May 2022: The Laurel Magazine by The Laurel Magazine of Highlands NC and Cashiers NC

a e

L UR L The Heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau for 20 Years

Mountain Garden Club Annual Plant Sale pg. 16

May 2022

A Woman of

Many Talents

Cover Artist, Beth Townsend

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CON T E N T S May 2022

13 What To Do

14 Meandering in May

57 Recreation & Creation

58 John’s Jump and Dew Falls

75 Arts

82 Sallie Taylor: Cover, revisited

103 Dining

104 Fire + Water Restaurant

125 Shopping

126 Plateau Picks

141 Lake Toxaway

128

148 Bear Tracks Travel Center

155 History

160 Airing of the Quilts

169 Lifestyles & Wellness 170 50 Years of Devotion

191 Giving Back

200 The Peggy Crosby Center

202 Business

203 Cashiers Chamber Celebrates 40

146

The Root of the Matter

At a Glance Guides

A Year of Growth

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VOLUME TWENTY, ISSUE FOUR

JANET CUMMINGS Managing Partner janet@thelaurelmagazine.com

MARJORIE CHRISTIANSEN Managing Partner marjorie@thelaurelmagazine.com

MICHELLE MUNGER Art Director mungerclan5@aol.com

SARAH FIELDING Account Manager sarah@thelaurelmagazine.com

LUKE OSTEEN Editor / Writer luke@thelaurelmagazine.com

DONNA RHODES Writer dmrhodes847@gmail.com

MARLENE OSTEEN Writer marlene.osteen@gmail.com

MARY JANE MCCALL Writer mjmccall777@gmail.com

DEENA BOUKNIGHT Writer dknight865@gmail.com

THOMAS CUMMINGS Distribution Manager jothcu@yahoo.com

Publisher’s Note Happy May to all our Readers! The promise of this month kept us going in those chill, gloomy days in January, and we hope you’ll join us in squeezing every last measure of delight out of its sunny, rain-dappled days and sweet, snuggle-under-the-quilt evenings. In previous years, May marked the beginning of the Busy Season on the Plateau, but over the last decade this manic time has been slowly spreading across the calendar. Nevertheless, it’s still a good time to remind you to strap on your hiking boots and dig out your dancing shoes, because the Plateau’s once more Alive! Sincerely, Janet and Marjorie

Visit us online thelaurelmagazine.com phone 828.526.0173 email info@thelaurelmagazine.com mail Post Office Box 565 Highlands, North Carolina 28741

Contributing Writers: Mary Adair Trumbly, Sue Blair, David Stroud, William McReynolds, Sue Aery, Zach Claxton, Ashby Underwood, and Mary Abranyi. Contributing Photographers: Susan Renfro, Greg Clarkson, Charles Johnson, Peter Ray, Terry Barnes, and Colleen Kerrigan. Copyright © 2022 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.

WHAT TO DO Pages 14-52

photo by Colleen Kerrigan

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Come ‘Meander

in May!’

The annual, immersive ar ts event will take place Saturday, May 14, in downtown Highlands.

e love the word meander. It suggests a slow pace, a leisurely saunter, a sense of wonder. Or a winding curve or river.

That’s why it perfectly captures Highlands and the scene that will unfold amidst a new spring in our quaint downtown on Saturday, May 14.

Kaye McHan, executive director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands. “Some of our best talent and examples of Highlands-area artistry will be on display and, of course, our shops and restaurants will be ready to serve.”

Meander in May is a free, self-guided event organized by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visit Highlands that will bring together artists and artisans with residents and visitors. Live musical performances and demonstrations – including jewelry making, painting, woodworking and more – will take place at various points throughout the downtown area.

Traditional bluegrass, Americana, folk, and jazz sounds will fill the mountain air, with performances by Charles Wood, Blue Ridge JAM, Silly Ridge Trio, Crisp Brown Aulisio, and Peggy Marra. Festivities will begin at 11:00 A.M. and culminate with a 6:00 P.M. concert in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park by long-running 80s tribute band The Breakfast Club – the kickoff of Saturdays on Pine, a series of outdoor summer concerts. (The evening prior, the Johnny Webb Band will perform at Town Square, the first Friday Night Live show of the season.)

“It truly is an immersive and interactive arts experience,” says

Maps with a list of the day’s activities will be available. Parking

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will be available throughout downtown. Comfortable walking shoes, rain gear, and folding chairs for the evening concert are suggested. “We can’t think of a better way to celebrate the elevated, unique offerings of Highlands and herald in the season,” says McHan. “Come meander with us!” For more information about Highlands events, visit highlandschamber.org, e-mail welcome@highlandschamber.org or call (828) 526-5841. by Kara Addy, Highlands Chamber of Commerce

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Hey, Gardeners, Dig

This!

With the mountains greening all around us, there’s no better time for the Highlands Mountain Garden Club to stage its beloved Annual Plant Sale at the Town Ball Field on Saturday, May 28. pring is the time to start digging in the dirt and refreshing our gardens.

The perfect place to start is at the Highlands Mountain Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale to be held on Saturday, May 28, from 9:00 A.M. until noon. On this magical day in May the Town Ball Field at the corner of Highway 64 East and Hickory Street in Highlands is transformed into a shining green sea of possibilities, covered with plants gleaned from some of the area’s most prolific gardens. This once-a-year opportunity allows everyone the chance to

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purchase native plants grown by some of the most accomplished gardeners on the Plateau. No big box plants here, these have all been lovingly cultivated in native soil and are plants native to our region, so they’ll grow and thrive for years to come. You’ll find plants of all kinds, from those that attract pollinators such as Bee Balm, Astilbe, and Clematis, to the always popular Hosta in its many varieties, Cinnamon Ferns and many other offerings, including Dahlia bulbs. If you’ve admired a plant in any local garden, you’ll most likely be able to purchase its cousin here.

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This is also the perfect chance to chat with Mountain Garden Club members and ask any questions you might have about your garden or the plants you’re purchasing. These are serious gardeners, so by all means, ask the experts. Be prepared to come early as the sale is extremely popular and long lines quickly form. Proceeds are used for scholarships for local students who are studying horticulture, environmental studies and education, as well as for other community projects. It’s a chance to beautify your garden while giving to a good cause. Cash or check only, please. by Mary Jane McCall

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Playmore

C’mon,

Play More!

The Center for Life Enrichment launches its 2022 season with explorations of our natural heritage and an in-depth tour of the legendar y Playmore.

here’s not a better pairing of words to portray Highlands than play and more. Playmore, the name of the home of Charlestonian Samuel Prioleau Ravenel and his wife Margaretta, was Highlands first summer house. In 1879 the Ravenels hired Francis Poindexter, a Western North Carolina tree expert, furniture craftsman, and artisan woodcarver to build Playmore to the tune of $3,400.50 (that’s to the penny) for its construction. Now you have a chance to tour this Italian Renaissance architecture erected in the Victorian era. Walk down Playmore’s wide, center hallway branching off to a living area, game room, and dining room, all sheathed in pre-blight chestnut, aged to a delicious warm neutral over a century and a half. Gaze at the floors of alternating white ash and black walnut. Let your eyes track Highlands’ first grand stairway, and imagine its dramatic entries. John Mitchener and Heath Massey purchased the 135-acre property in 2020. They are passionate about restoring this Highlands icon, its outbuildings, and landscaping. Treat yourself to a 18 M ay 202 2 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

Playmore Tour, May 17. On May 18, the Center for Life Enrichment hosts an eyepopping interpretive hike – Spring Wildflowers at Panthertown Valley. Panthertown is a star in Southern Appalachia’s crown. The views are heart-stopping, waterfalls gush with wow, and the ecosystems are pristine and prolific. Join trip leader Adam Bigelow, horticulturist and owner of Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions, for an easy-going stroll along the trail to Salt Rock Overlook, where beautiful trees, shrubs, and wildflowers abound and the treasure of the day, Pink Lady Slipper Orchids, glow with delight. On May 25, Set Yourself Up for Garden Success, with Landscape Designer Mary Palmer Dargan, RLA, APLD, with over 45 years of designing home environments, nationwide; and Arielle McIntyre, PDC, APLD. Both are of the Placemakers Academy of Garden Design. They will help you learn how to observe, map, and analyze a landscape site like a pro. After an intro to botany, horticulture, and soil science you’ll make perfect plant choices, successfully co-create with Mother

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Nature, and revitalize your garden area. On June 1, Bring Your Garden Design to Life will give you the tools and knowledge to energize what Mother Nature offers. On June 8, Gardens on the Hoof!, will set you and your garden in motion. Learn how to site-prep and use a plant matrix to make successful nursery choices. Garden Tours and a delicious boxed lunch are included with this session. Whether it’s touring a magnificent home, hiking Panthertown and its beautiful wildflowers, or learning how to flip your garden from modest to magnificent, the Center for Life Enrichment keeps its doors open to your lifelong learning experience and a chance to play more. For more info, visit clehighlands.com or call (828) 526-8811. by Donna Rhodes

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Do Yourself a

Flavor

Both Cashiers and Highlands are ser ving up the bounties of their local farmers, ar tisans, and kitchen masters.

re you looking for a way to bring a little more flavor to your summer meals? The easiest way to do that is to shop at one of our local Farmer’s Markets where the produce and products are always fresh, and are grown and made with pride and love. The Green Market-Locally Grown on The Green Cashiers farm stand and local market is held every Wednesday from 2:00 until 5:00 P.M. at The Village Green Commons. The Highlands Marketplace is held every Saturday morning at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park from 8:00 A.M. until 12:30 P.M. Each of these fresh markets provide access to in-season fresh produce, locally

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produced meat, fresh dairy items and eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, jams, jellies, honey, pickles, freshly baked breads and baked goods, and homemade spreads and dips. The farm-to-table concept is growing in popularity and these markets offer you easy access to the freshest products available. You’ll enjoy an opportunity to talk to the people who actually grow and produce the food, and probably pick up some helpful tips on how to store, prepare, and serve each product. These hardworking vendors are always happy to share their stories and you’ll come away with a greater appreciation for their labors of love. One such vendor is Rose Mary Achey

of Calm Creek Farm, a certified North Carolina Beekeeper, who is often present at the Green Market and hopes to be at Highlands Marketplace this year. She is always delighted to share her products and her knowledge and passion for bees and their importance in our ecosystem. Look for her honey and products made with honey such as honey-salted caramels, peanut butter and honey dog biscuits, honey graham crackers and honey bourbon cakes, and products made with beeswax. Treat yourself to a unique shopping experience at one of these markets and see how much better fresh can be. by Mary Jane McCall

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re you looking to get involved with a Highlands community organization? Could your nonprofit agency use some helping hands? If so, then mark your calendar for the first-ever Highlands Volunteer Fair.

Encouraging

Volunteerism

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands aims to connect organizations that need volunteers with those who wish to help.

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The free event will bring together those willing to volunteer with the nonprofit organizations that need them. It will take place Thursday, May 19, from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. at the Highlands Civic Center, 600 North 4th Street. “We know that a healthy, active network of nonprofit organizations and services adds to the vibrancy of our community and demonstrates our values,” says Kaye McHan, executive director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands. “We hope the Volunteer Fair helps any nonprofit that needs support connect with those who can give their time and talent.”

Those looking to get involved are invited to stop by any time during fair hours, browse the tables of information provided by the organizations, and speak with representatives who can share more about the volunteer opportunities. Light refreshments will be served. Organizations that would like to participate in the event are encouraged to contact the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands. For more information about the Volunteer Fair and other Highlands events, visit highlandschamber.org, email events@highlandschamber.org or call (828) 526-5841. by Kara Addy, Highlands Chamber of Commerce

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Let’s Get the Party

Started

Groovin’ on the Green returns to The Village Green in Cashiers on most Friday nights through October.

he season on the Plateau officially begins Memorial Day weekend, and in Cashiers nothing screams “Let’s Get This Party Started!” like the first Groovin’ on the Green concert. When you hear those first strains of music drifting through the air you’ll know the season is in full swing, and this year those first sweet sounds start on Friday, May 27. These concerts are held at the Village Green on Frank Allen Road in Cashiers, most Friday nights throughout the season. Music starts at 6:30 P.M. and the show goes on rain or shine. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged and appreciated, and parking is plentiful. Starting the season off on a lively note this year is Commodore Fox, Western North Carolina’s favorite party band, cranking out rock hits from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and today. This talented band can cover it all and will have you dancing the night away. Ingles is proud to sponsor this concert. On June 3, another crowd favorite, The Caribbean Cowboys, brings their talents to stage. These slightly off-kilter cowboys have been entertaining audiences up and down the East Coast 24 M ay 202 2 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

for over 30 years and these guys can, and do, play it all. From classic rock, blues, reggae, and country to, as their name suggests, beach tunes, you’ll enjoy a concert you won’t soon forget. Lead singer Steve Weams is a master of encouraging audience participation, so plan on singing along. This concert is sponsored by Landmark Realty. Bring a chair, your family, your friends and even your dog (who must be leashed and under your control at all times) and join the fun on the Green, Fridays at 6:30 P.M. Don’t forget to bring a picnic supper and a cooler of your favorite beverages, or you can purchase food and beverages from one of the vendors on site. A new addition to Groovin’ this year will be the ability for a group to Rent a Tent. The Village Green will be providing Ten 10×10 tents at $100 per tent. If you’d like to book a tent for Groovin’ on The Green please visit their website or email courtney@cashiersgreen.com. by Mary Jane McCall

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Highlands Live

Music Series

Sycamore Flats

Lace up your dancing shoes, Highlands’ weekend concer ts are back on the calendar – Friday nights at Town Square and Saturday evenings at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

ighlands has shaken off the last woozy signs of the pandemic with the return of live music to the Plateau.

This tradition, which harkens back to the raucous nights of Helen’s Barn, proclaimed its return with Bear Shadow, which arrived at the end of April. Now the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands is embracing the beat and carrying it all the way to the end of October. Friday Night Live is provided by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, celebrating traditional mountain

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music, and offering local and regional artists the chance to share their love of traditional and contemporary Appalachian sounds. Shows are every Friday night in Town Square from 6:00 until 8:30 P.M. It’s fitting that the season starts on May 13 with the sounds of local favorites, The Johnny Webb Band, playing country favorites old and new. McIntosh & The Lionhearts bring a softer sound on May 20. Sycamore Flats plays old time, foot stomping bluegrass on May 27. Saturdays on Pine, held at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park every Saturday night from 6:00 until 8:30 P.M., shakes things

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Spalding McIntosh

up a bit with music of every kind. The Breakfast Club starts things off on May 14 with, you guessed it, sounds of the 80s, that lively, buoyant music that will make you want to shake your booty. The Caribbean Cowboys play on May 21 and this crowd-pleasing group never disappoints with their wide-ranging playlist from Jimmy Buffet to classic rock and everything in between. Get your shag on when Continental Divide brings their smooth beach sounds to town on May 28. For more information, call the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center at (828) 526-5841 or visit highlandschamber.org. by Mary Jane McCall

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ay 1 is May Day, taken by some to be the first Monday in May. On this day the start of summer is celebrated in North America and spring in Europe. It’s an ancient celebration that dates to Roman times and is a longstanding tradition across most of Europe and North America.

How You Can Help

The very sound of “May” strikes joyful notes in our hearts with visions of May baskets, May picnics, maypoles, May flowers in profusion, and a crowned Queen of May.

Ukraine in May

May Day calls to mind Guinevere singing, “It’s May, it’s May, that gorgeous holiday,” and Stephen Foster’s lyrics “The skies were bright, our hearts were light, in the merry, merry month of May.”

The beauty of May on the Plateau is shadowed by the unfolding catastrophe in Ukraine.

This is all true and as it should be and I am here to wish everyone a joyful spring and summer here on our lovely Plateau.

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W H AT TO DO May you and yours know all the rich blessings of May beginning with May Day. Here on the Plateau, May’s traditionally when the “Summer People” arrive back for the season. Their presence marks the beginning of a profoundly busy time for local shops and restaurants and the building trades. A good Busy Season means a comfortable winter for those left behind when the part-timers depart for warmer climates. Mayday has another meaning all its own. “Mayday” is an international radio distress call – Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! – broadcast three times from an endangered boat, airplane, or other conveyance. The call was invented in the 1920s by a British air traffic controller for use by pilots flying between France and England. Mayday is the phonetic equivalent of the French expression m’aidez which translates “help me.”

As I write these words in mid-March for the May issue of our beloved Laurel magazine, 130,000 Russian troops with tanks and artillery have invaded Ukraine killing and wounding thousands of civilians, including children and whole families, and laying to waste the major cities: apartment buildings, homes, schools, hospitals, shelters, broadcast towers, many structures great and small. Ten million Ukrainians have been forced from their homes with almost 4 million becoming refugees in other countries. This is an ongoing human tragedy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed several national congresses and parliaments, showing the carnage and destruction and saying clearly: “Help me.” Although he didn’t use the word, his broadcast message was clear: “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” Europeans, Americans, and people of many nationalities are answering this

call. The following organizations are funding relief efforts: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; United Nations Children’s Fund; and Save the Children. Here on the Plateau, our Local Rotary Clubs are pitching in, and many churches have established special funds to benefit Ukraine and the refugee crisis. Google any of these organizations and follow the directions to answer Ukraine’s call: Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! by William McReynolds

Scan to read personal story from Ukrainians living and working on the Plateau.

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The Bascom’s

Sip & Swine

The Bascom’s spectacular Sip & Swine BBQ will be staged on the campus (323 Franklin Road in Highlands) on Monday, June 20. For information and tickets, call (828) 787-2897 or email Andrew Schmidt at aschmidt@thebascom.org.

The Darren Nicholson Band

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he Bascom’s 2022 Sip & Swine BBQ fundraising event takes place on Monday evening, June 20, on The Bascom’s beautiful campus. In addition to the delicious food (and glorious sips), there’ll be irresistible music provided by The Darren Nicholson Band. Tickets are $150 per person and are on sale now. This year, organizers have increased the capacity for 300 guests. There are also hosting / sponsorship opportunities available at the $1,500 and $2,500 levels for businesses and individuals, alike. “Attendees provide meaningful philanthropic support for our programs, which include free access to 10 annual exhibits, educational programs on site, and outreach to children and adults in Macon and Jackson Counties,” says The Bascom’s Director of Development Andrew Schmidt. by Luke Osteen

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Pique and

Choose

Both libraries are offering workshops to stretch the imaginations and deepen the understandings of both adults and kids.

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ocal libraries offer a beehive of activities, programs, educational opportunities, and more for all ages. One must simply peruse a library’s events’ calendar and pick and choose whatever might pique individual interests or needs. Both Hudson Library in Highlands and Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library calendars are full, including both libraries continuing a series in May and beyond focusing on adult mental health programs presented by Vaya Health. Hudson Library’s May program will be Bipolar Disorder: Extreme Mood Variation-Is there Stability? on May 10 at 2:00 P.M. Cashiers’ offering is titled Anxiety: Calming the Anxious Mind, to take place May 11 at 2:00 P.M. A quick look at the Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library schedule reveals such options as Imagination Station, which occurs weekly on

Tuesdays at 3:45 P.M. Imagination Station presents creative STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) activities to explore the world of imagination. Activities are appropriate for elementary aged and older children, while younger children are welcome with a parent/ guardian to help them. Also at the Cashiers library on Tuesdays are Youth Theater Performance Classes for children age K-3rd grade. The interactive classes involve children learning the fundamentals of performance, including blocking, memorizing lines, character development, and basic stage makeup. Sometimes puppets are a part of the classes, which are led by Program Artistic Director Megan Greenlee Potts, two graduates of the Youth Theater Program, and one of Greenlee Potts’ summer college interns. Since class sizes are limited, spots will be filled on a first-

come, first-serve basis. These classes are free and open to the public. In addition, Hudson Library’s Kids Zone programs are designed with ages K-5 in mind. Plus, storytimes for kids are typically available weekly at libraries, and adults often meet to discuss books they are reading. For instance, Bibliophiles is a community book discussion group at the Cashiers library that is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. May’s discussion will center on the book, The Plot, by Jean Hanff Korelitz. For more information about what’s happening at local libraries, visit fontanalib.org/events, or call Hudson Library at (828) 526-3031 or Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library at (828) 743-0215. by Deena Bouknight

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A Hotspot for

Biodiversity Senior Naturalist for the Balsam Mountain Trust, Rose Wall has a passion for connecting people to nature, and for empowering them to protect their local and global natural environments. Come meet her and her wildlife ambassadors on May 31 at The Village Green.

ife on the Plateau is different. The air is crisper, the views are more spectacular and, well, our neighbors are a bit more…unusual.

I’m talking about our four-legged, feathered and scaled neighbors, of course. The diverse wildlife here is one of the many things that make this place extraordinary. In fact, did you know that our area is a hotspot for biodiversity? Psst, that means we have a lot of different types of plants and animals here. In fact, we have 250 species that are found nowhere else on the planet! So yeah, our wildlife neighbors are pretty special. We all want to be good neighbors, right? But how, on earth, do we do that? One very important way is to keep enough of our natural places intact so that, among other things, our wildlife have the resources they need to eat, breed, and migrate. Fortunately, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, a nonprofit charity organization, is actively conserving our most treasured places here locally. But what else can we do for our wildlife neighbors? 36 M ay 202 2 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

Our friends at Balsam Mountain Trust will show us on Tuesday, May 31, at 5:00 P.M., at The Village Green Commons in Cashiers during our first Village Nature Series experience of 2022. Enjoy a journey into the forest where we will meet furred, feathered, and scaled critters that call this region home. We hope you walk away with a deeper knowledge of the region and real actions you can take to help your animal neighbors. The Village Nature Series is co-hosted by Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and The Village Green and made possible by the generous support of Cedar Creek Club. VNS will be held on the final Tuesday of May through October. To learn more about Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and its mission to protect valuable natural resources in Cashiers and Highlands for all generations, visit hicashlt.org. To learn more about The Village Green and its mission to preserve the heritage and integrity of our Cashiers Village, visit villagegreencashiersnc.com. by Julie Schott, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust

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Kinnebrew’s

Life & Loves

Mike Kinnebrew brings his tales of Love and Life to the Orchard Session at The Farm at Old Edwards, Thursday, May 19. For updates and to book online, visit OldEdwardsHospitality.com/ Orchard Sessions.

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Mike Kinnebrew

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he pleasure of the Orchard Sessions at The Farm comes from watching a charismatic performer with an undeniable talent for telling a story in an idyllic setting. On Thursday, May 19, singer-songwriter Mike Kinnebrew will return to the stage. Kinnebrew has been earning praise in Highlands and beyond for some time, both for his captivating melodies and his heartfelt lyrics. Kinnebrew has always seen his songs as honest and biographical, as a way of telling the story about his life and loves – writings that survey his life as a father, husband, and friend. But, when Kinnebrew takes the stage this May, he’ll be playing some decidedly different music. This month the crowd gathering at The Farm will get a preview of several new songs written and recorded in January in Nashville. In contrast to his earlier work, the new recordings are decidedly darker, and more introspective – the themes less

beholden to the family-oriented subjects of previous songs. On What’s Left of Me, Kinnebrew uses his skills as a storyteller to look back at his life, realizing that he’s no longer young and reflects on issues of substance abuse and his decision to stop drinking. The song carries the weight of the way one can repair the damage of their life. As he told me recently, “Far be it from me to write anything but exactly what’s going on in my life. I had started reaching for a drink anytime I was anxious or lonely, and before I knew it, I was anxious and lonely without it.” A second new recording is In My Heart, a single composition for a friend whose husband died three months after their wedding. Having sung at their wedding, Kinnebrew now sings with soul in the hopes of providing solace. These tender vocals are accentuated by Kinnebrew’s fingerpicking guitar perfor-

mance. An artform he recently mastered, “fingerpicking” denotes a way of playing the acoustic guitar without a flat-pick, using fingers to pluck and strum the strings. By plucking the strings directly with the fingertips, it allows the guitarist to perform several musical elements simultaneously, creating the classic syncopated style that’s now widely prevalent in folk and country music. Kinnebrew’s wife Lindsey will accompany him on stage on vocals and keys, performing new songs, old favorites, and Jackson Brown covers. The intimacy and honesty of their shared connection is certain to delight. For details and more information visit OldEdwardsHospitality.com/ OrchardSessions. Online ticket sales open to the public two weeks prior to each Orchard Session. by Marlene Osteen

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Church in

the Wildwood

The Little Church in the Wildwood is a unique revenant of early life on the Plateau. Ser vices begin at 7:00 P.M. Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Ever yone is welcome.

