The Laurel Magazine: Winter 2025 by The Laurel Magazine of Highlands NC and Cashiers NC

L aURe L

Publisher’s Note

Join us as we preview life on the HighlandsCashiers Plateau in this busy year.

Not too long ago, this entire parcel of Paradise would go into a near-slumber, much like our Black Bear neighbors. But even the bears are learning that hibernation means lost opportunities – there’s still plenty of life to be enjoyed in the company of our neighbors.

Take a cue from our writers Deena Bouknight and Mary Jane McCall – get out there and soak up all the goodness that the season offers.

Join us in this conversation!

With appreciation, Janet and Marjorie

JANET CUMMINGS Managing Partner janet@thelaurelmagazine.com

MICHELLE MUNGER Art Director mungerclan5@aol.com

SARAH FIELDING Account Manager sarah@thelaurelmagazine.com

MARLENE OSTEEN Writer marlene.osteen@gmail.com

DONNA RHODES Writer dmrhodes847@gmail.com

MARJORIE N. DEAL Managing Partner marjorie@thelaurelmagazine.com

LUKE OSTEEN Editor / Writer luke@thelaurelmagazine.com

EMILY MUNGER Account Manager emily@thelaurelmagazine.com

MARY JANE MCCALL Writer mjmccall777@gmail.com

THOMAS CUMMINGS Distribution Manager jothcu@yahoo.com

Contributing Writers: Stuart Ferguson, William McReynolds, Debbie Hall, and Deena Bouknight

Guest Writers: Jeanne Piazza, Sue Blair, David Stroud, Lance Hardin, Billy Love, Johanna Fein, Susan Gregory, Josh Bryson, Todd Holder, Anna Norton, Kaye McHan, April Getz, Shelby Ward, Linda Kirkman, Danielle Hernandez, and Courtney Scarborough

Contributing Photographers: Susan Renfro, Mary Gillan Renfro, Greg Clarkson, Charles Johnson, Peter Ray, Terry Barnes, Ryan Karcher, and Colleen Kerrigan.

Copyright © 2025 by The Mountain Laurel, LLC. All rights reserved. Laurel Magazine is published eleven times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Laurel Magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel Magazine nor any of its staff is responsible for advertising errors, omissions, or information that has been misrepresented in or to the magazine. Any substantial errors that are the fault of the magazine will be subject to a reduction or reimbursement of the amounts paid by the advertiser, but in no case will any claim arising from such error exceed the amount paid for the advertisement by the advertiser. Visit us online thelaurelmagazine.com phone 828.526.0173 email info@thelaurelmagazine.com mail Post Office Box 565 Highlands, North Carolina 28741

TO DO Pages 14-39

Photo by Susan Renfro

Our Laurel Wordsmiths

A remembrance of writerly flourishes in our Laurel magazine

Some highly skilled writers live here on our Plateau and some of those write regularly for our Laurel magazine. Their words, like the rest of 2024, have flown by like a skein of migrating geese. Looking back, I have caught some fly-by glimpses of their most exalted penmanship to celebrate and share.

There are more praiseworthy Laurel contributors than my 400word limit will allow. The Staff Writers are Luke Osteen, Mary Jane McCall, Marlene Osteen and Donna Rhodes. Contributing Writers include Stuart Ferguson, Debbie Hall, Ed and Cindy Boos, and Deena Bauknight. There is also a score of talented Guest Writers. I have space to catch overhead glimpses of just a few.

No one writes more for each issue than our endearing editor, Luke Osteen. His facile way with words sometimes gives flight to his soaring literary soul. In March of 2024, Luke brought Shakespeare to the 3rd Annual Highlands Dog Show quoting the Prince of Denmark that “Every dog has his day.” In so doing, Luke said, the Bard “cast his gaze forward 400 years to

Highlands.” Hello Will. Hello Hamlet. We got dogs here.

Enamored of the pork belly bites at the High Dive in Highlands, Luke enthused in the March issue that if Aristotle had offered them at the Lyceum in Athens “the savories could have altered the course of Western Civilization.” Wow, some endorsement! He also shared with readers his Uncle Fred “who could charm the birds right out of the trees” and told of their first fishing trip that was so disastrous to boat, tackle and tackle box that Uncle Fred was prompted to say, “that means for the rest of your life you’ll have incredible luck.”

Marleen Osteen takes us to vineyards in Europe and to delicious sipping and supping here on the Plateau. Her discerning palate relishes a fine wine as in “a round, relatively full-bodied, rather fruity white with a crisp mineral note lovely in its streamlined purity.” She soared highest this last year in the Winter issue when she characterized Old Edwards Discovery Gin: “the subtle minty freshness of sweet birch bark with gentle resinous notes of native hemlock, the earthiness of Pitch Pine, balanced by the piney essence of local juniper and caressed by the sweet

touch of sourwood honey.” What a beguiling description!

Donna Rhodes writes engaging columns that are impish and magical, mischievous and insightful. This last year she invented the Goose Bump Meter and introduced us to her poetry writing, rub-my-belly cat Tickety-Boo, opined about an “undiscovered gland in human bodies that regulates laughing,” and brought Yogi Berra to the party with such Yogi-ism as “It gets later early out there.”

I’m well over my allotted word count. Mary Jane McCall gives monthly tutorials on how to write a column about local happenings. Last winter, Deena Bouknight explained hoarfrost including, mindfully, how to pronounce it. All great word fun!

That’s it but it’s not all. All have won and all shall receive prizes. Writers of the lost art (!), we salute you.

by William McReynolds

We Love Locals

A marvelous getaway doesn’t have to involve elaborate transportation plans. If you’re a local, Old Edwards Inn is saving a place for you.

When the Plateau quiets under winter’s spell, there’s a special kind of magic in rediscovering the place you call home.

This year, Old Edwards Hospitality invites its neighbors to embrace the season with their “We Love Locals” promotion – an irresistible invitation to step into luxury, shake off the post-holiday doldrums, and make the most of winter, right here in Highlands.

Now is when in-the-know enthusiasts for all things wintry and wonderful annually escape to Old Edwards during the “We Love Locals” specials. Indeed, the first three months of the year just might be the very best time at Old Edwards!

With cozy accommodations, indulgent dining, and unique shopping opportunities, Old Edwards transforms the idea of a winter getaway into a celebration of the season—all while showing gratitude to the community that makes Highlands so special.

From January 2 through March 31, locals from nine nearby

counties – Clay, Graham, Haywood, Cherokee, Macon, Jackson, Swain, Transylvania, and Rabun — can retreat to the luxurious country inn adults-only charm of Half-Mile Farm for $165 per night or enjoy the European-style elegance of Old Edwards Inn for $195 per night or (Sunday through Thursday, plus tax).

Whichever location you choose, expect thoughtful details, from roaring fireplaces to plush bedding, and the impeccable service of the hotel’s concierge and valet teams. These stays are designed to feel like a luxurious home away from home.

A Highlands visit wouldn’t be complete without dining at Madison’s Restaurant, where Executive Chef Chris Huerta creates inspired dishes using fresh ingredients sourced from the Inn’s gardens and local farms.

Settle into the inviting ambiance of Madison’s stone-walled dining room, overlooking Main Street, and toast your meal with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine—a special treat for locals as part of this winter offer.

Take advantage of other perks, like attending fitness or yoga classes for just $25 per session, or spend a leisurely afternoon at Acorns, Old Edwards’ thoughtfully curated shop featuring home decor, furniture, art, gifts, jewelry, and the Old Edwards Shop. Locals receive a 25 percent discount on their purchases, though consignment art and Elizabeth Locke jewelry are excluded.

The “We Love Locals” specials are the perfect excuse to create your ideal escape. Whether that means unwinding with a good book by the fire, treating yourself to a spa experience, or exploring the wintery beauty of the Plateau’s trails, Old Edwards makes it easy to rediscover your own backyard in style.

This offer is subject to availability and valid for residents of the eligible counties with proper ID. Taxes, gratuity, and holiday weekends are excluded, so plan your stay and savor all that Old Edwards has to offer this winter. Because there’s no place like home – especially when it’s at Old Edwards. For more information visit oldedwardshospitality.com/locallove or call (866) 526-8008 now to book.

by Marlene Osteen

Book Nook Surprises

Birds, book nooks, and tabletop battles are setting the pace for a busy winter at the Plateau’s twin libraries.

Forever places to spend a cozy winter afternoon, the Plateau’s much-loved libraries – the Hudson Library in Highlands and the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library –are kicking off the winter months with an array of exciting programs designed to educate, stimulate, and enlighten. For nature enthusiasts, Hudson Library is partnering with the Highlands Biological Station to present Birding Basics on Friday, February 7, at 2:00 P.M.

This engaging program, led by Julie Thompson, Education Specialist at the Highlands Nature Center, is perfect for anyone interested in birdwatching, whether you’re a beginner or looking to sharpen your skills.

To complement the program, the Hudson Library will feature a birdwatching-themed display throughout February, showcasing books on bird behavior, identification, and tips

for supporting local birds during the colder months. Winter, after all, is an ideal time to provide food and water to feathered friends when natural resources are scarce.

For more information, visit fontantalib. org/highlands.

Meanwhile at the Albert CarltonCashiers Library, they’re embracing creativity and connection this winter with a mix of hands-on workshops and programs for teens.

Kicking off on Friday, January 3, the library’s Book Nook Crafting Workshop invites participants to create miniature dioramas that fit between books on a shelf. Led by Becky Bryan, this free workshop will run every Friday afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. through January. All materials, including book nook kits, will be provided, but space is limited to 10 participants. Teens have still more to look forward to at the Cashiers Library this winter.

Starting Thursday, January 16, at 4:00 P.M., the library will launch a Teen Book Club focused on graphic novels. Each week, teens will come together to discuss their favorite graphic stories, with the group collectively choosing age-appropriate titles to explore.

Additionally, the ever-popular Teen Tabletop Gaming sessions return on Tuesdays at 4:00 P.M. No experience is necessary – just bring your imagination and a willingness to play. All gaming materials will be provided, making it easy for newcomers and seasoned players alike to join in the fun.

Both programs are free and open to all teens. For details or to reserve a spot, call (828) 743-0215.

by Marlene Osteen

Sparkle More. Shine Bright.

The Village Green’s Lights on The Green will be a Glittering Wonderland throughout the grey days and dark, dark nights of this winter.

The sparkles and twinkles at the Village Green and the Crossroads are a holiday gift to everyone during 2024-25’s pitch-black winter evenings.

“It’s a welcome wow on your GooseBump Meter” says our resident art critic, Donna Rhodes. “Accompanying the lights, Father Winter and Mother Earth are an evergreen – sometimes snow-white – partnership in their fantastic seasonal presentation. The lights, the land, the scenery, are waiting for your enjoyment.”

And the lights will stay on until President’s Day 2025. So pay a visit, maybe stay a bit, then donate a bit to help keep this remarkable wintertime entertainment shining in the heart of Cashiers. It offers visitors twinkling light displays and festive decorations through early February. The park becomes a winter wonderland to make your spirits merry and bright.

Learn more about the Village Green by connecting with Facebook, Instagram, and mail – The Village Green. 160 Frank Allen Road, P.O. Box 2201, Cashiers, North Carolina, 28717. Or you can call (828) 743-3434 or visit villagegreencashiersnc.com.

The Village Green would like to thank our incredible 2024 Lights on The Green Corporate Sponsors for keeping this tradition alive year after year: Premier Sponsor Landmark Realty Group, along with Cashiers Valley Real Estate, Rusticks, Laurel Magazine, Spinx, Ingles Markets, WHLC, Jackson County Parks and Recreation, Caliber Fine Properties, Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club, Zoller Hardware, Jennings Custom Homes, Monarch Mountain Foundations, Whiteside Brewing/Wells Hotel, Vivace, and Plateau Builders.

by Shelby Ward, The Village Green

Coats for Those in Need

The Community Coat Drive is literally a lifesaver during this brutally frigid season.

Eli Bock

2024-25’s Community Coat

Drive outer-wear continues to be outer-this-world. It’s still orbiting our universe and will continue until Spring when ground begins to thaw.

The Highlands Emergency Council, Mountaintop Rotary, and scores of resident contributors (with coats and/or checks) ensure that anyone of any age who needs an extra layer of warmth and love this winter should surely have it. Something sized just right. Organizers like Debi Bock and Duncan Greenlee have dedicated countless hours to leading this effort for Mountaintop Rotary, including leveraging grant funds to purchase new coats.

The 2025 Keeping Our Community Warm project is focused on children, the elderly, and individuals in need of a coat, especially those working outside through the winter season. Working with

the Highlands Emergency Council, the Rotary volunteers worked to purchase specific coats for children in December and continue to collect coats through the winter months.

You will see collection boxes to drop off coats throughout town in churches, banks and restaurants with the logo

cold, requesting a coat. A volunteer brought him a well-insulated coat. As he put it on and felt the warmth, he smiled brightly, through tears of gratitude. We were all moved by the power of this effort to make a difference.”

As he put it on and felt the warmth, he smiled brightly, through tears of gratitude.

Keeping our Community Warm. No one should be cold in Highlands.

Each year, this effort grows and our community generously donates new and used warm winter outerwear.

Debi recounts a touching moment from the drive: “A man came to us, visibly

When you provide cash or check, volunteers like Debi and Duncan take that money and research the garment size and style appropriate for recipients. Please keep giving through March to the Highlands Emergency Council – highlandsemergencycouncil.com; and/or Mountain Rotary – mtrgives.org. We’ve still got families to warm and smiles to share.

by Donna Rhodes

photo by Susan Renfro

Scan to learn more.

Celebrating 150!

Though we can pause to look back at Highlands’ last 150 years, a commitment to preservation demands that we keep our eyes on the future.

Highlands has long been a haven for those seeking beauty, peace, and renewal.

Since its founding in 1875 by Samuel Kelsey and Clinton Hutchinson, our mountain town has provided a tranquil retreat for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The Highlands of today remains a place where both residents and visitors can find refuge from a fast-paced world, and that sense of peacefulness is rooted in our unique local culture and rich history.

The landscape around us is as much a part of our cultural identity as the traditions and values we hold dear.

This natural beauty is the backdrop to our community’s way of life and has been a source of inspiration and respite for generations. It is why many people come to Highlands, and why they keep returning. Preserving this landscape is not just about environmental conservation; it is about protecting the heart and soul of Highlands.

Our history tells the story of settlers and visionaries who shaped the community we know today.

