Life in Our Foothills January 2022

life IN OUR

FOOTHILLS January 2022

Life in Our Foothills

Man of Many

Talents Michael Whiteside, Local Musician and Stonework Artisan

August 2021

Seen Around Town Scenes form the Christmas Parades

Mountain Page Theater A Creative Haven in Saluda

All Aboard!

Riding the Rails with Billy Inman $4.95

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ON THE COVER life IN OUR

FOOTHILLS January 2022

Life in Our Foothills

Man of Many

Talents Michael Whiteside, Local Musician and Stonework Artisan

August 2021

Seen Around Town

Scenes form the Christmas Parades

Mountain Page Theater A Creative Haven in Saluda

All Aboard!

Riding the Rails with Billy Inman

Man of Many Talents

Michael Whiteside, Local

Musician and Stonework Artisan (Story on page 30)

Story by Erin Boggs

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$4.95

appy New Year! It’s hard to believe that 2022 is here already. With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it feels like January sneaks up on us quickly each year. I must admit, January is actually one of my favorite months. While many folks may not enjoy making resolutions this time of year, I always find it a good time to reflect and see how I can do better moving forward.

One common resolution people may have is to find a new hobby. Exploring our talents or realizing new ones is a great way to seek self-improvement. In this month’s issue, we will feature folks from right here in our foothills with extraordinary talent, fascinating stories and uncommon hobbies.

Up the mountain in Saluda, tucked away in the ancient hills of the Mountain Page area, we’ll learn about Mountain Page Theater and how they are enriching the community through the arts. Next, we’ll tag along with Landrum local and railcar enthusiast Billy Inman, as he hops on the rails and explores railroad tracks across the region. We will also meet local artisan Micheal Whiteside, a man of many talents with countless stories to tell. All of this and more is featured in the January issue of Life in Our Foothills. We hope you enjoy it!

Will you be starting up a new hobby in 2022, or revisiting an old one? Would you like to share your story with the community? Reach out to us at the Bulletin office, or email me at jeff.allison@tryondailybulletin.com, and ask how we can help share your story. All of us here hope that this new year brings joy, comfort and fulfillment to all of our readers. As always, thanks for reading!

Jeff Allison Manager

STAFF Manager Jeff Allison Graphic Design Allison Dale Marketing Kevin Powell Ben Bouser Distribution Jamie Lewis Administration Sydney Wilkie

life IN OUR

FOOTHILLS 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 LLC. 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 St., Tryon, NC 28782, or email to kevin.powell@ tryondailybulletin.com. Life in Our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and Upstate South Carolina, and online at www.tryondailybulletin.com. Subscriptions are available for $30 per year by calling 828-859-9151.

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CONTRIBUTORS Mark Levin, Writer and Photographer

Mark is retired from a career in education. In addition to the classroom he has had a lifetime of experiences earning a buck as a photographer, videographer, author, musician and camp director. You can follow his blog about people and places in the foothills at www.FoothillsFaces. com or check out his new podcast he enjoys with a friend of 50 years at www.garyandmark.com.

Linda List, Writer and Photographer

Linda List’s career was spent in the food industry, often surrounded by chocolate and candy. Retirement and the Tryon Daily Bulletin have provided the opportunity for her to share her writing. Growing up in New York on the Canadian border, she lived most of her adult life at the foot of the Rockies in Golden, Colo. And is now enjoying life in Landrum the foot of the Smokies.

Macy Cochran, Writer and Photographer

Macy Cochran is a recent graduate from North Greenville University with a degree in English. She is a lover of books, coffee, hang gliding and binge watching sitcoms from the 90’s. As a creative writer, she often spends her time working on her novels, poetry and short stories.

Erin Boggs, Writer and Photographer

As a native of the Foothills, Erin has a life-long perspective of the people, culture and growth of our area. With a background in English, Anthropology and the Arts, she enjoys every aspect of the creation of a human-interest narrative. She is a lover of all things culinary, animals and lifetime learning.

Pebbles, Writer

Pebbles is the “spokespony” for HERD, or Helping Equines Regain Dignity, a local nonprofit that saves equines from dire conditions and in many cases slaughter. She dictates her monthly columns about her adventures, and what a rescue organization does, to Heather Freeman.

Pebbles and Heather can be reached through HerdRescue.org

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CONTENTS CONTENTS 10

Seen Around Town

Scenes from the Christmas Parades

16

Mountain Page Theater Local Stage and Creative Haven in Saluda

22

All Aboard!

Landrum’s Billy Inman Adds Train Engineer to his List of Skills

30

Man of Many Talents

Micheal Whiteside, Local Musician and Stonework Artisan

38

Appointments Our Onyx, In the Black

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38

44

Marketplace

46

Warm Up Winter with Comforting Classics

48

Say Yes to Yogurt

50

Advertiser Index

Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday

JANUARY 2022

9

SEEN AROUND TOWN

TRYON CHRISTMAS PARADE Photos by Mark Levin

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

Carla Mathis of Lake Lure with Pepper

Corinne Tribou, Ray Cagle, Dorothy Tatnall, Leslie Richardson & Libby Jackson. Daisy, the dog, joins them for the parade. From Tryon.

Polk County Honor Guard

ABOVE: Terry Walker, Gray Murdock, Carol Walker & Louise Murdock. All are from Tryon.

BELOW: Mudd Whiteside and Natalie Bristol, both from Tryon.

