Weekly Monthly

Locally Grown On The Green Wednesdays | 11 AM-3 PM | The Village Green Friday Night Live Fridays | 6-8:30 PM | Town Square

Highlands Marketplace Saturdays | 8 AM-12:30 PM | KH Park Saturdays on Pine Saturdays | 6-8:30 PM | KH Park

Village Nature Series Last Tuesdays | 5 PM | The Village Green Pop-Up Pipers First Saturdays | 4:30-5 PM | Around Highlands Orchard Sessions Select Dates | 6-8 PM | The Farm at Old Edwards June 20, July 11, Aug. 15, Oct. 10

Photo by Susan Renfro

A Fine Highlands Hike

Getting to Lower Glen Falls requires a modicum of endurance and agility, but the spectacle at the bottom makes it all worthwhile.

With Glen Falls being three separate waterfalls, if you can only do one waterfall in Highlands, this one would be a good choice.

The upper and middle falls are quite spectacular, especially during rainy times when the level of East Fork Overflow Creek is normal-to-high.

For those in good physical health the two mile in and out hike should not be a problem. Since we are both now in our 70s and in relatively good shape, we found it necessary to stop and take breathers a few times on the way out due to the steepness of the trail. Nevertheless, the beauty of these falls is well worth the hike.

Trailhead Directions: From the Highlands Post Office, at the intersection of US 64 and NC 106, drive 1.7 miles west on NC 106. Turn left at the sign for Glen Falls. Immediately after turning left bear right on Glen Falls Road and drive 1 mile to the trailhead parking area. The trail begins to the right of the kiosk.

Hike Description: The trail is rated 3 of 5, with 5 being extremely difficult. Except for the first short section leading from the parking area, the trail is completely downhill, descending about 600 feet to the lower falls.

There are many steps built into the trail and you will want to watch out for exposed roots. About 0.2 miles from the

trailhead there is a short trail to the right leading to the platform overlooking the mountains and the top of the upper falls. Stay left and proceed about 0.3 miles to the upper fall’s platform. Continue down the trail for another 0.2 miles to reach the middle falls and another 0.2 miles to reach the lower falls.

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.

Blue Jays: Beautiful, Bumptious Bullies

Beautiful and bumptious, Blue Jays have no problem with self-expression.

Blue Jays are mixed blessings among the trees. Attired as if in bespoke plumage from the finest Saville Row tailor, their beauty is unsurpassed. Notice the jewels on the folded wings and long, wonderfully striped tail feathers. They sport a crest and stylish black neck scarf. Blue, a relatively rare color in the living world, is well deployed in this case. These are large birds – bigger than most songbirds save the mighty crow – that make their presence in the forest known by all. They swoop in, sound off, dart about, take charge.

They can be bullies with smaller birds and will occasionally raid nests, break and consume eggs, even cannibalize hatchlings. That is a rare but an oftmentioned species characteristic. The last notwithstanding, they bring excitement to forest and field, enter the slumber of summer days like small blue fire engines. Their scientific name,

Cyanocitta cristata, sounds like a line from a Latin Mass. That’s this bird. Blue Jays are highly social within their flock. Family bonds are strong: they mate for life and care for offspring for months after they have left the nest. They have broad social relations with other Blue Jays.

Diet is seeds, nuts and acorns. They bury acorns for future consumption and in so doing plant oak trees across their wide range. A Blue Jay can carry acorns in a “gular pouch” in the throat and upper esophagus, and can transport as many as five in pouch, mouth and beak.

Blue Jays fitted with radio transmitters revealed that they each cache 3,000 to 5,000 acorns in the fall season. They are credited with spreading oak trees in our hemisphere since the last ice age.

Blue Jays build nests of twigs and bark 10 to 25 feet above the forest floor in deciduous and coniferous trees. He brings the building materials to her, and

she does the actual construction. Two to seven spotted eggs are incubated for 17 or 18 days. Hatchlings fledge in another 17-21 days. Fledglings live the first weeks or more on the ground under the watchful care of both parents.

Happy June birding from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. Blue Jays are easy to spot, they electrify the woods. Watch for their busyness in the forest and watch them look at you as you look at them.

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 T. McReynolds

Embrace the Wonders of Summer

Wondering where the Wild Things are? Try Highlands Nature Center – 265 North 6th Street.

As the warm weather takes hold, what better way to welcome the season than by exploring the breathtaking beauty of the HighlandsCashiers Plateau?

Nestled within Western Carolina University’s Highlands Biological Station, the Highlands Nature Center offers a treasure trove of summer programs that cater to a wide range of interests and ages. Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or simply looking for a family-friendly outing, the Nature Center promises an unforgettable experience. Summer at the Nature Center allows you to visit Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Explore the museum’s captivating natural history exhibits, interact with live animals, and let children unleash their curiosity in the Kids Exploration Room.

Dive deeper into the wonders of the region with free daily educational programs that start with the first week

of June. Get up close and personal with animal feedings, discover the secrets of the garden on guided tours, and become a scientist for the day with hands-on activities. No registration is needed for these engaging programs.

For evening adventure seekers, “Nature Center Nights” offer a unique twist. Join free programs every Tuesday night from June 4 through August 6 for exciting nocturnal activities. Learn intriguing facts about our salamander friends, meet majestic live owls, and uncover the mysteries of the night. Nature Center Nights require registration at highlandsbiological.org

Additionally, Zahner Conservation Lectures on Thursday evenings from June 13 to August 15 at 6:00 P.M. are not to be missed. These talks cover a wide variety of topics, including NASA satellites, hellbenders, native plants, and ecological sovereignty, offering an enriching experience for adults

seeking to dive deeper into topics of the natural world.

With a plethora of free programs available, the Highlands Nature Center is your gateway to a summer filled with adventure, learning, and appreciation for nature. Check out all program details and times at www.highlandsbiological.org and start planning your summer journey today. These programs are made possible by the Highlands Biological Foundation. by Winter

Gary, Highlands Biological Foundation photo by Colleen Kerrigan

Scan to learn more.

Thank you, U.S. Forest Service!

The

Texpansive emerald forests ringing the Plateau and extending far to the horizon are a gift from the US Forest Service to each of us.

he U.S. Forest Service was officially established as part of the Department of Agriculture in 1905. Its mission: “to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.”

Anyone who owns land in this region and/or has done much hiking will have noticed gravel roads that seemingly lead to nowhere as well as random marked trails. These are most likely USFS-made roads and trails, some of which are old and forgotten and others of which are regularly maintained. Surrounding parts of Cashiers and Highlands is the largest of North Carolina’s four National Forests: the Nantahala, which is a Cherokee word meaning “land of the noon day sun.” Nantahala National Forest encompasses 531,148 acres, with elevations ranging from 5,800 feet at Lone Bald in Jackson County to 1,200 feet in Cherokee County along Hiwassee River. Most noteworthy, Nantahala National Forest offers over 600 miles of trails. A few of the lesser-known spots with information provided by the USFS, include: Ellicott’s Rock / Bad Creek Trails: 7 miles (round trip). This hike features Ellicott’s Rock, which is a rock embedded in

the Chattooga Riverbank bearing the letters “NC” carved by 18th century surveyor Andrew Ellicott. He thought this spot to be the intersection of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The actual point of intersection is Commissioners Rock, bearing the symbols NC/SC 1813, 10 feet downstream. Directions: Take Horse Cove Rd. 4.3 miles from the corner of Fourth and Main St. in Highlands to the end of the pavement. Take the right fork, which is Bull Pen Rd. Ellicott’s Rock trail starts at 6 miles; the Bad Creek trail starts at 10 miles.

The Narrows: 4 miles (round trip). This hike features the Chattooga River where it is forced into a narrow channel; there is also a swimming hole. Directions: Take Horse Cove Rd. 4.3 miles from the corner of Fourth and Main St. in Highlands to the end of the pavement. Turn left onto Whiteside Cove Rd. and drive 0.9 miles. The trail is on a logging road on the right and descends 2 miles to The Narrows. You will pass a trail to the right, which continues to Bull Pen Bridge on Horse Cove Rd.

Yellow Mountain / Shortoff Mountain: 3 miles (round trip) to Shortoff Mountain, 9.6 miles (round trip) to Yellow Mountain. The hike to Shortoff Mountain is easier, but the hike to Yellow Mountain is a difficult trail, traversing three of the area’s

scenic mountains, with many steep ascents and descents. Directions: Take US-64 east from the corner of Fourth and Main St. in Highlands 2. 7 miles and turn left onto Buck Creek Rd. Continue for 2.3 miles on Buck Creek Rd. and look for the steps on the right. The trail very gradually climbs Cole Mountain, where a lookout on the left offers views into the Buck Creek area. It continues on the ridge line, and then a series of switchbacks takes you to the summit of Shortoff Mountain (5,000 ft.). From there, the trail follows a ridge to Goat Knob and Yellow Mountain Gap. From the gap, one mile of switchbacks brings you to the summit of Yellow Mountain (5,127 ft.).

To look at a Nantahala National Forest and plot out future hikes and areas to explore, visit fs.usda.gov/Internet/ FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5425097.pdf or scan qr code below. While perusing the map and meandering trails and roads through Nantahala National Forest, remember that it is all there for you to enjoy because of the U.S. Forest Service and its hard-working employees.

by Deena Bouknight

Scan to download map.

How Grandmother’s Garden Grew

The prospect of gardening is as much a function of memory as it is of vision.

The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth

One is nearer God’s heart in a garden Than anyplace else on earth

This summed up my grandmother to a tee. It was one of her favorite poems. I don’t think there could be a better description for a gardener.

When I think of a garden, childhood memories immediately come flooding in.

One of my favorites is of my grandmother, on her knees and bent over, pulling weeds from between the rows of peas all strung up on neat lines of white string. She was of the era when women didn’t wear pants, so there she was in her garden dress with bare feet working away.

I can close my eyes and be transported to the side of her house where lilies of the valley took up the entire space between the sidewalk and the house. Even now,

the sight of a lily and its sweet scent transports me back in time.

Fast forward a few years and I am in the backyard with my mother and brother helping my father plant tomatoes, carrots, you name it, along with marigolds and other flowers that were supposed to keep the bugs away.

We lived in the suburbs with a lovely, landscaped yard but we still had to have a garden with flowers, vegetables and herbs. Today my focus is on flowers and greenery, I’ve decided not to battle with the wildlife over vegetables.

I suppose some are born gardeners, but I think many have been created by their experiences shared with the generations before them. Once you have held the dirt in your hands and smelled the mustiness of the earth, the connection becomes a part of you. You may never pick up another shovel or press the soil around the flower you just planted, but it will still be there.

Others who are completely new to gardening enter with a curiosity and eagerness to learn. They will find that gardeners are some of the most generous people around. That and the shared knowledge and experiences between gardeners is one of the things I love best. Sit at a table with two or more gardeners and be prepared to raise your hand to get a turn to speak. They are lifelong students and are usually at the ready, many times sharing cuttings or seeds from their latest favorite plant. In a sense they are like a family, always supportive and eager to help, never afraid of a challenge, and welcoming to all.

As the season starts I hope you have time to pause and take in the beauty of our surroundings. Maybe take a trip back in time, revisiting fond memories while making new ones with the next generation.

by Debby Hall

Zahner Conservation Lectures

The glories of our natural heritage come into focus with the 2024 Zahner Lecture Season, June 13 through 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. from June 13 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 the Dr. Robert Zahner and Mrs. Glenda Zahner for their efforts in land conservation on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.

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 multi-campus center of Western Carolina University.

2024 Zahner Conservation Lectures:

June 13: Ecological Sovereignty: Managing Natural Resources from a Cherokee Biologist

Dr. Caleb Hickman, Supervisory Biologist, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

June 20: Appalachian Apothecary: Herbs of Yesterday and Today

Patricia Kyritsi Howell, Registered Herbalist (AHG), BotanoLogos School of Herbal Studies

June 27: 2018-2020: Two Years, Eight Storms, 320+ landslides, and an Earthquake: What We Learned about the Connections Between Weather, Climate Change, Landforms and Geology

Rick Wooten, P.G., North Carolina Geological Survey (ret.)

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 &

Founding Principal; Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects

Dr. Sahas Barve

Lori Williams

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

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

by Winter Gary, Highlands Biological Foundation

Greg Cooper

In Bartram’s Footsteps

A new guide spotlights the twisty trail blazed by naturalist William Bartram.

“A Hiker’s Guide to the Bartram National Recreation Trail in Georgia and North Carolina” has everything you’ll need, except the granola bars and Aleve.

This wonderful new book ($21.95, Univ. of Georgia Press) by Brent Martin fits easily into your backpack but contains a library’s worth of insight about the route and its namesake, that congenial and intrepid Philadelphian, naturalist William Bartram (1739-1823). Bartram was here in 1775, with the Cherokee, and the hiking trail mostly follows his wanderings.

The 112-mile-long section of the Bartram Trail covered by Mr. Martin starts where U.S. 28 crosses the Chattooga River on its journey from Walhalla, S.C. to Highlands. The path winds its way to the summit of Scaly Mountain before descending to the Little Tennessee River (you can canoe or Kayak part of the route) and ending at

the Appalachian Trail on Cheoah Bald.

The guide includes a detailed account of what to expect along the trail, maps and suggestions for day hikes. What really makes this book unique is Mr. Martin’s deep knowledge of our area and his engaging prose. He is the executive director of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy and owner of Alarka Expeditions in Cowee, north of Franklin. His other books, including that on George Masa (see below) are also rewarding.

In his acknowledgements Brent thanks “ancient trails expert” Lamar Marshall, who created the maps. What I learned here is that Bartram, in Mr. Marshall’s expert opinion, actually climbed today’s Satulah Mountain, which the explorer described as “the highest ridge of the Cherokee mountains… This exalted peak I named mount Magnolia, from a new and beautiful species of that celebrated family of flowering trees…”

He called the plant “auriculato” but it’s now known as Fraser magnolia.

Mr. Martin will sign copies of his guidebook at the Highland Hiker (the Falls on Main) in Highlands from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, June 15, and at the Highland Hiker in Cashiers on Wednesday, June 19, from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M.

On August 20, at 5:30 P.M., as part of the Cashiers Village Green nature series (sponsored with the Highlands Cashiers Land Trust) he will discuss photographer George Masa who, with his friend Horace Kephart, helped preserve the Great Smoky Mountains as a national park. Masa is the subject of Brent’s book “George Masa’s Wild Vision,” part of which recounts Masa’s time here on the Plateau and is loaded with his amazing images.

by Stuart Ferguson

Resurgence of Fly-Fishing

The view from the stream is one that’s deeply personal, yet infused with a reverence for the majesty of nature and a respect for fellow anglers.

Being in the fly-fishing industry my whole career, there’s one event in the history of the sport that catapulted its popularity like nothing else.

That was the release of Robert Redford’s “A River Runs Through It.” After its debut, everyone wanted to shadow cast just like Brad Pitt on the beautiful Blackfoot River.

The Movie (as it’s referred to in the industry) was hands down the one tangible thing that did more for the sport of fly fishing than anything else…well, that was before Covid came to town.

In fact, there’s speculation that Covid might have driven up to five times as much interest in the sport of fly fishing as The Movie did!

There are a lot of mixed ideas and speculation on how sustainable all this new interest in the sport is, and what the future might hold.

