65 minute read
Dazzling Dahlias
The inescapable charm of Dahlias earns them a day in the sun with Highlands’ Dazzling Dahlia Festival, September 10-11.
Perhaps no other flower is as varied in size, color, and distinction as the dahlia. The American Dahlia Association currently recognizes 42 species. Although dahlias grow better in some regions of the United State than in others, the plants are beloved by fervent gardeners and dabblers alike in the mountains of North Carolina.
On September 10-11, Highlands Historical Society hosts the 12th annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival. The festival has evolved over the last dozen years into a town-wide, family-friendly event that showcases stunning dahlias, native plants, Highlands’ history, nonprofits, and an abundance of talent and creativity. The Bascom hosts a single-bloom, amateur competition with dahlia categories ranging from dinner-plate to “cactus” size. In fact, the showing is a breathtaking assembly of shape, size, and color. The dahlias are judged by Garden Club of Americacertified judges, who provide comments about the flowers. For amateur gardeners this is a rare opportunity. Anyone interested in entering the single-bloom dahlia show can do so for $20; up to eight dahlia blooms can be entered on Saturday, September 10, between 8:00 to 10:00 A.M. The judged show will be open to the public Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., with ribbons displayed on winning flowers. Main Street, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, Highlands Historical Village, and The Bascom will be the backdrop for beautiful dahlia and native plant vignettes interpreting The Gilded Age, which is this year’s theme. A Dahlia Trail Map will be available at these locations and at the Highlands Visitor Center. The public can vote online for their favorites to help select People’s Choice awards. Winners will be announced during
a Saturday night concert in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.
“The Highlands plateau is blessed with nonprofits that support every aspect of our lives, and it is time for them to take a bow. So they’ll be focused on at the Park as well,” said organizer Kim Daugherty. Trish Foor, a local watercolor artist, created a painting for the festival’s official poster. “The original will be awarded to the Best of Show winner from the festival,” added Daugherty. “And the posters will be available for purchase during the weekend. Plus, during the festival are storytellers and old-time entertainment at the Highlands Historical Society village on Saturday and Sunday. Children will be entertained with a scavenger hunt, and there will be flower arrangements for sale. For more information, visit highlandshistory.com.
by Donna Rhodes
Title Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival Title
With art, music, and food, the Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival, slated for October 7-9 at the Village Green, is a celebration of all the good things of October in the mountains.
In town and looking for something fun to do? Visit The Village Green, October 7 – 9. Each October, The Village Green non-profit, public park turns into a showcase of artisans and craftsmen during the Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival. The popular affair celebrates the start of the leaf-changing season, while it offers over 75 artisan crafters from throughout the Southeast. The fete, which has been attracting tourists to this idyllic mountain community for 13 years, pulls in talented artisans and eager visitors throughout the South, drawing upwards of 3000 folks over the long weekend. On display are hundreds of eye-catching and appealing works of
arts, and comestibles – from jewelry to metallurgy to paintings and pottery and clothing and soap and baked goods and honey. Some of the artisans may already be famous and well established, whereas …from jewelry to metallurgy others are newbies, struggling to gain to paintings and pottery and recognition. Yet all produce and exclothing and soap and baked hibit their own wares – no third-party goods and honey… vendors are allowed. The Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival is truly a feast for the eyes – eyes weary of the mundane design offerings of the local department store, and, perhaps also generally unexcited by their home surroundings. Think of it as a thrill of a home makeover show all in one place. Folks come for the art, but also for the two food trucks, and the painter who decorates the children’s faces. And they definitely come for the music. A highlight of the
weekend is Hometown Concert Series sponsored by Ingles Supermarket, featuring Joe Lasher and Kaitlyn Baker, on Friday, October 7, from 6:00-8:30 P.M.. On Saturday, Ellie’s Groove performs at 11:00 A.M., George Reeves at 1:00 P.M., and Zorki at 3:00 PM. Julie Gribble is on stage on Sunday at 11:00 A.M., followed by the Blue Ridge Junior Appalachian Musicians at 1:00 P.M. The festival starts each day at 10:00 A.M. and ends at 5:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday, and until 3:00 P.M. on Sunday. For more information and a full schedule of events and activities during the Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival, visit VillageGreenCashiersNC.com/Events. For other events at The Village Green, please email Shelby Batchelor at Shelby@CashiersGreen.com.
by Marlene Osteen
Blessing of the Animals
Every dog (and cat, and, yes, Venus Fly Trap!) has its day – Sunday, October 2, is The Blessing of the Animals at The Village Green Commons. For more information visit goodshepherdofcashiers.com
On Sunday, October 2, local furry and feathered friends will don their Sunday best and flock to the Blessing of the Animals event at The Village Green Commons in Cashiers.
An egalitarian gathering attended by slithering snakes, fidgety rabbits, caged cats and fluffed dogs, the occasion is a collaboration with the Village Green and area churches: the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Cashiers United Methodist, Christ Anglican Church, Grace Community Church, Glenville Wesleyan Church and Christ Church of the Valley. Always a fun and a whimsical event, the Blessing of the Animals is an outdoor worship service held each year on the Sunday in October closest to the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi.
Legend has it that St. Francis had a close connection with all of nature, including animals; that he preached to the birds and by making the sign of the cross was able to tame a wolf that terrorized the small village of Gubbio. As Alison Schultz, Assistant Rector at the Church of the Good Shepherd explained, “By doing the blessing of the animals, it’s more than just our trying to bless them. It’s about acknowledging the blessing that they are to us. The service emphasizes the bond of love and respect that animals have with their humans, and that humans have with all of creation. It’s a way to worship the God who created all living things and a way for us to give thanks to all living things.” The event is always free to the public and their pets. Seniors, families, singles, and children are encouraged to bring their well-behaved pet. Though cats and dogs are the most frequent visitors, Schultz said that she has also blessed snakes and hamsters and that the funniest thing she every blessed was a Venus Fly Trap. Faith leaders will bless the menagerie of participants with prayers and scriptures that relate to creation. Those with pets can choose to get “blessed,” by the clergy, who will go around to each animal and lay hands on them. Attendees are urged to consider giving to the CashiersHighlands Humane Society. Donations of cash, pet food or gently used blankets and towels, unscented cat litter and Milk Bones are all needed and welcomed. Participants are asked to bring their pets on leash or caged and must be under their owners’ control at all times. Activities begin at 11:00 AM.
by Marlene Osteen
Highlands Porchfest
Highlands Porchfest brings the happy sounds to downtown, including a venerable cultural landmark, September 18. Learn more at highlandsporchfest.com.
Highlands Porchfest is a come-one, come-all, free community event. Pick and choose from 12 downtown hosting venues with more than 30 world-class performers. Save-thedate: September 18, from 1:00 to 6:00 P.M., in downtown Highlands. Check out this line-up: Jay Drummonds, Spalding McIntosh & The Lion Hearts, Jerius Duncan, Wooten Hill, Carolina 441, Blue Jazz, and many more. Grammy Award Winning Songwriter, Bob Morrison, returns this year, hosting a musician’s roundtable, discussing the fine-art of songwriting. This year, Porchfest will honor a Highlands icon, Helen’s Barn (now Asia House). Veteran cloggers and square-dancers will recall the rollicking, floor-stompin’, hootin’n’hollerin’ summer nights at Helen’s.
