Women Who Shape The Plateau

a look back Women Who Shape The plaTeau

Women Who Shape the Plateau

AngelaWilliams,withhusbandArtandgrandchildren

AnnMckeeeAustin

It’s all About Family

Though she is relentlessly determined to stay out of the spotlight, Angela Williams has had a profound effect on Highlands and its people, now and far into the future.

Those of us who are fortunate to call Highlands home and visitors alike, all appreciate the unique qualities that make our little slice of heaven what it is – natural beauty, friendly people, and a family-friendly atmosphere that’s hard to find and impossible to duplicate.

It takes a village and a deep love to appreciate what was, preserve what is, and look to the future to be certain that we change only for the better, keeping us always a community in which families thrive and connect.

Few love our town like Angela Williams, and few have given so freely of their time, vision, and resources to ensure that Highlands grows and thrives, while always remaining a place where families and multi-generations can gather and connect. Her enthusiasm and love for Highlands are infectious, and she becomes especially animated when speaking of families, children and the arts.

Her love of Highlands began in the 1940s when her family often made Highlands their vacation destination, usually staying at Lee’s Inn. Memories of those vacations are close to her heart as perfect moments of family togetherness and fun – family dinners in the Lee’s Inn dining room, strolling Main Street and shopping in a dress or antique store, stopping by Bill’s Soda Shop, or enjoying a simple drive around the countryside.

Her husband, Art, had similar childhood memories of Highlands, so from the beginning of their married life they visited here as often as their burgeoning business in Atlanta allowed.

Giving back to the community she holds near and dear is second nature to Angela and the fruits of her generosity are enjoyed by all. Preserving, enriching, and beautifying this special place for generations to come is first and foremost in her heart, particularly if it benefits families and children. Generations of her family have enjoyed Highlands and she wants future generations to have the same opportunities.

Highlands business owner and County Commissioner James Tate, says, “Because I am a landscaper, my first thought of Angela Williams would immediately go to her affinity for flowers, but in reality, her appreciation for floriculture pales in comparison to her absolute love for the Highlands community. And, because of this love and her passion for philanthropic endeavors, every single resident of our town has, in one way or another, been blessed by the graciousness of her heart.”

Through the years she has generously contributed to numerous projects throughout town, the most visible being Main Street’s Old Edwards Inn, the world-class hotel and spa that has breathed new life into downtown and made us a year-round destination. Still, the projects she holds dearest and speaks most warmly about are all about families.

The retractable pool cover at the Rec Park swimming pool ensures that families have year-round access to a pool. The enclosure, coupled with an ultramodern timing system, has allowed our children a chance to swim competitively.

Ice skating is an activity that is practically synonymous with winter in Highlands and thanks to Mrs. Williams families can once again enjoy ice skating during winter at the skating rink at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. The park itself is a beehive of family activities and her generosity to park renovations has helped make that possible.

The Peggy Crosby Center, the Literacy and Learning Center, Hudson Library, the Highlands Performing Arts Center, Highlands School, and Summit Charter School are among others that have all been recipients of her generosity.

And James Tate’s observation about her passion for floriculture?

It found its logical flowering in her absolute support for the Highlands Botanical Garden and its pavilion and walk. That beautiful emerald treasure, just two blocks from Main Street, is a priceless landmark for both residents and visitors.

Mrs. Williams is incredibly modest about the things she’s done throughout the community, so we’re going to have to turn to her friend Judy Michaud to give us a clearer picture, “There is something so special about Angela with her insight and determination for excellence in everything that she touches. This insight along with her selfless spirit recognizes a need and goes headfirst into finding a solution. It takes a particular grace, strength, intelligence, and courage to never take ‘no’ for an answer as she helps our community and the families of Highlands.”

Highlanders enjoy these generous gifts today, but future generations will benefit as well and that’s the vision Angela embraces. Her generous spirit and love of Highlands has enriched us all. by Mary Jane McCall

Rich Legacy of Tradition

Ann McKee Austin’s commitment to wise development and prudent preservation is built upon an abiding passion for Cashiers and its people.

Cashiers has a rich history, deeply rooted in Cherokee, Appalachian, and Southern culture. The generations of families, whether summer visitors or lifetime settlers, and their stories are what create the distinct sense of place in this bucolic mountain village.

Today, 200 years after the arrival of those first homesteaders, an important community conversation is taking shape.

It begins with two questions: “What is important in our history?” and “What parts of our past can we preserve for the future?”

Ann McKee Austin has been and continues to be one of the leading voices in this dialogue. Her mission is to share this rich legacy of traditions and resources unique to Cashiers.

Ann grew up in Asheville, the oldest of three McKee children. “We came up here in the summer pretty much the minute school got out and went back the day before it started again.”

Together they made meaningful memories in The Nancy Cottage, roaming all around High Hampton. She spent most of her time riding horses and at the stables. In 1998, Ann made Cashiers her permanent home.