Personally, when I go fly fishing on my own time, one of my big goals is to go somewhere that I will likely not see another person. With all this new

Personally, when I go fly fishing on my own time, one of my big goals is to go somewhere that I will likely not see another person.

interest, that will become harder for sure. On the other hand, all this new interest is a major opportunity for not only fly fishing as an industry, but most importantly if we do this properly, we can create

new voices to be heard on conservation efforts that help the things that bring us all together: Streams, Rivers, Lakes, Seas, and Oceans

If you are reading this as an experienced fly fisherman, when you run into a new angler who’s getting their feet wet in our great sport, be welcoming, be kind, and be helpful.

You were in their shoes once.

Plus, you never really know who you’re talking to, and this “newbie” could be the person that in five years helps pass a bill in Congress that will help and better the very river you are standing in.

by Matt Canter, Brookings

Photo by Susan Renfro

Pools of Pigment

Our Cover Artist James P. Kerr pursues his art with passion and unbridled creativity.

Fine artist James P. Kerr likes to push things around – and he does it beautifully.

His brush and knife do the pushing, and his passion for moving oils about a canvas does the rest. With 50 creative years of brushing and texturing paint alla prima (wet-on-wet), it’s no wonder his works of seaside and mountain landscapes, figures, musicians, still life, and abstracts have adorned galleries,

offices, and halls from South Florida to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Many of his paintings have delighted citizens around the world through the U.S. State Department Art in Embassies Program (Africa, Middle East, etc.). African and Middle Eastern embassies frequently ask for his work. Those regions have a love for musical images, particularly jazz instruments and their performers.

James says, “I’ve been sketching musicians since childhood. I don’t perform music, but I own instruments as an inspiration for painting compositions.”

Art and Music share a vocabulary: rhythm, motion, tone, harmony. But it’s the movement that directs the painting’s essence. James’ hands dance with his tools loaded with buttery, creamy oils as he swirls golds and greens across his canvas. It creates the feel of motion.

James uses warm colors in an underlayer and cool colors on top or vice versa. It’s the warm in contrast with the cool that creates motion … and emotion.

Rooted in art early-on, James was painting with adults at 10 years of age. He says, “By 12, color became a fascination. Philosophically and aesthetically, I began to see the light as I fell in love with pools of pigment.”

Over the years James experimented with several mediums. Nowadays he paints

around 90 percent oil/alla prima and 10 percent other methods.

James has lived and painted, studio and plein air, up and down the Atlantic Seaboard. He was born in Buffalo, New York and later resided in scenic New England and Banner Elk, N.C. These days, living in Delray Beach, Florida (the last 2 decades), he spends a lot of time painting in his Boca Raton studio or shooting photos and sketching.

Take a tour of James’ painting world

on his website, jamespkerr.com. For comments and questions, text (561) 212-8610. And to see his latest works on Instagram; locally, see his display in Art Highlands Gallery, in person or at arthighlands.com.

by Donna Rhodes

Multifaceted Creativity

“The work comes to you from somewhere else and asks you to give it birth.”

- Diane McPhail

See Diane’s paintings all summer at On the Verandah in Highlands.

Diane McPhail is a multifaceted talent, deeply rooted in the arts and literature. As an artist, McPhail’s work is a vibrant testament to her keen observation of nature and human emotion, reflecting a profound connection to the landscapes and essence of the Southern Appalachians. Here is one key to her seemingly magic-like and multifaceted creativity. Years ago, while reading Madeleine L’Engle’s Walking on Water: Reflections of Faith and Art, she experienced an epiphany: “The work comes to you from somewhere else and asks you to give it birth. Your job is to follow the work, for it knows where it needs to go.”

Diane continues: “I was commissioned to create a 13-figure sculpture garden of baked porcelain on steel from my Adam and Eve creations for the center of Lenox Park in Atlanta. That opened with a huge crowd for dinner accompanied by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. I didn’t

originate any of that. It was a situation that the work knew what it needed to be. And it asked me to help it be born.”

Her artistry is not confined to the canvas alone; it extends into her eloquent expressions as a writer, where she weaves narratives that are as compelling as they are heartfelt.

In her literary endeavors, Diane McPhail offers readers a glimpse into the complexities of human relationships and the intricate tapestry of Southern life. Her works often explore themes of redemption, resilience, and the transformative power of forgiveness, striking a chord with readers who find solace and reflection in her words.

She has written The Abolitionist’s Daughter, The Seamstress of New Orleans, and most recently, Follow the Stars Home, all of which enjoy huge audiences and critical acclaim. There’s a fourth manuscript under contract, set in France. And once again - as in her

artwork - the characters themselves guide Diane; they tell her the story that wants to be told.

Beyond her individual achievements, Diane McPhail has contributed significantly to the cultural fabric of the Plateau. Through her involvement in local arts organizations and community events, she fosters a spirit of creativity and collaboration. Her dedication to her craft and her ability to bridge the worlds of visual art and literature exemplify her as a distinguished figure in the arts.

Visit her paintings all summer at On the Verandah. Paintings and jewelry are available at The Bascom. There’s also her art website, dianecmcphailart. com. Diane writes a Museletter with photography and musings on life at dianecmcphailauthor.com. And you can purchase her books wherever books are sold.

Embrace the Beauty of Plein Air

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. 19 invitational artists will set up their easels to capture the beauty of our Cashiers and Plateau areas July 14-20.

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. As a nonprofit, public park The Village Green relies on their biennial events like Cashiers Plein Air Festival to generate the necessary funds to continue to produce their free

community events and to keep their park open to the public 365 days a year!

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 Pierre-Auguste 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.

Scan to learn more.

Make Some Noise with the Boys

The Texas Tenors are bringing their unique brand of musical mastery to the Highlands Performing Arts Center, July 5.

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 complete your holiday celebrations.

The Texas Tenors will be performing live in concert.

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

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 2,000 concerts, recorded five studio albums, produced two PBS specials, and have written two children’s books. They have won three Emmy Awards, The Gelett Burgess Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature,

and the distinction of being Billboards Magazine’s #10 Classical Artist in the World. Their albums Outside the Lines, Rise and A Collection of Broadway and American Classics all debuted at Number One on the Billboard Charts.

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. Tickets are available at HighlandsPerformingArts.com.

On their 15th Anniversary Tour, you will hear new music along with rousing patriotic favorites and everything from country to classical.

by Mary Adair Trumbly, Highlands Performing Arts Center

Are You Ready to Rock & Roll?

Highlands Performing Arts Center, 507 Chestnut Street, offers a banging rock and roll revue and a biting, funny play about a single woman making her way through the 21st century.

Neil Berg is bringing his 50 Years of Rock & Roll to Highlands Performing Arts Center at 7:30 P.M. Saturday, June 29.

This concert is not only a highly entertaining look at the history of iconic music, using the best musicians and authentic Broadway / Rock and Roll artists in the world, but also tells the story of America since the 1930s; all the incredible influences and cultures that make up our “melting pot,” which is poured into the fabric of our music that influenced generations around the world. With a cast consisting of both stars from Broadway’s greatest rock musicals and incredible rock and roll singers, Neil also shares often unknown stories from the 50-year history of the music that changed the world forever.

From the progenitors of rock and roll in the early 1940s, through the glory years of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, up until MTV in the early ‘80s, Neil Berg’s 50 Years

of Rock & Roll use fascinating stories and groundbreaking music, with tributes to such iconic rock stars/groups/genres as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Frankie Valli, The Beatles, Beach Boys, Motown, Aretha Franklin, The Who, Janis Joplin, Woodstock, Simon & Garfunkel, Carole King, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Aerosmith, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Disco, New Wave, Journey and others.

Come to the concert and feel like you’re eighteen again and relive the fabulous music of your memories. Saturday, June 29, at 7:30 P.M. Tickets are available at HighlandsPerformingArts.com

The National Theatre will present an encore presentation of Phoebe WallerBridge’s Fleabag on Saturday, June 8, at 1:00 P.M. in the Martin Lipscomb Theater. Fleabag is the hilarious, awardwinning, original one-woman play that

inspired the BBC’s hit TV series, written and performed on-stage by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

“Never has being a modern woman seemed so painfully funny, brutal, and hopeless all at once,” raves The Atlantic.

In just 80-minutes, audiences can expect a rip-roaring look at some sort of woman living her sort of life. This performance is for adult audiences.

Tickets are available at HighlandsPerformingArts.com

by Mary Adair Trumbly, Highlands Performing Arts Center

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Her Passion Meets the World

Sue Fazio reveals the secrets behind her eclectic, electric portfolio at the Art League of Highlands and Cashiers’ meeting, June 24 at The Bascom. Everyone is invited.

Sue Fazio’s favorite line is “I paint all day, every day!” Although that is not the truth, it’s the truth of her goal and passion for painting.

Ms. Fazio will be the guest speaker at the Art League of Highlands-Cashiers’ June 24 meeting. A wine social begins at 4:30 P.M. on The Bascom terrace, with the meeting and presentation following at 5:00 P.M. Not limiting herself to a single medium or subject matter, she works in oil, pastel, encaustic or acrylic, depending on whether she is painting animals, flowers, landscapes, people or abstracts. Two years ago, she took up pottery, throwing on the wheel. She has been obsessed with that medium because it gives her a new surface for painting. Besides her family, painting is her greatest joy. Her work is full of expressive color, shapes and textures. She says, “It is how my passion meets the world!” Her freedom of creation is

evident in all of her work, and many of her pieces may be viewed on her web site, suefazio.com. She will be also be teaching her eleventh encaustics class at the Bascom, September 10-13. Often questioned as to why she doesn’t “settle”

University, a dozen moves and marriage to golf course architect, Tom Fazio. She paints because she needs to, and she is excited with the challenge.

The proceeds from her sales benefit her hometown Boys & Girls Club of Hendersonville, North Carolina, that she and Tom founded in 1993.

…she works in oil, pastel, encaustic or acrylic, depending on whether she is painting animals, flowers, landscapes, people or abstracts.

on one style, subject or medium, her answer is quite authentic: “I do not choose all the same kind of people as friends, nor eat the same foods every day or only love one place.”

Her journey as a painter has accompanied her through the dramas of raising six children, earning a doctorate in education from Florida Atlantic

We hope you will join us for this free social and presentation. For more information about the Art League, visit artleaguehighlandscashiers.com.

by Zach Claxton, Highlands-Cashiers

Art League

Engaging in Art’s Cultural Value

The collection on display at Art Highlands Gallery, 521 N 4th Street, deserves a careful browse and an eye for discernment.

Dr. Steve Hinkey and Beata Gola

Art Highlands Gallery owners

Beata Gola and Dr. Steve Hinkey want you to understand that buying art is so much more than simply glancing at a painting on a wall.

Hinkey is of the mind that “people look too quickly,” and for familiar things. “They often miss the depth and meaning behind pieces. I see my role as curator to open curiosity and give understanding that makes art fun and interesting.”

It was after a 42,000-mile trip around the US, and a tour of three European countries that Gola and Hinkey decided to open a gallery here.

For Gola, former Vice President of a prestigious salon spa chain in New England, Highlands felt like home. The road to gallery ownership was more circuitous for Hinkey. A former chiropractor, Hinkey had channeled his understanding of the human brain to employ the digital artwork he created into the healing process.

In November 2022, they opened their gallery at 521 N 4th Street.

“From our research and desire to present something very special came the opportunity to represent artists who are very special and worthy,” he said. “There are 100 creators we want to feature, to start we brought in 30. Plus, I’m expanding my own work into a more immersive experience.”

Hinkey and Gola are motivated by the challenge of how to engage people and to make the case that art has a cultural value that is worth engaging, to make it feel more relevant.

“The gallery is a vibrant community that champions the bold and experimental,” says Gola. “Offering a space for distinguished artists and enriching the understanding of the broader discourse of art builds confidence and connection to the gallery.”

The pair are dedicated to redefining the role of a boutique art gallery by show-

casing and supporting unique talent. The collection reads like a star studded collection of the gems of American artists; abstract painting by Harry James Moody, who developed his unique style questioning color, composition and patterns; encaustic paintings by Michael Hayden who creates lush and textured abstracts by heating beeswax and adding pigments; figurative, landscape and abstract oils on wood panels by Asheville artist Mark Bettis; nature art by Brevard artists Colette Fairman who captures the sunlight pouring through the forest; and works by printmaker, etcher and serigraph artist Ann DerGara.

The gallery also offers classes and public events and happily arranges private art showing. For information regarding upcoming events and current exhibits go to ArtHighlands.com.

by Marlene Osteen

43rd Season of Music

With fanfare and flair, Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival launches its 43rd season. For tickets and more information, visit h-cmusicfestival.org or call (828) 526-9060.

Scott Yoo

Yuriy Bekker

Vijay Venkatesh

The announcement of The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival’s 43rd summer season starting the weekend of July 6 is occasion to recall a quote by author E.M. Forster, “a festival should be festive, distinctive and responsive to its setting.”

Forster must have had HCCMF in mind. Because for those unfamiliar, HCCMF is not the usual staid or stuffy affair that many associate with classical music.

Long-time artistic director William Ransom brings to stages in Highlands and Cashiers immensely satisfying programming that encapsulates his joy toward the music, affection for its musicians, and admiration for the locale. Surprises and delights are around every corner, and the 2024 series hits a high note with a flurry of new festival debuts. Exemplifying the astonishing acts that make up the 2024 program is conductor-violinist Scott Yoo. Yoo hosts the Emmy nominated PBS Show, Now

Hear This – the first classical music show on American prime TV in 50 years. Renowned for beguiling audiences in unexpected ways (he opens a recent episode of his tv show eating gyoza with his mom and wife), Yoo premieres the weekend of July 6 in a program named after his PBS show, featuring the works of Beethoven and Brahms.

The July 8 and 9 opening concerts, “All in the Family” bring together the talents of festival debut artists – multi-Grammy nominated pianist Marta Aznavoorian, and a pair of extraordinary talented musical siblings, the Diaz Brothers on cello and viola.

Critically acclaimed violinist and conductor and Charleston Symphony Orchestra artistic director Yuriy Bekker, unveils his talents Week 2 and Clarinetist David Shifrin, one of only two wind players to be awarded the Avery Prize, is featured the following week.

Making their HCCMF debut week

4 is The Dover Quartet – hailed by BBC Music Magazine as “one of the 10 greatest string quartets of all time.” Wrapping up the season and performing at the festival gala are first-time HCCMF artists, violist Joseph Skerik and “dazzling” pianist Vijay Venkatesh.

On June 30 audiences can experience the glory of brass music with iconic works by the masters from the All-Star Brass Quintet in the lovely setting of The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts.

Will Ransom elaborated, “The All-Star Brass Quintet, led by trumpeter Kevin Lyons, will enthrall with an entertaining program running from contrapuntal music of Bach to songs of Gershwin and Tangos of Piazzolla.” Cost is $80 per person and includes wine & hors d’oeuvres. The program is sponsored by J.F. and Peggy Bryan and Phyllis and Tom Davis. by Marlene Osteen

DINING Pages 116-135

Photo by Susan Renfro

Feeding Your Soul

A visit to On the Verandah proves to be the perfect mood elevator, thanks to a carefully weighed menu and a warm, sunshiny staff –1536 Franklin Road in Highlands, (828) 526-2338.

Way back in 1988, Julia Daugette, the legendary Highlands painter whose work is treasured in galleries and private collections around the world, took me to dinner at On the Verandah.

