Life in Our Foothills January 2016

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

January 2016

John Cantrell Preserving the call of the Highlands

Gwen Suesse In every loss, a gain

Q & A with Monica Stevenson January 2016

Equine photographer

The art of layering in interior design

Editor’s note

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anuary: There’s something about this month that causes me to dwell on the passage of time.

I have always loved calendars, planners, daytimers, and such — the type of calendar that you can touch, hold and turn dog-eared pages forward and back. I’ve been known to lurk in the calendar aisle at Staples for far too long, thumbing through each and every calendar option. (Odd, no?)

I’ve never really liked having an online calendar, now synched with my phone. And only relatively recently (and reluctantly), I’ve transitioned myself to having an online, shared calendar to track 35 writers and freelancers, across multiple publications. It’s an impossible task to do on paper.

Nevertheless, I still keep a paper calendar on my desk. There’s

something about holding time in your hands. It’s part diary and part dream, part recorded history and a list of accomplishments, part wish list and Mt. Everest. There’s the satisfaction of crossing something off, while other items are left undone, priorities recalculated. (I may also doodle.)

I know this behavior is linked to my desire for order and organization, of wanting to be able to control, plan and structure life. But after reading Steve Wong’s profile of Gwen Suesse, starting on page 24, I was reminded, though, that life seldom goes according to plan. Her life took a detour — a blow, really – when her husband died. She has faced it with amazing grace that can teach, inspire and humble. Becoming a widow was not in her plans, certainly, and yet … there are many blank days left on the

calendar to fill, life goes on.

And it does. January – even on those cold, short days — is a reminder that life always goes on, there’s always a calendar page to turn, and better times are ahead. Welcome to the new year, and the promise of what is to come.

Claire Sachse, Managing Editor

claire.sachse@tryondailybulletin.com

on the cover PUBLISHER

Betty Ramsey

EDITORIAL

Claire Sachse

CONTRIBUTORS

Susan Brady Marianne Carruth Barbara Childs Gillian Drummond Judy Heinrich Carol Lynn Jackson Anne Regan Lauren Roy Mark Schmerling Vincent Verrecchio Steve Wong

MARKETING Kevin Powell Magan Etheridge PRODUCTION Jamie Dawkins Layken Gibbs Robyn Holm Keith McCoy Amanda Porter ADMINISTRATION Ashley Brewington DISTRIBUTION Jeff Allison Austin Hylemon Austin Kempton Evan Plumley

John Cantrell.

Photo Submitted.

Life in Our Foothills is published monthly by Tryon Newsmedia, LLC. Life in Our Foothills is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Tryon Newsmedia Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher.

Please address all correspondence (including, but not limited to, letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Life in our Foothills, 16 N. Trade Street, Tryon, N.C. 28782, or email to claire.sachse@tryondailybulletin.com.

Life in Our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and upstate South Carolina. Please visit lifeinourfoothills.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $35 for one year by emailing subscribe@lifeinourfoothills.com or by calling 828-859-9151. ext. 101.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 7 P.M. Tryon Fine Arts Center Film Series The Italian Job tryonarts.org THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 5:30 P.M. Lanier Library presents Thirsty for Learning Series Travel Talk with Gloria & Vince Verrecchio lanierlib.org SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 8 P.M. Tyron Concert Association presents Isabel Leonard, Soprano Tryon Fine Arts Center tryonconcerts.com MONDAY, JANUARY 11 Tryon Arts and Crafts Winter Session 1 begins tryonartsandcrafts.org TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 12 P.M. Lanier Library presents Brown Bag Lunch With Guest Marci Spencer lanierlib.org

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Brilliant, by Kate Thayer

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 6-8 P.M. Tryon Fine Arts Center Opening Reception Eastside/John Wilkins Exhibit tryonarts.org SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 6-8 P.M. Upstairs Artspace Opening Reception Mixing Forms upstairsartspace.org

Tryon Fine Arts Center presents

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 Pacolet Area Conservancy presents Mary Holcombe, “Native Plants in the Landscape: For Unparalleled Beauty and Ease of Care.” pacolet.org THROUGH JANUARY 13 Nature’s Artistry, Kate Thayer, Artist The Depot at Millard and Company THROUGH JANUARY 16 Through a Brilliant Lens Original photographs by noted photographer Hansel Mieth Tryon Fine Arts Center Gallery I tryonarts.org Hansel Mieth

a night in

old new orleans Friday, February 5 8 pm Tickets: $35*

Celebrate Mardi Gras with Orange Kellin, Broadway performer Vernal Bagneris with the fun of Old New Orleans Main stage • A Night in Old New Orleans, Friday, Feb 5 • A Moon for the Misbegotten, Friday, Mar 4 • Franc D’Ambrosio’s Broadway, Saturday April 23

season sponsor

Gloria and Vince Verrecchio

event sponsor

34 Melrose Ave, Tryon 828-859-8322 tryonarts.org * price includes 6.75% nc admissions tax and vendini ticketing fee.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS COLUMNS

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14 Country Living 18 Much Ado 34 In Good Taste 48 Dudley Updates

FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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8 Boots & Bling 10 Music in Landrum 12 TFAC Holiday Ball 16 TFAC Holiday Tea

features

20 Gwen Suesse: In every 24 loss, a gain John Cantrell : Preserving 29 the call of the Highlands Frank Ortiz : Born to serve

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APPOINTMENTS

36 Q&A with Monica Stevens 38 Equine Assisted Psychotherapy 44 Donkeys: Not little horses

CLASSIFIEDS

51 December Marketplace

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Everyone.

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Ask for us by name!

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www.hocf.org J an u ar y 2 0 1 6

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Boots & Bling

Photos submitted by Lauren Roy

The Friendship Circle hosted their annual Boots & Bling Gala benefitting Hospice of the Carolina Foothills on Nov. 7, 2015. The theme for this year’s fundraiser was “What happens in Vegas.” Guests were treated to a Vegas floorshow “Southern style,” casino games and a silent auction. A great time was had by all.

1. Palma Davis 2. Heidi and Ken Shull 3. Becky Collins 4. Don Eifert 5. Mike and Marsha Rigney 6. Michael and Joan Clark 7. Ninfa Riley 8. Levi and Lindsey Hunt

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Boots & Bling

hotos submitted by Lauren Roy

The Friendship Circle hosted their annual Boots & Bling Gala benefitting Hospice of the Carolina Foothills on Nov. 7, 2015. The theme for this year’s fundraiser was “What happens in Vegas.” Guests were treated to a Vegas floorshow “Southern style,” casino games and a silent auction. A great time was had by all.

9. Bill and Mary Clare Jenks seated, Jean Hall standing 10. Roger Newman 11.Lynn Potter 12. A great time was had by all in attendance.

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Music in Landrum

Photos submitted by Anne Regan

With the sun shining through the Landrum Presbyterian Church windows beautiful music began. Dr. Elizabeth Child explained the story about the piece she was about to play. Child said, “The composer, Claude Debussy, wrote about Saturday night in Granada, Spain.” Peter Kay, operations manager of the Spartanburg Philharmonic, conducted, a new, award-winning work titled, ‘Drip.’

Dr. Child accompanied by the Woodwind Quintet performed this original work with enthusiasm and vigor, at times hearing the drip with a laughable ending. The last piece written by Francis Poulenc opens with scales that sweep upward toward sweetness, followed by haunting melancholy to dramatic. The peaceful flute enters, ending to a bouncy piano. Bravo performance, Music in Landrum!

1. Dr. Elizabeth Child and the Spartanburg Wind Ensemble 2. Katherine Smith and Jane Ratchford are pictured after the concert 3. Local TV anchor Michael Cogdill attended Music in Landrum 4. Pianist Dr. Elizabeth Child speaks with guests at the reception 5. Helpers Hailey and Riley Hewitt 6. Whitney Blake, organizer of Music in Landrum, with Grace Lertora 7. Music in Landrum attendees Al Powell, Dorothy Needham, Christa Powell and Tommie Carr

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TFAC Holiday Ball

Photos by AMW Studios, Submitted by Marianne Carruth

Over 100 guests and sponsors were delighted by the Tryon Fine Arts Center Holiday Ball, supporting operations and programs at TFAC. This year’s ball, held on Dec. 5, was themed “The Nutcracker” and featured cast members from Ballet Spartanburg’s Nutcracker, and 25 unique nutcrackers designed and decorated by area artists.

1. Monica Jones and Terry Ackerman 2. Marybeth Trunk with Ballet Spartanburg Nutcracker 3. Cindy Riddle, Marriane Carruth 4. Pat Gass 5. Mary Clare Jenks, Joann McMillan, Gwen Suesse 6. Jim and Jean Scott

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TFAC Holiday Ball

Photos by AMW Studios, Submitted by Marianne Carruth

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Over 100 guests and sponsors were delighted by the Tryon Fine Arts Center Holiday Ball, supporting operations and programs at TFAC. This year’s ball, held on Dec. 5, was themed “The Nutcracker” and featured cast members from Ballet Spartanburg’s Nutcracker, and 25 unique nutcrackers designed and decorated by area artists.