She notes, “Cashiers has and will always be my spiritual home.” For this reason, Ann and her family have been devoted to protecting the transcendent village character of Cashiers.

She focuses her efforts on projects related to historic preservation, land conservation, and town planning. Her work helps tell the story of Cashiers dynamic heritage, celebrating the events, people, places, and ideas that have shaped the community.

Her early mentor was Mimi Ryan Cecil, who with her husband William Cecil oversaw the management and preservation of the Biltmore House, his grandfather George Vanderbilt’s estate in Asheville.

Ironically, Ann’s very first project in Cashiers was a mere half mile from the cottage where she spent summers with her family, The Zachary-Tolbert House on Highway 107 South. Despite those many childhood summers, Ann says, “I never once stepped on the Tolbert property…although my brothers made secret forays there. Hidden behind a towering hedge, it was a forbidding place.” When Robert Red “Bubba” Tolbert approached her family to help find a new owner, she saw the rare example of Greek Revival architecture in the area as an

opportunity to save a significant landmark. “The house was in disrepair but completely intact, frozen in time” she says, “It was like stepping back into life in Cashiers in 1850.” This historic restoration project started the Cashiers Historical Society, which educates and advocates the cultural heritage of our area. This month will be the 25th year of the annual Cashiers Designer Showhouse that raises the critical funds to advance the organization’s mission.

Ann has undertaken other similar community-oriented projects. Her work with the Village Conservancy (now Vision Cashiers) has helped to incubate other nonprofits, including the Village Green, Cashiers’ central park and gathering space, along with other land conservation activities. She helped with the early development of the Cashiers Village Ramble, a trail system to promote walkability throughout town. Her vision to safeguard beautiful natural properties enabled the purchase of the McKinney Meadow at Highway 107 South and Cashiers School Road which is now protected by the HighlandsCashiers Land Trust.

Ann recognizes both the changing landscape with development in Cashiers as well as the importance of property stewardship.

She’s a partner at McKee Properties, which has been a leader in local preservation since the 1980s. Ann also spearheaded the High Hampton History Center, in the old caddie house, to preserve High Hampton’s rich legacy as the legendary resort moved forward under new ownership.

In addition to the work of Vision Cashiers, she invests in the pursuits of other groups such as Develop Cashiers Responsibly along with the Cashiers Area Chamber and Cashiers Planning Council that demonstrate the strength of grassroots enterprises. “What I find truly exciting is the opportunity to identify and grow young new leaders for Cashiers.”

Ann’s determination and dedication is to ensure that the legacy of Cashiers is true to the integrity of yesterday, valuable to the enjoyment of today, and that future generations who visit or live here will be enriched by the deep historical, cultural, and natural roots that foster its sense of place in the rural mountains of Western North Carolina.

by Ann Self

Women Who Shape the Plateau

KayeMcHanand StephanieEdwards photobyMaryGillian

A Boundless Love of Highlands

Kaye McHan, the Executive Director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center, brings a unique skill set to the position.

Kaye’s love affair with Highlands began while vacationing here in the 80s, followed by the purchase of a vacation home in the 90s. For many years she was the director of The Bascom, overseeing its growth from a one-room gallery in Hudson Library to its expansive campus today before moving away for other opportunities.

Kaye McHan’s background is in the arts – she was a vocal major at Stetson University and holds a Master in Visual Arts from the University of Central Florida – combine with extensive experience in leadership and finance make her uniquely qualified to envision and oversee the Chamber.

A resolute public servant, Kaye’s enthusiasm and love of Highlands are boundless. Her talents and vision lend themselves naturally to steering the Chamber forward keeping residents, visitors, and businesses happy and engaged. She’s a people person and a savvy businesswoman who’s able to focus on the big picture while seeing that all the little things fall into place.

Luckily for us, the call of the mountains proved too great and in 2019 she returned to Highlands to assume her current position, just in time for the Covid pandemic to hit. She and her team at the Chamber quickly turned that negative into a positive, focusing on the special bond that Highlanders have for one another. Working closely with the Town and local businesses, they charted a course to protect the community. The Neighbors Helping Neighbors program was born of these hard times and continues to showcase how we all benefit when we pull together and serve one another.

Mayor Pat Taylor recognizes the invaluable input of Kaye and the Chamber in seeing that the partnership between the Chamber and the Town is results driven: “The Chamber of Commerce sponsors and coordinates many community events for both our visitors and for our permanent residents. These events add to the community quality of life here on the Highlands Plateau.”

Lance Hardin, the Welcome Center Manager and Coordinator, quickly recognized when working with Kaye, “that it was quickly apparent that she brings a unique perspective; her background in the visual arts is evidenced by her thoughtful appreciation of aesthetics, yet she also has strong fiscal management talents honed from years of experience leading non-profits. I think it’s a great skillset for a Chamber leader in a town like Highlands that is so focused on the arts.”

She is excited about helping implement the Chamber’s strategic plan which stresses serving our residents, full and part-time. As she says “a great place to live is a great place to visit” so by taking care of our residents and businesses we will naturally become a beacon for visitors.