Julia told me that she was never at a loss for inspiration when considering her next painting.

“What kind of artist could ever come up empty? This entire corner of Western North Carolina is one big canvas,” she said.

Julia explained that in particular she treasured her meals at On the Verandah.

“First of all, there’s the light – it feeds

something in your soul and if that’s not enough to spark your imagination and your mood, you should consult your physician,” she said, pointing to Lake Sequoyah at Golden Hour.

Sure enough, the dining room had acquired an irresistible glow that served as an immediate mood elevator.

“And also, whenever your bank account is starting to look a little threadbare and you’re not quite sure you can pay your mortgage, it’s the perfect time to treat yourself to a marvelous meal.”

Well, here we are 37 years later, and Julia’s wisdom remains unimpeachable. Tricia and I dined at this venerable

Highlands institution in an early evening in May. Just like that happy meal so long ago, the sun was dropping below the mountains and the lake seemed to glitter like a nighttime window display at Tiffany’s. And the dining room conversations were becoming more animated, more fervent.

Owner/Executive Chef Andrew Figel and Chef de Cuisine Brandi Peters have unveiled a new menu, and it’s a thing of beauty.

We started off with the Baby Iceberg Lettuce Salad drizzled with housemade Blue Cheese Dressing, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Red Onion and

Chef Andrew Figel

Heirloom Cherry Tomato, and the Baby Spinach Salad, drenched with Poppyseed Vinaigrette, Strawberries, Blueberries, Red Onion, Toasted Walnuts, and nuggets of Feta Cheese.

That Baby Spinach Salad deserves special mention – I can think of no purer distillation of early summer and its unabashed feast of the senses. Glorious!

But these two garden delights were simply previews of what the kitchen would deliver with our entrees – Fresh NC Trout impeccably prepared with Lemon Butter; and Pan Seared Duck paired with Apricot Curry Sauce and Couscous.

And Tricia paired her meal with a David Paige Pinot Blanc ot the recommendation of our server Tate. Tate was vital to our evening with his deep knowledge of the menu and its marvels and that ready

smile. This young man shines like a new dime and his easy presence just felt right, a callback to old Highlands where no one was a stranger.

It all comes down to the fact that Figel treats everyone in the place like family. Every year, during the fallow winter months, he takes everyone on wine trips across the country – places like Sonoma and Napa and the Willamette Valley. They visit vineyards and explore the operations of dozens of labels.

That explains the strength of On the Verandah’s wine list, and it also explains the marvelously comforting manner of the staff. They’re treated like family, and those annual wine trips keep everyone knowledgeable and imbued with the certainty that they’re valued.

Oh, and since I invoked the golden

memory of Juila Daugette at the start of this, let me reveal one more blast from the past.

That’s Jeri Fifer in the kitchen, handcrafting OTVs dessert lineup.

Back in the 1980s, Jeri owned and operated The Frog & Owl Café, situated in a log cabin far, far down Buck Creek Road (it felt like you were driving to a far corner of The Twilight Zone). This little place (8-10 tables?) had acquired an international reputation and I remember having to make reservations three months in advance.

But here she is, still at the top of her game and still sweet as an apple on Christmas Day.

by Luke Osteen

Proietti’s Amatriciana

Massimiliano Proietti

Tradition and Passion infuse every dish in Paoletti’s kitchen.

“Amatriciana is my favorite dish because it represents my passion for cooking, the love of my heritage, and the happy tears that remind me of my mom cooking this dish for our family in Rome,” says Massimiliano Proietti, who oversees recipe innovation at Ristorante Paoletti. “These recipes were known as dishes for farmers and their families and include Carbonara, Cacio e Pepe, Gricia, and my favorite, Amatriciana, and have been rediscovered in restaurants around the world.”

The sauce is simplicity personified: a savory ooze of guanciale (cured pork cheek), San Marzano DOP tomatoes and grated pecorino cheese, with a hint of hot pepper to deliver a subtle afterthought of heat, piled upon the thick, hollow, and slithery noodle known as bucatini.

One of the most satisfying dishes on the Roman table, the dish is a guilty pleasure. The end so delectable, so luscious that it just may compel you, as it has others, to invoke the gods, Chef Massimiliano Proietti’s Amatriciana

Note: (If you can’t find guanciale, pancetta is a good sub as is slab cut bacon, but in that case you might want to add a sprinkling of black pepper) Bucatini is a thicker pasta with a hollow center that captures the thick sauce but spaghetti delivers

equally tasty results.

Ingredients

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

10 ounces guanciale (see headnotes)

1 cup white wine

28 oz can whole San Marzano DOP tomatoes

½ cup grated Pecorino cheese

1-pound dried bucatini

Step 1

Directions

In a large (12-inch) skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Add guanciale and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the white wine and cook, stirring, until mostly evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove 1/3 of the guanciale and transfer to a plate. To the skillet, add San Marzano DOP tomatoes, and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally for 1 hour, until thickened. When ready, puree the sauce with an immersion blender.

Step 2

Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted water, cook pasta according to package directions until just shy of al dente. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water and drain.

Step 3

Return the guanciale to a separate saucepan and reheat over a small amount of olive oil and a splash of white wine and return. Add the tomato sauce and 2 cups of pasta cooking water to the pot along with the strained pasta and stir vigorously over medium-high heat until pasta is evenly coated in the sauce, about 1 minute. Remove from heat, stir in the cheese and season to taste with salt.

Step 4

Divide pasta among bowls and garnish with more cheese and if desired, black pepper or red chili flakes.

“What we say in Roman slang when you have a bad day, ‘Magna che te passa.’ When you eat you will forget.” –Massimiliano Proietti

by Marlene Osteen photos by Susan Renfro

It’s Summertime And The Sippin’ Is Easy

Summer wines are playful, yet seriously complex.

Spring is well underway, and the promise of summer is on the horizon. The weather is slowly warming, we’re starting to enjoy longer, lighter evenings and intimate indoor dinners will soon give way to sun-soaked picnics and smoky gatherings around the grill. It’s a season that begs for a bottle of wine.

For an unforgettable summer, why not explore a range of wines that includes vibrant whites, refreshing rosés, and light-bodied reds?

These whites are built for summer, the perfect companions for the flavors of the season.

Pépière Muscadet Sèvre et Maine

Sur Lie La Pépie: For anyone seeking delicate, complex, and eminently enjoyable wines that captures the essence of summer, this dry white wine, from one of the best and most progressive Muscadet vintners is a medium-bodied and minerally structured, fresh, and

salty Muscadet of great purity with a good aftertaste.

Cantina Terlano Alto Adige Pinot Bianco: A wine that screams Italy and yet is neither red nor Pinot Grigio –the Pinot Bianco is a flagship grape for this high-quality cooperative. A round, relatively full-bodied, rather fruity white with a crisp mineral note, this is lovely in its streamlined purity.

For red wine lovers, two flavorsome light reds that come to life when slightly chilled and paired with barbecues and a spectrum of summertime seafood.

Domaine Dupeuble Père et Fils

Beaujolais: A textured, almost gritty wine with black cherry and raspberry notes. Fresh but concentrated with undertones of tea and white pepper.

The Whole Shebang, California Fifteenth Cuvée: This longtime favorite value is a modern version of a California field blend from Bedrock Wine. It’s generally a blend of zinfandel, carignan,

syrah, petite sirah. The result is a snappy, zesty, unpretentious, fresh, and fruity blend with endearing cherry and smoky anise flavors.

And one can’t even speak the words “summer wine” without mentioning rosé.

Domaine de Fontsainte Gris de Gris: My longtime favorite, a quintessential rosé from Languedoc France, sporting a light pink color the wine has won multiple awards. Pretty, delicate, and lively with lots of cherry blossom and raspberry-like fruit, its juicy and dry.

Commanderie de la Bargemone Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé: From one of Provence’s foremost estates, a dry rose for which the region is famous. Round and rich with blood orange acidity and white cherry flavors.

by Marlene Osteen

One Wicker, Countless Delights

Sophie Delany would be the first to proclaim that there’s something irresistible about cheese. Where once the demands of waiters and chefs and serving restaurant guests commanded her attention, today it just might be a good cheddar that rules her day. Which is to say that last year, Delany left a ten-year tenure working at Old Edwards – from Assistant Food & Beverage Director, to General Manager

at Four65 Woodfire and Bistro and catering in the corporate sales office – for what is today the smelly, yet seductive world of cheese.

Now she spends her days selecting, cutting, and wrapping the 40 cheeses she offers at One Wicker Cheese, the store she opened in March, at the space formerly occupied by the Business Spot on Main Street.

Thus, should a sudden craving for a nice

chunk of cheese together with a perfect hunk of meat and perhaps a glass of wine overcome you, I can’t think of a better destination where one might satisfy those hankerings.

Delany is savvy about her mission and steadfast in her determination to support the cheese makers and specialty meat producers that launched a renaissance in artisanal products in wake of the food-to-table movement.

Sophie Delany

Step inside and you’ll find cheese from Georgia’s Sweet Grass Dairy and cured meats from Atlanta’s Spotted Trotter alongside cheese curds from nearby Providence Farmstead in Otto, fresh produce, and eggs from her sister’s farm in Franklin (also called One Wicker), and charcuterie from Wisconsin’s Underground Meats.

No less compelling are the charcuterie boards and cheese platters which Delany happily tailors to the season or occasion. There’s an intelligent selection of wine, with a focus on women and minority producers, and the shelves are lined with

all things cheese and food-related; books and greeting cards, crackers, and sweets, and hampers ready to be stuffed with goodies for gift giving.

One Wicker is as much a café as a market and the space is also given over to seating for about 20, with a focused eat-in menu and a daily changing menu of sandwiches featuring local produce and cheese combos.

A recent and superb special of Brie, radish, cucumber, and arugula was exactly what any weary, hungry shopper might want to eat, and there’s a tidy menu of wine by the glass or bottle, nonalcoholic

As of this writing, One Wicker is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. with plans to expand hours during the summer season. Visit onewickercheesecompany.com to learn more.

by Marlene Osteen

photos by Susan Renfro Scan to learn more.

seltzers, craft sodas and beer to add a welcome relief.

A Local Favorite for 20 Years

Highlands Burrito, the latest addition to Old Edwards’ dining portfolio, is serving up generous helpings of comfort food at 226 South Fourth Street.

Chef Maria Escobedo

Old Edwards Inn and Spa is more than just a place to stay – it’s a dining destination that’s as well-known and praised as its accommodations.

As the hotel and the town have grown, so have the dining options expanded. Among the latest additions is Highlands Burrito, acquired last year in a move that marks Old Edwards’ first purchase of an existing restaurant operation. Intrigued by this development, I talked to Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Director Chris Huerta to uncover the changes.

I caught up with Huerta en route to Louisville where he was gearing up to represent Old Edwards at the prestigious “Taste of Derby,” an event that draws 14 celebrity chefs from the Southeast.

There, alongside his wife Laura, also a chef, he will be serving up 1200 tasting portions of “Herb Ash Roasted Pork

Tenderloin with Spring Clover and Wilted Ramp Succotash.” But this is just a glimpse into Huerta’s role as Food and Beverage Director, overseeing operations at their five hotel dining restaurants, catering operations, Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar and now Highlands Burrito.

Highlands Burrito Chef Maria Escobedo, who worked in kitchens at Old Edwards including Madison’s and Four65, has clearly mastered the art of Mexican cooking, refining sensibilities for authentic Mexican flavors and her specials never fail to entice. On the menu are lip smacking tacos bursting with flavor, including smoked, pulled pork tacos, and fish tacos.

Beyond the popular tacos, there are nachos stacked high with goodies and people are indulging in new introductions to the menu – carne asada and chili. Newly refined recipes for hot sauces and salsas are incontrovertibly delicious

and the recently introduced ceviche’s incontestably fresh and invigorating. Not to be missed is the delicious guacamole and daily soup specials. And, it’s worth stopping in for the drinks alone – Aqua Fresca and Margaritas made with fresh fruit that change up seasonally – look for mango and passion fruit this summer. Consistent with Old Edwards’ ongoing focus on healthful, fresh ingredients, vegetarian and vegan options continue to be a focus.

Like its predecessors, the restaurant serves lunch only, though Huerta said that the plan is to expand the late afternoon options.

Look for expanded hours beginning this summer – including cocktails and light appetizers until 7:00 P.M. View the tasty menu at highlandsburrito.com.

by Marlene Osteen

Sweet Sensations

The ladies of the Scaly Mountain Women’s Club are offering sweet, sweet, seductions at the Highlands Mountaintop Rotary Art & Craft Show.

Once again the members of the Scaly Mountain Women’s Club are excited to participate in the upcoming Highlands Mountaintop Rotary Art and Craft Show, June 29 and 30.

Our “Sweet Sensations” booth will feature homemade delectable treats to please all palates, including our four-legged friends. Our talented bakers will provide cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pastries, breads, and savory baked items.

The Scaly Mountain Women’s Club was organized in 1988, when 14 like-minded ladies joined forces to provide scholarships to local residents for post-high 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 $300,000 for scholarships.

…talented bakers will provide cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pastries, breads, and savory baked items.

and the Highlands Community Child Development Center.

In addition to the Art & Craft Show, don’t miss our Pancake Breakfasts held at the Scaly Mountain School House ! Our first breakfast will be held June 22. Keep an eye out for our signs during the summer months.

We look forward to seeing you at our “Sweet Sensations” booth!

In addition to scholarships, the club supports several nonprofit 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,

The club has grown to over 80 members currently supporting 15 students with their academic endeavors.

by Judy Joyner, Scaly Mountain Women’s Club

A Boil of Perfection

The Low Country Shrimp Boil, set for June 15 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, is a delicious boost to the park’s continuing operation. “Doors” open at 5:00 P.M. and dinner is at 6:00 P.M.

What’s the best way to enjoy the sumptuous taste of southern coastal cuisine known as the shrimp boil without the effort of cooking one yourself – by joining the Friends of Founders Park for their annual low country shrimp boil on Saturday, June 15, at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park.

Master Chef Marty Rosenfield, former owner of Lakeside Restaurant, will perform his magic in preparing this wonderful dinner for you. Marty has been cooking at this event for several years and he has perfected his recipe, adding his carefully selected spices to the usual mix of shrimp, corn on the cob, smoked sausage, and potatoes, creating a spicy broth that is perfection. We’d put this shrimp boil up against any, it’s that good. The $85 ticket includes three drinks, his signature shrimp boil dinner, and dessert. Drinks begin at 5:00 P.M. and

dinner will be served until 8:00 P.M. and the event is held rain or shine under the big tent. Entertainment will be provided by the Back Porch Orchestra in conjunction with the Saturdays on Pine event. With great music, delicious food,

Marty has been cooking at this event for several years and he has perfected his recipe, adding his carefully selected spices…

friendly folks, and a chance to spend an evening outdoors under our gorgeous Carolina sky, no wonder this event is eagerly anticipated by so many each year.

Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park has become the central outdoor gathering place for our town providing a host of amenities including the stage pavilion,

picnic areas, green space, shade trees, wi-fi, an ice-skating rink for use during winter months, public restrooms, and more. It takes a lot to keep it in pristine condition. Friends of Founders Park provides ongoing funds to improve, maintain, and beautify the park.