CLE hopes an upcoming generation will inherit a soft spot for the legendary barn where fiddlers, and pickers plucked and strummed every tune in the town’s repertoire. It’s been too long since the This year, Porchfest will dance caller’s voice bounced off the honor a Highlands icon, walls and the clogger’s stomps rattled Helen’s Barn. the floor and rafters. CLE is thrilled to team up with local, traditional string bands and dancers who honor the traditional steps in this wonderful celebration. There’s nothing more satisfying than feeling a barn-floor vibrating with a whole bunch of happy. While there’s no admission charge, you are encouraged to pre-register, so Porchfest knows how many to plan for. By pre-registering you are eligible to win two free tickets for a VIP Party at The Bascom. Otherwise, no obligation. Just arrive at your venue of choice at 1:00 P.M.
Porchfest wants folks from near and far to intermingle. Everyone is invited: locals, visitors, area workers, and neighboring communities. Thanks to Center for Life Enrichment, a non-profit organization which is organizing and presenting this event to our local area. And there are scores of others to thank:
• Volunteers who donate their time, expertise, and muscle to ensure this event is a day to remember. If you see a volunteer in a bright orange shirt, give him/her a warm Thank-You!
• Save some kudos for the Porchfest sponsors. Without them, this event would not be possible. They are the ones who cover expenditures so that together, we can present an extraordinary event. To stay up to date on scheduling, maps, etc., make occasional visits to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
by Donna Rhodes
Nature Appreciation
The Village Nature Series presentation set for 5:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 27, at the Village Green in Cashiers explains why even the squinkiest of our furry and feathered friends need a bit of love.
Carlton Burke of Carolina Mountain Naturalists is the September 27 presenter for the annual Village Nature Series. From 5:00 to 6:00 P.M., he will offer a lecture titled Animals We Love to Hate.
The Village Nature Series is co-hosted by The Village Green and Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and features experts in their field presenting on wildlife, habitats, conservation, and local cultural heritage. Burke desires that adults and children understand some of the local wildlife that is often considered frightening and/or pesky. In the interactive program, he will share live animals such as spiders, snakes, vultures, opossums, and more. “I try to bring to light their role in the world … what their job is and the ecological aspects of their lives. All wildlife is important,” he says. While this is the first time Burke will present for the Village Nature Series, he has offered Animals We Love to Hate at other organizations and during kids’ camps, etc. Burke, who is licensed federally and with the state to keep dozens of animals, such as amphibians, reptiles, birds of prey, and more, for education purposes at his Henderson County home, has been offering wildlife education programs since the 1980s. By training, he’s a wildlife educator and rehabilitator. He spent more than 25 years on staff at the Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville and took early retirement in 2005 to concentrate on nature presentations for Carolina Mountain Naturalists, which he founded in 1983. The most interesting animal he said he has ever rehabbed is a snowy owl, but he became fascinated with snakes as a child growing up in Charlotte and while visiting family every summer in the mountains.
“Because there is so much interaction with wildlife in this area, misinformation is spread and people need to know as much about our wildlife neighbors – the box turtle, the garter snake, for example – as possible. These are animals they may come in contact with.”
The last presentation for the 2022 Village Nature series is October 25’s Secret Lives of Bats, and features Dr. Rada Petric, director of the UNC Institute for the Environment at the Highlands Field Site The 2022 Village Nature Series takes place annually, rain or shine, from 5:00 to 6:00 P.M. at the Village Green Commons at The Village Green on the last Tuesday of each month from May through October. Programs are free and family-friendly, and no registration is needed.
by Deena Bouknight / photo by Harrison Renfro
It’s a Big Dinner
With its Big Mission, it only makes sense that Big Brothers Big Sisters will stage its It’s a BIG Dinner at 6:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 13. Visit bbbswnc.org to learn more about the event and make your contribution.
Curtis Blackwell and the Dixie Bluegrass Boys As you’d expect, the people serving Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC – Cashiers-Highlands are used to dealing with big ideas and generous doses of compassion. As a team who’ve been associated with the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program for young people for over 20 years, we can honestly tell you of the great things we have seen our program do to help guide children in the right direction. But it goes without saying that the work of the BBBS program would be impossible without the help and support of the people of the Plateau. And that’s why we’re extending an invitation to BBBS’s It’s a BIG Dinner at 6:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 13, at the Cullasaja Club. Enjoy an evening of fine food prepared by executive chef Marie Last, cocktails, music by
Curtis Blackwell and the Dixie Bluegrass Boys and a live auction with plenty of surprises. Celebrate the children of the Plateau as you learn about the efforts of Big Brothers Big Sisters on Tuesday, September 13. Reserve your seat and …make a big impact in the lives of our children. bid on auction items today at bbbswnc. org or call (828) 399-9133 and make a big impact in the lives of our children. by Danielle Hernandez, Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC – Cashiers-Highlands Scan to learn more.
Bel Canto’s 30th Year
For its 30th Anniversary Recital, Bel Canto’s September 11 concert at Highlands Performing Arts Center puts a graceful note on this busy season in this busy year. For information about tickets, call (828) 787-2867.
The Bel Canto 30th Year Celebration Recital will be held in Highlands on Sunday, September 11, at 4:00 P.M. at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. This will be followed by dinner at the Highlands Country Club. Bel Canto contributions fully fund music education at the two preschool programs in Highlands, supplement music education at our public schools, fund a college scholarship in the performing arts, and aid in the acquisition of art for special art exhibitions and for The Bascom’s permanent collection. In total, Bel Canto has contributed over $650,000 to these worthy programs. This year’s artists include Soprano Kathryn Henry, who’s grown a devoted following after appearances on stages from the Metropolitan Opera in New York to the Rohm Theatre in Kyoto, Japan. She’s a graduate of the Julliard School. Acclaimed for her “magnificent color and simplicity” (William Barnewitz, Urban Milwaukee), Ms. Henry’s opera credits include roles in The Turn of the Screw, Die Zauberflöte, Suor Angelica, Hansel and Gretel, Le nozze di Figaro, Roméo et Juliette, and La bohéme. She has also appeared as a guest soloist with ensembles including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra. Mezzo-soprano Kathleen Reveille, who has been acclaimed for her “soaring and poised vocals,” is a twice-nominated Best Opera Album of the Year recording artist for her performances with the Warsaw Philharmonic.
Some of her opera credits include roles in The Turn of The Screw, Riders to The Sea, At the Boars Head, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Gianni Schicchi, Le nozze di Figaro, and Suor Angelica. In May 2018, she made her Carnegie Hall début as the mezzo soloist in Mozart’s Requiem. In 2019, she completed her second year with the prestigious Apprentice Singer Program of the Santa Fe Opera, making her on stage début as the Mayor’s Wife in Jenufa. Most recently she was awarded second prize in the Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition. Ms. Reveille holds a Master of Music from Yale University. Tenor Joseph Tancredi, who has been lauded by Opera News for his “high notes with a ringing, clarion tone,” is currently pursuing a Professional Studies Certificate in Opera from the Curtis Institute of Music.