Whether it’s the cultural contributions of our earliest residents, the legacy of craftsmanship passed down through generations, or the timeless architecture that dots our landscape, Highlands has always been a place of creativity, resilience, and heritage. Today, we are deeply committed to ensuring that our town remains true to its roots. Highlands was envisioned as a retreat – a place where individuals could recharge in nature, surrounded by quiet beauty and strong community. While we embrace progress and growth, it is critical that these align with the original vision of Highlands.

However, this preservation does not happen by chance. It requires a deliberate effort from our local officials, businesses, and residents. We work closely with all involved to ensure that economic growth supports and enhances the preservation

of our unique local culture. We strive to balance welcoming new visitors and residents while ensuring they understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of Highlands’ heritage and the natural environment.

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce continues to champion sustainable tourism initiatives, support local businesses that reflect the spirit of our community, and foster educational programs that celebrate our history.

In the end, the preservation of Highlands is not only about safeguarding the past – it’s about ensuring a future where Highlands remains a peaceful, revitalizing escape for all. We invite everyone to experience the timeless charm of our town and to join us in protecting and celebrating the unique culture and history that have made Highlands such an extraordinary place for the last 150 years.

by Kaye McHan, Executive Director

Highlands Chamber of Commerce

Visit Highlands, NC

Special thanks to the Highlands Historical Society for their contribution of historical images. Read more about Highlands 150 years on page 96.

Winter’s Delights

The Plateau is home to a raft of activities that’ll get your heart pumping and invigorate your outlook. (In the words of Highlands’ unofficial commentator and eternal friend of the editor, the late Walter Taylor: “Make sure you wear two pairs of socks. And a few sips of peach bounce wouldn’t hurt.”)

So you think that now that the holidays have come and gone there isn’t much to do on the Plateau?

We say it isn’t so!

The winter season offers an entirely different perspective on enjoying the great outdoors so bundle up and enjoy this less crowded season that offers abundant opportunities for fun, exploration, and excitement.

Highlands Outpost at 7420

Dillard Road in Scaly Mountain offers snow tubing and ice skating daily, weather permitting, from 10:00 until 6:00, with extended hours on Saturdays from 9:00 until 8:00. Those extended hours also apply New Year’s week, January 1-5, and during Martin Luther King weekend, January 18-20 and Presidents Day weekend, February 15-17.

It is anticipated that Highway 106 between Highlands and Scaly will be

open for at least a portion of the winter months. This is your opportunity to catch up on all the fun you might have been missing when the journey down the mountain wasn’t as convenient.

While you’re there don’t miss a chance to ride on North Carolina’s longest gravity-

restaurant, El Guacamole Loco.

Downtown Highlands offers ice skating in the picturesque Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Open Thursday-Sunday, hours are Thursdays from 3:30 to 8:00 P.M., Fridays from 3:30 to 10:00 P.M., Saturdays from 1:00 to 10:00 P.M., and Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. For more information visit their website at highlandsnc.org/ recreation-ice-rink.

… so bundle up and enjoy this less crowded season that offers abundant opportunities for fun, exploration, and excitement.

powered mountain coaster, the Scaly Mountain Screamer.

For more information, information on group sales, and to confirm hours of operation, call (828) 526-3737 or visit their website at highlandsoutpost.com.

After all that activity you’ll be ready to enjoy a delicious meal at their onsite

Additonal options for wintertime fun are Highland Excursions (highlandexcursion.com) and Jackson Hole Gem Mine (jacksonholegemmine.com.) You’ll want to reach out to both to discover their winter offerings.

by Mary Jane McCall

photo by Susan Renfro

Sapphire’s Outhouse Races

With its reputation for rolling, rollicking silliness, Sapphire’s Outhouse Races has become a regional sensation. Join the fun on Saturday, February 15. Visit sapphirevalleyresorts.com for more info.

The 2025 Sapphire Outhouse Race is on a roll again. If you’ve not witnessed, ridden-in, or shoved at this competition, you’ve got to come see this year’s honey bucket explosion. It’s like NASCAR on ice – well. more like a version of the Idiot-a-rod, where people push instead of dogs pull. Bottom line, as it were, everyone participating knows that there’s no shame in being number two, and this event is the best bucket full of fun all year.

Mark your calendar for 2025’s poo pourri par-tay bidet. (That’s might how you’d speak of it in French if you were a partytooter and not much of a parlez vous-er). It’ll be staged from Saturday, February 15, and the last date to enroll is February 13.

Registration is at 1:30 P.M. Saturday. Static parade (the viewing and judging) is at 2:30 P.M. with the races to follow

in the Sapphire Valley Ski Area, 3:00 –4:00 P.M. It’s $125 per homebuilt entry. If you want to rent an outhouse from Sapphire, there’s an additional charge. Checks payable to SVMA.

… and this event is the best bucket full of fun all year.

This quirky commodious competition will slide down the slope no matter the weather. After all – every day at Sapphire is a beautiful day in the valley. All commode captains agree.

Don’t forget the outhouse requirements: one hole, a TP roll, a sitting pilot, and an outhouse built around ‘em. Decorate your mobile potty as elaborately or as simply as you choose. Then, if you

desire, hang one of those pine treeshaped air fresheners, just in case. If need-be, you/your team can rent a privy on site. Then ya’ll and your corncob quarters on skiis will go headto-head down a two lane track against another outie, delicately put, flying forward while eating backwards.

Now, get yourself, your team, and your one-holer ski-daddling. Run, Forest, run! ‘Cause when you gotta go, you gotta go.

Contact Sapphire Valley for more information: (828) 743-1163.

by Donna Rhodes

Scan to learn more.

A Valentine Dinner Theatre

With its dinner theatre production set for February 13 and 14 at Highlands Performing Arts Center, Highlands Cashiers Players continues its tradition of comedy and drama that began 30 years ago.

Cathy Myers (HCP Vice President) and April Getz (HCP President)

The HCP 2025 Thirtieth Anniversary Season begins with a Valentine’s Dinner Theatre in the Martin Lipscomb Theater at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. Patrons will enjoy a delicious dinner buffet as they are entertained by short scenes and vignettes presented by duos of Highlands Cashiers Players actors and actresses. The event will be held February 13 and 14, with both performances at 7:30 P.M.

Thirtieth birthdays are a milestone in our culture. Turning 30 often symbolizes the transition into a more mature phase of life.

The same could be said of our local nonprofit community theater group, Highlands Cashiers Players, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

In July of 1995, Sara Mayer, Carol Lucas, Jerri Talley, Jean Morris and April Hershey each gave $100 to begin a community theater group in Highlands, and the Highlands Community Players was

born. That first season they chose three plays – Steel Magnolias, Dearly Departed and A Thurber Carnival. In the summer of 2008, the Highlands Community Players joined forces with theater lovers in nearby Cashiers and transitioned to the Highlands Cashiers Players.

As happened with many organizations, Highlands Cashiers Players was struggling after the Pandemic, and considered closing the doors.

We are eternally grateful to Michael Lanzilotta, Ron Leslie, and Ricky Siegel for forming an emergency executive board to save the group. Even more impressive was the fact that they immediately went out to recruit new talent for the board of directors, even if that meant including fresh and sometimes different perspectives.

Highlands Cashiers Players is also on solid financial footing thanks to grants from community organizations such as Mountain Findings, Macon Arts

Council and others as well as a 2024 season that was very well-attended and brought much new talent both on stage and backstage.

Support from the Highlands Performing Arts Center (PAC) —where we are one of four resident companies — and invaluable guidance from Mary Adair Trumbly, the recently-retired executive director at the PAC, have also been instrumental in our resurgence.

We eagerly anticipate continuing our residence at the PAC’s Martin Lipscomb Theater and working with the new executive director, Jeanne Piazza.

Season tickets for the season’s four mainstage plays (with the dinner theater priced separately) are currently available, along with options for individual tickets – visit highlandscashiersplayers. com or call (828) 526-9047.

by April Getz, Highlands Cashiers Players photo by Susan Renfro

Winter Chill with Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever, set for January 11 at Highlands Performing Arts Center, is a cozy tonic for winter’s chills and seasonal blahs.

John Grove

Matt Walden and Zack Couron

As the January winds sweep through Highlands, there’s no better way to beat the chill than by cozying up with friends, neighbors, and live music.

On January 11, the Highlands Performing Arts Center will host Cabin Fever Live! An unforgettable evening featuring the entertaining, upbeat sounds of the dynamic duo singer-songwriter Zack Couron and Matt Walden with special guest John Grove.

Born from a fireside jam session during Highlands Porchfest, it promises to recreate the intimacy and joy of that special moment.

Picture this: a chilly fall evening around the fire, the boys with guitars in hand, as Mary Adair Trumbly and Marjorie Deal lead an impromptu singalong under the moonlight.

There, the idea took shape – to capture that spirit of this moment and bring it to

the Performing Arts Center this winter. Meet artists Zack Couron and Matt Walden. They’ve been delighting crowds with their engaging showmanship and exceptional musical talents, guaranteed to have you dancing in your seats.

“We’re so lucky to be a part of Highlands music scene, and we can’t wait to warm the winter up with some jams,” says Zach.

Opening the night is Highlands’ very own John Grove, a local favorite who knows how to strike the perfect chord with his blend of folk, Americana, and heartfelt charm.

For those who’ve seen him perform at Porchfest, you know his music embodies the spirit of Highlands – rooted, heartfelt, and unforgettably real.

“Highlands is such an inspirational place for me, and I’m so grateful to have been so warmly welcomed by the community and be able to call this place

home,” he says.

Cabin Fever isn’t just a concert; it’s a unique experience, a winter escape you won’t want to miss. It’s a chance to leave behind the winter blues, get out of the house, and embrace an evening of connection, warmth, and the magic of live music.

This intimate event is expected to sell out quickly, so get your tickets and mark your calendars for January 11. Doors open at 6:00 P.M. with music beginning at 6:30 P.M. Tickets are $15 for general admission seating and $20 for cabaret seating. A cash bar will be available for libations.

Warm your heart and soul this winter with Cabin Fever. Join us for an evening that promises to be enchanting and unforgettable. Visit highlandsperformingarts.com to purchase your seat and more info.

by Donna Rhodes

JANUARY

“January is the quietest month in the garden. But just because it looks quiet doesn’t mean that nothing is happening.”

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. Studio Alive, 10 AM-1 PM, The Bascom.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Teen Tabletop Gaming sessions 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library.

– Rosalie Muller Wright

Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub. 1

Walking Wednesdays, 9:30 AM, Cashiers Ramble, Highlands Cashiers Land Trust. The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bluegrass, 10:30 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House. Ice Skating, 1-5 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub. 6 5 7 8

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Ice Skating, 3:30-8 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Blues Music, 6-9 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Book Nook Crafting Workshop, 1- 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library.

Ice Skating, 3:30-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Live Music, 5-8 PM, The Local. Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Ice Skating, 3:30-8 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Blues Music, 6-9 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive. 9

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Ice Skating, 3:30-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 5-8 PM, The Local. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.

Bluegrass, 10:30 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House. Ice Skating, 1-5 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bluegrass, 10:30 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House.

Ice Skating, 1-5 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park.

Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. Studio Alive, 10 AM-1 PM, The Bascom.

Bluegrass, 10:30 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House.

Ice Skating, 1-5 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park.

Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly.

Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist.

Studio Alive, 10 AM-1 PM, The Bascom.

Studio Alive, 10 AM-1 PM, The Bascom. 27 26 12

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Teen Tabletop Gaming sessions 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM.

Ice Skating, 3:30-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park.

Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.

Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

Ice Skating, 1-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Ice Skating, 1-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist.

Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub. 21 20 22

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Teen Tabletop Gaming sessions 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Teen Tabletop Gaming sessions, 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library. 28

Walking Wednesdays, 3:30-5 PM, Ravenel Park, Highlands Cashiers Land Trust. The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Ice Skating, 1-8 PM, KelseyHutchinson Park. Teen Book Club, 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library. National Theatre Live: Dear England, 5 PM, Highlands PAC. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Blues Music, 6-9 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Ice Skating, 1-8 PM, KelseyHutchinson Park. Teen Book Club, 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Blues Music, 6-9 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive.

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Ice Skating, 3:30-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Ice Skating, 1-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Cabin Fever LIVE , 6:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Ice Skating, 1-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Naturally 7, 7 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Ice Skating, 3:30-8 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Teen Book Club, 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library. Artist Talk, Melissa Weiss, 4-5 PM, The Bascom. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Rotary Bingo, 6:30-8:30 PM, Highlands Community Building. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive. 23 24 25 14 13 17 16 15 18 4 19

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Ice Skating, 3:30-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Ice Skating, 1-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Naturally 7, 7 PM, Highlands PAC. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. MET: Aida by Verdi, 12:30 PM, Highlands PAC. Ice Skating, 1-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar

FEBRUARY

February. Where winter whispers it’s final verses and the promise of spring dances in every snowflake.” – Unknown

Bluegrass, 10:30 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House.

Ice Skating, 1-5 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park.

Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly.

Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bluegrass, 10:30 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House. Ice Skating, 1-5 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

February. Where winter whispers it’s final verses and the promise of spring dances in every snowflake.” – Unknown 7

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. Studio Alive, 10 AM-1 PM, The Bascom.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Teen Tabletop Gaming sessions, 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library.

Bluegrass, 10:30 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House.

Ice Skating, 1-5 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park.

Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly.

Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

3 2 4 5

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. Studio Alive, 10 AM-1 PM, The Bascom.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Ice Skating, 3:30-8 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Teen Book Club, 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library. National Theatre Live: The Motive and Cue, 5 PM, Highlands PAC. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Blues Music, 6-9 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive. 6

Bluegrass, 10:30 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House.

Ice Skating, 1-5 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park.

Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly.

Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Highlands Cashiers Players Valentine Dinner Theatre, 7:30 PM, PAC. 20 21 22 11 10 14 13 12 15 1 16

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. Studio Alive, 10 AM-1 PM, The Bascom.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.

Teen Tabletop Gaming sessions, 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

Bluegrass, 10:30 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House.

24 23 9

Ice Skating, 1-5 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. Studio Alive, 10 AM-1 PM, The Bascom.

Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly.

Music Bingo, 7:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist.

The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Teen Tabletop Gaming sessions, 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library.

The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Ice Skating, 3:30-8 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Teen Book Club, 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Blues Music, 6-9 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.

The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM.