This “fun”raiser is a great chance to support them and have a hand in maintaining our charming little gathering place. It’s also a heaping plateful of a good time and a chance to thank all their sponsors and supporters. There are a limited number of tickets, so purchase yours now by visiting foundersparkhighlands.org.

by Mary Jane McCall

Scan to learn more.

Plateau Dining Guide

526-2338

The Ugly Dog Pub 298 South 4th Street (828) 526-8364

Wolfgang’s Restaurant 460 Main Street (828) 526-3807

CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS

Cashiers Valley Smokehouse US 64 West (828) 547-2096

Happ’s Place 5914 Highway 107, Glenville (828) 743-5700

Las Margaritas 127 US 64 (828) 745 -6900

The Orchard Highway 107 South (828) 743-7614

Slab

RESTAURANTS

Greystone Inn 220 Greystone Lane, Lake Toxaway (828) 966-4700

Library Kitchen + Bar 184 Cherokee Trail, Sapphire (828) 743-5512

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

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

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

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

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

SHOPPING Pages 144-161

Photo by Susan Renfro

TJ Bailey’s Fashion High

Since opening her Main Street storefront in Highlands, TJ Bailey’s in 1985, owner Anita Lupoli has been gaining a following by curating style with exceptional customer service.

What started as a men’s store specializing in silk jackets and formal wear has blossomed into a renowned boutique offering a cornucopia of clothing, gifts, and art for both men and women, mushroomed into a second storefront in Cashiers, and launched a premier online store at tjbaileys.com.

The boutique now caters to a diverse clientele, ranging from the lavish and playful to the traditional and between stacks of sweaters and racks of shirts, pants, and jackets, there are quirky and unique items from eyeglasses and Dopp kits and leather goods and soaps and lapel pins with pheasant feathers.

Lupoli proudly notes, “Our fashionable clients appreciate the value of quality and our wide range of price points, ensuring there’s something for everyone.”

TJ Bailey’s Main St, Highlands 95 Hwy. 107, Cashiers (828) 526-2262 | (828) 743-8855

John Bynum (left) is wearing jacket by Jack Victor Comfortwear, sweater by Gran Sasso, pants by Blue Planet, and shoes by Peter Millar.

Tina Rogers (right) is wearing dress by Lene Sand Copenhagen, sandles by Popa and hat by Van Palma.

The Bascom | Highlands, NC

photos by Susan Renfro and Mary Gillan Renfro

Nancy’s Fancys The Exchange Fashion High

For over 40 years, Nancy’s Fancys & The Exchange, owned by Nancy and Bob Mills, has been a cornerstone of fashion in Highlands. This unique store offers a curated collection of clothing and accessories for both men and women, blending classic styles with modern trends.

Nancy’s Fancys was opened on Independence Day, July 4th, 1980. The original lingerie shop of Highlands “on the Hill.”

After all those years an extensive line of lingerie, clothing, and accessories. Nancy is your one stop shopping for clothing for all events, casual to dressy with accessories to match.

The Exchange for Men was opened in 1994, making this a complete one stop shopping event for men. Under one roof Nancy and Bob have something for everyone. Bob offers personal service to perfect any issue. Escape the hustle and bustle - “We did!”

Conveniently located Just two miles south of Main in Highlands.

Nancy’s Fancys The Exchange 2060 Dillard Rd, Highlands (828) 526-5029.

The Bascom | Highlands, NC

photos by Susan Renfro and Mary Gillan Renfro

Tina Rogers (left) blouse and jacket by NYDJ, jeans by Krazy Larry, necklace by Touch of Style, and shoes by Handsewn.

John Bynum (right) is shirt by RRR, jeans by Alberto, belt by Torino and shoes by T.B Phelps.

Headwaters Outfitters Fashion High

For more than 30 years, Headwaters Outfitters has been a source for adventure seekers in Western North Carolina, offering unforgettable trips across the French Broad River watershed. A lifelong enterprise of the Whitmire Family, and a longstanding fixture of the outdoor community in Western North Carolina, this family-owned business in Rosman has become synonymous with exploration and natural beauty.

More than just a fly shop, Headwaters provides a range of guided activities, including fly fishing classes, tubing, and paddling adventures suitable for all ages. Whether you prefer leisurely Class One Paddling Trips on the Historic French Broad River or the thrill of Fly Fishing on pristine trout streams, Headwaters ensures there’s something for everyone. It’s no wonder they are Western North Carolina’s premier destination for familyfriendly activities. Visit their riverside location to explore their tap room, supply shop, and a vast array of outdoor gear, home goods, and essentials. Discover more at Headwatersoutfitters.com.

Headwaters Outfitters Highway 215, Rosman 828-877-3106

EmmaGrace Stevenson (left) is wearing a Free Fly t-shirt and joggers, sandals by Bedrock, hat by Marloru and Sling bag by Luke Essential.

Danielle Ennis (right) is wearing a Free Fly t-shirt and jacket, Fishewear leggings and hat, and sandals by Bedrock.

The Bascom | Highlands, NC

photos by Susan Renfro and Mary Gillan Renfro

The Look Boutique Fashion High

Wendy King, the owner of The Look Boutique in Cashiers, invites customers to embrace beauty everyday. The Look provides a broad array of choices to match the activities that the day brings.

Wendy’s boutique is housed in a charming building that was once a private residence – creating a warm, inviting space for her carefullycurated collection of clothing and accessories.

The boutique offers everything from elegant dresses to country club casual and comfortable, yet stylish, options. The shop is renowned for its vast selection of pants and essentials. Alongside their regular collection, they feature beautiful event pieces and provide consultations for made-to-order apparel, ensuring every customer finds something special for any occasion, be it a wedding or a black-tie affair.

The Look Boutique is a treasure trove of artful design, timeless classics and wardrobe essentials from designers around the world.

The Look Boutique 137 Hwy. 107 N, Cashiers

The Bascom | Highlands, NC

photos by Susan Renfro and Mary Gillan Renfro

Tina Rogers is wearing dress by Lior, jewelry by Brighton, and handbag by Touch of Style.

BABYDOLL BEAUTY

A new member for your family! A lifelike, lovable babydoll who talks, laughs, cries, and adores its binkie just like a real baby. Give your favorite little one this cutie pie treasure – complete with cuddles and coos.

Corolle Baby Doll | $134 99

The Corner Store | Cashiers

LIGHT, BRIGHT AND

COZY

If your décor is calling for lovely, lightweight cotton throws, these are a must-see selection. Drape one of these beautifully-woven, cozy, soft throws across a couch, favorite chair, or your shoulders on a misty mountain evening. This everyday staple is guaranteed to give you a warm smile.

Summer Throws | $138 ck SWAN | Highlands

Plateau Picks A few of our favorite things

UNEARTH THE BEAUTY WITHIN

Imagine a diamond, over 3 carats, emeraldcut with GIA certified H color, SI1 clarity

It’s artwork perfection for the hand.

3+ ct Diamond Ring | $ 54,000

Highlands Fine Art and Estate Jewelry 388 Main Street, Highlands

KNOTTED BY HAND

This beautiful rug is handmade in India. Talented craftsmen finely hand knots each rug using superior wool, silk and vegetable dyes. A masterpiece for any room.

Bounds Cave | Cashiers

CROWNING GLORY

This Crystal Tiara, AKA a Birthday Crown is a one-of-a-kind treasure, each crystal glowing, radiating joy and celebration. Think of it as an Aura Tiara. Celebrate with style. Bow to birthday royalty. Everyone needs to be Queen for a Day.

Quartz Crystal Crown | $100 Whiteside Art Gallery | Cashiers

PREPPY GIRL BAG

This distinctive mini crossbody bag, designed by owner Colleen Orrico, is sustainably crafted of recycled PVC. Stylish and roomy, this versatile bag will pair well with your favorite jeans or little black dress. Available in a wide variety of colors.

Preppy Girl Bag | $120 C. Orrico | Highlands

BARREL OF BOURBON FUN

Celebrate the Bourbon boom with Bourbon Barrel Foods. Take home a tin of delicious Bourbon Smoked Spice Peanuts, and don’t forget the Bloody Mary Mix. Then nibble and gobble your way through the Eat Your Bourbon Cookbook recipes. And remember: Bourbon improves with age. You improve with Bourbon.

Bourbon Smoked Spice Peanuts | $17

Bloody Mary Mix | $18

Eat Your Bourbon Cookbook | $ 40 Chestnut Cove | Cashiers

MAKE YOUR FEET HAPPY

These platforms are handmade in Portugal and are creamy, comfy shoes that go with everything. No breaking-in required – on first feel, they swathe and enfold toes-to-ankles, making sure your tootsies are happy all day long.

Softwave’s Cadie Slip-Ons | $ 275 Elevations | Highlands

June is for Jewelry

A pair of June events spotlight the treasures contained within Acorns, 212 South 4th Street in Highlands.

Elizabeth Locke Jewelry

Come June and as certain as the balmy days of summer is every woman’s want to update her wardrobe – to make the dull drabs of the winter greys closeted away come to life in a newfound light.

So, what to do? How best to sparkle, how to appear up-to-the-minute, and as bright as the season’s light?

According to style setters and influencers, the easiest hack is to add a touch of glamor to that outfit via a well selected piece of jewelry. You’ll end up with multiple looks for the price of one, and it will make you see what’s already in your wardrobe in a whole new way.

Helping you wade through a sea of options will be showcases and designer pop-ups at Acorns – Old Edwards jewelry, home accents, furniture, and gift shop – this month.

Indeed, a trip through the upcoming shows from jewelers Elizabeth Locke and Ali & Bird are certain to spark

endless inspiration in how to inject a fresh dose of sophistication and panache into those old clothes.

Elizabeth Locke Jewelry Showcase: Friday, June 21 – Sunday, June 23:

The jewelry brand Elizabeth Locke is based in Virginia, but its neo-classical aesthetic seems rooted in the sensibility of Rome, a city nearly 4,000 miles away where the collector first visited as an eleven-year-old.

Locke’s creations have Etruscan, Greek and Roman sensibilities that connect her admirers to a world long past. Today her brand is synonymous with worldly treasures and unique materials – setting a high bar for show-stopping, headturning pieces. What could be more perfect for a wardrobe refresh than the vintage intaglios, ancient Greek and Roman coins and antique Japanese porcelain buttons that she refashions into 19-karat gold earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces?

Ali & Bird Designer Pop-Up: Friday, June 28 through Sunday, July 7. There’s nothing quite like the rush of discovering an indie brand with a beautiful concept and even more beautiful products. This is the bold and stunning collection that is the work of Atlanta resident Ali Howell and her daughter Lindsey, affectionately named “Bird.” Their artisanal and handcrafted baubles are the perfect pieces to make over any ordinary summer outfit into an extraordinary look. In Ali and Bird’s hands, semi-precious stones, pearls, crystals, and chains are transformed into wearable art to create, “singular, off-center looks that convey a fashion-forward statement to a favorite pair of jeans or your best little black dress.”

Visit oldedwardshospitality.com/ designerpopup to view the full lineup of Acorns 2024 Designer Events.

by Marlene Osteen

Written in the Cosmos

Built upon her wisdom and notion of deeply personal service, Dasha Hall’s Cosmos Flowers, 95 Highlands Plaza, is a garden of sensual delights.

Cosmos Flowers located at 95 Highlands Plaza next to Bryson’s Food Store is a delightful local full-service florist that beckons you in with their vibrant colors and displays.

Once inside, you’ll notice not only the stunning array of fresh blooms, arrangements, plants, and knickknacks, but you’ll find that the sunny personality of owner Dasha Hall matches the décor.

Dasha loves flowers and has since childhood when she, her mother, and grandmother lovingly tended their flower garden in her native Russia. Those early memories of working side by side with her family, cultivating the soil, planting seeds, and watching colorful life spring forth had an indelible impact on Dasha who always knew she wanted a flower shop.

Dasha moved to Highlands 12 years ago and worked at the Ugly Dog Pub where she met the love of her life, Christoper

Hall, got married and started her family with the birth of her sweet little girl, Mia, who is now three years old.

Life was wonderful, but always in the back of her mind was the dream of being a florist. Flash forward to last year when she opened Cosmos Flowers – another homage to the important ladies in her life, as Cosmos is the birth month flower of her daughter.

This full-service florist offers it all. Dasha brings in fresh flowers every day, many from local growers, and she always has a wide array of single stems of every color and variety for do-it-yourselfers, as well as grab-and-go bouquets for those last-minute shoppers.

Choose a new container or vase for your creations while you’re there. She also carries candles, note cards, and other gift items.

Cosmos Flowers can serve all your floral needs from weddings, birthdays, and pri-

vate parties to corporate events. Dasha will work with you to help complete your floral décor. For those needing a single centerpiece or gift, she is always happy to custom-create an arrangement for you as well.

Always willing to share her knowledge and gift of floral arrangements, Dasha offers private classes and lessons as well for those who wish to learn more. For your next corporate event, team-building exercise, or girl’s night out add a little unexpected fun and book a class. She also offers seasonal classes for those who want to make their own fall, spring, Thanksgiving or Christmas arrangements.

Cosmos Flowers is open Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. and on Saturday from 11:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. Bring color into your world and stop by often.

by Mary Jane McCall

Dasha Hall

Elegance &Empowerment

“Real elegance is everywhere. Especially in the things that don’t show.” Discover your hidden elegance at Haley’s Fine Lingerie at her new location at 468 Carolina Way in Highlands.

In a wood-paneled storeroom on Carolina Way, lace, silk, and satin in myriad shades fill cubby holes – crimson red, creamy champagne, silvery pearl, and snowy white.

A sparkling chandelier illuminates racks of lingerie, sleepwear, and loungewear in rainbow hues. A bra with matching panties, embellished with ribbon and rhinestones, rests atop a table. Fairytale chemises, adorned with Chantilly lace reminiscent of Elizabeth Taylor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, float from hangers.

A corseted mannequin in the front window showcases delicate white lace, while a flowing satin robe fit for a wedding night hangs against the dark paneled wall.

And, seated on an emerald green velvet couch between shaggy white pillows is Haley Hays, the owner of the recently opened Haley’s Fine Lingerie.

A fifth-generation entrepreneur, Hays has been fascinated by lingerie since her grandmother took her to Paris and Rome

when she was in middle school. Bewitched by the boutiques of the two cities, she fell hard for fashion and decided then she would one day have her own business.

Haley learned how to sew her senior year of high school, where she then learned how to make a couple of clothing garments for herself. Afterwards she spent six years learning the retail trade working at Annawear in Highlands.

It took Hays six months to renovate the space that had formerly housed Cabin Couture so that it was suitable to showcase the delicate undergarments she planned for it. She painted floors, built dressing rooms, constructed a platform for the window displays, had curtains fabricated and even resurfaced an old wooden table with her collection of pennies.

Hays’ goal in opening the store is straightforward– to make every woman feel beautiful.

As she told me, “If real empowerment is, as I believe, in how

Haley Hays

you feel about yourself – wearing what makes you feel secure and confident enough to go forth and face the world – then it starts with the first things you put on in the morning and the last things you put on at night – lingerie.”

Inspired by Christian Dior’s words, “Real elegance is everywhere. Especially in the things that don’t show,” Haley is motivated by a strong belief in not only creating an experience that embodies the female spirt, but most importantly in the authenticity of all bodies.

A key element of Hays’ mission to promote body confidence and offer customers options for feeling supported and positive about themselves is providing private custom bra fittings, one-on-one appointments (including after hours), and private showings.