7. Ballet Spartanburg, Margie Pankey, Dallas Johann 8. Dr. Bill Seidman 9. Dr. Olin Sansbury, Mary Ann Claud 10. Nutcrackers designed by area artists

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SPINDALE, NC

country

L IV IN G

Eric Bibb Friday, January 15, 2016 @ 7:30PM Acoustic Blues

The Four Loves

Concerts | Theater | Venue Rentals

2016 WINTER SEASON

Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 7:30PM Men’s a cappella ensemble

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70’s 10-piece Disco Show Band includes Dancing, Dessert, & Beverages

MAJOR FUNDING BY THE STONECUTTER FOUNDATION, INC

TICKETS/INFO: 828.286.9990

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The Art of Layering Written by GILLIAN DRUMMOND

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n this do-it-yourself world we live in everything has been given a name. Th e latest one I have come upon in interior decorating is “layering.” Th is surprises me because it is basically a look of an eff ortless design style that reminds one of a room or home that has been put together over time with a collection of diff erent elements, colors, fabrics and accessories. Th is was what I was taught that design was all about, creating a home full of love, joy and history for the family that lived in it.

My first apartments in New York were furnished with furniture from my family’s attic, finds on the streets of New York, and the start of my blue and white porcelain collection from antique barns in Maine during summer family vacations. I also worked in the design department of a large New York department store, B. Altman & Co.; they had an amazing markdown for store employees only and I was able to pick up some wonderful finds there.

As well as being an assistant decorator, I was expected to work on the furniture floor, both selling and helping with the furniture displays. They did wonderful room settings! The thought behind these settings was to make them look as much like lived in spaces as possible.

Here I learned from the best, not only working with senior decorators and clients, but also through the display department, which always added a note of sophistication and glamour to each room setting. We never used the word “layered” but it was considered always to be the most important part of the design element.

To define layering today means that your rooms should have a depth of color and design to them. Color, pattern and texture all layered to complement each other, and combined to make an interesting and personal whole. Even in a minimalist design, having prized pos-

"To define layering today means that your rooms should have a depth of color and design to them. " - Gillian Drummond

sessions brings the room to life and makes it personal. For those of us who love to collect things or come from families where furniture and accessories have been passed down from generation to generation, the layered look is the result of having all these precious and beautiful things.

When using patterned fabrics you want to have the different patterns have different scales and different directions. I love using a large scale pattern on a large piece of furniture such as a sofa, in long curtains or as wallpaper. Then the medium and small scale patterns can go on the other furniture and pillows. Rooms used to often have a print such as a floral or toile, a plaid or check, a stripe as well as some plain textured fabrics.

The stripe and the plaid give you the different directional patterns. If you try this yourself buy a half a yard of each fabric first and play with them, your eye should tell you what is harmonious.

If you prefer plain fabrics then you need to get the layered look through different textures. A rough linen in a gorgeous color, a finer linen fabric in another color, perhaps a plain chintz to bring in some sheen and reflect light. There are many textured fabrics available today. The hardest room in which to layer is an all white one. It is so easy to get it wrong and takes great talent to get it right.

If you have lusted after a white room then get some help and advice to do it right, but don’t ever take it as the easy way out.

A most pleasing way to decorate a room is to aim for balance instead of symmetry.

Too many pairs of things in a room look stiff and overwhelm your eye. However, a balance of widths and heights, light and dark, complementary colors and pattern, are all very pleasing to the eye. If you have multiple

objects of like proportions, such as pictures, then arrange them in a different way rather than symmetrically.

When arranging you accessories on tables place collections and like objects together rather than scattering them around the room.

They have more impact this way and tell a better story.

A layered look is an effortless look, it incorporates your own sense of style and your story. It tells who you are, how you welcome your family and friends and what is important to you. It is a rich and happy place in which to lead your life.

Gillian Drummond has her design studio, Drummond House, in Tryon, N.C. Visit www. drummondhouseco.com to view her portfolio and design philosophy. Contact Gillian at info@drummondhouseco.com or 828-8599895.

ABOVE: Interior by Drummond House. Photography by Chris Bartol.

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TFAC Harvest Tea and Preview Party

Photos submitted by Susan Brady

Tryon Fine Arts Center held their Harvest Tea and Preview Party Nov. 29 in the Mahler Room.

1. The servers, from left to right, were Drew Brannon, George McConnell, John Sellick, Bob Penfold and Tim Brannon.

2. Carolyn Ashburn, Beth Laughridge and Marie DuLong 3. Marybeth Trunk and Liz Norstrom 4. John Sellick serves Mollie Turner.

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muchA D O

Hopes & Promises Written by STEVE WONG

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his being the first month of the New Year 2016, many of us are making resolutions to do better. Some of us aren’t making New Year’s resolutions because we’ve tried and failed too often over the years and have just given up the battle of the bulge, the battle to stop smoking, the battle to exercise, the battle against junk food, the battle to be a better husband, wife, parent, adult child of an aging parent, employee, or person in general. But I challenge you, dear reader, to not give up… try, try again…

I look at resolutions as a combination of hopes and promises made mostly to one’s self. I hope I won’t have to buy 35-inch waist pants this year, and I promise to not eat the entire 16 ounces of California onion dip and family-size bag of Ruffles in one sitting. I hope to write the Great American Novel this year, and I promise to write at least a couple chapters. I hope to continue writing this column and articles for this magazine, Life In Our Foothills, and I promise to stop missing deadlines.

I’ll probably backslide on all of those personal hopes and promises, but I challenge all of us to look beyond our own shortcomings and strive, not to make ourselves better by some sort of extra effort or sacrifice, but to make the world a better place by using common sense. I hope, and I promise…

I hope Donald Trump is not elected president, and I promise to vote this year. I hope we don’t destroy our natural environment, and I promise to use my wife’s recycling corner in our kitchen. I hope crazy terrorists stop cutting people’s heads off, bombing public gatherings, and shooting innocent victims; I promise to actually read those international Associated Press news stories and really understand why terrorists do these things. I hope terrorism stops, and I promise to not automatically get jittery when I see swarthy young men 18 J anuar y 2016

at the airport who “look like” terrorists.

I hope the Millennials are on the right track toward better lives, and I promise to be more open-minded to their way of thinking.

I hope to get less junk emails, and I promise to stop signing up for them to begin with.

I hope the elderly are treated well, and I promise to remember I, too, will be elderly someday and in need of a little patience and understanding. I hope television scriptwriters figure out the proper use of the pronouns “I” and “me,” and I promise not to say loud snarky reprimands when they mess up. (I’ll say them under my breath.) I hope the print industry makes a comeback, and I promise to

keep buying real books, real magazines, and real newspapers.

If there is any one thing that I’ve learned about New Year resolutions it is to keep them to oneself. If you make a resolution, it is a hope for and promise to yourself… because no one else really cares. They are not tracking you, holding you accountable. They have their own hopes and promises to worry about. Besides, when you do fail, no one will be harder on you than yourself, and I, for one, am pretty hard to live with when I break a promise to the guy in the mirror. He can be rather unforgiving. I hope to be more forgiving, and I promise to start with myself.

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Born to Serve A life spent in service to country Written by MARK SCHMERLING Photos SUBMITTED AND MARK SCHMERLING

“B

ABOVE LEFT: Although he didn’t attend Loudon Valley High School, his children did, and while there Ortiz was known for his staunch support of the school and its programs. ABOVE RIGHT: Ortiz was photographed in Korea as a lieutenant in 1962.

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orn to serve” aptly describes Frank Ortiz.

The Tryon Estates resident is a retired U.S. Army major, one-time Little League Baseball umpire, has helped high school students attend trade and technical schools, and has been involved in many community organizations. Wherever he’s lived, he became involved, starting in his mid-teens.

“I was a teenager during the second World War. I grew up in Bronx, New York,” he said, the 17th out of 18 children of Puerto Rican immigrants. At that time, Ortiz remembered that the only thing he and several friends of the same age wanted to do was to serve our coun-

try in the military. “So,” he recalls, “at the age of 15, we all went over to the Army National Guard, and enlisted.”

Wartime being wartime, and the 1940s not being 2015, no one verified the young men’s ages. “I didn’t lie,” he said. “But no one asked me (my age). In those days, questions were not asked, and they accepted us.”

Ortiz remembers taking training at Camp Smith, north of New York City.

“When we turned 16,” he continues, “we enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, where we took training in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina,” and at 17, he joined the army, “and took basic training at Ft. Dix, N.J.”

Eventually, he noted, his sergeant in 1948 realized he knew all about the military. By the time the Korean War came along, he was already a staff sergeant. In Korea, he was promoted to sergeant first class. Years later, “The army decided to give me a direct commission as a first lieutenant. In 1966, they sent me to Vietnam.” There he was promoted to major, a rank he held at retirement.

In some ways, Ortiz has left the military, but the military has not left Ortiz. He pointed out that Tryon Estates is home to 111 service veterans, including World War II veteran Stanley Howell, who served under General George S. Patton.

“We have some history,” Ortiz noted of his home.