Ice Skating, 3:30-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park.

Annual Winter Beer Fest, 4-8 PM, Whiteside Brewing Company.

Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.

Highlands Cashiers Players

Valentine Dinner Theatre, 7:30 PM, PAC.

Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Ice Skating, 3:30-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 5-8 PM, The Local. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub. 18 17 19

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM.

The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM.

Ice Skating, 3:30-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Sapphire Outhouse Races, 11 AM-4 PM, Sapphire Valley Ski Area.

Ice Skating, 1-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Teen Tabletop Gaming sessions 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library.

The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Ice Skating, 3:30-8 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Teen Book Club, 4 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library. National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Ernest, 5 PM, Highlands PAC. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Lewis Hall. Blues Music, 6-9 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Trivia, 7:30 PM, High Dive.

Bazaar Barn 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Ice Skating, 3:30-10 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Live Music, 9 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.

View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.

Live Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge. Live Music, 9 PM, High Dive.

RECREATION & CREATION Pages 44-55

Photo by Susan Renfro

Hiking with Dogs in Winter

Winter hiking with your pet brings a host of pitfalls and possibilities.

Hiking during the colder months is preferable for many who are drawn to the outdoors. Vistas are more open, snakes are in hiding, and fewer people are on paths.

And, for those of you who like to hike with your dogs, you don’t have to worry about them picking up any tick freeloaders.

However, hiking when it is cold requires preparation and consideration for both you and your four-legged friends.

If your dog is short or medium-haired and if it tends to shiver easily, consider some sort of snug and waterproof or waterresistant doggie parka, coat, jacket, etc. My dog, Mingo, is a great pyrenes-mix, and thus is naturally equipped with a very thick, fluffy coat. Even on the coldest days, she likes to lie out on the lawn or front porch, and she especially never seems to feel cold when hiking. In fact, she often wades into creeks and streams on frigid days.

Yet, that is not always the case with every dog. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian what is suggested for your particular breed of dog.

Feet and paws especially need warmth and protection. Wool or wool-blend socks are ideal for humans in that they trap in the heat as well as help keep feet dry, especially when hiking in frost or snow. But a quality pair of weatherproof hiking boots is also must. Those socks won’t stay dry for long if hiking in mesh, permeable-type hiking boots.

For dogs, pay attention to signs of discomfort as they walk. Are they stopping to pick up paws often? Licking them? Refusing to walk or walking gingerly?

There are protective booties that slip on over dogs’ paws and Velcro to keep them in place. Of course, you may want to get your dog used to them before you set out on a long hike as a dog may refuse to budge once you put them on. But dogs prone to having sensitive feet will get used to doggie footwear quickly. Also available is wax, or balm, that can be rubbed onto dogs’ feet to establish a barrier and keep paws somewhat protected from icy surfaces.

And, both humans and dogs need to hydrate and stay fueled while hiking. Bring plenty of water if you don’t think there will be a water source on the route and pack a collapsible water bowl for poochie.

Pay attention to how your dog is handling the hike every mile or so; be flexible and plan to turn back or take a different route if your dog is showing any fatigue. Rest when needed.

And always, always check weather forecasts before hiking; pack a first-aid kit, flashlight, and a map (or download one on your phone); and, let someone know your planned route.

by Deena Bouknight

Canaries in the Mine

The Christmas Bird Count provides a detailed snapshot of the Plateau’s avian population, including surprising new arrivals.

American Kestel

December brings Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count or CBC, a population sampling of all the birds in North America, Canada, Latin America, some of the Caribbean, virtually all of the Northern Hemisphere. Feeding what is perhaps the largest citizen science database in the world, each year since 1900, Audubon members -- typically 60,000 individuals in 2,400 counting groups – sight and count upwards of 70 million birds. These large-scale, longitudinal data help us know the state of health and location of our Western Hemispheric birds.

Our own Highlands Plateau Audubon Society or HPAS participates in these CBCs every year, usually 5 or more counting groups totaling 25 or more counters. Last December, HPAS reports, “the teams counted a total of 1,292 birds and 54 species. One new species for our count was a Palm Warbler seen at the Rich Gap land fill area. Other notable

species not seen very often were a Bald Eagle, American Kestel, Pine Warbler, Red Crossbill and a Rusty Blackbird.”

Our avifauna are among the most carefully monitored species in the world. There is irrefutable evidence that bird populations are in steep decline: we have lost 3 billion birds since 1970. The chief culprit is loss of habitat and that due to climate change that is shuffling our ecological decks.

Three years ago, the National Audubon Society 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 50 percent of their existing ranges to climate change by 2050; another 188 bird species could lose half their current range by 2080. Like the proverbial canary in the mine, bird data from the CBC are being used to foretell our collective future. That

future is projected to have many fewer birds and fewer species of birds than in recent decades.

“Who are we,” you might ask, “that we have appeared on this watery orb in this remote solar system within this singular galaxy which is itself but a tiny part of the vast Cosmos? Whence cometh the answer? Perhaps from the birds which embody the Spirit and Beauty of the Living World. Do we not imagine feathered wings on our Angels? Perhaps these are our Angels, these delicate winged creatures who hold the secrets of the balance between life and inanimate being. Perhaps these are our messengers. Are we watching? Are we listening?”

by William

McReynolds, Highlands Plateau Audubon Society

Just a Few Small Tweaks

These fallow days and hoar-frost nights are the ideal time to cultivate big plans and contemplate little adjustments.

For me, January is a month that is a bridge between last years wins and losses and the New Year’s promise of a fresh start on some things while making necessary adjustments on others.

I can say this philosophy extends across all aspects of my life and I especially enjoy the evaluation and planning process when it comes to my garden. There is nothing more enjoyable than in the late evening or early morning hours to spread out my gardening books and articles, poring over them and thinking of how I want my landscape to look, deciding what’s going to work in my mostly shady yard and dreaming of how the finished product will look…like that ever happens!

Oh, and do you like that run-on sentence? It’s a metaphor for my run-on garden. Did you know that you are not officially a gardener until you’ve moved each plant at least three times?!?

Yes, someone actually told me that and I

thought they were kidding. Now, not so much. And while I’m on the subject, it hasn’t escaped me that my shady yard will eventually change as trees will need to be felled and mother nature will have the last laugh while I go through the process again.

But I digress. I have certain favorite inspirational books that I open the pages to and study to see how I can incorporate some of the wonderful plantings in my yard. It’s really the structure I study along with the textures, sizes and shapes I’m attracted to. Then I look over the list of plants I love, the ones that will do well in my now shady yard and decide how I can incorporate those ideas in my spaces. I enjoy doing this over the cold winter months, revisiting ideas and deciding which ones to incorporate.

One year my aspiration was to have an all, white garden and over time I got fairly far with it until I moved. The process is for my enjoyment not to be

viewed as work or an assignment I’ve given myself. It’s the gift my dormant garden gives me: Time. Time to savor the process, time to dream of possibilities. Gardening is a living, growing process, well beyond just plants. It allows us to flex our creative muscles. There are years when I’m not very inspired, so I might tread water or do just a few small tweaks. Those times when I am energized and raring to go, I tackle bigger projects; my additions and re-dos. Sometimes its plants, other times hardscape, and other times just creating living spaces outdoors that feed my soul.

I think that’s really what a gardener is going after, that connection with nature that brings a certain peace and contentment that you won’t find anywhere else. I wish you the very best in this New Year! Happy Gardening! by Debby Hall

Land Trust’s Winter Book Suggestions

A tall stack of books is the perfect passport to the mysteries and majesty and those sudden bursts of transcendence found on the Plateau.

It’s the time of year when colder temperatures and shorter days encourage curling up with a good book – and what better time to learn more about the biodiversity, ecology, and history that makes our area so special? So grab a cup of coffee or mug of tea, feed the birds, and pick up one of these books, all favorites of Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust staff.

If you missed reading Braiding Sweetgrass with HCLT’s summer community book club, it’s well worth grabbing a copy now.

Dr. Robin Kimmerer weaves together scientific knowledge (she has a PhD in plant ecology), her Potawatomi indigenous heritage, and first-person accounts of raising daughters and re-wilding her property to explain the often subtle but oh-so-important interconnections essential to the functioning of the natural world. Never preachy or jargon-laden, her writing approaches poetry. There’s a reason this is a national bestseller.

Likewise, I hope you were able to attend the book release HCLT hosted for authors Janet McCue and Paul Bonesteel for their new work George Masa: A Life Reimagined

You may be aware that photographer George Masa visited our area in the late 1920s, capturing 100 scenes that remain iconic, but McCue and Bonesteel reveal for the first time the incredible backstory of Masa’s life. Intrigue, adversity, and legacy-creating art – and some of it happened right here!

In The Changing Blue Ridge Mountains: Essays on Journeys Past and Present, Brent Martin of Cowee allows the reader to walk in the footsteps of William Bartram as he traverses Macon County, to appreciate hunting for “the rarest of the Appalachian shrubs, the mountain camellia” or searching for a historic spring that harkens back to the time of our forefathers. The essay format makes this book a treat to pick up and enjoy as time permits.

The natural bounty that defines the Great Smoky Mountains National Park we all enjoy today belies its past, an oftentortured history of industrial logging, depression-era grassroots fundraising, and the lasting impacts of eminent domain. Margaret Brown’s The Wild East: A Biography of the Great Smoky Mountains remains one of the best texts to tell this fascinating tale.

And for a fictionalized tale of how logging transformed the Smokies – and by extension, much of Western North Carolina – there’s none better than Ron Rash’s Serena.

Happy reading, and the HighlandsCashiers Land Trust looks forward to seeing you at one of our events in 2025! (Oh – and the coffee mug in the photo is by Sweet Dreams Pottery, acquired at the Highlands Arts and Crafts Show. It’s a favorite!)

by Lance Hardin Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust

Rebecoming Mirror Lake

Highlands’ Mirror Lake is undergoing a restoration to its former, pristine glory.

Good things come to those who wait and, we might add, persevere. This is certainly true of the Mirror Lake Improvements Association and their long and arduous effort to restore Mirror Lake to its former glory. Throughout the years, Mirror Lake has slowly been suffocated by silt which has reduced the once pristine lake to a shadow of its former glory.

The Mirror Lake Improvements Association was formed in the 1990s to raise funds to dredge the lake.

Mayor Pat Taylor says, “The effort to dredge Mirror Lake has been in the works for nearly 30 years. Phase 1 of the dredging project is funded by the Mirror Lake Improvement Association. It is now underway. The remaining phases will be administered by the Town of Highlands using $5 million in state funds. The dredging will take several years. The project will restore the lake and improve water quality for the Plateau watershed.”

Equipment has now been moved into place by RiverSand Inc., the company tasked with Phase One of dredging, and a staging area set up where the silt will be piped into large membrane bags, through which clean water will be drained back into the lake. The silt will then be removed.

John Bryant, a representative of RiverSand, says that the project is off to a great start, but further work won’t proceed until spring when warmer weather permits.

They anticipate Phase One to be complete by summer and John says “you’ll see a visual impact quickly when work commences.” Phase one will dredge a 250-foot swath upstream and downstream from the Mirror Lake bridge.

MLIA representative Pat Gleeson says that the association is continuing to raise funds to build carefully planned areas for public enjoyment which will be entirely funded by MLIA.

These areas will include 40-45 canoe racks at the Mirror Lake bridge, affectionately referred to as the Mirror Lake Yacht Club. Spaces will be available for annual rent for those wishing to store canoes and kayaks onsite, and there will be a fire pit and a picnic table.

An area at the corner of Netsi Place and Hickory Hill will have walkable paths, a gazebo, a small dock, a picnic table, and will be navigable from the bridge. MLIA envisions this family-friendly space as one that will often host canoeing and kayaking rallies.

An area along Cullasaja Drive will have benches for those wishing to sit and enjoy the quietude.

To support these efforts, call MLIA Treasurer Tom Roberson at (770) 329-9919.

by Mary Jane McCall

photo by Matthew Eberz, Heritage Productions

Photo by Susan Renfro

Picture Your Possibilities

Beth Jones’ discerning eye and a quick dash of courage and confidence gave us our spectacular Winter 2025 Cover.

Beth Jones is still goose-bumpy. She took a chance and entered The Laurel’s Winter Photo Contest.

With a few pictures shot from her deck and several vistas snapped while hiking, it was time to reveal them to the Universe. Their first destination, The Laurel

Think about it. Entering a contest on a whim, with little photographic experience. And the most delicious part of it all –Beth won!

A whirl-of-wow spins in her head every time she thinks about it. It’s so new. That spinning-wow generates another layer of excitement!

Beth is one of those people who contrib -

utes much to the world as a devoted wife, a great mom, a dedicated fourth-grade teacher, and a gifted woman who discovered a new, powerful talent later in life.

Her teacher’s soul wants to share with everyone – “You can find your inner artist too. You just need to be brave, get out of your comfort zone, and put

yourself out there. You never know what might happen!”

Beth knows how that feels. She was born and raised in Iowa. Years later, moving to the mountains, she found Appalachia far from cornfield-flat.

Plus, living on magnificent land near Highlands where her husband Tony was raised, inserted other strata of height and richness. His boyhood home has opened its heart and its picturesque beauty to Beth, too.

Earlier, Beth’s experience with photography had largely been as a way of documenting her hiking experiences near Highlands and on the Appalachian Trail. But iPhones, which set the new standard for accessibility and clarity, energized Beth’s interest, pushing her closer to competition.

Now, in-between goosebumps, she ponders what’s next.

Several things came to mind: take a class; share artful photos on social media; consider her work as holiday gifts

and after that, sales. Her New Year’s finest delight will be to share and celebrate

The Laurel’s cover with her students and instill in them that “go for it” attitude to always keep on learning and pursuing their dreams.

There’s gonna be a whirl-of-wow in every kid’s eyes.

For more info about Beth, view her page on Instagram – jbethjonesphotography.

by Donna Rhodes

Art, Tech, and Everyday Lives

Thomas Schram brings his talent and his vision to The Bascom as its 2024-2025 Winter Resident Artist.

This winter, The Bascom is thrilled to welcome Thomas Schram as its 2024-2025 Winter Resident Artist.

With a unique studio practice rooted in the dynamic conversations between people, places, and materials, Schram is known for his innovative exploration across various mediums – object making, interactive installations, video, and sound. His work delves into the intersection of technology with our everyday lives, examining how it sometimes enhances, yet often clashes with, our ability to truly engage with the physical and social landscapes that surround us.