Haley’s Fine Lingerie is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

For more information call (828) 371-7890 or visit their Instagram profile, @haleysfinelingerie.

by Marlene Osteen

A Curated Collection

Presto Change-Oh!

Consignment Market has become Mountain Home Consignments – but the commitment to fine quality home furnishings and decorative accessories remains central.

Chris Chastain

For two decades, Chris Chastain managed the business and oversaw operations at the Consignment Market in Cashiers. When former owner Carol Hartley decided to retire early last year, Chastain seized the chance to purchase the store, rebranding it Mountain Home Consignments. The name change not only signaled a new era under new leadership, but also emphasized the store’s specialization in home furnishings and decorative accessories. Chastain’s vision for Mountain Home Consignments was clear – to offer a curated selection of high-quality items that would appeal to a wide range of customers – from residents to designers and collectors and realtors looking for assistance in staging homes

Chastain’s timing was impeccable. Anyone who’s ever tackled a KonMaristyle clean-out knows that selling at a consignment store not only helps declutter, but also puts cash in your

pocket. And sellers aren’t the only one benefiting. Buying secondhand is not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly, giving items a new lease on life.

With inflation on the rise, secondhand purchases have become not just practical but also trendy among young people and professionals making the store’s offering even more appealing.

Today, Mountain Home Consignments has become the go-to-spot for high-end furnishings, artwork and small accessories and lamp shades (the store’s only never-used items). Professional designers frequent the store, seeking inspiration from the ever-changing inventory.

Over his 20 years in the business Chastain has become an expert in antiques and accessories, developing a keen eye for both quality pieces and serious buyers.

While artwork remains a top seller and a significant part of inventory, the store of-

fers a diverse range of objects. Chastain prides himself on curating a selection that surprises and delights customers, with new merchandise arriving daily. He notes “Every time you come in, you’re going to see something new or different – something you didn’t know you needed but can’t live without.”

Like most consignment stores, Mountain Home takes a percentage of each sale, with items accepted for a four-month period and subject to gradual discounts monthly if unsold. Any remaining items are either returned to the consignor or may be donated to the Church of the Good Shepherd in Cashiers. Smaller items are given to area thrift stores.

For those seeking their next treasure, Chris Chastain can be reached at mountainhomeconsignments@gmail. com.

by Marlene Osteen

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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

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

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

102. Rosewood Market

104. Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center

106. Los Vaqueros

123. The Park on Main Hotel

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

117. Country Club Properties, Wright Square Office

SPRING VILLAGE

400. Jannie Bean Fine Custom Jewelry

403. Oakleaf

406. Brookings Fly Shop

VILLAGE PARK

612. The Highlands Hatter

613. Cleaveland Realty

618. Secret Garden

619. Christie’s Internatonal Real Estate

Highlands Cashiers

ON THE HILL

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

NorthHighlands,Carolina

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

NORTH END

801. Green Mountain Builders

805. Art Highlands Gallery

808. Whole Life Market & Nectar Juice Bar

815. Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival

815. Highlands-Cashiers Players

815. Highlands Performing Arts Center

815. Mountain Theatre Company

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

➡ Mission Health -

Highlands Cashiers Hospital

➡ 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

➡ Taste of Scotland

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

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. Laura Moser Art

82. The Village Hound

85. Children’s Edit

86. Nora & Co.

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

112. Vivianne Metzger Antiques

113. Brookings Fly Shop & Cashiers Village Outfitters

115. Chestnut Cove

121. Robin’s Nest

122. Landmark Realty Group

123. Caliber Fine Properties

128. Mountainworks Custom Home Design LTD.

130. The Cashiers Store

131. Tampa Bay Trust Company

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

156. Creekside: - Toby West Antiques

157. Sotheby’s International Realty

172. Whiteside Art Gallery

173. Betsy Paul Properties

176. Lenz Gifts

DOWN 107 NORTH

➡ Bazaar Barn

DOWN 107 SOUTH

➡ Silver Run Reserve

VISIT BREVARD

➡ Brevard Music Center

➡ Looking Glass Realty

➡ Number 7 Arts

VISIT CULLOWHEE

➡ Four Seasons Landscape

➡ Summertime Art & Craft Show

VISIT GLENVILLE

➡ Crawford Construction

➡ Happ’s Place

➡ K-9 Meadows

➡ Smoky Mountain Transportation

VISIT LAKE TOXAWAY

➡ The Greystone Inn

➡ Los Vaqueros

VISIT SAPPHIRE :

➡ Burlingame

➡ Casa Amigos

➡ Library Kitchen + Bar

➡ 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.

LAKE TOXAWAY Pages 170-179

Photo by Susan Renfro

Live Amongst Nature’s Beauty

With a solid commitment to preserving its natural bounty, the Village at Longcliff is coming to vibrant life in Toxaway. For more information, visit longcliff.com.

Construction is underway at the Village at Longcliff, the new 107-acre mixed-use real estate development on US 64 in Lake Toxaway. This carefully planned community was inspired by a local area study commissioned by the Historic Toxaway Foundation in 2018.

Residents of the Toxaway and Sapphire communities expressed interest in a town center and village green where the community could gather to celebrate, listen to music, shop, and have better access to activities and

services closer to the southwestern part of Transylvania County.

There will be a much-needed town center fronting US 64 which will be a welcoming place for residents from the local community and visitors to enjoy all that the Longcliff community has to offer. “Our area has long needed a place where family and friends can come together to create those indelible memories we all crave,” said Ryan Stahl, one of Longcliff’s partners. “Longcliff is the perfect setting and location for providing that missing link along The Plateau.”

Careful consideration has been given to preserving the natural beauty of this unique property which is surrounded by Gorges State Park along the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The hardwood forests, rock formations, waterfalls, and rolling terrain on this property are among the most beautiful in our area, and every consideration has been given to honor their beauty and preserve the area’s heritage. Careful planning and thoughtful design will ensure minimal intrusion on the area’s natural beauty.

Central to their commitment to preserv-

ing the natural environment is the 44-acre Nature Preserve which will set the tone for the entire community. This conservation easement runs through the middle of the property separating the commercial and residential properties and will feature almost three miles of walking trails. The North American Land Trust, a nationally recognized conservation organization with the primary purpose of preserving and managing open space with ecological, agricultural, or historical significance, is the conservation holder for the Longcliff Nature Preserve, thereby ensuring the permanent protection of this preserve. “The conservation easement is the

heartbeat of Longcliff. It is a place that is attractive to all that enjoy the outdoors and will add to the sense of community that already exists in upper Transylvania County,” says David Parks, one of the partners of Longcliff.

The initial phase of construction will be the Retail Market and Longcliff’s Sales Center on US 64. Construction of single-family residences will begin in August of this year, followed by the further development of the Town Center which ultimately will entail retail shops, restaurants and condominiums. A luxurious mountain lodge and spa overlooking the escarpment, which will complement the Inn located in the Town Center, will

round out the real estate offerings. Watch for more details coming soon about the Lodge and the Inn.

Longcliff will be hosting a Groundbreaking Celebration in conjunction with both the Cashiers and Brevard Chambers of Commerce on June 11 on the property so the local communities can learn more about this project and see the property firsthand. They are excited to share their vision with everyone.

by Mary Jane McCall

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Memories of Lake Toxaway

The fishing’s fine at Lake Toxaway. Most of the time.

We buried my Aunt Ruth Osteen in Brevard last month. You’d have liked her. I know this because everyone liked her. She was a positive force of nature who could build a lifelong friendship just by asking you about your day.

She was preceded by her husband Fred Osteen, who’d probably be better known to our readers because of his real estate work in Toxaway and Sapphire. A natural raconteur, Fred could charm the birds right out of the trees, as the Irish say.

He worked for Reg Heinitsh and Donny Boyd during the rehabilitation of Lake Toxaway and went on to help Boyd develop Burlingame.

Fred introduced young Luke to the wonders of fishing at Lake Toxaway, an occasion that lasted all of 16 minutes and left me with a lifetime aversion to fishing of all types.

Let me take you back to the halcyon days of my childhood, when a fishing expedition with Uncle Fred was to be the pinnacle of a strange summer marked by random surprises and confounding mysteries.

I’d never before fished, and I could barely contain myself as Uncle Fred launched our aluminum canoe onto the dark waters of Lake Toxaway.

Fred patiently demonstrated how to smoothly cast a line 50 or 75 feet from our canoe and I tried to reproduce his technique with a couple of throws of about 20 feet.

Sophocles tried to teach us that hubris is twinned to our occasional triumphs and our spectacular failures. At that stage of my life, I hadn’t been introduced to the Greek tragedies.

Wanting to duplicate the nonchalance and obvious power behind Uncle Fred’s easy casting, I mustered every ounce

of muscle and will in my skinny body and cast my line out to the deep waters where the big fish were lurking – only to watch in horror as my rod and reel arced gracefully end over end, gently splashing 20 feet away.

Compounding the disaster, I automatically lunged to recover the errant rod, somehow assuming that my arms could stretch out over the distance like Mr. Fantastic in The Fantastic Four.

This destabilized the canoe, and Uncle Fred instinctively threw his weight in the opposite direction, instantly consigning his tackle box, which had been balanced on his knees, into Davey Jones’ Locker (or, more accurately, Reg Heinitsh’s Locker).

We came ashore and went home – me in utter humiliation, Uncle Fred, somehow energized by the whole event: “That’s a once in a lifetime event, Luke. That means for the rest of your life you’ll have incredible luck.”

I’m telling you this to remind you that fishing at Lake Toxaway is pretty wonderful now.

Lake Toxaway is big, and its waters can be really deep. It’s home to healthy populations of brown and rainbow trout, large- and smallmouth bass, bluegill, walleye, and some enormous, bordering on scary, catfish.

Naturally, you’ll need a license, and you can buy one at Headwaters Outfitters, Brookings Anglers or Highland Hiker. Or, if you’re looking to recreate the Young Luke Experience, you can just paddle out to the deepest part of the lake and pitch everything overboard. It only takes about four minutes.

by Luke Osteen

Photo by Susan Renfro

Preserving the Heritage

This year’s Jan Wyatt Symposium, set for June 20, will explore Cashiers’ earliest days and the bold settlers who made it work. For more information, visit cashiershistoricalsociety.org.

Since 2005 the Cashiers Historical Society has presented to the community the Jan Wyatt Symposium. This event fulfills the Society’s mission to preserve the heritage of Cashiers Valley through education, stewardship and advocacy. This year’s symposium topic will discuss the early settlers and the development of tourism and the creation of modern Cashiers. The date for the symposium is June 20.

The greater Cashiers Valley area was one of the last places in North Carolina to be settled. Until 1819 the area was part of the Cherokee Nation and later the area was part of Macon and Jackson County. The Love Treaty signed in 1819 between North Carolina and the Cherokee Nation, allowed pioneers to apply for land ownership in the Cashiers area.

In 1833 Col. John Zachary, his wife Sallie and thirteen of their fourteen children came from Surry County. They came down the Blue Ridge Mountains until they reached Pickens, South

Carolina. At that time, there were already several families in the Cashiers area when the Zachary’s arrived in Cashiers. The McKinney and Norton families were living in Whiteside Cove and the Barnes, Burrills and Tilley families could be found living in Horse Cove. Three of these families, the Nortons, McKinneys and Zacharys were the earliest families to receive land grants.

In 1850, Cashiers Valley consisted of ninety people living in 15 households with 11 different surnames. Thirteen of the households were headed by farmers and two of the households were headed by laborers. It is interesting to note that most of the settlers of Jackson County were second or third generation Americans, with their parents or grandparents settling elsewhere, but later moving to the area in search of better opportunities.

According to CHS Historian Jane Nardy, “the Civil War made

the mountain people stand still and even back up with any sort of economic development.”

A few decades later in the 1880s, the area and economy started looking up. Investors and developers from the North discovered this remote “paradise.”

The Lake Toxaway Company was responsible for a series of elegant inns from Brevard to Cashiers. There was a railroad spur from Hendersonville to Lake Toxaway that enabled travel to the mountains feasible. Wealthy northeasterners could ride in their private train cars most of the way. The last few miles from Lake Toxaway to Cashiers was made possible by local men from Cashiers and their horse-drawn conveyance.

Finally, mark your calendar June 20 for this year’s symposium and check out the CHS site for additional information concerning time and location.

by Sandi Rogers, Cashiers Historical Society

30 Years of Beautifying Highlands

Despite an occasionally rocky course, after 30 years Highlands Lawn and Garden is still green and growing. Visit highlandslawnandgarden.com for more information.

It’s been three decades and three months since owner David Sims opened the door to Highlands Lawn and Garden.

It’s been a remarkable journey, a tale filled with hard work and determination; a testament to one man’s perseverance and adaptability.

Sims’s story began three years prior to that opening, in Jacksonville, where he worked as a sales rep for Goodyear. In 1991, his wife, a pharmacist, had learned from her boss that there was a pharmacy for sale in Highlands and the couple decided to move and purchase the store.

In those early years in Highlands, while his wife worked, David started a

landscape business – cutting the grass of about 100 yards. But Sims had been raised on a farm in Georgia, and so when he decided that opening a nursery was the closest thing to farming on a mountain top, he put away the lawnmower and weed eater, and bought an acre and half with a 100-year-old house on the Cashiers Road with an intent to open a nursery.

He bulldozed the grounds to create a driveway and erected a barn to store fertilizer and a temporary greenhouse. Two months later when a storm blew through the plateau and tore the plastic off the greenhouse, he tore that down and put in its place a permanent structure.

The initial years were challenging.

With two established local nurseries, residents preferred doing business with familiar faces.

However, Sims persisted. Setting himself apart, he began accepting credit cards and maintained year-round operations, offering trees and plants to landscapers, and firewood to residents. He relied on his intuition that folks might prefer not to have to go into town to buy their plants. Turned out he was right.

“A lot of good people helped me, and I made a lot of friends.” he acknowledged. Over time, Sims expanded the business, steadily increasing the variety of specimen and native plants, trees, and shrubs. Five years after opening, realizing that

Back Row (L to R): Arasele Seriano, Savannah Lee, David Sims, Darin Keener, Parker Sims, Juan Godinez, and Crystal Dempsey

Front Row (L to R): Jose Soriano, Tino Soriano, and Gary Dalton

Not Pictured: Juana Soriano, Gavin Small, Harper Ramey, and Nancy Tilson

his retail plants weren’t observable to passersby, he purchased the neighboring property, adding another half-acre and constructing a second greenhouse visible from Highway 64. This decision proved to be a game-changer, significantly boosting customer traffic.

Sims took another bold step in 2004 and added a rock yard- providing a wide variety of rocks and other materials for the beautification of outdoor projects.

“The most challenging period was in 2008 during the housing downturn,” he reflected. “It took us four or five years to fully recover.”

To navigate the downturn, Sims made strategic cuts, such as reducing the inventory of expensive items like large landscaping trees. “

With fewer homes being built, there

was less demand for such items, “so we focused on strengthening our retail offerings,” he explained.

Another setback occurred when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Despite this, Highlands Lawn and Garden, with its seed sales, was classified as an essential business, allowing them to remain operational. Conducting business primarily outdoors also spared them from stringent distancing and mask requirements.