Earlier credits include roles in Così fan tutte, the title role in Albert Herring, Il barbiere di Siviglia, I due timidi, Eugene Onegin, The Lord of Cries and The Thirteenth Child. Other credits include L’elisir d’amore and The Student Prince. This past summer, he performed in The Fall of the House of Usher and Der fliegende Holländer. Joseph has been awarded prizes in the Eastern Region Finals of the 2019 Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition, from the George London Foundation, and from the Premiere
Opera Foundation + NYIOP. He holds a master’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music. Baritone Alex DeSocio, who is a graduate of the prestigious San Francisco Merola Opera Program, has been described by The New York Times as having a “buttery, booming baritone.” Most recent engagements include roles in La bohème, Pagliacci, L’elisir d’amore, Roméo et Juliette, and Carmen. Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia is a signature role for him, having sung it with five opera companies. His further professional role experience is extensive. A highly awarded artist, Mr. DeSocio is a two-time semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, winner/laureate in the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, and many others. He is also the only opera singer certified as an Actor Combatant in The Society of American Fight Directors. Dr. Stephen Dubberly, the Bel Canto maestro for the past 29 years, will accompany the singers. An already recognized master in his field when he began with Bel Canto, Stephen has become a sought after conductor of opera all over the country, in addition to his duties as Associate Professor of Music in the Division of Conducting and Ensembles at the University of North Texas, where he also serves as Music Director of the UNT Opera and teaches opera conducting and opera repertoire.
by Michael Crowe
Golf Ball Drop Fundraiser
The Literacy & Learning Center’s Golf Ball Drop, set for some time this month at the Highlands Town Ballfield, is built upon the combined power of gravity and a lucky bounce. Since final details were still fluctuating while we were going to press, visit facebook.com/maconliteracy for details.
The Literacy & Learning Center will be hosting a Golf Ball Drop fundraiser that will take place at the Town Ballfield in Highlands, where one lucky winner, whose ball lands closest to the target, will receive 25 percent of the total profits from this fundraiser (up to $25,000). Balls are available for purchase at $50 each and there is no limit to the number of balls one individual can buy in order to increase their odds. Additionally, you do not have to be present to win.
The golf balls will be dropped from a Highlands Fire Department truck ladder and the ball closest to the target will win the grand prize. Through fundraisers like this, grants, and donations from the community, The Literacy & Learning Center is able to provide free educational programs to individuals of all ages. The mission of The Literacy & Learning Center is to enrich lives and expand the knowledge of children, adults, and families through diverse educational programs that advance literacy in its many forms and to promote lifelong learning, which results in an informed and empowered community. For more information about this event or how to purchase a ball and secure your chances to win up to $25,000, call (828) 526-0863 or visit maconncliteracy.org. All golf ball purchases must be made online.
by Jenni Edwards, The Literacy & Learning Center
Scan to learn more.
Outdoor Concert Series
As the season shades into autumn and the Plateau’s pace slows down (just a little), Friday Night Live and Saturdays on Pine in Highlands are even more of a celebration. The concerts are family-friendly and handicapped accessible.
HC Oakes Band
There’s nothing more satisfying than listening to a favorite song ‘neath the stars – unless it’s also on a cool, North Carolina mountaintop. In Highlands, you can be there for free every Friday and Saturday night. From now through October weekends, tuck your lawn chair under one arm, snacks under the other, and head out to Friday Night Live and Saturdays on Pine. The 2022 Friday Night Live concerts take place at Highlands Town Square from 6:00 to 8:30 P.M. Saturdays on Pine crank up at 6:00 P.M. at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, and close at 8:30 P.M.
Every weekend, that’s five hours of fun and every minute of it, gratis, thanks to Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. Friday Night Live features traditional mountain music. Feel free to join in. Sing, clap, and tap. That’s right. Get on your feet and dance. Two-step, waltz, do the East Coast Swing, for starters. Your enthusiasm fires up the bands’ energy. The Outdoor Concert Series is brought to you by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC and Friday night shows are recognized by Blue Ridge Music Trails of NC. Visit blueridgemusicnc.com for more information. The musical styles of Friday and Saturday concerts are heartpumping, entertaining, and they feature regional artists, but stylistically, they’re a bit different. Friday is more traditional, and Saturday is all about popular music. And while we’re talking about September’s free concerts, we might as well mention The Pop-Up Pipers, a troupe of bagpipers who’ll be performing on Saturday, September 3 at Highlands Burritos side patio 4:30 - 5:00 P.M. Here’s what’s in store during September (with one glorious October concert included): Friday, September 2, local favorite Zorki; Saturday, September 3, Blaze the City; Friday, September 9, Supper Break; Saturday, September 10, The Rockabillys; Friday, September 16, Curtis Blackwell; Saturday, September 17, HC Oakes Band; Friday, September 23, Sycamore Flats; Saturday, September 24, Will Thompson Band; Friday, September 30, The Foxfire Boys; And Saturday, October 1, Fancy & The Gentlemen
by Luke Osteen
Meet Your Librarian
Hudson Library’s Carlyn Morenus holds an entire library of skills and notions within her heart and mind.
Carlyn Morenus is the branch librarian for Hudson Library in Highlands. Q: Did you always aspire to become a librarian? A: Librarianship didn’t enter my head until just a few years ago. I had a successful career as a classical pianist and university professor, ending with 17 years as a tenured full professor in Illinois.
My husband and I had a house here, and we always planned to retire here, but we decided we didn’t want to wait that long to be in these beautiful mountains. It was actually the retirement of Mary Lou Worley from Hudson Library in 2014 that got us thinking about a possible new career in public libraries. And the more we thought about it, the more we liked the idea! We both ended up getting second master’s degrees from Valdosta State University through their online degree program, which was a wonderful experience. And before we had quite finished our degrees, we both got positions in the Fontana Regional Library system. I started out at Macon County Public Library in Franklin, where I got to know the library system well, before becoming branch librarian for Hudson Library in 2017. My husband, Keith Barnett, started out in IT for the Fontana system and has been the assistant county librarian at Macon County Public Library in Franklin since 2018. Q: What are a few highlights of managing a library? A: Being the sole librarian for Hudson Library has been quite an adventure. I do some of everything, from leading Storytimes to planning author events, choosing books for the collection, and removing stray snakes. I love the opportunities to connect with patrons of all ages. One of the most rewarding things has been forging partnerships with the many amazing organizations on the Plateau and across Western North Carolina.
Q: Do you have a favorite book genre? A: Young adult novels. I have many favorite books, so it’s hard to pick just one. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (middle grade fantasy), Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (classic adult literature), and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (young adult novel) are three that leap to mind. Q: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? A: A couple of my favorite adventures have been piloting a small plane and mushing sled dogs.
by Deena Bouknight
September of Our Years
This month brings its own nostalgic realizations about time.
The arrival of the fall month of September causes us to pause and notice the passage of time. We feel the change of season this month, the eternal march of time. We are in the September of our calendar year. We also think about, perhaps, being in the September of our lives. It’s a good month to think about time. Time might not exist, you know, outside human experience. In that respect, the experience of time might be like the experience of beauty: something that exists not in the objective world but wholly in human experience. This is depth psychology. Our human experience of linear time spans the past, present and future. We also experience the circularly of time in the cycle of the four seasons and in ideas of reincarnation. The Maya carved round stone calendars representing hundreds of thousands of circular years in time. If you combine linear with circular, you get a three-dimensional spiral. The three-dimensional spiral is an icon that appears on the edge of theoretical physics and metaphysics, a paradigm of change. We know little about time, more about gravity. The best expression of circular time I have ever seen comes in the form of a poem, the lyrics of a song in The Lion King.
Circle of Life
From the day we arrive on the planet And blinking, step into the sun There’s more to be seen than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
Some say eat or be eaten Some say live and let live But all are agreed as they join the stampede You should never take more than you give In the circle of life, it’s the wheel of fortune It’s the leap of faith, it’s the band of hope Till we find our place on the path unwinding
In the circle, the circle of life Some of us fall by the wayside And some of us soar to the stars And some of us sail through our troubles And some have to live with the scars
There’s far too much to take in here More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky Keeps great and small on the endless round In the circle, the circle of life This is our time. All of us are in the September of this year; Many of us are in the September of our years, or November, in the Circle of Time. Take heart: Beauty abounds and is ours for the taking. Behold the gifts of September, in the circle of time.
by William McReynolds
The Showhouse Goes On
September still holds a storehouse of dazzlements at the 25th Annual Cashiers Designer Showhouse.