JANUARY 2022

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SEEN AROUND TOWN

LANDRUM CHRISTMAS PARADE Photos by Mark Levin Atalie Cannon, Ace Cannon, and Susan Howard from Greer

Graham McDonald, Bryson Dotson, and Susanna Ashworth sell hotdogs as a fundraiser for the First Baptist Church of Landrum Fallon, Amber, Emerson, and Micah Duncan from Landrum

Brandy, Emma, and Matt Parker from Landrum

Erin Stroud from Travelers Rest and Holden Parker 12 IN OUR FOOTHILLS from LIFE Pacolet

JANUARY 2022

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SEEN AROUND TOWN

COLUMBUS CHRISTMAS PARADE Photos by Mark Levin

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ABOVE: Isabelle, Aaron, and Amy Young from Columbus with Roxy.

BELOW: Polk County Honor Guard.

JANUARY 2022

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MORE INFORMATION If you are interested in tickets for any of the upcoming performances mentioned here, learning more about the Theater, or becoming a volunteer or actor in the troupe, you may contact the Mountain Page Theater at: https:// mountainpage.theater https://m.facebook.com/ groups/792646134782145/ Phone: 828-749-4803 Address: 1303 Mountain Page Rd, Saluda N.C. 28773 For further reading about Corinne Gerwe and her written and professional work, you may visit her website at: https:// corinnefgerwe.com

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MOUNTAIN PAGE THEATER

LOCAL STAGE

AND CREATIVE HAVEN Story by Erin Boggs, Photographs by Erin Boggs and Corinne Gerwe

I

f you want to escape the hustle and bustle of our modern life, one of the best ways to refocus is through creative pursuits. What better place to retreat than a little cabin in the woods of Saluda, N.C. known as Mountain Page Theater?

Whether a performer in the Theater’s YAK Group (Young Acting Krew) or an audience member, you will feel a marked change in your mood as soon as you pull into your parking space. Handmade glass and metal sculptures surround the building, evoking childhood memories of characters from C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland all at once. The sculptures, a whimsical, fantastical mix of animals, plants and everyday objects, were created and donated to the Theater by local artist Susan Cannon. At first sight you know you are about to enter a very special and creative place.

In fact, the entirety of the Theater is a donation. Everything from the building to the paint and décor, the sound system,

The Mountain Page Community is the oldest settlement in Henderson County, where the headwaters of the Pacolet River flow into our foothills of South Carolina. fireplace, lighting and stage, and even the snacks for the YAK crew and after school program held weekly, are all provided by Saluda community members. Warm colors and sights surround you as soon as you enter. A cozy hearth and kitchen welcoming actors and visitors alike immediately set one at ease.

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ABOVE: . A warm and inviting kitchen awaits the YAK and afterschool group members. ABOVE RIGHT: A rehearsal scene with Scrooge aka Gerard Prendergast MIDDLE RIGHT: Flowers greet you at the entrance in the spring and summer. RIGHT: Atlanta singer and songwriter Dan Foster leads the YAK Group in their first musical score.

The Mountain Page Community is the oldest settlement in Henderson County, where the headwaters of the Pacolet River flow into our foothills of South Carolina. The building was donated to the cause in 2018 by the Theater’s very first patron Hilda Pace, and after extensive renovations by community members and professionals, Mountain Page Theater was established in 2020. Originally the building and land belonged to Hilda’s family and was the long-closed site of Mountain Page Community Center. The 13 actors who formed the original group in 2016, after Executive Director Corinne Gerwe posted a notice at the Post Office about starting up a theater troupe, rehearsed at several local venues before finding their permanent home in Mountain Page. Funded by profits made from plays and the YAK Concession Stand, along with donations of supplies and professional services, the work to breathe new life into the building began.

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Executive Director Corinne Gerwe, an internationally known neuropsychologist, researcher, professor and author, designed the theater to be a haven for children in the community, where they can develop their creative talents in a safe, warm and inclusive environment.

Her life’s work has focused on understanding how the experiences of childhood impact a person’s entire life.

As a neuropsychologist, she has worked around the world with high-risk behavior individuals and addiction treatment. Corinne says, “During the course of my work, I came to one startling revelation, that when I would investigate the life histories of most of my patients, it just seemed to me that this was where, during their childhood developmental period, their most damaging behavior stemmed from. It could have been averted if these children had been able to talk about what they experienced, or told someone, or at least had another outlet other than

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the dysfunction that they were caught in, or the abusive situation they were caught in, or whatever damage was done.”

After realizing that only writing about it, or working in hospitals where funding was not available, or teaching about it at universities was not a sufficient way to effect the most change, Corinne decided the best way to combat this systemic dysfunction was to work directly with children in a positive and nurturing environment.

Practicing many years as a clinician, writer and teacher, Corinne didn’t realize at first that the theater would be the next iteration of her career. But when the original 13 young actors showed up, she says “When I looked at those kids, I thought this is what I’m supposed to do. This is it!”

Corinne says “I have come full-circle in fulfilling an early childhood desire to live an artistic life,” and as a writer “I wanted JANUARY 2022

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to develop intriguing characters and stories based on what I had learned about human behavior and its extraordinary variations and motivations. I’ve always been interested in theater and I’m a big fan of anything in the arts. I always thought that’s what I should have done, but I was led in that other direction.” Now after living for over thirty years in Saluda, Corinne is able to realize her true gifts and brings her invaluable experience to help children and families in the community through the Theater.

Besides directing the YAK Group, Corinne also hosts an afterschool program at the Theater on Thursdays for children K-5. She hopes to expand the program to Saturdays as well, with the parents also participating on that day.