Part of the Chamber’s vision of taking care of our own is their Tourism Grant Program which awards grants to local nonprofits which directly affect and enrich the lives of our residents. These grants, totaling over $250,000 so far, are funded by the Use and Occupancy Tax. Recipients are recommended by a committee of staff members, volunteers and the Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center board president. Kaye is a careful steward of these funds which are such an important investment in our community.

A lover of nature, she’s overseen the implementation of the new garden at the Welcome Center, a peaceful oasis highlighting native plants. Her artistic flair is clear in the design of the garden, and she foresees it becoming an important educational component in the need for conservation.

In her spare time, Kaye stays involved in the local arts scene and finds that time spent in nature recharges her batteries. Ever adventuresome and always looking for new experiences, she owns an RV and enjoys road tripping whether solo or with friends. Most recently she adopted a new best friend, Gimlet, a pup whose warmth and exuberance match Kaye’s, who serves as the Welcome Center’s official greeter.

Bringing all this together is Chamber Board Chair Tricia Cox, Broker/Vice President of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Meadows Mountain Realty: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kaye at the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visit Highlands NC for the past three years. Not only is she dedicated to those organizations, but she is dedicated to our Highlands community. Kaye understands how special our town is and the value of our residents, our businesses, and our visitors. Kaye, along with the staff she leads, works to bring information and events to the community which are beneficial to our economy and can be enjoyed by those who call Highlands home as well as those who may be short term visitors. She is always looking for ways to improve the experience of being in Highlands for everyone who is blessed enough to be here.”

by Mary Jane McCall

A Leader of Never-Ending Enthusiasm

Stephanie Edwards is leading the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce into a dynamic future.

The characters of Cashiers and Highlands have been created and evolved over the decades with the influence of individuals who were devoted to community service. In recent years, both areas have seen unprecedented growth which inevitably will change our character of place in some way.

Through the enlightened efforts of many, including our two chambers of commerce, this evolution is being addressed on the Plateau with proactive measures to ensure our heritage and quality of life are protected.

At the helm of the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce is Stephanie Edwards, a tireless champion, dedicated to a lasting legacy for her community. She has a long relationship with Western North Carolina, from escaping the Florida summer heat with her grandparents to bringing her own family to the mountains as a favorite vacation spot.

With a successful career in national public and government affairs and travel and tourism, and local relationships enjoyed as a part-time resident, she was recruited 10 years ago to revitalize the organization. Her impressive professional experience and willingness to embrace a lifestyle change were Cashiers’ good fortune. The Chamber has grown to more than 500 members and provides extraordinary leadership in business advocacy, economic development and growth management, and responsible tourism.

She’s appreciated among her colleagues for being a resourceful thought-leader and effective executive who values inclusivity and partnerships. Dr. Pat Morse of Western North Carolina sums up Stephanie’s impact, saying that “Stephanie has been a true blessing to the Cashiers community, Plateau and to the entire Western Region of North Carolina. Not only has she taken the Cashiers Chamber of Commerce to a whole new level, but she has also been a voice to area businesses and to the many hard-working people who serve and support our community. Her volunteer service on numerous boards and her development of leadership development opportunities for the people of the plateau make her an enthusiastic beacon of light that shines on all of us.”

Edwards’ abiding approach to life and work is all about building relationships and exploring how they can create positive synergy. Who would have thought that after working with former Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood on hosting FIFA World Cup and other Central Florida growth issues, the two would

be working together again to bring the Urban Land Institute to Cashiers in 2022?

Of her friend Stephanie, Mayor Hood said, “My friendship and work with Stephanie Edwards goes back many years. She is an exceptional leader with the ability to connect people, thoughtfully work to explore the right solutions to community challenges and include all the voices necessary to make decisions that ensure Cashiers is the best place to live, work and visit. With her business experience, talent and commitment, plus never-ending enthusiasm, Stephanie is the right person at the right time to lead our Chamber and community into the future. She is, without a doubt, a woman of great influence.”

Edwards’ significant volunteer involvement includes the Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation Board of Directors. As the founding chair of its Program Grants Committee, she worked to establish a generous and fair funding model to supply more than $5 million for area nonprofit health and wellbeing missions.

Government relations with elected and appointed officials and outreach to members and other stakeholders consume Edwards’ calendar. She was instrumental in the creation of the Leadership Cashiers program to develop civic activism through knowledge and networking and, most recently, the Cashiers Community Collaborative to coordinate and implement growth management priorities.

Her core philosophy is to address community issues with thorough research, identifying beneficial best practices from across the nation to introduce to the Plateau. “Throughout my life, I’ve subscribed to the adage, ‘Why not?’ if it’s meaningful and I don’t take ‘no’ for an answer unless there’s a good reason!” she said.