Ortiz is a member of Tryon American Legion Post 250, where he chaired the posts’ scholarship committee. He remembers interviewing students at Polk County High School, where very few students applied for scholarships to technical or trade schools, often because they feared they would not do well. He’s

worked to change that attitude, and to get more young people enrolled into such schools.

The American Legion Scholarship from Post 250 is dedicated, he says, to students who want to learn a trade.

Much of the inspiration for that scholarship came from Ortiz realizing that his oldest son, a retired master electrician, made more money in his trade, than his siblings combined.

Also at Post 250, Ortiz was also a bingo caller, noting that money raised from this activity goes to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry in Columbus, and is designated to help destitute veterans.

Ortiz also belongs to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10349 of Mill Spring, where he is the adjutant, or someone who takes notes during meetings. Other military connections for Ortiz are memberships to Korean War Veterans’ Association’s Hendersonville chapter, the Vietnam War Veterans Association in Asheville, and the Military Officers Association of America, meeting in Hendersonville. He’s on the board of directors for that local group.

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ABOVE: After being commissioned as a lieutenant, Ortiz, second from left, was assigned to the Army Security Agency in Arlington, Va. in 1961 as a recruiter.

RIGHT: When his oldest son began playing Little League ball, Ortiz was asked to umpire. “I didn’t know anything about umpiring,” he said, “but I’ll learn.” And learn he did. He went to umpire school in Florida and Pennsylvania, and later went on to umpire in the Industrial League, Babe Ruth League, American Legion games and the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. 22 J anuar y 2016

In the 1960s and 70s, Ortiz and his family lived near Leesburg, Va. where three of his children attended Loudoun Valley High School. Ortiz was very active in promoting the school’s athletic programs, so active in fact that this year he was honored during the school’s football homecoming event. A plaque in his honor was placed in the school’s athletic hall of fame.

When it was suggested that the only things Ortiz didn’t do at homecoming were tackle an opposing player or sell popcorn, he smiled and said, “I didn’t tackle anybody, but I did help sell popcorn.”

After being a widower for ten years, and having relocated to Florida (where his two sisters lived), Ortiz moved to Tryon in 1994. Ortiz was reading a military magazine, which listed Tryon among the five best places to retire.

A friend drove Ortiz to this area. Ortiz liked this area so much that he asked his friend to stop at a local real estate office, so he could buy a home.

Shortly after he arrived here, he married his then girlfriend, Audrey. They remain married today.

After moving to Tryon, representatives of the Tryon Rotary Club invited him to join. In 1998 and 1999, Ortiz served as the club’s president, and for three years following, he served as assistant district governor.

Another of Ortiz’s honors is his inclusion in the Second Wind Hall of Fame, which honors retired individuals who volunteer in three or more activities. In Ortiz’s case, one might lose count.

For 21 years, he has volunteered at Hospice of Carolina Foothills. For ten of those years, he was a trained caregiver. For the past three years, he’s been chairman of the annual Steps to HOPE golf tournament. For five years, Ortiz served as a member of the Harmon Field board, which maintains the large recreation center on Tryon’s east end. Ortiz is also president of the Tryon Estates Residents Association.

Another thing he’s very proud of, says Ortiz, is that several years ago, he received a certificate from then North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt, for his volunteer efforts.

As a tribute to some 200,000 individuals who served underage in World War II, Ortiz belongs to Veterans of Underage Military Service. Well-known individuals who served underage in World War II include Tony Curtis and Gene Hackman.

Ortiz, who always liked baseball, was once asked to umpire a youth baseball game. Liking it, he trained as a Little League umpire. His great honor in that activity was being invited to umpire in a Little League World Series.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said of that experience.

Ortiz has accomplished a lot, and met some interesting folks, probably few as interesting as he is.

“I’ll be 85 in March,” said Ortiz, whose smile and energy belie his age. “I’ve got to cut back.”

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Brunson’s & Furniture Center

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Patio Shoppe

In every loss, there is a gain Gwen Suesse reflects on life after husband’s death

Written by STEVE WONG Photos SUBMITTED

pronounce her name.

“Just call me Gwen,” she says.

Like many seasoned adults in Tryon, Gwen f there is one nugget of absolute truth and her late husband Jack are not native to this that I learned in journalism school, it area, rather they are northern transplants, who, was that everyone has a story to tell. We again, like many others, came upon the Carojust have to listen… lina Foothills during their worldly travels and Gwen Suesse graciously allowed me into her decided this is where they would make their last uptown Tryon condo one recent afternoon, stand. They came in 1999 to build a post and because friends and neighbors thought she and beam home, thoughtfully designed to support her husband had led interesting lives, lives that their interests and love of nature in Hunting might be food for thought in this magazine. I Country, but in 2007, Jack was suddenly taken was there to check it out. She was a bit perill, and 13 days later he passed away from stageplexed, willing to explore the possibilities, but four lung cancer. It was a shock. But not the nevertheless perplexed. She had plenty to talk end of Gwen’s world. about but wondered what I might do with it all, As Gwen recalled those dark days in 2007, what angle I might take. I wondered too. her usually vibrant voice would sometimes go But first things first: Suesse is a Swiss/Gerjust a little deep and just a little less loud. Her man name, and today it is pronounced “cease,” eyes would glisten a little, but she carried on as in “cease fire.” You can’t very well ask a because she knew that is what Jack would have person about her life, if you can’t correctly wanted. And, almost by profession, Gwen is a

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ABOVE LEFT: Gwen and her husband Jack. ABOVE RIGHT: Gwen is pictured with Tim Brannon, Tryon Fine Arts Center’s board president, installing the plaque by the Suminagashi Maple planted on TFAC’s campus in October in honor of her husband, Jack.

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Relaxing on their deck with a view to the mountains, Gwen and Jack enjoyed their adopted hometown together before his passing in 2007. For more than 30 years, Jack Suesse was associated with J.R. Clancy, Inc., the oldest theatrical rigging company in the United States, serving as president from 1986 – 2005. He worked on theatrical projects of all sizes around the world, including Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City, the Chicago Opera House, the Arts Center in Taipei, the US. Naval Academy and in many other places around the world.

A graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology with a degree in technical theater, he had a long-standing concern for safety and helped set industry rigging safety standards. When he wasn’t working on huge projects, he loved to tinker with smaller ones, such as rigging a generator for his boat, the Tumbleweed. Everyone who knew him has a story about something he fixed or improved for them.

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strong woman, the kind of woman who seeks all that life has to offer and seeks to keep it in balance in a womanly sort of way.

To hear Gwen tell it, Jack was a make-itwork kind of guy. He was good with his hands.

His life’s work was in the technical theatre; theatrical rigging was his specialty. He made it possible for Mary Poppins to fly on stage, for the chandelier to fall in Phantom of the Opera. He may have not designed the set, but when Cirque du Soleil wanted to wow the crowds, it knew just the man to bring on board to figure out how keep the performers safely soaring overhead.

As you might guess, there aren’t many men in the entire world who know the ins and outs of theatrical rigging, making him in high demand around the globe. Gwen gladly recalled their travels to Japan, South America, Spain, Australia, and even Greenville, S.C., where they first began to feel an attraction to the neighbor-

ing foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Along the way, Gwen kept busy with their two children and her own career goals. Educated in choral direction, Gwen’s first love was helping others sing well, something that has brought her full circle after a few detours. She is now the volunteer president of the Tryon Concert Association, bringing world-class classical music to the Friendliest Town in the South. In addition, her career path took her toward human resources career counseling, being a life coach, and writing the book Womansong: Balance & Harmony In A Feminine Key, available online at Womansong.com and locally at The Book Shelf in Tryon.

But, it was his career in technical theatre and her work as a vocal coach that first brought Jack and Gwen together in Upstate New York, during a production of West Side Story. He was back stage putting together the show’s lighting

"After the shock of losing someone, life doesn’t end. It changes forms. I guess God is not done with me yet. " - Gwen Suesse

when Gwen wandered behind the scenes. He asked her to hold a flashlight; six weeks later they were married. A marriage of 37 years produced a daughter who lives in Boston and a son who now lives in Colorado.

“I didn’t expect to be a widow at 62,” she said toward the end of our hour together. “And all of sudden everything you thought you knew about life is turned on its ear. You just have to put one foot in front of the other. After 37 years, what do I do now?”

Eyes that glistened began to well but not spill; the strong voice cracked just a little. “One of the lovely things about this community is that Tryon takes care of its own. They take care of each other. I was tremendously supported when I needed it. The little and big kindnesses.

No one ever let me go. That’s why I decided to stay here. I feel a sense of place in Tryon. My husband and I both felt it. It is like no other place.” And that’s coming from a woman who has lived in more places than I can ever imagine.

And still Gwen wondered whatever in the world I might do with all these summarized facts about her life? It all started when the Tryon Fine Arts Center sent out a press release

about a tree she had planted on the venue’s grounds, a tree in honor of Jack. As a walker and volunteer at TFAC, Gwen had noticed that one of the large oaks at TFAC was looking sadder and sadder, suffering from some sort of blight. Knowing Jack’s love of all things wood, she asked TFAC if she could sponsor a replacement tree, a Suminagashi, a striking and distinctive Japanese Maple that grows to between ten and 25 feet high.