Drew English
Although this month is on the very tail end of the 25th Annual Cashiers Designer Showhouse, which opened August 26 and wraps up September 4, a few special programs are on tap. The following offerings are found at the Village Green and are free and open to the public: Sister Schubert – an icon in the food industry and among everyday cooks across the country, she’s recognized especially for the homemade bread available in most grocery store’s frozen food section. Join her at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, September 1, for A Pan of Rolls that Changed the World for the Better; Drew English, the resident gardener for the historic High Hampton Dahlia Garden shares his knowledge of these bountiful plants at 2:00 P.M. Friday, September 2. Transportation will be provided from Village Green at 1:45 P.M.; Laura Sullivan, the owner of Atelier Maison & Company of Cashiers and Asheville, focuses on heirloom quality, non-toxic, sustainable, high-style furnishings with How Furniture Can Impact Your Health, 2:00 P.M. Saturday, September 3; Sue Fazio demonstrates creative expressions in painting with oil, acrylic, encaustics, pastels, as well as pottery at 4:00 P.M. Saturday, September 3; and Karen Weihs, an artist who’s adept with a palette knife, conveys the design sense that led her to pushing landscape work into abstraction at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, September 4. This year’s Showhouse is a classic mountain retreat designed and built by the 2003-founded company of Dillard-Jones, and it’s located in the new neighborhood of Fieldstone in High Hampton. Each year, recognized designers from across the Southeast add their distinctive touches to the Cashiers Designer Showhouse, which is ultimately a fundraiser to support the Cashiers Historical Society in a variety of its local educational activities and programs. The Showhouse is an important annual event for the 1920sfounded Cashiers Historical Society, found on the grounds of the historic Zachary Tolbert House, whose mission is to preserve the identity of Cashiers through recognition of its history in publications, awards, and projects. Final viewing hours for the Showhouse are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Plus, one more Sunday is available to view the home: September 4, from Noon to 4:00 P.M. Shuttle service, offered from the Village Green to the Showhouse, is included with the ticket. No parking is available at the Showhouse.
More information about the home, events, and activities, etc. can be obtained by calling (828) 743-7710, visiting cashiershistoricalsociety.org, or emailing CDS@cashiershistoricalsociety.org.
Brooklyn: The Musical, is the logical progression from Sentimental Journey – Mountain Theatre Company’s exuberant production at The Highlands Playhouse. Get your tickets at mountaintheatre.com.
Mountain Theatre Company continues their most successful season in history at The Highlands Playhouse, they are already gearing up for their fall productions. Sentimental Journey, a celebration of USO shows of the 1940s, closes on September 4, and MTC is hard at work on their next production! Up next on the historic Playhouse stage is Brooklyn: The Musical, opening September 23rd and running through October 16th.
Using a play within a play structure, Brooklyn: The Musical focuses on a group of street musicians known as the City Weeds. The group transforms a street corner under the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge into a stage where they present their story about a young Parisian singer named Brooklyn. Named after the New York City borough from which her absent father hailed, Brooklyn begins a journey of selfdiscovery when she is orphaned after her mother dies. She is sent to live in a convent where she discovers her vocal talents, becomes a star, and travels across the Atlantic in search of the father she never knew. Scott Daniel, Mountain Theatre Company’s Executive Artistic Director, states, “This show speaks to all of us: how we look for and find our place in the world, how we define our own story, and how we leave our legacy to those behind us. This spectacular show really embraces the theme I wanted to define our whole season: to celebrate the gifts we have to give, the journey we take to share them, and the hands that guide us along the way.” Mountain Theatre Company has assembled a cast of professional actors from across the country to appear in this North Carolina premiere of Brooklyn: The Musical. Come see this group of talented performers tell this beautiful and inspiring story of the American Dream.
Mountain Theatre Company’s production of Brooklyn: The Musical will run at the Highlands Playhouse from September 23 - October 16, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 P.M. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 P.M.
by Lindsay Garner Hostetler, Director of Marketing and Outreach, Mountain Theatre Company
It’s Going To Be a Thriller
Highlands-Cashiers Players launches its 28th Season with the thriller night watch, October 13-23 at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. For tickets, call (828) 526-8084, or visit the Performing Arts Center Box Office.
Pictured left to right: Gardner Davis, Susan Kent, Robin Phillips, Julie Harris, Craig Eister, Michael Vavrek, Nick Sharp, Lydia Hitchcock, and Director Michael Lanzilotta. Not pictured: Randy Lucas and Ron Leslie.
Highlands-Cashiers Players is staging Night Watch at Highlands Performing Arts Center (507 Chestnut Street), October 13-16 and 20-23. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows will be held at 7:30 P.M.; and Sunday shows at 2:30 P.M. Night Watch is the story of a woman, Elaine wheeler, who is plagued by insomnia and one night, while looking out her window, thinks she sees a dead body in the building behind hers. Several people, including Elaine’s husband John, best friend Blanche, maid Helga, and neighbor Mr. Appleby try to get to the bottom of this horrible mystery, but soon everyone begins to question Elaine’s sanity. No one is truly who they seem, and the audience will be guessing throughout the show what is going on. Michael Lanzilotta is directing the show. Julie Harris plays Elaine Wheeler, and leads a cast including Craig Eister, Lydia Hitchcock, Susan Kent, Randy Lucas, Michael Vavreck, Gardner Davis, and Ron Leslie. As play Director Michael Lanzilotta said, “Opening this season with a suspense story will hopefully reinvigorate the community in supporting community theater. Our all-volunteer team is dedicated to bringing entertainment to our Plateau. “ Fletcher may best be remembered for her play, Sorry, Wrong Number; but Night Watch, once a movie starring Elizabeth Taylor, has no less of an illustrious past. First seen on Broadway in 1972, it was praised as a long-awaited American thriller, comparable to the mysteries of Britain’s Agatha Christie. The play tells the tale of Elaine Wheeler (played by Julie Harris) whom one night during a raging storm tells her husband, John (Craig Eister) that from their living room window she thinks she has seen a murder being committed in the deserted house next door. John calls the police, but a search of the old house turns up nothing. Elaine’s terror continues to grow, and shortly thereafter she claims to see another body – this time of a woman. By now skeptical, the police ignore her pleas and her husband fearing that Elaine is on the brink of a nervous breakdown calls a psychiatrist, Dr. Tracy Lake (Robin Phillips). The plot moves quickly from here. Elaine’s old friend Blanche (Susan Kent), and the sinister next-door neighbor, Allan (Pastor Randy Lucas), and the family maid, Helga (Lydia Hithcock) all contribute to the deepening mystery. With twists and turns, Night Watch reveals its truths slowly, culminating in a riveting climax. Those attending Opening Night will be treated to a wonderful reception at the end of the show. For more details, please email hcplayers2017@gmail.com.
by Luke Osteen / photo by Susan Renfro
Fun Fundraiser
“O Oysters, come and walk with us!” It turns out that Lewis Carroll had the right idea all along – the Highlands Biological Station is hosting its Highlands on the Half-Shell, Sunday, October 2.