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f the last two years have left you longing for a time when days weren’t laced with anxiety, turn your attention to Horse Cove and attend a service at Little Church in the Wildwood, beginning Memorial Day Weekend. It’s a little one-room wooden structure, the sort that dotted the mountains and coves of the area from the late 19th century through the 1960s. Little Church in the Wildwood was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The place sleeps six-and-a-half days of the week, but during the summer season springs to joyful life Sunday evenings. That’s when people of all faiths (truly!) gather and resurrect the tradition of hymn sings. The ad hoc congregation uses old, old hymnals and plunge into a selection of songs chosen by themselves at the start of the service. There are no sermons, no Bible readings, only the barest hint of organization. It’s all animated with a reverence and exuberance, and a

go-for-broke commitment to sing loudly and without reservation. If the Little Church in the Wildwood has any leaders, it’s probably Les Scott, the music director at Highlands United Methodist Church; and Mary Bean; and Tilly Arwood, who pounds the church’s upright piano with an unbound ebullience. “The church is a part of Highlands heritage,” says Scott. “Kay Ward kept the singings going for 19 years. Gloria Padgett kept the grounds clean and made sure that the church was always decorated with flowers. The presence of both women can still be felt today.” If you’d like to support the upkeep of the place and ensure that the singing continues, send contributions to Little Church in the Wildwood, Care Of Carol Shuttleworth, 44 Chestnut Lane, Highlands NC 28741. For more information, call Scott at (828) 200-9532.

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Whiskers, Wags

& Whiskey

It turns out that ever y dog (and cat) has its evening as well — Whiskers, Wags & Whiskey, set for Wednesday, June 29, at Wildcat Cliffs Countr y Club is a howling good time benef itting the residents of CashiersHighlands Humane Society. For information, visit chhumanesociety.org. George Skaroulis

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n all-new event at an all-new venue sets the stage for the first in-person fundraising event in three years for the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society. This brand-new fundraiser and “funraiser” for the animals is Whiskers, Wags & Whiskey at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club on Wednesday, June 29, at 5:30 P.M. The evening will feature a live and silent auction combined with a magnificent dinner and beer, wine, and spirits. Live music will be provided by George Skaroulis. His Chopin-styled, gentle ambient piano music has been embraced by romantics, spa industry professionals, surgeons and teachers, as well as the Atlanta Humane Society to calm anxious pets waiting for adoption. George has graciously donated 100 percent of his appearance fee and travel expenses to benefit the Cashiers-

Highlands Humane Society. Whiskers, Wags & Whiskey is limited to just 200 guests. Tickets are $195 per person and tables of 10 can be reserved for $1,800. A portion of the ticket/table purchase is a generous, tax-deductible contribution to support our lifesaving mission of rescue, spay/neuter and adoption, and community outreach programs such as humane education, summer camps, rabies vaccination clinics, pet therapy, and a free food pet pantry. A highlight of this preeminent fundraiser for the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society will be the presentation of the coveted awards for “CHHS Humane Heroes of the Year.” Awards will be bestowed to recipients who have significantly contributed their time, heart, and resources to help further the mission of CHHS on behalf of the abandoned and neglected animals in our community. A fundraiser for the CHHS shelter pets is

always the “must-attend” party for party animals on the Plateau and always sells out quickly. You can reserve your seats today by calling (828) 743-5769. 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. Visit us online at 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

Scan to learn more.

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Honoring

Sacrifice

Veterans will receive their well-deser ved recognition with a Memorial Day Recognition Ser vice at 10:00 A .M. Monday, May 30, in front of the Highlands Police Depar tment. In addition, Wreaths Across America and American Legion Post 370 will decorate the graves of veterans at Highlands Memorial Park on Friday, May 27.

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any people recognize Memorial Day as a time to reflect on lost loved ones, a weekend of spring barbecues and picnics, and/or a long weekend away from work, school, and other responsibilities. American Legion Post 370 and the Town of Highlands annually honor not only the service men and women who returned home after surviving a war, but also those individuals who perished in a war. Highlander Ed McCloskey, American Legion Post 370 commander, says: “There have been 1,354,664 American deaths from war. May no soldier go unloved; may no soldier walk alone; may no soldier be forgotten until they all come home.” Highlands Wreaths across America and American Legion Post 370 will be placing flags on veteran’s graves at Highlands Memorial Park at 5:30 P.M. Friday, May 27. For more information, contact Phil Potts (828) 200-9753 or ppotts63@frontier.com.

Post 370 in Highlands will conduct a Memorial Day Recognition Service at 10:00 A.M. at the Veteran’s Plaza in Highlands. In addition, the Legion will recognize local veterans from Scaly Mountain, Cashiers, and the Highlands area with the installation of their Honor Walk Bricks into the Veteran’s Plaza Honor Walkway. This service, held twice each year on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, adds additional meaning to this recognition service. This service is held rain or shine and open to all veterans and families. Veterans Plaza is located in front of Highlands Police Department behind City Hall. Contact Commander Ed McCloskey for any additional information or questions – ed.mccloskey6@yahoo.com or (828) 787-1660. by Luke Osteen

On Monday, May 30, the American Legion

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Heart and Soul

Creations

Highlands Mountaintop Ar ts and Crafts Festival, set for June 25 and 26 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, is an invitation to view and purchase the creations of some of the Southeast’s most gifted ar tisans. For more information, call (828) 318-9430, visit mountaintopshow.com.

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ighlands Mountaintop Arts and Crafts Festival, set for June 25 and 26 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park in downtown Highlands, marks the return of this cherished event on the Plateau social calendar to its pre-pandemic glory. Paintings, prints, and photography will be accompanied by top quality crafts like turned wood, art glass, sculpture, and home accessories. There is a great selection of rustic furniture, as well as pottery, jewelry, and other wonderful things. The 65-plus artisans come from all over the mountains of Western North Carolina, North Georgia, South Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee. This is your chance to meet the talented people who pour their heart and soul into their amazing creations so that you can enjoy them for years to come. The show is held in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street downtown. It runs from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. both days, rain or shine, and there is no admission charge. Food and drinks will be available on site, so plan to have lunch, a snack, or an early dinner while shopping. You’ll need that sustenance for energy to carry all the treasures you find home. by Mary Jane McCall photos by Colleen Kerrigan

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More than

Motoring Last year, after the 2021 four-day festival, Highlands Motoring Foundation members presented a check for $81,000 to representatives of its three chosen charity partners. Highlands Motoring Festival charity proceeds for 2022 are expected to meet or exceed 2021’s proceeds.

The sleek, dangerously alluring automobiles at the hear t of The Highlands Motoring Festival (set for June 9-12) will boost the for tunes of a trio of local nonprof its.

he Highlands Motoring Festival, which takes place June 9-12, may be known as the “Festival with an Altitude,” but its reputation is solid regarding support of local nonprofits that provide much-needed services to the community. Over the years, HMF has donated more than $315,000 to area nonprofits. Highlands Motoring Foundation, the operational element of HMF, is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2007. Over the years, beneficiaries have included Hudson Library, The Literacy Council of Highlands, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, Rotary Club of Highlands, R.E.A.C.H of Macon County, and many smaller local non-profits. “As the festival has grown, so too has its ability to give back to the community,” said HMF co-chair Steve Ham. “In 2022, HMF has selected three non-profits as beneficiaries of this year’s proceeds: R.E.A.C.H of Macon County, Literacy and Learning Center of Highlands, and the Community Care Clinic of Highlands and Cashiers.” R.E.A.C.H. provides resources, education, assistance, counseling, and housing to victims of abuse in Macon and Jackson Counties. In 2017, HMF proceeds enabled R.E.A.C.H to make capital improvements, which reduced its operating costs and improved services provided. The Literacy and Learning Center of Highlands offers adults and children in Macon and Jackson Counties such literacy programs as after-school enrichment, homework helpers, individual tutoring, and GED and ESL classes. The Community Care Clinic of Highlands and Cashiers

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provides free primary medical care for individuals without medical insurance who meet the federal eligibility guidelines for assistance. Adds Ham, “HMF shares net festival proceeds equally among these worthy organizations, providing much-needed funding to continue their programs that offer so many vital services.” HMF and its parent foundation are both volunteer efforts. “This group works for 12 months to stage the four-day festival,” noted Ham. The packed four days include: Thursday, June 9 One Lap of the Mountains – Grande Movie Night in the Park Friday, June 10 One Lap of the Mountains – Speciale Parade of Main Street – Kelsey Hutchinson Park Welcome Party at the High Dive Tavern Saturday, June 11 Cars in the Park Invitational Classic Car Show Awards Gala at Highlands Falls Country Club Sunday, June 12 High Octane Car Show and Social Gathering Anyone from the community can volunteer with the “Contact Us” option at HighlandsMotoringFestival.com. by Deena Bouknight

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Biscuits Go

with Everything Poetr y is the synthesis of Hyacinths and Biscuits – Carl Sandburg. (Oh, Carl, too bad you never ate one of Chadwick Boyd’s creations. He’ll be hosting a celebration at The Farm at Old Edwards on Sunday, May 15 – Pure Powdermilk Poetr y. For more information, visit OldEdwardsHospitality.com/ MayDay.)

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Chadwick Boyd

W H AT TO DO

hadwick Boyd, the celebrity chef hosting the May Day celebration at The Farm at Old Edwards on Sunday, May 15, has the DNA of Southern food in his bones.

and North Carolina. He describes it as, “a delightful procession of drinks and dishes that pull from a region that has been the largest and most significant influence on my life.”

More than 30 years ago, Boyd got his start cooking in the kitchen of his Virginia-born grandmother and he’s been embedded in the Southern food landscape ever since.

As he told me, “Dinner will have a happy, playful start – glasses filled with chilled rosemary-infused gin will be accompanied by a spoon filled with homemade strawberry-rose spoon jam to swirl into the glass. Fun and delicious.”

His culinary adventures encompass the entire world of food – author, teacher, television host, marketer, culinary raconteur, innovator, brand spokesperson, food stylist, and James Beard Foundation journalism judge.

As he said, “This dinner has been two years in the making!”

Other tastes will showcase Boyd’s genius and passion for inventing, “Creative Biscuits – baking fruits and vegetables into the dough.” Served with cocktails will be biscuit bites made with “crushed Georgia-grown peanuts and topped with flake salt and more peanuts, then filled with bright, creamy stewed collards.” He describes them as, “the perfect May Day bite for an evening in the South.

His menu for May Day pays homage to his 30-plus years of living in Georgia

For the middle course, Boyd will “transform biscuit dough into a cast-iron

Boyd is clearly excited about finally coming to Highlands.

skillet Spring Vegetable Pot Pie – a luscious, Spring garden filled pie with celery cream gravy enclosed with tender, flaky biscuit crust. Homey, yet refined.” Additionally on the agenda for the evening is live music, dancing around a traditional Maypole, and a promise of “more surprises.” Lucky Half-Mile Farm guests staying the weekend can sign up for a fireside chat and cooking demonstration of Carrot Sage Biscuits with Boyd on Saturday, May 14. A social mixer – Biscuits, Bubbles & Bourbon – will follow. by Marlene Osteen

Scan to learn more.

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M AY

“May…it’s full of all the things that make spring and the brighter part of the year so special. Flowers bud, the sun shines, and new seeds are sown into the fabric of our lives. May is awesome.” – Jenna Danchuk

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. The Green Market - Locally Grown on The Green, 2 - 5 PM, Village Green Commons. Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub.

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, United Methodist Church.. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.

Bazaar Barn, open 10 AM - 2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM.

Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM - 12:30 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Metropolitan Opera: Puccini’s Turnadot, 12:55 PM, PAC Live Music, 9:30 PM, The High Dive.

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church. Program: Bipolar Disorder: Extreme Mood Variation Is there Stability?” 2 PM, Hudson Library.

The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. The Green Market - Locally Grown on The Green, 2 - 5 PM, Village Green Commons. “Anxiety: Calming the Anxious Mind,” 2 PM, Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library. Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub.

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, United Methodist Church.. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Highlands Storytellers, 2 - 4 PM, The High Dive. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.

Bazaar Barn, open 10 AM - 2 PM. The Bookworm open 11 AM - 3 PM. Mitchell Hill Rug Event, May 13-28, Rusticks. Great Art on Screen: Tutankhamun: The Last Exhibition, 5:30 PM, PAC. Friday Night Live, Johnny Webb Band, 6 - 8:30 PM, Town Square.

Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM - 12:30 PM, Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. ‘Meander in May!’ immersive arts event, 11 AM - 8:30 PM, downtown Highlands. Saturdays on Pine, The Breakfast Club, 6 - 8:30 PM, KelseyHutchinson Founders Park. Imaginary Landscapes: Stories of the American South, May 14-27, The Bascom Bunzl Gallery. Live Music, 9:30 PM, The High Dive.

May Day Celebration Dinner with Chef Chadwick Boyd, The Farm at Old Edwards.

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, United Methodist Church. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Highlands Volunteer Fair, 11 AM - 2 PM at the Highlands Civic Center. Orchard Session Live Outdoor Concert Mike Kinnebrew, Farm at Old Edwards. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.

Bazaar Barn, open 10 AM - 2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Friday Night Live, McIntosh & The Lionhearts, 6 - 8:30 PM, Town Square.

Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM - 12:30 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. MET Opera: Donizetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoor, 12:55 PM, PAC. Wine Dinner, 4118 Kitchen and Bar. Saturdays on Pine, The Caribbean Cowboys, 6: - 8:30 PM, KelseyHutchinson Founders Park. Live Music, 9:30 PM, The High Dive.

Songwriter’s Master Class, May 22-26, with John McCutcheon, The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church. Art League of Highlands-Cashiers meeting, 4:30 PM, The Bascom.

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, United Methodist Church. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Roberto Coin Trunk Show, TJ Baileys. May 26-27. Summer Celebration Open House, 4- 7 PM, Ann Lea Fine Art Gallery. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.

Peter Millar Trunk Show, TJ Bailey’s, May 27-30. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Highlands Wreaths across America/American Legion Post 370, Highlands Memorial Park, 5:30 P.M. Great Art on Screen: Raphael: The Young Prodigy, 5:30 PM, PAC. Friday Night Live, Sycamore Flats, 6 - 8:30 PM, Town Square. Groovin’ on the Green, Commodore Fox, 6:30 PM, Village Green, Cashiers.

Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM - 12:30 PM, Cashiers Quilters Airing of the Quilts, 10 AM - 4 PM, Cashiers Historical Society grounds. Mountain Garden Club Annual Plant Sale, Town Ball Field. Gretchen Scott Trunk Show, 11 AM - 4 PM, Robin’s Nest. Saturdays on Pine, Continental Divide, 6 - 8:30 PM, KelseyHutchinson Founders Park. Comedian Lucas Bohn, Lesson Plans to Late Night, 7:30 PM, PAC. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.

Highlands Food Food Pantry Pantry Highlands Open, 10 10 AM AM -- 66 PM, PM, Open, behind and and below below The The Highlands Highlands behind United Methodist Church. United Methodist Church. Art League of Highlands-Cashiers Cashiers Quilters Airing of the meeting,104:30 TheCashiers Bascom. Quilts, AM PM, - 4 PM, Historical Society grounds. Memorial Day Recognition Service, 10 AM in front of the Highlands Police Department. American Legion Post 370 Memorial Day Recognition Service, 10 AM, Veteran’s Plaza in Highlands

Highlands Food Food Pantry Pantry Highlands Open, 10 10 AM AM -- 66 PM, PM, Open, behind and and below below The The Highlands Highlands behind United Methodist Methodist Church. Church. United Art Benefit, drawing 5 PM, Betsy Paul Properties. Village Nature Series: Balsam Mountain Trust, 5 PM, at The Village Green Commons

Cashiers Quilters “Flower Fest in the Airing of the1 to Quilts, Meadow;” 4 PM, 10 AM - 4Nature PM, Cashiers Highlands Center. Historical HighlandsSociety Cashiersgrounds. Players’ Drop Dead, 2:30 PM, Highlands Performing Arts Center.

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The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. The Green Market - Locally Grown on The Green, 2 PM - 5 PM, Village Green Commons. Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub.

View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar

W H AT TO DO

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RECREATION & CREATION Pages 58-71

photo by Susan Renfro

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Fall into Sapphire

Dew Falls

John’s Jump and Dew Falls are a pair of jewels discreetly tucked away in Sapphire.

ot far from Sapphire, you can visit John’s Jump and the nearby Dew Falls. They are both very close to the road requiring short hikes of less than a tenth of a mile each.

at the north end of the grassy parking area described below. We have viewed the falls when the water was flowing at an average pace and found it to be quite beautiful.

At 25 feet in height, John’s Jump is the tallest of the two. Despite the fact that it is less than 100 yards from the road, the hike to John’s Jump is more difficult than Dew Falls. A short scramble down a relatively steep path to the base of John’s Jump is required. For the agile the descent is not terribly difficult but we like to tie off a rope at the top and use it for stability to reach the bottom and to return to the top. The unmarked trailhead is

Dew Falls is only about 10 feet in height but don’t let that stop you from making the 0.1-mile trek. The trail is mostly flat with some downhill close to the base of the falls. Be careful of exposed roots, especially when approaching the falls. Be aware that in wet periods there may be muddy spots along the way. The unmarked trailhead is at the closed gate described in Directions. Dew Falls is much easier to reach than John’s Jump

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John’s Jump Falls

Falls but equally as beautiful. Directions John’s Jump Falls From Sapphire, drive east US 64 to Highway 281 and turn right. Go approximately five miles to an unmarked grassy area on the left and park. At the north end of the parking area, you will find the unmarked trail to the falls. You should hear the falls from the parking area. Due to the steepness of the trail, it is not recommended for small children.

from the John’s Jump Falls parking area. From the parking area drive back north for about 0.1 mile. On the left side of the road find a closed gate. Park there and locate the trailhead behind the gate. Happy Trails. by Ed and Cindy Boos

Dew Falls The unmarked trailhead to Dew Falls is a very short distance

View Highlands Cashiers Waterfall Guide

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Never Ceases to

Amaze

The gentle hike to Sunset Rock and its mirror Sunrise Rock rewards ever yone who makes the trip.

ill the Plateau ever cease to amaze? While most residents and visitors to Highlands are aware of the easily accessible Ravenel Park and Sunset Rock, fascinating facts exist that elude many who trek to the top year-round to view sunrises and sunsets on clear days. Yes, although the less-than-a-mile climb to a stone precipice is officially known as Sunset Rock, there is a sunrise option directly opposite. A short trek down a wooded path brings hikers onto an outcropping of rocks to view not the town of Highlands and Brushy Face Mountain to the west – as is the case while standing on Sunset Rock – but an expansive, wilderness view of Horse Cove and layers upon layers of Blue Ridge Mountain peaks to the east. Fun fact #1: The Ravenel family, with historical ties to Highlands, donated Sunset Rock to Highlands in 1914 as a memorial gift from the children of Captain Samuel Prioleau Ravenel Senior, and his wife, Margaretta, who built an estate in Highlands after the Civil War. The Ravenels were known for their focus on conservationism and assistance in the early development of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust.

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Fun fact #2: Ravenel Park, obviously named for the Ravenels who donated the land more than 100 years ago, is a “public park,” and thus cannot be closed; plus, as a public park, it can be used for events. Visit hicashlt.org. Fun fact #3: Wolf Ridge, on which Ravenel Park is situated, is part of the Eastern Continental Divide. Also referred to as the Appalachian Divide, the term denotes what is called a “hydrographic divide” that separates the easterly Atlantic Seaboard watershed from the westerly Gulf of Mexico watershed. On the Highlands’ vista from Sunset Rock is the Gulf side of the divide, while the sunrise easterly view is toward the Atlantic ocean. Depending on which way rain falls on the ridge, it has the potential to either end up as far away as New Orleans or Savannah. Fun fact #4: A few significant “high priority conservation” bird species flock to Sunset Rock due to its high elevation, according to the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society, including Canada Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Red-breasted Nuthatch. And, in spring, Peregrine

OUTDOORS

Falcons nest on ledges. Fun fact #5: The “solution pits or pockets” on Sunset Rock that resemble mini pools “are created from uneven weathering of the rock,” said Jason Love, associate director, Highlands Biological Station. “The ones on Sunset are more pronounced because the vegetation that would have filled the pockets has been trampled by visitors, thus allowing the shallow soils to wash away, exposing the bare solution pits. Plant species associated with these shallow soil mats in the Highlands vicinity include Twisted-hair Spikemoss, Long-leaf Bluets, various grasses and sedges, and various fruticose lichens (sometimes referred to collectively as reindeer lichen).” Dogs are able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. To locate the trail to Sunset Rock, take Main Street in Highlands (which then becomes Horse Cove Road) east from the intersection of Highways 28 and 64 in Highlands, 0.5 mile to the Highlands Nature Center. Park here and follow the sign indicating a gravel road to Sunset Rock and Ravenel Park. The road ends at Sunset Rock to the right and the sunrise view to the left. by Deena Bouknight

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Rachel Jordan

Nationally Known

Bio Station

A new generation of scholars and researchers is illuminating the changes emerging in the Plateau’s Wild Places.

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Joseph Burger

OUTDOORS

nvironmental education and research – these are the two primary factors guiding the mission and work of the Highlands Biological Foundation.

selected to receive GIA awards! This is exciting as the pandemic previously limited research efforts with only four GIAs being awarded in 2020 and six GIAs being awarded in 2021.

Fulfilling this work can take many different forms such as leading daily educational programs at the Highlands Nature Center, hosting nature camps for kids ages 4 to 12, organizing weekly Zahner Conservation Lectures for our community in late-summer, and providing financial support to visiting researchers studying the vast biodiversity of our region.

A few of this year’s GIA recipients are familiar faces at HBS. Rachel Jordan, a fourth-year Ph.D. student from the University of Wisconsin, will be returning for another field season focused on evaluating how native conifers will respond to winter warming.

The latter practice has been a part of the Highlands Biological Foundation’s work for over 50 years in the form of Grantsin-Aid of Scientific Research at the Highlands Biological Station, bringing graduate students and research scientists to Highlands from all over the country. This year, the Foundation is thrilled to announce that 12 individuals have been

Joseph Burger, a faculty member from the University of Kentucky, will also be returning for a second season of studying biogeography and conservation of Southern Appalachian mountaintop “island” biodiversity. Several new recipients will be welcomed to the Station as well, including Curtis McGehee, a first-year M.S. student from Western Carolina University, who will be investigating whether the Asian Needle Ant (Brachyponera chinensis)

invasion affects small vertebrate and leaf litter communities of southern Appalachian forests. Overall, the 2022 GIA research topics are wide ranging as the other recipients will be studying topics from mountaintop mammals and squirrels to bee and fungi biodiversity. Since the program’s initiation, the Foundation has awarded over $350,000 to individuals fostering a better understanding of our region, its incredible biodiversity, and how global climate change will impact it and its inhabitants. For more information about GIAs or other efforts that the Foundation supports at HBS, visit highlandsbiological.org or call us at (828) 526-2221. Highlands Biological Station is a multi-center campus of Western Carolina University. by Winter Gary Communications & Events Coordinator, Highlands Biological Foundation

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Doug Lanning

Growing Closer

For landscaper Doug Lanning, that green thumb must be the result of good black Jackson County soil running through his veins. ouglas Lanning, horticulturist, landscape genius, and gardener extraordinaire is a seventh-generation resident of the Plateau.