The YAK troupe performed a musical play for Christmas, Scrooge, which included members of the Theater’s adult player group. The performances on December 17th and 18th, were from an adaptation of the play by Corinne from Charles Dicken’s original, and she added songs from various Scrooge musicals that have been done through the years, as well as a song that has never been done in any performance of Scrooge.

Formerly from Los Angeles and now a Saluda resident, television, movie and stage actor Gerard Prendergast brought all his experience with children’s theater and donates his time and expertise to the group.

Now the Theater’s Director, Gerard played Scrooge in the December performances. A big fan of classic radio, Gerard also provided the idea for the troupe’s performance earlier this year of an on-stage old time radio show featuring Westerns Gunsmoke and The Lone Ranger, with the stage set up like the studios from the Golden Age of Radio, complete with vintage microphones and sound effects. The next radio shows will begin this month and will include suspenseful Sherlock Holmes, then comedy by George Burns and Gracie Allen.

Richard Rutherford, also formerly from L.A. and now a Saluda resident, lives within walking distance of the theater and created the state of the art stage, donated the sound system, and handles all the sound and lighting for the Theater. Local electrician Chad Blotner has given many of his weekends to install all the electrical work. Singer and Songwriter Dan Foster from Atlanta also supports the troupe, LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS writing original songs about the Saluda area.

Handmade whimsical glass and metal artwork surround the building and parking area 12

Rehersal scene for Scrooge

On November 12th and 13th, the Theater hosted Dacre C. Stoker for the event “Stoker on Stoker, the Mysteries Behind the Writing of Dracula.” Mr. Stoker is an author and the greatgrandnephew of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. The

performance featured dramatic readings by Gerard Prendergast and Susan Theodosia Parke, and details all the behind the scenes research and never published text and photographs, a true delight for Dracula fans and scholars around the world.

JANUARY 2022

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Landrum’s Billy Inman Adds Train Engineer to his List of Skills

B

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Story & photography by Mark Levin

illy Inman, local entrepreneur and Landrum City Councilman for 32 years, never really played with train sets as a youngster. Like most kids of the day, he might have had a minimalist Lionel train set somewhere in his past. It wasn’t something he remembers as being a favorite toy.

Like others, the thrill of seeing trains pass through Landrum and the Foothills was always good for his soul. But Billy had no idea that he would ever own his own railroad (or at least a part of one) and personally get to ride the rails in search of scenery, adventure, and family fun.

That all changed in 1998 when Billy and his wife, Shirlene, were in Dillsboro, North Carolina to take an excursion on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. The scenery was nice, and the ride was fun, but what caught their attention was the site of something they had never seen before. On the railroad tracks was not one, but several railcars. Billy was instantly intrigued.

He went up to get a closer view.

Billy learned that railcars were used by the railroads to send crews out to check the condition of the tracks. You might remember the old movies of a cart with one or two people on either side of a handle pumping it up and down which propelled the car. That was old school. These mostly gasolinepowered railcars replaced those and remained new school for a few decades. Today, standard pickup trucks with retractable guide wheels are the vehicles of choice. They are more practical being able to go faster and carry more crew and gear. That left thousands of these railcars sitting in train yards to rust away and fade from memory.

But that changed when someone got the brilliant idea to buy one, get it running (if not already), and ride it on the tracks… often the same tracks used by standard-gauge locomotives and the cars they pulled.

MORE INFO Interested in getting your own railcar? Billy says the first step is to check out the NARCOA.org website and then search for various Facebook groups that offer help in buying, restoring, and maintaining railcars. And of course, there are plenty of YouTube channels devoted to this hobby. Billy is happy to chat with anyone interested in the railcar hobby. Email him at b_inman3@yahoo.com.

Check out this YouTube video by JDashRider of Billy’s recent excursion in the Western North Carolina mountains JANUARY 2022 23 at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ObPsphKqI

LEFT: Pickup trucks equipped with retractable guide wheels lead the way into Bryson City.

BELOW: Sampling of railcars.

ABOVE: Nearly 50 railcars were traveling the tracks on this fall excursion.

CENTER: Billy with his MT19 railcar. Most railcars are equipped with a turntable under the belly which is used for turning the railcar around to head back to the starting location if the trip is an out and back trip.

RIGHT: A random squirrel keeping a watch out for the first cars to arrive at NOC.

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Billy’s fateful day turned even better as a friendly owner invited him to hop on board and take a ride. It was Bobby Moreman, a policeman from Georgia, who gave Billy the first ride that started a love affair with railcars. Within minutes Billy knew he had a new hobby for life. He and Shirlene decided to go for it and set about finding a railcar of their own. It took a few more years before this came to be. They didn’t go it alone.

In 2005, Clyde Davis, a friend from Inman, went in with Billy and Shirlene to locate, buy, and refurbish their first railcar. The railcar was in Colorado. And just a few days after purchase, they were near Memphis taking their first railcar excursion.

Of course, one can’t just purchase a railcar and plop it down on any old track and proceed blindly down the unknown.

It takes a team and an organization to make it happen and safety is their very first concern. The organization is NARCOA (the North American Railcar Operators Association). The organization accepts members, negotiates use of tracks, signs the contracts, and sets up excursions at appropriate times when the track is not going to be used. In some cases, they follow one train out or at some point must pull into a siding track to let a train pass.

NARCOA has nearly 2,000 members including Billy and others in the area. NARCOA sets up stringent safety rules and even administers a test to would-be drivers – though by now they are engineers. And while members have an incredible time riding the rails, they take their hobby seriously and follow rules to the “T.” They must renew their credentials every two years.