Highlands knows how to have fun, while at the same time raise money for worthwhile causes. And Highlands on the Half-Shell 2022, set for 4:00 P.M. until dark, Sunday, October 2, is a festive event to benefit the Highlands Biological Foundation. Over a Cajun-themed gathering in the Valentine Meadow (888 Horse Cove Rd) at the Highlands Biological Station, attendees will have an opportunity to sample gumbo, jambalaya, steamed oysters, and more. “Highlands on the Half-Shell is one of the Highlands Biological Foundation’s big annual fundraisers,” explained Winter Gary, the Foundation’s marketing manager. Attendees “enjoy a feast of Louisiana delicacies, mingle with our other wonderful community members, and show support for the Foundation’s mission of stimulating, promoting, and funding biological research and education in the southern Appalachians.” Winter pointed out that the event is very much “community driven,” with many people volunteering time – including Foundation members and board members – to handle logistics regarding obtaining and preparing the food, setting and cleaning up, and much more. The Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) and works to inspire present and future generations to preserve and protect the unique environment of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau by raising awareness through experiential learning and free, public programs. The Foundation supports the three key facets of the Highlands Biological Station, which are represented in its logo. There is the Nature Center, the Botanical Garden, and the research and educational dimensions of the Station and Foundation. In the mid-1970s, the Station was acquired by the University of North Carolina and is now administered on behalf of the university system by Western Carolina University. One of the core missions of the Foundation is to promote scientific research, and there is a long history of Foundationsupported research at the station. Plus, ongoing for the public – children and adults – are courses, workshops, lectures, tours, etc. Specifically for children are opportunities such as Kids Camp and Nature Center Nights. “The Foundation is dedicated to educating our community on what makes the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau so special, and fundraisers such as Highlands on the Half-Shell ensures that programs offered at the Nature Center can continue,” said Winter. Tickets to the fall Highlands on the Half-Shell fundraiser are $125 per person. Tickets are limited to 150 people. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit highlandsbiological.org
by Deena Bouknight
Voice with a a Soulful Smolder
Sara Darling’s bringing her irrepressibly joyous sound to the September 7 Orchard Session at Old Edwards. For updates and to book online visit OldEdwardsHospitality. com/OrchardSessions.
Sara Darling
Iam on the phone with country artist Sara Darling, talking about her Wednesday, September 7, performance at Orchard Sessions at Old Edwards.
Darling’s warmth radiates through the phone. She tells me about her upbringing, of which she is unfailingly joyful – about growing up outside of Des Moines, Iowa – about the “beautiful pace of life there, where people are kind, and family bonds tight.” She delights in talking about the beauty of the place and its sunsets; about being in “the wide-open spaces.” “That idea of dreaming big and the dreamer in me was born there.” It’s easy to envision Darling as a 3-year-old singing for her family, and later at 12 performing Shania Twain covers at the Iowa State Fair.
Early on she got acquainted with the music of Fleetwood Mac and the sound of The Eagles and connected with the California Laurel canyon Country sound. She arrived in Nashville after high school and started polishing her songwriting skills – helped by a community of writers that included Glen Campbell’s longtime guitarist, Jeff Dayton. She recorded her first album, Every Monday Morning, in 2009, and in 2010 released Angels & Devils, an album that the New York Times referred to as “sharp and underappreciated.” Her big break came in 2013 with Home to Me, Darling’s first single to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, reaching a peak of number 34. It was, as she says, “the song that kicked off my career.” She appeared on the Conan O’Brien Show and played the Grand Ole Opry – which she has done 96 times since, including a performance with Brad Paisley. At the same time, she started traveling all over the world – most frequently to the UK where audiences have adopted her as one of their own. In 2018 she stunned the crowd at British Summertime, opening for Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt, and James Taylor. The New York Times described her as, “a sophisticated songwriter with a crisp, powerful voice, and a soulful smolder.” Inside her tender tracks are discreet ruminations on love, romantic skepticism and chasing dreams – themes honest and real, written from a life well lived. Asked to characterize her own singing style, she says, “My music is very transportive, there’s a beautiful escapism to it.” Visit OldEdwardsHospitality.com/OrchardSessions for more information.
by Marlene Osteen
Putts Fore Paws
Keep Swinging! C-H Humane Society’s Putts for Paws, set for October 10 at the Cullasaja Club, is a banner day for the shelter’s kitties and pooches.
Putts Fore Paws Inaugural Team Champions (L-R) Gary Maddox, Jim Hunter, David Stetson and Joseph Dunning
Announcing the second annual golf tournament to help the shelter pets at the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society…Putts Fore Paws! After a very successful inaugural event, CHHS is making this an annual tradition which will take place during one of the most beautiful times of the year at one of the most beautiful courses on the plateau. Putts Fore Paws will occur during the peak of leaf season, Monday, October 10, at the Arnold Palmerdesigned championship golf course at the Cullasaja Club. CHHS Putts Fore Paws on October 10th starts with a 9:30 A.M. registration and a 10:30 A.M. shotgun start. Mulligans will be available for purchase at sign-in. A beautiful crystal award will be presented to each member of the winning foursome with the overall lowest score (with handicap), and compliments of Hammond & Mitzi Rauers and Franklin Ford, a hole-in-one on a designated hole will win a new 2021 Ford EcoSport! Registration is $200 per golfer and $100 of each registration is a tax-deductible contribution to the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society. Registration includes greens fees, cart fees and a boxed lunch.
Not a golfer? Not to worry, you can still take part in this great cause for the animals! Hole sponsorships are available for $1,000 and each sponsor will have a picture of their beloved pet (or a CHHS shelter pet) placed on the course at various locations and your personalized sponsor sign will be given to you after the tournament as a keepsake memento and a thank you for your support. This exciting golf tournament is limited to just 20 foursomes, so put your foursome together and register beginning Tuesday, September 6, 2022. The tournament application can be found on our homepage at chhumanesociety.org. For more information, please call (828) 743-5769 or email golf@chhumanesociety.org. Established in 1987, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization found 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. 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
Motoring On!
The Highlands Motoring Festival returns for a September encore with a trio of events. To register or for more information, visit highlandsmotoringfestival.com.
The Highlands Motoring Festival, resurgent after a smashing June celebration is staging a mini-festival this month for spectacular cars and the people who love them.
First up is the One Lap of the Mountains – Speciale, set for Friday, September 9, is a 115-mile round trip. It’s a shorter version of the festival’s immensely popular One Lap of the Mountains. Like the original, this event is a mountain driving experience beginning at the Highlands Community Center. Participants will travel the back roads with a rest stop, stopping for lunch, and then return by a different route to Highlands. The round-trip mileage of the tour is around 115 miles and returns to Highlands in time for shopping and enjoying the afternoon. Participants will also receive a Highlands Motoring Festival dash plaque and two hats. Registration is required and cost is $180. On Saturday, September 10, it’s the second tour One Lap of the Mountains – Classic. This round trip returns to its traditional format and will roll out from the Community Center on an approximately 154-mile driving adventure. The carefully curated route will travel the area’s winding mountain roads, stopping for lunch (where the participants are on their own to order from a diverse menu), before returning to Highlands via a different route. Participants will also receive a Highlands Motoring Festival dash plaque and two hats. Registration is required and cost is $180. On Sunday, September 11, the festival will stage the High Octane Casual Car Show at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. It’s open to all cars and free to participants. The open format
allows cars to come and go at their convenience. This will be a fun event with a focus on car owners and visitors sharing their mutual interest in cars. Coffee and donuts will be available with donations accepted. The result of this year’s June festival is that more than 2,500 people attended and participated in festival activities.