Schram’s most recent focus has centered on the consumption and waste culture that pervades modern society. He is particularly interested in the industrial processes that transform raw natural resources into the endless array of consumables we encounter daily, while questioning how we perceive these items

as though they carry little cost. Through this, Schram invites his audience to consider the hidden consequences of the world around us.

In his upcoming installation at The Bascom, Schram plans to blend found objects with self-shot and repurposed footage, creating an experience that is as tactile as it is atmospheric.

As he reflects:

“Lately, my thoughts have been consumed by rivers, especially as I process the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. I find myself thinking about the old logging practices, how rivers and streams were once used to transport timber, how splash dams were built, and how the logs would leave their mark on the banks as they floated downstream. The scars left by the storm, like those from past industries, seem to speak of a shared history of destruction and renewal.”

Schram’s work will confront this poignant intersection of the past and present, offering a space for both artist and viewer to process the weight of loss and transformation. During his residency, he hopes to channel his emotions into a powerful reflection of our collective experience.

Thomas Schram is an Asheville-based artist and educator currently serving as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Sculpture at Western Carolina University. He earned his MFA in sculpture from Clemson University and his BFA in Painting from the University of North Carolina – Asheville.

This exhibition opens January 18.

by Billy Love,

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts

This Winter at PAC

There’s passion aplenty when Highlands Performing Arts Center stages live performances of The National Theatre and the PET Opera during the winter. All screenings will be in the MartinLispcomb Theater.

Aida by Verdi

The National Theatre and the MET Opera will offer four screening of live performances in January and February at the Highlands Performing Arts Center, 507 Chestnut Street.

Thursday, January 23 at 5:00 P.M. The National Theatre will present Dear England, a new play by James Graham. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game? With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land. Gareth Southgate has brought hope back to the England squad but with the nation’s expectations upon his shoulders, what happens when football doesn’t come home?

Saturday, January 25 at 1:00 P.M. The MET Opera will present live from

NYC Aida by Verdi. American soprano Angel Blue headlines as the Ethiopian princess torn between love and country in a new production of Verdi’s Aida by Michael Mayer that brings audiences inside the towering pyramids and gilded

room and the relationship between art and celebrity.

Gareth Southgate has brought hope back to the England squad…

tombs of ancient Egypt with intricate projections and dazzling animations.

Thursday, February 6, at 5:00 P.M.: The National Theatre will present The Motive & the Cue Why would the most famous movie star in the world choose to do a play which everyone already knows? And what lures us back to the same plays, year after year? This fierce and funny new play by Jack Thorne offers a glimpse into the politics of a rehearsal

Thursday, February 27, at 5:00 P.M. The National Theatre will present The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde. It’s a trivial comedy for serious people. While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate. Max Webster (Life of Pi) directs this hilarious story of identity, impersonation and romance, filmed live from the National Theatre in London. All screenings will be in the MartinLispcomb Theater. Tickets are available at HighlandsPerformingArts.com.

by Jeanne Piazza, Executive Director, Highlands PAC

Trailborn Spotlights Artists

Trailborn Highlands’ mission is to deliver the possibilities that make for a unique Highlands Experience – now through the lens of artistic expression.

The art of Tarah Singh

Trailborn Highlands arrived on the Plateau with a mission – yes, to coddle their guests in comfort, but at least as importantly to introduce them to the singular pleasures of the Highlands environment.

From casting a line in fish-studded rivers, to marveling at the wonders of our waterfalls, scaling rugged mountain cliffs or spotting migrating birds from scenic overlooks, Trailborn has always sought to connect its visitors with the beauty and wonder of this remarkable region. Now, the boutique hotel is adding another layer to its experiential offerings, a new Artist in Residence program launching with this New Year.

“At Trailborn, we strive to offer our guests an immersive experience that highlights the best of every destination,” says Carly Lincenberg, Director of Experience for Trailborn.

This initiative, inspired by the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene, aims to

support artists whose homes and studios were damaged or lost. The program will provide selected artists across disciplines with a two-week residency at Trailborn Highlands, offering both a sanctuary for creativity and a chance to share their talents with the community.

Each artist will lead classes for guests and locals from Wednesday to Sunday, culminating in bi-weekly pop-up art shows where their works can be showcased and purchased.

Trailborn’s first Artist-in-Residence, Tarah Singh, will hold classes in acrylic painting, chalk pastels, blind contour drawing, and mixed media January 2 through 16.

Tarah is a Guyanese American Artist who was raised in Western North Carolina. She is a visionary creative working in a variety of mediums to communicate with the world around her.

“Our goal is to foster a sense of connection within the local arts community while giving guests an unforgettable

creative experience,” says Jen LaRue, Trailborn Highlands General Manager. The first pop-up art show is set for debut in January, featuring not only the artist’s work but also live music from local musicians. These art shows, hosted every Thursday, promise to be lively celebrations of creativity, complete with a chance to meet the artists and connect over shared appreciation for their craft.

“We want to offer more than just a place to stay,” LaRue adds. “We want Trailborn Highlands to feel like a gathering place for the community—a space where people can come together to celebrate art, music, and the spirit of Highlands.”

Apply at trailborn.com/highlands/ artists-residence-program to be one of the program’s featured artists, and make sure to visit trailborn.com/highlands/ experiences to find the latest information on upcoming experiences and events.

by Marlene Osteen

DINING Pages 74-84

Kate, Wolfgang, and Mindy Green

A Legend Has Retired

A landmark restaurant that earned a zealous corps of diners and revelers (just look at their smiles), Wolfgang’s has served its final memorable meal.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, Highlands was a sleepy tourist town that awoke only for a brief time during the summer months. In the late 20th century, it was nothing like the bustling, year-round resort town of luxury accommodations and high-priced real estate it is today. In 1994, a German-born chef and his wife relocated from Dallas and purchased Hildegard’s – the restaurant in the Gray Cottage, one of Highlands’ oldest buildings. Now, 30 years later, the Greens have sold the restaurant, and Wolfgang’s closed its doors after one final meal on December 31, New Year’s Eve.

Over three decades, the Gray Cottage and Wolfgang’s business has witnessed and withstood profound change. It’s

weathered storms, shifting populations, and the seismic transformation brought by Old Edwards Inn, which ushered in the town’s evolution into a year-round resort. Once a quiet seasonal retreat, Highlands has grown into what some now call an East Coast Aspen. The arrival of Covid brought its own upheaval, with staffing shortages and new challenges, yet Wolfgang’s adapted, evolving with the times while staying true to its roots.

It didn’t take long for the news of the closing to spread.

Within hours of Wolfgang and Mindy Green’s announcement, social media was flooded with memories and tributes. Tales of dinners at the restaurant poured forth, and reservations surged.

Many recalled special occasions spent

at Wolfgang’s, like my own family gathering in the wine room following my husband’s death. Thoughtfully seated by Jacque, the longtime manager, we were given the privacy to share stories and grieve together – a small but meaningful act that typified the care Wolfgang’s was known for.

When the Greens took over Hildegard’s in 1994, the restaurant was in decline. Business was slow, and the reputation was poor. Mindy took to the streets, going door-to-door to invite locals to give them a chance.

“If we like it, we’ll come back. If we don’t, you’ll never see us again,” one business owner told her. Meanwhile, Wolfgang, drawing from his years of culinary experience, reworked the menu to include dishes that reflected his

German heritage. It was a tough start, but the community ultimately responded with enthusiasm.

Importantly, the Greens received crucial support from other restaurateurs. Marta at On the Verandah and Mrs. P and Arthur at Paoletti’s offered advice and guidance. Marta reviewed the menu and helped them refine it, while Mrs. P provided practical tips on running a restaurant in Highlands. Their kindness and generosity were instrumental in helping Wolfgang’s find its footing. Wolfgang and Mindy poured everything they had into the restaurant. They lived above it for the first two years, reinvesting every penny into improvements. The original 60-seat dining room expanded over the years to include a pavilion, outdoor seating, and, in 2008, the Bistro and bar. This addition allowed them to offer small plates and a more casual dining option while continuing to serve their signature

dishes in the main dining room.

Classics like Wiener Schnitzel and Bavarian-inspired cuisine became staples, beloved by regulars and visitors alike.

What ultimately made Wolfgang’s a success wasn’t just the food or the wine – it was Wolfgang himself. His patrons loved the restaurant because he loved them back. His affection showed in the care he took with the plates and the decor. Customers and staff alike were there for Wolfgang, the chef and owner who worked the stoves and greeted his guests with warmth and humility every single day the restaurant was open. Wolfgang’s wine program became one of its defining features, earning the “Best of Wine Spectator” award in 2018. The restaurant’s cellar grew to over 800 labels, curated to offer variety and value. Longtime sommelier D’Arcy Adams began as a waiter before rising through

the ranks to lead the wine program. His story reflected the Greens’ commitment to fostering talent and building a loyal team. Many employees, like Saul, a cook of 29 years; Sean, who in his 12 years rose from sous chef to chef de cuisine; and Jacque, a manager of 14 years, became part of the restaurant’s fabric.

The decision to sell and close Wolfgang’s was not an easy one, but the Greens are ready to move on. Their plans include traveling to Germany to visit family, and exploring Europe on a river cruise.

Reflecting on their journey, Wolfgang said, “We’ve been incredibly fortunate and its been an extraordinary journey. We’ve had the privilege of meeting wonderful people. The support from the community, the staff, and our customers has meant everything. It’s bittersweet to close, but it’s time for the next chapter.”

by Marlene Osteen

Winemaker Bertrand Rivals the Finest

The exceptional wines of superstar vintner Gérard Bertrand met Marlene’s cultivated palate at Highlands Food & Wine Festival. It was a happy reunion.

French winemaker Gérard Bertrand may be widely known for his collaboration with rocker Jon Bon Jovi on the popular rosé Diving into Hampton Water, but his influence in the wine world goes far beyond celebrity partnerships. Bertrand has become a transformative figure for the wines of the Languedoc region in southern France, turning an area once dismissed by critics into a respected hub for organic and biodynamic winemaking. With 17 wineries under his ownership, Bertrand has established himself as a leader in sustainability and a producer capable of crafting wines that rival the prestige of Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Bertrand’s journey from professional rugby player to winemaking icon began when he took over his family estate after the untimely passing of his father.

Recently, I had the privilege of attending a tasting of Gérard Bertrand’s wines at Highlands Wine Shoppe during the

Highlands Food & Wine Festival. Here are some highlights from the event:

Gérard Bertrand Crémant de Limoux “An 825” Brut NV

This sparkling wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Mauzac, crafted using the traditional method. The wine’s name pays homage to the Abbey of Saint Hilaire, where sparkling wine was first discovered in 1531, and 825 refers to the first written mention of the abbey. With aromas of white flowers, honey, green apple, and toast, this wine’s crisp structure and fine bubbles offered a delightful start to the tasting.

Domaine de l’Aigle Chardonnay 2021, Limoux

This elegant Chardonnay features fruit-forward notes of white peach complemented by marzipan and pastry on the nose. The palate is fresh and mineral, with a light, supple texture and herbal finish. It’s perfect alongside

roasted poultry, creamy seafood dishes, or goat cheese tarts.

Château l’Hospitalet Rouge 2020, La Clape

Perhaps the most iconic wine of the tasting, this blend hails from Château l’Hospitalet, a historic estate and the headquarters of Bertrand’s winemaking empire. With aromas of spice, herbs, and black and red fruits, this wine features silky tannins and a harmonious balance of fruit and freshness.

Each of these wines highlighted Bertrand’s commitment to expressing the character of their terroirs while adhering to biodynamic principles. If you’re eager to explore his collection, these selections are available at Highlands Wine Shoppe, offering a taste of Bertrand’s innovative approach to winemaking and the beauty of the Languedoc region.

by Marlene Osteen

Creamy Baba Ganoush

DonLeon’s Baba Ganoush is a savory serving of Mediterranean goodness.

Not too long ago, hummus was considered an exotic treat by many Americans – now it’s a staple in refrigerators across the country. As hummus has paved the way, baba ganoush – the signature eggplant puree found across the Middle East – is stepping into the spotlight, ready for its well-deserved close-up. This velvety dip offers the same creamy richness and earthy Mediterranean flavors as hummus but carries an added element of intrigue. Whether served as part of a mezze spread, tucked into a pita sandwich, or paired with vegetables and chips for dipping, baba ganoush brings surprise and delight to any table.

For DonLeon, owner of his namesake restaurant, baba ganoush is more than just a dish – it’s a gateway to cherished memories of his Greek heritage. He still treasures his childhood memory of his mother making baba ganoush daily, while his father enjoyed it smeared

on his morning toast.

Though the recipe is not on his restaurant menu, DonLeon makes it on request and often prepares it for personal gatherings. Each time he does, the smoky aroma and creamy flavor take him back to vibrant, lingering meals shared with loved ones around the family table.

This is his mother’s modified Israeli version.

Enriched with tahini and seasoned with lemon juice and lots of garlic, the dish has a smoky, pungent flavor. Don’t forget to pierce the eggplant before you put it on the grill or over a gas flame on the stove. If you can, for the best consistency, use a sesame tahini that’s slightly runny. Also, as tahini sits, the oil separates, so the mixture should be stirred before it’s used.

DonLeon’s Baba Ganoush Ingredients

2 Eggplants medium

DonLeon

½ cup Onion chopped finely

½ cup Tomatoes chopped finely

1 tsp Salt

2 Garlic Cloves minced

2 tbsp Lemon Juice fresh squeezed

⅓ cup Tahini

2 tbsp Parsley chopped (for garnish)

Olive Oil for topping

Feta Cheese for topping (optional)

Directions

1. Cook the eggplant. Preheat grill to medium-high (400°F to 450°F). Thoroughly prick eggplants all over, using a fork. Place eggplants on oiled grates toward back of grill; grill, uncovered, turning about every 20 minutes, until eggplants are very tender, have collapsed in on themselves, and skins are deeply charred and wrinkled all over with crispy white charred bits, 1 hour to 1 hour, 10 minutes. Transfer

eggplants to a cutting board, and let cool 5 minutes. (See note)

2. Place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl. Remove stem end from each eggplant, and discard. Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise, and gently spread open. Using a spoon, gently scrape out eggplant flesh. (Be sure to scrape out dark eggplant flesh stuck to the skins; that’s the smoky good stuff.) Discard eggplant skins. Place eggplant flesh in strainer. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring and gently pressing on eggplant occasionally to remove excess liquid. Transfer drained eggplant to a cutting board, and finely chop.