Today Billy has his main railcar and two others in various

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DID YOU KNOW? ● Railcars have also been referred to as railroad motorcars and speeders. ● Hi-Rail is the name of the pickup trucks (and other vehicles) with retractable guide wheels. ● Railcars can cost anywhere from $1,000 on up for the handyman’s special with railcars in decent shape starting at $2,500 on up to $10,000. ● The railcar hobby isn’t any more expensive than boating or golfing.

(There will be debates about this, I’m sure.) ● Most railcars will need some work to get into tip-top shape. ● Most railcars use gas, but some use a gas/oil mix, and some use diesel. ● While Billy’s railcar runs on standard-gauge track, they do have railcars that run on narrow-gauge track.

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The back of Billy’s MT 19 showing the gas tank location, exhaust, hitch bar, and handles for helping heft the railcar onto the track. Railcars are required to have hitch bars front and back to help rescue stranded railcars and to be able to receive assistance if a car is disabled for any reason. The general rule is, if you can get a railcar back in running condition within five minutes – all’s good. Otherwise, your car needs to get hitched to another to get you to the next stopping place where the owner will hopefully have enough time and help to get things humming along.

states of track-readiness. It’s always good to have a “scrap” railcar just to use for hard-tofind parts. While some members rebuild theirs from top to bottom, no new railcars are being built. The organization warmly welcomes new members. The area regional clubs help members locate, purchase, and repair railcars to get them into service.

I caught up with Billy on a gorgeous Sunday morning at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in Wesser, NC. The tracks used by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMRR) follow the gorge with the The controls for Billy’s railcar. While railcars vary in the overall looks, most of Nantahala River flowing down them have similar controls. below. It was on that track that Billy, Shirlene, and another take long to understand how Mugzi Falicon had an impressive hundred or so railcar enthusiasts Billy and the others got hooked. schedule that would make any This ride was two days long. stationmaster proud. It was all were riding in nearly 50 railcars of all colors and descriptions. It Excursion leader Tom Falicon spelled out in detail. Times are was quite a site to see. It doesn’t and excursion coordinator listed as when to unload the cars,

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This Pullman sleeper car will soon be home to the Landrum Rail & History Museum. Landrum couldn’t be more fortunate to be able to bring this car home. It was originally part of a 24-car order by the Southern Railway to Pullman Standard Company. All of the cars were completed in 1949 and were named after rivers in the area served by Southern. This car was originally numbered 2008 and was named the Pacolet River. It went into service on the trains between New York and New Orleans. Eventually it ended up at the Tennessee Central Railway Museum where it continued to serve as an excursion train car up until about 2014. It was donated to the City of Landrum in 2018. It is hoped that the car will be renovated and opened as a museum around the end of 2022.

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when to meet for job briefings, and departure and arrival times for stops along the way. When I caught up with Billy and Shirlene, they had already traveled from the Andrews Depot to NOC. After a rest break, the sounds of the train horns started blaring from the railcars and they departed for their next stop in Bryson City.

Bryson City is the home of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad which transports hundreds of thousands of passengers each year on siteseeing and specialty trips along the same routes.

After lunch in Bryson City, they again boarded and headed for their night’s stop in Dillsboro.

That’s the city where Billy first got to see and test the waters of his new passion. On Monday, they reversed the route to end up back in Andrews.

On this day they were sharing the track with a GSMRR train which takes additional planning and cautions.

Watching passing trains has been a favorite pastime of many adults and kids. We’ve missed that in Landrum, Tryon, and Saluda when Norfolk Southern Railroad took that stretch of track out of service. It would be one of Billy’s dreams to see that track repurposed for excursion trains like the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad that could also be used for railcar adventures. Billy says there would be plenty of room to incorporate a hikingbiking trail alongside the track. While he hopes the track can be saved, he’s wasting no time in promoting the memory of rail service in the area.

Billy, along with others, are seeing that the new Landrum Rail and History Museum becomes reality. This museum, which will be located inside a Pullman sleeper, sits adjacent to the Landrum Depot. He’s hoping that the museum will open near the end of this year.

Until then, “All Aboard!”

LEFT: : Railcars entering Bryson City. Parked next to the railcars is one of the locomotives from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.

ABOVE: Jim and Donna Hopkins of Powdersville, SC. Jim is the Area 4 Director of NARCOA which includes South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Kentucky. The railcar is owned by the Greenville Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

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MAN OF MANY

TALENTS Michael Whiteside, Local Musician and Stonework Artisan

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Story By Erin Boggs, Photographs By Erin Boggs and Contributions from The Whiteside Family Archives

ot many of us are lucky enough to live such a rich and fulfilling life as local musician and stonework artist Michael Whiteside. If you are fortunate enough to have time to sit and talk with him, you will be amazed at all the stories he has to tell.

Michael met his wife Stephanie in the 11th grade through a fellow classmate. “My wife grew up in New York, and I also grew up in New York until age 8, when my mother and I moved back to this area where she was originally from, but we met each other here. We didn’t know each other up there.” At that time, Michael played trumpet in the Chapman high school marching band, under band director Harrison Elliot. Growing up in Inman, on Bobo and Bomar Streets, “It was

so nice back then, it was a whole different world back then. A whole bunch of boys, we would actually play baseball or softball right there in the middle of Main Street Inman, in front of Kempson Rexall Drugs, even with the police! The police were playing with us and coaching too,” Michael says.