“The biggest surprise of the June festival was the turn out for the Friday night parade,” noted Ham. “Well over 100 cars showed up for the parade. Further, Main Street was crowded with on lookers to watch classic cars parade.” The Literacy and Learning Center, REACH of Macon County, and the Community Care Clinic of Highlands and Cashiers are the recipients of funds raised through HMF, which is an all-volunteer effort each year.
by Deena Bouknight
Randall Atcheson Returns
The fortunes of The Literacy & Learning Center will rise considerably with an October 9 benefit concert by pianist Randall Atcheson. Call (828) 526-0863 or visit maconncliteracy.org for more information.
Concert pianist Randall Atcheson will be visiting Highlands to benefit The Literacy & Learning Center in October. Atcheson was a child prodigy who entered Samford University at 12 years old and who’s made an impressive career as an organist, pianist, and composer. He was accepted into The Juilliard School where he became the only student in the history of Juilliard allowed to pursue and receive simultaneous degrees in piano and organ performances. Atcheson was the winner of the first Juilliard Organ Competition and subsequently gave the premiere performance on the new pipe organ in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. In December 2014, Atcheson performed his 12th solo concert at Carnegie Hall. Atcheson’s recording career began following his New York debut on both piano and organ at Alice Tully Hall. He has recorded on the Word, Windham Hill, PolyGram, and RCA labels. His heavy concert schedule had taken him to five continents. He has performed at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and Blenheim Palace, England, and has made much-acclaimed piano debuts in Sydney; Jerusalem; and Rio de Janeiro. Atcheson has also played for President Obama and has performed for such artists as Mick Jagger, Kathie Lee Gifford, Phil Collins, and Diana Ross. His gift of communicating the beauty of music in various forms has led to a decidedly versatile career as a much-sought-after artist in the classics as well as in pop and the sacred repertoire. The concert, which will be held at Highlands Performing Arts Center on October 9, will benefit The Literacy & Learning Center’s many free educational programs. The mission of The Literacy & Learning Center is to enrich lives and expand the knowledge of children, adults, and families through diverse educational programs that advance literacy in its many forms and to promote lifelong learning, which results in an informed and empowered community.
by Jenni Edwards, The Literacy & Learning Center
Inaugural Golf Tournament
The entire community receives a boost when Cashiers Cares hosts its premiere golf tournament at Trillium Club on September 19.
Ashotgun start at 11:30 a.m. will kick off Cashiers Cares first Golf Tournament, hosted at Trillium Club Monday, September 19. The field is limited to 100 players who will play in a scramble format. The cost to play is $150 and includes a cart, lunch and a celebratory cocktail party. Reservations with checks made out to Cashiers Cares may be sent to Cashiers Cares, P. O. Box 1072, Cashiers, NC 28717. Cashiers Cares supports 10 local charities which focus on the needs of the underserved of our community. The agencies served are AWAKE, Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau, Pisgah Legal Services, Community Care Clinic, Cashiers Valley Preschool, Hampton Preschool and Early Learning Center, SAFE, Four Seasons Hospice Care, Fishes & Loaves and United Christian Ministries of Jackson County. Operating with nearly no expenses, Cashiers Cares has distributed more than $500,000 to the community since 2008. Cashiers Cares supports 10 local charities…
by Melissa Reed
Scan to learn more.
– Helen Hunt Jackson
Cashiers Designer 1Showhouse, 10 AM-4 PM. Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Wine Tasting, 4:30 - 6:30 PM Highlands Wine Shoppe. Sentimental Journey, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive. Cashiers Designer 2Showhouse, 10 AM-4 PM. Erin Gray Trunk Show, Acorns. Mountain Findings 10 AM - 1 PM. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Friday Night Live concert, 6 PM, Highlands Town Square. Sentimental Journey, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse.
Cashiers Designer Showhouse, 10 AM-4 PM. Erin Gray Trunk Show, Acorns. Sentimental Journey, 2 PM & 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse.
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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church.
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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Under the Stars, On the Rocks Dinner Series, Skyline Lodge and Oak Steakhouse.
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The Bookworm, 711 AM - 3 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Locally Grown on The Green, 2 - 5 PM, Village Green Commons. Wine Tasting, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, Buck’s in Cashiers. Orchard Session: Sara Darling, The Farm at Old Edwards Inn. Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub. Highlands Food Pantry 810 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Wine Tasting, 4:30 - 6:30 PM Highlands Wine Shoppe. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive. Coppley Trunk Show, 9TJ Bailey’s. Simon Pearce Trunk Show, Acorns. Highlands Motoring Festival, One Lap of the Mountains – Speciale. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Bookworm 11 AM - 3 PM. Friday Night Live concert, 6 PM, Highlands Town Square. Cashiers Designer 3Showhouse, 10 AM-4 PM. Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM - 12:30 PM. Erin Gray Trunk Show, Acorns. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Sentimental Journey, 2:00 & 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Saturdays on Pine Concert, 6 PM. Concert, 6 PM, Town & Country. Bluegrass Music, Cashiers Valley Smokehouse. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.
Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM - 12:30 PM. 10 Coppley Trunk Show, TJ Bailey’s. Simon Pearce Trunk Show, Acorns. Highlands Motoring Festival, One Lap of the Mountains – Classic. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Farm Fest, 12-5 PM, Mountain Retreat & Learning Center. Dazzling Dahlia Festival Show, 1:00 - 4:00 PM, The Bascom. Saturdays on Pine, 6 PM. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.
Simon Pearce Trunk Show, Acorns. 11 Highlands Motoring Festival, High Octane Casual Car Show, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. Dazzling Dahlia Festival Show, 1:00 - 4:00 P.M., The Bascom. Bel Canto Concert, 4:00 PM, Highlands Performing Arts Center. Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church. Simon Pearce Trunk Show, Acorns.
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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands 13 United Methodist Church. Simon Pearce Trunk Show, Acorns. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Dinner, 6:00 P.M., Cullasaja Club. Simon Pearce Show, Acorns. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Locally Grown on The Green, 2 - 5 PM, Village Green Commons Wine Tasting, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, Buck’s in Cashiers. Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub.
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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Simon Pearce Trunk Show, Acorns. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Wine Tasting, 4:30 - 6:30 PM Highlands Wine Shoppe. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.
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Mountain Findings Open 10 AM - 1 PM. Simon Pearce Trunk Show, Acorns. Native Plant Symposium, Highlands Biological Foundation. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Friday Night Live concert, 6 PM, Highlands Town Square. Sentimental Journey, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse.
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Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM - 12:30 PM. 17 Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Simon Pearce Trunk Show, Acorns. Native Plant Symposium, Highlands Biological Foundation. Painted Fern Art Festival, 10 AM - 6 PM, Rabun County Civic Center. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Saturdays on Pine, 6 PM. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.
18Painted Fern Art Festival, 10 AM - 6 PM, Rabun Civic Center. Native Plant Symposium, Highlands Biological Foundation. Highlands Porchfest, 1:00 - 6:00 P.M., downtown Highlands. Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church. Cashiers Cares Inaugural Golf Tournament, 11:30 AM, Trillium Club. .
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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands 20 United Methodist Church. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Locally Grown on The Green, 2 PM, Village Green Commons. Wine Tasting, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, Buck’s in Cashiers. Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub.
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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Simpli Fashion Show, Elevation, Highlands. Wine Tasting, 4:30 - 6:30 PM Highlands Wine Shoppe. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.
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Mountain Findings, Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. 10 AM - 1 PM. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Brax Trunk Show, TJ Bailey’s. Brax Trunk Show, TJ Bailey’s. Saturdays on Pine, 6 PM. Climate Change to the Plateau, Brooklyn: The Musical, 5:00 P.M. Highlands Nature Center 2:00 & 7:30 PM, Highlands Great Art on Screen: Pompeii: Playhouse. Sin City, 5:30 P.M. PAC. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive. Brooklyn: The Musical, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse.