3. Transfer eggplant to a large bowl, and stir in onion, garlic, tahini, and lemon juice until thoroughly combined; add oil, salt, and cayenne pepper, stirring until mixture is creamy. Fold in parsley. Taste and add more salt and lemon juice if preferred. Transfer to a bowl; garnish with additional parsley, and feta if using,

drizzle with additional oil.

Note: If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the eggplant over a medium-high gas flame, using more than one burner if needed, and turning the eggplant with tongs occasionally. Though it won’t create the same level of smoke, you can also use the broiler: Preheat the broiler with a rack six inches from the heat source. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Prick eggplants all over with a fork and place in an even layer on a prepared baking sheet. Broil, turning every 20 minutes, until sunken in and very tender, about one hour. Note that the skins will not become black or charred. by

Marlene Osteen

photo by Susan Renfro

A Collaboration for the Senses

Let’s raise a glass to the generosity of vintner Guy Davis and the vivid imagination of artist Leah Grace Craig.

Winemaker and High Country Wine & Provisions

owner Guy Davis was among the many in Highlands who, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact across western North Carolina, began working tirelessly to bring relief to affected communities.

The result of those efforts was a unique collaboration with artist Leah Grace Craig, combining the art of winemaking and visual creativity to support Asheville’s rebuilding efforts.

Among the reserves at his acclaimed Sonoma County Winery, Davis Family Vineyards, was a 2019 Grenache. Davis had initially bottled the 2019 Grenache to celebrate his winery’s 25th anniversary.

With no label yet applied, the wine’s destiny shifted when Davis and his son, Cooper, saw an opportunity to turn it into a vehicle for aid.

The idea was simple yet powerful: create a label that celebrated local connections and resonated with the community’s resilience, then direct 100 percent of the wine’s profits to relief efforts in Asheville.

Grenache is typically a blending grape in Davis’ portfolio, but when it shines on its own, it delivers bright fruit aromatics, texture, and depth – a fitting metaphor for the role this wine plays in supporting the broader community effort.

Davis explains, “Just as Grenache is often a supporting player

in a blend, we see this wine as a way to support and strengthen the larger community, helping it get back on its feet.”

To bring the label to life, Davis reached out to Leah Grace Craig, a Highlands native whose artistic talent has been showcased in Atlanta galleries (and Laurel’s October 2024 Cover Artist).

Craig, the daughter of Kay and Thomas Craig, owners of the Ugly Dog Pub and High Dive, grew up in Highlands’ close-knit community. She began her art education at Virginia Commonwealth University, later attending the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK.

However, the disruptions of the Covid pandemic forced her to pivot, eventually enrolling at the Savannah College of Art & Design, where she is currently a student.

For this project, Craig had just 10 days to produce what would become a defining work of art. The result, Divine Dionysus, is a reimagined, feminine interpretation of the Greek god of wine.

Blending mythology with the spirit of Western North Carolina, the painting features a central figure holding a bottle of Davis Family Wine in one hand and a cardinal – the state bird of North Carolina – in the other. Surrounding her are local flora, including dogwoods and ferns, and wildlife like raccoons, foxes, and deer. The vibrant blues and pinks evoke serenity and resilience, perfectly capturing the rebuilding

Divine Dionysus

spirit of the community.

“This was deeply personal for me,” Craig shared. “I have family in Asheville, and seeing the devastation made me want to contribute in a meaningful way.”

By Thanksgiving, the 2019 Grenache, complete with its striking new label, was ready for sale at High Country Wine & Provisions.

Priced at $55 a bottle, the wine quickly resonated with the community. Davis ensured that 100 percent of the profits were directed to grassroots organizations aiding Asheville’s recovery. His contributions have supported food banks, clean water initiatives, and volunteer groups clearing debris and rebuilding infrastructure.

“We wanted the funds to go directly to those making a tangible impact,” Davis explained. “This was about helping where it matters most.”

The response to the wine has been overwhelming, with customers requesting it for inclusion in wine club shipments to broaden its reach.

For Craig, the project has been a deeply fulfilling experience. “It was an honor to use my art to support such an important cause,” she shared. “Projects like this remind us how creativity and community can come together to make a real difference.”

by Marlene Osteen

Renfro

photo by Mary Gillan

Leah Grace Craig and Guy Davis

Plateau Dining Guide

Restaurants of the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS

4118 Kitchen + Bar

Four65 Woodfire Bistro +

64 Highlands Plaza (828)

Highlands Burrito 226 South 4th Street

(828) 787-2990

On the Verandah Highway 64 (Franklin Road) (828) 526-2338

CASHIERS, NC

Buck’s Coffee Cafe - (828) 743-9997

Cashiers Valley

Smokehouse - (828) 547-2096

Chile Loco - (828) 743-1160

Cornucopia Restaurant - (828) 743-3750

El Manzanillo - (828) 743-5522

On the Side BBQ - (828) 743-4334

The Orchard - (828) 743-7614

Native Prime Provisions (828) 743-3743

Subway - (828) 743-1300

Ugly Dog - (828) 743-3000

Whiteside Brewing Company - (828) 743-6000

GLENVILLE, NC

Happ’s Place - (828) 743-5700

The Local - (828) 743-7778

SCALY, NC

Magliocca’s Ristorante - (828) 526-0803

HIGHLANDS, NC

Asia House - (828) 787-1680

Black Bear Cafe - (828) 482-7020

The Blue Bike Cafe - (828) 526-9922

Bryson’s Deli - (828) 526-3775

Divine South

Baking Company - (828) 421-2042

Dusty’s - (828) 526-2762

El Azteca - (828) 526-2244

Fressers

Courtyard Cafe - (828) 526-4188

Highlands Pizza Place - (828) 305-7700

Highlands Smokehouse - (828) 526-3554

Highlands Tavern - (828) 526-9002

Lakeside Restaurant - (828) 526-9419

Madison’s Restaurant - (828) 787-2525

Mountain Fresh - (828) 526-2400

Paoletti’s- (828) 526-4906

Rosewood Market - (828) 526-0383

The Ruffed Grouse - (828) 526-2590

Secret Garden - (828) 305-7509

Spinx Highlands - (828) 526-4191

The Stubborn Seed - (828) 200-0813

Subway - (828) 526-1706

Wild Thyme Gourmet - (828) 526-4035

LAKE TOXAWAY, NC

Grand Olde Station - (828) 966-4242

Los Vaqueros - (828) 966-7662

Sweetwater Perk & Creamery, LLC - (828) 577-0469

Villa Amato (828) 885-7700

SAPPHIRE, NC

The Fix Bar & Lounge - (828) 743-7477

Jim’s Place at Sapphire Country Store - (828) 966-4011

Mica’s Restaurant - (828) 743-5740

Panthertown Cafe - (828) 862-3663

Slopeside Tavern - (828) 743-8655

Plateau Lodging Guide

Accommodations on the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

BREVARD, NC:

Meraki Escape - (828) 463-7440

CASHIERS, NC:

High Hampton Resort - (800) 648-4252

Hotel Cashiers - (828) 743-7706

The Lakehouse - (904) 753-0247

Landmark Vacation Rentals- (877) 926-1780

Mountain Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-0258

The Orchard Guest Cottage - (828) 743-7614

Pebble Creek Village - (828) 743-0623

Silver Creek Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-1999

The Wells HotelA Cashiers Experience - (828) 761-6289

FRANKLIN, NC:

Southern Belles Glamping - (828) 371-9890

GLENVILLE, NC:

Innisfree Bed & Breakfast - (828) 743-2946

Mountain Lake Rentals - (828) 743-6875

Prime Property Rentals - (828) 743-3482

HIGHLANDS, NC:

200 Main - (855) 271-2809

Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-1717

Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-3717

Fairview House - (866) 526-8008

Half Mile Farm - (855) 271-7246

Highlander Mountain House - (828) 526-2590

Highlands House Bed and Breakfast - (828) 787-1186

Highlands Inn - (828) 526-9380

Highlands Inn Lodge - (828) 526-5899

Highlands Resort Rentals - (828) 526-5839

The Inn at Mill Creek - 828-526-9999

Lotts of Sky - (404) 395-4000

Lullwater House - (423) 488-2799

Old Edwards Inn and Spa - (866) 526-8008

Outpost Inn (828) 482-7736

Park on Main - (800) 221-5078

Ray’s Roost - (678) 534-6870

Rent in Highlands - CCP - (800) 684-2171 x 302

Rockwood Lodge - (828) 526-8919

Silver Creek Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-2999

Trailborn Highlands (828) 482-1581

Valentine Manor - (561) 613-1496

The Wells Hotel - (828) 482-7736

Whiteside Cove Cottages - (828) 526-2222

SAPPHIRE, NC:

Club Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-3441

Foxhunt at Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-7667

Hampton Inn & SuitesCashiers-Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-4545

Mt Toxaway

Lodge & Motel - (828) 966-4582

Sapphire Run at Whisper Lake - (863) 412-5734

Whispering Falls - (352) 470-4085

Woods at Buc - (770) 714-9211

SCALY MOUNTAIN, NC:

Fire Mountain Resort & Spa - (800) 775-4446

The Vineyard at 37 High Holly - (828) 505-6190

LAKE TOXAWAY, NC:

Cabins at Seven Foxes - (828) 877-6333

Earthshine Lodge - (828) 862-4207

Greystone Inn - (828) 966-4700

Lake Toxaway Realty Company - (828) 508-9141

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WEST END

1. On The Verandah Restaurant

3. High Country Wine & Provisions

5. The Bascom: Center for the Visual Arts

6. The Bascom Shop

7. The Dave Drake Ceramic Barn at The Bascom

SOUTH END

25. 4118 Kitchen & Bar

27. Dauntless Printing

37. Lupoli Construction

38. Allen Tate/Pat Allen Realty Group

39. Highlands Decorating Center

44. Unfurl Wellness Spa

45. Don Leon’s

48. ACP Home Interiors

50. The Summer House

51. Nancy’s Fancys/The Exchange

60. Divine South Baking Company

MAIN STREET

104. Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center

106. Los Vaqueros

123. The Park on Main Hotel

128. Primary Kitchen + Bar

136. Dutchmans

141. Main Street Gifts

146. Wit’s End Shoppe

147. Calders Coffee Cafe

148. Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry + Wine Shop

158. C. Orrico

160. TJ Bailey for Men

169. Country Club Properties

175. Monkee’s

180. Bijou

187. The Dry Sink

190. Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro

191. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Meadows Mountain Realty

195. Old Edwards Inn

196. Madison’s Restaurant

197. The Wine Garden

198. Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar

203. Country Club Properties

207. One Wicker Cheese Co.

210. Creative Concepts Salon

WRIGHT SQUARE on MAIN

(Factoid: Named after Whiteside hero)

114. Edward Jones

115. The Baked Bunny

117. Country Club Properties, Wright Square Office

119. Highlands Pharmacy

ON THE HILL

306. Acorns

308. Highlands Burrito

310. McCulley’s

312. The Ugly Dog Public House

313. Old Edwards Inn

318. Peggy Crosby Center:

- The Counseling Center

- The Kitchen Carry Away & Catering

- Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

SPRING VILLAGE

405. McCulley’s

VILLAGE PARK

613. Cleaveland Realty

619. Christie’s Internatonal Real Estate Highlands Cashiers

CAROLINA VILLAGE

701. Mountain Life Properties

702. Highlands Historic Village

704. Creekside Village: - Suncoast Equity Management

709. Wayah Insurance

710. The High Dive

712. Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals

NORTH END

801. Green Mountain Builders

815. Highlands Cashiers Players

815. Highlands Performing Arts Center

817. The Car Butler

OUT NC 106

➡ Head Innovations

➡ Peak Experience

➡ Allan Dearth and Sons Generators

➡ Steve Holt Landscaping

➡ Highlands Outpost

OUT 64 EAST

➡ Black Rock Design Build

➡ Berkshire Hathaway Homes Services

Meadows Mountain Realty

➡ WHLC

➡ Highlands Lawn & Garden

➡ High Camp

➡ Rejuvenate Laser Center

➡ Reclamations

➡ Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group

➡ Highlands Dermatology

➡ Roman’s Roofing

VISIT FRANKLIN

➡ Clark & Co Hardscape Supply

➡ Whistlestop Antiques

VISIT CLAYTON

➡ Mountain Lakes Physicians Group

➡ Mountain Gate Systems

➡ Willow Valley RV Resort

For a complete listing please visit our website, thelaurelmagazine.com.

Being added to our listing is easy! Simply advertise with The Laurel.

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NORTH 107

2. Zookeeper Bistro

6. Slab Town Pizza

16. Stork’s - Wrap. Pack. Ship.

THE

SHOPS AT CASHIERS COMMONS

29. Dr. Anita, Medical Aesthetics

30. Bombshell Hair Boutique

31. The Watershed Shoppe

33. Zoller Hardware

CHESTNUT SQUARE

47. Lehotsky & Sons, Builders

54. Mountain Home Consignments

55. Fusion Yoga & Wellness

55. The Bungalow Boutique

59. Las Margaritas

EAST 64

63. Alexander Gardens: - Victoria’s Closet - Victoria’s Closet Shoes & Purses - Vic’s for Men

72. Ingles Plaza - Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group

75. Carolina Rustic Furniture

76. Blue Ridge Bedding

79. Jennings Builders Supply

VILLAGE WALK

80. A-List Antiques

80. Josephine’s Emporium

80. Laura Moser Art

89. Nearly New Furniture Consignment

95. Objet D’Art

SOUTH 107

102. TJ Bailey’s for Men

105. Living Stone Design + Build

107. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Meadows Mountain Realty

110. McCulley’s

111. Rusticks

115. Chestnut Cove

116. Tampa Bay Trust

123. Caliber Fine Properties

128. Mountainworks Custom Home Design LTD.

130. The Cashiers Store

136. Cashiers Sotheby’s International RealtyThe McKee Group

137. Bounds Cave Rug Gallery

THE VILLAGE GREEN

142. Village Green Commons

143. The Village Green

WEST 64

146. Shoppes On The Green: - Sugar Creek Custom Cabinets

155. Cashiers Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center

173. Betsy Paul Properties

176. Lenz Gifts

DOWN 107 NORTH

➡ Bazaar Barn

DOWN 107 SOUTH

➡ Silver Run Reserve

VISIT GLENVILLE

➡ Crawford Construction

VISIT LAKE TOXAWAY

➡ Blue Ridge Falls RV

➡ The Greystone Inn

➡ Headwaters Outfitters

➡ Los Vaqueros

VISIT SAPPHIRE :

➡ Casa Amigos Bar and Grill

➡ The Library Kitchen + Bar

➡ Sapphire Valley Real Estate

For a complete listing please visit our website, thelaurelmagazine.com.