He went to summer school every year and graduated a year early, in 1975. “There wasn’t anything else to do, and I could go work in the peach or apple orchards, but I didn’t like that. I was a musician. I played in a band, The Magic Funk Band, the whole time I was in school. In order to be in the band, I had to agree to go to school every day.”

Michael plays both the trumpet and keyboard. “I got started in elementary school playing the trumpet. My uncles taught me. They JANUARY 2022

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ABOVE: Michael joyfully plays the organ.

RIGHT: The chair that once belonged to actress Eva Gabor.

LEFT: Musician Jerry Lee Lewis.

were only two or three years older than me and they played in the high school band. So, they used to bring their instruments home every day and I would just play around with them.

Then all of a sudden, a couple of years later, I was playing just as good as they were, and a few years later I was playing better!”

The youngest member of the Magic Funk Band, “I was the baby and people were amazed at me because I could play the 32

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

keyboards and trumpet both at the same time!” he says.

“We really didn’t know how good we were until we got out and started travelling to different parts of the country, and playing with other people.

Then they started asking us to back them up. To make it in the music business back then, you had to go to NY or LA. In today’s terms, as good as we were, we would have been just as big as any of the other R&B

“I played with a lot of them. We all knew each other, the Marshall Tucker Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alabama, The Temptations, The Commodores. We travelled the same circuits.”

The Commodores

groups,” Michael says. The band played shows only on the South East Coast, and Michael’s musical talents weren’t strictly limited to R&B. He also knew and played with members of Southern Rock bands.

“I played with a lot of them. We all knew each other, the Marshall Tucker Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alabama, The Temptations, The Commodores. We

travelled the same circuits.”

At the early age of 16, Michael even got to meet musician Charlie Pride, and later on met pianist Jerry Lee Lewis. They played with many musicians before their bands made it big, including The Commodores, at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, when they only had one or two R&B hits. They even went and had donuts with them at JANUARY 2022

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ABOVE: Beautiful stone masonry project by Michael LEFT: Fred the Macaw

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the nearby Krispy Kreme. Two years later, The Commodores were a supergroup.

It was an icy and snowy night in the late 70’s at The Orange Peel in Asheville, a club that became home to R&B and Soul bands during that time.

Before their show started, Michael and his band mates went outside for a cigarette. After a while, they realized one of the band members had simply vanished. They looked all over for him.

Unfortunately, it turned out the band member fell through a hole covered by the snow and ice, into a pit that had been dug for a septic system repair! They finally pulled him out of the pit and he and Michael went on to play the entire night without a change of clothes.

“I was a full-time musician for the first few years after I came out of high school,” Michael says. Then, he and his wife became parents, and coming from a divorced family he said, “I don’t want my kids growing up that way. So, I came off the road and I quit playing with the band, and that hurt me to my heart. But it was a choice I made. So now I needed a job.”

After being off the road for several months, he met local German stone mason Siggi Oberlander, who took him in and taught Michael all the skills of stone masonry. Now, after over 40 years in the business, Michael remains a sought-after stone

mason in our area. His wife Stephanie went on to become a local optometrist. “My wife is the most beautiful, sweetest person in the world. I attribute my whole life to her,” Michael says.

Once while working on a residential masonry project in Flat Rock, Michael says “I’m out here working and this guy walked down the road with his wife and two dogs, and I said “Hello!” and he said ‘I always wondered how you guys did this work,’ and I’m looking at this guy, and it’s killing me, I know him…

I KNOW him..and I said ‘Sir, what is your name?’ and he looked at me, started smiling and said “James.” James was none other than musician James Taylor, whom he got to spend some time with later that same day.

Stephanie’s father knew Actress Eva Gabor, most famous for her role as Lisa Douglas in the 1960’s sitcom “Green Acres.” He used to clean Eva’s windows at her apartment in New York City. She was angry at her boyfriend and didn’t want the furniture he had bought for her. She sold Stephanie’s father the furniture, for pennies on the dollar. Today, Michael is currently building an addition to his home where the furniture will remain.

As you sit and talk with Michael at his home,

JANUARY 2022

35

ABOVE: A stone wall built by Whiteside LEFT: Beautiful Stonework by Michael at a historic home RIGHT: A gorgeous stone outdoor fireplace and patio by Michael

you will meet Fred, a beautiful Macaw from Brazil and part of the Whiteside family. He loves to listen to the Latinx Music channel on TV, and they leave it playing for him all day. He’s been with the family nearly 12 years now. He gets down from his perch and walks all through the house during the day.

He knows many words. “Sometimes he calls me Daddy and sometimes 36

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

he calls me Mike.” Michael says.

Another unique thing about Fred is he has bird superpowers. “When you hear him say ‘Hello’, you know the phone is about to ring. He can hear the ring signal before we can!”

Michael says.

Michael is not the only Whiteside family member to enjoy a rich life, full of success. He has two younger sisters who played professionally

for the WNBA, Valorie and Gwen, who now both coach women’s teams, one at Dorman High School and one at Wofford College. His sister Valorie is the mother of J. J. Arcega-Whiteside, Wide Receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles. His nieces also played professional sports and became local coaches.

Today, Michael is a loving husband, father and grandfather, and is the music director at his church, Fountain of Life. If you ever get the chance, it is a true honor and joy to know Michael Whiteside.

TRYONARTS.ORG

34 Melrose Avenue | Tryon, NC | 828.859.8322 JANUARY 2022

37

APPOINTMENTS

38

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

I

By Pebbles

must say, being a chocolate silver dapple pony has its advantages.