He feels a kinship to the settlers of the past two centuries, Maybe that’s because many of those folks were his relatives, the Lannings of Glenville, McCalls of Cashiers, and their extended families. Nearly every one of them was a grower and/or seller of vegetables, flowers, and produce. Two prominent contributions to the community were the Lanning’s apple orchard in Glenville and the Cashiers General Store, run by great grandfather George Robert McCall. Doug’s grandmother, a favorite mentor, was a veggie connoisseur. His aunt ran Rebecca’s Naturals Flower Shop. Doug says, “Gardening was always a part of my family. There’s even some horticulture pros in the clan. I grew up around gardens and always wanted to learn more about them.” Doug didn’t need to get a degree in horticulture. From a tender age, his family gave him an education that would rival any

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university’s agriculture curriculum. In addition, he apprenticed with John McCarley, landscaper for Lonesome Valley, a title Doug also holds. Even though Doug could probably grow a redwood with spit and a bowl of sand, he’s partial to hand-composted soil and native plants. He’s particularly fond of interspersing native edibles in and amongst native landscape plants. He uses wild strawberries as ground cover, blueberries as a kind of hedge or fill, and blackberries as a protective thicket for native wildlife and fencing. Bonus: all those berries await sugar, butter, and a cobbler crust, just for their grower. It never occurred to Doug to explore possibilities outside the Plateau. It’s here he stays happily planted. Why would a man, soul-deep in love with his home and its history want to leave it? Here’s his philosophy: “Everything is part of a cultural web. When you learn about a culture’s food, you then learn about their gardening practices and that leads you to an understanding of their natural culture regarding wildlife and respect for the land. One culture connects to the next.”

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Cultures have more similarities than differences. Flavorings and flours and foods are shared around the world. Cilantro pops up in Vietnam and in Mexico, worlds apart, yet an example of similarities across vast boundaries. As Doug suggests, “We are all growing a planetsized garden.” If you are gradually converting your landscape to native, there are plenty of native plants in local nurseries. Doug reminds us that taking them from the forests will upend the ecology. In closing, Doug offers this insight: “When growing a garden, you’re growing much more than fruits and flowers, you’re growing closer – closer to the past, closer to the present, closer to yourself, and closer to the ones around you.” If you want to know more about native gardening and landscaping and local history (Doug says they are all woven into the same fine cloth) contact him at douglaselanning@ gmail.com. by Donna Rhodes photos by Susan Renfro 65 M ay 202 2 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

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Fly Fishing, the

Soothing Sport

You can leave the stress of the modern world behind by simply stepping into the stream.

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ly fishing for me is all about interacting with nature and escaping from the fast-paced life that most of us have come to recognize as normal. It’s more of a feeling than an activity. When I put the truck in park, and begin to pull my waders on, I am 100 percent certain that one thing is true: The next few hours are going to be great, and there is absolutely nothing that is going to mess that up! I haven’t found many other activities in life that I can say the same thing about. For instance, one of my hobbies is mountain biking. I love mountain biking, but I swear every time I get on the thing, I get a stark reminder that I need to get in better shape. Fly fishing has never done that to me. It’s always been there as the more “therapeutic” of my hobby selections.

Sure, things go wrong as they do with everything. Sometimes you fall in the water and get wet…but then you dry out. Sometimes you hang your fly way up in the tree, and must break it off – but again, a little bit of re-rigging and you are right back at it.

Western North Carolina. Make some time to get out there and enjoy it! There’s little that can go wrong, and a whole lot to gain.

If you’ve never tried your hand at fly fishing, now is the perfect The next few hours are time – ask a Maybe it’s the friend that has going to be great… sound of the some experience water running to take you and tumbling or consider over the rocks booking a local that’s so soothing, but I find it hard to get fishing guide to show you the ropes. stressed or frustrated standing in a trout Whether you’re new to the sport, or an stream. I often come to the trout stream old pro, don’t forget to stop into the local that way…but leave feeling better. fly shop for the inside scoop on what to Then, I always ask myself the same use and where to go! question: “Why don’t I do this more often?” The month of May is arguably the best time of the year to go fly fishing in

By Matt Canter, Brookings Anglers

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New World Warblers With its vivid plumage and joyous catalog of songs, the Hooded Warbler boldly announces its return to the Plateau.

ew World warblers comprise more than 50 species of perching birds, migrants that winter in Central and South America and whose summer nesting grounds include the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. These small insectivores have varied plumage and songs that range from the plain to the spectacular. Collectively a group of warblers is called a “bouquet” or sometimes a “confusion” or “fall.”

Hooded Warblers feed on caterpillars, moths, grasshoppers, and beetles, among other insects and spiders. They are also good fly catchers. Nests, near the ground, are small open cups of dried leaves, bark, grass, spider webs, and animal hair that hold three or four creamy white, spotted eggs. The eggs are incubated for 12 days by the female. Although the female builds the nest and incubates the eggs, both parents feed the hatchlings.

The Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) is found locally in the moist, shady undergrowth of our deciduous forests, part of a vast breeding ground that ranges from Iowa, Michigan, and New England in the north to Florida and the Gulf Coast. The male sports a bright yellow face with a contrasting black hood while the female is more modestly attired with muted color and just a trace of the hood. Both have white spots on their tails which they frequently flash by raising and fanning the tail.

The parents divide the fledglings when they take to the ground and care for their contingent separately.

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The male returns to the same breeding ground year after year. The female tends to migrate to new breeding grounds each year. Hooded Warblers have been observed to live for more than eight years. The song of this brightly colored summer resident is a melodic

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tawee tawee tawee-teeoo. Its call is a flat squeaky tiip. Because they sing from the treetops, they can be easier to hear than to see. Happy summer bird watching from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. To join the outings hosted by Audubon check the local website at highlandsaudubonsociety.org. Beginners are welcome. The mission of the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society is to provide opportunities to enjoy and learn about birds and other wildlife and to promote conservation and restoration of the habitats that support them. HPAS is a 501(c)(3) organization, a Chapter of the National Audubon Society. by William McReynolds

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Land Trust’s

BioBlitz

Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is ex tending an invitation to explore the lives of the Plateau’s wild denizens – A May 1 BioBlitz at Dixon Woods Pond. For more information or to sign up, call (828) 526-1111 or email hclt_ed@ear thlink.

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ighlands-Cashiers Land Trust’s wildlife experts are staging a Dixon Woods Pond BioBlitz from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. Sunday, May 1. Set at HCLT’s public access property, Dixon Woods, this event is part of the annual International BioBlitz, the City Nature Challenge, and state-wide NC BioBlitz. Participants will look in the pond for tadpoles, dragonfly nymphs, fairy shrimp, and more. They can log their own observations using iNaturalist or they can hand over critters they find to be photographed by professional photographer Kevin FitzPatrick and identified by an entomologist. Everyone is invited to take a walk along the network of easy trails at Dixon Woods. Complimentary cookies and lemonade will be provided. This event is appropriate for all ages, and children must be accompanied by an adult. No experience is necessary. by Luke Osteen

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ARTS Pages 76-99

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A Woman of Many

Talents

An unusually nimble mind and unexpected heaps of spare time have deepened Beth Townsend’s ar tistic por tfolio.

his past Christmas, Beth Townsend (realtor with McKee Properties) created boxed sets of notecards for her clients – eight different, original paintings reduced to greeting card size.

she cranked out about 20 significant paintings.

The gift was a tremendous hit. Recipients cheered, “Wow! I never knew you were a painter!” She answered, “I didn’t either!”

Twas a seamless transition, really. She had a medical test indicating her right and left brains are of equal dominance. They snap to attention when called upon. Most unusual.

Painting was Beth’s 20-year well-kept secret. Painting marathons came when time presented itself. But that was only twice in the 20: the first, when she was recovering from an ACL injury, and the second, during Covid quarantine. In those times,

When asked if left and right brains sometimes fight each other, she says, “Well, yes, on occasion. But it makes for a dramatic painting, even though I might scrape the canvas and start all over again…and again.”

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How is it that she could switch back and forth from analytical left brain (real estate business) to the right (painting/creativity) after long absences? ‘

Beth Townsend

“Revenge of the Swallowtail” is an example. A favorite sport of Jolene, Beth’s quick-jawed boxer, is snapping butterflies in midair. Beth played with scale in an animated scene so the Swallowtails are gigantic – and they retaliate. The chaos feeds an edgy, yet comical energy. Beth’s right brain presents the emotional; her left brain tends to the details. Growing up, Beth was more athletic and artistic than studious. Give her a tennis racket and a box of art supplies and she was in heaven. Thus, her physicality and creativity united artfully, producing a wide variety of painting subjects from brightly colored, stirring scenes to serene landscapes, creatures, both wild and domestic, glorious flowers, and fanciful, yet poignant popcorn clouds. In college, Beth studied Landscape Architecture. The

aforementioned sports and art complemented her fascination for land, nature, sewing (her grandmother was an accomplished seamstress), baking, and decorating. Those pursuits built a deep interest in a picturesque mountain home lifestyle. It eventually fashioned a life for her in her own charming cottage/farmhouse. While Beth has limited time for art sales and commissions, she continues to entertain both sides of her brain when a window opens long enough to pull out the paints. But the good news for us: There may be giclée’s in our future. Stop by McKee Properties to see a painting or two at 619 Highway 107 South in Cashiers. Call her at (828) 421-6193 or email beth@cashiers.com. by Donna Rhodes

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A Master

Class

The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center is hosting a Songwriter’s Master Class led by folk music composer John McCutcheon, May 22-26 and June 26-30. For more information or to register, visit themountainrlc.com or call (828) 526-5838.

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John McCutcheon

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he Mountain Retreat and Learning Center at 3872 Dillard Road in Highlands offers year-round opportunities for individuals and groups to grow and learn through a variety of retreats and educational programs.

Mountains; eat healthy, delicious, homemade food; and join in the camaraderie of making music with like-minded souls.

They are particularly excited to invite you to join them and Grammynominated folk musician and songwriter, John McCutcheon who will lead two sessions of an intense, intimate Songwriting Master Class at The Mountain on May 22-26 and again on June 26-30.

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist John McCutcheon has been at the forefront of American folk music since the late ‘70s, covering a wide variety of traditions including Appalachian dulcimer and fiddle music, topical protest songs, and children’s albums.

Aspiring and experienced songwriters are invited to join other songwriting lovers for this remarkable event in this picturesque setting on Little Scaly Mountain. It’s also a great opportunity for all music lovers to learn about the songwriting process. In between sessions attendees will enjoy breathtaking views of the Smoky

We can just hear the songs around the campfire now, and the experience will be one to remember for a lifetime.

Proficient on numerous instruments including the hammered and mountain dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, banjo, and jaw harp, McCutcheon has also performed widely as a storyteller, written several books, worked as a social and labor activist, and produced albums for other artists. by Mary Jane McCall

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Guest Curators

A new exhibit at The Bascom presents the South’s ever-unfolding stor y, f iltered through a critical aesthetic. It’ll be staged from May 14 to August 27, with a public reception at 5:30 P.M. Thursday, June 16th.

Robert Gwathmey

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n Imaginary Landscapes: Stories of the American South, Kate Averett Anderson draws on the multifaceted experiences of life in the South as told by a wide range of 20th and 21st century artists. Anderson’s curatorial vision is to engage with works that, together, create a continuum of stories stretching across time and experience, offering glimpses of the ever-evolving landscapes of the American South. To achieve this consideration of shared and disparate visions of the American South, Anderson brings together works of historic and contemporary artists in multiple media, from paintings and sculptures to immersive installations. A show about the South for Southerners, the exhibition offers new juxtapositions of works in conversation with place, identity, and the multiplicity of meanings that landscapes – real and imagined – can invoke.

Anderson is herself professionally immersed in the cultural landscape of the South. A staff member at the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, Kate completed her art historical training first at UNC Asheville, followed by a Master’s from Chapel Hill. Her development as a curator has continued through multiple curatorial projects focused on Black Mountain College, where her purpose is to share with the public the history of the legendary experimental school founded in 1933, and to extend the impact of the BMC legacy to engage with lenses that include identity politics, experimentalism, and multidisciplinarity.

about the South as part of our annual programming on the theme of Place. Kate Anderson exemplifies the energy and vision new curators are bringing to the art field, and we invite our visitors to engage with the artistic conversation she has created in the Bunzl Gallery.

The Bascom is excited to continue its commitment to supporting the emergence of new arts professionals through our guest curator program. Since late 2021, the organization has been working closely with Kate to conceptualize an exhibition

by Billy Love, The Bascom

Imaginary Landscapes: Stories from the American South features works on loan from the Johnson Collection (Spartanburg) and Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (Asheville), as well as a number of contemporary artists. For more information, contact the Bascom at (828) 526-4949.

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Simple, Powerful Images Welcome Ar t Af icionados, to our second Laurel Anniversar y Cover, revisited. This month we’re traveling back to 2005, when f ine ar tist Sallie Taylor, was Highlands School ar t teacher. She’s now retired and a full time painter, but let’s peek in on where she was ar tistically nearly two decades ago.

chool teachers, then and now, have little time to devote to passions outside the classroom, so producing 2-3 paintings a year was Sallie’s optimum.

Unpretentious elegance? The painter’s message? What do you take away in your analytical and emotional brains?

Artists often do series paintings on a single subject. In the early two-thousands Sallie did studies of eggs. They are challenging, for replicating their perfect, physical form is a lot harder than it might seem.

As I looked at the organic shapes, I let my eyes travel to the secondary forms, those created by shadow, bounced light, and overlap. Ordinarily that’s regarded as negative space between the subjects, but, in this case, those shapes make their own positive statement.

Eggs are also richly iconic, historically-drenched in symbolism. Around the world eggs epitomize birth, spring, fertility, circle of life, Easter, good fortune, creation, wealth, and much more.

I am taken with the way light plays on the surfaces. The gradations are so subtly layered, it’s impossible to tell where one tone bonds to the next.

In this issue’s critique, take a few moments to reflect on what the egg means to you. Then immerse yourself, with both left and right brains, in Sallie’s painting. Make note of what strikes you on first scan. Crisp lines? Sterling brushwork?

These simple forms from an eye-to-shell perspective, appear mountain high and canyon deep, sturdy, powerful, yet my logical brain knows eggs are one of the most fragile objects on the planet. This anomaly is the essence of egg – life in a supremely

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fragile encasement that’s survived since the beginning of time. It gives us hope. “Eggs are a meditative experience/process (because the form is so simple), and they are my go-to subject matter when I’m not sure what I’m painting next,” says Sallie. “To me, they are a symbol for ‘ideas.’” “The ones on the cover were a study for a larger egg. Then I did the one egg, then seven. Then three eggs. The last three were Meditation I, Meditation II, and Meditation III, pushing paint around in a beautiful form.” Sallie continues, “An egg is a remarkable structure of Nature. On the equinox an egg will stand on its end without aid. And, held a certain way, you can’t crush an egg in your hand.” Sallie’s egg exploration led to other studies in the years since 2005, images also metaphorical: bridges, towers, and clouds. All these can be seen on her website, www.sallietaylorart. com. Email: salltaylor@me.com; Instagram: @salltaylor. by Donna Rhodes 83 MMAY ay 202 2 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

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Emanuel Carrero and Lindsay Garner Hostetler

A Year

of Growth

Just in time for a rollicking season, Mountain Theatre Company enlarges its troupe by two.

ountain Theatre Company at the Highlands Playhouse promises their best year ever, featuring a line-up of first-run movies in the spring and fall and a dazzling mainstage season of live theater, July through December. MTC recently hand-picked two exceptional visionaries who know how to fan the promotional flames here at home and ‘round the region. Joining the troupe are full-time team members Lindsay Garner Hostetler, Director of Marketing and Outreach; and Emanuel Carrero, Company Manager. Friends and patrons, this season is gonna sizzle! With 15 years of marketing and performing arts experience, Lindsay brings a unique understanding of the theater, both onstage and behind the scenes. After studying stage management at the University of Central Florida, she moved to the Western North Carolina mountains where she honed her skills as performing arts director, marketer, staff and program manager for theater, dance, and, music at Camp Merrie-Woode, and in similar capacities at Flat Rock Playhouse and Asheville Community Theater. Lindsay is thrilled to help launch a record-breaking year. She says, “Any strong community invests in their local arts. It is the arts that remind us all what it means to be human. Live theater allows us to sit together and experience something that makes us laugh, cry, and feel collectively. After a global pandemic and 84 M ay 202 2 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

time of isolation, that feels more important now than ever.” Emanuel Carrero, cast in his new role as Company Manager, will oversee 80-plus performers this mainstage season. He’ll handle all artist contracts, secure production licensing and royalties, schedule the season audition tour, and arrange travel and housing for nearly 100 performers, designers, and technicians from all over the country. No stranger to the MTC’s spotlight, Emanuel starred in last fall’s hit productions, Music in Motion and Scott and Patti’s Holiday Spectacular. He graduated from the University of Tampa, and spent the past decade working professionally in the arts, serving as a company manager for Tampa’s Patel Conservatory, one of the Southeast’s largest conservatories. He says, “I’m excited to play a significant role in the creation of this new era for Mountain Theatre Company, and to continue the 84-year legacy of live theater at the Highlands Playhouse. This will be our biggest and most ambitious season yet. Thank you to all of our patrons for keeping the arts alive during these trying times.” Welcome Lindsay, a gal who can build buzz, and Emanuel, the guy who sets the stage in a thousand ways. Catch their genius at MTC and visit mountaintheatre.com for more info. by Donna Rhodes

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May’s Warming

Up at PAC

Highlands Per forming Ar ts Center hosts an ambitious slate of per formances and deep dives into the mysteries of feminine beauty and the world’s most famous boy-king, plus a healthy dose of laughter. Highlands PAC is located at 507 Chestnut Street.

Nadine Sierra

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he Live via Satellite Series has a full schedule for May with productions from the Metropolitan Opera and Great Art on Screen. On Saturday, May 7, a revival of Puccini’s Turandot. Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska as the icy princess, who has also sung Turandot previously at the Ukrainian National Opera and at the Bolshoi. Tenor Yonghoon Lee is the prince, alongside soprano Ermonela Jaho as the devoted servant. Marco Armiliato conducts Puccini’s stirring opera and ever-popular production by Franco Zeffirelli. On Saturday, May 21, we’ll present the new production of Donizetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoor. Soprano Nadine Sierra takes on the haunted heroine of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, in an electrifying new staging by Australian theater and film director Simon Stone, conducted by Riccardo Frizza. Tenor

Javier Camarena as Lucia’s beloved, Edgardo, with baritone Artur Ruciński as her overbearing brother, Enrico. Both operas begin at 12:55 P.M. with a pre-opera discussion at 12:30 P.M. Join us for Great Art on Screen’s Tutankhamun: The Last Exhibition at 5:30 P.M. Friday, May 13. To mark the centenary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, this documentary offers audiences an extraordinary opportunity to meet the Pharaoh, with exclusive coverage of how 150 of his treasures were moved to become part of the biggest international exhibition ever dedicated to him. Raphael: The Young Prodigy tells the story of the Italian Renaissance artist from Urbino, starting from his extraordinary portraits of women. From portraits of his mother to the female admirers who helped him on his road to success, Raphael, (1483-1520), was able to portray

an ideal of celestial beauty, and to focus his gaze more on the psychology of his subjects’ features than on their physical form, so that their personalities emerge in a striking manner. We’ll screen this story at 5:30 P.M. Friday, May 27. And coming at the close of two-years of pandemic, is there anyone among us who doesn’t need an easy laugh? Join us for live comedy at the PAC, 7:30 P.M. Saturday, May 28. That’s when comedian Lucas Bohn will bring his hit multimedia show, Lesson Plans to Late Night, to Highlands for one night only. This family friendly show combines stories from the classroom and stand up comedy. Tickets for all shows are available at HighlandsPerformingArts.com. by Mary Adair Trumbly, Highlands Performing Arts Center

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The Best of

Beethoven

Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival will stage Beethoven at The Bascom, featuring the dynamic Amernet String Quar tet, at 5:00 P.M. Sunday June 26. Reser vations are required – call (828) 526-9060.

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Amernet String Quartet

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ighlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival and The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts will present The Best of Beethoven at The Bascom at 5:00 P.M. Sunday, June 26.

Church of Highlands.

Internationally, the quartet has appeared at major festivals around the world, including Cervantino, San Miguel de Allende, Aviv (Israel), and Colima Their sound has been called The performance will (Mexico). While in “complex” but with an “old feature The Amernet Germany a critic world flavor.” String Quartet, the commented that Ensemble-in-Residence their playing was at Florida International “fascinating, with University in Miami. flawless intonation, extraordinary Their sound has been called “complex” beauty of sound, virtuosic brilliance and but with an “old world flavor.” In homogeneity of ensemble.” (Nürnberger 2019, they were the Chamber Festival’s Nachrichten). Quartet in Residence. Their appearance was sponsored by Cullasaja Women’s Outreach, and included programs at the local schools, Chestnut Hill, and a concert at First Presbyterian

The performance is sponsored by Peggy and J. F. Bryan. If your schedule doesn’t allow you to join the Amernet String Quartet at The Bascom, you can still catch them at Bach at Bucks, set for 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. at Buck’s Coffee Shop at the Cashiers Crossroads, Saturday, June 25. The performance is free and, since reservations aren’t required, you’ll want to arrive early. by Luke Osteen

Refreshments will be served at The Bascom concert. Cost is $75 per person – call (828) 526-9060 for required reservations.

Scan to learn more.

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Beth Bowser

Glass Act

The dazzling creations of glass ar tist Beth Bowser will take the spotlight at the May 23 meeting of the Ar t League of Highlands-Cashiers.

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he Art League of Highlands-Cashiers will hold its May meeting at The Bascom on Monday, May 23. Refreshments will be served at 4:30 P.M., with the meeting at 5:00 P.M..

techniques in her creative process. The kiln adds its own final touches, often with unexpected results. She jokingly says there are two outcomes: pieces that are happy accidents and those that are waiting to be redeemed.

We are pleased to have as our guest speaker, local glass artist Beth Bowser.

Today Beth works with three electric kilns, ranging in size from the small first one to a very large, imposing one.

