L aURe L
The Heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau
A Vibrancy for Life
Cover Artist, Poanè pg. 134 Rusticks Opens for 33rd Season
VOLUME TWENTY-THREE, ISSUE THREE
Publisher’s Note
Welcome to our April 2025 Issue!
We hope you’ll consider it an invitation to join in the dance that’s unfolding right here, right now, on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. You’ll discover events that’ll elevate your spirit, works of art that’ll fire your imagination, and personalities that’ll remind you that life here on the Plateau is unbelievably precious.
Join us!
With appreciation, Janet and Marjorie
JANET CUMMINGS Managing Partner janet@thelaurelmagazine.com
MICHELLE MUNGER Art Director mungerclan5@aol.com
SARAH FIELDING Account Manager sarah @thelaurelmagazine.com
MARLENE OSTEEN Writer marlene.osteen@gmail.com
DONNA RHODES Writer dmrhodes847@gmail.com
MARJORIE N. DEAL Managing Partner marjorie@thelaurelmagazine.com
LUKE OSTEEN Editor / Writer luke@thelaurelmagazine.com
EMILY MUNGER Account Manager emily@thelaurelmagazine.com
MARY JANE MCCALL Writer mjmccall777@gmail.com
THOMAS CUMMINGS Distribution Manager jothcu@yahoo.com
Contributing Writers: Stuart Ferguson, William McReynolds, Debbie Hall, and Deena Bouknight
Guest Writers: Jeanne Piazza, Sue Blair, David Stroud, Lance Hardin, Billy Love, Johanna Fein, Susan Gregory, Josh Bryson, Todd Holder, Anna Norton, Kaye McHan, April Getz, Shelby Ward, Linda Kirkman, Danielle Hernandez, and Courtney Scarborough
Contributing Photographers: Susan Renfro, Mary Gillan Renfro, Greg Clarkson, Charles Johnson, Peter Ray, Terry Barnes, Ryan Karcher, and Colleen Kerrigan.
Copyright © 2025 by The Mountain Laurel, LLC. All rights reserved. Laurel Magazine is published eleven times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Laurel Magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel Magazine nor any of its staff is responsible for advertising errors, omissions, or information that has been misrepresented in or to the magazine. Any substantial errors that are the fault of the magazine will be subject to a reduction or reimbursement of the amounts paid by the advertiser, but in no case will any claim arising from such error exceed the amount paid for the advertisement by the advertiser. Visit us online thelaurelmagazine.com phone 828.526.0173 email info@thelaurelmagazine.com mail Post Office Box 565 Highlands, North Carolina 28741
WHAT TO DO
Photo by Susan Renfro
From Frost to Fabulous
We’re missing William McReynolds in this spot, but this is still a wonderful issue spotlighting a spectacular month.
Hello, and Welcome to April on the Plateau!
Let me apologize to those of you who’ve turned to this page expecting the exuberance and the wisdom of William McReynolds. William’s still around and he’s in this issue with his wise Audubon column.
At the same time, he’s taken on the challenge of writing a book about Nietzsche which, as you’d guess, is going to be taking up lots and lots of neurons in his effervescent brain.
We’ll keep you posted on his progress and let you know when the manuscript is finally sent to his publisher. (I’m guessing that, for marketing reasons, they’ll name it “Fritz! The Wit and Wisdom of Friedrich Nietzsche.” I could be wrong, though.)
Anyway, let me preview this issue and this month in Cashiers and Highlands and the little communities scattered across the Plateau.
If you’re like me, the warmth and sunshine of this month has put wings on my feet and I’m raring to get back into the green spaces that limn this patch of Paradise.
And, of course, check Debbie Hall’s Gardening article to get ready for planting. Prepare your soil, but don’t forget that a couple of frosty days can devastate your too-early efforts.
We’re spotlighting Easter events and an entire month of Earth Day celebrations. Both traditions are built upon a reverence for rebirth and renewal, built into our lives here on the Plateau and carried out into the greater world.