Distinctive color equines stand out in a crowded field. Rarity has its privileges. However, a black horse, coat shimmering in the sun as dark as night, well this is something to behold.

There are two types of black horses, fading black and nonfading black. Fading black horses will fade out with age.

However, a non-fading black horse retains the deep black color throughout its life.

These equines are indeed also rare.

Let me share with you the most famous black horses in history: Ruffian, her short but impressive career is legendary.

This black thoroughbred was the “Queen of fillies,” and captured the hearts of millions, winning every race she entered except her last, which took her life.

Who does not know Black Beauty? The focal point of the 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell, which

was a national best seller and teaches us about compassion.

Bucephalus, the majestic steed of Alexander the Great, and one of the most famous horses of antiquity. It is said this mighty horse was not able to be ridden by anyone when he was discovered. When Bucephalus was kidnapped by a group of Persians, Alexander threatened to destroy Persian and its inhabitants unless his horse was returned immediately.

Let us recall The Black Stallion, the four-legged hero of Walter Farley’s popular book. The swift Arabian stallion was shipwrecked with Alec Ramsey on an isolated island. The rescued pair of heroes went on to win racing challenges. Then there was Byerley Turk, the earliest of three stallions that were the founders of the modern thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock. He lived from 1680 to 1760, along with two other stallions, which are the Godolphin Arabian

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Charming one-level, main residence with open floor plan with wide plank heart pine floors, beam ceiling, and woodburning fireplace. A cozy den has woodburning fireplace and built-ins. The bedroom wing includes master suite plus 3BR/2BA. Private 1BR/1BA guest house w/open floor plan, vaulted ceiling, loft area & patios.

8-Stall custom center aisle barn with apartment-size tack room with full bath, run-in shed, and equipment storage.

103 Acres . $3,399,000

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All-inclusive, gated, equestrian, private estate — 5BR/3.5BA main residence. 1BR/1BA guest house, w/both homes overlooking the in-ground pool, patio area, landscaped grounds and private tennis court.

A 3-stall barn expandable to 6 stalls with guest quarters is close by. The 3BR/1BA caretaker’s home with separate entrance is perfect for farm staff.

Only property in Hunting Country that has access to both Golden Hills of Fairview and Caroland Farms NPA riding trails. 47+ Acres . $3,295,000

Think the Ultimate

the best in tryon horse country living

Elegant square-cut log, post & beam home. Primary suite features FP, large BR, sitting room & office. State-of-the-art kitchen renovation. 2nd-floor BRs, bath & sitting area, or lower level for private guest suites. Grounds w/covered patio, lush plantings, stone walks & wall. 2-car garage w/bonus room.

4-Stall European-style barn with lighted cupolas, tack room, hayloft with storage. Large 3-board fenced pastures. Direct access to miles of FETA trails and FENCE. 23+ Acres . $1,995,000

RE/ ADVANTAGE REALTY . 828-817-0166

177 N TRADE ST, TRYON NC 28782 . TRYONPROPERTIES.COM

ABOVE: Onyx at Paula Drake’s farm in Tryon.

LEFT: Onyx first time saddled at the Thompson’s farm.

JANUARY 2022

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40

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

HERD purchased the tiny black foal, and he made his way to North Carolina. Tryon area resident Paula Drake fostered him over the winter months.

Local trainer Rick Millweard helped her establish his ground manners. When spring arrived, Onyx joined the horses at our farm as a yearling. On the trailer ride to us, the colt met 12-yearold, Joe Black, who was secured as a trail horse for HERD volunteer Bill McClelland.

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Joseph R. huRwitz ABOVE: Onyx arrival with Joe Black to grow up in HERD. LEFT: Onyx in the noodle obstacle in HERD training.

and the Darley Arabian. My final black horse of historical note is Black Hawk Morgan.

The grandson of Justin Morgan, Black Hawk retired undefeated as a trotting horse and became a major influence on more than just the Morgan breed. He was foaled in 1833 and was the first stallion in American to command a stud fee of $100. 80 percent of Morgan horses continue his bloodlines, which brings me to our HERD horse, Onyx.

Onyx, as described by veterinarian Dr. Perry Parks, is perfect. He explained to us that this young horse’s conformation is exceptional.

He was so enthusiastic; one might have thought he was talking about me!

Combine the angles of Onyx’s shoulder and hip, the clean lines of his legs, a lovely head, soft knowing eye, nice disposition, and solid feet, and you have a horse that is worth his weight in gold.

One that is “in the black,” when looking to make a

sound investment.

Onyx was spotted by HERD, as a four-month-old foal in a kill pen. His mother had shipped to slaughter.

He was left alone to fend for himself. All we knew was his approximate age, and that he was half Morgan and jet black. It was also easy to surmise that this young colt was intensely frightened by his situation.

HERD purchased the tiny black foal, and he made his way to North Carolina.

Tryon area resident Paula Drake fostered him over the winter months. Local trainer Rick Millweard helped her establish his ground manners.

When spring arrived, Onyx joined the horses at our farm as a yearling. On the trailer ride to us, the colt met 12-year-old, Joe Black, who was secured as a trail horse for HERD volunteer Bill McClelland. This magnificent coal black gelding befriended young Onyx. Upon arrival, we decided to let them stay

JANUARY 2022

41

ABOVE: Onyx in fine form outside the training round pen.

RIGHT: Volunteer Valerie Lowe leading Onyx through the blowing tarp in the obstacle course.

together in a 10 acre-pasture. Onyx was always only steps away from Joe Black. The more senior horse even allowed his younger shadow to steal bites of his grain portion during each feeding.