Beth was interested in glass art from an early age, when she became fascinated with the stained glass windows in her church. She began to formally study this art form in 1980 when she enrolled in her first class. There she learned the basics of creating stained glass pieces, including the techniques, terminology, tools and the challenges of producing high quality work. For many years Beth created and sold her own designs. Having mastered stained glass, she decided to invest in a kiln to experiment with other glass forms created by applying extreme heat. She found it to be a complex process with surprises each time she opened the cooled kiln. Beth enjoys experimenting with various

In the next evolution of her work, she intends to rake and comb through multiple pieces of molten stained glass to create new patterns of color and depth. Beth’s stunning pieces, including pendants, plates, urns, vases, sculptures, and more may be found in The Bascom gift store, Gallery 1 in Sylva, and the Tsartistry Gallery in Franklin. We hope to see you at the social and presentation, both of which are free and open to the public. See more of the Art League’s activities at artleagueofhighlands-cashiers.com. by Zach Claxton,

The Art League of Highlands-Cashiers

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Magic, Musings,

& Majesty

ntering the Ann Lea Gallery is a leap, a romp, a dance, a passage to another realm, one in which magic, musings, and majesty reign. The artists’ paintings and sculptures are the Gallery’s core, but the full encounter is an immersion in the ultimate Aesthetic encounter … art demos, book signings, art talks, meet-the-artist, trunk shows, and so much more. ALFAG has done its homework, consulting with leading professionals, designing a custom marketing blueprint, and re-vamping and expanding the gallery interior by an additional 1,500 square feet. That brings the total gallery expanse to 5,000 square feet. With this additional gallery, work, and office space, ALFAG stands alongside the largest, finest gallery show-spaces of the South. In addition, this rentable floor space is available for rehearsal dinners and weddings. This past winter, ALFAG closed its doors to survey clients, visitors, and community asking their preferences, opinions, favorites. Based on the results, the interior was transformed into a visual delight, a perfect setting for a variety of abstract, impressionism, and multi-media creations focusing on cool (blue and green) jewel tones. Complementing the paintings are hand-dyed fabrics, dramatically draped ceiling to floor. Finishing the display are wood sculptures coupled with fanciful and elegant jewelry. They contrast the soft folds of fabric and the oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings, any of which would make an eye-popping focal point for a room’s design. Ann Lea, owner and the creative inspiration behind this exceptional gallery show-place says, “This season, we will feature a diverse collection of outstanding artists. Each of the events on the 2022 calendar will help our customers to understand and appreciate how these experienced individuals find inspiration and emotion on each and every one of their canvases. We are very excited to share the exceptional talents of such a wonderful group of artists!” Don’t miss our Summer Celebration Open House to celebrate our artists, clientele, and the launch of the season. Art, Wine, Cheese and Fun, May 26 from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Call (828) 743-5499 for more information or visit: AnnLeaFineArtGallery.com. by Donna Rhodes

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Taking His

Turn

For Madison Minus, the ar tistr y lies in revealing the beauty and myster y embedded within a block of wood.

adison Minus grew up in an enthusiastic woodworking family. But there came a magical day when this 2-D craftsman turned into a 3-D artist.

That was the moment, after watching scores of online woodturning videos, he committed to a lathe purchase. Since then, he’s filled his studio and sales displays with everything from utilitarian to art exhibition pieces: vases and hollow forms, bowls, spurtles (round stir-sticks for soups and porridge), wine bottle stoppers, rolling pins, and more. This young Highlands native has already lived in Vietnam, Thailand, and Australia. He knows wood worldwide, though it’s only here that his art matured.

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He says, “While I’ve enjoyed my adventures, I am the happiest I have ever been right here, turning wood.” Madison is fascinated with wood. “Wood’s wonder is hiding behind the bark,” he says. “I am always amazed by its configurations, particularly within the burls. Burls are knots on the tree’s exterior. When turned, mind-blowing abstracts in the grain are revealed. Sometimes burls remind me of faces or other iconic images. Wood’s color, smell, and texture intrigue me. Revealing the secrets inside a block of wood as I shave its layers is soul-satisfying. It’s a harvest of design, and I can’t stop smiling at the revelations.” He works primarily with local, already down wood. In case you

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Madison Minus

thought a turned bowl was a single afternoon creation, it is much more than that. First a green (fresh wood) block is placed on the lathe and shaved down to a basic form. It’s then coated in wax to keep the wood fibers moist and avoid cracking. “I weigh it fairly often to see if the weight lightens,” he says. “When the numbers stop going down, I know it has dried. Then it is ready for the final phase of turning and finishing.” One of his favorite life refrains is: Progress, not perfection. You can see some of Madison’s creations at Instagram: @madison_minus. You can email him at madminus@ gmail.com. You can purchase his work at Secret Garden Restaurant and Unfurl Massage and Bodywork in Highlands. Inquire online for a studio appointment. by Donna Rhodes

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Trusting in

the Work

For Diane McPhail, ar t is a complex blend of faith, experience, and wisdom born of years of obser vation.

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Diane McPhail

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ny time the conversation turns to the Plateau’s dynamic artistic and cultural scene, it doesn’t take long for the name Diane McPhail to pop up. Diane wears a mantle of many masteries, among them art, painting, writing, and ministry. When she’s not painting, bookmaking, writing, drawing, or meditating in a dwelling powered, literally and metaphorically, by a water wheel, she’s planning her next event, party, travel, or garden design. Everything and everyone around her are part of the magical web she weaves. That web becomes the fabric of her mantle and her life, her inner circle of family, her extended circle of companions, and others who are drawn into her healing web, touched by her writing and homilies. All of this plays into her second novel, The Seamstress of New Orleans, coming out at the end of this month (you can find it at Shakespeare & Company and

The Book Nook). Against the backdrop of the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe in 1900 New Orleans, Diane’s mesmerizing historical novel tells of two strangers separated by background but bound by an unexpected secret —and of the strength and courage women draw from and inspire in each other. “Long before I began writing, perhaps in graduate school for painting, I happened upon a book by Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time), who years later became my first writing teacher,” Diane says. “It was entitled Walking on Water: Reflections on Art and Faith. My copies have become so underlined that I think I’m on my third copy of it. L’Engle’s premise, in a nutshell, is this: The work knows more than you do. It comes to you from somewhere else and, like an Annunciation, asks you to give it birth. If you say ‘yes,’ your job is to follow the work where it knows it needs to go. The concept both freed me and sometimes

frightened me to death. To follow the work means that you must develop the skills that allow you to do so, but then to be ready to go in directions that require you to venture into totally unknown territory without a map, following one step at a time without predetermination. It’s led me to some surprising places that I could never have visualized, in image or in word, on my own. “I never actually set out to do any of the things I have done in my life. I have just seen the next beckoning step and taken it. That element of trust has led to some of the most surprising “coincidences” in my serial careers. The richness of experience that has come as a result of simply going ahead with the next thing has filled my life with excitement, joy, adventure, and a recurring sense of inadequacy. When I feel at a loss or inadequate, I remind myself to go back to trusting the work instead of myself.” by Donna Rhodes

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Tactile

Connections

There’s an element of magic at the core of Annell Metsker creations.

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ome are convinced there’s a magnetic vein of creativity, powerfully pressed into the heart of our mountain, so intense artists near and far happily succumb to its compelling pull. That explains the abundance of painters, sculptors, musicians, writers, actors, and architects on the Plateau. One of the most inventive is Annell Metsker. Annell is drawn to more than one artistic mode of expression. Years ago, she began with photography, capturing the souls of her subjects, people and animals, in perfect light. Over time that wasn’t satisfying enough. She needed to have more tactile connection to her images, so she pursued oil and digital painting. Those are about as far apart as art media can be, yet the subjects’ souls were the common thread. They shone through, whether she used camera, paintbrush, or computer to do the creating.

Annell found her Muse in Lake Glenville, a vista never-ending, from lake to sky to mountain to river to forest. While she paints and photographs whatever pleases her clients, she specializes in capturing the essence of those who have passed – heirloom paintings of loved ones, pets and people, to lock away memories of life’s loves. Annell’s happiest portraying a human or pet, capturing bold color, shape, form, and texture at peak light. She paints a dramatic story, establishing the subject’s true character with daubs, layers, and textural smears of impasto in photo-realism, impressionism, or abstraction. While many of her portraits, particularly those of pets, are often an homage to a cherished four-legger now waiting at the Rainbow Bridge, one of her most poignant works of art is that of a child.

a first-time mom (at age 42) and her newborn. Every six months I created photo-realism paintings of her daughter. By age two-and-a-half the mom was satisfied with my process and allowed more creative freedom for what I call my Angel Portrait. As I studied the daughter’s face I kept thinking, ‘This child is truly an angel.’ “Months after unveiling the Angel Painting, I received a call from her grandmother. She said her daughter and baby were casualties in an auto accident. She said the paintings were a great comfort, for they captured her loved ones’ spirits. She felt their presence. I still get gooseflesh thinking of the foreshadowing of that sweet Angel.” by Donna Rhodes

Annell shares the experience, “I painted

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Dar l Con Dou tr u

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DINING Pages 104-119

photo by Susan Renfro

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The Magic

of Brunch

Our editor’s sweethear t snatches the keyboard from his cramped f ingers and pens a review of her Brunch Experience at Fire + Water at Fire Mountain Inn. Reser vations are a must – call (800) 775-4446 or visit f iremt.com.

am Tricia Smith, Luke Osteen’s partner, and I’m writing my third restaurant review ever, and it just so happens to be my third review of Fire + Water at Fire Mountain Inn.

You see, I’m passionate about the place, and the opportunity to visit them once more for their Sunday Brunch was just too irresistible to turn down. I just don’t think he can adequately convey the magic of Fire + Water. And while he’s rhapsodized over the magic of brunch with a table of raucous friends, that’s completely different from what you can expect when you surrender to the gentle ministrations of owners Hiram and Mathew and their righthand woman Breann. This is what I wrote in those glorious pre-Pandemic days: 104 M ay 202 2 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

“…It’s that very distance from the heart of Highlands that gives Fire + Water its undeniable tranquility. You’re instantly soothed. Part of that is derived from the gorgeous setting atop Fire Mountain. The carefully landscaped grounds create a zen state and the view reveals the ridges of five distinct mountain ranges on the horizon. This was accompanied by the sound of water cascading down a beautiful walled fountain just a few feet from our table.” Tranquility. Is there a more valuable commodity in this tender post-Pandemic season? As you travel down the Dillard Road between Scaly and Sky Valley and spy the bridge construction, you turn left and climb up an unassuming road; a road to blissful Fire & Water and the

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meal of your dreams awaits. You’re welcomed by Hiram and given a seat in the lovely dining room smartly designed in Mid Century Modern style or the outdoor patio. Either way, you’re surrounded with relaxing views and fresh flowers. Hiram can make you a custom cocktail to start the gastronomical experience. All the food is locally sourced and/or grown on site. Chef Mathew’s garden provides vegetables and herbs. No matter what you order, you are first impressed with the bright colors and freshness. Your visual first impression is followed by bursts of strategically arranged taste combinations that are sure to please. Luke and I visited recently to try out the new Brunch Menu. I selected the Grilled Lemon Chicken Salad with Sliced Chicken Breast, steamed asparagus and red and yellow peppers and fresh thyme, herbed potato salad with little gem potatoes and a champagne vinaigrette, carrot cranberry slaw and finished off the meal with Fresh Berry Pavlova. Fire + Water’s version of

this cherished dessert featured fresh blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries atop a dollop of meringue. Heaven on the lips. Luke devoured the Cornmeal Crusted Trout and made a Happy Plate – no go-box for him. Greetings from the staff are like getting together with old friends. Breann, attended us and kept our glasses full. Matthew created the flavor – color, well-balanced creations that are simple and pure and fabulous. We greeted old friends and made new ones. No longer under the restrictions of the pandemic, we loved every part of the dining experience and see a bright season ahead. by Tricia Smith

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Red, White and 106 M ay 202 2 | T H EL AU R EL M AG A ZI N E .CO M

Que

Jonathan and Justin Fox

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For the Fox Brothers, slated to ser ve up their trademark dishes at The Farm at Old Edwards on June 10, barbecue is meant to be celebrated. Book online at OldEdwardsHospitality.com/FoxBrothers.

f, like me, you worship at the Church of Barbecue, then this “service” is for you!

On Friday, June 10, Atlanta’s Fox Brothers will be spreading the gospel on behalf of “Red, White and ‘Que” at The Farm at Old Edwards. The Fort Worth, Texas, natives, Jonathan and Justin, have been cooking up their epic barbecue offerings for more than two decades. From their beginnings, cooking for friends in their backyard, they graduated to pop ups at a local restaurant. In 2007, after being named runner up in an Atlanta’s Best Barbecue contest, they opened their self-named restaurant. What the Foxes started 15 years ago is barbecue cooked by hot smoke from a wood fire with minimal spices and without basting. Jonathan explained that “We do not mop or add sauce afterwards. Sauce is a condiment, and we make a great one, but we will let you use it.” From the start, they have embraced Southern cooking, bringing “fresh” sides to the menu, previously not offered in Atlanta’s barbecue restaurants – slow cooked collard greens, stewed green beans, and mac ‘n cheese, seasonally fried okra and fried brussels sprouts. As demand spread for their succulent smoked brisket, and “foxy” creations like Frito pie, hickory smoked wings, and Tominator tater tots covered in Brunswick stew, they gradually expanded their facilities. They installed barbecue stalls at the Braves and Falcons Stadiums and The Que-Osk walk-up window, adjacent to their catering commissary at Armour Yards. When I spoke to Jonathan recently, he told me that he and Justin are excited to return to Highlands. “We had the best time, meeting so many great people and really enjoyed cooking for them.” This year they are planning a menu described as, “truer to who we are. A little more Texas flavored, we will be serving the holy trinity of Texas BBQ – BBQ, ribs, and Texas style sausage.” Also on the menu, Old Edwards’ famous fried chicken and the Fox Brothers’ legendary brisket. A DJ, craft beer, fine wines and dancing are planned to complement the feast and add to the festivities. Cost is $155 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Please Note: this event is for guests 21 and older. by Marlene Osteen 107 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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ail Johnson, the pastry chef at The Country Club of Sapphire Valley, has a special penchant for baking French breads and desserts. Born and raised in St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica, Johnson spent much of her youth watching her mom in the kitchen and started baking at age seven. When she enrolled in culinary school in Jamaica, she developed a passion for the beloved French dessert, Crème Brulée.

A Dessert for Celebration

For Chef Gail Johnson, her ser vings of Crème Brulée at The Countr y Club of Sapphire are the sweet payoff for a lifetime of study and passion.

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Since arriving at the club five years ago, it has become the most requested dessert for the Ladies LGA luncheon. As Johnson told me, “They love it because its light, not too sweet, and satisfies those with celiac disease.” And because it’s a confection she enjoys making and eating herself, she regularly wows members with her presentation, adding her singular touch– a flourish of spun sugar or slices of fresh fruit. In fact, during the season when the club

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¼ cup Grand Marnier or Cointreau

Though rightfully thought of as belonging to the repertoire of classic French cooking, legend has it that this subtly flavored and delicate custard actually originated at the University of Cambridge in England. Classy, elegant and silken, Crème Brulée is a dessert for celebration. Here, Johnson shares the basic recipe.

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 325 degrees.

Gail Johnson’s Crème Brulée Ingredients 2 ½ cups heavy cream 2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise 1/8 teaspoon salt 7 large egg yolks ½ cup granulated sugar

1/8 teaspoon lemon zest ½ cup light brown sugar Directions

2. Pour the heavy cream into a saucepan. Scrape the seeds from inside the vanilla bean pods into the cream. Add the pods. 3. Over moderate heat, bring the cream and vanilla mixture to a low boil. Remove from the heat, cover, and let the mixture steep for 15 minutes. Remove the pods. 4. In a medium bowl whisk the egg yolks and sugar, salt, lemon zest, and Grand Marnier until pale yellow. Slowly whisk the egg mixture into the cream. 5. Pour into 4 to 6 shallow broiler proof ramekins. Set the dishes in a shallow roasting pan and pour boiling water into

the pan to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. 6. Bake until the custard is set, about 30 minutes. 7. Remove the dishes from the roasting pan and allow to cool on a rack. 8. Press the brown sugar through a fine mesh sieve directly onto the custards. At this point you need to caramelize and liquify the sugar topping. You can achieve this either by using a blow torch set on medium or by preheating the broiler and broiling about 5 inches from the heat. This can take from 1 to 5 minutes – if you are using the broiler be sure to rotate the pan. 9. Remove the custards from the broiler and cool on a rack to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. by Marlene Osteen

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Chef Adam Bresnahan

Progressive American Gone

Southern

4118 Kitchen and Bar is staging one of its exclusive wine dinners Saturday, May 21. To book your tickets, visit 4118kitchen-bar.com/events or call (828) 526-5002.

he culinary riches of Highlands certainly got richer when 4118 Kitchen and Bar opened five years ago in the Bryson’s Shopping Center. Recently, 4118’s chef, Adam Bresnahan, launched an 8-series wine dinner – yet another serious win for Highlands’ dining. A casual, lively spot teeming with dishes that are a testimony to some of pub fare’s greatest hits, the menu at 4118 changes six times a year to highlight what’s local and seasonal in the marketplace. Dishes reflect a cooking style that Bresnahan describes as “progressive American” – “focused on Southern tradition with modern techniques.” It’s a cooking philosophy he developed early on, when at age 13 he went looking for a job in the hopes of earning enough money to buy a CD. After landing a dishwashing gig at a local Holiday,

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Florida, deli, he was offered a chance to learn how to cook when the sauté cook called in sick. And that’s when he figured out that what he wanted to do was cook. That passion led him to enroll at culinary school at Johnson & Wales. After graduating, he worked at notable restaurants in Chicago and Wyoming before finally settling in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. There he teamed up with the St. Thomas Restaurant Group, where he was Executive Chef at three of their restaurants. Bresnahan began offering themed dinners soon after his arrival at 4118 in 2018. Since then, the word has spread in Highlands and beyond that there was some expert cooking happening at the restaurant’s monthly wine dinners.

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The May 21 dinner promises a striking parade of dishes with a selection of wines from around the world, thoughtfully chosen to match and enhance the food. As Bresnahan told me, the menu for May “is just about doing something fun we haven’t done before.” Details below: First Course: Salad of Pickled Beets and their Greens with Breakfast Radish, Local Goat Cheese, Georgia Pecans, and Rocket Lettuce; Wine Match: Stoller Rosé of Pinot Noir, Oregon, and Zundukarai Txakoli Rosé from Spain;

Baby Carrots, Peas, and Mint; Wine Match: Ciacci Piccolimini ATEO Cabernet/Merlot from Italy and Ty Caton Cabernet Sauvignon from California; Fifth Course: Pecan Pie, Caramelized Milk Chocolate, and Buttermilk Sherbet; Wine Match: Joseph Cattin Cremant Sauvage from France. Cost of the wine dinner is $165 per person. Limited to 30 people, the dinners frequently sell out. by Marlene Osteen

Second Course: Foie Gras Terrine; Wine Match: Nortico Alvarinho from Portugal Third Course: Slow Poached Duck Egg with Asparagus, Purple Potato, and Ramps; Wine Match: Hakutsuru Ukiyo-e Daiginjo Sake from Japan; Fourth Course: Roasted Rack of Lamb with Potato Mille-euille,

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Gift of Wine

for Mom

Celebrate the magic of Mom with a generous glass of a vintage uncorked with love.

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auses for celebration in the month of May abound. And I can think of none better than Mother’s Day – the day to honor parenthood, an occasion worthy of commemoration. There are, of course, other holidays during the month. For instance, there’s Dance Like a Chicken Day – that happens on May 14. I guess one could combine the two and cluck around the dance floor. Far better would be a gift of wine. So, along with the roses, please bring me -- not a vision of my daughters doing a poultry jig – but a bottle of wine! Is it corny to suggest a Rosé with those roses? I think not. For who doesn’t love the sight and smell and delicious tickle of a Rosé Champagne as it slides deliciously down your throat. My long time and all-time favorite – an admitted indulgence is the Billecart-Salmon – an elegant taste of red berries and plums with notes of dried flowers and peach.

And a still (non-sparkling) Rosé can always capture my heart – a wine of so many pleasures, especially if it’s from Provence, France, where they take their Rosé seriously. Bring me either the Domaine Tempier from the seaside town, Bandol, or the Clos Sainte Magdeleine from the tiny hamlet of Cassis and I promise to be yours forever. Frequently described as “the greatest Rosé of all time,” the Domaine Tempier, a unique blend of complexity and freshness, hits all the right notes with flavors of tangerine and melon. But you need not indulge in a big splash to show your love. There are stunning and moderately priced wines that prove that exquisite wines don’t have to be expensive. One white wine to consider is the succulent and juicy Torbreck Semillon from Australia’s Barossa Valley that has generous ripe melon flavors.

Notable reds include three from France. First, the St. Cosme Cotes du Rhone, solidly built with crushed cherry and plum notes, it’s bold, yet balanced. On the other hand, any enthusiast is likely to enjoy a gift for the bookshelf - perhaps Edward Slingerland’s Drunk, How We Sipped, Danced and Stumbled Our Way To Civilization. In this delightful and refreshing romp through the annals of drink, Slingerland takes up the cause that “alcohol remains a handy, low-tech tool to get good will and fresh ideas flowing.” Writing that “hunter-gatherers produced wine and beer before bread,” he informs that “it is no accident that, in the brutal competition of cultural groups from which civilizations emerged, it is the drinkers, smokers and trippers who emerged triumphant,” and concludes that “Human society would not exist without ample lubrication.” by Marlene Osteen

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Lowcountry

Shrimp Boil

The Lowcountr y Shrimp Boil will be staged at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Saturday, July 9. For sponsorship information and donations, or to purchase tickets visit foundersparkhighlands.org.

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ou’re in luck! One of Highlands’ liveliest and most anticipated food events is back. The annual Lowcountry Shrimp Boil, hosted by Friends of Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park will return to the park on Saturday, July 9. This is welcome news after two years of disruption – in 2020 the event was canceled and in 2021 the boil only offered for take-out.

park, and to upgrade the park’s shrubs and flower beds. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event go in support of this mission.

its purpose, quality, and value we sell out every year.” Tickets, which are limited to 325, cost $65 and includes dinner and two adult drinks per person.

Launched in 2016 as a fundraiser for the park, the event is also used as a “friend raiser” to promote Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park awareness and act as a thank you to patrons and past donors. Though the park welcomes and accepts donations year-round, the “Boil” is the park’s only fundraiser.

Consisting of sweet corn on the cob, smoked sausage, zesty shrimp, and creamy potatoes simmered together in a spicy broth, this so-called “one pot “is everything you want in a meal. It’s truly communal eating at its best.”

Organizers are also looking for event sponsors to help support their work to “provide enhanced park maintenance, capital improvements, and design guidance – work that is not furnished by the Town of Highlands.”

Dinner will be served under a tent, and as in year’s past, mouthwateringly prepared by former Lakeside Restaurant owner and community-minded citizen Marty Rosenfield. Also on the menu is roast chicken for non-seafood eaters, a selection of fresh vegetables, and a dessert of chocolate pudding. Beer and wine are offered as well.