Now this is the part of these essays where William would list all of the remarkable global celebrations that decorate the month’s calendars.
I’d like to spotlight two august dates in April:
April 7, International Beaver Day! Hooray for these inventive, relentlessly busy rodents – at the very moment you’re reading this magazine, they’re hard at work at Lindenwood Lake at Highlands Nature Center and, according to recent sightings, the wetlands at The Village Green. (If you happen to sight them at The Village Green, please report this to Shelby Ward at shelby@cashiersgreen. com; Highlands Biological Foundation’s Marissa Nieddu at marissa@highlandsbiological.org; or me at luke@ thelaurelmagazine.com
April 28, Global Pay It Forward Day. The generosity of spirit at the heart of this day has animated this Plateau since the days of the Cherokee. Every individual highlighted in this magazine, every civic organization involved in our lives, every work of art created here, has benefited from this impulse. Pass it on!
by
Luke Osteen / original art by Donna Rhodes
Outdoor Concert Series
The performers featured in the free Friday Night Live and Saturdays on Pine Outdoor Concert Series bring diverse sounds to residents and visitors.
From May into September, the vibrant tunes of live music fill the air in downtown Highlands every Friday and Saturday night. Shows on both nights are free and take place from 6:00-8:30 P.M.
The 2025 season will kick off with a one-of-a-kind performance by Nashville Jukebox.
From ‘60s classics and ‘70s rock anthems to new wave gems and today’s biggest streaming hits, Nashville Jukebox delivers it all – because they’ve played it all. These aren’t just musicians covering songs; they’re seasoned pros who bring every note to life with the authenticity and skill of those who played them first.
The members of Nashville Jukebox are the best of the best, having played or recorded with legends spanning five decades, including Tom Jones, Al Green, Carrie Underwood, Wilco, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, Kelly Clarkson, Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), Keb’ Mo’, Shania Twain, Steve Earle, Katy Perry, Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack, Uncle Tupelo, The Verve Pipe, Jars of Clay, Lucinda Williams, Fitz and The Tantrums, and many more.
Friday Night Live showcases traditional mountain music and exceptional local talent on Main Street’s Town Square. The Friday night concerts are part of the Blue Ridge Music Trails
of North Carolina, an initiative of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership and the N.C. Arts Council that works to sustain the rich music traditions of the region.
The Friday Night Live season schedule is as follows:
May 16 – Doug Ramsey
May 23 – The Foxfire Boys
May 30 – Nick Chandler and Delivered
June 6 – The Foxfire Boys
June 13 – Southern Highland Band
June 20 – Curtis Blackwell & Dixie Bluegrass Boys
June 27 – Spare Parts Bluegrass Band
July 4 – Diverse Groove, Special holiday Friday concert in Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park
July 11 – Nitrograss
July 18 – Johnny Webb Band
July 25 – ABC Combo
August 1 – Ezra & Katie
August 8 – McClain Family Band
August 15 – Shawn Lane Trio, featuring Lane Brothers
August 22 – Spare Parts Bluegrass Band
August 29 – The Foxfire Boys
September 5 – Silly Ridge
September 12 – Johnny Webb Band
September 19 – Curtis Blackwell & Dixie Bluegrass Boys
September 26 – Nitrograss
“Saturdays on Pine” features a variety of popular, regional bands and musicians at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.
The Saturdays on Pine season schedule is as follows:
May 10 – Nashville Jukebox
May 17 – Gotcha Groove (High Style event weekend)
May 24 – Mo Money
May 31 – The Holiday Band
June 7 – Peggy Ratusz
June 14 – Boogitherapi
June 21 – Spalding McIntosh & The LionHearts
July 5 – Silly Ridge Special holiday Saturday Concert in Town Square
July 12 – Shane Meade & The Sound
July 19 – The Breakfast Club
July 26 – The Boomers
August 2 – High 5
August 9 – HC Oakes Band
August 30 – Southside Station
September 6 – The Parks Brothers
September 13 – Continental Divide
September 20 – Brandon Crocker Trio
September 27 – Shedhouse Trio with Darren Nicholson
The Outdoor Concert Series is made possible by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC.