“Jack loved the mountains and the trees,” Gwen said, her voice gaining renewed strength.

“I knew this would please him. In every loss, there is gain, and that is even true when someone dies. It takes a while to say that,” she said, and I wondered if she was really talking to me.

“You blew in and blew out, dang.”

Gwen continues her life’s work in Tryon, and she continues her walks through town.

When she passes by TFAC and Jack’s tree, she smiles and says, ‘Hi.’ “A tree is about life,” Gwen said, now her voice back to full strength and her eyes clear.

“After the shock of losing someone, life doesn’t end. It changes forms. I guess God is not done with me yet.”

ABOVE: On her walks around Tryon, Gwen often passes by Jack’s tree, smiles, and says “Hi.”

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without changing your area code.

You might be surprised to find the retirement lifestyle you’ve been looking for is already in your community, at Tryon Estates.

Nestled in the foothills of Columbus, we’re a community that keeps you close to everything you love about this area. We’re an ACTS Retirement-Life community, built on proven financial stability and a faith-based mission to provide security and peace of mind through ACTS Life Care®.

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28 J anuar y 2016

John Cantrell

Preserving the Call of the Highlands Written by VINCENT VERRECCHIO Photos by VINCENT VERRECCHIO , CLAIRE SACHSE, AND SUBMITTED

A

freshman from Polk County High School has been seen playing piobaireachd and ceol beag. Fourteenyear-old John Cantrell has been noted in a Veteran’s Day parade in Columbus, in a glen below Grandfather Mountain, at a Polk County Commissioners’ meeting, and at other events and locations as distant as Stone Mountain in Georgia, and Ontario. And, he not only plays piobaireachd and ceol beag, he knows how to pronounce these types of bagpipe music and explain in detail what they mean and how they differ.

After three years of piano lessons, John at age nine, decided to switch instruments. He

could have emulated his dad George who has talent with the tin whistle, flute, and harmonica, or followed exclusively in the footsteps of his grandfather Glenn, a guitar player and teacher.

“On Sunday, I would listen to Celtic music on the radio with my dad,” recalls John. ‘I really liked what Fiona Ritchie played on her show and wanted to learn the bagpipes.”

An interesting and bold choice, since there is nothing simple or straightforward about bagpipes. It seems that complexity, disputation, and contradiction are bred into the instrument and its playing. The music is equally capable pf producing goose bumps or grimac-

TOP: According to John, the hardest part of learning and playing is lungpower and timing your breathing with squeezing the bag.

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LEFT At only 14, John has already won silver and gold medals in competitions and has played at multiple public events such as the Veterans Day parade in Columbus. RIGHT: The most important parts of the bagpipe for melody and tune, according to John, are the chanter with nine finger holes and the cane double reed inside, similar to an oboe.

30 J anuar y 2016

es, inspiration or intimidation, depending on the ear of the listener. A 16th century Scottish poem tells of “hieland pipes” and their “shraichs of deadlie clarions.” In 1746, Great Britain proscribed bagpipes as weapons of war because of their power to inflame rebellious Scots while terrifying English troops. The author Israel Zangwell in 1907 described, “the skirl of bagpipes...that exotic, half-barbarous sound.” Alfred Hitchcock thought that the squeal of a squeezed asthmatic pig was more pleasant.

But on the other hand, the best selling instrumental recording in the UK is the pipe version of “Amazing Grace” played by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in 1970. And, as John played “Amazing Grace” at a recent local funeral, one of the mourners confided to George and Glenn, “I hope John continues... that music makes me feel closer to God.” John explains that the Great Highland

bagpipe is officially classified as a double-reed woodwind similar to the bassoon and oboe.

True to its complex and contrary nature, however, the bagpipe is actually a five reed instrument with a double cane reed in the chanter—the flute like section with fingering holes—and three synthetic reeds, one each in the large bass drone and two tenor drones.

“The sound vibrations from all of the reeds make the music, but the most important parts for melody and tune are the chanter and the chanter reed. I buy a box of five or ten chanter reeds, test each, and keep only the one that sounds best.”

According to John, the hardest part of learning and playing is wind and steadiness.

He talks about lungpower for keeping the bag inflated, and timing inhalations and exhalation with squeezing and releasing the bag. His Dad recalls with a chuckle that when John first tried filling the bag, “He turned red and

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32 J anuar y 2016

Lament.’ When I play I can see the music scrolling before me.”

Glenn proudly elaborates, “Twelve years old and he won silver medals for both of his pieces in the 17 and under class. The following year he won two golds and was recognized as AGL...playing Above Grade Level.”

John explains that the Gaelic pronunciation for piobaireachd is pib-brock. “This is a more classical form of pipe music composed of a ground of melody and theme notes that are carried through variations with increasingly complex embellishments of crunluaths and taorluaths.” The “th” is silent in both. Ceol beag is pronounced “keel big” and means “little music” that includes more accessible and popular dances, marches, reels, and tunes such as “Amazing Grace.”

“All credit goes to God,” says John who has been blessed to have world-class teachers within driving distance for his family. He currently takes lessons once a week in Brevard from Sandy Jones, former Pipe Major of the U.S Air Force Band, recognized as having played at JFK’s funeral procession.

Backed with lessons, practice and more practice, annual attendance at the North American Academy of Piping and Drumming since 2011, and the experience of many public performances, John competed at the 2015 Glengarry Games in Ontario, Canada.

The class ranking system was unexpectedly different and not based on age, so John found himself competing against a few gray-haired pipers who had been there before. “You play the theme reasonably well,” wrote one judge, “But your drones were off.” John did not place. Glenn asked if he had been distracted by the nearby gunfire of the French and Indian War Reenactment or the passing freight train. Glenn recalls that John responded, “What train?”

The young man’s current thinking on not placing was that there were many talented, very determined pipers. “A great learning experience. Next time, I will just have to out-determine them,” he says with a confident smile before “striking in” to play and transport me with his haunting call of the Highlands.

PAGE 32: The Piper: John wears the Tartan kilt and hose flash of his MacDonald ancestors, the largest clan of Scotland. ABOVE: John takes weekly lessons from Sandy Jones, former Pipe Major of the U.S. Air Force Band who wrote the lesson book used by John’s first teacher, Ken Swinton. Mr. Swinton, former Pipe Major of the Piedmont Highlanders Bagpipe Band, passed away tragically from cancer in 2011, never worrying John with the reason for asking Sandy to take over instruction.

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in good

TA S TE

Wherever you are this year, eat well!

Written by CAROL LYNN JACKSON

A

chieve better health this year simply through the foods you eat.

Whether it’s through nutritional therapy, which partners the science of nutrition with naturopathic principles, or through nutritional advice, getting a real education and solutions to health and weight issues through real food is a New Year’s Resolution that can change life as we know it forever -- as individuals, as a community, and as a world.

Nutritional therapy partners the science of nutrition with naturopathic principles. Enacting the two help to address the myriad of health problems that plague modern society. Many health problems are a direct result of, or exacerbated by, poor nutrition which can be reversed once understood by meeting our bio-individual nutritional needs.

We seek out nutritional advice when we accept that a healthy diet and mindful nutrition can change our lives and our community for the better. Look for advice that includes an action plan, meal and recipe suggestions, recommended cookbooks, advice on local shopping, relevant information sheets and lifestyle guidance.

Weight management advice and planning is the healthier New Year resolution as opposed to a need for extreme weight loss. Weight management advice helps us take the practical steps to improve our general health while losing any unhealthy weight. Instead of following a calorie restricted, low carbohydrate or low fat diet, focus on making positive changes to your current diet by including more healthy foods.

We can look for workshops, consultants, classes or online advice on nutrition and healthy 34 J anuar y 2016

eating as it directly relates to: balancing your blood sugar, weight loss, dealing with stress, balancing hormones, boosting your immune system, mindfulness, healthy lunches on the go, how to eat more vegetables, shopping for health, understanding your food labels, how to cook, shop, and eat gluten and sugar free.

A good read for an excellent understanding of how important it is to eat correctly is The China Study by T. Colin Campbell. Campbell has made a career of challenging the conventional wisdom around nutrition and the main point of his book is that many nutritional studies attempt to pin down the effects of a single nutrient in isolation from all other aspects of diet and lifestyle, a “gold standard” he says for clinical trials in the pharmaceutical world, as one example. He calls this “scientific reductionism.” Western diets are extremely high in fat, sugar, salt, and animal protein compared to the rest of the world.

The China Study itself is described by one reviewer as a “massive series of snapshots of the relationship between diet and disease in over 100 villages all over China.” The rates of disease differ greatly from region to region as western diets creep in at different rates in these regions taking Easterners away from a mostly plant based and whole foods diet to those more processed and higher in animal proteins. The books summary suggests a daily dietary regime that is not vegan, not vegetarian, but steeped mostly in plant-based food consumption.

A worthy read, a worthy resolution to eat well for optimal health this, and every coming year.

Happy New Year everyone!

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35

Meet Monica Stevenson

APPOINTMENTS

An Interview By Barbara Childs

W

hat kind of equine discipline do you enjoy?