Hank Ross, President of Friends of Founders Park, said that they hope to raise $15,000 this year to finance projects that include pruning the huge evergreens that surround the park, make repairs to the stone masonry around the

by Marlene Osteen

All of which explains the event’s longstanding popularity. As Ross noted, the “support for the event is beyond expectations, and because of

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DI NI NG thelaurelmagazine.com/cuisine

B Breakfast

Lunch

D Dinner

SB Sunday Brunch

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS 4th Street Market - (828) 526-4191 Asia House - (828) 787-1680 Bella’s Junction Cafe - (828) 526-0803 Black Bear Restaurant - (828) 482-7020 The Blue Bike Cafe - (828) 526-9922 Bridge at Mill Creek (828) 526-5500 Bryson’s Deli - (828) 526-3775 The Cake Bar - (828) 421-2042 Dusty’s - (828) 526-2762 El Azteca - (828) 526-2244 Highlander Mountain House - (828) 526-2590 Highlands Burritos - (828) 526-9313 Highlands Deli/SweeTreats - (828) 526-9632 Los Vaqueros Mexican Restaurant - (828) 482-7040

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Take Out

Ad On Page

Outdoor Dining

Live Entertainment

Dress Code

113 122 119 108

Meals *

Reservations Recommended

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Full Bar

109 5 108 119 15 115 107 116 53 109 113 102 114 107 119 5

Wine

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The Restaurants of the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS The 4118 Kitchen + Bar 64 Highlands Plaza (828) 526-5002 The Bistro at Wolfgang’s 460 Main Street (828) 526-3807 Calder’s Cafe 384 Main Street (828) 200-9308 The Dancing Bear at The High Dive 476 Carolina Way Fire + Water Restaurant Reservations Required (828) 526-4446 Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar 465 Main Street (828) 787-2990 Fressers Courtyard Cafe Village Square, 470 Oak Street (828) 526-4188 Highlands Smokehouse 595 Franklin Road (828) 526-3554 Hummingbird Lounge 455 Main Street Highlands, NC (828) 787-2525 * The Kitchen CarryAway & Catering 350 S. Fifth Street (828) 526-2110 Lakeside Restaurant Smallwood Avenue (828) 526-9419 Oak Steakhouse at Skyline Lodge 470 Skyline Lodge Rd (828) 482-4720 On the Verandah Highway 64 (Franklin Road) (828) 526-2338 Paoletti’s 440 Main Street (828) 526-4906 The Ugly Dog Pub 298 South 4th Street (828) 526-8364 Wolfgang’s Restaurant 460 Main Street (828) 526-3807 CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS The Orchard Highway 107 South (828) 743-7614 Town & Country General Store Deli 14 Raggedy Lane (828) 547-1300 The Ugly Dog Pub 25 Frank Allen Road (828) 743-3000 Zookeeper 45 Slabtown Road (828) 743-7711 SAPPHIRE/TOXAWAY AREA RESTAURANTS Canyon Kitchen 150 Lonesome Valley Road, Sapphire, NC (828) 743-7967 The Fix Bar & Lounge 3093 Hwy 64 East, Sapphire (828) 743-7477 Grand Olde Station 502 Blue Ridge Road. Lake Toxaway (828) 966-4242 Greystone Inn 220 Greystone Lane, Lake Toxaway (828) 966-4700 Panthertown Cafe 16614 Rosman Hwy, Lake Toxaway (828) 862-3663

Vegetarian Selections

Plateau Dining Guide

Children’s Menu

To see the most up-to-date information about dining on the plateau visit thelaurelmagazine.com/restaurants

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Takeout Only

Madison’s Restaurant - (828) 787-2525 Midpoint (828) 526-2277 Mountain Fresh - (828) 526-2400 Rosewood Market - (828) 526-0383 Ruffed Grouse (828) 526-2590 Subway - (828) 526-1706 Tug’s Proper - (828) 526-3555 Wild Thyme Gourmet - (828) 526-4035 CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS Buck’s Coffee Cafe - (828) 743-9997 Cashiers Farmers Market (828) 743-4334 Cashiers Valley Smokehouse - (828) 547-2096 Chile Loco - (828) 743-1160 Cornucopia Restaurant - (828) 743-3750

Dress Code: C Casual

NC Nice Casual

J Jacket

El Manzanillo - (828) 743-5522 The Falls Cafe and Grill - 828-877-3322 JJ’s Eatery and Canteen - (828) 743-7778 The Library Kitchen and Bar - (828) 743-5512 Mica’s Restaurant - (828) 743-5740 Mountain Cafe - (828) 577-0469 Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company - (828) 743-0220 Slab Town Pizza -(828) 743-0020 Slopeside Tavern - (828) 743-8655 Subway - (828) 743-1300 Table 64 - (828) 743-4135 Villa Amato (828) 885-7700 Wendy’s - (828) 743-7777 Whiteside Brewing Company - (828) 743-6000 Winslow’s Hideaway - (828) 743-2226

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Pet Policy

Banquet Facilities Wireless Internet

Cable/Satellite TV

In Room Microwave/Fridge

Exercise Facility

Accommodations on the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

Whirlpool Rooms

On Site Restaurant

Plateau Lodging

On Site Bar/Lounge Pool

thelaurelmagazine.com/lodging

HOTELS / MOTELS / BED & BREAKFASTS 19386 Rosman Hwy | Sapphireblackbearlodgeofsapphire.c1om | (828) 553-6535 n n n n 151

Black Bear Lodge of Sapphire

1600 Golden Road | Lake Toxaway, NC

earthshinenc.com | (828) 862-4207 n n

Fire Mountain

700 Happy Hill Rd | Scaly Mountain

firemt.com | (800) 775-4446 n n

Greystone Inn

220 Greystone Ln | Lake Toxaway

thegreystoneinn.com | (828) 966-4700 n n

Earthshine Lodge

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445 Main St | Highlands

oldedwardsinn.com | (866) 526-8008 n n n n n n n n n 53

470 Skyline Lodge Rd | Highlands

skyline-lodge.com | (828) 526-4008 n n n n n n 102

Old Edwards Inn and Spa Skyline Lodge

n n n 148

VACATION RENTALS The Vineyard at 37 High Holly 37 High Holly Road | Scaly Mountain thevineyardat37highholly.com | (828) 505-6190 n n n n n 158 VACATION RENTAL AGENCIES Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals

488 Main Street | Highlands meadowsmountainrealty.com | (828) 526-1717

121

401 N 5th St | Highlands

highlandsiscalling.com | (828) 526-3717

Landmark Vacation Rentals

17 US Hwy 64 E | Cashiers

landmarkvacations.com | (877) 926-1780

187

Rent in Highlands - CCP

507 Main Street | Highlands

rentinhighlands.com | (800) 684-2171 x 302

341 Hwy 64 W, Ste 102 | Cashiers

ncliving.com | (828) 743-1999

216

Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals

Silver Creek Vacation Rentals

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 Hotel A Cashiers Experience - (828) 761-6289 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

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The Chateau - (561) 613-1496 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 The Lodge at Old Edwards - (828) 787-2560 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 The Wells Hotel - (828) 482-7736 Whiteside Cove Cottages - (828) 526-2222

SAPPHIRE, NC Black Bear Lodge of Sapphire - (828) 553-6535 Club Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-3441 Foxhunt At Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-7667 Hampton Inn & Suites Cashiers-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 Greystone Inn - (828) 966-4700 Lake Toxaway Realty Company - (828) 508-9141

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SHOPPING Pages 126-135

photo by Susan Renfro

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SURROUNDED BY DIAMONDS You’ll love the deep indigo color of this carved melon shaped lapis ring set in 14kt yellow gold and surrounded by 8 white diamonds. Carved Lapis Diamond Accented 14k Ring $ 995 Mirror Lake Antiques | Highlands

BLUEBIRDS OF HAPPINESS Keep those Bluebirds coming back all season with this collection of bird necessities.

Pl at e a u s Pi c k

VERSATILE BEAUTY Handcrafted in beautiful soft leather, this beach-colored delight is not only spacious, but versatile - use it as a handbag, or throw it over your shoulder. Able Leather Purse | $148 Allison Diane Clothing | Highlands

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a fe w o f o u r fav o r it e fi n d s

HIGH FLYING FUN Hand sculpted from Georgia artists Jaclyn and Jeremy Sloan, this whimsical aviator face jug will put a smile on everyone’s face. Aviator Face Jug | $175 Jeanie Edwards Fine Art | Highlands

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EARTH LOVIN’ TOTE BOX UP THE CELEBRATION There are many ways to say congratulations, but some are better than others. Just add in a nice bottle of bubbly to complete a celebratory gift that is sure to stand out.

Crafted from colorful recycled leather, this tote is spacious enough to carry all your day at the lake needs. David Jeffery Woven Tote | $ 95 Bags on Main | Highlands

Wood Champagne Box with Flutes | $ 52.99 Town and Country General Store | Cashiers

FOR YOUR QUEEN BEE

STATEMENT BLING

This Mother’s Day give the ultimate sweet gift! The set contains two 4.5” 100% beeswax, hand-rolled candles and an 8oz bottle of Killer Bees Summer Sweet Wildflower mountain honey. Order at killerbeeshoney.com.

This Dichroic Glass Jewelry collection is simply stunning! Handcrafted in Mexico by single mothers that have discovered their artistic passion in jewelry. They begin by hand making the silver bessel, then fill them with crystals, glass and stones - one by one. Make a statement, help a life.

Mother’s Day Honey and Candle Gift Set | $28. 85 Killer Bees Honey | Lake Toxaway

Necklace $ 89 | Bracelet $107 | Ring $ 45 | Earrings $32 The Look | Cashiers

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Gifts That Spark

Joy Fred Lenz and Snickers.

Lenz Gifts & Home Accessories has brought European comfor t and luxur y to the Plateau for 15 years. See for yourself – visit the galler y at 1473 US 64 West.

n 2007, Amsterdam native Fred Lenz and his wife Debby left their long-time residence in San Antonio, Texas, and set down roots on the Plateau.

That year they opened their eponymous store, Lenz Gifts on Highway 64, just outside Cashiers Perhaps the best way to describe the contents of the Lenz’ store is that it is a collection of things that spark joy. Certainly, Lenz has an eye for beauty, and the store’s merchandise – all of which is European made – is carefully selected to enhance and

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embrace a gracious lifestyle. Lenz found his niche in products for the bedroom and is well known to discerning buyers for the linens he stocks from Sferra and Yves Dolorme – luxury brands that offer the twin promise of beauty and sleep. Even mattresses can be found within the walls of the store – two years ago they started selling Sferra bedding in pillow-top and non-pillow top. They pride themselves, as well, on an array of fine nightwear - silks from Natori, Swiss cottons from Hanro, and fine cottons from Eberje.

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The store’s merchandise includes barware, vases, and Mountains,” the shop boasts a roster of clients interested in figurines from around the world with a focus on beautiful sourcing something special. In all, the beautifully edited selecmaterials and forms that are refined tion is the result of Lenz’s keen eye, an …Little Saks Fifth Avenue and tasteful. Ever alert to the intense thoughtfulness and regular trips sensibilities and tastes of his customto gift shows in Europe. in the Mountains… ers, Lenz has an impressive selection Lenz Gifts is open Monday-Saturday of hand-crafted, high-quality candles and daily during the summer. 1473 in intriguing scents from Belgian Highway 64 West – eight miles from manufacturer Onno. And he’s stocked Highlands and two miles from Cashiers. For more information, the shelves with luxury soaps, shampoos, hand lotions, and eau contact the store at (828) 743-5900 or Fred at (828) 380-0473. de toilette from France’s Roger & Galet and British fragrance maker Molton Brown. Frequently referred to as a “Little Saks Fifth Avenue in the

by Marlene Osteen

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Artfully Curated

at Acorns

Acorns has unveiled a season’s wor th of exclusive home accessories and designer creations, culminating in the June 3-5 Elizabeth Locke Jewelr y Trunk Show. Visit the store at 212 South Four th Street in Highlands or go to acornshighlandsnc.com.

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ecause March is cold and grey and April rainy, by May we are all in need of a lift. Clearly, it’s time for a refresh. Redecorating seems tempting now.

And they are known for collaborating with artisans and craftspeople for a distinct perspective that is wholly their own. Now, Acorns is showing some pieces made specifically for the shop.

Acorns, the artfully curated home décor and furnishings store of Old Edwards has long been the spot for discerning shoppers seeking interesting finds to layer into their space. For more than 15 years, the store has assembled all sorts of decorative and one-of-a-kind items for the home.

Working with members of the Acorns’ team, the artisan Gibson Candle Company created a signature Highlands collection inspired by the scents and ambience of the town. Certain to be chosen by hostesses to provide a soft glow on a dinner table, and a cheerful touch to any party, the delicious aromas of the candles are evocative of those of the Plateau.

The cognoscenti, savvy Highlanders, know it is the go-to place to discover new accessories and furnishings to brighten their homes or discover that perfect, unique gift. Here the shelves are stocked with a selection of glassware, cheerful throw pillows, tabletop items, and luxurious linens, as well as select works from a roster of artists highlighting the region’s wealth of local artistic talent.

Another small vendor, Town Pride has created a lineup of customized gifts for the store. Included are personalized notepads and gleaming, stemless wine glasses in a timeless rounded shape, ideal for every variety of wine. Also, in store from Town Pride is delightful new apparel – from crewnecks to baby onesies.

Well worth seeking out are upcoming trunk shows at Acorns – a first chance to see the season’s new collections. From June 3–5 a representative of jewelry designer Elizabeth Locke will be in store to welcome customers and showcase the designer’s extraordinary works. Widely acclaimed for her hand-made, neoclassical 19K jewelry, Locke hand-selects every stone and designs each piece herself. Her passion for antique jewelry was fueled by a 1988 trip to Bangkok while working as a Fashion Editor for Town & Country Magazine. That trip led to a degree in gemology and a lifetime career. In addition to her flagship stores in Manhattan and Virginia, Locke’s creations are sold at exclusive and select boutiques in the US. More trunk shows are in the planning. Details can be found at acornshighlandsnc.com. by Marlene Osteen

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Find Your

Inner Cook

The Cashiers Kitchen Company, located at 41 Commons Drive, offers a kaleidoscopic collection of tools and gadgets and prepared foods for chefs, amateur culinar y wizards, and those who love them (and the fruits of their passion).

David Bryson and Marian Duncan

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ave you ever walked into a business and thought to yourself “Oh no, I’m in trouble, I’ll be looking around here all day and buy far more than I intended?” The Cashiers Kitchen Company at 41 Commons Drive in Cashiers is such a place. One of the kitchen towels you’ll see when you walk in the front door says “There’s No Wi-Fi in the Mountains But You’ll Find a Better Connection.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. You’ll make a connection to your inner cook here. This store is for chefs, casual cooks, aspiring cooks, and those who simply want to set a beautiful table while others do the cooking for them. Shoppers will find their every kitchen wish fulfilled here. If it’s quality cookware you’re in the market for, you will find brands such as Lodge, Le Creuset, Frieling, and Nordic Ware, among others.

For that perfect table setting, you Who doesn’t love the ease of finding can choose from Pacific Merchants great, prepared products that allow you serveware, colorful and durable Le to spend less time in the kitchen and Cadeaux melamine products, Casafina more time with your guests? dinnerware, and the classic Spode There’s also a great selection of small Woodland dinnerware. You’ll also find kitchen appliances, linens, silverware, glassware and barware, knives, and from the very elegant Greenleaf diffusers, …every conceivable kitchen and collectible Riedel to room sprays, gadget you can imagine… everyday items. and sachets. There’s every conceivable kitchen gadget you can imagine – walls and walls of items to help you make short order of your kitchen duties. Their barware section has everything you need for a well-stocked bar including mixers and goodies. Find what you need here and let the summer entertaining season begin. Don’t miss their selection of private label gourmet mixes, sauces, jams, jellies, pickles, barbecue sauces, and cocktail mixers.

For the grill master they have an outdoor room dedicated to all things Barbecue – Traeger grills and smokers, and Ooni pizza ovens, as well as all the tools and accessories you’ll need to make your backyard cookout an affair to remember. by Mary Jane McCall

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Gracewear Boutique

Gracewear Boutique at 82 Village Walk in Cashiers is a timeless celebration of Faith and Devotion and the enduring power of Love.

racewear Boutique at 82 Village Walk in Cashiers is a unique boutique that offers us all a chance to step inside their peaceful, healing walls and shop for their signature Shield of Faith jewelry line; inspirational devotions and books; carefully curated clothing; abstract art; baby gifts; journals; and accessories such as key chains, purses, hats, belts, bracelets, earrings, and charms.

Their Shield of Faith jewelry collection forms the cornerstone of their business but they offer so much more. A carefully curated line of women’s clothing includes such brands as Bella Tu, Dizzie Lizzie, Emily McCarthy, Trina Turk, and more.

Wendy Strong Lupas

Sisters, Wendy Strong Lupas and Mary Strong Blackburn, created their company to empower women with the powerful message of hope, love, and protection through their Signature Shield of Faith Jewelry collection. The Shield of Faith is based upon Ephesians 6:10-18 and encourages women to put on the full armor of God to face their everyday life.

Their ever-expanding art collection includes works from artists such as Heidi Kirschner; L. Roskin; Mary George, whose Angels of Protection works are ever popular; Mary Tooker, Nancy Race, Stacy Howell, and Wilkerson Works. New this year is a front porch shopping experience that you won’t want to miss, so stop by Gracewear, relax on their porch, and refresh your spirit while shopping for items that provide you with daily affirmations of hope and love.

Peak Experience

Peak Experience is a wonder fully-sensual bazaar f illed with surprises and wonderments. They are located at 2820 Dillard Road, just outside of Highlands.

eak Experience at 2820 Dillard Road is well worth your trip off the beaten path. This unique boutique offers three floors of treasures and one-of-a kind finds. Stop in once and you’ll find yourself coming back again and again.

Matthew and Victoria Ingate

If you’re in the market for high-end estate jewelry with precious and semi-precious gems, set in platinum, 18K, or 14K gold, you’ll find a great selection here. They also carry handcrafted pieces from their featured designer, Suzy Landa, whose unique designs and colorful pieces are customer favorites. Her stunning pieces are crafted of 18K gold with high-quality gems and are designed to be worn and cherished. Plan ahead to visit her trunk show on July 22-24. In

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addition, you can find lots of casual jewelry here, much of it made by artisans in the USA. Their selection of handmade pottery, from local artists and potters across the country, is the largest in the area, offering both functional and decorative pieces. Elevate your morning cup of joe with these perfect mugs – it’s like a warm, comforting hug on a chilly morning. Don’t miss the colorful SolMate Socks. These purposefully mismatched socks are made in a family-owned mill in North Carolina. They also have a large selection of stunning hand-painted silk tunics, shawls, and scarves, each truly one-of-a-kind works of art that are proudly made in the USA.

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The Bazaar Barn

The Church of the Good Shepherd’s Bazaar Barn enriches the households of its clever customers and the community it ser ves.

argain hunting and weekends go hand in hand on the Plateau, so fuel up with a cup of coffee and let the shopping begin. Finding a one-of-a-kind bargain and giving back to the community at the same time? Yes, please! The place to start in Cashiers is with a trip to The Church of the Good Shepherd’s Bazaar Barn in The Shoppes on the Green at 94 Highway 64 West. Open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M., you never know what treasure you might find here as the inventory rapidly turns over from week to week. Items are truly here today, gone tomorrow, so plan to visit often. You’ll find gently-used home furnishings and accessories here

including sofas, armchairs, tables, chests, florals, rugs, lamps, artwork, and garden decor. New this year is “The Shepherd’s Shed,” which houses linens, kitchen items, baskets, and men’s items including electronics and tools. In 2021 the Church of the Good Shepherd was able to give more than $300,000 back to over 30 non-profits in the area, so their outreach touches all. Barn Manager Skip Ryan, along with Board members Sharon Stricker (Chairman), Laura Lankford, Kathryn Dean, Ruth Russ, and Peter Keck, and 70-plus dedicated volunteers find great joy in making The Barn such a successful vehicle for God’s blessings. For more information or to donate call Skip Ryan at (828) 226-2588.

Elena’s

Elena’s Women’s Golf and Activewear is the endlessly surprising destination for women on-the-go and in-the-know. Find out why at 381 Main Street in Highlands.

adies, if you golf, play tennis or pickle ball, practice yoga, or just love the comfort, style, performance, and durability of quality activewear, Elena’s Women’s Golf and Activewear in Highlands at 381 Main Street, is your little slice of heaven. This unique specialty shop has grown by leaps and bounds since opening in 2016. Ladies in-the-know eschew shopping in larger cities or buying from mass online retailers and head straight for this boutique that caters strictly to them. Great brands, great prices, and friendly personal service are the cornerstones of this business. Owner Elena Wood is always on hand to help with your selections or answer any questions you might have.

Elena’s features golf, tennis, and active attire in every imaginable form including skirts, skorts, dresses, shorts, capris, and polo shirts which are, of course, right on trend and stylish, but also offer the performance features that athletes need. Moisture wicking, sun protections, and wrinkle resistance are the hallmarks of quality, and Elena’s inventory has you covered, Elena Wood comfortable, and protected. Name brands such as Ikbul offer the latest technology in fabrics that keep you cool with their icefil technology, offer UPF 50+sun protections, and moisture wicking and antimicrobial properties to keep you fresh. Elena’s also offers accessories for the sports enthusiast so check out their fun and functional selection of golf and sport shoes, socks, golf gloves, luggage, and gift items.

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SPRING VILLAGE

VILLAGE PARK

OAK STREET

CAROLINA VILLAGE

400. Jannie Bean Fine Custom Jewelry 406. Brookings 601. Highlands Playhouse

613. Cleaveland Realty 615. Shakespeare & Co. 617. Fressers Courtyard Cafe 709. High Dive 709. Truckin’ at the High Dive 711. Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals

NORTH END

801. Green Mountain Builders 814. Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center 814. Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music Festival

OUT NC 106

➡ Peak Experience ➡ Futral Construction ➡ Highlands Outpost ➡ Scaly Mountain Crafters ➡ Highlands Aerial Park ➡ 37 Vineyard at High Holly ➡ Fire + Water ➡ Pat Calderone Gallery

OUT 64 EAST

➡ Black Rock Granite ➡ Berkshire Hathaway Homes Services Meadows Mountain Realty ➡ WHLC ➡ Highlands Lawn & Garden ➡ Skyline Lodge/ Oak Steakhouse ➡ Highlands Rock Yard ➡ Highlands Cashiers Hospital ➡ Futral Construction ➡ Center for Plastic Surgery ➡ Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group ➡ Highlands Dermatology ➡ Roman’s Roofing

For a complete listing please visit our website, thelaurelmagazine.com. Being added to our listing is easy! Simply advertise with The Laurel.

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, s r e i h s Ca arolina C th r o N For a complete listing please visit our website, thelaurelmagazine.com. Being added to our listing is easy! Simply advertise with The Laurel.

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L A K E T O X AWA Y

he Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is easy to spot and impossible to ignore.

Red Feathers

of Toxaway

A local community derives its name and indefatigable spirit from a deep red inhabitant.

As our own William McReynolds notes, “The male cardinal will examine you closely with a cocked eye and lowered shoulder. His distinctive song is a high, crisp tik tik or an extended, rising twik. His clarion call, a staccato outburst amidst silent gray tree trunks, is a broadcast announcement of location and intention. According to Sibley, this call is a “series of high, clear, sharp, mostly slurred whistles woit woit woit chew chew chew chew chew.” The plumage and distinctive song give this year-round Plateau resident a jaunty appearance and the uncanny ability to elevate your mood by approximately 40 percent. And the Cardinal’s lifestyle resonates with all of those who believe in the power of True Love. Here’s William again:

“Cardinals form strong pair bonds and become endearing, enduring, couples. They are often seen together, always him in the lead, both avid tail flippers. They are attentive parents. Some pairs stay together during the winter and mate again in the next spring and summer.” The Cherokee who made this corner of the Southern Appalachians their home recognized the astonishing presence of the cardinal, so bright, so cheerful, and so faithful, and decided that it must be the Daughter of the Sun. That’s why they decided to name one of their settlements after her – “Tatsu hway.” Even today, when you’re hiking through the woods of Toxaway and catch a glimpse of red among the branches and hear an unmistakable series of tweets, or you’re lost in the sunlight shimmering on a lazy Lake Toxaway afternoon, you can’t help but be reminded of this relentlessly cheerful Daughter of the Sun.

L A K E T O X AWA Y

Petit Knows

Lake Toxaway

For Cindy Petit’s Petit Proper ties in Lake Toxaway, there is no substitute for a wise local broker armed with a deep knowledge of the possibilities. For more information, visit petitproper tieswnc.com or call (828) 553-1023.

Sophia Read and Cindy Petit

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he real estate market is a shifting universe, and professionals like Cindy Petit know how to navigate it effectively. She is the owner and broker-in-charge of the Lake Toxaway office of Petit Properties. An additional office in Brevard is managed by Jake Raines, broker-in-charge. All total, there are six agents serving all of Western North Carolina. “The staff is all native to Western North Carolina,” said Petit. “We were all born and raised in the area, so we know the area well and we take pride in that.” Brokers include Sophia Reed, Christy Voso, Candace Reese, and Hunter Reese. Petit Properties, which handles both commercial and residential sales, but no rentals, was founded in 2016 by Petit after she worked for other agencies. She said the move to open her own business “has been awesome,” adding, “Every year since 2016 we’ve doubled or

tripled sales.” Petit is adamant about stressing the “we” of the Petit Properties team, explaining that the staff works together to help sellers and buyers navigate the everchanging landscape of the realty world. For example, since the market has of late been a seller’s market, a main tip offered to buyers is that they either need to have cash readily available or already be preapproved with a local lender. “When we hand a buyer over to a local lender, the buyer can be pre-qualified in 24 hours. If time is wasted, the property is gone.”

of additional time in their homes, 30-60 days, after they close – “so they can have cash in their hands to buy something else.” She continued, “Sellers are not going to take a house on a contingency right now. And that’s the case for all properties from $200,000 to $4 million.” For more information, visit petitpropertieswnc.com or call (828) 553-1023. by Deena Bouknight

Petit noted that more properties are coming on the market. “But who knows what the market will do. While the inventory is picking up, interest rates are increasing so we don’t know how that will affect things this spring and summer.” One dilemma that her staff has been assisting sellers with is negotiation

Scan to learn more.