And, of course, Stephanie’s most valued relationships are the most meaningful of her life. She and her husband, Bill, and their three sons share much love and laughter here in the mountains and in Jacksonville, Florida, and across the US. “I have this very special opportunity to give my time and talents to my community only because of my family’s unwavering support and encouragement,” she said.

by Mary Jane McCall

Women Who Shape the Plateau

SarahHalland andMaryAdairTrumbly photobySusanRenfro

Preserving Mountain Music Legacy

For Sarah Hall, life on the Plateau is a sweet tune that will not be denied.

Cashiers is located in an area with rich musical heritage. The traditional music of Appalachia ballads, hymns, gospel, mountain swing, and fiddle music. The culture of this music has carefully been passed from one generation to the next preserving hundreds of years of songs and stories. Sarah Hall, a teacher at the Blue Ridge School and Early College, is committed to extending this legacy to youth while impacting the arts community.

countless times.”

Sarah genuinely cares for all of her students. Her dedication, patience and passion for teaching is inspiring.

During her second year of teaching, in the fall of 2016, Sarah founded the Blue Ridge chapter of JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) as an after-school club. The mission of JAM is to provide communities with the tools to teach children to play and dance to traditional old time and bluegrass music. “I am classically trained and was not especially knowledgeable about old-time mountain music and string instruments. But I thought it would be a good fit for our school, not just to provide more music instruction, but to help them connect with their local heritage and culture and take pride in that,” she says.

The Woman Behind Performing Arts

For Mary Adair Trumbly, bringing art to the Plateau is an unquenchable passion that powers her days and nights.

Mary Adair Trumbly is well-known in Highlands.

She’s been a resident, business owner, and valued leader for more than 20 years.

“Mary Adair sets a high bar in our communities for giving back (Highlands Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Highlands Hospital board) and arts collaborations (Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, The Bascom, The Center for Life Enrichment) to name only a few,” says Nancy Gould-Aaron, the Executive Director of the Chamber Music Festival. “This is truly welldeserved recognition.”

be able to accommodate more shows as well as expand the caliber of performers. She notes that this is because the stage is larger, and the technical capabilities are greater.

“I am hoping to bring Rhythm of the Dance, the National Dance Troup of Ireland for next season,” she says. “It will still have the same intimate feel,” she says of the new center while also noting that the existing performance facility will now be known as the Martin Lipscomb Theater.

She credits the strong vision-oriented board of the PAC for making this expansion a reality for all performing arts groups in Highlands to utilize a shared space.

Sarah is a daughter of Appalachia. However, growing up in Virginia her early interest was in Classical music. After attending a music camp at Appalachian State University, she decided to attend the university and major in music. Most of her career has been teaching, whether in classroom settings, private lessons, or church choirs. Her passion for music, teaching, and the mountains of western North Carolina led her to her current teaching position.

“I was hired to teach music for Blue Ridge School and start a new music program for grades 7-12 for Blue Ridge Early College,” Sarah says. She started in 2015 at a time when Blue Ridge Early College had not had a music program for several years. “I tried to introduce as much music I could in a short amount of time. I also wanted to try to give greater opportunities when possible. Students performed at PTO meetings, musicals and caroling at The Village Green.”

JAM has more than 50 chapters regionally, and according to their website the organization believes that “children who are actively engaged in traditional mountain music are more connected and better prepared to strengthen their communities for future generations.”

Sarah says, “It is my hope that the young people who decide to remain on the Plateau will have developed a greater appreciation for, and knowledge of, music and other arts, and draw upon to benefit the area.”

Sarah founded the Blue Ridge chapter of JAM ((Junior Appalachian Musicians) as an after-school club.

“I believe in volunteerism,” she says, “Community is only as good as you make it.” This conviction and attitude have had a notable impact on the arts in the community.

Mary Adair’s infectious enthusiasm and endless work in support of the arts has been pivotal in the development of a new performing arts center for the plateau.

The result was a renewed interest and an outpouring of support from community members with both financial gifts and donated instruments. Sarah found other resources, too. She applied for grants which enabled her to establish an “Artist In Residence” position at the school with Bryan Heller teaching piano.

Says Heller, “Sarah genuinely cares for all of her students. Her dedication, patience and passion for teaching is inspiring. I have witnessed Sarah go above and beyond what is required

The first year 32 Blue Ridge students signed up. With support from Mountain Youth Charities, the program expanded to include students from the Summit Charter School as well as homeschoolers. Today, the 501(c)(3) program has six faculty offering instruction in guitar, banjo, mandolin, and fiddle. Sarah finds herself on the weekends scouring pawn shops for more instruments as the student demand has exceeded all expectations. Her endeavors are widening the circle of musicians who preserve the legacy of mountain music.

Area residents and visitors will enjoy hearing the JAM musicians at upcoming events like the Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival this month.

Mary Adair is no stranger to the stage. She grew up in Oklahoma, of Osage Indian descent, and attended the University of Oklahoma to study ballet under premier ballet dancers Miguel Terekhov and Yvonne Chateau, one of the “Five Moons” Native American prima ballerinas.