“Highlands thrives on the spirit of community, the rhythm of live music, and the breathtaking beauty of nature,” says Kaye McHan, Executive Director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. “So, grab your lawn chair or blanket, pack a picnic, and come join us!”
There will not be a Chamber-presented concert on June 28, August 16 and August 23 due to other events being held at Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park.
by Johanna Fein, Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC
Best Easter Ever
A splash of colors, and a dash of barely-contained excitement – Satolah Creek Farm is hosting a next generation Easter Egg Hunt, April 19. For tickets or more information, visit SatolahCreekFarm.com/Events
Chocolate bunnies. Bouquets of lilies and daffodils. The thrill of the hunt for brightly colored eggs. Easter is a celebration of renewal, of tradition, and of shared joy. And on Saturday, April 19, from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M., Satolah Creek Farm is bringing those traditions to life in a way that goes far beyond the usual egg hunt. The first-ever Easter Eggstravaganza isn’t just about finding eggs—it’s about immersing yourself in the full farm experience, where the animals are just as much a part of the celebration as the people.
Yes, there will be an egg hunt—500 eggs hidden across the farm—but that’s just one small part of the day. Unlike traditional hunts that last only minutes, this event invites guests to stay, explore, and interact. Younger children will have their own designated search areas, but for older kids and adults who have
outgrown egg hunts, there’s something even better: hands-on time with some of the friendliest animals you’ll ever meet.
The animals at Satolah Creek Farm aren’t just part of the scenery—they’re the heart of the experience. Miniature cows, donkeys, ponies, and a Clydesdale will all be waiting to greet guests, each with a staff member on hand to help visitors pet, brush, feed, and connect with them in a way that feels personal and memorable. Pony rides will be open to all children, but for those looking for something truly special, adults and older kids can ride sweet Bart, the farm’s magnificent Clydesdale—a rare and unforgettable opportunity.
This isn’t just an event for families with small children. In fact, at Satolah Creek Farm’s Cuddle a Cow Days, the majority of attendees are adults. Less than 25% are children, proving
that the joy of farm life is something everyone can enjoy. Whether you’re coming with kids, with friends, or on your own, this event is designed to be just as engaging for adults as it is for little ones.
Beyond the animal encounters, guests can enjoy classic lawn games like corn hole, giant Jenga, and croquet. And when it’s time to take a break, there will be refreshing lemonade, a charcuterie spread, and plenty of sweets - the perfect way to linger and enjoy a spring afternoon.
Tickets are available at SatolahCreekFarm.com/Events: $15 for children, $30 for adults.
Come for the eggs but stay for the adventure. The Easter Eggstravaganza at Satolah Creek Farm is a chance to slow down, connect with animals, and celebrate Easter in a way that feels both joyful and unforgettable.
by Marlene Osteen
A Worthwhile Cause
The Three River Fly Fishing Festival, set for May 1-3, offers plenty of challenges for both veteran anglers and clever novices of all ages.
The Three River Fly Fishing Festival returns May 1-3, offering anglers from near and far an opportunity to enjoy a weekend of fly-fishing fun and camaraderie.
Now in its 14th year, this fundraiser for the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund offers men and women of all ages the chance to fish our miles of beautiful streams and rivers, while raising money for a worthwhile cause.
Festivities begin on Thursday evening May 1, with an opening night reception hosted by Old Edwards Inn and Spa. Tournament participants will register their teams, pick up free merchandise from festival sponsors, meet their guides if they are fishing in a guided team, go over the rules and boundaries, including the rules and
prizes for biggest fish, smallest fish, ugliest fish and best fish story. All while eating, drinking and being merry in one of the loveliest spots in the area.
On Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3,
…offers men and women of all ages the chance to fish our miles of beautiful streams and rivers…
teams of two fish from 7:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. on local waters. Each team must catch trout from the three types of rivers in our area: delayed harvest, hatchery supported, and native. Teams can be guided or self-guided and the Highland Hiker can help with guiding arrangements if needed.
This year’s closing party will be on Saturday, May 3 at 6:00 P.M. at a private home. Tired but happy participants will be treated to grilled steaks and an open bar, a fitting end to two glorious days on the river. Category winners will be announced and there will be a live auction, silent auction and raffle drawing. Items to be won or bid on will include fly rods, reels and fishing adventures, and a weekend getaway at Rockwood Lodge, as well as a “sit on top” fishing kayak donated by Big Adventures. Entry fees are $500 per team. For more information, to register a team or to become a sponsor contact Chris Wilkes at chris@highlandhiker.com, or by calling (828) 526-0441.
by Mary Jane McCall
Eggs to Dye For
Hippity Hoppity – The Easter Bunny will be making a pair of Plateau appearances – at 10:00 A.M, in Highlands and 11:00 A.M. in Cashiers. All of his fans are invited to search high and low for Easter Eggs.
Of the many cherished annual traditions on the Plateau, few are as joyous and laughter filled as those for children, and our annual Easter egg hunts are tops on everyone’s list.
Bring your easter baskets and hop on over to one of these festivities. Parents, don’t forget to bring your cameras.
There will be plenty of eggs for all as each features thousands of candy and toy filled eggs to delight all the treasure seekers. You might even spy the Easter Bunny and have your photo taken with him. Both events are free, but don’t be late for this very important date.
Highlands
Where: Highlands Recreation Department, 600 North 4th Street
When: Saturday, April 19, 10:00 A.M.
Ages: 9 and under, divided by age groups 0-3, 4-6, and 7-9
Each age group has three hidden prize eggs with a coupon for an Easter basket Cashiers
Where: Village Green, 160 Frank Allen Road
When: Saturday, April 19, 11:00 A.M.
Ages: 11 and under, divided by age groups- 4 and under, 5-8, and 9-11
by Mary Jane McCall
Pawsitively Purrfect Party
The Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society’s Pawsitively Purrfect Party, set for 5:00 P.M. Monday, June 16, at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley, is a howling good time that benefits its lucky cats and dogs. For tickets, visit chhumanesociety.org ; for more information, call (828) 743-5752.
After a five-year hiatus, last year the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society gala returned to The Country Club of Sapphire Valley with an appropriately-named event called “Coming Home.”
The evening was heartfelt, emotional, and most importantly, a successful fundraiser for the hundreds of animals we save and care for each year.
So it’s no surprise that we are returning once again to share an evening with our friends and supporters at this beautiful country club located less than a mile down the road from our no-kill shelter. In 2025, we are bringing back a muchbeloved theme for our event, one that was known for more than a decade at CCSV called Pawsitively Purrfect Party. Pawsitively Purrfect Party is Monday, June 16, at 5:00 P.M. at The Country Club of Sapphire Valley.
The evening will feature a live
and silent auction combined with a magnificent dinner and beer, wine and spirits. Live auction items include an unforgettable vacation in Sea Island, Georgia, including tickets to the RSM Golf Classic, private dinner parties, an exclusive luncheon for 12 at the majestic Rockwood Lodge, a once-in-alifetime falconry experience, and much, much more.
And on the evening of June 16, we are also going to make an announcement about the largest initiative ever in the 38year history of the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, one that will not only benefit the more than 100 animals currently at our no-kill shelter, but all animals in our community.
Pawsitively Purrfect Party is limited to just 200 guests. Tickets are $225 per person and tables of 10 can be reserved for $2,250. A portion of the ticket/table purchase is a generous, tax-deductible
contribution to support our lifesaving mission of rescue, spay/neuter and adoption, and community outreach programs such as humane education, summer camps, rabies vaccination clinics, and a free food pet pantry.
