Winter 2017 by The Laurel Magazine of Highlands NC and Cashiers NC

HIGHLANDS AND CASHIERS

WINTER 2017

THELAURELMAGAZINE.COM

LAUREL

YOUR GUIDE TO

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BERT MOBLEY

bertmob@gmail.com 828-200-0846 114 NorthÂ 4th Street Highlands, NC Main Office: [828]526-4104 | Downtown Office: [828]526-8300 | highlandssir.com

HIGH ELEVATION. COOL TEMPERATURES Inconceivable Blue Valley views from this home perched on top of the world--yet only five miles from Downtown Highlands on ten + acres (with additional acreage available as well). As you enter along the wooded drive, you come to a clearing that is, quite literally, breath-taking. The home has had only one owner for the last 26 years; now, it's ready for you to turn it into your showplace. $1,089,000 / Now $949,000 | MLS 84355 Highland Gap: on the Atlanta side of Highlands with estate-sized properties, privacy, and great view options. View properties start at $394,500-a two-bedroom with multi-range vista. The showplace is a 48-acre estate with an unrivaled private waterfall, long-range views, pastures, and a charming threebedroom craftsman cottage. A beautiful private paradise, laden with history and possibility. $2,495,000 | MLS 84192

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INSIDE THE LAUREL WINTER 2017 EVENTS

Winter Vitamin Salad

Beef and Dumplings Wine Talk Dining Guide

Winter Photo Contest

Cashiers Library

Chocolate Cook-Off

Local Specials at Old Edwards

VENTURE OUT

HOMES & LIFESTYLES 58

Home of Distinction

Financial Talk

Life with Donna

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Winter Bird Count

Accidental Gardener

Carpenter Bee

Rick Siegel, Volunteer Spotlight

Appalachian Ginseng

C-H Humane Society

H-C Land Trust

Carpe Diem Farms

Center for Life Enrichment

21 Calender

THE ARTS

HISTORY

GIVING BACK

The Art of Duncan Greenlee

2017 Winter Photo Contest Winner

Highlands History

Big Brothers, Big Sisters

H-C Chamber Music

Cashiers History

Highlands Biological Station

H-C Players

Highlands Food Pantry

Highlands Playhouse

Friends for Life

Highlands PAC

Combating the Flu

Highlands Rotary Club

H-C Art League

Sleep Apnea

HEALTH

56 Yoga

DINING 34

BIZ SPOTLIGHT 74

Highlands Chamber of Commerce

Root Bound

BUTTERFLY FOUND

ongratulations to Corinn Bishop, the first to identify the location of the Laurel’s Swallowtail in our December issue, and the winner of a $50 gift certificate to Fresser’s Eatery.

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MAKING IT HAPPEN

MARJORIE CHRISTIANSEN Managing Partner

Publisher’s

Note

JANET CUMMINGS Managing Partner

marjorie@thelaurelmagazine.com

janet@thelaurelmagazine.com

MICHELLE MUNGER Art Director

SAM CUMMINGS Account Rep

mungerclan5@aol.com

sam@thelaurelmagazine.com

As individual as the snowflakes, 2017 brings something new and completely different for us all. Whatever it brings you, we at the Laurel wish you every good thing, looking forward

THOMAS CUMMINGS Distribution Manager jothcu@yahoo.com

DONNA RHODES Writer

donna847@frontier.com

to the recounted tales of mountains climbed, challenges conquered and moments savored and cherished. Thank you for yet another opportunity to share the journey of life on this amazing and blessed Plateau with you. May prosperity and peace surround you

WILEY SLOAN Writer

LUKE OSTEEN Writer

wileyandsarah@nctv.com

dumbdogs@earthlink.net

JENNY KING Writer

MARY JANE MCCALL Writer

throughout this New Year!

With love,

Janet and Marjorie

jettking@gmail.com

Volume Sixteen • Issue One thelaurelmagazine.com • 828-526-0173 email: editorial@thelaurelmagazine.com P.O. Box 565 • Highlands, NC 28741

mjmccall777@gmail.com

Contributing Writers: Jane Gibson Nardy, Kathy Bub, Mary Adair Leslie, Sue Blair, Dr. Anastasia Halldin, David Stroud, Curt Christiansen, Julie Schott, Jeannie Chambers, William McReynolds, Sue Aery, Sonya Carpenter, Ann Self, and Tammy Mobley.

Copyright © 2017 by The Mountain Laurel, LLC. All rights reserved. Laurel Magazine is published eleven times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Laurel Magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel Magazine nor any of its staff is responsible for advertising errors, omissions, or information that has been misrepresented in or to the magazine. Any substantial errors that are the fault of the magazine will be subject to a reduction or reimbursement of the amounts paid by the advertiser, but in no case will any claim arising from such error exceed the amount paid for the advertisement by the advertiser.

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EVENTS

Photo by David Stroud

WINTER PHOTO COVER CONTEST BY MARY JANE MCCALL

We’re already planning our 2018 Winter Edition, and we’re saving a place for you.

hether you’re an aspiring photographer, a seasoned professional, or simply someone with a good eye, this is your chance to become our cover artist for the 2018 Winter Edition of The Laurel. We’re once again having our annual winter photo competition with the winning photograph being chosen as our cover for next winter’s edition, so grab your camera, capture a memory, and you could become our winner. Pictured are some of our favorites from the many entries in last year’s contest. One of these might be just the inspiration needed for you to enter your photographs in our contest, so start snapping those shots that capture the beauty and spirit of the season. Aspiring cover artists should enter their seasonal and magazine appropriate shots at facebook.com/ TheLaurelMagazine by March 31. Submitted photos should be high resolution (at least 300 d.p.i.) and must be of the Highlands/Cashiers area. Amateurs and professionals alike are encouraged to enter. Pictures will appear on The Laurel Facebook page and readers can cast a vote for their favorite. The deadline to enter and vote is March 31. The winner will be announced on Facebook and the winning photograph will appear on the 2018 January-February magazine cover. Visitfacebook.com/TheLaurelMagazine to enter and vote before the March 31 deadline.

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Photo by Hoyt Starkey

Photo by Barbara Short

Photo by Virginia Hawkins

Photo by Brett Decker

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EVENTS

WARM UP YOUR WINTER BY LUKE OSTEEN

Shake off the Winter Slumber with a visit to Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library.

ometimes it seems like the entire Cashiers community has gone into a long winter’s nap. Part of that is a reflection of the fact that many second-homeowners have fled to warmer climes. Part of it’s derived from the fact that most tourists still haven’t discovered the sublime beauty of the landscape in the midst of winter. Whatever the reasons, Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library stands as a time-tested tonic for the winter blues. Though its patron base certainly diminishes in this slow, slow season, the library remains the center of community life. That means that residents can attend free showings of recent movies every Thursday at 3:45 P.M. Titles range from mysteries to period dramas and from gauzy romances to explosive action pieces. The library’s Meeting Room is equipped with an ultra-modern projection and sound system and the seats are decidedly comfy. Free

popcorn and bottled water are part of the deal. Everyone is invited to join weekly Mah Jong games every Wednesday at 1:00 P.M. That means that all skill levels are welcomed and the emphasis is on fun and friendship. Duplicate Bridge games are staged every Tuesday at 1:00 P.M. in the library’s Meeting Room. The games are sponsored by the Friends of the Library. For children in the community, there’s a Storytime Hour every Wednesday at 11:00 A.M. Kids of all ages are invited to join in Lego Club, the second Tuesday of every month at 3:45 P.M. The library provides the Lego and children may work on their own designs, although Youth Services Director Melanie Golden is always happy to provide guidance and ideas. In a similar vein, Crafts for Children is staged at 3:45 P.M. every fourth Tuesday. There is a craft suitable for all ages and

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guidance is provided. Many people received Kindles, laptops, and digital devices of all sorts for the holidays and a percentage of that group is unsure and a little bit afraid to use their gifts. The staff of the library is always happy to provide hands-on help and instruction. Though it’s a sleepy season, it’s usually a good idea to call ahead to reserve some time for a lesson. Of course, the library offers good reliable computer service either through its set of desktop computers or its 24-hour wireless signal (which extends out into the parking lot for those times when the library is closed). All of these services are free and you don’t need to be a patron to use them. For information or to schedule some time for help with digital devices, call Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library at (828) 743-0215. The library is located at 249 Frank Allen Road.

EVENTS

SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE! BY LUKE OSTEEN

Sure, it may be possible to resist the warmly seductive Friends of the Library Chocolate Cookoff, to be staged at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, February 18, at Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. Why on earth would you want to?

ith four previous incarnations, the Friends of Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library’s Chocolate Cook-Off has become an undeniable sweet spot on the otherwise dreary winter calendar. This year’s cook-off promises to offer all of the hallmarks of this annual event – newly-minted recipes that demonstrate an artist’s commitment to her craft, cherished dishes that evoke a flood of deeply sensual memories, and a beguiling sense of playful exuberance. Admission is $6 per person, with children under five admitted for free. Proceeds will allow the Friends to continue to support the Cashiers Library, itself a cherished community institution. From its inception, the cook-off has been an exciting event that draws upon

the talents of local cooks, both professional and amateur. Though some of the entrants can be passionate about their offerings, the competition is remarkably good-natured, perhaps the result of a Meeting Room infused with the scent of cocoa and an irresistible Chocolate Buzz. Previous cook-offs have showcased the remarkable talents found in kitchens scattered throughout the Plateau. Some of the offerings can be endlessly startling in their application of the principles of nouvelle cuisine, though many retain the timeless charm of, well, a slice of sinfully rich Chocolate Cake. The contest will offer first- and secondplace ribbons for the Best Chocolate Dessert, chosen by a three-judge panel based on taste, aroma, creativity, and eye appeal; a People’s Choice Award decided

by ballots from those in attendance; and an award for Best Table Decoration. After the sampling by everyone at the Chocolate Cook-Off, desserts will be offered in a Silent Auction. The competition is open to everyone. Applications may be picked up at the Front Desk of the library. Each contestant should make a dessert to be sampled by the judges, as well as small bites for the People’s Choice competition. For more information, contact Bonnie Zacher at (828) 743- 0489 or at bjzacher@bellsouth.net. The Friends of Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library invites all interested parties to join in its work to support the Cashiers Library. Membership forms are available at the Front Desk of the library, 249 Frank Allen Road.

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EVENTS

LOVIN’ OUR LOCALS BY JENNY KING

Local residents get their chance to revel in the luxuries of Old Edwards Inn and Spa through March.

f you live in Macon, Jackson, Transylvania, and Rabun counties you have an opportunity to enjoy the amenities at Old Edwards Inn and Spa at special rates for their We Love Locals winter event. This much-anticipated program runs Sundays through Thursdays during January, February, and March. Let’s start with the elegant, sumptuous rooms which are offered at a rate of $99 a night Sundays through Thursdays. This is the height of luxury, with all the attention to detail you would expect. You’ll enjoy the finest linens and most comfortable beds, with each room decorated in quiet, restful tones. So, you’ve booked your room, now it’s time to decide how many spa treatments you can squeeze in. Each 50-minute spa treatment is offered at $99 and you’ll have use of all the spa amenities, like the rainforest showers, the Jacuzzis, and steam rooms. The fitness classes are also included in this offer at $15 per class. The Spa will provide a complimentary Jane

Iredale Make-up Consultation, which means you’ll be looking spectacular for your trip to Madison’s Restaurant, which is giving locals 20 percent off their entire check. Please be sure to schedule an appointment for the Jane Iredale experience by calling (828) 526-9887. This will be the ideal time to do some shopping at Acorn’s, where selected merchandise is discounted up to 75 percent. Let them show you their jewelry lines as well as the well-chosen collections of wearables and home accessories. Old Edwards Inn and Spa truly does love locals and this event is one well worth taking advantage of. A local identification from Macon, Jackson, Transylvania, and Rabun counties will be needed for each person receiving the discount. The offer is not to be combined with any other discounts and is not valid Holiday Weekends or Valentine’s Day. For more information on We Love Locals and to schedule your retreat, call Old Edwards Inn and Spa at (866) 526-8008 or visit OldEdwardsInn.com.

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EVENTS

WHAT A WONDERFUL WEB BY JENNY KING

Laurel’s magnificent new website offers a kaleidoscopic view of the glories of life in Cashiers and Highlands. Visit us at TheLaurelMagazine.com.

rum roll, please. The new website for Laurel is up and ready for your viewing pleasure. We don’t mean to brag, but…okay, we are bragging! It’s been a long time in the making and we think it was worth the wait. It’s the same address, TheLaurelMagazine.com, but much more interactive and colorful than our original site. Visitors are able to click on specific headlines: Where to Stay, Shopping, Dining, Culture, Outdoors, Real Estate, and Events. You can read the current edition of Laurel online as well as browse for archived issues and search for specific articles. We are hoping you make our website the first place you look to find out what’s happening in our area, too. Just go to the Events Page and you’ll see that you can put in specific dates to find out what is going on for that period of time. If you’re interested in having your event listed, make sure you click on the Contact Us link. From that page you can ask about advertising, contact the accounting staff, even offer up a suggestion for the editorial staff. Looking to buy or sell a home? The real estate listings couldn’t be more stunning and you can choose from location and price range, even how many beds and baths you’re looking for. The Shopping Page will direct you to retail establishments where the listings are all nicely laid out in alphabetical order and you can enter search parameters there, too. The same goes for Dining where you can look for a specific restaurant or choose by price, amenities, location, and cuisine. In short, we think our new website, like our magazine, offers the best in-depth information on our area. It’s easy to navigate, fun to browse, and rich with information. Let us know what you think. TheLaurelMagazine.com.