From a spectator standpoint, I am a fan of just about every equine discipline. I appreciate all things “horse” from both an animal lover’s perspective and also as inspiration and brain food for my photography and video work. I love a good spectacle!

What kind of horse do you own and ride?

My horse, Zoe, is a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, and we are training dressage at the Prix St. George level. She is one of the most people oriented and engaging horses I have ever met, which could be the result of all the photographic attention she has received since she was three years old. One of my oft-used Instagram hash-tags is #ZoeIsMyMuse, and I am only half joking.

She has been the subject of many a project, the latest being a seasonal one, where we sprayed her with human body paint in a color that complements the foliage in the woods at the time. She enjoyed every moment of the shoot, and was fed many peppermints to ensure her positive mood.

What are the joys and challenges of riding, training and learning with your horse?

We all know what the joys of training and learning with our horse are. I am sure I feel the same way about this as many do. I approach riding as an art and as a sport -and the fact that I have an animate partner sharing in the process makes it all that much more satisfying.

Challenges?

Dressage is difficult and precise (which is why I like it.) And just plain ol’ time is a big challenge, as I operate with the demands of a full time career. I run my own business as a photographer and videographer, with occasional trips back and forth to NYC for jobs. All of this work, combined with my precious horse time, makes for very long days!

Who do you train with and what traits do you most admire in your trainer?

Zoe and I ride with Hokan Thorn out of Cross Creek Farm in Columbus. I admire many things about Hokan -- his organized and “can-do” approach to training, his overt compassion for all the horses he knows, his

ability to pull the best out of every horse, no matter its type or skill level, and his eagle eye. Oh, and did I mention his impressive collection of flashy Norwegian polo shirts?

What kind of background and experience do you have with the skills of photography, esp. equine photography in our community?

I am a freelance commercial photographer and videographer, and my clients to this point have been advertising agencies, magazines, publishing, catalogs, and ecommerce/ social media. My husband and I recently moved down here from the New York City/ New Jersey, and I will now be setting up shop here in Tryon, and calling the Foothills my home base! I had a studio in the West Chelsea area of Manhattan, on the Hudson River. In fact, my staff and I watched the USAir Flight 1549 land into the river — I was washing dishes at the sink and could not believe my eyes.

For the most part, I specialize in still life/ product photography and video — cosmetics, food, jewelry, fashion accessories and luxury goods, pharmaceuticals, etc. I also have made a bit of a name for myself in the hi-speed discipline of photography with beverages, liquid splashes, exploding powder, etc. It’s very technical and challenging, and suits the science/techno side of me. The market down here in the South is more general, and I will be shooting to a much broader clientele — real estate, portraits, corporate work, and of course, my big love, horse photography!

Farm and made a lovely environmental landscape portrait in the early morning light.

I work methodically, and studious location scouting is an enormous part of the success of my pictures. The scenery in western North Carolina is breath taking, and with the plethora of horses and their human companions at the ready, I hope to be quite busy!

What else of value and importance should our readers know about you?

My dream would be to divide my time between shooting equine portrait commissions for private clients, making my own personal photographic and video artwork here in my Tryon studio, and working commercially every now and then to stay fresh and challenged. I met a large sector of the What are the themes of equine photogcommunity recently through a video project I raphy that you cover and enjoy, such as farms, horses, shows, special events that are am shooting for TEDxTryon, and this group in particular makes me look forward to beapplicable to our news and culture here in ing a part of the artistic fabric here. I still go the Foothills? up North for work every few weeks, but the One of the reasons we chose to move magnetic pull of the Foothills is having its to this area was so that I could focus more pointedly on my artwork, which is the equine affect on me! I have traded the Hudson River photography, and more recently, botanicals. I Views for those of the Pacolet, and the less work in both black and white and color, and frenetic pace of life is inspirational in a way that is new and exciting to me. do large-scale scenes and portraits of horses, riders, and the environs. I just started a new Readers may connect with Monica Stevenson project, and can’t tell all, as I am still refining at monica@monicastevenson.com.

To view her the details, but it is a project inspired heavily by the equine painter George Stubbs. Hokan online portfolio, visit monicastevensonphotography.com. and his horse Django were my first sitters.

We found a glorious spot at Cross Creek

ABOVE: Monica’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Zoe has inspired her #ZoeIsMyMuse Instagram hashtag. (Photo by Monica Stevenson)

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Equine Assisted

Psychotherapy

Written and photographed by VINCENT VERRECCHIO

38 J anuar y 2016

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fter more than 25 years together, two teachers, Donna and Andy, had come to a sprawling fenced pasture to learn more about themselves.

Standing at the side of a 4-wheeler, they discussed their assignment as volunteer participants in an EAP (Equine Assisted Psychotherapy) session. The wooden cart hitched to the utility vehicle behind them overflowed with plastic pipes, poles, cones, hula-hoops, and seeming remnants from a toy store clearance sale.

Four Icelandic “instructors” for the session grazed on the far other side of the field, focused downward with muzzles in the grass, tails flicking without concern. English was not their native language, but as with all horses, they could sense and respond to moods and unintentional signals of body language. Now though, they seemed to ignore the people who shared the field with them.

The EAP modality brings together horses, clients, and a two-person team of a mental health professional and an equine specialist. The team assigns to clients a horse-based activity that requires no riding or previous equine experience.

Bobbie Shannon, a local licensed mental health counselor with more than 20 years clinical experience, is certified for EAP by EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association). Founded in 1999, EAGALA is now in 41 countries. Bobbie says, “EAP is effective when clients are open to the experience of what happens in ground activity with a horse. There is no right or wrong conclusion to the activity.

The point is the process itself. It can bring up feelings that the client may be unaware of. It encourages clients to exercise creative thinking and problem-solving skills, and to view themselves from outside their box. This box could be substance abuse, depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, or any emotional or relational issues that limit happiness and fulfillment.”

Sara Lyter, a local EAGALA Certified Equine Specialist, owns the farm and herd used for EAP sessions. She brings more than 20 years of riding and equine work to training and maintaining program horses. While she and Bobbie stand inconspicuously to the side during a session, she observes the actions and interactions of horses and clients. She says, “Whether you’re riding a horse, or just being with one, the experience can always be a lesson. A horse picks

LEFT: The clutter of plastic pipes, poles, cones, hula-hoops, and seeming remnants from a toy store clearance sale are the tools with which clients work during EAP sessions. TOP: Gathered around the components of an EAP “Cluttered Alley,” are, left to right: Donna, a client; an Icelandic horse; Sara Lyter, Certified Equine Specialist; Bobbie Shannon, licensed mental health counselor; and Andy, a client.

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up on the client’s energy and emotion, and reacts honestly.

While the clients interact freely with the horses, we look for themes and patterns of behavior. Afterwards, we help clients think about what happened, and what they felt, as a metaphor for their lives outside the fence.”

The session begins with clients identifying a personal issue to be addressed. Donna wanted to build confidence.

Andy said he lacked organizational skills. Both had very limited experience with horses. Bobbie and Sara assigned them the “Cluttered Alley,” one of many possible activities.

The objective was to “use anything within the fenced area to build a path wide enough for a horse to a pass through.”

Using only items only from within the cart, Donna and Andy jointly carried pipes and other items to a site selected

by Andy where he directed the design and personally positioned the clutter. At that point, their task was technically finished. The instructions were that the path be wide enough to allow passage; not that horses had to actually go through.

With the teachers in slow and resolute pursuit, the horses mostly strolled away, pausing for an occasional stroke, but never considering the pathway.

After the session, Donna admitted that she was hesitant to touch the horse’s face. “I liked to observe ... do it calmly.

The more time that I spent near the horse, the calmer I felt.

When you have calm, you feel more confident.”

40 J anuar y 2016

"It [EAP] encourages clients to exercise creative thinking and problem-solving skills, and to view themselves from outside their box. This box could be substance abuse, depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, or any emotional or relational issues that limit happiness and fulfillment. " - Bobbie Shannon

LEFT: The EAP modality brings together horses, clients, and a two-person team of a mental health professional and an equine specialist. ABOVE: Clients discuss how to “use anything within the fenced area to build a path wide enough for a horse to a pass through.�

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Andy concluded, “I learned that I can be organized when I put my mind to it. I felt good acting it out. Didn’t feel aggravated when the horse wouldn’t follow...enjoyed touching her soft nose.”

After the teachers left with smiles, Bobbie explained that EAP not only helps couples, but groups such as business people trying to improve teamwork. It is also intended for individuals and I was then invited to participate. My initial reaction was to wonder what I was willing to reveal about myself in print.

I acknowledged an issue common to many people of my age and temperament. I started working in seventh grade growing a paper route and had a job ever since. A drive to continually improve carried me through more than 40 years in advertising as a copywriter, art director, photographer, creative director, and ultimately agency owner. For many of those years, I was also active with horses of many breeds. Now, after selling my agency, I felt adrift, floundering for a sense of purpose, even though still involved with riding.