As the pandemic subsided, the population of Highlands surged, revitalizing the nursery’s customer base. Retail sales soared with the influx of new homeowners. Last year, Sims demolished the original house on the property to make way for a larger, third greenhouse,

A few years ago, Highlands Rock Yard became its own entity, and Sims transferred ownership to his son-in-

law, Travis Ramey.

Meanwhile Highlands Lawn and Garden remains a well-oiled machine led by Darin Keener, who has been with Sims since he was 16, now serving as manager. Parker, Sim’s son, practically grew up at the nursery, starting to help out at the age of four, and now works as assistant manager.

When asked if he sees more expansion in the future, Sims replied that, “I am 67 and after 30 years and two back surgeries, I don’t want to invest any more money in what it now costs to buy land here.”

In the meantime, he continues to work five to six days a week at the nursery (the business is closed on Sundays) year-round.

by Marlene Osteen

David and Parker Sims, 1995

Historic Beauty

This beautifully maintained historic home is steeped in golden memories.

Overlooking Whiteside Mountain and the rolling hills of Cashiers Valley stands a majestic farmhouse that evokes the precious memories of Highlands as it was, a family home tracing to 1938 and steeped in history and the memories of the generations who spent bucolic summers here.

Ridgecrest, tucked away on 4.18 acres, was built by Tom and Teresa Cook, and is still occupied by their descendants. This 3-bedroom 2.5 bath farmhouse is tucked among old-growth hardwoods

and rhododendrons, beckoning all to step back to a gentler time.

These walls hold precious family memories. Close your eyes and you can practically hear children’s laughter and smell home-cooked meals, imagining carefree summers spent enjoying the cool air, climbing trees, hiking through the woods, hunting for garnets, and telling stories on the back porch.

That back porch and its majestic view are the stuff of local legends and were captured on postcards sold in local stores

such as Potts Grocery, Doc Michell’s Rexall Pharmacy, or Bill’s Soda Shop. Many are the visitors who carried this view home with them as a memento of their time spent in Highlands.

Before Whiteside Mountain Road was paved, only 5 homes stood in this neighborhood, so undisturbed nature was theirs to enjoy. There were no phones in this neighborhood until the 1950s when a family friend, who was president of Southern Bell, arranged for a party line to be run to all five houses.

Luckily, all of the neighbors got along, but if one encroached on another’s allotted phone time, squabbles could break out. This home and those who live here have witnessed many changes but always this home stands steadfast.

As time marched on, Ridgecrest grew. A dining room, kitchen, and carport were added. The wormy chestnut detailing in the dining room was transported from Moultrie, Georgia. It perfectly coordinates with the existing chestnut walls, paneling, and detailing throughout the house.

Later, two guesthouses, each with two

bedrooms, were built for guests and summer staff.

In its prime, this home was featured in House and Garden magazine and many notable guests were welcomed by the Cooks. Most notably, during the waning days of World War II, an engineer associated with the Manhattan Project sought respite here as he shouldered the burden of impending history, knowing the impact of the coming atomic bomb. The dining room sideboard that remains in the house today was a thank-you gift from the engineer.

Still standing in its original grandeur

few homes in the area have been loved by generations of the same family or boast such privacy, breathtaking views, and history. This is the perfect place to surround yourself with the peace and beauty of nature while being so close to both Highlands and Cashiers and all these communities offer.

This historic home is listed by Julie Osborn of Allen Tate Realtors. Contact Julie at (828) 200-6165 for more information.

by Mary Jane McCall

Photo by Susan Renfro

On the Shores of Lake Glenville

With the deep waters of Lake Glenville and the deep forests that ring its shores, Tocami beguiles on a fundamental level. For a tour or more information contact Ali Moody or Kati Miller at Caliber Fine Properties at (828) 333-7446 or visit caliberfineproperties.com.

Come to the mountains, add water, and have fun! There’s no place better to do that than on the shores of Lake Glenville, the crystal blue pristine lake nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Lake Glenville is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise with opportunities to boat, fish, kayak, paddleboard, or simply enjoy

its many hidden coves and waterfalls. It’s the natural setting for Tocami, the lakefront neighborhood where you can enjoy all the magic and charm of Lake Glenville just outside your front door. Lakefront living with every conceivable modern convenience, now that’s the life. Tocami offers the very best of lake life and so much more. You’ll have so much

here that you may not realize that you are making memories that last a lifetime and creating stories to share from generation to generation.

Tocami has been designed so families can enjoy an active lake lifestyle and each two-acre lot comes with a deeded boat slip on Lake Glenville. Sunset cruises on the lake will become one of

your favorite activities.

The community has carefully retained much of the natural landscape so you’ll feel very much one with nature while enjoying every conceivable modern amenity provided by Tocami such as a vintage barn and available yurt camping where sundries, fishing supplies, and outdoor games are provided for your enjoyment. All you bring is your sense of adventure.

ATV trails are carved throughout the community providing an even more enjoyable and adventurous way to travel

from one place to another within the community. Motor down to the dock for a fun day on the lake and enjoy the cool ride back to your house with the cool wind in your hair.

Tocami is still growing, and future plans include a lake clubhouse with a kitchen, locker rooms and dock storage for the convenience of property owners. It’ll be the perfect setting for community gatherings or your large family events.

The fun doesn’t stop on the shores of Lake Glenville since every lot comes with a pre-paid membership to Glen

Cove, the newest wellness community by Old Edwards. You can enjoy all their club amenities and activities as well, which will make the golfers among you happy indeed.

At Tocami you become part of a close-knit community of not one but two communities, as well as the vibrant nearby towns of Cashiers and Highlands where there are boundless opportunities for world-class shopping and dining.

by Mary Jane McCall

Financial Focus® Financial Tips for Widows and Widowers

Losing a spouse is one of the most painful experiences anyone can have. Unfortunately, widows and widowers have to deal with more than just the emotional trauma — they also must consider a range of financial issues. If you’ve recently been widowed, what financial moves should you consider? For starters, don’t rush into any major decisions. If you’re still in the grieving process, you are unlikely to be in the best shape to make significant choices affecting your finances and your life.

But once you feel ready to look at your situation objectively and make appropriate choices, consider the following steps:

• Review your finances. Look at your entire financial picture — your assets, investments, debts and income. If you and your spouse had communicated well about your finances, and you shared decisions, you hopefully won’t encounter any big surprises. But if your spouse was the partner who mostly

handled financial matters, you may need to get up to speed quickly on what you have and what you owe. And if your spouse had provided a large amount of your household income, you will also need to determine what changes you may need to make to your lifestyle.

• Address insurance issues. If you will receive a death benefit from your spouse’s insurance policy, what will you do with the money? It may prove helpful in funding your own retirement or meeting other financial goals. But you’ll also want to be clear about what other beneficiaries, such as your children, might receive. And while you’re looking at insurance, you also might want to look at your own policies — do you need to change beneficiaries?

• Review your Social Security options. If you are at least 60 and you were married at least nine months, you may be entitled to Social Security survivor benefits. (If you remarry before age 60,

you typically cannot receive survivor benefits, but you can reinstate them if this subsequent marriage ends.) The amount of your survivor’s benefits depends on your age and the age of your deceased spouse. You can’t claim your deceased spouse’s benefits along with your own retirement benefits, so if you qualify for survivor and retirement benefits, you’ll receive the larger amount. Depending on your situation, you might come out ahead by delaying your retirement benefits, givng them the chance to grow, while you accept survivor benefits. For more details on receiving Social Security benefits, visit the Social Security Administration’s website at ssa.gov.

• Review your estate plans. The death of a spouse can certainly affect your family’s estate plans. So, it’s a good idea to review these plans to see what changes, if any, need to be made. When conducting this review, you’ll benefit from working with an estate-

planning professional.

Finally, keep in mind that you don’t have to go it alone during this difficult time. If you’re already working with a financial professional, they can help. If you aren’t currently working with one, now might be the time to start. By looking at your finances and your family situation holistically, a financial professional can provide guidance that can help ease the stress you are naturally feeling.

Few events are as sad as losing a spouse. But when you feel ready, start taking the steps necessary to continue forward on your life’s journey.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Todd Holder

Empowering Our Youth

The Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation is making a significant impact on the lives of at-risk youth in Western North Carolina. By providing grants to innovative programs within HIGHTS and Jackson County Department of Social Services, the Health Foundation is supporting juvenile justice involved youth and those in foster care. These initiatives aim to address the needs of vulnerable children, reduce placement disruptions, and enhance mental health services accessibility, ultimately transforming lives for a better future.

The Health Foundation’s grant to HIGHTS is creating an opportunity to employ a licensed therapist who will work closely with the Department of Juvenile Justice and community restorative justice programs across the six western counties and Qualla Boundary. By integrating with these organizations, this therapist will provide much-needed support for juvenile justice involved youth and their families.

Recognizing that youth within the

juvenile justice system are at the highest risk of community violence, substance misuse, and self-harm, HIGHTS has made it their mission to address these challenges head-on. With the Health Foundation’s support, HIGHTS aims to inspire trust in these youths’ abilities, build connections with a caring community, and nurture hope for a better future.

In another innovative collaboration, the Health Foundation is providing a grant to the Jackson County Department of Social Services (DSS) to establish a therapist position aimed at serving children in foster care. This innovative program aims to enhance cooperation between Jackson County DSS and HIGHTS, ensuring a timely assessment of children entering foster care and determining the most suitable mental health care and services for each child.

Furthermore, the trained therapist will provide valuable training, education, and support to foster parents, cultivating a nurturing environment that helps reduce placement disruptions. Jackson County DSS is focused on expanding the number

of available foster families, minimizing the need for multiple relocations, and improving the accessibility and utilization of vital mental health services for this group.

By transforming the lives of at-risk youth through trust, connection, and hope, the Health Foundation and its grant programs through HIGHTS and Jackson County DSS are building stronger communities and empowering the next generation.

Through these initiatives, Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation is demonstrating its commitment to promoting a caring and vibrant future for the region’s youth and shaping a path toward a better future for the community.

For more information about HIGHTS, visit www.hights.org.

For more information about Jackson County Department of Social Services, visit www.jcdss.org.

by Josh Bryson,

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

Counting June’s Blessings

Life at Carpe Diem Farms picks up the pace with the arrival of June and the arrival of Journey.

Spring Has Sprung at Carpe Diem!

April showers certainly brought May flowers back to our mountains. The endless shades of green reflecting back create a painter’s palette of magic for us to enjoy and marvel at the many gifts that bless us.

I certainly count my blessings daily.

I recently returned from the National Clydesdale Sale in Springfield, Illinois. Three days of speaking with horsemen and women from across the country about Easy’s Slipper. That’s our glue-on rubber composite cuffed shoe and pads developed and manufactured right here at Carpe Diem. They’re the only product of its kind available in sizes big enough for drafts, minis and every size between. The shock absorption of the materials used provide 220 percent more than provided by the steel and aluminum used in the traditional shoeing process. Beyond the time spent in our booth and sharing our message the excitement of

seeing, up close and personal, the 125 magnificent Clydesdales and Shires, which are auctioned on the final day. Unlike going to many other horse events where viewing from the bleachers is as close as you can get, the “big horses” are available to meet, greet, pet, and experience them being harnessed to wagons and carts, mares with their foals at their sides as well as some ridden both English and Western.

If you follow the monthly articles of the happenings of the horses at Carpe Diem you have read most recently that Kaleb came home from Tennessee and brought his best friend Daniel with him. Drum roll, please!

What could top the spring showers bringing May flowers to CDF?

For me and the herd it’s the newest addition to the equine family, Cross Creek Epic’s Journey. (To be known as “Journey.”) A three-year-old Shire gelding foaled April 16, 2021, in Hardy,

Virginia, and registered as the #23775-S. Since 1885 the American Shire Horse Association has existed. There are few remaining. Research showed there may be less than 2,000 across the globe. The Shire Horse, which began in England, carried armored knights into battle. Their size made a huge presence in battles everywhere. The Scottish Clydesdale was bred out of the English Shire. The Shires’ presence, beauty, size, and calm demeanor make them magnificent.

‘Journey’ arrived at Carpe Diem, April 28. If you would like to meet the herd, especially the big boys, call me at (828) 200-9725 and we will make an appointment.

Carpe Diem Farms is a 501(c)(3) educational foundation located in Highlands.

by

Sue Blair, Carpe Diem Farms

A Refresh for Your Face

Juvéderm offers a safe, effective option for facial refreshment. You can learn more at Highlands Dermatology, 5526 Cashiers Road.

Lindsey D. Koach

In recent years, the utilization of office based cosmetic procedures has increased dramatically, especially less invasive forms such as Botox and fillers.

Gone are the days where a face lift was the only option for wrinkles and aging skin, as injectables are now a common, safe, and relatively pain free in-office procedure.

Botox is widely known and has been used for decades. Its main use is to soften wrinkles in the upper part of the face as well as temporarily weaken the muscles that form those wrinkles due to facial expressions. The main side effect of Botox injections is some mild bruising and injection site swelling for a short time immediately after injection. It is expected that full results are seen after 2 weeks and last anywhere from 4-6 months.

Juvéderm, a brand of filler and the

one used in our office, can be used to plump the cheeks, provide definition and fullness to the lips, and fill in smile and marionette lines around the mouth

… provides immediate results, adding temporary volume to the areas it is injected and can last anywhere from 12-18 months.

and chin.

There are various forms of Juvéderm used in different areas of the face. Softer fillers are typically used in the lips for a more natural feel, while firmer material can be used in the cheeks to provide more lift. The main ingredient is hyaluronic acid, which is a substance that is naturally found in our bodies.

The filler provides immediate results, adding temporary volume to the areas it

is injected and can last anywhere from 12-18 months. The main side effects of fillers are bruising and mild swelling. Our practice makes sure to listen to your input throughout the entire procedure to make sure you are satisfied with the end results and feeling like your best self. There has been a lot of news recently about fake injectables being injected in non-medical settings causing adverse reactions. At Highlands Dermatology we exclusively use brand name Botox and Juvéderm products supplied to us directly from the manufacturers, Allergan and AbbVie.

The goal is not to change your face, but rather “refresh” the already beautiful version of you! So, whether you have an event coming up or just want to look like the best version of yourself, look into Botox and fillers.

by Lindsey D. Koach, Highlands Dermatology

Community Members Can Count on Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center

At the heart of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center is a full roster of compassionate staff.

Last month, colleagues at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center paused to celebrate National Nurses Month, National Nurses Week, National Skilled Nursing Care Week, and National Hospital Week.

Although these recognitions occur annually in May, the gratitude we have for the host of caring and compassionate nurses, clinicians and support staff who make Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center incredible places of comfort and healing extends year-round.

When we look at our team, there are many to acknowledge. Nurses are at the forefront providing everything from sensitive bedside care to finely monitoring and meeting every patient’s unique needs during their hospital stay. They gather, interpret, and convey detailed information, and effectively communicate to both patients and providers.

A nurse does all of this with sensitivity and compassion — trust me when I say this is often not easy. Their duty can call for them to support someone during the

most challenging moments of their life. Our other team members who support our providers and make critical contributions to support our patients deserve high praise too. Other professionals who provide care include imaging, laboratory, respiratory therapy, and therapists. Each of these departments is staffed by competent, caring professionals.

There is also a full complement of support staff who work behind the scenes to assure our hospital operates efficiently. Their services are important to our mission as they keep our facility clean and sanitary and assure our hospital ranks as one of the cleanest throughout HCA Healthcare.