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EVENTS

GO AHEAD. WINE NOT? BY BONNIE DAYTON

Like a beacon in the snow, California’s Sonoma Wine Country is beckoning.

ith the arrival of the new year, days are short, the sun is low in the sky, and the air is biting cold. It’s tempting to stay close to the fire with a with a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of nice Merlot. It’s also the perfect time to plan a trip to warmer climes, which happens to be what the Center for Life Enrichment is doing right now. Last year, the CLE offered an extraordinary four-day excursion to Oregon’s sun-dappled wine country. Travelers enjoyed beautiful views and scenery while sipping some of the area’s most delicious wines and dining on farm-to-table cuisine. A highlight of the trip for many was to experience Willamette Valley during picking and crush season as well as private lectures from the local winemakers. This trial sojourn has inspired CLE to formulate plans for a trip in September to California’s storied Sonoma County. The region is considered the birthplace of California’s wine country, with grapes planted as early as 1812 on the Sonoma coast settlement of Fort Ross. Sonoma’s wine scene is leisurely and deeply indulgent. The county is 52 miles wide and 47 miles long and blessed with natural splendor — dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, magnificent redwood forests, and peaceful countryside. Its mix of natural wonders, outdoor and cultural activities, acclaimed restaurants, and charming yet elegant accommodations has earned it The Travelers’ Choice 2012 Award for the Number One Wine Destination in the United States. While the details of the Sonoma trip are still being finalized, it is advised to register as soon as possible as the trip is limited to 20 participants. You may call the CLE office at (828) 526-8811 for information or to register for the trip. If you haven’t renewed your membership yet, please take a minute to do so by visiting clehighlands.com or by calling.

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• January Resident Artist Series: Beginning Throwing, January 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19. For more information or to register, please contact The Bascom’s Education Department at (828) 787-2865 or registrar@thebascom.org • The Metropolitan Opera offers “Nabucco,” at 12:55 P.M., Saturday, January 7 Live via Satellite at The Highlands Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available online at highlandspac.org, at the door, or by calling (828) 526- 9047. • Lego Club meets at 3:45 P.M. on Tuesday, January 10. For information call Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library at (828) 743-0215. • Wine Down Wednesdays January 11, 18, 25 and February 1, 8, 15, 22 at The Bascom. For more information or to register, please contact The Bascom’s Education Department at 828-787-2865 or registrar@thebascom.org • The National Theatre presents “No Man’s Land” Live via Satellite at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, January 14. Tickets are available online at highlandspac.org, at the door, or by calling (828) 526- 9047. • Exhibitions at The Bascom: Winter Resident Artist: Teisha Holloway January 14-March 12; WCU Master of Fine Arts January 13-February 25; Steven Forbes-deSoule February 18-April 30; The Bascom Permanent Collection-Ongoing; Selections from Community Art and After-School Programs January-May. (828) 526-4949. • The Metropolitan Opera presents “Romeo et Juliette” Live via Satellite at 12:55 P.M. Saturday, January 21. Tickets are available online at highlandspac.org, at the door, or by calling (828) 526- 9047. • The Bolshoi Ballet will perform “The Sleeping Beauty” Live via Satellite at 12:55 P.M. Sunday, January 22. Tickets are available online at highlandspac.org, at the door, or by calling (828) 526- 9047. • Crafts for Children is staged at 3:45 P.M. Tuesday. January 24. For information call Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library at (828) 743-0215. • Betsy Paul Art Raffle, to benefit the Cashiers-Glenville Fire Department, features a beach painting by Tranny Robinson. Drawing will be held Tuesday, January 31. (828) 743-0880 • The Bolshoi Ballet presents an encore performance of “Swan Lake” Live via Satellite At 12:55 P.M. Sunday, February 5. Tickets are available online at highlandspac. org, at the door, or by calling (828) 526- 9047. • February Resident Artist Series at The Bascom: Plates, Platters, and Serving Pieces February 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23. For more information or to register, please contact The Bascom’s Education Department at (828) 787-2865 or registrar@thebascom.org. • Opening Reception for The Bascom’s 2016-2017 Winter Resident Artist Teisha Holloway on Friday, February 10, alongside the Western Carolina University Master of Fine Art group exhibition. Come visit her and follow her progress, Monday-Thursdays, 10 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. at The Bascom, (828) 526-4949. • The National Theatre presents “Amadeus Live via Sat-

ellite on Saturday, February 11, at 1:00 P.M. Tickets are available online at highlandspac.org, at the door, or by calling (828) 526- 9047. • Playing in the Clay February 11, 18, 25 at The Bascom. For more information or to register, please contact The Bascom’s Education Department at (828) 787-2865 or registrar@thebascom.org. • Lego Club meets at 3:45 P.M. on Tuesday, February 14. For information call Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library at (828) 743-0215. • The National Theatre will perform “Saint Joan” Live via Satellite at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, February 18. Tickets are available online at highlandspac.org, at the door, or by calling (828) 526- 9047. • Friends of the Library Chocolate Cookoff, to be staged at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, February 18, at Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. Admission is $6 per person, with children under five admitted for free. The competition is open to everyone. For more information, contact Bonnie Zacher at (828) 743-0489 or at bjzacher@bellsouth.net. • Root Bound, A Savoring of Appalachian Food and Music, will be held February 24 and 25, at The Farm at Old Edwards. Old Edwards Inn and Spa is celebrating Root Bound, an Appalachian immersion experience through music and food. For more information visit OldEdwardsInn. • The Met Opera offers “Rusalka” Live via Satellite at 12:55 P.M. Saturday, February 25. Tickets are available online at highlandspac.org, at the door, or by calling (828) 526-9047. • Crafts for Children is staged at 3:45 P.M. Tuesday. February 28. For information call Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library at (828) 743-0215. • Betsy Paul Art Raffle, to benefit the Cashiers-Glenville Fire Department, features an oil painting donated by a supporter. Drawing will be held Tuesday, February 28. (828) 743-0880. • Highlands-Cashiers Players,will present the dinner theater show “Middletown” March 2-4 and 9-11. Please email Board President Michael Lanzilotta at mlanzilotta@ ymail.com or Adair Simon at adairsimon@frontier.com to learn how you can become part of Highlands-Cashiers Players.

Weekly Events EVERY MONDAY • Movies, Highlands Playhouse 2:00 , 5:00 and 8:00 P.M. , (828) 526-2695. EVERY TUESDAY • Dulcimer Club meets at 9:00 A.M., at Kelsey Hutchinson Park and at the Highlands Methodist Church in case of bad weather, Free beginner lessons at the church at 1:30 P.M. (828) 743-3797 • Dulcimer Lessons - Intermediate Class 10:00 A.M., Beginners Noon, Highlands United Methodist church, (828) 787-1586.

• Highlands Rotary Club, Noon, Highlands Community Center. • Studio Alive - Live Model, 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., Calderone Gallery, 3608 Hwy. 246, Dillard, GA, (706) 746-5540. • Duplicate Bridge, 1:00 P.M., Albert Carlton Library. (828) 743-0215. • Movies, Highlands Playhouse 2:00 , 5:00 and 8:00 P.M. , (828) 526-2695. • Karaoke, The Lost Hiker (828) 526-8232. EVERY WEDNESDAY • Highlands Mountaintop Rotary, 7:30 A.M., Hospital dining room. • Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley, 8:00 A.M., Cashiers United Methodist Church, (828) 743-2243. • Community Studio Art Session – Art Your Way, 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., Hudson Library, (828) 526-3031. •Children’s Storytime Hour 11:00 A.M. Albert Carlton Library at (828) 743-0215. • Cashiers Quilters Guild, 12:30 P.M., Cashiers Methodist Church. • Duplicate Bridge Games, 12:45 P.M., Highlands Civic Center. • Mah Jong Games, 1:00 P.M., Albert Carlton Library, (828) 743-0215. • Live Music, 7:00 to 9:00 P.M., Slabtown Pizza, (828) 743-0020. • Bluegrass with Nitrograss, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub in Highlands, (828) 526-8364. EVERY THURSDAY • Free Movie, 3:40 P.M., Albert Carlton Library, (828) 743-0215. • NAMI Appalachian South support group meeting 6:45 to 8:15 P.M. at 14 West. Palmer St., Franklin, (828) 526-9510. • Bluegrass featuring regional bands at 7:00 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub in Cashiers, (828) 743-3000. EVERY FRIDAY • Duplicate Bridge Games, 12:45 P.M., Highlands Civic Center. • Movies, Highlands Playhouse 2:00 , 5:00 and 8:00 P.M. , (828) 526-2695. • Live Music, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Wine Garden, Old Edwards Inn. • Live Music, 6:00 to 11:00 P.M., Hummingbird Lounge, (828) 787-2625. • Live Music, 7:00 P.M., On The Verandah, (828) 526-2338. • Live Jazz, The Ugly Dog Pub in Cashiers, (828) 743-3000. • Live Music featuring regional talent, 9:30 P.M.. The Ugly Dog Pub in Highlands, (828) 526-8364. EVERY SATURDAY • Movies, Highlands Playhouse 2:00 , 5:00 and 8:00 P.M. , (828) 526-2695. • Live Music, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Wine Garden, Old Edwards Inn. • Live Music, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Wine Garden, Old Edwards Inn. • Live Music, 6:00 to 11:00 P.M., Hummingbird Lounge, (828) 787-2625. • Live Music, 7:00 P.M., On The Verandah, (828) 526-2338. EVERY SUNDAY • Movies, Highlands Playhouse 2:00 , 5:00 and 8:00 P.M., (828) 526-2695. • Live Music, 8:00 to 10:00 P.M., Hummingbird Lounge, (828) 787-2625.

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EVENTS

Mark Your Calendar

ACCOMMODATIONS 4-1/2 Street Inn....................... Colonial Pines Inn.................... Whiteside Cove Cottages....... Mountain Brook Suites............. ARTS Mill Creek Gallery & Framing....... Museum of American Cut Glass. Smitten.................................... The Bascom........................... REAL ESTATE Country Club Properties.......... John Cleaveland Realty.......... Landmark Realty Group.......... Meadows Mtn. Realty............ White Oak Realty Group......... Pat Allen Realty Group ........... RESTAURANT / BAR Altitudes Restaurant................ The Log Cabin......................... The Lost Hiker Bar.................... Nectar Juice Bar..................... Pescados................................ Rosewood Market..................... The Ugly Dog Pub...................... Wild Thyme Gourmet ............... Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro. SHOPPING Alyxandra’s.............................. Bear Mountain Outfitters................ Cabin Couture......................... Celebrity Collection................. Drake’s Diamond Gallery........ Dry Sink...................................... Dutchman’s Designs................ High Cotton..............................

Highlands Fine Art and Estate Jewelry Corp. Highlands Furs............................ Highland Hiker..........................

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Martha Anne’s.......................... Mirror Lake Antiques................ Peak Experience............... ……

HIGHLANDS NC

Scudders................................... Spice & Tea Exchange................... The Summer House.................. Whole Life Market....................

SERVICES Aery Chiropractic & Acupuncture..............................................

Cashiers Printing ..................... Creative Concepts Salon............... Highlands Visitors Center................ Highlands Aerial Park............... thelaurelmagazine.com | Winter 2017 | 23

AccommodAtions High Hampton Inn & Country Club ...................... Innisfree Bed and Breakfst By-the-Lake ............... EVENTS

Laurelwood Inn ................................................. Arts Blue Valley Gallery ................................................. Cashiers Hillside Artists............................................... Mountain Mist Gallery ................................................ reAl estAte Betsy Paul Properties ................................................. Landmark Realty Group ............................................. McKee Properties .............................................. Silver Creek Real Estate Group ............................... restAurAnts Boar’s Head Deli ....................................................... Crossroads Grill/Village Scoop .................................... Hunts Brothers Pizza ................................................. Sapphire Brewery & Pub .................................... Snack Bar 8 ..................................................... The Ugly Dog Pub ............................................. The Zookeeper Bistro .............................................. retAil A Jones Company ............................................. Bee Bags and Such ........................................... Bella Cotn ........................................................ Bird Barn and Gift Emporium ................................. Blue Ridge Bedding/ Carolina Rustic Furniture ..................................... Bounds Cave .......................................................... Brooking’s Cashiers Village Anglers.............................. Bumpkins ............................................................... Cashiers Customs .............................................. Cashiers Emporium ........................................... Cashiers Farmer’s Market ................................... CJ Brownhouse ...................................................... Consignment Market............................................... Dovetail Antiques ...................................................... Fiddlehead Designs ................................................... FireMoss Pottery ................................................ GG’s Consignments *ETC ................................... Gracewear Collection ......................................... Highland Hiker.................................................. Interior Enhancements ....................................... Into the Woods Home Interiors ........................... Karma ..................................................................... 24 | Winter 2017 | thelaurelmagazine.com 24 | Winter 2017 | thelaurelmagazine.com

Lenz Gifts & Linens .................................................... Lotsa Consignment Shop............................................ Mantiques ................................................................ Midnight Farms ................................................. Nearly New ...................................................... Nora & Co. ....................................................... Rusticks. .......................................................... Sawyer Family Farmstead ...................................... S’more Kids Klothes................................................... Summer Place Antiques .....................................

CASHIERS NC EVENTS

CASHIERS VALLEY NC

The Bear’s Den .................................................. The Look Boutique ............................................. Victoria’s Closet ...................................................... VC for Men .............................................................. The Village Hound .............................................. Vivianne Metzger Antiques ....................................... Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming ................................... Zoller Hardware ....................................................... The Designer’s Market .................................................

services Cashiers Chamber .................................................................. Cashiers BP .............................................................................. Cashiers Exxon ................................................................ Cashiers Valley Preschool .................................................. Dovecote......................................................................... Keystone Kitchen & Bath ........................................................ Pinnacle Anti Aging .......................................................... Shear Sensations.............................................................. Signal Ridge Marina ......................................................... Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming .................................................. thelaurelmagazine.com | Winter 2017 | 25 thelaurelmagazine.com | Winter 2017 | 25

THE ARTS

NATURAL WORLD TO WORLDVIEW BY WILEY SLOAN | THE ART OF DUNCAN GREENLEE

Duncan Greenlee’s evocative works reflect a passion for nature and the mysteries and magic of life.

eaders of The Highlander are familiar with the works of cartoonist Duncan Greenlee. Each week for the past 31 years Duncan’s cartoons have provided a glimpse of his pen and ink talent as he puts a spin on some current event. “Highlands is very blessed in that so many problems that we have are minor,” he says. “Through the cartoons I can call attention to these problems and generate thoughtprovoking discussion.” Many of our readers may also know Duncan from the Mountaintop Rotary Club’s Quick Draw events a few years ago where area artists complete a painting over the course of an evening, creations that were then auctioned to benefit local charities. Duncan’s paintings were vibrant, colorful evocations of the changing seasons. Whether he is working in watercolor, acrylic or pen and ink, Duncan’s art reflects the way he lives his life. He enjoys his days and that positive energy is reflected in his creations. It’s hard for Duncan to remember when he first drew his first picture. His dad was an industrial designer and also taught Industrial

design. His mother was an English teacher, and he grew up surrounded by great books and interesting people. His parents recognized Duncan’s talents early and provided art classes. Saturday mornings would find him at the Cleveland Institute of Art, where talented professionals helped him explore his talents and enhance his native abilities. “My parents and teachers always encouraged me to think for myself and to be able to defend my thinking,” he says. “The professors were firmly grounded in anatomy, design and color theory– key elements required of any good artist.” He cherishes his BFA from Cleveland Institute of Art and hopes to focus on his art more in the future. Duncan has earned his living as a landscaper, thus the natural world has had a profound influence on his art and his worldview. Autumn is his favorite season. His love of nature and of people are often the subject of his paintings. “I fear that many youngsters today are not offered the chance to explore their artistic abilities — with so much emphasis on automation and technology, artistic endeavors

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are sometimes overlooked,” he says. “Think about the art of A. Beardsley, a talented pen and ink professional who was known for his sense of design, or Alphonse Mucha, a Czechoslovakian artist whose paintings are exuberant, emotional and enthusiastic. These are just two of many artists whose style and talent have influenced my art.” Duncan and his wife, Ann, are well-known in Highlands. He’s responsible for the beautiful landscaping fronting First Presbyterian Church of Highlands. When retirement calls, Duncan hopes to paint full-time. Who knows, along with the names of Picasso or Matisse, art historians may cherish the works of Duncan Greenlee.