“I love all the arts, but I always consider myself a dancer,” she reflects. It’s the origin of her passion for the performing arts. So, it was only natural that after a career in curating fine art, including ten years owning the Summit One art gallery here, that she would return her attention to enriching performance culture as Executive Director of the Highlands Performing Arts Center.

Mary Adair has guided the Highlands PAC since 2010. She is percipient in her estimation of Highlands as a cosmopolitan community with wide ranging interests and experiences. “The dinner conversations here are wonderful,” she observes. This keen perspective has informed what she refers to as the “bluegrass, Broadway, and retro-rock” approach to programming at the Highlands PAC.

She adds “One of the current goals is to expand our audience and entice a younger demographic.”

Board member Cindy Trevathan says, “Mary Adair’s infectious enthusiasm and endless work in support of the arts has been pivotal in the development of a new performing arts center for the plateau. We have worked together for the past seven years and whenever I felt a loss of faith in our goal, Mary Adair provided the energy and support to keep us going.”

While planning a selection of entertaining performances, community members is one way Mary Adair shapes the arts on the Plateau. She considers her endeavor to offer the PAC Youth Theater program in the Highlands School as her most significant contribution. More than 70 percent of lower school students participate with high school students receiving educational opportunities in the technical aspects of theater. Mary Adair says “This program promotes creativity and builds self-esteem.”

A great variety of music, theater, and film performances fill the calendar through the end of the year, the curtain call on a momentous 2022 season for Highlands PAC.

by Ann Self

by Ann Self

This aim will likely be realized with the opening of the new Highlands Performing Arts Center last month. The venue will

Women Who Shape the Plateau

MindyGreenandSalliePeterkin photobySusanRenfro

The Magic of Wolfgang’s Mindy Green

Mindy Green’s tireless efforts have boosted the profile of the entire Highlands dining scene.

J

ulia Child famously said, “People who love to eat are the best people.”

Mindy Green would agree. When she and her husband opened Wolfgang’s Restaurant and Wine Bistro, their primary objective was to serve people superb food and excellent wine.

Over the course of nearly 30 years, she has built upon this foundation to influence and shape the food scene in Highlands.

[throughout Highlands].”

Mindy,…helped establish the great reputation of the food and wine scene in Highlands as we know it today…

Mindy believes this sense of community is what makes the area so unique. The Green’s daughter Katie was born on Halloween, so her birthday is always in combination with the town’s grand celebration of the holiday. “All of the small-town holiday traditions are special,” she muses, “Community support is important here. I’ve always enjoyed being an active part of this community.” She remembers one event for Valentine’s Day when high school families and area chefs created a special evening for the students at the restaurant. “We served a three-course dinner to the kids for $5. Parents served and washed dishes. It was a lot of fun.”

A Restaurant’s Family’s Deep Roots

Sallie Peterkin’s life has revolved around delivering a deeply personal dining experience.

The Cornucopia Restaurant has an abundant history as Cashiers’ favorite porch to gather around a table and enjoy good food.

The restaurant’s family roots are deep. As a teenager, Sallie Orr Peterkin worked there as a server. It’s where she met her husband, Brien. And over the course of several years, she and her family would be influential in not only its development but also in the creation of additional restaurants in the community. Her endeavors have shaped dining options for hungry residents and visitors to the Plateau for three decades.

be a culinary destination.”

Yet Sallie’s influence with the area’s eating establishments isn’t just limited to fine, upscale dining. In 2014, the Peterkins recognized an opportune time for a different kind of restaurant for Cashiers. They opened Slab Town Pizza in the shopping center of the same name in January of that year.

“We saw the success and popularity of fast casual restaurants in other places,” Sallie says, “Slab Town Pizza is fast casual with a Cashiers twist.”

When the Greens purchased Hildegard’s on Main Street, Mindy immediately saw its potential.

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit,” she says, “My dad taught me to be ‘an opportunist.’ So, I look for opportunities.”

This is a key ingredient to the success of their restaurant. She knows his strengths as a chef as well as hers as the visionary. “We complement one another well,” she observes, “He knows food and wine. I know marketing.”

Mindy is a graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in marketing and a subsequent career in sales in Dallas before moving with Wolfgang to Highlands. She employed her skills and experience to position their restaurant as a fine dining establishment.

“In the earliest days of the restaurant I introduced myself to other businesses and individuals, hotels and retailers in the community,” she recalls as a tool to spread the word. She conceptualized the outdoor pavilion, covered deck and bistro additions to the restaurant. She seized upon the niche venue demand for special occasion parties. She created menus. She formed collaborative relationships with other chefs and restaurants to bring acclaimed wines and wineries to the area.

Mindy views this as the catalyst toward contributing to Highlands growing into a food destination. “Today there are six Wine Spectator restaurants,” she says. She recognizes that this is because of local restaurants working together to enhance the dining experience with premium wine. “Silver Oak was a big influence,” she says, “The Silver Oak wine dinners were very popular and led to other wine dinners

All of the thousands of hours of planning and strategizing, coupled with that restless energy, gave Mindy a unique position in the development of Highlands and its extraordinary restaurant community.