My assignment was to organize anything within Sara’s covered arena to represent my

LEFT: Sara Lyter, a local EAGALA Certified Equine Specialist, owns the farm and herd used for EAP sessions. She brings more than 20 years of riding and equine work to training and maintaining program horses.

RIGHT: Bobbie Shannon, a local licensed mental health counselor with more than 20 years clinical experience, says EAP encourages clients to exercise creative thinking and problem-solving skills, and to view themselves from outside their box.

42 J anuar y 2016

past, present, and future, and to move three mini-horse mares through it. The cart of “tools” was there. Two steel round pens, side by side, filled the width of the far quarter of the arena.

I wondered if the gates had been left open on purpose.

After I removed the minis’ halters, I waited to see what they would do without my influence. Two walked into a pen. With no plan other than structuring the situation, I gestured to coax the third mare to follow her companions.

She was nice enough to comply. After closing them in, I carried two plastic pipes from the cart and placed them at the base of the gate as a visual chute. I re-entered and they darted out past the pipes, dispersing through the arena, kicking heels, exploring, acting as if they had been suddenly freed after extended confinement.

I closed both pens and announced that I was done. The pens were my past; the chute, my present; the arena, my future. The article you have just read is evidence of what the EAP session reaffirmed. I was already on a course of renewed purpose, doing the writing and photography that I had always enjoyed but now within the openness of a big new arena.

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Not little horses with big ears Written by JUDY HEINRICH Photographs by JUDY HEINRICH and SUBMITTED

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ABOVE LEFT: Barbara Claussen’s rescued donkeys happily coexist at their Collinsville Road farm. (Photo

by Barbara Claussen.) ABOVE RIGHT: Donkeys come in all sizes, including Holly Fisher’s Mammoth Donkey gelding, Mud Flapp, a frequent show winner and trail mount.

44 J anuar y 2016

ovember’s “Donkey & Mule Day” at FENCE was a hit, with attendees coming from as far away as Atlanta and Charleston. Most had horses, many had donkeys and/or mules, and some came just to learn about these long-eared members of the equine family.

The all-day program was organized by Polk County residents Barbara Claussen and Tony Walters, who live with their horses and several rescued donkeys at a farm on Collinsville Road.

Presenters for the program included Kim Hayes, operations manager of the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada, along with one of the sanctuary’s regular farriers, Chris Gerber, and local equine veterinarian Kris Woodaman.

The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada (DSC) was established in 1992 to provide a haven for donkeys that no longer had homes. Through all those years, the DSC staff has been asked, “Why donkeys?” The sanctuary’s response is “Because it’s necessary… As one of our staff

members puts it, the donkey is the forgotten equine, too often a subject of ridicule and too often considered disposable at the end of its working life.”

Donkeys seem to be a growing presence in our area, as companions for horses, for driving or riding, sometimes as guardians for other animals, or simply for the enjoyment of their gentle and often humorous personalities.

But in spite of their growing presence here, misconceptions about donkeys still persist, including that they are “stubborn” and/or “stupid.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

WHY DONKEYS AND HORSES ARE DIFFERENT Many people, even horsepeople, tend to think of donkeys as “little horses with big ears” and consequently try to manage and train them the same way. While they are both members of the genus Equus, they are two unique species whose physical and mental attributes are

products of very different environmental and evolutionary adaptation over millions of years. Here’s a brief overview, as explained by Kim Hayes.

The ancestors of today’s horse (Equus caballus) tended to exist and evolve in parts of the world with lush forage and plentiful water, such as the grass plains of Asia. That type of habitat supported the development of large herds living and moving together. Within this herd even the oldest, youngest and most infirm horses had relative safety as they could stay within the crowd and not be as obvious to predators.

From this herd dynamic was born a social order based on a leader-follower model: the majority of the herd looked to the “alpha” horse to signal with subtle body language when and where to eat, drink, travel and, most importantly, gallop off to escape predators.

It is horses’ acceptance of the leader/follower model that has allowed humans to establish dominance over an animal many times their own size.

In contrast, the ancestors of today’s donkey (Equus asinus) lived and evolved primarily in areas such as the North African Desert, where both forage and water were scarce. That type of habitat did not support large groups of animals moving together. Instead, single Jacks (donkey stallions) would establish their own territories, through which donkey mares (jennets) would travel, usually with a foal and weanling, and sometimes with another mare and foal.

In the absence of herds and established leaders, donkeys had to think and make decisions about their own fates: where will I eat, sleep, move to, etc. They also learned to hide any signs of fear or pain that would encourage predators. And since a jennet running off from a predator would leave its foal unprotected, and a Jack running off could just be followed until it tired, both genders of donkeys learned to stand and fight against a predator, to the death if necessary, rather than try to run away. While donkeys will kick with their rear hooves, their most lethal weapons are strikes with their front hooves and clamping or ripping with their very strong jaws and teeth.

DONKEY BEHAVIOR TODAY The behaviors that evolved from their ancient histories can still be seen in modern donkeys. u They are highly independent and used to making their own decisions based on perceived safety or benefit. u They are extremely stoic and do not show pain or fear as readily as horses do. u They are willing to face and even remove a perceived threat, if necessary; that’s why they can make good guardians for livestock. u In the absence of the strict hierarchy of a horse herd, donkeys often form pair bonds but are also very accepting of an entire group of donkeys crowding around a round bale or huddling together inside a run-in shed.

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something, loading them into a moving box, etc. Because of their unique mindset, working successfully with donkeys requires a different approach.

In training horses, we act like teachers – another form of leader. We perceive ourselves as “in charge” and can get frustrated when another creature doesn’t get that.

Dealing with donkeys is more like dealESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP ing with a spouse: there are two independent Because donkeys don’t understand the beings, each with their own idea of what is leader/follower model, establishing a relationship requires a different approach, according to in their best interest. To come together for a “common purpose” with a donkey, you have Kim Hayes. u Be a friend, giving your donkey scratches, to help them answer their own questions about safety and benefit. pats and the occasional treat. u Try to determine the motivation driving u Don’t try to be “alpha” – instead try to a donkey’s behavior before trying to modify it. show him that what you want him to do is in u Use positive reinforcement rather than his best interest. u Don’t be a subordinate, letting him come punishment, which can cause a donkey to think you are no longer safe. up and rub on you or mug you for treats. u Avoid physical restraint and reward with u Watch for subtle changes in posture; a release; when training to lead, for example, donkeys use their ears, neck, foot stomps and apply steady pressure on the lead rope and if tail swishes as horses do, but are much more the donkey steps forward, release the pressure subtle. and praise. u If you need to leave a halter on, be sure u Clicker training is often successful with it’s a break-away and that it’s not too tight. u Always bring three things: patience, per- donkeys; they see the “click” or accompanying treat as a benefit. (Note: salted roasted peanuts sistence and a sense of humor. in the shell make good non-sugary treats.) u Once donkeys or mules learn TRAINING YOUR DONKEY something, they have it and don’t Even the basic things we ask require repetitive schooling. You can equines to do have no equivalent in teach a donkey to longe and change their natural world: holding them gaits on cue, for example, but having with a rope, tying them to demonstrated that ability they will be less accepting of repetitive longeing than a horse will. u As renowned horse trainer Ray Hunt preached, “Make the wrong thing hard and the right thing easy.” u With one horse and one donkey parent, mules are harder to generalize about as their behavior may take on aspects of either parent.

And while “mule” generally covers any horse/ donkey offspring, the offspring of a male horse and female donkey is more correctly called a hinny.

NUTRITION AND HEALTH Kim Hayes and local veterinarian Kris Woodaman shared these basics for caring for and keeping a donkey healthy: u Donkeys in our area can get fat and suffer from laminitis/founder just as horses can. u Make forage the basis of your donkey’s diet and have salt with trace minerals available.

Slow feeders for hay are recommended. u Donkeys have very efficient guts and can eat roughage that is harder to digest, like twigs and straw. DSC uses barley, wheat or oat straw 46 J anuar y 2016

– always in dried form – as its main feed for donkeys. u Fortified feed concentrates and grains are not recommended unless a donkey has a special health need, in which case a “high fat/high fiber/low carb” option is best. Soaked timothy pellets can be a better choice than most concentrates. u For vital signs like pulse, respiration rate, temperature and some enzyme levels, your vet should be aware that donkey norms can differ from horses’. (The Professional Handbook of the Donkey [4th edition] is available free to vets from the Donkey Sanctuary of the UK – thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk) u Vaccinations are essentially the same as for horses, but for Injections and drawing blood, the donkey’s skin is thicker and the vein is located higher on the neck. u If tubing is needed, your vet should use a foal tube because donkeys have narrower nasal passages. u Anecdotally there have been reports of donkey deaths with Quest (Moxydectin) wormer; Ivermectin and Strongid may be safer options. u Because of a donkey’s stoicism, an owner who pays attention will be most likely to recognize subtle signs that something is not quite right: lethargy, dull appearance, changes in eating, drinking, urine and feces. If you notice any signs, encourage your vet to “go to the next step, do the next test.”

HOOF CARE The most frequent question the DSC staff hears is, “How do I make my donkey easier for the farrier to work with?” The best way is to get your donkey used to having his feet handled by regularly using a hoof pick on them yourself. If your donkey isn’t used to that already, clicker training can be used quite successfully here, too.