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THE ARTS

LIGHT, MAGIC, & WANDA

Wanda Cooper

BY JENNY KING

A fortuitous moment, a discerning eye, and a really snazzy app give us our Winter Photo Contest Winner.

he winner of our Winter Photo Contest for 2017 is Wanda Cooper, who lives on Harris Lake where this stunning sky scape was captured. It was taken on January 23, 2016, using her iPhone 6 and Wanda says, “My timing was crucial.” She notes that she was in the family room around dusk and looked up to see the burst of pink sky. She grabbed her phone and ran to an upstairs bedroom where she flung the sliding door open and took the photo from the balcony using the Camera+ app. By the time she ran downstairs the sky had changed to a typical January gray. It had snowed for several days and Harris Lake was frozen, which makes the photo even more spectacular. Harris Lake is, by far, one of her most favorite spots. “Each season offers something special,” she says. “The lake becomes a mirror and regardless of the time of year the reflections are fascinating subjects. Certain times of the day the clouds are reflected in the lake.” Wanda and her husband Chuck, own the local Highlands radio station, WHLC FM 104.5. On July 8 they’ll be celebrating 24 years of broadcasting in Highlands and the station has become as much a part of Highlands life as Harris Lake itself. They have lived on the lake for 10 years and she says, “From my upstairs office I see the constant parade of walkers and runners crossing the bridge. During the summer season, there is rarely a time when someone isn’t fishing.” Anyone who has seen Wanda’s Facebook page can attest to the fantastic photos she shares of her dahlias and, of course, the Cooper’s adorable Schnauzer, Carson. “I take a lot of pics of him on our walks around the lake. He tends to take me to some picturesque places. I try to always be prepared to capture the perfect shot. He and nature make a perfect combination.” Yes, they do, but it takes a special artistic eye to capture them in such striking style. Thank you, Wanda.

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Dr. William Ransom

BY NANCY GOULD-AARON

Dr. William Ransom shares his remarkable musical gifts with the entire world.

or William Ransom, Anna and Hays Mershon Artistic Director of the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, there’s really no such thing as down time. Pianist, master teacher, artistic director, editor, and judge for international competitions, Ransom regularly appears in recital, as soloist with orchestras, and as a chamber musician around the world. His performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio and Television in the United States, Japan, Korea, Argentina, and Poland. His recordings of “Enoch Arden” by Richard Strauss, “The Music of Alfredo Barili,” and “The Chamber Music of Johannes Brahms” were released on the ACA label. Ransom can also be heard on “Heartkeys,” from Rising Star Records. His new recording, “Listening to Memories” was released this year. He was the featured pianist performing music by Dwight Andrews used in August

Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize -winning Broadway hit, “The Piano Lesson,” as well as the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie based on the same play. Ransom is currently the Mary L. Emerson Professor of Piano and Director of Piano Studies at Emory University in Atlanta. He is founder and Artistic Director of the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta and has collaborated with such artists as cellists Yo-Yo Ma and Steven Isserlis.

In September, Dr Ransom was named artistic director designate of the Juneau Jazz & Classics Festival in Alaska, which occurs in May. He will back in Highlands and Cashiers in June for HCCMF’s 36th season of bringing beautiful music to the mountains.

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THE ARTS

RECOGNIZING RANSOM

THE ARTS

Kathryn Potts, Lyn Leigh McLain, Megan McLean and Craig Eister

Mary Adair Trumbly

Rick Siegel

Adair Simon

Megan McLean

Kathryn Potts

Michael Lanzilotta

Shirley Edwards

Ken and Sara Knight

Lee Lyons

LOVING COMMUNITY THEATER BY ADAIR SIMON

Highlands Cashiers Players relies upon a small army of talented volunteers to make everything work.

first got involved with community theater when I was 13. As a 13-year-old working with adults, having the responsibility of learning all those lines (which at that age was easy), and showing up on time and interacting with everyone on a suitably mature level was a great learning experience, not to mention fun. I didn’t even think about all the people, other than actors, who made that show happen. I understood about the director, she told me where to go and what to do. But I never even thought about the people who built the sets, wrote the newspaper articles, took the tickets, etc. Now that I’m acting and directing for Highlands Cashiers Players, I realize it takes a community to produce a show.

We have people like long-time actress and director Virginia Talbot, newcomer Heather Lowe Prine, who spends hours finding just the right shows to produce for the community. Ken Knight, a retired Navy guy, has been supervising and building sets for HCP for years while simultaneously selling ads for the playbills. President of the Board Michael Lanzilotta works with 12 volunteers on the board to make sure all the tasks of providing the community with four shows a year are taken care of. There’s Craig Eister, who manages HCP’s new website, and fundraising director Faye Siegel. Then, of course, come the actors who audition for the shows and Marty Boone, who takes hundreds of headshots and action pictures of the shows for publicity purposes.

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All these people are essential to making the shows happen, and we want more hands on deck. On March 2-4 and 9-11, HCP puts on the dinner theater show “Middletown.” We will need waiters, ticketing folks, publicity helpers, and all sorts of others to volunteer. In May, Highlands Cashiers Players will present the comedy “Don’t Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell.” The auditions will be held March 19 at 3:0 0 P.M. at PAC. New actors are needed to audition, set builders are needed, and on and on. 2017 is HCP’s year to widen our group of people involved. Please email Board President Michael Lanzilotta at mlanzilotta@ymail.com or Adair Simon at adairsimon@frontier.com to learn how you can become part of Highlands Cashiers Players.

THE ARTS

ON BOARD WITH THE PLAYHOUSE

Ashley Harllee

BY WILEY SLOAN

Board members bring a dynamic energy to the Highlands Playhouse.

n November we introduced you to three Playhouse Board members — Doug Aldridge, Steve Shephard and Ken Porter. This month, we’ll present four more — Debi Bock, Marilyn Cooper, Susie Day and Ashley E. Harllee. Debi Bock and her family have been coming to Highlands for over 20 years. As her four children left the nest, she began searching for an organization to work with. “A friend knew that I loved the arts, thus she introduced me to the Playhouse,” she says. “As board vice president, I envision it becoming a premiere venue for both live productions and movies.” Board member Marilyn Cooper obtained

Debi Bock

Marilyn Cooper

a degree in Interior Design from the University of Georgia in 1975. Doing business as Marilyn Bremer Interiors for the past 45 years she has parlayed her design talents into a thriving design business with clients in both Atlanta and Highlands. She and her husband Doug moved to Highlands full-time in 2012 establishing their home in the Cullasaja Club, where she is active on the Grants Committee of the Cullasaja Women’s Outreach. For more than 23 years, Orlando resident Susie Day and her family have spent their summers in Highlands. A member of the Highlands Country Club, Susie has actively served on the Playhouse Board for the past seven years.

“From actors, directors, and costumers to musicians, set designers and office staff, everyone gives 110 percent and more to see that playhouse productions are second-tonone,” says Susie. Ashley E. Harllee is the proprietor of C K Swan retail home and gift store across from Town Hall on U.S. 64. As a prior Bascom Art Center Board member and a business owner, Ashley is well-suited to serve the Playhouse. The Board and Staff are busily preparing for a blockbuster theatre season in 2017. Throughout the winter enjoy first run movies each day at the Playhouse. Visit highlandsplayhouse.org or call (828) 526-2695 for the current movie schedule.

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THE ARTS

ALL THE BEST. ALL YEAR LONG! BY MARY ADAIR TRUMBLY

Forget the winter doldrums, the Highlands PAC promises magnificent performances from New York, London, and Moscow.

he Highlands Performing Arts Center brings performances Live via Satellite to the Highlands-Cashiers area from the Metropolitan Opera, the National Theatre (London) and the Bolshoi Ballet (Moscow). January and February offer many opportunities to see all three venues. Beginning Saturday, January 7, at 12:55 P.M., the Met Opera offers “Nabucco.” Met Music Director James Levine conducts Verdi’s early drama of Ancient Babylon, with Plácido Domingo adding a new role to his repertory as the title character. The National Theatre presents “No Man’s Land” with Sir Ian McKellan and Sir Patrick Stewart at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, January 14: 1:00 P.M. Following their hit run on Broadway, McKellen and Stewart return to the West End stage in the glorious revival of Harold Pinter’s comic classic. At 12:55 P.M. Saturday, January 21, the

MET Opera presents “Romeo et Juliette.” The electrifying team of Vittorio Grigolo and Diana Damrau reunites for a new production of Gounod’s opera, based on the Shakespeare play. The Bolshoi Ballet will perform “The Sleeping Beauty” at 12:55 P.M. Sunday, January 22. The classic fairy tale brings to life Princess Aurora, the evil witch, and the handsome Prince. At 12:55 P.M. Sunday, February 5, The Bolshoi Ballet presents an encore performance of “Swan Lake.” Fashioned from Russian folk tales, “Swan Lake” tells the story of Prince Siegfried and of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. On Saturday, February 11, at 1:00 P.M. National Theatre presents “Amadeus.” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a rowdy young prodigy, arrives in Vienna, the music capital of the world – and he’s determined to make a splash. Awestruck by his genius, court com-

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poser Antonio Salieri has the power to promote his talent or destroy his name. Seized by obsessive jealousy he begins a war with Mozart, with music, and ultimately, with God. The National Theatre will perform “Saint Joan” at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, February 18. Bernard Shaw’s classic play follows the life and trial of a young country girl who declares a bloody mission to drive the English from France. She threatens the very fabric of the feudal society and the Catholic Church across Europe. The Met Opera offers “Rusalka” at 12:55 P.M. Saturday, February 25. Dvorák’s fairy-tale opera about the tragic water nymph Rusalka and the human prince who captures her heart is a timeless classic. Tickets are available online at Highlandspac.org, at the door, or by calling (828) 5269047. Highlands Performing Arts Center is located at 507 Chestnut Street.

THE ARTS

“Choices” – Acrylic Watercolor by Pat Calderone. Portrait of Byron Tenesaca.

“Janelle “ – Watercolor by Pat Calderone. Portrait of Janelle Jay

IN LEAGUE WITH CREATIVITY BY ZACH CLAXTON

The Art League of Highlands-Cashiers is a creative bazaar of ideas, friendships and unique events.

he Art League of Highlands-Cashiers’ membership is comprised of individuals with one thing in common — an interest in art. Some members are artists and others are not. In either case, membership in the Art League offers its members valuable benefits. At its monthly meetings, April through September, the Art League sponsors presentations by established artists. This is an opportunity for members to meet and talk with the artists in addition to hearing the “how” and “why” they do what they do. These meetings, held in The Bascom atrium are preceded by a wine social. Members receive timely information about the area art scene through the League’s web-

site and newsletter. Member artists can showcase their art on the website and have a link to their own sites. The league also periodically issues calls to artists to submit their work for various events. ALHC sponsors two fine art shows annually and member artists are entitled to participate in the shows, which offer an opportunity to network with other artists, meet the public, and perhaps sell some of their work. The Art League also participates in the Jackson County Art Council, and through its participation members are eligible to apply for grants to artists. The Art League provides volunteers for a summer children’s art camp hosted by The Bascom, and all league members may

participate in this educational program for area youth. Many years ago, the Art League started a program known as “Studio Alive” where member artists of all skill levels have the opportunity to paint, using a live model as inspiration. The Bascom now partners with the Art League to hold a session of this program on Mondays at its facilities. Perhaps the most important benefit of all is the opportunity for fellowship among Art League members. Lasting friendships are made with other likeminded folks. To become a member, contact Hollie Steil at hsteil@hotmail.com for an application, and be sure to visit artleaguehighlands-cashiers.com.

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DINING

SAVORING THE SOUL OF APPALACHIA BY JENNY KING

Old Edwards Inn and Spa devotes a weekend to honoring its local heritage through a celebration of food, drink and music.

ppalachia. First of all, let’s get the pronunciation correct, shall we? According to legendary Appalachian storyteller, author, and musician Sheila Kay Adams, the proper pronunciation is “app uh latch uh.” Don’t forget, because on February 24-26 Old Edwards Inn and Spa is celebrating Root Bound, an Appalachian immersion experience through music, food, and education. Visiting farmers and chefs will gather at Old Edwards to prepare their very own versions of what Appalachia means to them. Chefs and foodies alike are getting back to their roots and spotlighting Appalachian cuisine, to wide acclaim. Featured chefs of Southern Appalachia attending the weekend include Travis Milton, Adam Hayes, Denny Trantham, Shelly Cooper, Sheri Castle, Louis Osteen, and Old Edwards Executive Chef Chris Huerta. Friday at 6:00 P.M. you’ll enjoy a familystyle authentic Appalachian dinner in the

rustic surroundings of the Springhouse at Old Edwards where wine and bourbon will flow freely and author Sheri Castle will introduce the night. Afterwards, award-winning musician Darrell Scott will be performing live at the Highlands Playhouse. Scott has collaborated with such legends as Sam Bush, Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, and Faith Hill, and has established himself as one of Nashville’s premier session instrumentalists. His unique music has attracted a growing fanbase, and he tours regularly with his own band. On Saturday you can attend cooking classes and edutainment events with Travis Milton, Nancy Payne Bruns, Louis Osteen, and Sheri Castle. Sip hard cider while “Victuals” author Ronni Lundy and Garden and Gun editor Jed Portman pair up for an entertaining Appalachian Chat session, followed by a lunch created by Chefs Travis Milton and Chris Huerta inspired by traditional miner’s

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lunchboxes of Appalachia. That evening you’ll attend a wine dinner at The Farm at Old Edwards with Chefs Travis Milton, Adam Hayes, and Chef Huerta while being entertained by Highlands’ own bluegrass sensation, Nitrograss. Sunday, Chef Denny Trantham will serve a bluegrass gospel brunch while you listen to the authentic music of Curtis Blackwell and the Dixie Bluegrass Band. Throughout the weekend you’ll have the opportunity to shop at the retail Farmer’s Market of local and regional providers for goodies to take home and cook up your own Appalachian victuals. Make reservations now for Root Bound, A Savoring of Appalachian Food and Music, February 24 through 26. It’s the perfect time of year to cocoon yourself in warmth at the award-winning Old Edwards Inn and Spa in downtown Highlands. For more information visit OldEdwardsInn. com/rootbound or call (888) 690-4760.