Tickets can be purchased online at chhumanesociety.org or for more information, call (828) 743-5752. Please join us for this unforgettable and historic evening for the animals.
Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located at 200 Gable Drive in Sapphire, one-and-a-half miles east of the Cashiers Ingles in between Cedar Creek Club and Lonesome Valley on Highway 64. Tax-deductible donations to support our lifesaving work can be mailed to: CHHS, P.O. Box 638, Cashiers, NC 28717.
by
David Stroud,
Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society
Highlands High Style
Highlands’ traditions of unimpeachable style and effervescent culture find their full expression with High Style, set for May 17.
Get ready for a day of creativity, elegance, and entertainment as High Style: A Celebration of Art, Cuisine, Fashion & Music returns to Highlands on Saturday, May 17.
Hosted by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC, this highly anticipated event promises an unforgettable experience, blending interactive art demonstrations, live music, culinary delights, high fashion, and more – all set against the stunning backdrop of the Highlands Plateau.
“Last year’s inaugural High Style event was a tremendous success, engaging
attendees with an exciting mix of experiences,” says Kaye McHan, Executive Director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. “This year, we’re bringing back favorites such as our fashion show and educational sessions and introducing fresh locations and artisans to make it even more inspiring.”
The schedule is as follows:
10:00 A.M.
High Style Fashion Show
The Bascom | 323 Franklin Road
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this stylish affair in the heart of the
Highlands. Whether you are a fashion enthusiast, a trendsetter, or simply looking for entertainment, the High Style Fashion Show, presented by the Laurel magazine, at the Bascom promises an unforgettable experience for all. Free to attend. Cost: $25 VIP seating
11:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.
Music - Lisa Rankin
Art Highlands Gallery | 521 N. 4th Street
Music - Young Mountain Magic
Town Square | 341 Main Street
Jewelry Making Demonstration
Marci Sherwood of Isabelle Ambrose
Village Square | 210 N. 5th Street
Music - Byrds & Crow
Village Square | 210 N. 5th Street
Live Painting - Pauline Marr
Highlands Wine Shoppe | 269 Oak Street
Music - Charles Wood
Highlands Wine Shoppe | 269 Oak Street
Music - Ezra and Katie
Oak Square | 210 Main Street
2:30-4:00 P.M.
Cocktail Class
The Stubborn Bull | 445 N. 4th Street
Cost: $39
2:30-4:30 P.M.
Metal Art Demonstration,
William Rogers
Art Highlands Gallery | 521 N. 4th Street
Music - Kettle
Village Square | 210 N. 5th Street
Music - FoxFire Boys
Highlands Wine Shoppe | 269 Oak Street
Live Painting - Cath Connelly Hudson
Town Square | 341 Main Street
Music - Zorki
Oak Square | 210 Main Street
3:00-5:00 P.M.
Charcuterie Board Class, Chef Suzanne Young
Bespoke Design Collaborative
345A Main Street
Cost: $75
6:00-8:30 P.M.
Saturdays on Pine Outdoor ConcertGotcha Groove Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park 411-499 Pine Street
For more information about High Style, call (828) 526-2112. Tickets for fee-based events are available at highlandschamber. org/high-style.
by Johanna Fein, Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC
HMF Honors Enzo Ferrari
The fruits of Enzo Ferrari’s engineering instincts and artistic sensibilities will take center stage at the Highlands Motoring Festival, set for June 12-15
If you’re seeing red (rosa corsa), it’s because the Highlands Motoring Festival team is in high gear. Red-dy or not, join this world-class event and learn why race cars are adorned in classic crimson!
Witness firsthand Enzo Ferrari’s timeless productions at Classics in the Park Invitational Judged Car Show on Saturday, June 14, in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Also on Saturday, break out sparkles and finery for the HMF Gala at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club, 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. ($175 per guest, with proceeds going to local charities).