L A K E T O X AWA Y

The Root

of the Matter

At Root 64 Fresh Market, located at 17750 Rosman Highway in Sapphire, the emphasis is on seasonal fruits and vegetables and healthy kitchen choices, all ser ved up in the friendly ambience that’s the hallmark of Sapphire life.

Briony Le Roi-Crowe

L A K E T O X AWA Y

riony Le Roi-Crowe has embarked on a new and exciting venture.

In April, she opened Root 64 Fresh Market next to the post office at Sapphire (that’s 17750 Rosman Highway for those of you not familiar with the area). “This is brand new for me,” said Le RoiCrowe, who “loves to cook and use fresh and local food as much as possible.” She added, “I managed retail businesses, and also a Publix for six years, so I gained experience in that realm. But because I’m so food conscious, I began to realize there are many things people grow and make, and they need an outlet to showcase and sell goods – besides at just the weekend markets.” She oversaw the renovation of a 2,500-square-foot building that includes a 12x16-foot walk-in cooler. On multiple “dry” shelves is offered everything

from unique spice blends to handmade charcuterie boards, and inside the walk-in cooler are colorful, seasonal vegetables and fruit on display. “The produce will be constantly rotating based on seasonal selection,” said Le Roi-Crowe, “and we will sometimes have distinct items, such as blue potatoes.” Every item, including soaps, pickles, honey, meats, and more, will feature informational cards. For example, the “impressive” raw honey selection is from the Lake Lure area as well as from South Carolina. “Each jar of honey includes the honeycomb, which is very medicinal,” said Le Roi-Crowe. All total, around 500 products from approximately 100 entities are showcased, including some fresh seafood from the Carolina and Georgia coasts. “We even have some apothecary items, such as natural toothpastes and deodor-

ants, and we have home-baked dog treats,” she said. Even though Root 64 just opened, it’s already experiencing support from the general public and has piqued the interest of a few chefs and restaurant owners. “It’s been amazing to see all the foot traffic, to take recommendations, and to hear encouragements,” she added. Le Roi-Crowe plans to post regularly on the Root 64 Fresh Market Facebook and Instagram sites to inform the public as to the availability of items and to showcase new products and suppliers. by Deena Bouknight

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L A K E T O X AWA Y

Lake Toxaway’s

Treasures

Bear Tracks Travel Center is the gateway to a vast arena of adventure and natural beauty. It’s open seven days a week and located at 10932 Rosman Hwy, Lake Toxaway. For more information, call (828) 862-8992.

Pam and Ron Banther

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he Lake Toxaway area has always been a destination for people living on or visiting the Plateau.

Offering a little bit of a lot of different options is Bear Tracks Travel Center. It’s been dubbed an “introduction” to the area in that the locally-owned business provides everything from lazy river tubing trips and gem mining opportunities to local arts and crafts and groceries to outdoor gear, t-shirts, and souvenirs. Fashioned after true historic general stores, Bear Tracks Travel Center supplies just about anything anyone would need to make permanent living or vacationing practical and enjoyable. In 2000, Brevard natives Pam and Ron Banther purchased an existing convenience store and gave it the name Lake Toxaway Trading Post. In 2003, Pam’s brother, John Parker, joined their expanding venture. Together they built an outdoor store, Bear Tracks Trading Company – with the two stores eventu-

ally forming Bear Tracks Travel Center.

other gems, according to the owners.

Patrons can purchase clothing, gifts, “It’s exciting discovering gems in a wide fuel, groceries, tobacco, beer, lottery variety of beautiful colors, each with tickets, fishing and hunting supplies, and their own unique characteristics,” said more. Also for sale are locally-sourcedBanther. “Miners are able to take home a or-made jams, bag of treasures …a chance to drift lazily jellies, honey, that will help and pottery. them create their down the river… Plus, guns and own special ammunition are memories from for sale. the mountains.” Perhaps the biggest allure at Bear Tracks is the Adventure Center, which is popular with water enthusiasts. “A three-mile tubing adventure is a chance to drift lazily down the river while taking in the idyllic sights and sounds of nature,” said Parker. Another big draw is the gem mine. Participants, “miners,” have found citrine, amethyst, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, aquamarine, quartz, tourmaline, moonstone, unakite, pyrite, and many

Parker added, “If you live in the area, are passing through, or are on vacation, we truly do have something for everyone.” by Deena Bouknight photo by Susan Renfro

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L A K E T O X AWA Y

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H ISTORY

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HISTORY Pages 156-165

photo by Susan Renfro

H ISTORY

Marjorie Christiansen and Janet Cummings

The Joys

of Publishing

We explored distant horizons, but it turns out that Dorothy Gale was right all along.

y Business Partner and Eternal Sister Marjorie Christiansen and I have been sharing a few words within these recent issues to explain just how much we’ve enjoyed our 20 years of publishing. No, “enjoyed” just isn’t a strong enough word. Love is the only way to describe the passion that’s animated every day we’ve spent on this adventure. I can’t think of another emotion that could drive two rational women to such extremes – layout days that stretch out into layout nights before morphing into layout mornings; begging, wheedling, and cajoling people into letting us tell their story in our pages; and, of course, putting every cent we owned into this crazy notion. Love is the reason we got involved in this in the first place. We fell in love with these little communities and the people who breathe life into them, and the wild places that still manage to astonish us with their pristine beauty and their moments of pure wonder. It’s a deep love that’s never diminished, that continues to illuminate our days and color our dreams when we finally fall asleep. But like characters in a Jane Austin novel, that same love led

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us astray and delivered a series of complications that would test our fealty to our Dream. Perhaps in your travels you’ve noticed copies of The Laurel of Northeast Georgia or The Laurel of Asheville in racks across this final spur of the Southern Appalachians. Perhaps your initial thought was, “Hey, I wonder if that’s the same people behind The Laurel of Highlands and Cashiers?” And if you glanced through those magazines and saw that they were focused on local events, and interesting personalities and art, perhaps your second thought was, “Hey, these guys are ripping off Marjorie and Janet!” Well, always go with your first thought. Those other Laurels were indeed us. It all made sense at the time – after several successful years of publishing, we convinced ourselves that we should tell the stories of Rabun County and Asheville (and its surroundings). We understood that both regions were rich in culture and heritage and stories waiting to be told. Sounds easy, right? We just had to adjust our sights for bigger, grander horizons. The stories and advertisers would fill our

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pages and we’d suddenly be Queens of a Publishing Empire. Well, it turns out we weren’t quite ready for Citizen Kane: Mountain Edition. The distance between Highlands and Asheville is 87 miles or an hour-and-a-half of travel, and Marjorie and I were spending vast heaps of daylight shuttling between the two. We quickly grew weary from this crack-of-dawn to waypast-twilight existence, but it took us a while to finally realize the same thing that occurred to Dorothy in the final reel of The Wizard of Oz: “And you’re all here. And I’m never going to leave here ever, ever again, because I love you all.” Finding individuals with similar dreams and dedication, we shared the magic, and sold those publications. They are both successful today in their own right, with their own unique personality and perspective reflecting their communities. And we were home. We truly love you, and we cherish the chance to tell your stories. Our journey has made our tale richer and our love even stronger.

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A New Twist

on History

Highlands Historical Society’s new archivist, Lance Hardin, relishes deep dives into the town’s past.

Lance Hardin

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magine being a college student on a road trip looking for outdoor adventure and stumbling across the perfect small town, the one whose memories lingered, the one that would figure prominently in your future. Such is the story of Highlands Historical Society’s new archivist, Lance Hardin. Lance and his wife, Gwyn, came through Highlands in the 80s and fell in love with the town. Later, as they pursued their careers – Lance as an accountant, Gwyn as a dietitian – they continued to vacation here. Soon, they bought a weekend home and eventually became full-time residents, together with their three children. An accountant by profession, Lance has long been fascinated with the history and culture of Western North Carolina and decided to explore that interest further. He enrolled in Appalachian State University’s Appalachian Studies graduate program to delve deeper into the

area’s rich history. His internship was with Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, documenting the cultural backgrounds of several of the Trust’s historic properties. That deep dive into the area’s cultural background was a natural segue to the position of archivist at HHS, but first he and Gwyn had another bucket list item to check off their list – hiking the Appalachian Trail. Setting off from Georgia in February 2021, they made it 1,200 miles to Massachusetts before an ankle problem forced Lance off the trail. They plan to finish the remainder of the trail in increments. Once back in Highlands, Lance began his duties as archivist and is enjoying the opportunity to learn even more about our history and to share and document that knowledge. Lance reads anything he can find about the area and counts collecting books on our region as a favorite hobby.

In fact, Lance’s love for the area has led to his new position as the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands’ new Welcome Center and Office Coordinator. “We are thrilled to have Lance on our team,” says Kaye McHan, executive director of Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands. “He brings deep, academic knowledge of our region as well as an authentic passion for so many of the attributes that make Highlands special.” Hardin is ready to welcome visitors as well as volunteers who wish to serve the chamber and the Highlands Historical Society. Be sure to follow the HHS Instagram page, which Lance updates often with delightful and informative stories about our history. by Mary Jane McCall photo by Susan Renfro

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Airing of the

Quilts

Cashiers Historical Society and Cashiers Quilters will stage the Airing of the Quilts May 28-30 at the society’s grounds on 107 South. Ever yone is invited to share in the tales woven into each of these most storied of Appalachian heirlooms.

large part of Cashiers Historical Society’s mission is hosting educational events that showcase the heritage of Appalachia and Cashiers.

Airing of the Quilts is a traditional rite of spring in the mountains that “harkens” back to the days when the women would wash their quilts and hang them out to air before storing the clean quilts until the next winter. This year CHS and Cashiers Quilters will share a new event that celebrates the long-ago tradition of Airing of the

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Quilts. The family-friendly event will be Memorial Day weekend, May 28 through 30 on the grounds of the Historical Society (located on Highway 107 South) from 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. each day. CHS is pleased to partner with the Cashiers Quilters, a dedicated group who keep the art of quilting alive by preserving and practicing the time-honored tradition of quilt making. They believe that each quilt tells a story and each quilt “radiates the warmth of the hands that made them.”

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Members of Cashiers Quilters while making 50 Star Quilt to be raffled.

The North Carolina star pattern

The North Carolina quilted star

Cashiers Quilters have made and donated a quilt featuring 50 stars for 50 states for this special occasion, and CHS will be selling raffle tickets so one lucky winner will get to take this piece of living history home with them. As guests tour the grounds, they will have an opportunity to see a wide variety of quilts belonging to local and regional collectors displayed in each of the four historical buildings. In addition, there will be a variety of demonstrations and activities, Appalachian crafts and a children’s zone. CHS invites you to help make this a memorable event by bringing your family and inviting your friends to see the quilts and enjoy the many activities. Admission is free; however, donations are appreciated.

Do you own a quilt that has a story? Would you like to share a favorite or family quilt? Or maybe you would like to volunteer Memorial Day weekend, May 28, 29, or 30? Cashiers Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) organization and always appreciates volunteers. To find out more about this event or CHS contact the office at (828) 743-7710. by Sandi Rogers, Cashiers Historical Society

Scan to learn more.

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Revenge on

the Fly

The late Mike Cavender’s Revenge on the Fly is a twisty tale of family, f ly f ishing, and murder.

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“

I wanted to kill off a number of relatives when I started my first novel that eventually became Revenge on the Fly.” – Michael Cavender. Actually, there’s more to the plot than that: Fly fishing; a love story; an unsolved death; and, yes, a very unhappy family. All are brought together in Mike Cavender’s atmospheric, Revenge on the Fly. It was published in late 2013, and we were looking forward to his signing here at Shakespeare & Co., but it was not to be: Mike succumbed to cancer in June 2014. Here’s the cover blurb from Serena author Ron Rash: “Revenge on the Fly is a beautiful meditation on the ties that bind us to family and place. Michael Cavender is a gifted writer, an exciting new voice in North Carolina literature.”

Briefly, the story centers on freelance writer/fishing guide Ben Phelps as he returns to “Kelsey,” in the North Carolina mountains, near the manyacred Phelps family summer retreat “Mossback” where he grew up. But that was decades in the past, before he became estranged from his late parents. Now Watt, Ben’s real-estate developer brother, wants to transform the trout streams and old-growth forest of Mossback into something that pays, instead of sucking up cash. But he needs Ben’s signature to make it happen. Paulette Webb, Mike’s widow, was great to speak to me on the telephone recently and refresh my memory. She and Mike owned the Mill Creek Store (now the site of Highlands Properties) selling men’s and women’s clothes for many years, as well as offering fly-fishing guidance and instruction. Mike was executive director of the Highlands-Cashiers Land

Trust, 2000-2006, and also served on the Highlands Town board. Like his character Ben, Mike’s family had an estate in Highlands, but unlike the fictional “Mossback” it was downtown and known during their time as “the old Farnsworth place.” Today it’s called Hutchinson House, next to the Hudson Library and is operated by the Old Edwards Inn; as the name indicates, it was originally built in 1878 for Highlands co-founder Clinton Hutchinson. Revenge on the Fly is out of print, but we have a couple of fairly priced copies here at the store, or you can read it on your Kindle from you know where. by Stuart Ferguson, Local Historian, Co-Owner Shakespeare & Company photo by Susan Renfro

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Writer’s Imprint

on Highlands

Generations of writers and journalists have found respite and renewal on the HighlandsCashiers Plateau.

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he Laurel, looking back at its 20 years of Highlands history, notes that its own writers feel a kinship to the many journalists who have called the Plateau home. During extended visits and summerings of the famous, we’ve benefitted from exchanging the rarefied air they breathed. Among them is Lloyd Wendt, a journalist hired by the Chicago Tribune in 1934 who became its Sunday editor. He covered subjects that are still hot topics in the 21st century like Selma, Alabama, with Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights marches and racism. He was one of the first newsmen to report from behind the Berlin Wall in East Germany, Poland, and Russia – yes, three nations still struggling in their own volatile history-in-the-making. He covered Vietnam and the Six-Day War

between Israel and Egypt. He often interviewed Presidents and people of power and fame. One thing that sets him apart from some of his colleagues is that he treated his subjects with respect – no bullying. Remember newsmen and women who practiced a civil approach to journalism? It would be nice to think it was the refreshing and refurbishing summers in Highlands that contributed to his courtesy. There were also women journalists who chose Highlands’ air for a lungful of summer ahhhh. Sandra Mackey, a Highlands and Atlanta writer, penned books about Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran. Her fresh, personal take on Middle East politics, religion, and history was eye-opening, Her knowledge of the strict culture surrounding a woman’s status in Islamic society contributed to a

climate of understanding and empathy in America for the Arabic culture. It’s a pleasure to imagine that journalists who lived in Highlands and played their part in pioneering and transcribing history, helped mold our local philosophy and ethos. The Laurel is also grateful to the Highlands and Cashiers Historical Societies for their many contributions over the years. To learn more about the writers and journalists who left their impressive imprints on the Plateau, read Ran Shaffner’s Heart of the Blue Ridge. Visit highlandshistory.com or email hhs@ highlandshistory.com. by Donna Rhodes

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LIFESTYLES & WELLNESS Pages 170-182

photo by Susan Renfro

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50 Years of Devotion

Greg and Susan Clarkson

1971

For Greg and Susan Clarkson, a deep and abiding love was kindled by a moment’s glance. reg Clarkson likes to say that it was due to Karma that he met his wife Susan.

For how else could he explain the sudden urge to gaze down from his perch on the top deck of the fraternity house to the floor below? He caught sight of her immediately. Blonde and beautiful, she was definitely his type. It didn’t matter that he was dating four other women and not looking for romance. He had to get her number. Was it a coincidence that their roommates were dating? He didn’t know it then, but she saw him as well – taking in his long-hair and hippy vibe. “He was so different from everyone else there,” she said. It was January 1971 at the University of Georgia – Greg was a junior, Susan a freshman. They had their first date – at Allen’s, a local brew pub. Born on the Jersey shore and growing up in suburban Philadelphia,

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Greg was clearly unlike any other man Susan had known. Susan, who had lived all her life in Walhalla, South Carolina, liked that about him. She liked as well that he was wellmannered and majoring in a Science – Zoology – a study with purpose and a future. Greg recalls that he was smitten from the start. “Susan was the kind of person you want to be around, she has an amazing personality and made me feel comfortable.” They bonded over their commonalities – both from fivechildren families, both from families that drove a Ford Country Squire. They must have seen it as a sign – and so the spark was ignited. By May they were in a committed relationship, and soon thereafter followed the protocols of fraternity – getting “lavaliered” and then “pinned.” By fall they were engaged, and they wed in December 1972. Then, about to be drafted, Greg joined the Navy.

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With Pope John Paul II, 1985

For the next two decades, the couple traveled the globe in Naval service. From Greg’s first base in Key West, there were stations in Eleuthera, Bahamas; Coos Bay, Oregon; Pensacola; Denver; and Whidbey Island, Washington.

taining their individual interests.

A daughter was born in 1976, shortly before what was to be a grueling separation – a three-year deployment on carriers in the Mediterranean. The family was reunited in the assignments that followed – Omaha, Washington DC, Naples, Italy, Virginia Beach, and finally at the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in Tampa. They had another daughter in 1981 and a son in 1985.

They speak of each other with adoration. Greg talks tenderly about Susan – describing her empathy, intelligence, honesty and kindness. Susan speaks to Greg’s role as a “wonderful Daddy and husband” and the beauty he’s able to find in the world through his photography. They retain a memory bank of songs and photos of their lives together, to which they frequently return to reminisce about a trip that a picture may evoke, or a memory triggered on hearing a familiar song.

Greg remained at USSOCOM as a civilian after retiring as a US Naval Intelligence Officer in 1993 – though he transitioned from intelligence work to IT. He got a master’s in computer information systems, and Susan kept a long-term promise to her parents to return to school and get a teaching degree. They retired within months of each other in 2016, moving to Highlands, where years before, Susan’s Grandmother, Helen Wright Wilson had started Helen’s Barn.

As they approach their 50th anniversary, they recognize that marriage is not a casual undertaking, and requires, as Greg likes to say, “a lot of the 3 L’s: love, luck, and the Lord.”

When asked about the highlights of a half-century together they are in unison – reciting the years spent in Italy, trips around the world, and, most of all, raising three children and now having six grandchildren. by Marlene Osteen

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Retiring Early? Know Your Health Care Choices.

ife doesn’t always go as planned. For example, you might think you’ll retire at 65 or later, when you’ll be eligible for Medicare. But if you retire before then, how will you pay for your health care? Without insurance, you risk incurring thousands of dollars of expenses if you are injured or become seriously ill. And if you must pay for these costs out of pocket, you might have to dip into your IRA, 401(k), or other retirement accounts earlier than you had planned – which could result in a less desirable retirement lifestyle than you had envisioned. What, then, are your options? It depends on your situation, but here are four possibilities: Employer retiree health benefits – If your former employer offers health coverage to retirees, it could well be your best choice, especially if the employer continues to pay a share of the premiums. However, fewer employers are

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offering continuing health coverage to former employees, and among those who do, they may use certain criteria – such as length of service and position within the company – to limit eligibility. Spouse’s plan – If you’re married and your spouse still has employer-provided insurance, you may be able to get coverage under this plan or continue this coverage if you have it already. If the employer subsidizes premiums for spouses, this plan could be an affordable choice – if not, though, it might be more expensive than other options. COBRA – The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) allows you to maintain your existing coverage with the same benefits and provider network. However, COBRA is typically only available for a specific time – usually 18 months – after you leave your employer, and coverage can be expensive. Your previous employer subsidized a portion of the premium as

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS a benefit, but once you’ve retired, you’ll likely have to pay the entire premium, plus an additional charge. ACA Marketplace plan – Through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, you can find a variety of plans from which to choose, possibly including ones that include your existing network. If you qualify for subsidies, the premiums for your coverage may be similar to employer- sponsored coverage; if not, though, they can be more expensive. For information on ACA Marketplace plans, visit healthcare.gov. If you have options for health insurance, you’ll want to take into account differences in coverage and cost. Check whether your desired health care providers are in-network and try to determine if your current medications and the benefits you rely on are covered. You may also want to consider a plan that allows you to open a health savings account (HSA), which offers potential

tax benefits. To contribute to an HSA, you must be covered by a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), so there’s that cost to consider, but if you’re in generally good health and you don’t expect to depend heavily on your health insurance until you’re eligible for Medicare, you might want to consider an HDHP. One final note: Even when you do enroll in Medicare, you will still incur expenses for premiums, deductibles, and copays, so you’ll want to budget for these costs in your overall financial strategy.

Todd Holder

In the meantime, explore your health insurance options. The future’s not ours to see – so you’ll want to be prepared for anything. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC

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Shoulder

(non) Motion

With all the stress that modern life places upon your shoulders, you may need a tune-up.

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Dr. Sue Aery

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each up, over, down, under; push, pull, eat, drink; brush your teeth; shake someone else’s hand…your hands make all these moves every day, all thanks to your shoulders! The glenohumeral joint and rotator cuff complex, better known as the shoulder, is the most complex joint in the human body. We tend to take it for granted given the amount of movement that it provides, especially being responsible for moving the hand anywhere we desire. That is, until it doesn’t work so well anymore! We put amazing demands on the “shoulder complex” which is composed of about eight muscles, three joints, and 10 movements! This is all miraculous and is that much more painful when it doesn’t move the way it’s designed. We see patients with many types of shoulder injuries in our offices, including frozen shoulder, rotator cuff syndrome, adhesive capsulitis, bursitis,

arthritis, tendonitis, and many more. They are all very painful and debilitating, mainly because of the shoulder’s importance in how we move and use our hands. One of the most important aspects of shoulder health is to keep it moving in all directions, especially as we age. I can’t stress enough how important it is to stretch in the basic planes of movement on a daily basis. Think of the simple moves of the shoulder – how easy it was when we were younger. My recommendation is to mimic all of these movements every day, as a routine, so that the shoulder continues to serve us well in our later years. This will not only keep you out of major pain, but also keep you functioning and doing the things that you love to do. There is nothing worse than losing shoulder function. It can lead to neck and back pain, headaches, loss of sleep, and experiencing pain every day. Getting the

shoulder back to a healthy state can be a long process. Beyond that, if the dysfunction is not addressed in time, the final solution may be surgery, which can take months of further pain and rehabilitation. There are many alternative and very effective treatments to bring your shoulder back to full function, including chiropractic care, massage therapy, Tissue Regeneration Therapy (TRT), acupuncture, and a combination of all of these. Make sure that you seek a professional sooner than later and take care of the amazing anatomical gift of the shoulder! by Dr. Sue Aery, Aery Chiropractic & Acupuncture

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May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month The dangers of skin cancer shouldn’t be ignored or downplayed. Pay attention, and if you have concerns, make an appointment with Highlands Dermatology – (888) 565-8828.