DINING

WINTER VITAMIN SALAD BY DR. ANASTASIA HALLDIN HEALTHYMAMAINFO.COM

Sunny, sweet and packed with goodness, this simple salad is the perfect tonic for listless winter days.

inter is the time when we crave warm foods, like soups and casseroles. Skimping on salads shouldn’t be the rule, however. The Winter Vitamin Salad includes all the typical fruits and berries available in the winter. It’s full of sweetness, tartness, flavor and Vitamin C. It is very pretty, too. If you don’t like the taste of goat cheese, use feta. Winter Vitamin Salad 2 cups Baby Kale 3 sprigs Green Onions, diced 3/4 cup Fresh Pomegranate Seeds 1/4 cup Dried Cranberries

1 small Avocado, sliced 1 medium Cucumber, sliced 1 medium Orange, peeled and sliced 1/4 cup Soft Goat Cheese, crumbled 3 sprigs Fresh Rosemary Sticks, discarded, leaves only 2 teaspoons Fresh Lemon Juice 3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt Layer the first nine ingredients on a large plate. Combine Lemon Juice, Oil, and Salt in a cup. Pour the dressing over the salad and serve.

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DINING

IT’S AN INDIANA THING BY JENNY KING

This recipe serves as a cherished accompaniment to the important milestones in the lives of Karin Potts and her family.

arin Potts loves to feed people and she attributes that to the influence of her mother, Louise Scott, who was fondly known as MoMo. “Mom always made my favorite dish on my birthday and it was beef and dumplings every time,” she says. “She made it for my friends who loved it, and our home economics class even made it together for a class project. It was the last thing she cooked for me before she passed away.” She has many other fond memories of that happy dish. One in particular was the time her mom accidentally used sugar instead of flour for the dumplings. This left Karin and her sister Leesa trying to figure out how to tell their mom they tasted a bit strange, without hurting her feelings. The origin of the recipe was an old, well-

worn, cookbook owned by her mother. There are several listings in the book since it’s a popular dish in Indiana, where her parents lived. Karin says she has a lot of home cooked recipes. “It’s hard to pick just one because there are so many things my mom taught me to make, and there are so many great recipes I’ve gotten from (my husband) Terry’s family’s cookbook that have become staples in our home,” she says. This was the one she chose, perhaps because Karin always makes it for her daughter’s birthday and for her own, as well. Beef and Dumplings Take the stew meat and put it in a large pot of water with salt and pepper to taste. Let it simmer all day long. Bring the soup to a boil and add the dumplings one at a time about

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Karin Potts and mother Louise Scott, 1981 30 minutes before eating. After you get all the dumplings in, you turn down the heat and let everything simmer till done. The dumpling dough is rolled out thin and cut into squares. You could buy some already made, but you know they’re not going to be as good as homemade, so don’t take any shortcuts. You have to add the dumplings to the boiling soup one at a time, Karin says, “It’s a pain but worth it!” One very important thing to make note of — this dish must be accompanied by mashed potatoes! Guess it’s an Indiana thing.

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DINING

ANOTHER TOP 100 BY CURT CHRISTIANSEN THE WINE NAVIGATOR EMPIRICON@HOTMAIL.COM

In finding a favorite wine, timing and trust make all the difference.

es, it’s that time of year when the wine rags release their top 100 wines of almost last year. Many of the wines that are rated were tasted almost a year ago, hence, as you order these wines you’re very likely to get a wine one or two vintages later than the wine that was rated, or in other words, not the wine that was rated. As a consumer, if you rely on ratings, read the monthly issues and you’ll find wine that will actually still be available. As a wine professional, I taste wine on a weekly basis. I recognize quality and value, and purchase based on my experience. I make a point not to know a wine’s rating, as a high score can change one’s perception of a wine. To be honest, If I picked my wines based on score then I would make myself obsolete. I suspect a well-trained monkey could tell you that 96 is higher than 69. Still, I don’t recommend hiring monkeys to buy your wine. Find a wine professional who understands what you like and who’s earned your trust. They taste so much wine every week, and attend trade shows where they may try hundreds of wines in one day. Forget the top 100. Let your trusted wine pro make your own personalized top 100 specifically for you. Drink well, Curt

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DINING thelaurelmagazine.com | Winter 2017 | 39

See Ad On Page

Take Out

Outdoor Dining

Live Music

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS

Dress Code

Reservations Recommended

Vegetarian Selections

Children’s Menu

Full Bar

Wine

Dinner

Lunch

Sunday Brunch

Your Guide to the Restaurants of Highlands & Cashiers

Breakfast

DINING

Mountain Dining

The Bistro at Wolfgang’s • 460 Main Street • 828-526-3807 $-$$ •

• • • NC • • 5

Cyprus Restaurant • 332 Main Street • 828-526-4429

• • NC • 37

$$$ •

The Kitchen CarryAway & Catering • 350 S. Fifth Street • 828-526-2110 $-$$ $-$$ • • 39

The Log Cabin • 130 Log Cabin Lane • 828-526--5777 $-$$ $-$$ $$ • • • • • Madison’s Restaurant & Wine Garden • 445 Main Street • 828-787-2525

$$ $$ • • • •

C • • 39

NC • •

On the Verandah • Hwy. 64 (Franklin Road) • 828-526-2338 $-$$ $-$$ • • • • • NC • The Ugly Dog Pub • 298 South 4th Street • 828-526-8364 ¢

¢ •

• • C

• • 38

• • 35

Wolfgang’s Restaurant • 460 Main Street • 828-526-3807 $-$$ • • • • NC • • 5 CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company • 50 Slicers Ave. Sapphire, NC • 828-743-0220 $

$ $

Slabtown Pizza • 45 Slab Town Road 828-743-0020 $

•

• • • C

Pricing Guide Minimal, most entrees under $10 Moderate, most entrees $10-$15

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• • 35

Dress Code

$$ Deluxe, most entrees $15-$20 $$$ Grand, most entrees over $20

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS Altitude’s at Skyline Lodge - 828-526-2121 Annie’s Cafe - 828-526-1663 Asia House - 828-787-1680 Bake My Day Bakery & Cafe - 828-487-4633 Bella’s Junction Cafe - 828-526-0803 Bistro on Main/Main Street Inn - 828-526-2590 The Bistro at Wolfgang’s - 828-526-3807 The Brick Oven - 828-526-4121 Bryson’s Deli - 828-526-3775 Buck’s Coffee Cafe - 828-526-0020 Cyprus International Cuisine - 828-526-4429 The Dog House - 828- 526-8364 Dusty’s - 828-526-2762 El Azteca - 828-526-2244 El Manzanillo - 828-526-0608 Fressers Courtyard Cafe - 828-526-4188 Golden China - 828-526-5525 Highlands BBQ Company - 828-526-5000 Kelsey Place Restaurant - 828-526-9380 The Kitchen CarryAway & Catering - 828-526-2110 Lakeside Restaurant - 828-526-9419 The Log Cabin - 828-526-5777

• • 36

$ • • C • • 38

The Ugly Dog Pub • 25 Frank Allen Road • 828-743-3000 ¢ ¢ ¢ • • • C ¢ $

•

Takeout Only

Madison’s Restaurant & Wine Garden - 828-787-2525 Meritage Bistro - 828-526-1019 Mountain Fresh - 828-526-2400 On the Verandah - 828-526-2338 Pescado’s - 828-526-9313 Pizza Place - 828-526-5660 Paoletti’s - 828- 526-4906 Rosewood Market - 828-526-0383 Sports Page - 828-526-3555 Subway - 828-526-1706 SweeTreats Deli - 828- 526-9632 The Ugly Dog Pub - 828- 526-8364 Wild Thyme Gourmet - 828-526-4035 Wine Garden at Old Edwards Inn - 828-787-2525 Wolfgang’s Restaurant - 828-526-3807 CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS Buck’s Coffee Cafe - 828-743-9997 Canyon Kitchen - 828-743-7967 Carolina Smokehouse - 828-743-3200 Chester’s Chicken at Cashiers Exxon - 828-743-5041 Chile Loco - 828-743-1160

C Casual

NC Nice Casual Jacket

Cornucopia Restaurant - 828-743-3750 Cork & Barrel Lounge - 828-743-7477 El Manzanillo - 828-743-5522 Four Season Grille - 828-743-4284 Grandpop’s Ice-Cream Parlor - 828-743-7711 Happ’s Place - 828-743-2266 High Hampton Inn - 828-743-2411 Hunt Bros. Pizza at Cashiers BP - 828-743-2337 JJ’s Eatery and Canteen - 828-743-7778 Mica’s Restaurant - 828-743-5740 On the Side at Cashiers Farmers Market - 828-743-4334 The Orchard - 828-743-7614 Randevu Restaurant - 828-743-0190 Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company - 828-743-0220 Slab Town Pizza (STP) - 828-743-0020 Subway - 828-743-1300 The Ugly Dog Pub -Cashiers - 828-743-3000 Table 64 - 828-743-4135 The Trout Cafe & Grille - 828-877-3474 Wendy’s - 828-743-7777 Winslow’s Hideaway - 828-743-2226 Zookeeper - 828-743-7711

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VENTURE OUT 42 | Winter 2017 | thelaurelmagazine.com

VENTURE OUT thelaurelmagazine.com | Winter 2017 | 43

VENTURE OUT

Male Wood Duck on Mirror Lake by William McReynolds

AUDUBON’S WINTER BIRD COUNT BY WILLIAM MCREYNOLDS

The Christmas Bird Count, a hemisphere-spanning tradition, provides a snapshot of the perils and promise facing our local avian flocks.

very winter since 1900 the National Audubon Society has sponsored a winter bird count called the Christmas Bird Count or CBC. Today, CBCs take place across the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and beyond. The CBC mobilizes over 2,400 counting groups including over 60,000 individuals whose counts total upwards of 70 million birds. These yearly bird counts become part of what is one of the largest citizen science database in the world. These annual bird counts are used to specify winter bird distributions and the “climate space” in which many of our bird species exist. National Audubon has released “The Audubon Report,” focusing on 588 North American bird species and the likely impact of rising temperatures. A shocking 126 North American bird species are projected to lose more than half of their existing

ranges to climate change by 2050; another 188 birds could lose more than half of their current range by 2080. The town of Highlands is part of a designated Important Bird Area, making it a conservation priority for birds. Several studies show that the southern Appalachian Mountains could serve as a main artery for species migrations in a future of shifting climate. Within this context, data collected from the CBC are being used to foretell our collective future, and the local initiative in the Highlands area is a vital part of this larger ongoing effort. Totals for the most recent Highlands Plateau CBC will be available soon. Last winter, a group of 22 counters led by expert birders fanned out in all directions and saw or heard 1,139 birds. The species count was 38. These totals were consistent with CBCs in years past, considering the number of observers.

Some species were present in abundance: 384 Dark-eyed Junco were sighted. Other multiple songbird sightings were made of the American Robin (129), American Crow (112) and Carolina Chickadee (68). Seventy-Five Wild Turkey, the bird Benjamin Franklin praised, were seen. Other notable sightings include the American Goldfinch (51), Mallard (46), Northern Cardinal (38), Tufted Titmouse (29), and Song Sparrow (28). This year’s findings and long-term trends will be published in the spring. Our birds attest to both the tenacity and frailty of life. The Highlands Plateau Audubon Society, focused on enjoying and preserving birds and their habitats, is a chapter of the National Audubon Society and a 501(c) (3) organization. For information on all our activities and membership, please visit highlandsaudubonsociety.org.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers visit thelaurelmagazine.com

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BY JEANNIE CHAMBERS THE ACCIDENTAL GARDENER

hether your garden is established, needs a makeover, or a total mowover — January is the time to think seriously about what you want to see in your garden. January is all about change, and there’s always room for change. It may be hard to visualize your garden in the dead of winter, but remember, you are the artist-in-residence, and the garden plot is your canvas. Some garden artists have a natural talent for creating masterpiece palettes with striking blends of colors, plant heights, and textures while other gardeners are more of the paint by number variety. The good news? It doesn’t matter. There’s no wrong way. There may be better ways, but as long as you enjoy your garden, the result is still the same. What are your New Year’s resolutions for your garden? Planning, purchasing, planting, and maintaining are the top four things to consider in your garden. Planning is the fun part. Why not start a vision board by

The dead of winter is no time to nap when it comes to your gardening glory. Unless you dream of your garden while napping. snipping garden pictures from magazines and seed and plant catalogs? Having a vision doesn’t mean you actually must have the exact image replicated in your garden. Consider the clippings as a paint-by-number set. What captivated you about that certain image? The colors? The textures? The exotic or simplicity of the plant selection? Find the reason you reacted to the photo, and that’s where the planning for your garden begins. Purchasing can be tricky until spring rolls around. Many of the plants in your garden should be from local sources. The Mountain Garden Club plant sale is a good start. You have to wait until the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend for that purchase, but that timing is perfect for our area since usually all danger of frost is over. We have several local nurseries on and off the Plateau; most have very knowledgeable workers that can help you with your plant decisions. Planting is one of the hardest parts, but there’s a certain amount of earth therapy

involved that makes it worth every dirty fingernail. There’s just something about having your hands touch the earth — it’s the ultimate grounding experience. The maintenance of your garden can be the hardest part of your vision. Remember those nice pictures you clipped? You probably didn’t see the people in the background deadheading, trimming, weeding, pruning, adding mulch, watering, treating for pests, etc. It’s all part of the big picture, and comes full circle to the planning stage. Make sure you choose plants that don’t require more time than you can give, either personally or hired. Remember, just by writing down your garden’s New Year’s resolutions, you’ve started the process of a changed mindset. If you don’t keep the resolutions you haven’t failed, you just haven’t finished the vision. The good thing about a garden is that it can change anytime you choose. There’s always room for change.