We will leave the specifics of hoof problems to the farriers and veterinarians, but here are some general differences that DSC farrier Chris Gerber pointed out between donkey and horse hooves. u Donkeys tend to have stronger, thicker hoof soles than horses, and the soles grow down along with the hoof wall. (It’s thought that this may carry over from ancient donkeys “running around on sand paper” in their desert environments.) u Donkeys have a very thick, bulbous frog

but it doesn’t typically extend as far forward as on a horse. u The coffin bone of a donkey does not extend as far toward the back of the hoof as a horse’s does, meaning laminitis treatment may differ. u The digital cushion is much larger on a donkey, acting as a shock absorber to tamp down vibration. u Donkeys can be prone to both abscesses and white line disease; unlike horses, donkeys don’t appear to need an easy entry for bacteria/ fungus for either problem to develop. u Because donkeys are so stoic, they typically won’t start to limp until abscesses or white line disease have progressed significantly. u The common “founder stance” – front feet stretched forward, rear feet tucked under – is not as prevalent in donkeys as they are usually more evenly affected with pain on both front and rear hooves.

RESOURCES There are many excellent books about donkey care and training, as well as websites with links to a wide range of resources. Check out both www.thedonkeysanctuary.ca and www. donkeysanctuary.org.uk for the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada and the Donkey Sanctuary of the UK, respectively.

If you’d like to try clicker training for your donkey – it worked for me! – the DSC recommended Ben Hart Horsemanship (hartshorsemanship.com).

And you can also learn from local donkey fans – including Barbara Claussen, who has years of donkey rescue experience. She can be emailed at barbaraclaussen@me.com.

ABOVE: “Donkey Day” organizers were, left to right, Tony Walters and Barbara Claussen with presenters Kim Hayes and Chris Ferber.

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D U D L E Y U P D AT E S Written by BARBARA CHILDS

A

h, a new year starts, and let there be peace!

Here is the good equine news that is rolled out before your hearts, ears and eyes for the New Year.

Naomi Katz practices sports medicine on her horses and has come to work on Cross Creek horses for Sue Blinks. Naomi has been practicing sports medicine sine 2002 in Wellington, Fla., and she works on dressage horses, hunter jumpers, and some polo ponies. She enjoys seeing athletic improvement in the performance and skill level of the horses she treats as well as the riders.

When it comes to one on one with the horse there is nothing like the feel of good energy, says Katz.

“When I’m working with the horse and understanding individual personalities and needs, I know I have their best interests for comfort at heart. The most difficult part of my job is having to give any bad news. It breaks my heart every time,” says Katz.

Katz’s goals are to find a balance between vet medicine and a personal life so she can perform to her best potential as a veterinarian.

Have you met Bonnie at The Farm House in Landrum, S.C.?

She is there to help you meet all your equine needs. Bonnie rides Western and owns Posse, a paint gelding, black tobiano, and he’s six years old. He loves people and is in your pocket kind of horse all the time. Blaze, a paint mare, is Bonnie’s other horse. She is 17 years old, sorrel breeding stock.

She loves to be scratched and fussed with - she’s a girl! Bonnie loves spending one on one time 48 J anuar y 2016

with each horse, enjoying the views from their backs. Plus they are a great stress reliever, says Bonnie.

Caroline and husband Tom Cadier love their horses and have finally finished the barn and pastures at their farm in Columbus, N.C. Caroline has one Dutch Warmblood dressage horse, and three other horses. Her old TB hunter (31) is in Georgia and is babysitting his pasture mate.

Cadier also has one Hanoverian horse and one she is selling that is Selle Français. She and her husband Tom have been avid event riders and even competed at Rolex very successfully. In 2006 after Rolex, their horse competed in the WEG with the Dutch team.

Cadier trains and rides with Hokan Thorn at Cross Creek Farms in Columbus, N.C. Her horse is currently at third level dressage and Cadier plans to achieve FEI levels with him.

“Hokan is the consummate polished professional and horseman.

We have similar ideals and goals, including a high level of respect for the riders as their partners,” says Cadier. “These qualities I admire most along with his riding and training abilities. Beth Perkins, we have also known for many years, and she has been a tremendous help getting our horses ridden. We look forward to schooling our young Irish horses with her,” says Cadier.

Cadier’s personal goals are to advance with her dressage horse with Hokan at he Prix St. George level, as well to keep fit and hunting the young horses.

“Both young horses are talented

jumpers, and Dr. Anne Baskett has convinced me to join the TIEC jumpers next season,” says Cadier.

Be sure to visit the Blue Moon stained glass store in Tryon next to IGA. John and Beth Fisher have a strong equine theme of metal and stained glass art treasures. Their wide selection of lamps, chandeliers, and equine treasures dates back to the 1920s and 30s. Beth refinishes the metals, and paints and rubs. Custom stained glass, fresh flowers are also dried and placed in keepsake boxes. Beth and John have workshops in the store, and they will work with you for the perfect lighting and repair needs you may have. Contact Blue Moon Custom Stained Glass at 828-817-1138.

Amy Barrington has been awarded the Ironmasters trophy at the annual USET meeting in Washington, D.C. Congratulations, Amy, we all love you much!

ABOVE: A beautiful lamp located at Blue Moon Stained Glass in Tryon.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH GREEK YOGURT And now for a New Year’s dish with texture, taste and a rare blend of adventure. Oh, the lowly cauliflower, how it has been transformed!

1 tbsp. vegetable oil 1 large head of cauliflower

1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt 1 lime zested and juiced 1 tbsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. curry powder 2 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. chili powder 1 tsp. cumin Preheat over to 400. Lightly grease a small baking sheet and set aside. Trim the

base of the cauliflower, remove woody stem and green leaves. Combine yogurt and lime zest, curry powder salt and pepper, chili powder and cumin. Smear the marinade evenly over the cauliflower, and roast 30-40 minutes until surface is dry and lightly browned. The marinade will make a crust. Let the cauliflower rest for 10 minutes. Serve with a nice big green salad.

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Western North Carolina | 828.278.9296 | TheSanctuaryAtTryon.com

The Sanctuary You’ve Been Searching For Pa n o ra m i c Vi ew s , M o u n t ain Ho me sit e s, Affo rd ab le Pri ci ng

If you’ve been searching for the perfect place for your affordable Mountain Home, look no further than The Sanctuary at Tryon.

Our spacious homesites offer beautiful views and a location just minutes from the Tryon International Equestrian Center.

Whether you’re planning a grand estate or a quaint retreat, our homesites start at just $29,000 and are the perfect place for your own personal sanctuary.

Just Minutes from Tryon International Equestrian Center

Lake Lure, NC - 15 miles | Asheville, NC - 30 miles | Greenville, SC - 30 miles | Atlanta, GA - 180 miles

FEATURED LOT Lot 10 $74,900 1.9 Acres with 180o views on a Private Knoll

Mountain Homesites Starting at

$29,000

Mailing Address: 2025 Sandbranch Road P. O. Box 1147, Black Mountain, NC 28711 All information believed to be accurate but not warranted. See Representative for details.

50 J anuar y 2016

Marketplace Life in our Foothills • 828.859.9151

AMS Tree Health Care • Fertilization • Tree Work • Trimming • Pruning • Removal of Invasive Trees • 828-817-3052 3BR/2BA Country Home Large Kitchen. Hardwood floors throughout. Total remodel just completed. 2 car carport. Gambrel style barn on 5 1/2 acres. Excellent small horse farm. 5 minutes to new Equestrian Center. For sale by owner/builder. $185,500 Call: 828-625-4820 Ashley Meadows Apartments Columbus, NC Now accepting applications for large 2 & 3 BR units. 858-894-2671 LPN/RN 2nd&3rd FT/PT, LPN/ RN Weekend, CNA 2nd FT/ PT, CNA PRN, CNA Weekend, and RN Weekend Charge. We offer flexible schedules and great benefits. Please apply in person or call Heather Gosnell, ADON at 828-749-2261 BATHTUB REFINISHING Porcelain, Fiberglass, & Ceramic Tile Guaranteed. 864-915-7297 35 years’ experience www.bathliners.com Private (4+ Acres), Spacious, One-Of-A-Kind! Handsome traditional home has quality throughout. Two master suites plus guest quarters.

Minutes from Columbus/Tryon and TIEC. (MLS#589384) $425,000 Ammie Weymer 828-329-7703 Cabinet manufacturer has immediate opening for experienced Ply Mill Supervisor.

Knowledge Of: •Weeke BP120 Point-to-Point (WoodWOP 4.0-4.5) •Holzma panel saws(Cut-Rite V81) •Widebelt sanders •Kan Ban pull systems Experience In: •OSHA safety enforcement •Quality as it relates to substrates/ milling •Training/Cross-training •Waste reduction and yield •Time/ Attendance •Hiring/Discipline/ Termination •Ability to effectively communicate at all levels •Competitive salary commensurate with experience •Paid holidays/ vacations •BCBS-Medical health/ dental and various supplemental insurance plans. DIRECT RESUMES: Jim Bishop Cabinets, Inc. Attn: Human Resources P.O. Box 11424 Montgomery, AL 36111-0424 OR E-MAIL TO: jobs@ bishopcabinets.com EOE/M/F/D/H/V 12 acres on CETA trail near TIEC. 5 acres in pasture.