Two years zoomed by in HERD. It was time for Onyx to head to under saddle training. The handsome young horse had proven himself to be unflappable, conquering the obstacle course, round pen training and trailer loading. He arrived at the Thompson Farm in Iva, SC to learn the ropes about carrying a rider safely. Once again, Onyx took the new task in stride and performed well during his month of lessons.

A new foster stepped up in the Raleigh area to finish Onyx’s training and find him a new home.

This was the furthest afield HERD had ever sent a horse to be fostered.

42

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

Onyx was transported to the farm during a week of sporadic weather with 40-degree fluctuations.

Unfortunately, Onyx did not drink enough water before, during, and after the trip. He became impacted with hay and signs of physical discomfort ensued. The barn’s vet was summoned. She was concerned it was a case of colitis, caused by the stress of moving, instead of colic.

The foster was instructed to keep feeding Onyx. The horse’s signs of pain intensified. HERD quickly paid a local hauler to get our equine to the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

There is an old saying that if a horse battles colic for three sunsets, it is doubtful the equine can be saved. This prediction loomed large in our thoughts. All of Onyx’s fans prayed continuously. He pulled

through for us, as his system cleared the blockage once he was well hydrated.

Our trusted friend, Delores Riffe of Bessie Bell Farm, changed her plans to help HERD. She hooked up her trailer on a Sunday morning, making her way to Raleigh to retrieve our recovering Onyx. We all voted to bring him back home into the rescue for the winter months, after this ordeal. Onyx will embrace next spring with a fresh start.

Thankfully two generous donation checks, arrived by mail to HERD the weekend of the colic case. This was a miraculous gift.

The rescue covered the bills at the hospital with ease. So, the new year begins with a positive outcome.

Handsome Onyx is still with us and our small 501c3 remains in the black.

JANUARY 2022

43

Marketplace Foothills Magazine • 828.859.9151

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

diploma or equivalent Job Types: Full-time, Part-time • Pay: $8-$11/hr To apply, please call 828-395-2245 Bill the painter for all your painting needs!

Also do drywall repair and wood repair! 32 years experience. Like Bill the Pinter on Facebook 828-899-2647

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Epperson’s Tree Builders’ Service Hardware • Complete •Postal Specialties. Tree Service Visit us at: •Dangerous www.bommer. removals com.

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HENDERSONVILLE, NC 28792 Gary W. Corn CHHPS Realtor/ Broker 828-817-2580 garywcorn@gmail. com First Real Estate, Inc 2512 Lynn Road Tryon, NC 28782 www.Tryon RealEstate.com DIXON AC & HEATING • Your HVAC Service & Repair Expert • Serving the Tryon area for 30+ years.

Call (828)863-0555 Prime office/ retail rental, great location, newly renovated, convenient parking. 1100sq. ft. 255 N Trade St, Tryon. Call for pricing 908-654-4380.

Private residential treatment facility now hiring: FULL-TIME DISHWASHERS •Weekends required. $500 Sign-On Bonuses & Excellent Benefits!

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PAVILLON Private residential treatment facility in Mill Spring NC now hiring: PRN NURSES Day, Evening, and Night Shifts $500 SignOn Bonuses & Excellent Benefits!

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QUICK BITES Baked Tomato Goat Cheese Dip Recipe courtesy of Marzia Aziz of "Little Spice Jar" Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 4-6 INGREDIENTS Nonstick cooking spray 2 cups RAG⁄ Simply Traditional Sauce 3 cloves garlic, divided 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, divided 1/8-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 log (10-10 1/2 ounces) goat cheese, softened at room temperature 2 teaspoons olive oil, plus additional for brushing, divided 1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme kosher salt, divided pepper 1 large baguette, sliced on bias blistered tomatoes, for serving (optional) DIRECTIONS Position one rack in upper third of oven and one in lower third. Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray small, round baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

Add sauce to small bowl. Grate in two garlic cloves then add 1/8 cup basil and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine then pour sauce into baking dish.

Smash goat cheese log into ball. Place ball between two sheets plastic wrap. Using hands, flatten cheese into thick, round disc about 1 inch smaller in diameter than baking dish. Remove goat cheese from plastic wrap and place in center of sauce. Drizzle cheese with 2 teaspoons olive oil. Sprinkle with fresh thyme, kosher salt and pepper. Bake on lower rack, uncovered, 20-25 minutes, or until sauce is bubbly and cheese is warmed through.

Place baguette slices on baking sheet. Drizzle or brush with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake crostini on upper rack 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. When bread is done, remove from oven, cut last garlic clove in half and rub cut side on bread.

Top dip with remaining basil and blistered tomatoes, if desired, and serve with crostini.

Note: To make blistered tomatoes: Heat skillet over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Add 1 pint cherry tomatoes to dry skillet and let sit 1 minute. Lower heat to low, toss tomatoes with 2 teaspoons olive oil and cook 2-3 minutes, or until tomatoes are about to burst. Remove from heat; sprinkle with pinch of and pepper.

46salt LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

WARM UP

WINTER

WITH COMFORTING CLASSICS Whipping up family favorites all winter long is a perfect activity to keep loved ones warm in the kitchen while avoiding the bitter chill outdoors. Delicious, heartwarming snacks offer a simple and savory way to bring everyone in from the cold while enjoying comforting flavors together.