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VENTURE OUT

HAPPY NEW GARDEN YEAR

VENTURE OUT

CARPENTER BEE PHOTO BY MADELEINE LANDRUM

COURTESY OF HIGHLANDS PLATEAU AUDUBON SOCIETY

arpenter bees are large, black and yellow bees frequently seen in spring hovering around the eaves of a house or the underside of a deck or porch rail. They are most often mistaken for bumble bees, but differ in that they have a black shiny tail section.

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VENTURE OUT

APPALACHIAN GINSENG BY DONNA RHODES

Local ginseng is vanishing from the landscape because of its almost mythic qualities.

inseng is derived from the Chinese word “Renshen” ( Ren : person, and shen : root). Characteristically, the ginseng root splits into two leg-like extensions. On occasion, it grows into a complete figure. Think mandrakes in Harry Potter… without the shrieking faces. Appalachian ginseng is the gold standard. China and Korea are two of our largest importers. Jim Corbin, plant protection specialist with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services spends a good deal of time making sure protected state park ginseng is marked with a silicon dye. If poached, it will glow red-orange under black light. The dye will also get on poacher’s clothing and skin but they won’t even know it’s there until the black light shines. Over

the years 15,0 0 0 plants have been confiscated this way and returned to public land or sold to finance the protection of wild ginseng. While Westerners value ginseng for its medicinal properties (lowering blood pressure and other health benefits) the Chinese admire its aesthetic and aphrodisiac qualities. An exquisitely developed ginseng root, for example, might be placed in a glass box and used as part of a dowry. In Korea roots are valued more for size than beauty. Corbin says there are 70 -90 grades of ginseng depending on the people doing the grading: the higher the grade, the higher the value. In America, ginseng is generally sold in bulk and sorted to grade further down the line. It goes through

much handling and processing at borders before it arrives at its final destination. If ginseng has a huge Asian market, what about its appeal in North Carolina? Moonshiners might pop a root into their brew, let it stew and take a morning shot. Tonic, you know. But Corbin says that recent generations no longer conserve ginseng as their ancestry did. In fact, many see it as a quick buck, particularly those hooked on pills. Users who know the woods will dig up a few roots, get a fistful of dollars, spend it on pills and come back for more. If you want to learn about ginseng, its importance to the region, and how to grow and conserve it, Google ginseng. Or visit macon.ces.ncsu.edu/profile/alandurden/ for more information.

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HISTORY

MILLING AROUND HIGHLANDS Sawmill built by Arthur House in 1877 Photograph by Henry Scadin ca. 1910. Courtesy of Highlands Historical Society.

BY MARY JANE MCCALL

The lumber industry has been a part of Highlands since before there was a Highlands.

n the mid ‘70s James Shepherd moved from Colombia, South America, to accept a position as principal at Highlands School. His response to how he liked Highlands still stands out in my mind: “It’s great, but I’ve never seen so many trees!” Trees have long been one of our greatest resources, providing us with a source of pride and revenue. From the late 1800s until the 1950s our trees supported a thriving lumber industry which supplied resources for local building and a livelihood for many families in Highlands and surrounding communities. The earliest sawmill in our area was built by William Dobson before the town existed.

He owned the property that Samuel Kelsey bought to found Highlands in 1875. Arthur House built the first sawmill within the new town on Mill Creek in 1877. This mill was later owned by John Jay Smith from 1886 until 1940. Another sawmill was built by Charles Boynton in 1884 farther downstream behind his house (today’s Main Street Inn), and it functioned until 1905. In the early 1900s, Will Cleaveland had a planing shop, also on Mill Creek (where Mountain Brook Center is today), and installed a dry kiln to dry a portion of the sawn wood and mill it into windows and doors. Richard Cobb had a smaller sawmill below Highlands Country Club at the head of Sequoyah Lake, which was also utilized by

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many locals who brought in their own logs to be milled for use in the construction of their homes and buildings. In addition to the sawmill, he also had a much-in-demand grist mill where many local farmers had a portion of their annual corn crop processed into cornmeal. Frank Norton had a small sawmill on Hicks Road where he sawed for locals as well. Improved means of transportation in the 1930s ushered in the era of more commercially-oriented sawmills. Eugene Wood started E. C. Wood Lumber Company with a sawmill on the lake at what is now Highlands Falls Country Club. The start of these commercial sawmills coincided with the blight that hit our area’s chestnut trees. As the

trees were dying, the government started selling boundaries of chestnut timber for logging. Recognizing the potential for growth, Wood Lumber Co. bought a boundary on Brush Creek and moved their mill there, logging and milling timber for Genett Lumber Company in Asheville. Lumber was trucked daily to Lake Toxaway, loaded onto boxcars and transported to Asheville and beyond. Chestnut was considered a core wood and was used by companies to build furniture, which was then covered with aamore valuable woods. Additionally, the bark from the trees was peeled and packed at the mill and sold locally for use in the home construction industry as siding. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll still see this siding on many older homes in our area. When the Brush Creek boundary was exhausted, the mill was moved to a new boundary further towards Franklin at Deal Cove. From there they moved to their permanent location on Shortoff Road between

where the Shortoff Baptist Church and the soccer fields are today. Production was in its heyday, and Wood Lumber purchased its largest boundary at Rabun Bald. Bigger tracts meant more jobs, and during this time they employed approximately 30 people performing various jobs at the boundary and at the mill, as well as transporting the raw materials and the finished product. During the World War II years the Ravenels owned a primeval forest on what is now Wildcat Cliffs Country Club and they sold that timber boundary to Champion Paper Fiber Company and Powell Lumber Company, both of Canton, North Carolina. Wood Lumber logged and processed the timber from this boundary for Champion and Powell. Champion took the hemlock and other soft woods to process into paper. Powell took the hardwoods and demand was such that they opened their own sawmill on High-

way 106 on land now owned by Old Edwards Club (formerly Old Creek Lodge). Wood Lumber operated this mill for Powell Lumber in addition to their mill at Shortoff. The 1950s saw the end of the timber industry in Highlands. The tracts of large timber had been exhausted, and processing the smaller timber resulted in less product for the same amount of work so profits were dwindling. Eugene Wood passed away and his son Vic, only 18 years old at the time but already a seasoned veteran of the business, operated Wood Lumber before deciding to close the sawmill. However, the sawmill tradition lives on as the lure of the timber has called to many who operated smaller sawmills. Walter Wilson operated one on Mack Wilson Road for several years, and George Schmitt ran one on Walkingstick Road, which he has recently reopened with Eric Fielding as Bigcreek Sawmill.

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HISTORY

George Schmitt and Eric Fielding recently reopened a sawmill on Walkingstick Road.

HISTORY

KANNIE FRANCES HEATON KNOX BY JANE GIBSON NARDY

HISTORIAN, CASHERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Kannie Frances Heaton’s life was shaped by hardship and tragedy.

annie Frances Heaton, named after a Zachary relative, was born September 8, 1879, in Cashiers Valley, the sixth child of Hannibal Heaton and Louisa Emmelie Zachary. When Kannie was age 18, her mother committed suicide by hanging herself inside a barn. Shortly after the death of her mother, Kannie’s father and some of her siblings moved to the Ellijay section of Macon County, but Kannie next shows up in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama on March 1, 1905, when she married Frederick W. Knox, age 37. She was listed as “Miss Kannie Frances Heaton, age 25,” with the pastor of St. Paul’s Catholic Church conducting the service. For the next 25 years, Kannie and Fred led an adventure-filled life together. Fred was a senior civil engineer with several railway companies where he spearheaded searches for the best passages for Trans-Continental train routes through the Rocky Mountains, Bitter Root Mountains, and the Cascade Mountains.

Photographs show Kannie, Fred, and a few of his employees and horses posed in front of a tent in rugged Western mountain terrain. At some point, Kannie and Fred ended up in San Francisco, where Fred worked as an engineer for the local government, and it was from their home in San Francisco that Fred wrote Kannie’s sister, Mae Carpenter, in Augusta, Georgia, the sad news that Kannie, in 1930, “had a stroke of nervous prostration.” She was physically fine but suffered from bouts of mental illness and hallucinations from which she never recovered. Fred spared no expense in getting the best care for Kannie, placing her in California’s Agnew State Hospital where she was still a patient when Fred died in December 1934. An official estate packet gives details of Fred’s will and the large amount of money he left to continue Kannie’s care until her death, naming Wells Fargo Bank as her executor. Kannie lived on for 25 years and at an un-

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Kannie Frances Heaton known date she was moved to the North Carolina State Hospital in Morganton as evidenced by a letter written to her sister, Mae Carpenter, in Augusta, Georgia with a notice of Kannie’s March 23, 1959, date of death. Kannie was buried in the Upper Zachary Cemetery in Cashiers with only a footstone with her initials carved on it marking her resting place. Note: In the fall of 2016, Mae Heaton Carpenter’s granddaughter, Barbara Chambless, visited Cashiers and donated to the Cashiers Historical Society’s “Jane Nardy Archives” a large history/genealogy collection of documents relating to the Cashiers family of Louisa Emmelie Zachary Heaton and Hannibal Heaton. Thank you Barbara!

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HEALTH

COMBATING THE FLU BY JENNY KING

Dr. David P. Franklin, MD and Dr. Amy Russell of Mission Health Care offer pointers to survive the flu season.

hy are flu shots so important and do I really need one? Dr. Russell: Yes. If you’re six months of age or older, it’s important to receive an annual flu vaccine to help protect you and the people around you – such as family members and friends – against the flu virus. We’re already seeing some early cases in our Mission primary care practices. It’s important to remember that more serious complications from the flu can result in hospitalization and even death. When should you receive a flu vaccine? Dr. Russell: It’s best to try to get your flu vaccination as early in the flu season as possible to help build your immunity before people are exposed to the virus. You can still benefit from getting a flu vaccine later in the season to help protect against exposure to the virus. Dr. Franklin: There’s an established “herd immunity” as it relates to protecting a population from the flu virus or a form of indirect protection from disease that occurs when a large percentage of a population has become immune to an infection that provides a measure of protection for individuals who are not immune, as it relates to the flu vaccine. With the flu vaccine, if 85 percent of an entire population receive the vaccine, it generally protects everyone within that population. Who is most susceptible to the flu? Dr. Franklin: Young children, adults over the age of 65, individuals with a preexisting medical condition such as asthma, heart or lung disease, as well as individuals with a weakened immune system are at the greatest risk of contracting the flu virus. How does one get a flu shot from Highlands-Cashiers Hospital? Dr. Russell: Flu vaccines are offered in many of our Mission ambulatory locations throughout western North Carolina. On the

David P. Franklin, MD President, Mission Medical Associates Mission Health System

Highlands-Cashiers Hospital campus specifically, flu vaccines are offered at the following locations*: Mission Community Primary Care – Cashiers, 57 White Owl Lane, Cashiers, NC, (828) 743-2491 Mission Community Primary Care – Highlands, 209 Hospital Drive, Suite 104, Highlands, NC, (828) 526-4346 *Individuals who would like to receive a flu vaccine at one of the primary care practice locations above must be an established patient of the practice. What precautions should be taken during winter months to avoid colds and flu? Dr. Franklin and Dr. Russell: Handwashing is by far the No. 1 precaution individuals can take to protect against the flu virus and other germs. It’s also important to practice good health habits like avoiding close contact with people who are sick, covering your cough, getting plenty of sleep, maintaining physically activity levels, managing your stress, drinking plenty of fluids and eating nutritious food. How does Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Mission Health inform our community of safety precautions? Dr. Russell: Generally speaking, your primary care provider will remind you to get your annual flu vaccine along with other recommended vaccines such as a pneumococcal vaccine. What flu symptoms should alert someone they should seek immediate medical attention? Dr. Franklin: Fever, headache, cough, extreme dehydration, light-headedness and shortness of breath are all symptoms that could be early signs of the flu. Treatment with antivirals is the most helpful within the first 48 hours of symptoms presenting, so contact your primary care provider if you start to experience any of

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Amy Russell, MD Chief of Community Medicine Mission Health System

these symptoms or notice them in a family member. How is Mission Health helping the Highlands community and the entire population of Western North Carolina “Be Well. Get Well. Stay Well.”? Dr. Franklin: Mission Health is committed to ensuring access to quality primary care for the Highlands and Cashiers communities, as well as the reliance on subspecialty care at Mission Hospital in Asheville. Our goal is to ensure that people who are healthy stay that way, and that people with health risks are engaged and educated in a way that decreases those risks. More importantly, it’s about making sure we put the patient and population of Western North Carolina first and that any patient in our care receives the very best care possible. Dr. Russell: Plus, it’s important to establish a relationship with a primary care physician or provider, to help set clear health goals and identify risks even before they become noticeable. An early relationship with a primary care physician allows a patient to focus on prevention and health. Additionally, a primary care physician serves as a liaison between a patient and any needed subspecialists in their care; the primary care physician is the foundation for coordinating continued care, explaining tests and interventions, providing guidance and sound medical advice when things seem confusing. Learn More: Learn more about Mission Health flu vaccination locations and protecting you and your family from colds and flu, visit mission-health.org/ flu. To find a Mission Health primary care provider who’s best for you, call (828) 213-3222, or request an appointment with a primary care provider at mission-health.org/primarycare.