1400sf equipment building, improvements, home site w/winter views, well. $349,900.

Much more! Call/text 864-316-6901

Warehouse for Rent • 8 Separate Units from 1500-7500sq ft. each.

Columbus, near Hwy 74. 8 miles to horse park. Each unit has office, restroom, roll up door.

828-863-2280 Lose Weight! Feel Great!

I lost 19 lbs in 40 days!

Call 864-303-5955 to get started today! www.hutchersonwellness. fgxpress.com 3BR/3BA $2,500/mo Professionally designed & furnished custom home in gated golf & equestrian community near Tryon. Gourmet kitchen, 2 great rooms. Brokers Welcome!

828-365-8444 info@cielore.com ONE TIME SPECIAL OFFER! Our best selling 3 bd / 2 ba singlewide with designer decor. Please call 828-684-4874.

MAINTENANCE UNLIMITED If you can break it, we can fix it!

All types of home maintenance: pressure washing, yard maintenance and more!

828-447-0669 or 828-817-4284 LAND FOR SALE 48 +/- acres in Northern Spartanburg County, 1 mile from NC, 15 minute leisurely drive to the Tryon International Equestrian Center.

Mostly open with pine and old growth hardwood mix. Private and partly secluded.Two big creeks, good grass and 100’ road frontage. City water and sewer available. 9K per acre. Call or text 864 809 3286 CDL Driver with Passenger Endorsement needed to drive 24 passenger bus from Spindle to Hendersonville and return.

5:30am-8:30am and 5:30pm-8:30pm sales@eastsidetransportation.co 864-609-5466 Ask for Delon First Staffing is pleased to announce the opening of our new branch location in Polk County. The new office will be located at: 1987 Lynn Rd. Suite A • Columbus N.C. 28722. Come by and apply today!

Fox Mountain Landscape: Lawn maintenance, stone work, waterfeatures, patios & walkways, paver, irrigation systems and grading. Free estimates - 12 years experience.

Call Miguel 828-817-5847 www. foxmountainlandscaping.com GOOD BY STUMPS Stump Removal Fully Insured Free Quotes!

Call Ron at 828-447-8775 Licensed Cosmetologist Needed for Happy Nails Boutique in Landrum. You keep what you make until you build a full clientele. Call 864-706-4405.

MOUNTAIN LAND 30 properties available with amazing views starting at $29,900.

7.8 acres with incredible views and mountain spring only $49,900.

35 acres overlooking state park: $149,900.

Financing available. 828-475-4844 Henson Building Materials We’re More Than Just a Lumberyard!

22336 Asheville Hwy • Landrum, SC 29356 (864)457-4115 Hospice of the Carolina Foothills (EOE) has the following openings: Full Time: • Nurse Practitioner • Clinical Services Director • RN Case Manager - Homecare • Admission Nurse • CNA (Homecare) PRN: • RNs & CNAs - Hospice House For more information, and to apply, please visit: www.hocf.org 60+ Trailers in Stock MUST GO! New 5x8: $525 New 5x10: $895 Financing Available!

828-245-5895 All storage buildings in stock 8x8 through 12x28 $67 per month and up Up to $500 OFF! Free delivery!

828-245-5895 As-Needed Receptionist. Days, Nights, Weekends. Must be able to multi-task. Word/Excel experience preferred. Please Apply in Person: 334 Thompson St., Hendersonville, NC No Phone Calls Full-time Server, Exp. Med Techs (cert. req’d) and CNAs Incl. weekday & weekend.

Background check, drug screening req’d. APPLY IN PERSON. Laurel Woods Assisted Living & Memory Care, 1062 W. Mills St, Columbus, NC 28722.

No phone calls.

Private House Cleaning Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly or 1 Time. 15 yrs exp.

References upon request.

Free In-home Estimates!

Marjorie 828-817-6350 210 Hawks Haunt Lane, Tryon $249,900 MLS#593419 Updated 2BR/2BA on 1.79 acres w/mountain views.

Gary Corn, CHPS, Realtor/Broker 828-817-2580 First Real Estate, Inc www.TryonRealEstate.com RENTALS Go to www.tryonrealestate.com For Furnished and Unfurnished Long and Short Term Rentals Contact Pat Martin at First Real Estate 828-859-7653

Reclaimed Wormy Chestnut Island Tops, Base Cabinet Tops and Vanity Tops Wholesale Prices For More Info Call Paul Levi (828)712-9808 Small Antique Log Cabin 1 Story with Loft Wormy chestnut logs.

Logs delivered & erected for $12,500.

(828)712-9808 PAVILLON Bringing hope, healing, and lasting recovery to individuals and families who suffer from alcoholism, drug addictions and related disorders.

828-694-2300 241 Pavillon Place, Mill Spring NOW HIRING Full-time and part-time positions in Housekeeping, maintenance/ landscaping, kitchen.

Apply in Person: From 10 am-3pm 85 Pine Crest Lane No phone calls, please.

Polk County Schools Substitute Food Service Workers: $8 per hr Bus Drivers: $12.44 per hour Afterschool Group Leaders $10 per hr Apply online at www.polkschools.org/employment PRESSURE WASHING & HOME MAINTENANCE Home Exterior-Sidewalks-Decks.

Let FHM help with new projects or home repairs! Call Jake for a free quote!

828-894-6581 or 828-577-0513 $10 OFF Preventative Maintenance (Reg $75) Rutherford Heating and Air 828-287-2240 Aphalt Seal Coating Asphalt Micro Surfacing 40 Years Experience Residential and Commercial www.sealcosc.com (864)494-5526 SKIPPER’S TREE SERVICE One call does it all! 25% Sr. discount. Free estimates. Reference available. skippertreeservices.startlogic.com.

864-580-3029 • Industrial: Light/Heavy Assembly • Warehouse • Administrative/Clerical Apply in person or online.

StaffMasters 727 South Broadway, Forest City www.staffmasters.com 828-248-5641 TIEC visitors - 2 or 3 bedroom house – pool table/laundry room – garage and parking available.

CLOSE to TIEC and local restaurants.

828-894-2763

SECOND CHANCE THRIFT STORE Call 894-2373 to schedule a pick up. We appreciate your donations of gently used items!

Second Chance provides 49% of Steps to HOPE’s operating income.

Your donations help victims of domestic and sexual abuse in our community.

Steps to HOPE 232 E. Mills St, Columbus 828-894-2373 LAND & ACREAGE FOR SALE Beautiful 13.1 acres of rolling hills, with established fescue pasture, mountain view & 400 foot road frontage- $140,000. Property is 20 minutes from TIEC in South Carolina. Follow the signs at Hwy 11 and Burnt Chimney Road to property on North Pacolet Road. Call 864-590-1906, after 5pm or 864-680-6309 for more information.

Tommy’s Home Improvement •Roofs, renovations, siding, carpentry, decks, windows, screening. All Home Repairs.

FREE Est. Home: (828)859-5608 Cell: (828)817-0436 Tri-City Concrete Hiring Full-time Class B Concrete Mixer Drivers Includes paid medical & vision ins.

Vacation and matching 401K plan.

1351 South Shamrock Avenue Landrum, SC 29356 WHITE OAK OF TRYON WANTS YOU! If you are a CNA certified in NC, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU! We are a 5 star facility.

Deficiency free for three years.

•First, second, and third shifts •Competitive Salaries •Paid Vacation •Great Benefits •Family Atmosphere Join our team of caring professionals!

Come to 70 Oak Street in Tryon to fill out an application.

828-859-9161 STONE MASONRY: specializing in retaining walls, fireplaces, patios, sidewalks, chimneys & foundations.

25 years experience.

864-621-7043 or 8 64-497-9988 **FOR SALE** TANNING BUSINESS •Turn key- over 300 clients •Located in Lynn, NC •4-beds plus spray tan equipment •All lotions, supplies etc. included For more info: 828-289-5217 or 828-289-1666 cmetcalf00@gmail.com Visit our Facebook page: Underground Tans

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Sharing the Gift of Health & Wellness At St. Luke’s Hospital, we provide the gift of health and wellness through convenient emergency surgical and medical care, preventive care and strong patient - doctor relationships, and through screenings and health talks to promote a healthy lifestyle. To help you and your family enjoy the gift of health, St. Luke’s Hospital and physicians through St. Luke’s Physician Network are committed to ensuring access to education and prevention, diagnostic screenings like mammograms and bone densitometry, and support from caring professionals. For a snapshot of our services from Emergency Care to General Surgery, Orthopedic Care to Rehabilitation, please go to www.saintlukeshospital.com.

As your community hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital is proud to be here for you, providing the gift of health and wellness with exceptional care, close to home.

For Exceptional Care, Close to Home 828-894-3311 ~ SaintLukesHospital.com ~ 101 Hospital Dr. ~ Columbus, NC 28722