Being added to our listing is easy! Simply advertise with The Laurel.

Photo by Terry Barnes

The Origin of Us

Though it’s now 150 years old, Highlands’ survival wasn’t always certain.

2025 marks the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Town of Highlands.

That founding was not without its difficulties. Samuel Kelsey and Clinton Carter “C.C.” Hutchinson arrived on the Highlands Plateau in March of 1875 and bought 839 acres for the creation of the new town that would become Highlands. Their vision was to establish a community with a healthy environment where they would live and raise their families, where exceptionally fine fruits and vegetables could be grown, and where people from the cities of the South would enjoy a summer resort.

The first person to establish a residence in Highlands after the two founders was T. Baxter White, a native of Marblehead, Massachusetts. Intending to travel to the west, Mr. White passed through New York on his journey and there learned of the new town being established in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

He changed his plans and came to Highlands in 1875. He immediately bought land on what would become Main Street and built a home that would also serve as the town’s first store and post office. This store opened in July 1875, and was the entire business district of the town.

The closest access road in 1875 was a primitive wagon trail that came no nearer than two miles from Main Street. Travelers approaching Highlands were warned of its shortcomings by neighbors in surrounding towns that were at lower altitudes. A letter to the newspaper reported that, during the winter of 1876, two men from Minnesota were passing through Seneca bound for Highlands. They were told that Highlands was buried under six to eight feet of snow, and they turned around and went back to Minnesota.

But it appears that Mr. Kelsey was not discouraged. His promotion of the

new town was in full swing from the beginning, and he was not modest in a pamphlet he published describing Highlands as being “The Greatest HEALTH and PLEASURE RESORT in the United States” and “The Most PERFECT CLIMATIC SANITARIUM in the World.”

While enthusiastic, these promotional efforts brought little response. At the end of 1876 there were five homes in Highlands. Eleven persons had bought land by July of 1878. Twenty-two lots and three other tracts had been sold in the first three years of the town’s existence, and Baxter White had bought eight of these properties.

There was no public water or electric power in the town. An editorial in an 1883 issue of the Blue Ridge Enterprise, the first newspaper in Highlands, lamented, “(a) line of ferry boats should be established at some of our street crossings for the accommodation of the

public. In some places the water and mud is too deep to ford during the rainy spells, and as we are not all swimmers, drowning accidents are liable to occur.”

But better times were coming. By the 1890s, Highlands was increasingly recognized as a beneficial destination for an extended visit or for a summer home and offered accommodations for both.

As Samuel Kelsey and C.C. Hutchinson had intended, the benefits of a mountain climate had begun to attract visitors and summer residents.

In 1890, William Rutherford wrote from Highlands to a former college classmate. He said, “Your very welcome letter reached me at Athens just before I left for this place. My health has been poor for some considerable time, and I found it necessary to seek some higher altitude. This place is said to be higher above sea level than any place this side of the Rocky Mountains being 3,817 feet…The air is certainly pure and so thin that rapid

walking puts you soon out of breath. A doctor told me, only yesterday, that a stay of six months would rejuvenate any person, no matter what was the matter with him. It is certainly a most delightful summer retreat.”

The second wave had begun to arrive. By 1905, permanent residents were still very few, but the number of summer residents was estimated to be 800. The town was on its way. A viable economy had developed and would provide the foundation for the active and enjoyable community that we know today.

(This article is reprinted, in part, from the 2010 Spring and Summer newsletters of the Highlands Historical Society. These newsletters and other historical information and exhibits about Highlands can be found at the HHS website: highlandshistory.com. The Highlands Historical Village and Museum will open for the 2025 season on Thursday, May 22.)

Frosty Mornings and Windswept Nights

Just like this publication, Highlands Magazine chronicled the lives and the events that make the Plateau an irresistible tale of comedy and drama and high spirits.

Stuart Ferguson is a local historian, armchair traveler, and irrepressible raconteur. He reviews books for The Highland Hiker, which maintains an extensive collection of local literature.

Come winter, “the streets of Highlands do not automatically fold up, only to be opened by the first flowers of springtime … Frosty mornings and windswept nights do not curb the enthusiasm people have for this charming mountain town.” It was true in November 1986, when editor and beauty-shop owner (now realtor) Betty Holt said it in the Highlands Magazine, and of course it’s true now.

The short-lived monthly Highlands Magazine was only published for a year or so – nobody involved can remember exact dates. Advertising manager Scott Paxton gave me five issues before he moved to Atlanta. He recently said the magazine was started for the “advertising revenue stream,” and to get the word out on local businesses and activities; The Laurel now fills that role.

Most of the articles were by the talented Ms. Holt. She wrote about local restaurants including On the Verandah,

and Hildegard’s (now Wolfgang’s), and others that have receded into myth like the Frog and Owl Café (our first gourmet dining spot, down unpaved Buck Creek Road when it opened in 1971) and The Mountaineer on Main Street (hamburgers $1.95). The articles weren’t reviews, but rather portraits of the businesses and their owners. Each issue also had a local hike excerpted from the Happy Hiker’s (as it was then) Day Hike Guide and a list of lodgings and antique stores.

Betty profiled artists such as Philip Standish Read, and craftspeople like the blind woodworker Sylvia Sammons and log-cabin builder Tommy Chambers. But Betty tells me her all-time favorite article was on Pat Schmitt – “a multi-talented lady with a vivid imagination” – who staged a daily soap opera of life-sized mannequins outside the front of her “Old Red House” on the Dillard Road.

But it was “The Saga of the Stuffed People” starring her home-sewn friends

(dressed in Fibber Magee’s finest) that got the attention; people drove by every day just to see what was happening. Characters were Jaspar, Herculena, Tondalena and Throckmorton Rockbottom Feathershovel IV; supporting players included French Chef, Golf Pro and the French Maid. They played bridge in front of the Old Red House every Monday. The Stuffed People got married and had affairs. Highlands Country Club invited them to play in their Pro-Am tournament. Pat told Betty that “the soap opera … represents what life is really all about – caring, laughing, loving, working and living in Highlands!” This wonderful lady died at home in the Florida Keys last summer. Her memorial service there is on January 12 – which would have been her 100th birthday.

by Stuart Ferguson

Photo by Susan Renfro

Counseling Center Expands

The New Year brings new services and expansion to Cashiers for The Counseling Center.

Marie Elise Griffin, Linda Kirkman, Michael Greene, and Tracy Stribling Franklin

The Counseling Center is pleased to announce the expansion of access to behavioral health services for the Highlands Cashiers Plateau.

We’ve expanded service offerings with the addition of Marie Elise Griffin, (LCSWA) who is a child and family therapist. and both Tracy Franklin (LMHC) and Michael Greene, (LCSW) are now trained in EDMR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which is a widely used therapy for dealing with anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, addictions, grief and loss.

The Counseling Center also now has offices in Highlands and Cashiers.

The Counseling Center will offer groups, workshops and seminars throughout the year in Highlands and Cashiers.

The first offering will be a Grief Group in Highlands with an anticipated start date in February. The group will be a series of closed sessions to a limited number of participants and will focus on exploring

the dynamics of loss, grief, self-care and healing, in a safe and supportive space. The groups will be held on Sunday afternoons. The exact start date and time will be determined based on availability of interested participants. These Grief groups will be offered at no charge.

Meet Our Therapists:

Tracy Stribling Franklin (LMCH) enjoys working with teens and adults and is trained in EMDR and specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, helping clients improve communication and reduce anxiety, sadness and loneliness through altered thinking patterns.

Michael Greene (LCSW) is focused on supporting individuals and families through psychotherapy and behavioral health integration in primary care settings. He uses a variety of modalities including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, analytic therapy, and EMDR. Michael is also bilingual.

Marie Elise Williams (LCSWA)

utilizes evidence-based treatments with a trauma-informed approach. She works with both children and adults. Her style is relational and individualized. She is dedicated to making people feel welcomed and appreciated.

The Counseling Center has office locations in Highlands and Cashiers and offers individual counseling for children, teens and adults, couples and family therapy all regardless of financial ability as fees are based on a sliding scale fee.

If you’d like to find out more about the upcoming workshops and seminars, including the Grief Group or any of our other services, contact the Counseling Center at info@counseling-center.org or call (864) 481-0598.

This free resource is available to you and the people you love – 988 Suicide and Crisis Line: Available 24 hours.

Languages: English and Spanish, call or text: 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

by Linda Kirkman, The Counseling Center

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation is Leading the Way with Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation taps into the Plateau’s natural generosity to boost Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

The impact of Hurricane Helene has deeply affected people and communities across Western North Carolina. In response to these widespread effects, the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation has actively engaged in partnerships with many organizations across our region.

Together, they are working diligently to ensure that essential recovery resources and support are effectively distributed to those individuals and areas that have been hit the hardest by the storm. In addition to these extensive collaborative efforts, the Health Foundation is providing financial grants to assist in catalyzing and sustaining the ongoing recovery efforts within our community.

One of the key areas of focus for the Health Foundation’s relief efforts has been addressing food insecurity in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Many individuals and families struggled to access an adequate food supply in the wake of the storm. The damage to MANNA Food Bank in Asheville created a tremendous disruption in the supply of food to our local food banks.

To make up for this supply gap, many of the food banks were purchasing food from local stores to keep their shelves stocked. This created significant additional expenses to their bottom lines. To help with this, the Health Foundation distributed over $65,000 to support our local food banks and community organizations. This grant funding will

help ensure our local organizations fighting food insecurity will have the resources they need to continue to support our community.

In addition to its efforts addressing food insecurity, the Health Foundation has dedicated over $93,000 to provide essential assistance for healthcare and mental health services in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Understanding the increased need for medical and psychological support in the aftermath of a natural disaster of this magnitude, these funds have played a crucial role in ensuring that individuals have vital access to care and resources required for their physical and emotional recovery from the trauma they have faced.

These grants have made a significant impact on the well-being and healing of those impacted by the hurricane, underscoring the Health Foundation’s dedication to comprehensive support and recovery efforts within the community.

Additionally, the Health Foundation has dedicated more than $72,000 to bolster recovery initiatives aimed at enhancing youth services, facilitating home repairs, strengthening emergency response efforts, and delivering aid to those severely affected by the storm.

Embracing a holistic strategy towards recovery, the Health Foundation’s commitment extends to rebuilding, restoring, and sustaining essential services for individuals most vulnerable in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Through these investments, the Health Foundation is actively contributing to the long-term restoration and well-being of the community post-disaster.

As recovery efforts continue, the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation has been collaborating with various organizations throughout our community to establish and implement comprehensive plans and allocate necessary resources for potential future large-scale events. By fostering partnerships and proactive measures, we aim to enhance preparedness and resilience, ensuring that our community is well-equipped to respond effectively to any significant challenges that may arise in the future.

Following Hurricane Helene’s significant impact on Western North Carolina, the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to a collaborative approach to relief and recovery.

By partnering with diverse organizations, the Foundation aims to enhance the community’s preparedness and resilience for future large-scale events. Through these continued efforts, the Health Foundation remains committed to facilitating a sustainable and supportive path toward recovery and the health and well-being of our community.

Josh Bryson, Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

Find Your Funny

“What soap is to the body,

laughter

is to the soul.” – Victor Borge; “Let’s find the Funny.” – Donna

Every so often I fall in love. Not romantically – well maybe a little bit – but mostly with someone’s ingenuity, humor, or marvel.

My crush this week is on Loretta LaRoche, an octogenarian, mental health counselor, who grew up in WWII. She’s on Ted Talks (How to Humor Your Stress), and wellworth a look-see.

Growing up, LaRoche lived in a big Italian family. There was no such thing as stress in the 40s and 50s. You never heard Mama washing pots at the sink whining, “I had to cook. I’m so stressed.”

She might belt out a song, tell a tale, order kids to go out and shake the rugs.

No one ever said, “I’m so stressed. Why do I have to take this rug outside and pound it?” Kids just went out and shook the rug because it was their responsibility to the family.

But today, we fuss about the traffic. Stew about too many shopping carts at the grocer. We wallow in drama about everyone in our way.

Jeepers, get a clue! Some people are going to work. Others are buying stuff. They all go places in cars just like we do! Destinations aren’t designed for each prince and princess.

At home we get on social media to see what other people are fretting about. Online, we whine about our miseries. We wait to read comments Japanese made about us.

And then we go around feeling unfulfilled.

Walk through cemeteries,” LaRoche says. “Ever see a tombstone that said: Did everything. Died anyway.”

No matter what we hope for in the next few years, we need to loosen up.

Our nation is solidifying into political parties, tribes, and cultures.

Stop that.

This is a time we need to come together, to save our environment, to embrace a positive vision for our nation’s future, our planet’s future.

There’s a solution to pull us back together, and it’s sitting right at the tip of our lungs,

tongues, and noses.

It’s called Laughing. We need to giggle more, belt and roar. Turn loose with a howl, a guffaw. Stir up a laugh that starts rumbling in our toes, then rolls up to our bellies, and bursts out in a nose-snort and shriek. Gasp for air and happily suffer several rib fractures.

Do this, Republican with Democrat, child with grandparent, Blacks with Whites, people of color, transgenders, people who are physically or mentally suffering, two-leggers and four-leggers.

When you laugh with another life on this planet, you connect. Connection lowers anxiety and depression. It improves physical health. It increases self-esteem and empathy.

Make your mantra this first week of 2025, and every other after, FIND THE FUNNY. Then take a bow and accept your Oscar for a brilliant performance connecting us all, one precious giggle at a time.

by Donna Rhodes /

art by Norma

Jean Zahner

Financial Focus® Time for New

Year’s Financial Resolutions

Now that the calendar has flipped, it’s time for some New Year’s resolutions. You could decide you’re going to exercise more, lose weight, learn a new skill, reconnect with old friends — the possibilities are almost limitless.

This year, why not add a few financial resolutions to your list?