HEALTH

SLEEP APNEA HOW DID WE GET HERE? BY DR. SUE AERY AERY CHIROPRACTIC & ACUPUNCTURE

Not merely a nuisance, sleep apnea poses a significant health risk.

he prevalence of sleep apnea has significantly increased over the past 20 years. Why? The most likely connection is with obesity and inflammation. Sleep apnea occurs when the breathing mechanism is disrupted during sleep, causing a significant deficit of oxygen into the body. Being starved of oxygen, the body is at risk for cardiac disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, brain degeneration, and many more chronic illnesses. Studies have found that oxygen deprivation due to sleep apnea affects the deterioration of the brain’s

white matter. This will compromise normal brain function affecting cognition, mood and awareness during the day. These are significant health problems. Sleep apnea is mostly controlled by wearing an apparatus while sleeping called a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). This machine is designed to keep a constant flow of air while you are sleeping. The devices are cumbersome and quite restrictive as to allowed sleeping postures. Those suffering with sleep apnea are at risk for developing high blood pressure, abnormal glucose metabolism, as well as being at a higher risk for strokes.

As a natural doctor, I will always look at the prevalence of this chronic disease and wonder why it is now more frequently occurring and “normal.” The number of people who now have CPAP machines is significant. I encourage patients to lose weight, stop smoking, exercise more, handle GERD and acid reflux naturally by changing dietary habits, and understand the role of inflammation in all chronic diseases. Get your diet, inflammation, and weight under control and the prevalence of this uncomfortable and risky disease will decrease. Be well and breathe well!

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers visit thelaurelmagazine.com

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HEALTH

INVEST IN YOUR WELL-BEING

BY MARY ABRANYI Mary Abranyi is a local Realtor and the owner of Cashiers Valley Fusion where she is a yoga instructor (500 RYT) and doTERRA Essential Oils Wellness Consultant. She teaches weekly yoga classes and hosts essential oils workshops and works in conjunction with Yoga Highlands, hosting women’s wellness events. She feels that the journey towards an empowered mind and body begin within but a little support never hurts.

here’s no time like the present to invest in your well-being but what exactly does this mean? Let’s look at this “investment” in terms of time, effort and money and the elements of “well- being” as stand alone categories that have their own structures but contribute to the overall factors of health and happiness. The categories are a complex combination of physical, social, career, financial and community. Physical Well-Being is a matter of having a positive quality of life physically, mentally and spiritually. Each of these layers need personal attention in order to attain positive growth and longevity in life. The impact of incorporating good nutrition and exercise into your life can help with the aging process, prevent disease and enhance the way you feel. Focusing on how, what, when and why we eat can be a game changer but it’s important that this is done without self-criticism. When eating, enjoy that time, the flavors, the smells of your meal, and realize that it should become a lifestyle not a fad diet or quick weight loss gimmick. The same goes for how we designate our exercise of body, mind and spirit. Pop into a yoga class, hit the gym, take a hike, sit in on a guided meditation session, align with something sacred, and breathe consciously. Making time for “wellness breaks” in your routine is critical. Social Well-Being is about cultivating and maintaining strong relationships that are mutually beneficial and also about having love in your life. We begin learning social skills at an early age from our

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family, care givers, teachers, friends and foes and have an innate desire to want to belong. Surrounding yourself with people who think the glass is half- full will create a positive space and a greater level of self-confidence, in turn manifesting secure and loving bonds. Career Well-Being is how you use your time to make money and liking what you do each day. Mindfully choosing a career path that has low physical and psychological stress can improve your quality of life, personal effectiveness and purpose. Allowing yourself to be accountable in whatever you choose and finding a sweet balance between time on and time off the job is also a necessary component. Your Financial Well-Being comes from managing your economic life in a way that reduces stress and increases your feeling of financial security. Several factors play into achieving this type of well being like feeling in control, having the capacity to absorb a financial surprise, staying on track to meet goals and having the flexibility to make choices. When you face a financial choice, challenge or task, consider how your actions might affect your financial security and financial freedom and when in doubt, consult with a financial advisor or someone you trust and hold in high esteem. Finally, Community Well-Being is about your sense of engagement and involvement where you live. Get to know your neighbors, support local businesses, volunteer, attend social gatherings and take your skills into your community.

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HOMES & LIFESTYLES

PANORAMIC VIEWS BY BILL KRUCKENBERGER

The view from the top is complemented by this gorgeous home predicated on comfort.

ou could soon be living in a mountain paradise. Nearing completion, the character and charm of this brand-new mountain home will immediately release all stress from your body upon approach. In the heart of the Sapphire Valley Resort, high atop Dobson Mountain, the Crest at Cashiers is a private and gated mountaintop oasis. The elegant rusticity of the home’s Arts and Crafts design is perfect for the relaxed escape and

lifestyle you’ve sought. However, upon entry, all eyes are drawn immediately to the huge and panoramic views overlooking the knolls and crests of these incredible Blue Ridge Mountains. This fine home is an expanded and upgraded version of a sought-after floorplan by the most popular builder in Sapphire Valley, Ferncreek Construction. Today’s second home buyer on the Plateau demands an open vaulted floorplan with easy level entry,

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a large and well-appointed Master Suite on the main level, multiple fireplaces, covered entry from an enclosed Garage, and lots of outdoor living space...and this home delivers with class! Stone wood-burning fireplaces with easy gas starters dominate the indoor and outdoor living areas. The well-appointed Kitchen has a massive center island large enough for the entire family to gather ‘round, adjacent to the dining area, which is suitable for any size table you need.

HOMES AND LIFESTYLES

The Master Bedroom enjoys multiple closets, a custom well-appointed Master Bathroom with heated tile flooring, outdoor living room access, and a large sun/sitting room wrapped in glass and surrounded with mountain views. The lower level, with its three comfy Bedrooms and dual Baths surrounding the Family Room, is the perfect enclave for your family and friends. Throughout their visits, they will enjoy lounging on the large lower level deck, accessible from the Family Room and two lower level Bedrooms. And, fortunately, the views are just as big from the lower level! Quality craftsmanship and attention to detail

are benchmarks for this home and others in the neighborhood. Enjoy worry-free ownership, as this brandnew home comes with a strong “bumper to bumper” warranty behind the prestigious and beautiful gated entry with home-owner association funded security and fully maintained paved roads. As we all know, real estate is all about location, and this is about the best location in Sapphire Valley, with easy quick paved access just above the Sapphire National Golf Club, and convenient to the restaurants and numerous amenities of the Sapphire Valley Resort and the village of

Cashiers. Enjoy the beach or walk the trails around picturesque Lake Fairfield. Resort amenities include mountain golf, tennis, fishing, boating, exercise facilities, snow skiing, children’s programs and much more, for a very minimal yearly fee. To make this dream a reality, call Bill Kruckenberger, owner of Sapphire Valley Real Estate at (800) 228-0431 today to arrange a showing of this or one of the many other spectacular new homes now available. For more pictures and information about this property, visit SapphireValleyNewHome.com. What a wonderful way to start 2017!

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HOMES & LIFESTYLES

THE COLLEGE AID CRUNCH BY MARY BETH BRODY

EDWARD JONES FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Careful investment decisions can make all the difference when weighing college financial aid packages.

ven though it’s only February, college financial aid officers are already gathering documents, crunching numbers, and otherwise working to determine grants for the school year that starts this coming fall. If you have children you plan on sending to college, how will your own savings and investments affect their chances of getting financial aid? The answer depends not only on how much money you have, but also where you keep it. Most colleges base their aid calculations on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which currently counts up to 5.64 percent of certain parent-owned assets in determining federal or state aid. By contrast, FAFSA counts up to 20 percent of a child’s assets, such as an UGMA or UTMA account. So, what parent-owned assets are counted when determining a student’s need for financial aid? They include savings and checking accounts, non-retirement investment accounts, and other types of assets. You do not have to report retirement accounts — such as traditional or Roth IRAs, 401(k)s and pensions — on the FAFSA. However, if you start

taking withdrawals from these accounts, the withdrawals must be reported on the FAFSA as student income for the year in which the transactions occurred — which means these withdrawals could affect your child’s financial aid package the following year. A 529 plan is one popular college-savings vehicle. If you own a 529 plan, you will need to report it on FAFSA as a parent-owned asset. But when you take withdrawals from the 529 plan, they won’t be counted as parent or student income on FAFSA, and they won’t incur federal income taxes, provided the money is used for qualified higher education expenses. (If you don’t use the money for these expenses, you’ll be taxed and potentially penalized by 10 percent on the earnings.) Because a 529 plan is counted as a parental asset on FAFSA, some people ask grandparents to own a 529 plan. But while the value of a grandparent-controlled 529 plan will be excluded from FAFSA, the withdrawals themselves will be counted as untaxed income to the student on the following year’s FAFSA, and this money could certainly affect aid decisions.

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At least a year before your first child heads off to college, you may want to contact the financial aid office at a local school to ask questions about FAFSA, scholarships, loans, and other aspects of assistance. Since most colleges and universities follow similar rules regarding financial aid, you should be able to get some helpful answers, no matter where your child goes to school. Of course, even with careful planning, your student may not qualify for financial aid. If this is the case, you will need to consider other strategies for paying for college. But keep this in mind: It’s best to develop a savings strategy for both college savings and one’s own retirement goals. So, study the financial aid rules, consider investing in college-funding vehicles such as 529 plans, and do whatever else you can to help get your kids through school, but don’t forget about your own needs — because they are important, too. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

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HOMES & LIFESTYLES

CONSULT YOUR PERSONAL TEXTPERT BY DONNA RHODES | ILLUSTRATION BY NORMA JEAN ZAHNER

A little word magic makes 21st century life so much more bearable.

ortmanteau (from the French words porter, carry; and manteau , mantle) originated in the 160 0s. It described a large suitcase/trunk made of stiff leather that opened out into two halves for packing belongings. Portmanteau’s popularity dwindled during the 20th century, but it’s enjoying a revival. Today, a portmanteau is a kind of word trunk, holding a morpheme or two in each half. Side one + side two = a new morph. For example, did you enjoy beefalo (beef and buffalo) for lunch? Do you own a labradoodle (Lab and Poodle), peekapoo (Pekingnese and Poodle), or puggle (Pug and Beagle)? Perhaps you follow

Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) in the infotainment (information and entertainment) rags. Maybe you carved a Trumpkin (an image of Trump or Hillary) on a Halloween pumpkin. And speaking of politics, where mantles are ported right and left, Sarah Palin portmanteau’d “refudiate,” a refute and repudiate combo which became Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year. She also used “squirmish” in reference to on-going battles in the Mid-East. The Oxford wasn’t sure if that were a giggle, a gaffe or a Goofe’ (a goof made by a doggish Disney character). Before I make my own Goofe’, I’ll take my leave for I have some portman-doing

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of my own. I’ll put on my jeggings (jeans and leggings), grab my chorks (fork and chopstick combo), and chow down on some left-over turducken (turkey, duck and chicken), then chillax (chill and relax) on the pleather (leather and plastic) chammock (chair and hammock). Later I might check out the swapportunities (swap and opportunity) online. Nah, too much sporgery (spam and forgery). In closing, you know what I really like about portmanteaus? If I make a Goofe’ I can create a portmanteau to cover it. The only problem is, so can all the politicians. Something tells me we’re going to need a textpert to help us sort out the tweets from the twits of twenty-seventeen.

ACCOMMODATIONS

BEAUTY

CABINET DESIGN

CLEANING SERVICES

CONSTRUCTION

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

REAL ESTATE

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

ACCOMMODATIONS

GIVING BACK

YOU CAN THANK RICKY BY JENNY KING | PHOTO BY MARJORIE CHRISTIANSEN

Rick Siegel’s tireless devotion to Highlands enriches the entire community.

icky Siegel and his wife Helene own and operate 4 1/2 Street Inn in downtown Highlands. You might think such an undertaking would leave time for little else. You don’t know Ricky. “I’m slowing down now,” Siegel says. “I volunteer on the Tourism Development Committee, the Highlands Cashiers Players Board of Directors, and the Highlands Greenway Board.” When asked where he has lent his time in the past, Siegel can hardly remember all his roles. He does recall it all started when he became a member of the second Leadership Highlands class. It was there he realized the need for Big Brothers Big Sisters, which he was instrumental in bringing to Highlands in 2002. Around the same time,

he and several others were responsible for creating Highlands Area Non-Profit Donation Sharing (HANDS), which organizes the Annual Christmas Day Dinner and distributes the proceeds to local non-profits. He has been active in the Rotary Club of Highlands, Meals on Wheels, the Literacy Council of Highlands, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Highlands Appearance Board, and the Alumnae Board of Leadership Highlands. Are you familiar with the Highlands Dog Park? Yep, you can thank Ricky for that one, too. The Tourism Development Committee is responsible for overseeing expenditures made by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce. As he explains it, the occupancy tax that is gathered in Highlands is sent to Macon County, which in turn sends

a percentage back to fund the Chamber of Commerce and the Visitor Center. These funds are used for programs such as the recent Highlands Food and Wine Festival and it’s the committee’s responsibility to see that the monies are used for tourism development. The Highlands Greenway board is responsible for developing and maintaining the many trails that comprise the Highlands Greenway; and Ricky is not one to shy away from getting his hands dirty. On any given workday, you’ll find him with a shovel in hand doing what needs to be done. “Doing what needs to be done.” That just about sums up Ricky Siegel’s role in the community. Let’s all tell him thanks the next time we see him. If he stops long enough.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers visit thelaurelmagazine.com

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GIVING BACK

WALK A HOUND, LOSE A POUND BY DAVID STROUD

CASHIERS-HIGHLANDS HUMANE SOCIETY

Forget fad diets and expensive exercise schemes – the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society has a program that’s good for your body and heart.

ne of the most common New Year’s resolutions goes sometime like this: “Starting now, this is the year I am going to lose weight and get into shape!” To help you achieve that goal, there is a multi-billion-dollar industry out there anxious to separate you and your pocketbook, from gym memberships and equipment purchases, to shakes, supplements, and pills. At the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society we have a better idea, and it won’t cost you a single penny. Plus, you can enjoy clean, fresh air, take in the wondrous beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and best of all, tap into your love of animals and what we call “unleashing your animal magnetism.” So, what is this magical, no-cost way

to trim a few pounds and get that heart rate going? Join the CHHS Hikers for Hounds! The CHHS Hikers for Hounds program matches volunteer outdoor enthusiasts with CHHS shelter dogs in need of exercise and socialization. CHHS Hikers for Hounds is an amazing program that gives our shelter dogs a day out to enjoy the pristine paradise of the Western North Carolina mountains with plenty of sunshine, exercise, and socialization. And it’s great for the humans on the other end of the leash, too! So, forget all those expensive gyms and pricey equipment, and ignore those diet pills and food membership plans. Join the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society Hikers for Hounds and walk a hound,

lose a pound! Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization that receives no state or county tax dollars, and no funding from any national animal organization. Celebrating our 30th anniversary of bringing people and pets together, CHHS has rescued, provided compassionate care, and found forever homes for thousands of abandoned and neglected animals since 1987. Our no-kill shelter is located on Highway 64 in Sapphire, two miles east of the Cashiers Crossroads and is open 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday. For more information please contact CHHS at (828) 743-5752 or visit us online at CHhumanesociety.org.