Even though the driving tour is sold-out, there will be plenty to experience like The Main Street Parade of Classics on Friday, June 13, and the High Octane Car Show on Sunday, June 15. It’s a Social and Car Gathering event in Kelsey-Hutchinson Park, 8:30-11:00 A.M.
In addition to the red Ferraris, there will be hundreds of other classic and collector cars in Highlands for the four days of the festival, June 12-15.
In HMF history, Ferraris are no strangers to the annual enthusiasts. HMF’s first visiting Ferrari was 1953 “Little Red”, 166MM/53 with racing history and celebrity ownership. During the 2021 Highlands Motoring Festival there was a joint venture with The Bascom Gallery. Two significant Ferraris were displayed: a 1966 275GTB/4 alloy and a 1974 Dino 246 GTS. In recent years they’ve hosted many Ferraris: 250 GT 2+2, 275 GTB, 330 GTC, 365 GTB Daytona, 308 GTB, 308 GT4, Testarossa, and F-40.
Ferrari of Atlanta became a sponsor of Highlands Motoring Festival in 2016 and has displayed a variety of new Ferraris on the HMF show field over the years.
The festival’s Grand Marshall for 2025 is Mr. Corky Coker. The Coker name is well known to the collector car world by his family’s businesses: “Honest Charlie,” a popular mail order speed shop back in the mid-century; and Coker Classic Tires. Mr. Coker will share his experiences as a lifelong gearhead at the festival’s Gala at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club on Saturday, June 14, from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M.
All proceeds go to three human-needs charities. A future Laurel issue will feature HMF’s community generosity.
Who was Enzo Ferrari?
(b. 1898; d. 1988)
• Son of a metal worker in Modena, Italy
• As a young man, he was rejected for a job at Fiat, a grudge that continued until 1969 when he sold a majority share of the Ferrari company to Fiat.
• 1920-1923, a driver for Alfa Romeo.
• By late 1920s, he became the race team manager for Alfa. When the factory backed out of racing, Enzo took over the team under the Scuderia Ferrari banner.
• Ferrari survived WWII with a small machine shop. The plan: make automotive components.
• Enzo’s friend and former driver, Luigi Chinetti, convinced Enzo to build his own cars – Enzo’s lifelong dream. It was agreed that Ferrari would build 20 cars, and Chinetti would sell them to wealthy Americans. This was an agreement that neither man felt confident that he could fulfill. It would become legendary.
• Chinetti’s sales skills and racing abilities helped establish Ferrari as an international powerhouse. He imported Ferraris to the United States and sold them to wealthy buyers.
• In 1947, the first Ferrari was produced and raced successfully. In 1949 a Ferrari driven by Chinetti won the Le Mans 24 endurance race, a turning point for Ferrari.
• Into the 1950s, Ferrari thrived with custom-built high performance cars and race cars.
• Ferraris become the status symbols for the rich and famous including many Hollywood stars and royalty.
• Into the 1960s, even though it was a small undercapitalized manufacturer, Ferrari successfully competed and dominated in three major motorsports venues: F1 Grand Prix, Sports Car and Prototype endurance racing. At the same time, Ferrari was producing several hundred “production” cars per year.
• It is often said that Enzo hated the production car business and did it to finance the racing end of the business.
• Over the years, Enzo employed the best drivers available. These names include Nuvolari, Ascari, Fangio, Moss, Gendbien, Surtees, Graham Hill, Shelby, Bandini, Phil Hill, and many other greats.
• Ford vs. Ferrari: After the Academy Award winning movie, this David and Goliath story is now folk lore. In 1962 Ford Motor Company’s attempt to purchase Ferrari was answered with Enzo insulting Henry Ford Jr. That provoked Ford to beat Ferrari at any cost. It took three years for Ford to win the Le Mans race and break Ferrari’s 10-year domination.