Here are a few to consider:

Reduce your debts. It may be easier said than done, but if you can cut down on your debt load, you’ll increase your cash flow and have more money available to invest for your future. So, look for ways to lower your expenses and spending. You might find it helpful to use one of the budgeting apps available online. Boost your retirement savings. Try to put in as much as you can afford to your IRA and your 401(k) or other employersponsored retirement plan. If your salary goes up this year, you’ve got a good opportunity to increase your contribu-

tions to these retirement accounts. And once you turn 50, you can make pre-tax catch-up contributions for your 401(k) and traditional IRA.

You might also want to review the investment mix within your 401(k) or similar plan to determine whether it’s still providing the growth potential you need, given your risk tolerance and time horizon.

Build an emergency fund. It’s generally a good idea to maintain an emergency fund containing up to six months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account.

Without such a fund, you might be forced to dip into your long-term investments to pay for short- term needs, such as an expensive auto or home repair.

Keep funding your non-retirement goals. Your traditional IRA and 401(k) are good ways to save for retirement — but you likely have other goals, too, and you’ll need to save and invest for them.

So, for example, if you want your children to go to college or receive some other type of post-secondary training, you might want to invest in a taxadvantaged 529 education savings plan. And if you have short-term goals, such as saving for a wedding or taking an overseas vacation, you might want to put some money away in a liquid account.

For a short-term goal, you don’t necessarily need to invest aggressively for growth — you just want the money to be there for you when you need it.

Review your estate plans. If you haven’t already created your estate plans, you may want to do so in 2025.

Of course, if you’re relatively young, you might not think you need to have estate plans in place just yet, but life is unpredictable, and the future is not ours to see. If you have already drawn up estate plans, you may want to review them, especially if you’ve recently experienced

changes in your life and family situation, such as marriage, remarriage or the addition of a new child.

Because estate planning can be complex, you’ll want to work with a qualified legal professional.

You may not be able to tackle all these resolutions in 2025. But by addressing as many of them as you can, you may find that, by the end of the year, you have made progress toward your goals and set yourself on a positive course for all the years to come.

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

Todd Holder

Heroes Without Capes

For Marty Rosenfield, love is the basic recipe.

Marty Rosenfield

If Highlands had a Hall of Humankindness, Marty and Donna Rosenfield would be featured front-row.

Why? They’ve spent their finest years here feeding the masses and moving mountains.

For Marty, feeding folks is as routine as breathing. As for mountains, he considers them hallowed – moveable only in magical ways.

If the Rosenfields had the power, they’d preserve every tree, trillium, and truffle on the Plateau.

Caring for people, caring for the land, and caring for food define Marty’s benevolence. His loving cup runneth over. (A noteworthy sidebar: Marty shares cups and bowls of food feeding the poor, organizing charity events, and seeing to it that foodies are always welcome to his fine food festivities.)

How did this gifted duo find its way to Highlands? A few decades ago,

Marty met Donna in a culinary event in Atlanta. Each thought the other was a dish-delish. Then, voila! The two dishes got married and remain a twosome for 40+ years.

Early on, however, Atlanta suffered difficult times, prompting Donna and Marty to move North. They landed at a lakeside in the mountains, Lakeside Restaurant to be precise. They ran that popular gathering/dining place for 24 years. The following five years, Marty accepted directorship of Highlands Food Pantry right in the madness of the 2020 pandemic.

Even though challenged by diabetes, he pushed through difficult times as he always does. The year before Covid, he helped raise $40k distributed to 18 non-profits.

When folks asked Marty how he manages the restaurant business, complex food services, huge events, and charities, he replies, “Nothing’s hard if

you love it.”

His compassion and work ethic were launched through the model of his New York parents, his father a veteran and his mom an Auxiliary Veteran. A true mom and pop operation.

“Cooking is a creative outlet,” says Marty as he explains the reward for his efforts. “You get to see smiles on people’s faces when that look of Wow spreads brow to chin – drizzling a drop of drool in-between.”

When you ask Marty what’s next on the horizon, he answers, “My power plan is my wife. She’s the event planner. We will live in Highlands, but we are going to be less available … more on the road and in the air enjoying our retirement.”

by Donna Rhodes

Photo by Susan Renfro

Spark a Love of Reading

Thanks to Dolly Parton and a generous community, the horizons of the Literacy & Learning Center’s young charges extend far into the bright future.

In Macon County, the seeds of lifelong learning are being sown thanks to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library!

This incredible program, funded by generous individuals like you, not only provides free, age-appropriate books to children from birth until their 5th birthday, but also creates a community of readers and learners.

Early Intervention with a Storybook Twist

The Literacy & Learning Center is the local affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Macon County. These carefully selected books arrive at children’s homes every month, fostering a love of reading from the beginning. This early intervention through storytime sets the stage for academic success and a lifelong love of learning.

Here’s what you might not know:

• Local affiliates like TL&LC are

responsible for raising funds to cover the cost of the books and shipping. Your donations ensure these precious gifts keep coming!

• Sponsoring a child is not only simple but also incredibly rewarding. With just $30, you can provide a year’s worth of books, nurturing a child’s imagination and curiosity. Your small contribution can make a big difference in a child’s life.

Ways to get involved:

• Individuals: Sponsor a child and ignite a passion for reading! Parents can register their children and begin their path to learning.

• Businesses: Become a “Literacy Leader” by donating at a level that fits your budget. As a Literacy Leader, you will not only enjoy sponsor benefits but also be recognized for your significant contribution to this vital community program!

Ready to join the story?

You can enroll your child or learn more about sponsoring at https://www. theliteracyandlearningcenter.org/getinvolved. Please contact Caroline Cox (CCox@TheLiteracyandLearningCenter. org) about registering a child or Jenni Edwards (JEdwards@ TheLiteracyandLearningCenter.org) about sponsorship.

With your support, we can make sure every child in Macon County discovers the magic of books! Join us in this mission by sponsoring a child today.

by Anna Norton, The Literacy and Learning Center

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Who Will Be Your Pet’s Guardian?

Your careful consideration and compassionate heart will help determine the future of CashiersHighlands Humane Society and the animals in its care.

With just a few simple words in your will you can help animals long into the future. Plan a bright future for yourself, your family, your pets, and the animals at CHHS who need you. Use your assets as you need them and then leave a lasting legacy in your will to the many dogs and cats that need help.

The CHHS Legacy Society is an initiative to promote planned giving among those who hold CHHS close to their heart.

You also gain the satisfaction of directing your gift to three key areas: support of the facilities, direct support of the animals, and program development. Help to ensure that the humane society you love will have the resources necessary to sustain it into the future.

Gifts to CHHS are essential to the continued growth, strength, and excellence of our organization, and a

planned gift is one of the best ways to represent a sound investment for generations to come.

For more information, please visit chhumanesociety.org/legacy-giving or email david@chhumanesociety.org.

Another matter is…who takes care of those left behind? This is a question that no one likes to consider, but every responsible pet owner should be able to answer: if the unthinkable happens and you pass away leaving pets behind, what will happen to your beloved canine and feline companions? Have you made arrangements with who will be their guardian?

Some folks have let us know they have stipulated in their will that CHHS is to be the guardian of their cherished pet should the owner pass away first. We are extremely honored, moved and deeply humbled by this responsibility, and consider it a sacred trust to provide safe sanctuary, and find a new forever home

for the furry family member left behind. Established in 1987, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located at 200 Gable Drive in Sapphire, oneand-a-half miles east of the Cashiers Ingles in between Cedar Creek Club and Lonesome Valley on Highway 64. Our no-kill shelter is open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 A.M.- 4:00 P.M.. For more information, visit us online at chhumanesociety.org or call (828) 743-5752. Tax-deductible donations to support our lifesaving work can be mailed to: CHHS, P.O. Box 638, Cashiers, NC 28717.

by David Stroud, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society

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Changing Lives

With a proven record of success, Big Brothers Big Sisters is forging friendships across the Plateau.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is not just another after-school program – it’s a proven mentoring organization with a unique, life-changing approach. Unlike traditional after-school programs that often serve large groups of children in a structured setting, BBBS focuses on building one-on-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”). This personalized connection allows each child to receive the individual attention and tailored support they need to thrive.

The impact goes beyond homework help or extracurricular activities; it’s about fostering trust, building self-esteem, and creating a lasting bond that empowers Littles to achieve their full potential. BBBS has been a cornerstone of community support in Macon and Jackson counties, including the towns of Cashiers and Highlands, for over 22 years. During this time, the program has positively impacted many children and families,

providing mentorship that changes lives. By fostering meaningful relationships, BBBS helps local children navigate challenges, build confidence, and dream bigger since 2002 locally. This longstanding commitment to the community is a testament to the program’s effectiveness and the power of mentorship to create brighter futures.

One of the greatest strengths of BBBS is its flexibility. The time commitment to be a Big is minimal, yet the impact is profound. As little as 4-6 hours a month can make a life-changing difference.

Mentors and Littles spend time together doing everyday activities –going for a walk, grabbing a bite to eat, exploring a hobby, or simply talking. These small but meaningful moments provide the encouragement and guidance children need to overcome obstacles and seize opportunities. For part-time residents of Cashiers, Highlands, and the surrounding areas,

this flexibility makes it easy to get involved. You don’t need to live in the community year-round to make a tremendous impact. Many mentoring relationships thrive through seasonal visits or virtual connections, ensuring continuity and support even if you’re not always there.

For over two decades, BBBS has been changing lives in our mountain communities, but there’s still more to do. Whether you’re a full-time or parttime resident, you can help us continue this legacy. Becoming a Big requires only a small time commitment, but the impact on a child’s life – and yours –is immeasurable.

Visit BBBSWNC.org today to learn how you can become a mentor or support our programs. by Danielle Hernandez and Courtney Scarborough Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina

Mark Your Calendar

Highlands’ 2025 Community Calendar is jammed with events and occasions – you’re invited to every one of them!

As we welcome the new year, The Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC, has unveiled a dynamic calendar of events for 2025, designed to foster community spirit while showcasing the vibrant charm of our mountain town as we celebrate our 150th Anniversary. Let’s make this milestone year one to remember, together!

Mark Your Calendar

• Plateau Pickup – April 26: Join our efforts to keep Highlands beautiful. Participate in Plateau Pickup, a community-wide cleanup day dedicated to preserving our town’s natural beauty.

• Outdoor Concert Series – May through September: Feel the beat every Friday and Saturday evening. Our Outdoor Concert Series fills the warm months with live music that brings locals and visitors together under the stars.

• Pop-Up Pipers – First Saturday, May

through October: Discover the magic of live music as the Pop-Up Pipers perform throughout town, adding a charming, musical twist to your Main Street stroll.

• High Style – May 17: Elevate your fashion sense and explore the intersection of style and culture during the High Style event.

• Volunteer Fair – June 12: Looking to give back? Find your perfect volunteering opportunity at our annual Volunteer Fair, where local organizations share ways you can make a difference.

• Independence Day Concert & Fireworks – July 4: Celebrate the Fourth of July in classic Highlands style with an entertaining concert and a fireworks display that lights up the mountain sky.

• Community Shred Event – August 22: Protect your personal information and help the environment by bringing your documents to our Community Shred Event for secure, eco-friendly disposal.

• Highlands Heritage Jamboree –September 27: Celebrate Highlands’ 150th anniversary at this vibrant event showcasing the town’s rich heritage with live music, traditional dancing, and a taste of mountain moonshine.

• Halloween on Main – October 31: Main Street transforms into a spooktacular Halloween destination where trick-ortreaters can enjoy a night of safe and festive fun.

• Light Up the Park & Main – November 29: Start the holiday season with this electric celebration. Gather with friends and family as Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park and Main Street glow with festive lights—and a visit from Santa himself.

• Highlands Christmas Parade –December 6: Revel in the magic of the holidays at the Highlands Christmas Parade, a cherished tradition that brings joy to all ages.

• Lighting of the Menorah – December 14: Honor the beginning of Hanukkah with the Lighting of the Menorah, a celebration of light and unity that marks this meaningful season.

For more details on these events, or to learn more about the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC, please visit highlandschamber.org or call (828) 526-2112. For other community events, contact host organizations or view our website’s events calendar.

by Johanna

Fein, Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC

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Here’s to Your Spirit

The Cashiers Area Chamber’s Spirit Award recipients share a pair of unimpeachable traits – a nearly tireless commitment to their community and an unwavering affection for the people who animate it.

It’s with great excitement and pride that we announce the recipients of last year’s Spirit Awards.

These remarkable individuals have shown an unwavering commitment to making a difference and embodying the heart of our community. We are truly fortunate to have these individuals as part of our community.

Citizen of the Year – Harriet Karro

Harriet tirelessly moderates, updates, and manages the ‘Cashiers Community Together’ Facebook group with remarkable consistency, kindness, and a positive attitude. For the past four and a half years, Harriet has dedicated herself to this role, guiding the community through growth, a pandemic, Hurricane Helene and the challenges that come with a rapidly expanding group.

Businesspersons of the Year – Daniel Fletcher, Brett Stewart and Taylor

Stewart of Outland Hospitality Group

Daniel Fletcher, along with brothers Brett Stewart and Taylor Stewart of the Outland Hospitality Group, have been integral to the success and growth of Hotel Cashiers and Wine Bar. Recently, they expanded their investment by purchasing the Slab Town shopping center, further solidifying their commitment to Cashiers.

Brett and Taylor, who grew up in Cashiers, have deep roots in the area, while Daniel, though newer to the community, has quickly become a driving force. He has actively engaged with local organizations, joining the JCTDA, Cashiers Planning Council, and the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce boards, demonstrating his dedication to the future of our town.

Educator of the Year – Kurt Pusch, Summit Charter School

Since arriving in Cashiers in 2019, Kurt has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, a commitment to academic excellence, and a positive impact on our community. His achievements in fostering both academic success and a positive school culture make him a very deserving candidate for the 2024 Educator of the Year Award. As Summit’s Head of School, Kurt has overseen the following:

- A 37 percent increase in enrollment over the past five years, marking Summit’s largest enrollment since its founding.

- Expansion of school facilities, including the opening of a new gymnasium, classrooms for music and art, a fitness center, and the completion of Phase I and II of new high school buildings.

- 100 percent of Summit’s Class of 2022, 2023, and 2024 earned admission to college, with 151 offers from 60+ colleges and universities.

Volunteer of the Year – Chris Jefferson

Chris leads a bi-monthly Dementia Caregiver’s Support Group in Cashiers, and her impact on both patients and caregivers is immeasurable. Drawing from years of experience, she provides practical advice that helps caregivers improve safety and quality of life for their loved ones. A wealth of knowledge on the medical system and the many options available for dementia patients, Chris is also an invaluable resource for the often-overlooked task of end-of-life legal and financial planning.