They too, are compassionate and caring. This list also includes staff from environmental services, the dietary department, patient registration, building and equipment maintenance, supply services, not to mention the multiple off-site team members who support us.

These are dedicated employees invested in helping and supporting the healing of our patients and in making our facilities extraordinary – a fact proven by our

outstanding patient experience scores. Their efforts are also undoubtedly a major contributor to our exceptional record of no patient CAUTI (catheterassociate urinary tract infections) or CLABSI (central line associated blood infections) infections for an entire decade. Simply put, every team at our facilities is essential to our success.

I could not be prouder of all the hardworking, caring Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center team members. Thanks to them, we can serve our community with confidence.

A favorite part of my job is being able to check in with patients and families as I walk through our facilities. Not only do I hear about the great job and compassion the team brings, but you can feel it in the smiles, warm comments, and gentle touches that are shared by our team every day during countless encounters. Not to be cliché, but it is our culture, and it shows. This is at the heart of caring and compassion.

by Tom Neal RN, MBA, MHA, CEO/CNO, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital

Tom Neal

Your Personalized Skincare

Rejuvenate Laser Center offers an entire suite of aesthetic treatments and procedures, delivered with concierge care. Call for a free consultation today at their Highlands office (828) 482-4430; Franklin office at (828) 349-1280; or their Asheville office at (828) 575-2233.

Dr. Melita Ritter

Dr. Melita Ritter, the Medical Director of Rejuvenate Laser Center, with offices in Highlands, Franklin, and Asheville, graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in 1988 after completing her undergraduate work in psychology and chemistry. She then completed a residency in anesthesiology at the same institution, graduating in 1992, and she is board-certified in that specialty.

After over 28 years in anesthesiology, Dr. Ritter decided it was time to take her medical practice in a new direction providing her patients with a variety of laser and other aesthetic procedures to improve appearance and promote overall health. She is a Fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. The Staff at Rejuvenate Laser Center works with each patient to provide a personalized skincare routine for their individual needs. Services include spa services such as facials, dermaplaning,

LED light, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and microneedling; injectables including Botox and fillers; SculpSure non-invasive body contouring; tattoo removal; laser hair removal; and laser skin rejuvenation.

Everyone enjoys fun in the Summer sun, but it often leaves its mark on your face in the form of sunspots, freckles, and dark patches. Dr. Ritter’s team can remove them with an intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment called a Photofacial. IPL treatments use a broad-spectrum light to disrupt dark spots and remove them from your face or body. It is best if you do not have a tan and can stay out of the sun for an extended period.

Speaking of Summer, we’ve probably all tried to get into shape, only to find that after all your efforts, you have failed to reach your goals. If this is true for you, then SculpSure may be your answer. Isolated pockets of fat around problem areas, like hips and midsections, often

don’t respond to diet and exercise efforts, leaving you with less than stellar results. The good news is that there is a non-surgical body contouring procedure available at Rejuvenate Laser Center that helps you eliminate those stubborn problem areas. SculpSure is an excellent option that produces a leaner, sleeker profile with minimal discomfort and no downtime.

Sculpsure uses laser energy to heat the fat cells to a temperature that destroys them. The heat does not damage any of the surrounding tissue or skin, making this procedure both non-invasive and effective.

Our skin is exposed to environmental damage every day, and it’s great to know that Rejuvenate Laser is close by to help us maintain our youthful glow and mitigate that damage.

by Mary Jane McCall

Photo by Susan Renfro

Harboring a Fugitive

Bandit’s looking for a chance at parole – he’s prepared to steal your heart.

On the face of it, we suppose we might get in trouble for asking this and anyone who accepts our request might run afoul of the law as well. We would like to know if anyone out there might be willing to help us by temporarily harboring a fugitive.

But this is no run-of-the-mill absconder. Bandit is our longest-term canine resident. This handsome boy arrived at our no-kill shelter after he was found wandering as a stray in Cashiers in March 2022. It wasn’t hard to fall in love with this pup who has boundless energy for affection and loves everyone he meets.

Bandit is three years old and is a German Shepherd mix. Bandit adores treats, toys, romping and running, but his exuberance and puppy power come with a tradeoff – Bandit needs a human companion who can keep up with his endless love for life and play.

We believe that Bandit would benefit

from a brief stay in a foster home. For those not familiar with our foster program, if you love animals but are unable to take on the permanent commitment of lifetime adoption, then foster parenting is the perfect alternative.

By temporarily fostering a CHHS shelter pet, you are actually helping us save two lives – the foster pet you are caring for, and the open space that creates in our shelter for us to save another abandoned and neglected animal.

For our foster parents, CHHS provides any and all necessary medications, food, arrangements for veterinarian visits and a 24-hour hotline number for emergencies. All you need to provide is a temporary home and lots of unconditional love. As an added bonus, our foster parents have first right-of-refusal should you decide to permanently adopt the dog or cat in your care.

And be forewarned – this canine thief will steal your heart.

Interested foster parents can call us at (828) 743-5752 or complete the foster application on our website. Please consider helping us by aiding and abetting our sweet and affectionate Bandit. We promise we’ll keep it on the down-low. 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 10am-4pm. For more information, 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

Celebrating Excellence

What a remarkable trio – The Literacy & Learning Center celebrates an outstanding volunteer and a pair of astonishing students.

Vickie Betts

Jamie

With the end of the 2023-24 school year, TL&LC would like to celebrate excellence and share the pride of outstanding individuals. We are thrilled to announce Vickie Betts as our Volunteer of the Year!

With her dedication and boundless energy, Vickie embodies the spirit of volunteerism. Her leadership and expertise are invaluable to the Center. She shares her valuable skills by tutoring math to after-school students. A champion for student success, she has even taken the initiative to start programs like an end-of-year math exam prep class for Highlands School students.

Her impact extends far beyond her own efforts. She actively recruited volunteers from her connections at Wildcat Cliffs, significantly bolstering TL&LC’s volunteer base and further building a support network for TL&LC’s students. And her commitment doesn’t stop there.

She serves on the board of directors, actively participates in the events committee, and chairs the upcoming fundraiser, Swingin’ Soiree, to be held Sunday, June 2, at The Farm by Old Edwards (tickets can be purchased at theliteracyandlearningcenter.org/swingin).

Vickie perfectly captures the essence of volunteering by saying, “I thrive on helping students conquer past hurdles and build confidence through learning new skills.” Her constant smile as she helps others speaks volumes about her joy in giving back. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and staff and students are incredibly grateful for her passion and energy.

Please join TL&LC in celebrating Jamie, a remarkable third grader who exemplifies dedication, perseverance, and a positive attitude. Jamie’s journey at TL&LC has been one of incredible progress. Through hard work and unwavering determination, Jamie has overcome challenges and consistently demon-

strated a willingness to learn. Beyond academics, Jamie brings a bright light to the classroom. Her positive attitude is infectious, uplifting classmates and teachers alike.

Cristóbal embodies kindness and compassion, always looking out for his classmates. He volunteers to help clean and complete classroom tasks, making things easier for everyone. Cristóbal also has a big heart and reaches out to those who might feel left out, ensuring all after-school students feel included.

TL&LC is proud to recognize Jamie and Cristóbal for their outstanding contributions to the after-school community. Staff and volunteers celebrate their achievements and look forward to their continued growth and success, knowing they will continue to be shining examples for their peers.

by Anna Norton

The Literacy & Learning Center

Reaching TheirPotential

The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau, with headquarters in Cashiers, has expanded to a second location – 171 Hospital Drive in Highlands.

The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need the organization the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. They offer afterschool and summer camp programs to the youth of Jackson and Macon County and provide a safe and welcoming environment for the youth of our community.

Carmen Waite, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau, emphasizes the importance of this expansion: “We recognize that Highlands has a shortage of out-of-school care and we are excited to support the youth and hard-working families of the Highlands area.”

The new Boys & Girls Club Highlands location will be open Monday through Friday, offering summer camp from

7:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and after-school programs from 3:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. For more information, visit bgcplateau. org.

“This year marks our 10th an-

…They offer afterschool and summer camp programs… and provide a safe and welcoming environment…

niversary, and the club has grown by leaps and bounds. We started with about 100 kids, and now are over 450 and growing,” says Merrel Hattink, who serves on the BGC Board. “In addition to the new Highlands location, we are beginning to build a Teen Club building at the Cashiers site.”

“We are thrilled and amazed at the success and growth not only of

the Club in the last 10 years, but that of the young people we serve,” says Carmen Waite, the chairwoman of the Childcare Coalition of Highlands. “I’ve really had a chance to understand the needs here in Highlands and we are looking forward to being part of the community as we open this second location.”

If you’d like to learn more about how you can support the Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau, visit bgcplateau.org.

by Luke Osteen

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Ecological Design

Things are buzzing at the Peggy Crosby Center – especially in the Pollinator Garden.

The Pollinator Garden has been an ongoing project for the Peggy Crosby Center since 2018.

With generous support from our donors, The Laurel Garden Club, Highlands Chamber of Commerce, and many more, the garden has grown into a familiar and vibrant part of our Plateau community.

Nestled in a prominent intersection atop “Hospital Hill,” the pollinator garden is frequented by scores of visitors.

More than just a lovely garden, it’s an example of sustainable, ecological landscape design. With low maintenance care techniques. zero waste, self-seeding, and self-sustaining plant population the garden grows with little labor. Organic matter stays on site.

Little-to-no additions (plants, fertilizers, or mulch) are needed. In fact, many native plant species have found their way into the welcoming garden on their own.

Our plantings have thrived as anticipated. Plant additions have extended the garden’s seasonal beauty with an earlier spring and a later fall. Plants are helping

control erosion. Happily, some thrive in even difficult growing conditions, their roots stabilizing sloping land.

Just as Peggy’s facility nurtures charities and small businesses inside, they foster pollinators, the ecosystem, and grounds outside. The garden is beneficial to a host of wildlife throughout the year, with biodiversity ever-increasing.

Grounds are edged and delineated with a biodegradable fencing technique known as “wattle.” Small tree branches and saplings are woven together to make an attractive and definitive border. In time, this eco-friendly fencing creates habitat for insects, beneficial fungi, and soil microbes in the process.

Focusing on native plants, regular maintenance has been reduced to a minimum. Working primarily by hand, the environmental impact of gaspowered mowers, trimmers and blowers, with their noise and air pollution, is virtually eliminated.

Wandering native plants that find their way to the garden are as important as

host plants. Nectar, leaves, pollen, seeds, and more are essential for sustenance (think Milkweed for Monarch caterpillars). Birds can be pollinators, too.

In addition to the garden’s established ecosystem, its botanicals are an aesthetic jewel right in Highlands’ heart.

While Peggy’s pollinator garden may be small, it plays a collective role with other eco-friendly gardens across our community, our nation, our world. Climate change casts a long shadow around the earth. Peggy is doing her part to not only shorten that shadow but serve as a role model and partner with others, groups like Rotoract, CNIP, HCLT, and the Highlands Plateau Greenway.

We think the possibilities for community involvement in projects like these have untapped potential, and we are very excited to be a part. Contact me for more info at cantyworley@gmail.com.

by Canty Worley

Cashiers Cares

An exceptionally healthy year for Cashiers Cares means an extraordinary year for the village.

Cashiers Cares Board Members with the 10 recipients of fundraising efforts for 2023: AWAKE, Cashiers Valley Preschool, Hampton Preschool, Fishes and Loaves, Community Care Clinic, Four Seasons Hospice, SAFE, LIteracy Council of Cashiers, Pisgah Legal Services and United Christian Ministries.

In its 15th year of fundraising and donating to local charities, 2023 was the most successful in Cashiers Cares’ history.

The ceremony was held in March at the Lewis Hall on the Village Green. It was attended by charity representatives, and each explained how the funds will be spent.

Distributions to the 10 non-profits that support the underserved in our community totaled $100,000!

The organizations are classified as 501(c)(3)s, providing assistance to our very young children, health, legal, and general aid to those in need.

AWAKE aids abused children in Jackson County with a variety of services. The two preschools – Cashiers Valley and Hampton – provide daycare and preschool learning to our youngest.

The Community Care Clinic is a source

for the uninsured to receive medical services free of charge. Fishes and Loaves is the food pantry in Cashiers and sees more people facing food insecurity monthly. Four Seasons is for those at end-of-life, as well as supporting caregivers along with patients. SAFE is a domestic violence shelter and advocate for its victims. Literacy Council of Cashiers works to educate adults and children with reading. Pisgah Legal gives free legal advice and lawyers for those in need of help and United Christian Ministries assists clients in need of housing, heat and rent, as well as food.

Cashiers Cares is an advocate for the underserved in Southern Jackson County – our friends and neighbors working and living here that make everyone’s lives richer.

Support for Cashiers Cares has come from the Trillium Families, St Jude

Catholic Church, Cashiers United Methodist Church. The Annual Golf Tournament at Trillium Links was a successful sold-out event that made a big contribution. The Annual Mail Campaign is a major source of donations. The Third Annual Golf Event will be held at Trillium on Sept 16 and is open to all levels of players. This is a fun day with a post party and prizes. For info, contact Cashierscares.org.

Or me, Board Chair Pam Kerr at Pbk354@gmail.com.

by Pam Kerr

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The Summer’s Exciting Calendar

Highlands’ event calendar is filled-to-bursting with events and celebrations and affairs. For the full calendar of the summer season’s events, visit highlandschamber.org.

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC is committed to making Highlands a vibrant community, both for residents and visitors.

This summer, the Chamber has curated an exciting calendar of events that offer something for everyone. The lineup includes favorites such as the Pop-Up Pipers, the energetic Friday Night Live, and the Saturdays on Pine Outdoor Concert Series, and of course, the grand Fourth of July fireworks celebration. The goal is to create a lively, engaging atmosphere for the entire community. The summer events are designed to bring people together and showcase the best of

Highlands’ culture and entertainment.

Additionally, the Chamber actively supports local non-profits by offering grants and sponsorships. Among these initiatives are collaborations with the Bascom Center for Visual Arts, Highlands Chamber Music, the Center for Life Enrichment’s Porch Fest, and Friends of Founders Park’s Low Country Boil.

Other notable partnerships include the Highlands Biological Foundation, the Highlands Historical Society’s Dahlia Festival, Highlands Motoring Festival, Highlands Nature Center, Highlands Performing Arts Center, Highlands Plateau Greenway, Highlands Twilight

5K, Mountain Theatre Company, and Mountaintop Rotary Arts and Crafts Shows.

These partnerships, combined with other strategic efforts, help to reinforce Highlands’ economic stability, and provide a diverse range of experiences for everyone in the community. By working closely with our local nonprofits and businesses, we strengthen our community’s cultural and economic fabric. This collaboration ensures that Highlands remains an exceptional place to live and visit.

by Johanna Fein,

Highlands Chamber of Commerce / Visit Highlands, NC

Carolina Cone Team

Even with a bustling real estate practice, The Carolina Cone Team is built upon a deep knowledge of the region and warm personal connections throughout the Plateau.

Alan and Tina Cone, the dynamic duo behind the Carolina Cone Team, bring a wealth of experience and a personalized touch to the real estate scene in Cashiers, Sapphire, Highlands, Glenville, Lake Toxaway, and the surrounding areas.