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GIVING BACK

OBSERVING NATURE’S LESSONS BY JULIE SCHOTT

HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS LAND TRUST

The catastrophic wildfires that blazed across Western North Carolina are a reminder of the wild areas that are in our care.

his autumn, Western North Carolina came under an “exceptional drought” of historic proportions, and wildfires began tearing through our mountains and valleys. Historically speaking, fire once played an important role in our mountain forests. The Cherokee and early settlers would burn areas for crops and to reduce the shrub density in forests, primarily in the valleys. These low and relatively “cool” burning fires helped to thin out the forest understories, promote more wildflowers and grasses, and help release nutrients that were tied up in leaves and logs. Natural communities in our area, particularly those dominated by pine tree species such as pitch pine and Table Mountain pine, likely burned more frequently. Generally speaking, fires can be good for forests, as long they do not get too out of control.

That said, fires can be equally devastating. The loss of structures and life are nothing short of tragic. In places where fires have been suppressed for too long, such as some of the recent wildfires seen out in the western US, wildfires can grow hot and burn well into the tree canopy, turning forests into charred wastelands. This is why it is important for communities and forest managers to know about the risk of fires and plan accordingly; including using prescribed fire as a tool in part to prevent larger, uncontrolled, and catastrophic fires. The fires at the end of 2016 are a great reminder that we live in a wild area that should not be taken for granted. Careful planning and management are necessary to make sure that the next wildfires don’t reach cata-

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strophic levels due to an overabundance of shrubs; that the next heavy rains don’t wash away poorly designed roads; and that there are adequate wetlands to help give rising waters in flood conditions a place to go. Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust does not just protect the places we love, but it’s actively managing them to ensure they remain safe and provide a buffer for everyone. We depend on your support. To learn how you can help save our most treasured places visit hicashlt.org or call (825) 526-1111.

GIVING BACK

A SILVER CELEBRATION BY SUE BLAIR CARPE DIEM FARMS

There’s plenty to celebrate at Carpe Diem Farms this year, thanks to a wise stable of horses and a creative, committed staff.

appy New Year! 2017 is an auspicious year for Carpe Diem Farms! January 27 marks our twenty-fifth anniversary of becoming a 501©3 educational foundation. It’s also the start of our fourth year marketing Easy’s Slipper, the therapeutic glue-on slipper developed, created and manufactured at the farm. Because of the horses of Carpe Diem, the slippers are now helping horses around the world! It is hard to imagine that 25 years have passed since an idea, a vision, “to empower individuals through life changes to see the opportunities and possibilities that abound,” would become such a reality. Through experiential programs “enhancing the human

potential through equines,” more than 4,000 participants of all ages, 3-83 have benefited. Time and time again the horses have been instrumental in changing lives; teaching life lessons, communication skills, and leadership techniques in their unique way. We are blessed to have such a place as Carpe Diem Farms in our little piece of heaven in the mountains. There have been 23 horses that have spirited our programs. Thirteen completed their magical work and their lives and have been laid to rest in our St. Francis Cemetery. Nine continue to bring joy and hope to everyone who spends time with them. They are the backbone of everything we do. 2017 promises to be another exciting year

as the horses of CDF and their stories take to the world stage, introducing more to the healing qualities of Easy’s Slipper. The only patented product of its kind, with science to prove its shock absorption and shock dissipation, the glue-on slipper is worn by horses ranging from mini’s to size nine Clydesdales. From Australia, South Africa, Canada, and the UK, all across the US, Easy’s Slipper is helping to make healthier happier horses. Visitors and participants are welcome to meet the horses or see the slippers being made. Call (828) 526-2854 to make an appointment. Follow us on Facebook or go to our web site, carpediemfarms.org. Carpe Diem Farms is a 501©3 non-profit educational foundation located in Highlands, NC.

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GIVING BACK

NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH BY ELIZABETH SPAULDING BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS

Barrett and his Little Brother Jakob exemplify the wonderful things that can grow from a simple commitment.

anuary is National Mentoring Month, so it only seems right to feature one of our awesome matches. Barrett is a student at Southwestern Community College where he is pursuing his Outdoor Leadership degree before attending Western Carolina University to study in parks and recreation. He is a guide at Nantahala National Forest and is an Eagle Scout and has been a scout leader to more than 80 Boy Scouts. Although Barrett has a lot of responsibilities, he has made it a priority to spend time mentoring his little brother, Jakob. These two have been a match in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cashiers for nearly two years and have established a strong bond during this time. Barrett and Jakob have discovered they have many of the same interests and enjoy doing adventurous activities together, like hiking, zip lining, and

biking. Although Barrett devotes his time as a mentor primarily to his Little Brother, Jakob’s mother, Nicole, noted how invested he is in their entire family and how special he is to each of them. She Little Brother Jakob Pack (on left) and described him as a young man who is Big Brother Barrett Wall (on right) after wise beyond his years and is a great supfinishing a hike. port to her and her husband because he helps to reinforce the same values and based programs that allow our volunteers lessons that they do at home, that Jakob flexibility and fun. The school-based prois often more receptive to these messages coming from Barrett, who is someone he gram takes place in either Blue Ridge or Summit Charter School and allows mentors looks up to. the opportunity to assist children with acaSeeing Jakob excelling in school and developing as a respectful and responsible demics and social skills. The communityyoung man is one of the great rewards of based program enables mentors the freedom to participate in activities that occur being a mentor. after-school or on the weekends. We are always looking for additional menIf you want to learn more about mentortors of all ages who would like to commit to ing through BBBS, please contact Elizabeth being a part of a child’s life. Our branch Spaulding at cashiers@bbbswnc.org. offers both school-based and community-

90 YEARS OF REPUTABLE RESEARCH BY HIGHLANDS BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATION STAFF

The Highlands Biological Station has unveiled an ambitious new project to showcase the wonderful natural resources found at the edge of Lindenwood Lake.

ighlands is a biologically diverse area with more species of plants and animals than nearly any other ecosystem in the United States, and serves as a refuge for many bee species, including important pollinators that are facing threats to their fitness and survival. With so many important species located here in Highlands, it is imperative that we share our growing knowledge with the community. This is why, 90 years ago, a biological field station was established here in Highlands with the mission: to foster research and education focused on the rich natural heritage of the southern Appalachians. Over the past nine decades, many thousands of individuals have studied, been inspired by and made significant discover-

ies about the value of our biologically diverse area by working and learning at the Highlands Biological Station. Every year HBS works to expand programming opportunities to our community. You may have attended a Zahner Conservation Lecture, summer camp, or a nature program and found a connection to the natural world through your experience. This year HBS is excited to embark upon an exciting new project to welcome our community and our students to the improved North Campus. This project will include an entrance gateway on Lower Lake Road, a pollinator garden, a nature trail encircling beautiful Lindenwood Lake, and a lakeside teaching pavilion. Numerous generous individuals and fami-

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ly foundations have provided funding for this project. A group of dedicated friends and family members have joined together to honor a man who was committed to helping others discover a connection with the natural world. We are proud to announce that due to their generosity, the new teaching pavilion on the banks of Lindenwood Lake will be named in honor of John “Sto” Stowers Jr. We believe that naming the structure after Sto is a fitting way to pay tribute to a man who was always sharing his knowledge of the natural world with others. For more information regarding the North Campus Project and what you can do to contribute, visit our website at highlandsbiological.org or give us a call at (828) 526-2221.

GIVING BACK

FOOD PANTRY: WHAT’S IN STORE? BY JENNY KING

The Food Pantry works to carry hungry neighbors through the lean months of winter.

ccording to the UNC School of Government statistics, 29.5 percent of children in Macon County live in homes that are considered “food insecure.” That’s a staggering statistic, considering “Feeding America” states that food insecurity within the entire state of North Carolina is 17.7 percent. While it may seem overwhelming, there is something that can be done to help, right here in Highlands: The Food Pantry. Executive Director Marty Rosenfield, former owner of Lakeside Restaurant, has taken his many years of food service experience and now uses it to keep our local food bank stocked for the numerous clients depending on what it can provide. Did you know we purchase the food that comes to Highlands via the MANNA Food Bank and other vendors? We can help by donating money to see that fresh produce is available along with non-perishables and personal care products. Rosenfield is always happy to receive donations of goods gathered at local churches as well as from kind-hearted individuals. Recently the Highlands Food Pantry was the recipient of donated goods and monies from the Highlands Food and Wine Festival in November of last year. These types of targeted gifts from community organizations help sustain the pantry throughout the taxing winter season, a time when our donations are put to great use. When you do your grocery shopping why not set aside a twentydollar bill for the Food Pantry? Buy an extra pack of paper towels; a few extra tubes of toothpaste; canned fruits; and take them to the Highlands United Methodist Church for their collection box. For financial donations, make your check payable to The International Friendship Center and designate it for the Food Pantry. The pantry is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit and all donations are totally tax-deductible. If you want to lend a helping hand and are interested in joining their network of volunteers, feel free to contact Marty Rosenfield at (828) 526-9828 or Andrea Smith at the International Friendship Center office in the Peggy Crosby Center at (828) 526-0890. The Food Pantry is open every Monday at 3:15 P.M. and closes at 5:30 P.M. It’s currently located on Third Street, behind the Highlands United Methodist Church.

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GIVING BACK

A TOUGH WINTER WITHOUT YOU KATHLEEN BUB FOREVER FARM

The precious animals at Friends for Life Forever Farm rely on a loving community even more in the winter months.

inter is upon us in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The impending snow and ice can make for a beautiful scene at the Friends for Life Forever Farm. Unfortunately, it also makes for more work and higher utility costs as well. It’s when we need your help the most. Many of our volunteers have departed for warmer climes, and charitable giving diminishes in the new year. We are left with over 170 animals to feed, house, and care for in often harsh conditions. To borrow a saying used by utility companies, “share the warmth.” Consider donating funds towards our electric and gas bills. With three large buildings and 12 cottages to heat, our utility bills often run more

than $1,000 dollars a month in the winter. Friends for Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization whose mission is to rescue and rehabilitate senior and special needs animals. Those that are not adopted into new homes are provided lifelong care at the Forever Farm, a cage-free, homelike sanctuary in Lake Toxaway. A separate facility, the Joseph E. Pickelsimer Center, provides nursing care and hospice for our cats and dogs as they near the end of their lives. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help further our mission. For more

information call (829) 508-2460 or email friendsforlife.foreverfarm@gmail.com. Visit friendsforlifeforeverfarm.org and follow us on Facebook. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 340, Sapphire, NC 28774.

THE PARK FOR THE PEOPLE BY ANN SELF

The vibrant Village Green serves as the lively heart of Cashiers, thanks to a small army of volunteers and benefactors.

he Village Green is a park for the people. In 1992, the founders saved two acres at the crossroads of Highways 64 and 107 in Cashiers from commercial development. The Village Green was established with the mission to preserve and enhance the land for civic, spiritual, academic, recreational, and cultural activities. Twenty-five years later, The Village Green encompasses more than 13 acres and is the emerald heart of the community. The Village Green attracts thousands of visitors each year. It provides a window into pleasurable pursuits and traditions that make Cashiers unique. The park is a gathering place for people of all ages, origins, and economic

backgrounds. People come from all over the region to enjoy the gardens, walking paths and trails, amazing public art, and the expansive children’s playground. The Village Green invites both leisurely walks and intense workouts; quiet places to picnic and read; settings to celebrate with friends and family; and a variety of popular concerts, festivals, lecture series, and other community events. Equally significant from a conservation perspective, The Village Green serves as a natural oasis. The park is an important environment to cultivate native plants and pollinators. It also provides a respite for migrating nesting birds. It truly is an integrated ecosystem where humans and nature interact.

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The Village Green celebrates its Silver Jubilee Year in 2017. Special events and activities throughout the year will highlight past memories and achievements, while featuring future plans for The Village Green to benefit the area. This includes a birthday party and tree planting and a specially themed “Deja View and Something New” Joy Garden Tour in July. The Village Green is a vital asset that strengthens the village charm of Cashiers. It’s a public park that is privately conserved and operated by a nonprofit organization. The Village Green depends on donations and volunteers to maintain the park for everyone to enjoy. For more information, visit villagegreencashiersnc.com.

GIVING BACK thelaurelmagazine.com | Winter 2017 | 71

GIVING BACK

ROTARY AND HAITI PARTNERSHIP MARY LOU BILBRO

ROTARY CLUB OF HIGHLANDS

The Rotary Club of Highlands lends a fin to the Haitian Fish Farm Project.

Tilapia are a popular food source with the Haitian people. They were chosen because they grow rapidly and can be quickly and easily sold at maturity, providing not only an important food source for the families in the program, but an industry providing a much needed income, pride in their accomplishments, and hope for the future.

ormer Rotary Club of Highlands President Peter Ray reported to the club about the work that he and Highlander Jane Chalker provided to help establish a fish farm in Haiti. Located in Lake Peligre, near the village of Cange, the project installed seven cages that each held 1,500 tilapia fingerlings. Tilapia are a popular food source with the Haitian people. They were chosen because they grow rapidly and can be quickly and easily sold at maturity, providing not only an important food source for the families in the program, but a sustainable industry. Each cage was supervised and maintained by a local family. At maturity, the fish are sold to provide support for that family as well as others in that impoverished area of Haiti. Ray said that financial support was not only provided by the local Rotary Club but also by a Rotary District Grant and a grant from the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation as well as other private religious donations. Total cost of the program was $15,000. This project was the brainchild of Mrs. Chalker, wife of Rotarian Selwyn Chalker, who has been a long-time advocate for and visitor to this area of Haiti. She and Peter Ray were joined by Paul Heckert, a recent graduate of Appalachian State University, who helped design the project and spent five months living in Cange overseeing it. According to Ray, he has been to Haiti three times with Jane Chalker and others from North Carolina. “It’s a difficult place to be, with extreme poverty and few structures to support the people,” Ray says. “While many of our visits have been focused on medical and dental care as well as agriculture, this project on fish farming is unique in that it holds the promise to be self-sustaining.”