• Interesting sidebar: When Enzo Ferrari was young, he wanted to be an operetta tenor, a sports journalist, or a racing driver.
For more info, visit HighlandsMotoringFestival.com
by Donna Rhodes
Village NatureSeries 2025
The Cashiers Village Green will be the stage for the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and Village Green’s Village Nature Series, exploring the wild lands and the wild things of the Plateau.
The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is delighted to once again partner with the Village Green to provide the Village Nature lecture series in 2025.
And many thanks to the Cedar Creek Club for their continued sponsorship of the series!
On April 29, we’ll kick off the season with Topher Stevens of the Birders of the Tuckaseegee and Wild Remembering for “Tuning into the Language of the Forest: an Introduction to Birding by Ear” – a presentation followed by a bird walk. We’ll learn the secret language of the forest and the tools we need to start identifying local birds by their songs and calls.
And then on May 27 the series will feature Jennifer Bryson Bauer of Landslide Consultants for a discussion of “Landslides in WNC” with a focus on the types of landslides we see occurring in Western North Carolina, including
stories from landslides triggered by Hurricane Helene.
On June 25, Callie D. Moore, Western Regional Director of MountainTrue, will
We’ll learn the secret language of the forest and the tools we need to start identifying local birds by their songs and calls.
present “A Tale of Three Watersheds” to instruct about watersheds and about the three watersheds that drain the Cashiers area of the Highlands Plateau.
Joyce Pearson of Monarch Watch will present on July 30 regarding Monarch Butterfly Conservation in Western North Carolina, including pollinator waystations, habitat establishment, and restoration. Bryan Heller of Piano Mountain will provide a treat on August 19 with
“Experience the Mountains: The Four Seasons,” a live piano musical journey through the four seasons of the North Carolina mountains, featuring all original video and music created, composed, and performed by Bryan Heller.
On September 30, the series will conclude with Raven Sterling, the “Head Tree Hugger” at Raven Invasive Plant Management, for a presentation on “Mindful Management of Common Invasive Plants.” Raven will share successes in mechanical removal and management of common invasive plants.
For more information, please go to hcltnc.org
by Lance Hardin, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust Scan to learn more.
Explore Your Libraries
Throughout the month, the Plateau’s twin libraries are serving a tonic to revive sluggish spirits and sleepy intellects.
Jennifer Moorman
April is shaping up to be an exciting month at both Hudson Library in Highlands and Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library in Cashiers, with special events, engaging author visits, and community activities designed to bring readers and book lovers together.
In celebration of National Library Week, April 6-12, libraries nationwide are embracing the theme “Drawn to the Library,” highlighting the magnetic pull these spaces have on communities and the diverse reasons people visit. Whether it’s for compelling stories, educational resources, a cozy reading nook, or friendly community gatherings, local libraries exemplify this spirit of attraction and community engagement. Both Highlands and Cashiers residents are encouraged to explore their libraries and discover new reasons to fall in love with reading and storytelling.
Hudson Library in Highlands will host
its 2025 maiden Books & Bites author program on April 22, featuring Jennifer Moorman. Later the same day, at 3:00 P.M., Moorman will also visit Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. Readers in both communities will have the chance to meet Moorman and hear her introduce her newest novel, “The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds.”
Known for crafting captivating stories featuring resilient, intriguing female protagonists with touches of mystical realism, Moorman has earned comparisons to beloved author Nora Roberts.
Adding to the excitement, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, in partnership with the Cashiers Historical Society, welcomes author Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle on April 30. Clapsaddle’s acclaimed historical novel, “Even As We Breathe,” is celebrated for its richly woven narrative, grounded deeply in historical authenticity and cultural heritage. During her talk,
Clapsaddle will share behind-the-scenes insights into her meticulous research process, the art of crafting historical narratives, and the unique challenges she faces when blending fact with fiction.