Michael Schoonover

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n order to fully understand skin cancer and its prevalence in the world today, it would be prudent to look back in history. It all started in the 1920s on the French Riviera when the French designer Coco Chanel got an accidental sunburn while on vacation. When she returned to the fashion scene, Jean Patou capitalized on this new fad by launching the first suntan oil. Ever since this the rise in the popularity of the “health benefits” associated with tanning have been as grossly misleading as the “health benefits” of cigarettes were back in the early- to mid-20th Century. Now we know that tanned skin does not signify healthy skin – but damaged skin. Most people realize that the biggest risk factor for developing skin cancer is sun exposure. UVA and UVB rips through the nucleus of our skin cells, damaging DNA. Skin cells with this damaged DNA proliferate until they form a skin lesion

and we can see the diseased tissue with the naked eye. We then biopsy these lesions and send them off for pathology. We keep track of the amount of skin cancers each year and the statistics are as follows: Every day 8,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer – making it more common than every other cancer combined. There are three main types. The most common type is Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC). There are roughly 3.6 million of these diagnosed every year and they are the least dangerous without any metastatic potential, though they continue to be locally invasive, damaging surrounding tissue. The second most common type is Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) with approximately 1.8 million cases diagnosed every year in the U.S. These have a low potential to spread, making them more dangerous. The least common, and the most serious, is Melanoma

which accounts for 7,650 deaths a year. These skin cancers can present in many different ways. If you have a non-healing wound, rough scaly spot, or a new/ changing mole you need to consider having a skin exam done to screen for skin cancer. Those who have a family history of melanoma or who have a lot of moles need to be screened annually. Know that most forms of skin cancer are easily treated with simple surgical excision as long as they are caught early. The best way to prevent skin cancer is to wear sunscreen and protective clothing. If you have a suspicious lesion on your skin, don’t wait. Come in to your nearest Highlands Dermatology Clinic to have it checked – it could be life saving. To make an appointment, call us at (888) 565-8828. by Michael Schoonover, Highlands Dermatology

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A Change in

Perspective

An upside down perspective can roll back the years and help you resist the ravages of gravity.

Mar y Abranyi is the owner of Cashiers Valley Fusion Yoga & Wellness, Bungalow Boutique, and a Real Estate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway.

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hen was the last time you were upside-down?

My guess is that most people will have a hard time remembering. Being upside down is often associated with childhood, but in adulthood the opportunity tends to occur far less often unless you make a point to do so. If you start to think about it, as children, tumbling around or hanging from the monkey bars is just part of being a kid. Not so when you grow up and find yourself with a lot more responsibility and obligation to contend with. Fortunately, as adults there are still opportunities to turn yourself upside down and these opportunities come with some pretty impressive benefits, too. Going upside down is also known as being inverted – where the head is below the heart instead of above it. Did you know that going upside down on a regular basis has the potential to

reduce stress to the spine that occurs from being in an upright position? Gravity is very good at its job, thankfully, but over time it can cause spinal disks to compress when the body is upright the majority of each day from standing or sitting. It can also cause the muscles supporting the spine to become tight as well as other muscles throughout the body. Joints tend to also feel the effects of gravity, knees in particular, due to the load of the body’s weight. Countering this effect by practicing inversions provides relief to these body parts by reversing the compression and stretching the body. Inverting the body also has the potential to bring a sense of rejuvenation to the body’s largest organ, the skin, in addition to improved circulation and brain function. Some other benefits include possible feelings of exhilaration, increased levels of energy, and broader awareness overall. If you consider the

amount of energy, focus, and balance it takes to fold in half or to turn completely upside down on your own or with the use of a machine, you truly allow the body and brain to work together, all while reaping immense benefits. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to go upside down in Yoga, Pilates, or when using an inversion table. The key to staying safe is to take your time, start slowly, and move incrementally from easier inversions to more advanced over time, if the body is willing and able. Of course, turning upside down is not appropriate for everyone so it is quite important to confirm with your healthcare or wellness provider before taking on something new, especially if you have known medical or physical conditions like glaucoma, bulging discs, or a variety of other ailments. by Mary Abranyi

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Colleagues of the Year Jessica Brooks, RN and Jeffrey Hawkins, EVS

Celebrating our

Healthcare Heroes

ach May, we celebrate National Nurses Month, Nurses Week (May 6-12), and Hospital and Nursing Home Week (May 8-14).

There’s no question that what all healthcare providers have given over the last two years, during the pandemic, is immeasurable. They’ve risked their own health to continue caring for patients who suffered with a disease that was, often, as mystifying as it was frightening. I offer a special debt of gratitude to our extraordinary team of healthcare workers of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center. In addition to recognition events such as Nurses Week and Hospital Week, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital recently paused to celebrate our Colleagues of the Year – individuals within our healthcare facilities who exhibit a passion for excellence. I’m happy to announce our two recipients at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center, Jessica Brooks, RN; and Jeffrey Hawkins, EVS. The winners were selected after receiving numerous submissions from their fellow colleagues about their consistent hard work and dedication. The awards were revealed during a recent celebration and reception at the hospital. Jessica Brooks is an Emergency Department RN who’s worked at Highlands Cashiers Hospital since 2009. Jessica calls Scaly Mountain home and serves our hospital and community with the kind of pride you would expect from a “local.” Jessica is known for her expertise and has advanced certification as a Certified Emergency Nurse and also chairs the Nursing 180 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Governance Council for Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. She has provided leadership to support nursing excellence and implement initiatives to improve the care of our patients and is often recognized for her compassion and caring spirit. Our nurses and doctors are the reason why and Jessica exemplifies our great Emergency Department nurses. We often share with pride the great ratings our ED gets from our patients, which is consistently in the top 5 percent nationally. Jeff Hawkins is an environmental services tech who has worked at the Eckerd Living Center and Highlands Cashiers Hospital since 2016. Jeff is a Macon County resident and is one of the behind-the-scenes people who assures our facility is clean and looking its best. During Covid-19, I think we all came to appreciate the importance of preventing the spread of infection. Our environmental services team is on the front lines of assuring our facilities are free of germs. Jeff is also supportive in ways that are recognized by the team and our patients. He’s a caring man with positive energy and a calming disposition. It is not uncommon to find Jeff taking time to talk with one of our patients or a team member. He is quick to offer a listening ear and kind words when needed. Jeff exemplifies compassion and is one of the driving forces that makes us a great hsopital. I invite the community to join me in celebrating the profound dedication, strength, and compassion that defines our healthcare heroes. They have truly gone, and continue to go, “above and beyond” as never before. by Tom Neal CEO/CNO, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

The Geezer Checklist

raise an eyelid. In the early light I see a flat cat flopped across my spanx at the foot of the bed. There’s a spooge-y film over my eyes giving everything a horror movie glow. I blink. Is that truly my cat, or is it my bed’s trompe l’oeil version of roadkill? My bed is a living thing, a trickster. It uncovers my feet, swallows my pillows, and makes me think Cujo has flattened my cat. The question remains: Are my eyes working? Can I check the vision box on my imaginary it’s-okay-to-get-out-of-bed list? A few seconds pass. Yeah, close enough. Check. I continue. How’s my head? I turn it left, then right: Creak! Snap! Ouch! Yep, sounds normal. Check. Neck. No lumps, bumps, or shoulder humps. Check. Thorax: Lungs. Cough, hack, gurgle. That’ll do. Check. Upper arms. They’re strong enough to support my Bingo Wings? Check. Fingers. Stiff. But will they grasp my purse and steering wheel? Oh, yeah. Thrift store, I’ll be seeing you later. Heart. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Flub-a-dub . . . flub-a-dub? Darn. No more foie gras for me. I’ll give the ticker a definite 182 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

maybe check with my code-yellow marker. Belly. Rumbling. I imagine it on its little belly knees pleading for caffeine and sugar. Nothing abnormal there. Check. Hips. They’re still attached. That’s reassuring. They don’t feel fractured or frozen at some impossible angle. If I squeeze into the spanx later, I can corral all the pelvic bits. If I sprain something in the process, I’ll apply some ice cream. Legs. Calves and thighs seem happy. It’s the darn knees. I feel like the Tin Man begging for a lube job. I’ll go no further with that one. And finally, the Feet. If my feet are still asleep, does that make them coma-toes? Whoa. Wait. Road-kill Cat came to life. She’s going to give me my final test. In cat-speak she says, “When I swat you, will you feel enough pain to get up and feed me?” Pain-receptors. Check. I’m up. by Donna Rhodes illustration by Norma Jean Zahner

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

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SE RV IC E

ACCOMMODATIONS

BEAUTY

CABINETRY

CLEANING

CONSTRUCTION

HOME CARE

HOME DECOR

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SE RV IC E

HOME MONITORING

PICTURE FRAMING

PRINTING

REAL ESTATE

ROOFING

SNAKE REMOVAL

SERVICE

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GIVING BACK Pages 192-201

photo by Susan Renfro

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The One

True Thing In a world awash in bitterness and despair, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society offers a healing balm for troubled hear ts and wounded souls – the One True Thing.

here is so much uncertainty in the world. The daily news chronicles, and sometimes compounds, these troubling times. It’s hard to know which is worse — the stresses of the known, or the anxiety of the unknown. But we know this to be true: no matter what is on tonight’s news or tomorrow’s social media, no matter what happens on the stock market or across the ocean, no matter what happens to affect our jobs, our homes, and even our health, our pets love us. Unconditionally. It’s the One True Thing. It’s not by accident that our print and electronic newsletters are titled PAWsitive News. That’s what we deliver. As a no-kill shelter, the CashiersHighlands Humane Society celebrates life. Unlike that infamous television commercial that has been run for years by one national animal-welfare group, there is nothing that we do that should make anyone feel sad. Nothing. Our shelter pets do not languish behind steel bars and inside cramped cages. Our dogs romp and run all day in acres of outdoor play yards, and our cats and kittens relax and roam in cageless playrooms and sunlit porches in one of the most modern animal welfare facilities in North Carolina. Through our rescue work, humane care, and finding forever homes, we bring people and pets together and build families. And 192 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

through our community outreach programs like low-cost and free spay/neuter, low-cost rabies vaccinations, and a free food pet pantry, we keep people and pets together and protect families. Our Facebook page, with nearly 25,000 followers, is a “happy place.” Many folks tell us it’s the first place they go online, because they know we will start their morning on a good note. But much of the rest of the world is not always filled with good messages, or good messengers. So bring your worries to your canine and feline companions. Pet their soft fur as you share your troubles. Look into their eyes. Whisper in their ears. Hold them in your arms. And they will remind you that unconditional love conquers all. It’s the One True Thing. Established in 1987, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located at 200 Gable Drive in Sapphire, one-and-a-half miles east of the Cashiers Ingles in between Cedar Creek Club and Lonesome Valley on Highway 64 East. Our no-kill shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. For more information, visit us online at chhumanesociety.org or call (828) 743-5752. by David Stroud, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society

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Cashiers

Cares

Cashiers Cares

Board members of Cashiers Cares and representatives of the agencies served

The generous work of Cashiers Cares has reached throughout the community, ensuring vitality for a host of local projects.

he generous work of The board of Cashiers Cares presented more than $80,000 last month to the charities it supports in a ceremony at Church of the Good Shepherd.

After acknowledging that the past two years have been challenging due to Covid restrictions, Board Chairman Pam Kerr and Treasurer Cathy Peacock distributed the proceeds of the successful campaign. Since 2008 when Cashiers Cares launched its mission to support the unmet needs of Cashiers and southern Jackson County, more than $500,000 has been distributed.

stages of life, from children in pre-schools to the elderly served by Hospice. As always, Cashiers Cares operates with almost no overhead so that nearly every dollar raised returns to the communuty. For the past two years, the group has been supported as well by The Trillium Club, which will host for the first time this September a golf tournament to benefit Cashiers Cares. Jerry Hermanson, the director of the Community Care Clinic, expressed appreciation for the gathering, saying it’s always helpful when the charities can talk and discover needs that intersect.

The organizations supported by Cashiers Cares are: AWAKE, Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau, Pisgah Legal Services, the Community Care Clinic, Cashiers Valley Preschool, Hampton Preschool, and Early Learning Center, SAFE, Four Seasons Hospice, Fishes and Loaves, United Christian Ministries of Jackson County, and The Literacy Council.

As Renee Coward, director of AWAKE, noted, the reality of non-profit service is that the dedicated employess are always working hard with little support staff and no time to devote to fundraising.

This year, the monies will go to support such things as the purchase of meat for the food pantry, which has struggled with supply chain issues and inflation; more adult visual screening and glasses for those falling below the poverty level; and an Angel Fund to support hospice patients who cannot afford end-of-life care. The agency supports the community at all

Donations may be made at any time to Cashiers Cares Inc, PO Box 1072, Cashiers, NC 28717.

“It’s always a comfort,” she said, “to know that Cashiers Cares has our back.”

by Luke Osteen

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Rotary Reaches Out

to Ukraine

The Plateau’s Rotar y Clubs are answering the pleas of the people of Ukraine.

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ocal Rotary clubs may typically concentrate efforts close to home, but when needs arise in other states or internationally, local clubs will rally to meet those needs.

effort, stemming from a connection with Rotary clubs in Poland and Hungary, which are in turn helping refugees who arrive in Hungary and those encamped in Western Ukraine.

Bill Kirkman, president-nominee of Highlands Mountaintop Rotary, explained recently that local members have been, “very active in generating support for Ukraine. Clubs are raising funds and are coordinating responses from the community as a whole. It is happening rapidly.”

In fact, all of the 33 clubs in Hungary have joined together to assist the refugees. The President of the BudapestBudavar Club, Adam Mojonos, met with Mountaintop Rotary via Zoom back in March.

HMR put together a Ukraine Action Plan that matches funds so that monies can be distributed to such organizations as Rotary’s Disaster Response Fund, Doctors Without Borders, ShelterBox, and World Central Kitchen, in addition to sending money directly to the Hungarian Rotary clubs.

Mojonos described a typical refugee family’s plight, “bone cold, very hungry, exhausted, and literally shell shocked at what was happening to their country and their lives. The children were listless and sad. They were given warm clothes and warm soup, warm liquids, and sandwiches and offered some days rest with accommodations before traveling on to Vienna.”

Highlands Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Cashiers are also involved in this

Ukrainians have typically been arriving through the border at Hungary and

Poland with one small suitcase, which is packed mainly with basic necessities, such as clothing. Therefore, packages are needed for the refugees that include toiletries, medicine, blankets, mattresses, canned food, and other non-perishable food. “This is a long-term project, and it is expected to be needed for some time to come,” said Kirkman. “We Rotarians are a generous community of people who support others. Gratefully people on the Plateau of Highlands-Cashiers are often very supportive of those in need. We welcome the communities’ support.” Anyone interested in donating can send a check noting “Ukraine” to P.O. Box 372, Highlands, NC 28741. For additional information, contact Robin King Austin at (828) 446-6789 or Bill Kirkman at (404) 219-7498. by Deena Bouknight

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The Miracle Horse

Overcoming a lifetime of setbacks and challenges, Battersea Tracy is celebrating her 19th bir thday battered but indefatigable.

any of you who follow Carpe Diem Farms here in The Laurel and on social media have read about Battersea Tracy.

She’s a magnificent Morgan, born and bred in Virginia, an orphan foal whose mother died giving birth to her. At 18 months of age she joined the herd at CDF. Because she didn’t have a mother to raise her, her birth-farm had inadequate facilities for her, so the elderly owners chose to raise her on the screened-in porch of their home! Every two to four hours she was bottle fed special formula to give her what her mother wasn’t there to provide. She learned to drink out of a pail and began to eat specially-prepared feed to 196 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

continue her growth and development before being turned out in the herd. Her “horse-a-nality,” a term coined by internationally-known horseman Pat Parrelle, is feisty, with a sassy attitude, curious. She may have been an alpha mare, though without her mother she didn’t learn the horse skills critical for that role. Mostly, she has more human characteristics than horse. Tracy is about to celebrate her 19th birthday. We will be sure to make it a very special day! For those new to her story she is a horse who has beat all the odds! In November of 2018 she developed a hoof abscess, an infection that was relentlessly consuming the interior structure

GI V I NG BAC K of her hoof. Dr. Ric Redden, a world-respected equine podiatrist (and my teacher and my friend) came from Versailles, Kentucky, to perform surgery on her hoof, not once, but three times. Each time he said, “No one but you and I would keep this horse alive!” And my reply, every time,“Tracy isn’t giving up, neither am I.” Together with the team at CDF the hoof healed, not before she lost a considerable amount of the interior structure of her hoof. Never did she lose her determination and tenacity. In 2020 she started rolling the fetlock joint on her injured hoof leg whenever she was grazing to relieve the tension on her tendons. The loss of the internal hoof structure was causing other issues. Dr. Jennifer Bailey-Miller (a friend, our veterinarian and a student of Dr. Redden) performed a tenotomy to release the tension, relax the fetlock joint and have her foot on the ground. Another six months of rehab and she returned to grazing with the herd. Fast forward to September of 2021. Jennifer is here for the herd’s annual check-up and Tracy has just started to roll her hoof again. Jennifer tells me that within six months Tracy will need to be put down or she might break her leg from the pressure, the loss of muscle mass she was losing in the shoulder wouldn’t be able to support her. Everything seemed to be against her. Neither of us were ready to give up. Trial and error with PVC pipe, wool felt, cotton and vet wrap tape we have created a bracing system that keeps her on the go! Because of her determination, she’s moving freely around the farm, trotting up and down the hills and at times she is even cantering! A miracle horse for sure. In late August, I will attend Dr. Redden’s advanced equine podiatry course together with veterinarians and farriers from around the globe. Battersea Tracy will be one of the course featured horses. Her story will travel the globe to help other horses have a second, third, and fourth chance at life. by Sue Blair, Carpe Diem Farms

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High Flying

Students

Students at Highlands School are being recognized by the Highlands Rotar y Club for their exemplar y character.

7th grader Katie Fox, First Graders Wren Dalton and Madeline Reyes-Reyes, Senior Frances Ortiz Figueroa and Rotarian George Powell

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nce a month the Rotary Club of Highlands awards three students (elementary, middle, and high school) with a certificate for being a Student of the Month. The award goes to students who embody the best qualities of friendship, teamwork, and mentorship of other students, plus general kindness and encouragement toward others. Excelling in academics or athletics garners students’ attention as well, but the Rotary Club primarily seeks out students with all-round stellar characters. Nicole Lui, Highlands School’s counselor, is responsible for shepherding the process. She gathers recommendations from teachers based on which students best exemplify the determined character qualities. Collectively, they choose three students each month for the award, and have been doing so consistently for more than 10 years.

The Student of the Month ceremony Rotary photographer always takes group takes place on the third Tuesday of shots and these are distributed to parents every month at the noontime Rotary later. Of course, having a little time off Club of Highlands meeting. Students from school and having lunch at the being honored and their parents are Community Building is a big deal, too!” invited to Added Rotarian attend. Lui Jane Jerry, “I can …Student of the Month reads the honestly say the ceremonies are always nominations Student of the a highlight… and hands Month ceremonies out the are always a highCertificates light for Rotary of Commendation. Members. We love hearing about their

In recent months, Rotarian George Powell has added to the celebration by giving each winning student passes to Highlands Aerial Park for zipline adventures.

“Being honored by approximately 50 adults in the context of a Rotary Meeting is an experience they will never forget,” said Lui. “Having their parents attend is an added bonus and lots of cell pictures are snapped. The official

accomplishments and, from the older children, hearing about their plans for the future is always inspiring. Our volunteer projects often benefit Highlands School, so seeing the students in person is the best possible reward for our volunteer work. The students themselves exemplify the Rotary motto: service above self.” by Deena Bouknight

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Gina Cogswelll

Help Raise the

Roof

Keeping The Peggy Crosby Center in good condition is an investment that’ll pay dividends for the entire community for decades to come. For information on how to Raise the Roof, visit peggycrosbycenter.org.

here’s a venerable old roof, figuratively and literally speaking, covering much of Highlands. It’s sheltered a hospital and scores of organizations that reached out to groups and individuals over the years. Without Peggy Crosby Center and its roof over our heads, some of our most valuable services would be adrift, if not capsized. Organizations like The Counseling Center, Center for Life Enrichment, Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, International Friendship Center, and Overland Unlimited/Bridge of Hope depend on Peggy Crosby Center’s crown to keep their offices dry and functioning. And that’s just the nonprofits. Peggy’s Board has stayed on top of it, so to speak, but they can wait no longer. They’re faced with the formidable task of raising $65,000 to replace the former hospital’s old, leaky topper. While the center itself doesn’t provide community services, it does house and support organizations that do. Those businesses are counting on PCC and the town to upgrade the building’s overhead protection. Gina Cogswell, PCC advocate and spokesperson, has this to say, “Without PCC’s presence, many nonprofits and for profit organizations would not be able to afford rental rates 200 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

in Highlands in providing their services to the community. Furthermore, keeping the building in good condition is essential to the delivery of their services. For example, the Center for Life Enrichment offers life enrichment opportunities through educational lectures, classes, and workshops to thousands of participants each year. Last year the PCC upgraded its IT equipment and improved its WiFi coverage to enable CLE to better provide these services.” So, is this a request for community support? Darn tootin’! Peggy doesn’t have fundraisers, parties, or auctions. While financial donations generally pour in at year’s end, storm clouds won’t wait ‘til then. Peggy touches everyone in town, directly or indirectly. Did The Kitchen Carry Away feed you often during the pandemic’s quarantine? Did the Center for Acupuncture relieve pain for you or a friend? Were you engaged in rewarding activities during Covid isolation with a soul-satisfying CLE experience? Chances are you said “Yes!” to at least one of these. Please return the kindness and help Peggy continue to serve our community with no leaks, just peaks. by Donna Rhodes

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Shop for Words

he Literacy & Learning Center introduces a new partnership program with Bryson’s Food Store: Shop for Words!

This program is intended to help children learn by making it fun and interactive at the grocery store. Game cards can be found just inside the doors of Bryson’s Food Store, so parents can easily grab one before getting started on grocery shopping. The cards include questions to ask your child relating to phonics, rhyming, shapes, and more! For example, “How many items can you name that start with the sound ‘m’?” Anna Norton, Senior Programs Manager at TL&LC says, “This program is a great way for parents to engage with their kids on the basics of learning to read and count, and it underscores that the most critical learning starts at home.”

An innovative game, offered in conjunction with Br yson’s Food Store, makes learning fun for the entire family.

For more information call The Literacy & Learning Center at (828) 526-0863. by Jenni Edwards, Literacy & Learning Center

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Highlands Heritage:

a Hub of Hospitality A strange conf luence of geography and personalities has given us a town that’s an open invitation to those seeking something better.

raw a line from New York City to New Orleans and another from Savannah to Chicago. Where they cross is the historical “X” that marks the spot – a place that intentionally evolved into the Highlands “Hub of Hospitality” we know today.

story. And so, with roots firmly planted, Highlands welcomes the season of abundant activity and its invitation to immerse oneself with experiences that delight the senses. From visual and performing arts to boutique shopping to culinary treats, it’s all here, waiting in the “Hub of Hospitality.”

Only the most resilient pioneer spirits made the trek to Highlands in the second half of the 19th Century. And there, in 1875, they created an extraordinary town atop one of Mother Nature’s most beautiful, forested mountain plateaus.

Surrounded by the beauty and serenity of the land are the opportunities to experience offerings from world-famous chefs, authors, artists and musicians. The spring calendar includes birding and wildflower walks, Friday and Saturday night outdoor concerts and Meander in May, to name a few events.

Their migration brought a mix of unique demographics – entrepreneurial tradesmen from the north, Scots-Irish laborers, craftsmen/women from the surrounding region, and aristocratic agriculturalists and professionals from the south.

Just listen for the live bagpipe performance on the first Saturday of each month at Town Square. It’s only one of the ways we keep Highlands’ heritage alive. See you soon.

The diverse talents of the original settlers gave rise to highly accomplished artists, authors, musicians, photographers, scholars, scientists, and educators. Highlands grew into a creative cultural center, accompanied by businesses that attracted and served visitors and potential residents from America’s four corners.

To learn more about all that Highlands offers, visit highlandschamber.org, call (828) 526-5841 or stop by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands Welcome Center at 108 Main Street.

