42 minute read
Meandering in May
Come ‘Meander in May!’
The annual, immersive arts event will take place Saturday, May 14, in downtown Highlands.
We 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. 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. “It truly is an immersive and interactive arts experience,” says 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.” 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.) Maps with a list of the day’s activities will be available. Parking
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.
Spring 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 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.
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
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 legendary Playmore.
There’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 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
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
Do Yourself a Flavor
Both Cashiers and Highlands are serving up the bounties of their local farmers, artisans, and kitchen masters.
Are 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 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
Encouraging Volunteerism
The Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands aims to connect organizations that need volunteers with those who wish to help.
Are 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. 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
Let’s Get the Party Started
Groovin’ on the Green returns to The Village Green in Cashiers on most Friday nights through October.
The 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 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
Highlands Live Music Series
Sycamore Flats
Lace up your dancing shoes, Highlands’ weekend concerts are back on the calendar – Friday nights at Town Square and Saturday evenings at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.
Highlands 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 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
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
How You Can Help Ukraine in May
The beauty of May on the Plateau is shadowed by the unfolding catastrophe in Ukraine.
May 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.
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. 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.” 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.
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.
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
The 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
Pique and Choose
Both libraries are offering workshops to stretch the imaginations and deepen the understandings of both adults and kids.
Local 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 firstcome, 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
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.
Life 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? 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
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.
Mike Kinnebrew
The 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 performance. 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
Church in the Wildwood
The Little Church in the Wildwood is a unique revenant of early life on the Plateau. Services begin at 7:00 P.M. Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Everyone is welcome.
If 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.
Whiskers, Wags & Whiskey
It turns out that every dog (and cat) has its evening as well — Whiskers, Wags & Whiskey, set for Wednesday, June 29, at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club is a howling good time benefitting the residents of CashiersHighlands Humane Society. For information, visit chhumanesociety.org.
George Skaroulis
An 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 CashiersHighlands 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.
Honoring Sacrifice
Veterans will receive their well-deserved recognition with a Memorial Day Recognition Service at 10:00 A.M. Monday, May 30, in front of the Highlands Police Department. In addition, Wreaths Across America and American Legion Post 370 will decorate the graves of veterans at Highlands Memorial Park on Friday, May 27.
Many 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. On Monday, May 30, the American Legion 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
Heart and Soul Creations
Highlands Mountaintop Arts 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 artisans. For more information, call (828) 318-9430, visit mountaintopshow.com.
Highlands 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
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 heart of The Highlands Motoring Festival (set for June 9-12) will boost the fortunes of a trio of local nonprofits.
The 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 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
Biscuits Go with Everything
Poetry 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 Poetry. For more information, visit OldEdwardsHospitality.com/ MayDay.)
Chadwick Boyd
Chadwick 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.
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. 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. Boyd is clearly excited about finally coming to Highlands. As he said, “This dinner has been two years in the making!” His menu for May Day pays homage to his 30-plus years of living in Georgia 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.” 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.” 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. For the middle course, Boyd will “transform biscuit dough into a cast-iron 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.
– Jenna Danchuk
1Highlands Food Pantry 2Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church. Highlands Food Pantry 3Open, 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.
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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.
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Bazaar Barn, open 10 AM - 2 PM. 6 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.
8Highlands Food Pantry 9Open, 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.
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May Day Celebration Dinner with Chef Chadwick Boyd, The Farm at Old Edwards.
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Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.
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Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.
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Songwriter’s Master Class, May 22-26, with John McCutcheon, The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center
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Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, 23 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, 24 behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.
“Flower Fest in the Meadow;” 1 to 4 PM, Highlands Nature Center. Highlands Cashiers Players’ Drop Dead, 2:30 PM, Highlands Performing Arts Center.
Cashiers Quilters Airing of the Quilts, 29 10 AM - 4 PM, Cashiers Historical Society grounds. Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, 30 behind and below The Highlands behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church. United Methodist Church. Art League of Highlands-Cashiers Cashiers Quilters Airing of the meeting, 4:30 PM, The Bascom.Quilts, 10 AM - 4 PM, Cashiers 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 Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.
Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM - 6 PM, 31 behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church. Art Benefit, drawing 5 PM, Betsy Paul Properties. Village Nature Series: Balsam Mountain Trust, 5 PM, at The Village Green Commons 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.
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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.
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Bazaar Barn, open 10 AM - 2 PM. 13 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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar 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.
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Peter Millar Trunk Show, Highlands Marketplace, TJ Bailey’s, May 27-30. 8 AM - 12:30 PM, Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Cashiers Quilters Airing of the The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Quilts, 10 AM - 4 PM, Cashiers Highlands Wreaths across Historical Society grounds. America/American Legion Mountain Garden Club Annual Post 370, Highlands Plant Sale, Town Ball Field. Memorial Park, 5:30 P.M. Gretchen Scott Trunk Show, Great Art on Screen: Raphael: 11 AM - 4 PM, Robin’s Nest. The Young Prodigy, 5:30 PM, PAC. Saturdays on Pine, Continental Friday Night Live, Sycamore Flats, Divide, 6 - 8:30 PM, Kelsey6 - 8:30 PM, Town Square. Hutchinson Founders Park. Groovin’ on the Green, Comedian Lucas Bohn, Lesson Commodore Fox, 6:30 PM, Plans to Late Night, 7:30 PM, PAC. Village Green, Cashiers. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.
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RECREATION & CREATION
Pages 58-71