“Mindy, along with Wolfgang, is one of the shakers and movers that helped establish the great reputation of the food and wine scene in Highlands as we know it today,” says John Woods, the General Manager of Skyline Lodge and Oak RestaurantHighlands and the past chairman of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce. “In the beginning, Mindy would answer the phones, perform all the marketing including community outreach while Chef Wolfgang brought new food concepts to the Highlands area. You must keep in mind that all this started while she was raising a family and before the purchase of alcohol was legal in Macon County. Where would we be today, without her hard work and dedication to the culinary scene in Highlands?”

The food and restaurant landscape has evolved the past three decades. Mindy calls Highlands a “foodie resort” town, less seasonal and more year around. She also appreciates how this opens new opportunities to continue to elevate the dining experience to appeal to diners’ ever-changing tastes.

Change may be inevitable, but Mindy’s continued contribution to food on the Plateau is enduring. No doubt she is already dreaming about the next ways to cater to people who love to eat.

Sallie expanded The Purple Onion, a cheese and gourmet food shop found inside The Cornucopia Restaurant.

…she raised the bar for the local culinary scene. Many restaurants that are here today have followed on the path that she paved.

“That was the most enjoyable venture,” she says. “I really like the process of opening a restaurant. Developing the concept is the fun, creative part.” She explains that after months of designing the space, making the menu, ordering equipment, and meeting new staff, the moment it all comes together is so rewarding.

Sallie observes that Canyon Kitchen went from a planned sports activity barn for Lonesome Valley families to a fine dining restaurant with an award-winning chef, John Fleer, in just one year. The original idea of serving simple, seasonal locally sourced food in a beautiful, rustic setting with spectacular views continues to make this a coveted reservation.

Though Sallie’s too modest to trumpet her outsized influence on the Plateau’s culinary scene, her friends aren’t.

“Sallie raised the bar for the local culinary scene,” says Sarah Jennings, who by virtue of her service on the boards of Jackson County Tourism Development Authority, Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce, Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau, Cashiers Valley Preschool and the Summit Charter School Foundation, is well aware of her friend’s impact on the Plateau. “Many restaurants that are here today have followed on the path that she paved. Sallie’s efforts have helped elevate Cashiers to

She adds that they wanted to serve delicious food that appeals to everyone but use real plates, not paper, as well as offer high quality wine and beer.

Sallie’s son, Brien Peterkin Jr., grew up working at The Cornucopia Restaurant. He went on to graduate from culinary school in Colorado. Since then, he has been integral to the family’s restaurant enterprises.

“Young Brien recruited his friends to come to Cashiers,” she sees adding, “One of the reasons I’m still working in the restaurants is that I like being around young people. The young people keep me young.”

Sallie divides her time between Slab Town Pizza and the family’s most recent restaurant, Cashiers Valley Smokehouse on Highway 64 West. Much like before, the family created a restaurant with a fresh spin on the traditional concept of a Southern smokehouse.

Sallie has seen a lot of growth and change in Cashiers during her years in the restaurant business. However, the one constant she finds the most gratifying is the people who visit. “You meet a lot of interesting people,” she remarks, “It is a joy to provide hospitality to the customers.”

by Ann Self

by Ann Self

Women Who Shape the Plateau

Ann Sherrill and Carol Wilkes photobyMaryGillanRenfro

A Legacy of Welcoming Home

Ann Sherrill’s decades of work on behalf of her community have made her into a Cashiers institution.

For 30 years, Ann Sherrill has created an elegant edge in home design in Cashiers with the furniture store Rusticks. Over the years, her retail business evolved and grew, but her signature style remained what has been termed “mountain chic.”

With the craftsmen’s enthusiastic agreement to make the furniture for them, the two began their retail journey.

“I found inspiration from the feel of the North Carolina mountains,” she says, “I liked to blend the casual lifestyle with sophisticated quality to make rooms that were not just pretty to look at but pleasing to spend time in.”

Ann and her husband Rody had a vacation home in Highlands for many years. She furnished their home with handcrafted furniture made by artisans near their primary home in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee

“People would come to our Highlands home and admire the Adirondack style hickory and willow pieces,” she says.

When Rody retired, the Sherrills decided to make a permanent move to the Plateau. They had the idea that they could find a place to sell that handcrafted furniture that so many of their mountain friends had complimented and asked about. With the craftsmen’s enthusiastic agreement to make the furniture for them, the two began their retail journey.

“I had no experience in retail,” Ann remarks. “I was always interested in design. I just loved shoving furniture around. I learned along the way.”

The shop started in a small attic space owned by local architect Tim Greene. “We started with the furniture and then added accessories. We quickly outgrew that space.” She adds that not only did Tim Greene refer them business, but local realtors did as well.

“We were at the right place at the right time to expand.” Rusticks moved to the fitting Adirondack style cabin in its current location on Cashiers Lake. “The beauty of the setting sets the Rusticks’ aesthetic,” she notes.