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Fourth Annual Oyster Fest, The Orchard at 25 The Farm at Old Edwards, Brooklyn: The Musical, 2:00 & 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands 26 United Methodist Church. Art League of Highlands-Cashiers meeting, 4:30 PM, The Bascom. Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Village Nature Series, 5 PM, Village Green Commons.
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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Wine Tasting, 4:30 - 6:30 PM Highlands Wine Shoppe. Brooklyn: The Musical, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.
The Bookworm, Mountain Findings, 11 AM - 3 PM. 10 AM - 1 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. St. Jude’s Catholic Church. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Wine Tasting, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, Barnas Denim Trunk Buck’s in Cashiers. Show, TJ Bailey’s. Locally Grown on The Green, Art Benefit, drawing 5 PM, 2 PM, Village Green Commons. Betsy Paul Real Estate. Brooklyn: The Musical, 7:30 PM, Friday, Night Live, 6 PM, Town Sq. Highlands Playhouse. Brooklyn: The Musical, 7:30 PM, Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. The Ugly Dog Pub.
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Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Mountaintop Art & Craft Show, 10 AM-5 PM, K-H Founders Park. Cashiers Designer Showhouse. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Beth Poindexter Trunk Show, 11 AM-5 PM, Josephine’s. Saturdays on Pine, 6 PM. Concert, 6 PM, Town & Country. View the complete Sentimental Journey, 2:00 & Highlands Cashiers 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Highlands-Cashiers Community Plateau Calendar Players Nightwatch, 7:30 PM, PAC. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.
RECREATION & CREATION
Pages 68-84
Fall Farm Festivities
Just in time for harvest season, The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center is offering Farm Fest for the entire family, Saturday, September 10. For more information, visit themountainrlc.org/upcoming-events or call (828) 526-5838.
The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center is a spot like no other on the Plateau. And on Saturday, September 10, from noon to 5:00 P.M., the public will have a chance to see for themselves just what makes this locale so special. Farm Fest is for all ages, and the outdoor community event includes tours of the MRLC’s Many Hands Peace Farm, which includes poultry, a shiitake patch, hoop house, food forest, garden, apiary, and mountain meadow. The farm fully utilizes organic and regenerative agriculture practices. Learning stations include opportunities to gather more information about each area of the farm.
In addition, hiking trails enable participants to meander from the farm to the top of Little Scaly for a brief tour of the MRLC’s facilities, including a view of Blue Valley as well as a scenic vista of four states (on a clear day) from the lookout tower. In fact, the annual Farm Fest provides a peek into MRLC’s four ecosystems: mountain meadow, waterway, temperate rain forest, and old-growth forest (one of two in North Carolina of the National Old-Growth Forest Network). In addition to these explorations, also offered is entertainment, games, face painting, an apple cider press, and garden and foraged foods for sale. Farm items for sale include garden produce, eggs (chicken and duck), as well as herbal teas, mushroom tinctures, and herbal salves. In addition to being immersed in the farm and natural environment, information will be available about other farm opportunities – school or other group events, farm foraging dinners, mushroom foraging tours, edible and medicinal plant foraging tours, herbal workshops, beekeeping workshops. Involvement
with the farm includes volunteer and apprenticeship opportunities, as well as community networking to work together on projects to help local and wider communities. Cost for the Farm Fest is $20 for adults and $10 for 18 years and under; plus, there are scholarships available for admission. The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center was founded in 1979 by a group of friends and Unitarian Universalists from across the Southeast. Available is a full range of dining, lodging, and meeting space facilities supporting inhouse adult and youth program events and events sponsored by third party vendors for conferences, workshops, family gatherings, wellness events, hiking treks, and more. It’s located at 4872 Dillard Road, just outside Highlands. For more information and scholarship application, visit themountainrlc.org/upcoming-events or call (828) 526-5838.
by Deena Bouknight
How Do Our Gardens Grow?
The Native Plant Symposium has the answers – hosted by the Highlands Biological Foundation, September 16 and 17, 265 North Sixth Street.
To celebrate the 60th year of Highlands Botanical Gardens, the Highlands Biological Station resumes its Native Plant Symposium on September 16-17. According to the Station’s horticulturist, Rachel Martin, the theme of this year’s symposium is 60 Years of Conservation Gardening. Thus, speakers and topics reflect the symposium’s chosen theme. For example, Doug Tallamy is a professor of entomology at the University of Delaware and has long studied the importance of how plants that evolved elsewhere have impacted biodiversity. Martin explained, “He’s also the co-founder of Homegrown National Park, which encourages folks to plant native species. The Highlands Botanical Gardens were established with that same vision of creating a refuge for the unique native species of Highlands, so it made perfect sense to include him in our lineup.” Additionally, other symposium speakers work directly with native plant conservation in their roles: Heather Alley and Justin Robinson. Alley is the conservation horticulturist at the Mimsie Lanier Center for Native Plant Studies at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Robinson is the special projects botanist for the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, which oversees the conservation of rare species and natural communities for the entire state. Added Martin, “Last but not least, we’re pleased to have Patrick McMillan as a speaker. Many readers may be familiar with his PBS show Expeditions with Patrick. He’s now the current director of Horticulture at Juniper Level Botanic Garden in Raleigh. He has a vast knowledge of the botanical history of Highlands and we’re excited to have him present on the importance of this region.” In addition, a live native plant fundraiser auction is also planned. Some of the plants available to bid on are rare species, like Franklinia, Oconee Bells, Stewartias (Mountain Camellia), and Pitcher Plants.
The event is $150 per person, with a catered lunch provided. Students are invited at a reduced rate of $20 per person. For additional details and registration, please visit highlandsbiological.org/nativeplantsymposium.
by Deena Bouknight
Fall FriendlyFarming
Local fields aren’t fallow during this crucial month. You shouldn’t be, either.
Malcolm Bank
Even though many a gardener’s mindset is to cultivate in spring and summer only, some produce can be realized during the fall months as well. “The last frost is between September 17 and into October. So you have to get the plants into the ground, and some of these plants can tolerate cold weather,” says local farmer Malcolm Banks. Typically, fall crops are in the ground sometime in August, but he advised green thumbers to finish starting seeds inside for fall crops like Brussels sprouts and other heading brassicas, and then get them in the ground. “Seeds can also be sown for a late crop of leaf lettuce, mustard greens, Swiss chard, and spinach in the partial shade of taller plants,” said Banks. “And when Labor Day is near, directly add to gardens such seeds as kohlrabi, kale and collards.” Further items on a Banks’ To Do Fall List for his own farm – and good advice for gardeners – is to: • maintain a raspberry patch, after the last raspberries are harvested, by pruning out old flowering canes by leaving only three to four young canes per foot of row, and then wait until spring to prune back shoot tips; •order and plant spring flowering bulbs for next year’s early flower display, and choose bulbs with different flowering times to extend the season; • continue deadheading flowers, which will allow plants to use energy reserves for a final flower display; • be careful not to forget about hanging baskets and container plantings by checking moisture content daily to determine if watering is needed; •remove old plants from containers, baskets, and gardens that have stopped producing to eliminate a shelter for insects and disease organisms; •control/eradicate any evident weeds before they go to seed and wreak havoc next spring and summer; •sow seeds of biennials, such as hollyhock, Canterbury bells, and foxglove; • till or hoe beds where nothing will be planted in the fall; • dig potatoes after vines have died; • and check pumpkins and harvest by cutting the vine and leaving about two inches of stem. Banks’ Yellow Mountain Garden offers hand-made soaps, CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) seasonal produce boxes, houseplants, meats, and much more. For more information visit yellowmountaingarden.com.