With over 33 years of combined experience, they specialize in mountain vacation homes, commercial opportunities, investment properties, and raw land. Their success is in their personalized approach to each client’s situation, and a keen ability to tailor their services to meet individual needs by taking the time to understand their client’s financial goals.

“We believe in building long-term relationships,” Tina Cone emphasizes. And thanks to their deep understanding of the Plateau’s real estate market, and trusted connections, they are uniquely able to help clients overcome obstacles and realize their goals.

Tina Cone, with a background in marketing and a keen understanding of people, ensures that each client’s home receives

maximum exposure and fetches the best price possible.

Meanwhile, Alan focuses on working with builder and investor clients on new construction and commercial projects, as well as assisting with pricing the team’s listing inventory.

Their story in real estate is intertwined with their journey from Orlando to Cashiers. It began when Tina started work at Village Realty in 1997 as a receptionist, later becoming a realtor and quickly growing her business.

In 2004, after Village Realty became part of the Keller Williams franchise, she started The Carolina Cone Team. Alan joined her in 2005, and together, they have consistently ranked among the top teams in Keller Williams Carolinas (SC/ NC) Region.

In 2021, the Carolina Cone Team had their best year ever, closing transactions worth 53 million. They are now a fouragent team with three team administrators who each add to the overall client experience. Their success is a testament to their dedication to their clients and

their deep-rooted ties to the community. Their new location at 93 US Highway 64 East, just a few steps away from the Cashiers Crossroads, reflects their commitment to serving their clients better. As they look to the future, they remain steadfast in their promise to provide exceptional service and support to their clients.

Outside of work, their lives are just as energetic. Alan is a scuba diving enthusiast and the proud driver of their RV, “The Rolling Cones.” Tina, on the other hand, is deeply involved in volunteering, serving on the Cashiers Valley Community Council for over 20 years, among other roles. Her present obsession is their three grandchildren, two of whom live in the Asheville area, where she spends most weekends playing with them, while the third resides in Brooklyn, New York, a city Tina loves to explore.

The Cone Team office is located in the Keller Williams Great Smokies Luxury office at 93 U.S. Hwy 64 E in Cashiers.

by Marlene 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

A private, low-density amenitized community, located on the prestigious 107 South corridor just five minutes from the center of Cashiers, NC. Silver Run Reserve is paradise of natural beauty offering a variety of amenities for indoor and outdoor fun and wellness, and a range of large estate homesites, and built cottages. Call Liz Harris for more details and a tour of this beautiful community.

COMMUNITY POOL RENDERING

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

39.18 ACRES A rare opportunity to acquire this premier Cashiers, NC acreage located on the prestigious Highway 107 South corridor, just three minutes from town! Much of the land is nearly level with a creek and stream running through it, and an elevated area offering great homesites with gentle topography and views of Chimneytop Mountain, Rock Mountain, Big Sheepcliff, and others. This property would make a beautiful private estate

4 BR / 4 BA / 0.82 ACRES This renovated family residence within the prestigious Wade Hampton Golf Club offers captivating views of Chimneytop, Rock Mountain, and of Whiteside Mountain. Boasting close proximity to town and just inside the main gates of Wade Hampton, this property presents a prime location. The main level is flooded with natural light, courtesy of tall windows and doors enveloping the great room. Large doors lead to an expansive covered deck. The newly upgraded kitchen features state-of-theart appliances, elegant cabinetry, and a spacious island. The dining room, with its charming, vaulted ceiling, seamlessly connects to the deck. The

Offered for $6,900,000

just minutes from the center of Cashiers and close to Wade Hampton, High Hampton, and Chattooga Club. Enjoy the excitement of your favorite club and the privacy of your own quiet estate just a couple minutes away. This land also offers excellent commercial, residential or mixed-use development potential with its great location, frontage on Highway 107 South, gentle topography, and views. MLS 101855

Offered for $3,290,000

primary suite on the main level impresses with vaulted ceilings, stunning views, and a generously sized en-suite bathroom featuring marble floors, oversized shower, and an inviting soaking tub. A second en-suite on the main level ensures convenience for guests. Upstairs, you’ll find an additional ensuite bedroom, along with a spacious loft area. The lower level offers a family room equipped with a wet bar, a fourth generous guest en-suite, bonus space, and a sizeable, covered porch. An attached, two-car carport is conveniently located adjacent to the laundry room. The gentle topography of the property invites the possibility of additional gardens. MLS 103841

High Hampton

$1,325,000

1.14 ACRES — On the Clubhouse side of the neighborhood in the newly developed “Uplands” section, this high elevation, almost flat lot offers easy ingress and egress. There is a winter view and an opportunity for upgraded views with minor trimming, and when the lower neighbor home is built. No highway crossing is needed to all the great amenities. MLS 102734

High Hampton

$625,000

0.91 ACRES — Gently rolling access to this easy build lot tucked away in the Fieldstone section of High Hampton has mixed evergreen and deciduous vegetation. The 275 foot back property line adjoins a 22+ acre greenspace. At the time of the listing, this is one of the least expensive lots in High Hampton. MLS 103258

Wade Hampton

$325,000

3.85 ACRES This lot is located in the Silver Springs section of Wade Hampton Golf Club and offers numerous activities to enjoy that include boating, swimming, fishing, picnics or just relaxing by the water. The serenity of this area of the community offers privacy, solitude and plenty of nature. Lot borders National Forest and offers mountain views. MLS 101156 Wade Hampton $165,000

1.56 ACRES The lot is located in the award winning Wade Hampton Golf Club that is continually rated #1 in Best in State Ranking by Golf Digest and #1 in Golfweek’s Best Residential Courses. With easy access from the south gate and views of Little Terrapin Mountain this makes for a great homesite. MLS 101155

Beth Townsend

Land Planner/Project Manager for William McKee’s Wade Hampton Golf Club and others + Cashiers roots since 1970 + Landscape Architecture degree, University of Florida

“When selling a challenging property,you want Beth on your team.She is determined, creative and perseveres to meet your goals.From emails and texts on the weekend to going above and beyond her‘broker duties,’you know instantly that you have an essential advocate on your side.” – sean l .

*According to data from the Highlands-Cashiers MLS, 2004-2024

Get to Know Beth Townsend, Broker & Co-Founder of The McKee Group

Along with the late A. William McKee, Beth was a Co-Founder — and played a significant role in the history of — The McKee Group’s parent company, McKee Properties. Her career includes participation in many of William McKee’s development projects including Cedar Creek Club, the Snowbird community, and as a land planner for the residential side of Wade Hampton Golf Club, home to the awardwinning Tom Fazio golf course.

Consistently a top-ranked Broker, she has been a real estate professional for 30+ years. Beth is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) with GUILD ELITE™ recognition. With a Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Florida, Beth is able to give unique expertise on large-acreage development parcels as well as historic estates and homes in the area’s finest private communities.

A career highlight was Beth’s five-year involvement with family landowners who assembled specialists to create a conservation easement protecting more than 600 acres of land close to the center of Cashiers. Portions of the adjoining 400 +/- acres have been successfully marketed and sold through Beth.

Her childhood summers and holidays spent at High Hampton set the stage for her deep love and connection to the nature and culture of the area.

5 BR / 6 BA / 9.36 ACRES What a view! Rock Mountain, Chimney Top, Terrapin, and Whiteside are four of the many mountains seen from this large, lovely property! Upon entering the home with its new double-doors with glass panes, step into a lovely foyer, then a sizable great room with a dining area seating at least 10, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, and a wall of windows facing the view. To the left is a large kitchen and keeping room with plenty of comfortable seating. Just off the kitchen is the first of two laundry rooms and

2 BR / 3 BA / 0.5 ACRES — Nestled between High Hampton and Wade Hampton in the desirable Arrowhead community, this 2 bedroom, 3 bath cottage features light and open interiors and up to date finishes. The screen porch provides room for relaxing or dining, while the living room features built-

Offered for $2,800,000

a charming den/library. Also on the first floor is the lovely primary bedroom with fireplace and an en suite bath with the gorgeous mountain view and doors out to the deck and covered porch. In addition, there is a guest bedroom on the main floor with en suite bath. Downstairs is a spacious den with woodburning fireplace and three bedrooms. The home is located in the charming and welcoming neighborhood of Continental Cliffs and is a short distance to the Crossroads of Cashiers. MLS 104193

Offered for $949,000 (UNDER CONTRACT)

in bookcases, pine floors, cathedral ceilings, and a stacked stoned fireplace. The master suite, located on the main level, features high ceilings, en suite bath and walk-in closet. Upstairs is a large bedroom with ensuite bath. A third full bath is also located on the main floor. MLS 104110

4118 Kitchen and Bar 4118kitchen-bar.com

Acorns acornshighlandsnc.com P 244

ACP Home Interiors acphomeinteriors.com P 39

Allan Dearth and Sons Generators adsemergencypower.com P 190

Allen Tate/Pat Allen Realty Group patallenrealtygroup.com P 9

Allison Diane allisondianeclothing.com P 27

Annawear annawearnc.com P 58

Annell Metsker annell.com P 98

Around Back at Rocky’s Place aroundbackatrockysplace.com P 105

Art Highlands Galley arthighlands.com P 107

Atelier Maison ateliermaisonco.com P 138, 139

The Attic Antiques theatticantiquesnc.com P 227

Balistreri Realty laketoxawayliving.com P 175

Barbara Jamison Paintings barbarajamisonpaintings.com P 5

The Bascom thebascom.org P 101

Baxter’s Tree Service P 52

Bazaar Barn P 28

Bella Cotn bellacotn.com P 142

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices meadowsmountainrealty.com P 88

Betsy Paul Art Benefit P 191

Betsy Paul Properties betsypaulproperties.com P 243

Bijou Jewelry bijoujeweler.com P 83

Bird Barn & Garden P 180

Black Rock Design Build blackrockdb.com P 110, 212

Blue Ridge Bedding blueridgebedding.com P 112

Blue Ridge Falls RV Resort bueridgefallsrvresortcom P174

Blue Ridge Music P 204

Bombshell Hair Boutique P 100

Bounds Cave’s Rug Gallery boundscaverugs.com P 31

Brevard Music Center brevardmusic.org P 95

The Brier Patch P 160

Brookings Fly Shop brookingsonline.com P 81

Bungalow Boutique bungalow828.com P 58

Burlingame experience-burlingame.com P 176

C Orrico corrico.com P 160

Calders Coffee Cafe calderscoffeecafe.com P 128

Caliber Fine Properties caliberfineproperties.com P 60-61

Carolina Rustic Furniture carolinarusticfurniture.com P 112

Cashiers Antique Show cashiersannualantiqueshow.com P 229

Cashiers Chamber of Commerce cashiersareachamber.com P 204

Cashiers Candy Shoppe P 119

Cashiers Kitchen Company P 180

Cashiers Sotheby’s International

Realty - The McKee Group P 113, 155, 232-238

The Cashiers Store thecashierstore.com P 53

Cashiers Valley Community Chorus P 198

Cashiers Valley Real Estate cashiersvalley.com P 216

Highlander Roofing highlandernc.com P 52

Highlands Aerial Park highlandsaerialpark.com P 68

Highlands Burrito highlandsburrito.com P 128

Highlands Cashiers

Chamber Music Festival h-cmusicfestival.org P 109, 111, 203, 206

Highlands Cashiers

Health Foundation hchealthfnd.org P 201

Highlands-Cashiers Players highlandsperformingart.com/hcp P 227

Highlands Chamber of Commerce highlandschamber.org P 166

Highlands Dahlia Festival P 202

Highlands Decorating Center highlangsdecorating.com P 53

Highlands Dermatology highlandsdermatology.com P 59

Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry Wine Shop highlandsfineart.com P 22, 23

Highlands Hatter P 99

Highlands Lawn & Garden highlandslawnandgarden.com P 59

Highlands Outpost highlandsoutpost.com P 68

Highlands Performing Arts Center highlandsperformingarts.com P 100, 101, 103

Highlands Pizza Place P 121

Highlands Rock Yard highlandsrockyard.com P 202

Highlands Smokehouse highlandssmokehouse.com P 133

Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty - Andrea Gabbard sothebysrealty.com P 167

Highlands Transportation Company P 228

Historic Toxaway Foundation historictoxaway.org P 173

Historic Toxaway Market historictoxawaymarket.com P 175

Hummingbird Lounge oldedwardsinn.com P 244

ID.ology Interiors & Design idologydesign.com P 138, 141

Jack’s Upholstery P 210, 213

Jackson Hole Gem Mine jacksonholegemmine.com P 68, 222

Jannie Bean janniebeandesigns.com P 41

Jeanie Edwards Fine Art jedwardsfineart.com P 108

Jennings Builders Supply jbwnc.com P 75

Joan Anderson Interiors joanandersoninteriors.com P 181

John Cleaveland Realty jcrealty.com P 40

Josephine’s Emporium P 44, 213 K-9 Meadows P 206

Katherine McClure katherine-mcclure.com P 106

Kellar Williams Great Smokies P 205

The Kitchen thekitchenofhighlands.com P 129

Lake Toxaway Company laketoxaway.com P 177

Lakeside Restaurant lakesiderestaurant.info P 121

Landmark Realty Group landmarkrg.com P 10, 213

Las Margaritas P 130

Laura Moser Art lauramoserart.com P 5

Lehotsky & Sons lehotskyandsons.com P 42, 212

Lenz Gifts & Luxury Linens P 43

Leslie Jeffery lesliejeffery.art P 104

Library Kitchen + Bar librarykitchenandbar.com P127

Living Stone Design + Build livingstonedesignbuild.com P 138, 140

The Look Boutique P 21

Roots & Vine roots-vine.com P 120

Rosewood Market rosewoodmarketnc.com P 132

Rusticks rusticks.com P 11, 86

Sapphire Valley Real Estate sapphirevalleyrealestate.com P 192

Sashay Around P 19

The Secret Garden P 119

Shiraz Rug Galleries shirazruggalleries.com P 45

Sky Valley Country Club skyvalleycountryclub.com P 68

Slabtown Pizza slabtownpizza.com P 123

Smoky Mountain Transportation P 220

Sotheby’s International Realty P 32, 33

Southern Way P 152

Spoiled Rotten spoiledrotten2.com P 223

Spraggins Home Inspections spragginshi.com P 19

Stork’s Wrap, Pack & Ship P 15

Sugar Creek Custom Cabinets sugarcreekcustomcabinets.com P 48

The Summer House by Reeves summerhousehighlands.com P 65

Summertime Art & Cafe Show mountainartisans.net P 105

Suncoast Equity Management suncoastequity.com P 198

Sweetwater Perk & Creamery historictoxawaymarket.com P 175

Tampa Bay Trust Company tampabaytrustcompany.com P 191

Tarah’s Beauty Bar P 212

Taste of Scotland tasteofscotland.org

TJ

153 Village at Longcliff longcliff.com

168 The Village Green villagegreencashiersnc.com

Hound

The Vineyard at High Holly thevineyardathighholly.com

Vivianne Metzger Antiques vmantiques.com

87 The Watershed Shoppe

Wayah Insurance Group wayah.com

Dixie

Whiteside Art Gallery whitesideartgallery.com

Valley willowvalleyrv.com

and Shoes wishandshoes.com

Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro wolfgangs.net

Claxton zachclaxtonart.com

Zoller Hardware zollerhardware.com

The Zookeeper Bistro thezookeeperbistro.com

PARTING SHOT

by Sarah Fielding