Ann also notes how closely she worked together with designers and their customers. She was first introduced to Kathleen Rivers, a Charleston-based designer whose vision informs many homes in Cashiers, when they collaborated to create the Chattooga Club Lodge and Pavilion. “Ann’s amazing talent for interior design enabled her to take handmade furniture that otherwise appeared like reproduced Appalachian craft items and to integrate these pieces with classic more contemporary furniture creating a unique style; a style that looked and felt familiar and yet was exciting and more interesting than before,” Kathleen remarks, adding, “She altered the way people thought about living in a rustic style.”

The Sherrills sold Rusticks in 2021 to Don and Pam Gottwald. Ann comments that the new owners have brought fresh, progressive ideas to the store that continues to grow and thrive.

“They have a talented staff who stay up on the trends while maintaining the experience Rusticks’ customers appreciate,” she says.

We worked to make them feel at home and were always thrilled to welcome them back.

That experience has been more than bringing natural elegance to mountain homes on the Plateau. Ann’s impact has also been about creating a culture of gracious hospitality.

“We always treated our customers like they were guests in our home,” she states, “We worked to make them feel at home and were always thrilled to welcome them back.”

Whether updating an existing home or designing a new house, or perhaps just locating that unique rug or lamp to accent a room, Ann Sherrill has left a legacy in the Plateau that says, “Welcome Home.”

by Ann Self

Sharing the Mountain Experience

The Plateau’s natural bounty lies at the core of Carol Wilkes’ abiding passion.

When Carol Wilkes tells you to “take a hike,” it’s not meant to be pejorative, but rather commendatory. She literally wants you to get outside. She and her family have been giving people this instruction for 40 years as the owners of the Highland Hiker. As a retailer on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, Carol has not just outfitted customers for outdoor pursuits, she’s also influenced generations of adventurers.

to the Highland Hiker dedicated staff members who are also actively engaged in a variety of outdoor pursuits. Lec Hobbs, the store manager in Cashiers, says “Carol has created a uniquely local shopping experience based on excellent customer service and has been a mentor to many of those in her orbit.”

I was charmed with the idea of doing something different and being in such a beautiful place…

It all began when Carol and her husband, David, vacationed in Highlands in the late seventies. Around that same time Margaret Hoff opened the Happy Hiker on Chestnut Street to sell hiking gear, especially Swiss hiking boots.

Carol was raised in the retail furniture business.

“I was charmed with the idea of doing something different and being in such a beautiful place (as the Western North Carolina mountains),” she recalls, “So when Margaret Hoff put up the Happy Hiker for sale in 1982, we bought it.”

The store was located on Chestnut Street. “We were pretty much a destination store. Margaret Hoff had created an outdoor store in a log cabin, and we added fly fishing in addition to hiking, camping and other outdoor activities.” she adds.

They ran the store in that location for nearly a decade before closing and re-opening as the Highland Hiker in a historic Joe Webb cabin on Main Street in 1992. Since then, they have opened additional locations, including a store at the Cashiers crossroads, and expanded their merchandise. But, to this day, the Highland Hiker remains a destination store.

As the business grew, Carol and her family tried to find unusual items to combine with necessary outdoor apparel and gear. “We bought a lot locally like hiking sticks and we sold books and maps by local authors. Our Day Hike Guide was purchased from two forestry majors who moved out of the area.” The store appeals to fly fishermen, paddlers, climbers, hikers, and campers —customers who love outdoors. This extends

“Our clientele has grown and changed over the years,” Carol says. “We have new customers as well as longtime customers.” She observes that it is common to be fitting boots on the children of parents who were outfitted at the Highland Hiker when they were young. Carol comments that what she enjoys most are the stories their customers tell. “The most rewarding part of being in business is hearing how you have been part of peoples’ mountain experiences.”

The Highland Hiker has not only guided their patrons but has also served as a leader in giving back to the HighlandsCashiers community.

Carol credits Yvon Chouinard, the founder of the Patagonia Company, for inspiring their environmental endeavors in the area.

The most rewarding part of being in business is hearing how you have been part of peoples’ mountain experiences.

Carol says, “I have admired him and his wife Malinda greatly. Their environmental philanthropy and dedication made me realize that we have a duty to protect this beautiful land. They began 1% for the planet and we participated for several years and helped save Laurel Knob and helped numerous non-profit environmental groups in our area.”

Next time you find yourself in the Highland Hiker and she tells you to “take a hike,” ask her where you should go. Her favorite answer is always the same. “If you only have time for one hike…Whiteside Mountain.” If you find footprints on that trail, you can be sure that the imprint is a little bit deeper because of Carol Wilkes.

by Ann Self

Women Who Shape the Plateau

Sonya Carpenter and Sarah Jennings

photo by Susan Renfro

Helping to Re-claim a Sense of Balance

Sonya Carpenter’s passion for the Plateau’s Wild Places informs her days.