by Deena Bouknight / photo by Mary Gillan
When the student is ready
the teacher will appear. On October 27-30, in picturesque Boone, North Carolina, local resident, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and Yoga Teacher, Karla Perez, along with Adora Winquist, Modern Alchemist and author, and Patsy Balacchi, Feng Shui Expert, cordially invite you to an all-inclusive female empowerment retreat, the “Divine Feminine Immersion.” The three-day event will focus on several aspects of wellness, self-improvement, and connection to nature. To include Yoga and breath work, high frequency essential oils and crystal healing transmissions along with Feng Shui adjustments and life balancing classes. The focus of this three-day intensive is to create a pathway toward a more balanced and spiritual existence despite the challenges we all face in our hectic lives. The three female facilitators of this extraordinary event are seasoned experts of each discipline being presented during the coursework. This program Karla Perez offers a rare opportunity to experience the transformational tools for a lifetime in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Here you can envelope yourself in 360 acres of pristine forest beckoning you to explore and experience the vast expanse of nature. Our above down, inside out approach toward wellness will include organically grown and vegetarian inspired meals. All levels of participants are welcome at this once in a lifetime immersive experience. Lodging is at The Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, NC. All meals are included and transportation from the airport can be arranged. For more information as well as cost and travel arrangements please call 1-833-236-7236 or go to divinefeminineretreats.org.
Mill Shoals Falls
The twin streams leading to Mill Shoals Falls give this hidden jewel its own charm, setting the stage for the seductive beauty of nearby Bird Rock Falls.
About 28 miles east of Cashiers, you’ll find Mill Shoals Falls. Mill Shoals is unique as it consists of two waterfalls. This is where Shoal Creek and the north fork of the French Broad River meet side by side and drop 15 feet into the river below. At the base of the falls, stands an old red mill that is part of the Living Waters Ministry. What Mill Shoals lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. As a bonus, you can also visit the nearby Bird Rock Falls. As you leave Mill Shoals you will see an obvious trail to the right. Walk down the trail for about five minutes to Bird Rock.
Along the way, you will see a few cascades. At the base of the trail is a large sloping rock that you may be tempted to venture out upon. Caution is advised as it is typically slippery and can be dangerous, particularly when the water is high and moving rapidly.
Directions
From Cashiers, drive about 20 miles east to Highway 215. Turn left and drive 7.7 miles to Living Waters Ministries on the left. Please do not park in their parking lot. Limited parking is available along the road. A short path, beginning at the road on the south side of buildings, will lead you to the waterfalls.
At a Glance Waterfall Guide
Enjoy this sampling of area waterfalls, for a deep dive visit thelaurelmagazine.com/recreation.
HIGHLANDS Bridal Veil Falls
From NC 106 in Highlands, drive 2.3 miles west on US 64. Waterfall GPS: N35.07180 W-83.22910 Difficulty: You can park your car in a little parking area and walk 50 feet.
Dry Falls
From NC 106 in Highlands, drive 3.15 miles west on US 64 to a parking area on the left. Waterfall GPS: N35.06884 W-83.23869 Difficulty: There are lots of steps you must go down to get behind Dry Falls.
Bust Your Butt Falls
From NC 106 in Highlands, drive 6.35 miles west on US 64 to the pullout on the left. Waterfall GPS: N35.09268 W-83.26573 Difficulty: Don’t stop on the road itself!
Glen Falls
From the junction of US 64 and NC 106 in Highlands, drive 1.75 miles south on NC 106 and bear left at the sign for Glen Falls. Take Glen Falls Road, not Holt Road. Drive 1.05 miles to the parking area. Waterfall GPS: N35.03128 W-83.23829 Difficulty: There’s some climbing involved here.
Upper Middle Creek Falls
From the intersection of NC 106 and US 64, follow NC 106 South for 9.3 miles. Exactly 1 mile before you reach the Georgia state line, and about 0.3 miles after NC 106 crosses Middle Creek, a yellow School Bus Stop sign will be on the right. Park on the right side of the road right at the sign. Waterfall GPS: N35.00714 W-83.32916 Difficulty: The four-tenths of a mile hike is not strenuous but it can be confusing.
CASHIERS Silver Run Falls
From US 64 in Cashiers, head south on NC 107 from 4.05 miles – there’s a pullout area on the left. Waterfall GPS N35.06599 W-83.06558 Difficulty: No difficulty.
Whitewater Falls
From US 64 west of Lake Toxaway, take NC 281 for 8.5 miles and turn left at the sign for Whitewater Falls into a parking area. Difficulty: Not strenuous, though the paved path is a bit uneven.
Cashiers Sliding Rock
Cashiers Sliding Rock, a million miles from the cares of the 21st century, is easy to get to. From the Cashiers Crossroads, travel south on NC 107 to Whiteside Cove Road. Head down the road for 2.6 miles to where the road crosses the Chattooga River and pull over just across the bridge. Difficulty: A piece of cake.
Spoonauger Falls
From Cashiers, travel on NC 107 8.2 miles. The name changes to SC 107 – travel for 4.9 miles. Turn right onto Burrells Ford Road. Drive approximately 2.0 miles to the Chattooga Trail parking area on the left (look for the Forest Service Bulletin Board) Hike north on the Chattooga Trail, which roughly parallels the Chattooga River for 0.25 mile, then cross Spoonauger Creek. Immediately on the right will be a side trail. Difficulty: There’s nothing tricky.
Schoolhouse Falls
From US 64, take NC 281 North for 0.85 mile and bear left on Cold Mountain Road. Stay on the road. When it becomes unpaved, travel about 0.1 mile. Take the road on the right and travel for 0.1 mile to a parking area. Take the trail to the right of the information kiosk. At the intersection, proceed straight on Panthertown Valley Trail. Turn left onto Little Green Trail. Schoolhouse Falls is about 0.15 mile ahead. Waterfall GPS N35.16330 W-83.00674 Difficulty: The hike isn’t challenging.
Scan for interactive map of waterfalls in the Highlands and Cashiers area.
More Than a Fish
The mindset of a fly-fisher is at once deep and remarkably simple.
As a fly shop owner, I often get asked by onlookers why people spend thousands of dollars on fly fishing equipment to go fishing when the very fish you are fishing for can be bought at the local grocery store for just a few dollars?
That’s a hard question to answer, but there’s an old quote from an author named Fennel Hudson that sort of sums it up: “People fly fish because they are searching for something. Often, it’s not for a fish.”
First of all, fly fishing is one of the most challenging ways to catch a trout. There’s the cast that takes a significant amount of time to master, then there’s the fly selection of what to use and when. Even when you start to get the basics of that down, you must attach this fly crafted by fur and feather to the end of your line and present it in a way that it looks like food to the fish. To be successful at this game, it is necessary to have a connection with the fish, what they eat, how they act, and the environment they are drawn to. That’s what sets fly fishing apart from dunking a worm into a pond and waiting for a tug on the other end.
When I think deeply about why I am so drawn to the sport of fly fishing, it all boils down to being able to interact with nature in a peaceful environment. I would even go as far as calling it a religious experience. One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from a man named Tony Blake: “Some go to church and think about fishing, others go fishing and think about God.”
To most fly fishers, the fish are just the cherry on top of the whole experience. In fact, very few fly fishers that I know keep the fish after they catch them anyway…. instead, they are released to fight another day. So, yea, it’s way more than the fish…they just provide an excellent excuse to go fishing!
by Matt Canter, Brookings Anglers