Springtime, the season of awakening and renewal, is a reminder of the significance of new beginnings, chapters in an ongoing

by Donna Rhodes photo by Susan Renfro

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Community,

Connected.

Cashiers Area Chamber Board of Directors L-R: (front) Brandy Letson, Cashiers Valley Pharmacy; Sarah Jenning, Lonesome Valley; President Glenn Ubertino, Zoller Hardware; Johannes Klapdohr, Library Kitchen & Bar; Mary Lanning, Hampton Inn & Suites; Stephanie Edwards, Chamber; Daniel Fletcher, Hotel Cashiers. (back) Thomas Taulbee, Chamber; Oscar Alcantar, Alcantar Painting; Lec Hobbs, Highland Hiker; Garrett Taylor, Taylor’d Designs. Not pictured: Ashton Harris, The Country Club of Sapphire Valley; Ben Harris, Harris Custom Builders; Robin Pickel, Historic Toxaway Market; Dr. Don Tomas, Southwestern Community College. Photo by Thomas Taulbee, taken at Lonesome Valley.

The Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce, resolutely focused on the Valley’s future, takes a moment to examine its storied past.

he Cashiers Area Chamber celebrates their 40th anniversary this year so it’s a wonderful opportunity to look back on a few of their accomplishments. Their motto is “Commerce. Community. Connected,” and they embody these principles every day. Supported by dedicated volunteers, board members, and employees throughout the years, they have quite a long list of accomplishments that make the Cashiers area the wonderful place that it is. Though it would be impossible to list all they have accomplished, a quick look at a few of the highlights in just the last 10 years include: Growth to nearly 500 business, nonprofit and associate members in Cashiers, Glenville, Highlands, Lake Toxaway, and Sapphire; serving as Jackson County Visitor Center at Cashiers; publication of annual Cashiers Area Visitor Guide & Membership Directory and Cashiers Area Shopping & Dining Guide; Urban Land Institute Americas: Advisory Services Panel – Cashiers, Chamber-sponsored growth management analysis; design and installation of area destination signage; creation and management of prominent community banner stand; launch of Cashiers411.com, online community event calendar; launch of CashiersAreaJobs.com, online workforce development initiative; public service campaigns to promote pedestrian mobility and safety; Cashiers Area workforce development summit and job fairs; rehabilitation of

Chamber building, including opening of upstairs “Community Room” for nonprofit and member use; Success Sweepstakes business recognition program; History of Success business promotion; “We Love Our Members” campaign; developed the retail roundtable which helped start the seasonal Village Crawl and Village Lights; and they organize the annual Christmas Parade. We could go on and on, but you get the picture. These folks are always busy and always thinking of ways to improve life on the Plateau. Additionally, they are celebrating a few more milestones this year. June 2022 marks Executive Director, Stephanie Edwards’, tenth anniversary of service. May 2022 marks Thomas Taulbee’s two-year tenure as Director of Member & Community Relations and Visitor Center Manager. Additionally, Director Edwards says “we’d like to extend recognition to Sue Baumgarner, the Chamber’s previous Executive Director, who served for 27 years, and especially to the many retired board members who offered their time, talents, and energies to make Cashiers the special place it is today.” by Mary Jane McCall

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Pat Allen Realty Group is now par t of the number one real estate company in the Carolinas. n August 2021, Pat Allen Realty Group joined forces with Allen Tate Realtors.

For Pat Allen, it was the right move to take her company to the next level while preserving its local brand reputation. Here’s what that move means to home buyers and sellers in Highlands, Cashiers, and beyond. In 2021, Allen Tate closed 19,150 transactions totaling $6.8 billion. The company is a strategic partner with Howard Hanna Real Estate, the number one privately-owned real estate company in the country, with 500 offices and 13,000 agents and employees in 13 states. In 2018, Pat Allen Realty Group was invited to join Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, an international network of 550 market-leading independent real estate firms in 70 countries. Through LeadingRE, Pat and her daughter Julie Osborn met Allen Tate Companies President and CEO Pat Riley. The companies found they had much in common – excellent service, integrity, and a commitment to local communities. “There was an immediate connection, and it kept growing,” said Pat. Allen Tate is a family-owned company founded in 1957 in Charlotte, North Carolina, by H. Allen Tate, Jr. Today, it has 47 offices in the Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, High Country and Highlands/Cashiers regions of North Carolina, and the Upstate South Carolina. Allen Tate also offers mortgage, insurance, and 204 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

relocation services. The Highlands/Cashiers region has a long history as a desirable second-home and retirement destination. In recent years, this market has grown exponentially. Allen Tate understands the complexity of today’s market and has the resources to identify buyers who are ready to sell and homes not yet on the market. Allen Tate has two local offices: Highlands-Downtown at 295 Dillard Road and Wildcat Cliffs/Cashiers Road at 5121 Cashiers Road, with more than 20 experienced agents – and we’re growing. Allen Tate serves clients in Highlands, Cashiers, Sapphire, Scaly Mountain, Cullowhee, Glenville, Lake Toxaway, and Sky Valley. Allen and Osborn maintain leadership and sales roles with Allen Tate, along with Branch Leader Ryan Bears. Is Allen Tate involved in local communities? In the past 24 years, Allen Tate has contributed $5.63 million to public education, arts, and culture and United Way through Tate Cares. In the tradition of Pat Allen Realty Group, Allen Tate is committed to sponsor local events including the Highlands Food and contributes to local non-profits. To contact an agent or learn more about careers with Allen Tate, call (828) 526-8784. by Luke Osteen

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LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ CO-OWNER / BROKER 828.342.3194 (CELL) LIZ@CASHIERS.COM 207 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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A Founding Partner

McKee Properties is proud to be a Founding Partner of G&G Land, a feature program of Garden & Gun magazine, highlighting properties that are dedicated to an “authentic sense of place and inherent responsibility to the natural world.”

NEARLY 50 YEARS OF LUXURY REAL ESTATE EXPERTISE IN THE CASHIERS-HIGHLANDS AREA

M C K E E P R O P E R T I E S. C O M

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Magnificent Private Estate OFFERED FOR $6,950,000 3 BR / 2 BA; 214+ ACRES — This fine estate property boasts all the wonderful outdoor features that draw people to Cashiers, NC: spectacular, long-range mountain views; rolling, open meadows (some fenced and cross fenced); a pond with an active, flowing stream and private waterfalls; and miles of trails! This property is unrestricted. The renovated cottage with recently updated bathrooms is charming and overlooks the majority of the property. Plus, there are many fine additional building sites for a future main house or subdividing. It is conveniently located only 9.5 miles from the middle of Cashiers. MLS 95503

Sarvis Ridge

$875,000

49 ACRES — This property features a rolling meadow, dense woods, table flat building site at the top and over 4,020 feet elevation. There is a small dipping pond in the meadow. The property can be divided into four parcels with 5-acre minimums. The Webb Lake 1930’s cabin, common area lake and trails, and caretaker home are directly across the road from this prime tract. This heritage property has unlimited potential! MLS 95707

High Hemlock

$159,000

3.76 ACRES — An absolutely beautiful home site that is a hidden

mountain gem! This large lot offers a great deal of privacy and has a mountain view of Double Knob Mountain. The lush wooded landscape of large hardwoods and mountain laurel is the perfect backdrop for someone to build their dream mountain home. The lot also shares a small pond with adjacent property owner. Paved access directly to the lot makes easy ingress and egress. MLS 98115

BETH LIZ TOWNSEND HARRIS, GUILD™ C C828.421.6193 828.342.3194

LIZ@CASHIERS.COM | | BETH@CASHIERS.COM

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Liz Harris CONSISTENTLY A TOP-RANKED BROKER ON THE PLATEAU “Liz Harris is on top of the Cashiers real estate market. She is proactive and creative and someone you want working for you. We’ve worked with her on several transactions and enjoy her personally as well as professionally.” – RENEE H.

LizHarrisBroker.com

Little Ellijay Farm 4 BR / 4 BA — This beautiful 63-acre farm in the Cashiers/Glenville area beside the Snowbird Community is full of charm. It features gorgeous views, rolling land, a main house, a guest house, an art studio, a large

OFFERED FOR $1,772,000 functioning barn, gardens, a chicken coop, fruit trees, fenced pasture land, fresh water ponds, springs and creeks throughout! Contact Liz today for a tour of this beautiful mountain farm. MLS 97011

LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ 212 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

828.342.3194

LIZ@CASHIERS.COM

2002 -2022 Telling the Story

of the Plateau for

YEARS

Thank you Highlands-Cashiers

for 20 amazing years!

a e

L UR L The Heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau

Art + Automobile The Bascom’s FreeWheeling pg. 18

Botanical Meets Mechanical May 2021

Our cover artist, Sue Steele Thomas

213 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

RECREATION

WHAT TO DO DINING

THE ARTS

LIFEST YLES

Have Have thethe Heart Heart of the of the Highlands Highlands Cashiers Cashiers Plateau Plateau delivered delivered monthly monthly to your to your mailbox mailbox thelaurelmagazine.com/subscribe thelaurelmagazine.com/subscribe 214 128 MO N AYV E2M 0 2B2E R| T2H 0 2E0L A| U TH R EELLM AA UG R EALZMI N A EG. A CZ OIM NE .COM

CREATION

.Love has arrived

SHOPPING

WELLNESS

a e

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EXCEPT I O NA L M A RK ET I NG

D E L I V E R I N G R E S U LT S

359.5K

Total Silver Creek 3D tour impressions c o n the b e s p o k e l e v e r ag i n

s i lver c r ee t i n u es to se sta n dar d fo ma r ket i n g b g tec h n olog

k t r y y

95%

3D tour viewers are 95% more likely to call

. The result is increased exposure for our exclusive offerings and an enhanced buying experience.

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DOWNTOWN CASHIERS 341 Highway 64 West Cashiers, NC 28717 828-743-1999

LAKE GLENVILLE DISCOVERY CENTER 4312 Highway 107 N Glenville, NC 28736 828-743-1999

DOWNTOWN HIGHLANDS 537 Main Street Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-2999

218 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

WE’RE LOCAL. WE’RE NATIONAL.

1.3 MILLION TRANSACTIONS 150,000 SALES ASSOCIATES 550 COMPANIES

INDUSTRY LEADING SALES. WORLD-CLASS SERVICE.

LEADING REAL ESTATE COMPANIES OF THE WORLD

COMPASS

$152 BILLION

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY SOTHEBY’S

$296 BILLION

$110 BILLION $97 BILLION This bar chart is sourced from REAL Trends Top 500 for 2020, realtrends.com

N C L I V I N G . C O M | C A S H I E R S / L A K E G L E N V I L L E : 8 2 8 - 74 3 - 1 9 9 9 | H I G H L A N D S : 8 2 8 - 5 2 6 - 2 9 9 9 C A S H I E R S • H I G H L A N D S • S A P P H I R E • L A K E G L E N V I L L E • L A K E T O X AWAY 5 S ILVER C R EEK R E A L E STAT E G R O U P

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L O C A L LY O W N E D . I N D E P E N D E N T LY O P E R A T E D .

JOCHEN LUCKE

DAN ALLEN

PA R K E R A N D E R S O N

C H R I S D U F FY

D E B BY H A L L broker

R I C K J AC K S O N

broker

B A M B I FA M O U S KA I N E

K E V I N KOAC H

E D DY M C D O N A L D

president/broker

broker

NCLIVING.COM | CASHIERS / LAKE GLENVILLE: 828-743-1999 | HIGHLANDS: 828-526-2999 220 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

JODI MOORE

CASSIE NEAL

LINDA PRIDGEN

CHUCK SELF

M E R RY S O E L L N E R

K E N TA F T

RAY T R I N E

ROB WHITNEY

broker

S AVA N A H H O P P E R

broker

LOTA H OW E L L

assistant

assistant/broker

R I VA S M I T H

C A I T L I N S TA R N E S

assistant/broker

assistant

KAT I E N I C H O L S O N broker

broker

A N N E T TA M U L L

office manager

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M A RY W H I T T E N WA R N E R

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marketing director

* According to 2021 Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Website Quality Certiﬁcation Results and 2021 Real Trends® Website Rankings

and Nationally Ranked by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and Real Trends*

ncliving.com is THE premier source to the highlands-cashiers plateau

N C L I V I N G . C O M | C A S H I E R S / L A K E G L E N V I L L E : 8 2 8 - 74 3 - 1 9 9 9 | H I G H L A N D S : 8 2 8 - 5 2 6 - 2 9 9 9 222

C A S H I E R S • H I G H L A N D S • S A P P H I R E • L A K E G L E N V I L L E • L A K E T O X AWAY

M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

WE ’ RE

S OCIAL Every listing is given equal screen time on our active, highly-followed social media channels.

Silver Creek’s social: facebook.com/silvercreekreg instagram.com/silvercreekrealestate

NCLIVING.COM C a s h i e r s : 8 2 8 - 74 3 - 1 9 9 9 Highlands: 828-526-2999 L a k e G l e n v i l l e : 8 2 8 - 74 3 - 1 9 9 9

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A DAVD EV RE TR I STEI R SE ’ SR I’ SN D I NED XE X

4118 Kitchen and Bar A Jones Company A-List Antiques ACP Home Interiors Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group Allison Diane Amy Feil Phillips Fine Art Ann Lea Fine Art Gallery Annawear Annell Metsker, Artist Appalachian Construction Appalachian Golf Cars Around Back at Rocky’s Place Bags on Main Balistreri Realty The Bascom Barbara Jamison Paintings Bazaar Barn Bear Tracks Travel Center Bella Cotn Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - Mary S. Abranyi Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - Tambrie Kitchens Betsy Paul Art Benefit Betsy Paul Properties Bird Barn & Garden Black Bear Lodge Black Rock Granite and Cabinetry The Blue Elephant Blue Ridge Bedding Blue Ridge Music Bombshell Hair Boutique The Book Nook Bounds Cave’s Rug Gallery Brookings Fly Shop Bungalow Boutique The Business Spot Calders Coffee Cafe Caliber Fine Properties Canyon Kitchen Canyon Spa Carolina Rustic Furniture Cashiers Chamber of Commerce Cashiers Candy Shoppe Cashiers Kitchen Company Center for Plastic Surgery Robert T. Buchanan, MD Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals Charles Johnson Fine Art Photography Chocolate Heaven/Cake Bar Christine’s Home Decor The Christmas Tree

4118kitchen-bar.com acphomeinteriors.com

P 109 P 130 P 132 P 166

patallenrealtygroup.com P 9, 28, 29, 100, 101 P 39 amyfeilphillips.wixsite.com/artist P 91 P 92 annawearnc.com P 197 annell.com P 98 app-construction.com P 148 appalachiangolfcars.om P 145 aroundbackatrockysplace.com P 79 P 131 laketoxawayliving.com P 151 thebascom.org P 87 barbarajamisonpaintings.com P 96 P 159 beartrackstravelcenter.com P 149 bellacotn.com P 41 meadowsmountainrealty.com

P 121

realestatemaryabranyi.com

P 178

tambrie.com

P 190 P 165 betsypaulproperties.com P 227 P 49 blackbearlodgeofsapphire.com P 151 blackrockdesignbuild-highlands.com P 74, 186 P 173 blueridgebedding.com P 140 blueridgemusicacademy.com P 78 P 199 P 130 boundscaverugs.com P 31 brookingsonline.com P 65, 69 bungalow828.com P 179 biz-spot.net P 195 calderscoffeecafe.com P 108 caliberfineproperties.com P 188, 189 lonesomevalley.com P 205 lonesomevalley.com P 205 carolinarusticfurniture.com P 140 cashiersareachamber.com P 158 P 195 P 49 plasticsurgerytoday.com highlandsiscalling.com charlesjohnsonfineart.com christineshomedecor.com

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P 176 P 88,186 P 78 P 164 P 186 P 50

Classic Lighting & Design, Inc. Colonel Mustard’s Specialty Foods Country Club Properties Creative Concepts Crossroads Custard & Coldbrew The Dancing Bear at the High Dive Dauntless Printing The Designer’s Market Diane McPhail, Artist Dinner With Duffy The Dry Sink Dutchmans Earthshine Lodge Edward Jones Investments Elena’s Women’s Golf and Activewear Elevation High Fashion for Women The Exchange Fire + Water Fire Mountain Inn & Cabins The Fix Bar & Lounge Four Seasons Landscaping Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar Fressers Courtyard Cafe Fusion Yoga & Wellness Futral Construction Dr. Edward D. Frederickson MD FACP Gracewear Boutique Grand Olde Station The Greystone Inn Green Mountain Builders Head Innovations Headwaters Outfitters High Country Furniture & Design The High Dive Highlands Aerial Park Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Highlands Chamber of Commerce Highlands Dermatology Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry Wine Shop Highlands Lawn & Garden Highlands Mountaintop Rotary Art & Craft Show Highlands Outpost Highlands Pharmacy Highlands Playhouse Highlands Rock Yard Highlands Smokehouse Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty –Jody Lovell Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty - Andrea Gabbard Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty - Sheryl Wilson

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P 88 P 133 P2 P 186 P 112 P 119 P 32, 187 P 62 P 98 P 116, 175 P 45 P 46 P 148 P 173 P 42 P 163 P 89 P 15 P 15 P 117 P 37, 47 P 115 P 107 P 178 P4 P 176 P 63 P 143 P 4, 150 P 179 P 186 P 144

highlandsaerialpark.com

P 35 P 119 P 56

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P 83 P 181 P 184 P 177

highlandsfineart.com mountaintopshow.com highlandsoutpost.com highlandsplayouse.org highlandsrockyard.com highlandssmokehouse.com

P 23 P 22 P 89 P 56 P 194 P 85 P 198 P 116

sothebysrealty.com

P 54, 55

sothebysrealty.com

P 123

highlandssir.com

P 187

A DAVD EV RE TR I STEI R SE ’ SR I’ SN D I NED XE X

Highlands Transportation Company P 177 Historic Toxaway Foundation historictoxaway.org P 142 Historic Toxaway Market historictoxawaymarket.com P 146 Hummingbird Lounge oldedwardsinn.com P 53 Imperial Security & Wiring IS-W.co P 187 J Gabriel jgabrielliving.com P 112, 199 Jack’s Upholstery P 174 Jannie Bean Custom Jeweler janniebeandesigns.com P 38 Jeanie Edwards Fine Art jedwardsfineart.com P 80 Jennings Builders Supply jbwnc.com P 34 Josephine’s Emporium P 132, 187 John Cleaveland Realty jcrealty.com P 44 Joyce Smith Mortgages joycesmithmortgages P 27 Killer Bees killerbeeshoney.com P 144 The Kitchen CarryAway and Catering thekitchenofhighlands.com P 109 Lake Toxaway Company laketoxaway.com P 141 Lakeside Restaurant P 113 Landmark Realty Group - Pam Nellis landmarkrg.com P 187 Laura Moser Art lauramoserart.com P5 Lehotsky & Sons lehotskyandsons.com P 133, 186 Lenz Gifts & Luxury Linens P 12 Leslie Jeffery, Artist lesliejeffery.art P 95 The Look Boutique P 21 Lupoli Construction lupoliconstruction.com P 51 Main Street Gifts P 162 Main Street Nursery P 30 Martha Anne’s P 42 Martin Lispcomb Performing Arts Center highlandsperformingarts.com P 81, 86 McCulley’s P3 McKee Properties mckeeproperties.com P 93, 167, 206-212 McKee Properties - Liz Harris mckeeproperties.com P 210, 212 McKee Properties - Wayne Monday mckeeproperties.com P 167 McKee Properties - Beth Townsend mckeeproperties.com P 93, 211 Michelle Page Webster, Artist pagetheartist.com P 91 Mike’s Snake Removal mikessnakeremoval.com P 187 Mirror Lake Antiques mirrorlakeantiques.com P 27 Mitchell Hill Rugs mitchellhillinc.com P 10 Morales Painting P 194 Mountain Cafe historictoxawaymarket.com P 146 Mountain Construction Engineering mountain-ce.com P 197 Mountain Mermaid P 90, 198 Mountain Spring Spas and Pools mountainhotspring.com P 17 Mountainworks Custom Home Design, Ltd. mtnworks.com P 61 Nancy’s Fancys P 89 Narcissus P 157 Nearly New nearlynewnc.com P 172 The Neumann Law Office, PLLC P 162 Nora & Co P 19 Oak Steakhouse oaksteakhousehighlands.com P 102 Old Edwards Inn & Spa oldedwardsinn.com P 53, 186 On the Verandah ontheverandah.com P 114 The Orchard Restaurant, Event Barn & Cottages theorchardcashiers.com P 113

Panthertown Cafe Pat Calderone Peggy Marra Peak Experience Petit Properties Real Esate Platt Preferred Properties of Highlands - Ann Scott ProServicess Reach of Macon County Rebecka’s Home Cleaning Service Rent In Highlands-CCP Ristorante Paoletti Robin’s Nest Roman’s Roofing LLC Root 64 Fresh Market Rusticks Sapphire Valley Real Estate Sashay Around Scaly Mountain Crafters Shakespeare and Company Silver Creek Real Estate Group Skyline Lodge Smitten Southern Highlands Reserve Southern Way The Spa Boutique at Old Edwards Inn Spoiled Rotten Stork’s Wrap, Pack & Ship The Summer House by Reeves Tampa Bay Trust Company Terry Warren Fine Art TJ Bailey’s for Men Town and Country General Store The Ugly Dog Pub - Highlands The Ugly Dog Pub - Cashiers Vic’s for Men Victoria’s Closet Victoria’s Sportswear The Village Green Village Hound The Vineyard at 37 High Holly Vivianne Metzger Antiques Warth Construction Whistlin’ Dixie Whiteside Art Gallery WHLC FM 104.5 Wilbanks Smile Center - Dr. Joe Wilbanks Wit’s End Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro Woofgang Bakery & Grooming Zach Claxton Art Zoller Hardware The Zookeeper Bistro

panthertowncafe.com calderonegallery.com peggymarra.com peakexp.com petipropertieswnc.com platt.us

P 147 P 99 P 96 P 83 P 145 P 25

ppoh.com

P 187 P 186 P 159

reachofmaconcounty.org

P 186 P 40 P 107 P 66 P 187 P 147 rusticks.com P 10, 11, 71 sapphirevalleyrealestate.com P 183 P 19 scalymtncrafters.com P 90 shakespeareandcompanyhighlands.com P 163 ncliving.com P 216-223 skyline-lodge.com P 102 P 79 southernhighlandsreserve.org P 150 P 131

rentinhighlands.com paolettis.com robinsnest-cashiers.com romansroofingnc.com

oldedwardsinn.com spoiledrotten2.com summerhousehighlands.com tampabaytrustcompany.com terrywarren.com tjbmens.com

P 53 P 43 P 15 P 124 P 67 P 95 P 73, 185

tandcgeneralstore.com theuglydogpub.com theuglydogpub.com victoriasclosetnc.com victoriasclosetnc.com victoriasclosetnc.com villagegreencashiersnc.com

P 122 P 119 P 119 P 172 P 172 P 172 P 154 P 72

thevineyardathighholly.com vmantiques.com warthconstruction.com

P 158 P 70 P 228 P 149 P 97 P 17

whlc.com wilbankssmilecenter.com wolfgangs.net zollerhardware.com thezookeeperbistro.com

P 168 P 33 P5 P 43 P 99 P 49, 187 P 108 225 225

M AY M2 0AY 2 22|0 T2 H 2 E| LTAHUERL EALUMRAEG LM AA ZG I NAEZ. CI N OEM. C O M

PARTING SHOT by Greg Clarkson

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228 M AY 2 0 2 2 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

May 2022: The Laurel Magazine

Articles inside

Plateau Picks

Fire + Water Restaurant

The Peggy Crosby Center

Bear Tracks Travel Center

Airing of the Quilts

Meandering in May

John’s Jump and Dew Falls

Sallie Taylor: Cover, revisited