In an era of cell phone addiction, climate change, and hurry affliction, we can become distracted and unsettled.

Sonya Carpenter is dedicated to helping people reclaim a sense of balance with the world that surrounds them.

“Even as a young child, I found solace in the natural world,” she says. For the past 20 years living in Highlands, Sonya has regarded the beauty, complexity, and resilience of the ecosystem on the Plateau. This recognition motivates her to inform and influence others to value its conservation.

Shortly after moving here, Sonya served as the director of the Highlands Biological Foundation. She discovered many knowledgeable and equally enthusiastic people through her nine years in that position. Today, she works on projects to create natural landscapes in the area.

we can create gardens that are not only beautiful, but functional and resilient.”

Her work with the Highlands Biological Foundation and the Highlands Plateau Greenway has bettered our community in huge ways, especially in inspiring conservation efforts.

source of knowledge and passion for the natural world. When she gives a lecture or leads an event, people leave with such enthusiasm to make a real change in their own landscapes to better promote our rich biodiversity. Her work with the Highlands Biological Foundation and the Highlands Plateau Greenway has bettered our community in huge ways, especially in inspiring conservation efforts.”

Her Legacy to Protect and Preserve

For Sarah Jennings, wise development of the area’s natural bounty is a family tradition.

“I like to say that I am an ecologist masquerading as a garden designer, but really these two passions are inextricably linked,” she says. “If we use the natural world with its complex interaction between species of plants, insects, birds, mammals…as a model for landscapes,

Sonya continues to be involved in community projects. She leads and speaks at various events about conservation. She serves on the board of the Highlands Plateau Greenway to create and maintain walking trails that connect neighborhoods with natural areas. She also recently coordinated the installation of the new pollinator garden at the Highlands Biological Station. The design features all native plants, a lakeside pavilion, and a new nature trail. She observes how the garden is appreciated daily by countless visitors. “Hundreds of students, summer campers, and garden enthusiasts now claim this space as their own,” she says.

Charlotte Muir, Executive Director of the Highlands Biological Foundation comments that “Sonya is an infinite

Sonya believes that this is a critical time for the community to consider conservation. “Development is inevitable,” she says, “[we] need to speak up for the protection and preservation of our natural areas.” Through her endeavors she hopes to influence and inspire others. She asserts

Sarah Jennings considers conservation as a legacy to protect and preserve. Her husband first brought her in 2002 to what was then the Jennings’ family 800-acre farm retreat, Lonesome Valley. “My husband and his family grew up spending time on the land,” she says. “Lonesome Valley has been a special place for generations. I think [it] is a model for responsible growth and development. It preserves the integrity of the land to ensure that it continues to be special for future generations.”

message aligned with the community vision. “I felt it was important as a resident [myself] as well as producing

She wanted to be able to have her boys grow up in a neighborhood as [the family had], where you wake up and go hiking or you go fishing.

Lonesome Valley was their home for many, many years. She wanted to be able to have her boys grow up in a neighborhood as the family had, where you wake up and go hiking or you go fishing.”

Even as a young child, I found solace in the natural world.

that we can all work together to educate new residents about how the beauty of Highlands plays a critical role in appreciating this community.

by Ann Self

Rich with history dating back to 1895, Lonesome Valley was originally established as a mink and trout farm by Richard Jennings, Sr. in 1948. Then, in 2007 when change in the area was undeniable, the Jennings family determined to create a community that reflected their values of land conservation and natural resource stewardship. So, ten years after her first visit and many years of working in Washington, D.C. in events and marketing, Sarah and her family moved to Cashiers to participate in the family’s development. Her role since that time has been to oversee events and marketing for Lonesome Valley, including helping build a coherent brand identity and

a product for visitors [and clients] to maintain the family character,” Sarah says, “I worked together with incredible people like Brien Peterkin, Thomas Bates, John and Marcia McCarley, and Thomas Platt. I was fortunate that it was a team that supported that vision.” That team came up with the Lonesome Valley tag line, “naturally inspired.” “That is a touch point for many things that reflect what is important to conserve. Trails, buildings, meadows. Everything is driven by that mentality.” Another example, Canyon Kitchen was developed to be dining with sustainable cuisine and seasonally grown vegetables.

Thomas Platt says that continuing that naturally inspired legacy for her sons was an important part of her desire to conserve the land. He says, “When Sarah and Rich first moved to Cashiers,

Sarah says that her participation in establishing a community dedicated to preserving the unique essence of the land and a distinctive sense of place has been the highlight of her career with Lonesome Valley. She sees how its progression is deeply rooted in history, and she values the personal connections made over time. This is what makes her passionate about Cashiers and preserving its character. “I have a deep appreciation for the people who have lived and worked the land on the Plateau

I never stop being awe inspired. There is always somewhere to explore and something to learn. There is a magic to this place.

over time…generations of families that have lived here,” she observes. “I never stop being awe inspired. There is always somewhere to explore and something to learn. There is a magic to this place.”

by Ann Self