Arts & Culture Advocate of the Year –

Danie Beck

Danie’s tireless volunteer work and dedication to the Cashiers area span multiple organizations and initiatives, making her a standout candidate across several award categories. Since moving to the area, Danie has become a vibrant

and indispensable force in our community. She is an active member and board member for local organizations such as Cashiers School of the Arts and Cashiers Cares. Danie’s boundless energy and professional background in dance and the arts have been a tremendous asset.

Evergreen Award – Paul Robshaw & Vision Cashiers for Walk Cashiers

Paul Robshaw and Vision Cashiers have masterfully navigated the complex and vital task of enhancing the walkability of our village. The recent completion of Phase 1 of the Walk Cashiers project, along with the previous pathway through The Village Green, features 1.6 miles of accessible, paved walking trails, and is a testament to the success of Paul’s efforts.

by Susan Gregory Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce

BETH

MINNIE COLE HOUSE

Entwined in Cashiers’ History.

The Historic Minnie Cole House, one of the oldest and most iconic buildings in Cashiers, is currently home to Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty, the top brokerage ﬁrm in the area. Beth Townsend, Co-Founder of The McKee Group at Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty, owns the building and the house now bridges the area’s rich past with its vibrant present.

A designated Cashiers Historical Society Heritage Property, this year the Minnie Cole House celebrates 150 years, dating back to circa 1875. In 2022, it was honored with the Village Heritage Award for the careful restoration and adaptive reuse, preserving its charm and the “old village feel” of Cashiers.

The house has a storied past, having served as a post oﬃce, a family home, and even a restaurant. Its log construction, steep gable roof, and wavy glass pane windows speak to its historic character, with some traditions and elements suggesting it predates the Civil War.

We are privileged to steward this cherished landmark as we recognize this milestone anniversary, and invite you to visit us in the Historic Minnie Cole House at 619 Highway 107 South. Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty (including The McKee Group team), oﬀering unmatched expertise and guidance for all your real estate needs, is here to help you create yourownlegacyin this remarkable community.

Liz Harris

THE # 1 BROKER IN CASHIERS!

*According to data from the Highlands-Cashiers MLS, 2024

“Liz Harris is on top of the Cashiers real estate market.She is proactive and creative and someone you want working for you.We’ve worked with her on several transactions and enjoy her personally as well as professionally.” –

RENEE H .

“Liz has successfully been my Broker on two occasions.First,she coordinated with other Brokers to get top-dollar for my home in Mountaintop.Next,she was able to secure a property I really wanted after it was just sold to someone else,and find a solution that satisfied everyone.In a word she is tenacious,and gets the job done.” –

CHRIS E

Get to

Know Liz, Broker & Co-Founder of The McKee Group

Liz Harris stands as a preeminent ﬁgure in real estate on the Cashiers-Highlands plateau, consistently earning recognition as a top-ranked Broker. Her distinguished status is underscored by her accreditation as a Certiﬁed Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) with GUILD ELITE™ status.

Liz has cultivated an enthusiastic, creative, and persuasive style that not only proves eﬀective but also makes the real estate journey a genuine pleasure for her clients. In her 20 years as a real estate professional, Liz has become a seasoned expert in the industry. She specializes in highend club communities such as Wade Hampton Golf Club, Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club, High Hampton, Silver Run Reserve, Lonesome Valley, and The Chattooga Club, as well as other high end communities, large land tracts and estates, and lakefront properties around Lake Glenville.

Beyond her role as a Broker, Liz is a partner in numerous successful real estate projects and investments, oﬀering her clients a well-rounded and experienced perspective. Her connections extend to providing direct access to experts in the development and construction industry, ensuring comprehensive support for her clients. Liz also has an excellent record assisting clients with beautiful staging of their homes, enabling them to command the very best price. She has a keen eye for what buyers are looking for in the various communities and price points.

Committed to giving back, Liz’s dedication to various charitable opportunities reflects a deeper commitment to the community she calls home. Liz and her family are devoted to preserving the unique character and vitality of the Cashiers-Highlands plateau.

Big Sheepcliff

4 BR / 4.5 BA / 6.27 ACRES Perched majestically atop the mountains of Cashiers, NC, this remarkable estate boasts an elevation of 4500 feet and offers a rare opportunity to experience magnificent mountain living. Sweeping vistas from nearly every room stretch across the expanse of Cashiers and beyond to the neighboring states of South Carolina and Georgia. Commanding over six acres within the gated community of Big Sheepcliff, the privacy and exclusivity of this estate is just a short drive from the town’s center. The handsome home has been meticulously remodeled from top to bottom, marrying modern luxury with timeless elegance. Rich warmth of antique timber accents infuses the home with a sense of history and authenticity. The expansive great room and adjoining family room are both graced by majestic masonry stone fireplaces that invite you to unwind and soak in the breathtaking scenery surrounding you. The expansive chef’s kitchen beckons culinary

for $6,989,000

enthusiasts with its generous proportions and top-of-the-line amenities. Entertain with ease in the elegant formal dining room featuring a beautiful masonry stone fireplace, or casually on the generous back deck which offers yet another stone fireplace, spacious sitting and dining areas and stunning endless views. Two primary suites on the main level offer a peaceful sanctuary complete with a cozy fireplace, lavish bath, and private porch retreat. Upstairs, two additional generously sized suites, each with their own private sitting room, provide comfort and seclusion for family and friends. Handsomely landscaped grounds showcase the fabulous views, extensive rock work and stone patios, creating inviting spaces for entertaining and relaxation. A large grilling/dining patio welcomes an evening grill-out and the nearby firepit is the perfect spot to gather under the starlit sky, for memories that will last a lifetime. MLS 104103

Cedar

4 BR / 4.5 BA / 1.48 ACRES Welcome to this exquisite new construction home now completed and ready to move-in! Conveniently located in the highly sought-after neighborhood of Cedar Hill, just minutes from the heart of Cashiers. Offering long-range, expansive views from the Primary Suite, Living Room, Kitchen, and Guest Suites, this property blends luxurious living with breathtaking scenery. The Main Level is designed for both comfort and elegance, featuring a spacious Primary En-Suite with a dualsided fireplace, seamlessly warming both the bedroom and the bathroom. Adjacent is a charming study, complete with its own cozy fireplace, perfect for quiet relaxation. At the heart of the home, you’ll find the vaulted-ceiling Living

for $4,395,000

Room, featuring a full-stone fireplace and a glass-enclosed wine storage room, ideal for showcasing your collection. The open-concept Kitchen offers two large islands and connects to a Breakfast Nook, Keeping Room, and Formal Dining Room—perfect for both casual meals and elegant entertaining. A wellappointed Laundry Room and spacious Walk-In Pantry enhance the home’s functionality. Upstairs, discover three additional very spacious En-Suite Bedrooms and an office. The unfinished space above the three-car garage offers potential for additional square footage, ready for your personal touch. Don’t miss the chance to own this one-of-a-kind property with luxury finishes, unparalleled views, and a prime location in Cedar Hill. MLS 105907

A private community located on the prestigious 107 South corridor in Cashiers, NC.

Silver Run Reserve is a paradise of natural beauty offering a variety of indoor and outdoor amenities, and a range of large estate homesites and new cottages. Call Liz Harris for details and a tour of this beautiful community.

Wade Hampton Golf Club

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

Offered for $2,650,000 (JUST REDUCED)

ceiling, seamlessly connects to the deck. The Primary Suite on the main level impresses with vaulted ceilings, stunning views, and a generously sized en-suite bathroom featuring marble floors, oversized shower, and an inviting soaking tub. A second en-suite on the main level ensures convenience for guests. Upstairs, you’ll find an additional en-suite Bedroom, along with a spacious loft area. The Lower Level offers a family room equipped with a wet bar, a fourth generous guest ensuite, bonus space, and a sizeable, covered porch. An attached, two-car carport is conveniently located adjacent to the laundry room. The gentle topography of the property invites the possibility of additional gardens. MLS 103841

Elk Cove Road

2 BR / 3.5 BA / 0.54 ACRES This newly constructed (November 2023) cottage boasts an unbeatable in-town location, nestled amidst a beautiful, lush landscape with a large backyard and serene creek frontage. You’ll love being within walking distance to several shops, the beloved Cornucopia restaurant, Cashiers Lake, and more. Also only a moments drive to clubs such as High Hampton, Wade Hampton, Silver Run Reserve and Chattooga Club. Step inside to a cozy and inviting main level featuring an open concept design and Primary En-suite. Upstairs, discover a versatile loft space perfect for an offi ce or guest sitting area, a spacious guest en-suite, and a bonus room with

Ellison Lane Cottages

Offered for $1,295,000

its own en-suite bathroom. The screened Carolina Porch is a highlight, offering a cozy wood-burning fireplace, abundant natural light, and tasteful furnishings, effectively serving as a second living room. Just outside, the stone grilling patio leads you to the expansive backyard and gardens that surround the entire home, providing a peaceful and picturesque setting. Sold fully furnished, this move-in ready cottage is your perfect mountain getaway. Don’t miss the opportunity to make this enchanting property your own! MLS 105849

2 BR / 2 BA / 0.33 ACRES Discover the charm and convenience of these brand new 2-bedroom and 2-bathroom cottages in the picturesque neighborhood of Cottages at Silver Run Falls which is nestled against peaceful Nature Conservancy land. Located less than 5 minutes from Cashiers, these five cottages offer proximity to Silver Run Reserve, Wade Hampton, Chattooga Club, and High Hampton, ensuring easy access to local amenities. Enjoy an easy 1/4

mile hike from the community through Nature Conservancy and National Forest to the stunning Silver Run Falls and its refreshing swimming oasis. Gather with friends around the community outdoor fireplace garden, offering a perfect spot for relaxation and socializing. Experience peaceful seclusion in this charming neighborhood while remaining conveniently close to all that Cashiers has to offer. MLS 104629 / MLS 104630

Wade Hampton Golf Club

4 BR / 3.5 BA / 2.84 ACRES This Platt-designed home is timeless, sophisticated and welcoming. The majority of the rooms have walls of windows facing the beautiful long range mountain views offered by USFS property to the southeast. The foyer is a small step up from the paved parking and immediately sets the stage with tall windows framing the staircase to the lower level. The sizable great room has high coffered ceilings, custom built-in bookcases, stone and wood hearth gas-log fireplace, wood floors and motorized window blinds. In the open style kitchen with breakfast area, a wall of large glass pocket doors peels back to connect the large screened Carolina Room with fireplace, skylights and motorized clear blinds. The kitchen has traditional cabinetry and upscale appliances, and just around the corner is the laundry with ample storage, two

for $4,375,000

drink refrigerators and direct, one step access to the two car carport. Primary bedroom is on the main level, also has great views and a large updated and very bright bathroom. The charming powder room finishes off the main level. Downstairs includes two large and one small bedroom and two updated baths, large storage areas and a wonderful family room, also with coffered ceilings, gorgeous views and a doorway to an on-grade screened porch with access to the yard. Speaking of the yard, the adjoining 1.33 acre lot is included with the purchase of this property. It is one of the best lots yet to be built on, in the Wade Hampton community. It has gentle topography, outstanding mountain views and a quiet location. Wade Hampton Golf Club membership is by invitation only.

MLS 106308

High Hampton

5 BR / 5 BA / 1.60 ACRES This Vintage High Hampton Cottage has an outstanding combination of features; golf frontage, dead-on mountain view of Chimneytop Mountain, a large lot just a stone’s throw to the “core” club area, and a mature garden which was designed by renowned Loutrel Briggs (1893–1977). Inside the home has a large stone fi replace, the anchor of the home, separating the dining from living areas, both with cathedral ceilings and wood floors with the beautiful patina from years of memory-making. The

Avon Road

for $2,750,000 (UNDER CONTRACT)

kitchen is just steps from the carport and has a cozy corner seating area with windows. Two bedrooms and baths are on the main level, and downstairs there are three more bedrooms, a second kitchen and a large family room with sliders giving access to the great yard. Expansive deck with rail-seating is partially covered. Ownership of this property will allow one to apply for membership at High Hampton. MLS 106386

Offered for $1,595,000

37.07 ACRES This 37 acre tract of land is well located off the south end of Cedar Creek Road and shares a gated gravel driveway ("Avon Road") with a large conservation easement and two estate properties. It also adjoins private homes in Cedar Ridge Estates. Graced with magnifi cent old deciduous trees, dramatic rock cliff s and a pristine stream, this land has three electric cabinets installed and a well, which when drilled yielded 30 GPM. A newly cut trail leads from the gravel drive up the nose ridge to the prime building site, then crosses the four springheads and connects to another part of the driveway. With a bit of clearing, this unrestricted property will have a rifle view toward Cow Rock and Laurel Knob Mtns, and an interior view of its own rock cliff s in the distance. MLS 105794

3 BR / 2.5 BA / 1.28 ACRES This charming “tree house” cottage is a quick minute to the center of Cashiers. The easy access is just off Highway 64 west. Upon entering the home from the wrap around porch, the wood walls, floors and ceilings evoke a warm rustic flair found in updated mountain homes. The great room has soaring cathedral ceiling, fi replace, access to the small, screened porch and an open stairway to the upper bedrooms with shared bath. Primary bedroom on the main is privately tucked away from the common areas, and nearby is the compact but fully loaded kitchen. A lower level room with half-bath and concrete slab flooring is accessed from the outside, and is suitable for studio, offi ce or overflow guest space. Wintertime bonus is the outstanding close-up views of a dramatic rock faced mountain! There are only a few cottages in the Toll House Village, a small enclave built around the historic Toll House, circa 1908, and offering a pond and grassy lawn for the private use of this neighborhood. MLS 106324

Beth Townsend

A TOP 1% AGENT ON THE PLATEAU OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS!* Land Planner and Project Manager for William McKee’s Wade Hampton Golf Club, and others + Cashiers roots since 1970 + Landscape Architecture degree, University of Florida + Broker & Co-Founder of The McKee Group

“When selling a challenging property, you want Beth on your team.Sheisdetermined,creativeandperseverestomeetyour goals. From emails and texts on the weekend to going above and beyond her ‘broker duties,’ you know instantly that you haveanessentialadvocateonyourside.” – SEAN L *According to data from the Highlands-Cashiers MLS, 2004-2024 BETHTOWNSENDBROKER.COM Toll House Village Offered for $865,000

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