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BIZ SPOTLIGHT

FOOD PANTRY BENEFITS

Photo courtesy of The Highlander

BY DONNA RHODES

A generous community and the Highlands Food and Wine Festival ensure The Food Pantry of Highlands makes it through the winter.

he Highlands Chamber of Commerce went the distance in 2016, raising funds for the Food Pantry of Highlands, especially through the popular Highlands Food and Wine Festival in November. They raised over $5,000. Executive Director Bob Kieltyka said it was natural to make The Food Pantry the nonprofit recipient of the proceeds. “After all, the festival was all about food,” he says. “The Pantry’s mission is about feeding those needing assistance, so it seemed the perfect fit.” There were several ways attendees could help. During The Grand Tasting, an original painting by Jeannie Edwards-Bozeman of Easley An Artist, was raffled off with the winning bid of $400 going to The Food Pan-

Highlands Food Pantry receives donation from Highlands Chamber of Commerce. Pictured L-R: Bob Kieltyka, Marjorie Christiansen, Marty Rosenfield, Peter Ray, Mary Adair Trumbly and Jennifer Cunningham.

try. The winner was vintner Guy Davis of Sonoma, California. During Friday’s Truckin’ Event, festival-goers donated well over 400 pounds of nonperishable foods and personal care items. Food Pantry Director Marty Rosenfield said, “The outpouring of support on Friday blew me away. The back of my truck was filled with items donated by people who don’t even live here.” It was an afternoon of music, camaraderie and lots and lots of filled grocery bags. At Saturday’s Main Event, tickets were raffled off to win a coveted spot at Sunday’s Rockwood Rocks, where diners were entertained by none other than Bruce Hornsby. Then Sunday, at The Gospel Brunch, as ticket-holders clapped to the gospel sounds of

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The Blind Boys of Alabama, several collection plates were passed among the revelers where another $1,800 was donated to the food pantry. The Blind Boys of Alabama, who entertained the audience, clearly rocked a generous vibe. For those who may be wondering, next year’s Food and Wine Festival will be November 9-12 so save those dates for the best party in town. “It was such festive energy around Highlands. People were out and about enjoying food and wine, yet remembering those who face food scarcity every day of their lives,” said Rosenfield and his wife Donna Woods. For further information on how you might help The Food Pantry of Highlands, call (828) 526-9828.

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ADVERTISERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INDEX Jochen Lucke, President

Dan Allen

Ken Dingler

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Carol Mathews

Eddy McDonald

Megan McLean

The team at Silver Creek Real Estate Group has decades of experience selling luxury real estate on the HighlandsCashiers Plateau and beyond. We utilize a comprehensive approach that matches exceptional properties with discriminating buyers. Extensive knowledge of the Highlands-Cashiers real estate market and the highest quality magazine, web, brochure and radio advertising makes Silver Creek Real Estate Group the clear choice for selling your property.

Cassie Neal

Linda Pridgen

Chuck Self

Ray Trine

Cashiers: (828) 743-1999 Highlands: (828) 526-2999 www.ncliving.com thelaurelmagazine.com | Winter 2017 | 77

ADVERTISERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INDEX

Building Relationships. Delivering Dreams.

ADVERTISERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INDEX 78 | Winter 2017 | thelaurelmagazine.com

ADVERTISERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INDEX thelaurelmagazine.com | Winter 2017 | 79

ADVERTISER’S INDEX

Accommodations Chambers Agency www.chambers-realty.com Chandler Inn www.thechandlerinn.com Country Club Properties www.ccphighlandsnc.com Fire Mountain Inn & Cabins www.firemt.com Old Edwards Inn & Spa www.oldedwardsinn.com Silver Creek Real Estate Group www.ncliving.com Whiteside Cove Cottages Antiques & Home Furnishings Bound’s Cave www.boundscaverugs.com Dutchman’s Designs www.dutchmansdesigns.com Museum of American Cut & Engraved Glass Peak Experience www.peakexp.com The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Watauga Creek www.wataugacreek.com Architects/Designers Mountainworks Design www.mtnworks.com Art Galleries/Artists Around Back at Rocky’s Place www.aroundbackatrockysplace.com The Bascom www.thebascom.org Blue Valley Gallery GG’s Consignments, Etc.* www.ggsconsignment.com Museum of American Cut & Engraved Glass Peak Experience www.peakexp.com Smitten The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Automotive Services Mountain Motorwerks www.mmhighlands.com Bars The Ugly Dog Pub - Highlands www.theuglydogpub.com The Ugly Dog Pub - Cashiers www.theuglydogpub.com Bedding/Linens/Comforters Blue Ridge Bedding www.blueridgebedding.com Dutchman’s Designs www.dutchmansdesigns.com The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Bird Supplies Bird Barn and Gift Emporium Books The Book Nook Builders Arrowood Construction www.arrowoodconstruction.com Lupoli Construction www.lupoliconstruction.com Srebalus Construction Co. www.srebalusconstruction.com Warth Construction www.warthconstruction.com Business/Office Supplies Dauntless Printing Chambers of Commerce Highlands Chamber of Commerce www.highlandschamber.org Cashiers Chamber of Commerce www.cashiersareachamber.com Cleaning/Housekeeping Services Pro Servicess Rebecka’s Home Cleaning Service Cloth/Upholstery Dutchman’s Designs www.dutchmansdesigns.com The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Clothing & Accessories Highland Hiker www.highlandhiker.com Peak Experience www.peakexp.com TJ Bailey for Men www.tjbmens.com Clothing Consignment The Blue Elephant 80 | Winter 2017 | thelaurelmagazine.com

Page 46 Page 63 Page 2 Pages 13 Page 15 Pages 76, 77 Page 47 Page 3 Page 11 Page 50 Page 9 Page 4 Page 13 Page 46 Page 29 Page 42 Page 32 Page 71 Page 50 Page 9 Page 29 Page 4 Page 96 Page 35 Page 35 Page 73 Page 11 Page 4 Page 9 Page 50 Page 45 Page 43 Page 63 Page 84 Page 66 Page 74 Page 74 Page 67 Page 63 Page 11 Page 4 Page 69 Page 9 Pages 3, 43 Page 71

Cullasaja Club FallingWaters Community Silver Creek Real Estate Group Center for Plastic Surgery Robert T. Buchanan, M.D.

Communities www.cullasajaclub.org www.fallingwatersnc.com www.ncliving.com Cosmetic Surgery

Page 17 Page 8 Pages 76, 77

www.plasticsurgerytoday.com Page 54 Crafts The Bascom www.thebascom.org Page 42 Peak Experience www.peakexp.com Page 9 Custom Cabinetry/Countertops Black Rock Granite and Cabinetry www.blackrockgraniteandcabinetry.com Pages 16, 63 The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Custom Furniture Dutchman’s Designs www.dutchmansdesigns.com Page 11 The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Dentists Dr. Joe Wilbanks www.wilbankssmilecenter.com Page 55 Events The Bascom www.thebascom.org Page 42 Betsy Paul Art Raffle Page 41 Highlands Playhouse www.highlandsplayhouse.org Page 31 Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center www.highlandspac.org Page 10 Furniture Carolina Rustic Furniture www.carolinarusticfurniture.com Page 73 Dutchman’s Designs www.dutchmansdesigns.com Page 11 Nearly New Page 71 The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Watauga Creek www.wataugacreek.com Page 13 Furniture Consignments The Blue Elephant Page 71 Consignment Market www.consignmentmarketcashiersnc.com Page 71 GG’s Consignments, Etc.* www.ggsconsignment.com Page 71 Nearly New Page 71 Gift Shops Around Back at Rocky’s Place www.aroundbackatrockysplace.com Page 29 Bird Barn and Gift Emporium Page 9 The Dry Sink www.thedrysink.com Page 8 Dutchman’s Designs www.dutchmansdesigns.com Page 11 Peak Experience www.peakexp.com Page 9 The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Giving Back Betsy Paul Art Raffle Page 41 Grading/Excavating Larry Rogers Construction Page 8 Groomers Woofgang Bakery Page 65 Hair Salons Creative Concepts Page 63 Head Innovations Page 63 Heating and Air Holley Heating & Air Conditioning www.holleyheating.com Page 56 Home Accessories Bird Barn and Gift Emporium Page 9 Carolina Rustic Furniture www.carolinarusticfurniture.com Page 73 Consignment Market www.consignmentmarketcashiersnc.com Page 71 Dutchman’s Designs www.dutchmansdesigns.com Page 11 GG’s Consignments, Etc.* www.ggsconsignment.com Page 71 Peak Experience www.peakexp.com Page 9 The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Watauga Creek www.wataugacreek.com Page 13

The Ugly Dog Pub - Cashiers WHLC FM 104.5 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Meadows Mountain Realty Betsy Paul Blair Realty Chambers Agency Country Club Properties Cullasaja Club Fisher Realty John Cleaveland Realty Landmark Realty Group McKee Properties McKee Properties -Beth Townsend Meadows Mountain Realty Preferred Properties Preferred Properties - Ann Scott Sapphire Valley Real Estate Silver Creek Real Estate Group Sotheby’s - Bert Mobley

www.theuglydogpub.com Radio Stations www.whlc.com Real Estate Sales www.bbhsmmr.com www.betsypaulproperties.com www.blair-realty.com www.chambers-realty.com www.ccphighlandsnc.com www.cullasajaclub.org www.fisherrealtync.com www.jcrealty.com www.landmarkrg.com www.mckeeproperties.com www.mckeeproperties.com www.meadowsmtnrealty.com www.ppoh.com www.ppoh.com www.sapphirevalleyrealestate.com

Page 35 Page 13 Page 61 Page 83 Page 45 Page 46 Page 2 Page 17 Page 13 Page 14 Page 51 Pages 9, 78, 79 Page 9 Page 61 Pages 19. 63 Page 63 Page 11

www.ncliving.com Pages 76, 77 highlandsssir.com Page 5 Restaurants Highlands-Cashiers Directory Page 40 Cyprus www.cyprushighlands.com Page 37 The Kitchen www.thekitchenofhighlands.com Page 39 Log Cabin Restaurant www.logcabinhighlands.com Page 39 Madison’s Restaurant & Wine Garden Page 15 On the Verandah www.ontheverandah.com Page 38 Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company www.sapphiremountainbrewingcompany.com Page 36 Slabtown Pizza www.slabtownpizza.com Page 38 The Ugly Dog Pub - Highlands www.theuglydogpub.com Page 35 The Ugly Dog Pub - Cashiers www.theuglydogpub.com Page 35 Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro www.wolfgangs.net Page 5 Rugs Bound’s Cave www.boundscaverugs.com Page 3 Carolina Rustic Furniture www.carolinarusticfurniture.com Page 73 The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Shipping Services Stork’s Wrap, Pack & Ship Page 9 Shoes Highland Hiker www.highlandhiker.com Page 69 TJ Bailey for Men www.tjbmens.com Pages 3. 43 Socks Peak Experience www.peakexp.com Page 9 Bird Barn and Gift Emporium Page 9 Tables Dutchman’s Designs www.dutchmansdesigns.com Page 11 Watauga Creek www.wataugacreek.com Page 13 Theatre/Entertainment Highlands Playhouse www.highlandsplayhouse.org Page 31 Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center www.highlandspac.org Page 10 Transportation Highlands Transportation Company Page 8 Vacation Rentals Chambers Agency www.chambers-realty.com Page 46 Silver Creek Real Estate Group www.ncliving.com Pages 76, 77 Window Treatments The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Yoga Cashiers Valley Fusion www.cashiersvalleyfusion.com Page 56 Yoga of Highlands www.yogahighlands.com Page 56 thelaurelmagazine.com | Winter 2017 | 81

ADVERTISER’S INDEX

Interior Design & Home Furnishings www.boundscaverugs.com Page 3 www.carolinarusticfurniture.com Page 73 www.dutchmansdesigns.com Page 11 www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Investment Planning Edward Jones Investments www.edwardjones.com Page 60 Jewelry Peak Experience www.peakexp.com Page 9 Janni Bean Custom Jewelry (formerly Drake’s Diamond Gallery) www.janniebeandesigns.com Page 20 Kitchen Accessories Bird Barn and Gift Emporium Page 9 The Dry Sink www.thedrysink.com Page 8 Kitchen, Bath and Closet Design Black Rock Granite and Cabinetry www.blackrockgraniteandcabinetry.com Pages 16, 63 The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Lighting Carolina Rustic Furniture www.carolinarusticfurniture.com Page 73 Dutchman’s Designs www.dutchmansdesigns.com Page 11 The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Massage Services Cashiers Valley Fusion www.cashiersvalleyfusion.com Page 56 Yoga of Highlands www.yogahighlands.com Page 56 Mattresses Blue Ridge Bedding www.blueridgebedding.com Page 73 Dutchman’s Designs www.dutchmansdesigns.com Page 11 The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Medical Services 4Seniors, LLC, Medical Liaison Services Page 54 Dr. Edward D. Frederickson MD FACP Page 65 Mission Primary Care Highlands/Cashiers www.mission-health.org Page 53 Movies Highlands Playhouse www.highlandsplayhouse.org Page 31 Museums Museum of American Cut & Engraved Glass Page 50 Music Stores Blue Ridge Music www.blueridgemusicacademy.com Page 47 Nail Care Creative Concepts Page 63 Outdoor Adventures Overland Excursions www.overlandunlimited.com Page 63 Painting Pro Servicess Page 67 Pet Care/Supplies Woofgang Bakery Page 65 Photography Charles Johnson Fine Art Photography www.charlesjohnsonfineart.com Page 39 Pottery Around Back at Rocky’s Place www.aroundbackatrockysplace.com Page 29 Bird Barn and Gift Emporium Page 9 Dutchman’s Designs www.dutchmansdesigns.com Page 11 Peak Experience www.peakexp.com Page 9 Smitten Page 29 The Summer House www.summerhousehighlands.com Page 4 Printing Companies Dauntless Printing Page 66 Pubs The Ugly Dog Pub - Highlands www.theuglydogpub.com Page 35 Bound’s Cave Carolina Rustic Furniture Dutchman’s Designs The Summer House

PARTING SHOT HENRY BY SUSAN B PHOTOGRAPHY