Lean on beloved ingredients like go-to RAG⁄ sauces when it's time to come together for quick bites. The possibilities are nearly endless with delicious recipes using classics like the RAG⁄ Old World Style Traditional or RAG⁄ Simply Traditional options.

Hearty flavors can take away the chill of winter in recipes like Snowman Pizza Bombs, Polenta Bites and Baked Tomato Goat Cheese Dip. Easy to make and fun to create together, these simple snacks are perfect for a cold afternoon spent together in the

kitchen or watching a family-movie marathon.

Originally started by an Italian mother more than 80 years ago, RAG⁄ sauce, known for its distinctive yellow cap, is the perfect have-on-hand pantry staple to help you create easy and delicious home cooking. As an invaluable resource and family favorite since 1937, RAG⁄ sauces easily allow anyone, regardless of gender or culinary skillset, to "cook like a mother" and serve up delicious, homemade favorites.

The brand's rich heritage and array of sauce choices ensures that your next cold-weather day spent inside will be elevated with family-favorite snacks and easy and taste-tempting meals made with RAG⁄ Find more recipes perfect for warming up this winter at Ragu. com.

Snowman Pizza Bombs INGREDIENTS 1 tube (11.8 ounces) pizza dough 1 jar (24 ounces) RAG⁄ Old World Style Traditional Sauce 1 package (6 ounces) pepperoni slices 1 package (6 ounces) Canadian bacon slices 1 package (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese 4 tablespoons melted butter 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning 1 package (8 ounces) mozzarella cheese slices Decorative vegetables (optional): multicolored sweet peppers olives spinach mushrooms cherry tomatoes

Polenta Bites INGREDIENTS 1 tube (18 ounces) polenta 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil 1 jar (24 ounces) RAG⁄ Chunky Tomato, Garlic and Onion Sauce 1 package (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella 2 sprigs, rosemary, destemmed and chopped 3 basil leaves, chopped 1 block (8 ounces) hard Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS Cut polenta into slices. In skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat; fry polenta slices 10-12 minutes on each side until crispy and golden brown.

In saucepan over medium heat, warm sauce.

Place polenta slices on tray and sprinkle with mozzarella. Place 1/2 teaspoon warm sauce on each slice then sprinkle with chopped rosemary and basil. Grate hard Parmesan onto each slice for topping.

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400 F. Cut pizza dough into 12 squares. On each square, place 1/2 teaspoon sauce and evenly top with pepperoni, Canadian bacon and cheddar cheese.

Pinch corners of dough together to round into balls then place in muffin tins.

In small bowl, mix melted butter, garlic powder and Italian seasoning; brush generously over dough balls.

Bake 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Remove from muffin tin and carefully shape dough balls into circles; place on baking sheet.

Cover with mozzarella slices and bake until melted.

Create snowman faces by decorating each with peppers, olives, spinach, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, if desired. Use remainingJANUARY sauce for 2022 dipping.47

QUICK QUICKBITES BITES

SAY YES TO

YOGURT

Chocolate and Strawberry Greek Yogurt Bark Prep time: 5 minutes Servings: 12

INGREDIENTS 3 cups plain non-fat Greek yogurt 1/3 cup honey, plus additional for drizzling, divided (optional) 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 cup melted dark chocolate 1/2 cup strawberries 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

48

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

DIRECTIONS In medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, honey and vanilla.

On parchment-lined baking sheet, spread Greek yogurt mixture to 1/4-inch thickness.

Drop spoonfuls of melted chocolate onto yogurt and use toothpick to drag in circles.

Press strawberries and chocolate chips into yogurt. Freeze at least 3 hours.

Remove from freezer and break into pieces.

Nutritional information per serving: 140 calories; 18 g carbohydrates; 6 g protein; 6 g total fat; 3 g saturated fat; 0 g trans fat; 20 mg sodium; 8% calcium.

WORKING HARDER to Keep You Healthier

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JANUARY 2022

49

ADVERTISER INDEX Brunson’s Furniture

19

Pearsons’s Falls

50

Carolina Storage Solutions

43

Penny Insurance

9

Carruths Furniture

50

Polk County Transportation

37

Cason Builders

29

Ravan Earthworks

43

Red Bell Run

35

Congregational Church of Tryon

50

9

Dr. Jonathan Lowry, DDS

29

REMAX Bonnie Lingerfelt

39

Henson’s Building Materials

41

ServiceMaster

33

Hospice Carolina Foothills

52

SG Power & Equipment

25

JB Trees & Scapes

21

Southside Smokehouse

27

Joseph Hurwitz Law

41

St Luke’s Hospital

3, 49

Lake Pointe Landing

7

Strauss Attorneys

25

McFarland’s Funeral Chapel

21

Tryon Builders

19

Miracle Working Clean

27

Tryon Fine Arts Center

37

Tryon Presbyterian Church

27

New View Realty

2

Parkside Dental

33

Parsec Financial

51

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

White Oak Village

5

Father Husband Advisor Musician Volunteer The roles Michael Baughman plays in our community are countless, but these are the five he holds most dear: Devoted father to his three young, thriving children.

Dedicated husband to his beautiful wife of 20 years.

Trusted financial advisor for his clients.

Aspiring musician for anyone who will listen.

Passionate volunteer with St. Luke’s Hospital and Tryon Downtown Development Association.

What five would you choose to describe you?

For everything and everyone that matters to you, let Michael help you protect and provide for them through sound financial planning.

Your financial partner for what matters most.

Michael Baughman, CFP® Senior Financial Advisor Parsec Financial parsecfinancial.com/team/michael-baughman 828-859-7001