To round out the festivities, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library invites the community to participate in a family-friendly egg decorating party on April 16 at 3:00 P.M. This lively and colorful event is the perfect way to celebrate spring, fostering creativity, joy, and community bonding across all ages.
With these diverse and engaging events, Hudson Library and Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library continue to serve as vital community cornerstones – places where creativity thrives, stories come alive, and residents gather in a shared appreciation for literature and lifelong learning. by Marlene Osteen
Keep an Ear Out
The Pop-Up Pipers will pipe up throughout Highlands in a series of unexpected performances.
Get ready for a delightful surprise as the stirring sounds of bagpipes fill the air in downtown Highlands. This spring
…visitors and locals alike can experience the magic of pop-up bagpipe performances…
through fall, visitors and locals alike can experience the magic of pop-up bagpipe performances, presented by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce.
The Pop-Up Pipers will appear in unexpected locations throughout downtown Highlands on select Saturdays from 4:30 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Keep an ear out on the following dates: May 3, June
7, July 12, August 2, September 6, and October 4, but exactly where they’ll play remains a mystery, adding an element of spontaneous joy to each performance. Featuring Margaret Tooke and Glenn Morris, the talented musicians behind Highlands Bagpipers, these performances celebrate the region’s rich Scottish and Irish heritage. They pay tribute to the early settlers and laborers who helped shape Highlands’ cultural fabric while also honoring the town’s longstanding reputation as a haven for artists and musicians.
“Whether you’ve called Highlands home for years or you’re just visiting for the day, these pop-up performances are sure to bring a smile and create a memorable moment,” says Kaye McHan, executive
director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC.
For more information go to visithighlandsnc.com or call (828) 526-2112.
by Johanna Fein, Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit
Highlands, NC
…these performances celebrate the region’s rich Scottish and Irish heritage.
Scan to learn more.
Spring’s Orchard Sessions
Plateau favorite Mike Kinnebrew returns to The Farm at Old Edwards with new rhythms and fresh tales, April 23.
Book your tickets now at oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions .
There are certain sounds that just belong to a place, like the way the wind hums when it “wooshes” through the trees or the riotous chirping of crickets on a warm summer night in the woods. And then, there’s Mike Kinnebrew. His voice – rich, and velvety, laced with the kind of storytelling that pulls you in tight – as much a part of the Orchard Sessions as the setting itself.
On Wednesday, April 23, under the boughs of fruit trees and the open expanse of Highlands’ Mountain sky, Kinnebrew’s voice will once again fill the air at The Farm at Old Edwards. If you’ve ever been before, you know – there’s something about the way the music feels at home here, it makes you glad to feel a sense of human connection. And if you haven’t been? Well, let’s just say, it’s time.
It’s been a whirlwind few months for Kinnebrew. His new album, Call It Life, was released on January 10 and has
already been met with glowing reviews.
He co-wrote a song with Grammy-winning songwriter Marcus Hummon – the hitmaker behind “God Bless the Broken Road” and “Cowboy Take Me Away.”
In January, he played his first-ever performance at Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Café, a dream he’s had since watching Live at the Bluebird on cable TV 20 years ago. Equally noteworthy was his recent set at the 30A Songwriters Festival, sharing the stage with Melissa Etheridge and Amos Lee.
But through it all, his heart remains with the Orchard Sessions.
“As I’ve traveled more and more, my belief that there is something magical about playing music for my wonderful friends in Highlands has only deepened,” he says. “I’m simply excited and hopeful for the memories we’ll make at another Orchard Session in the spring.”
For this performance, Kinnebrew will be
bringing a special guest or two—still to be announced. Expect a setlist that spans his career, including songs from Call It Life —honest, introspective, and unafraid to lean into life’s contradictions.
The Orchard Sessions aren’t just concerts; they’re gatherings, moments where music and place intertwine to create something truly special. Kinnebrew himself sums it up best: “I stare at the Orchard Sessions dates on my calendar all year long, wishing they would come sooner.” And really, so do we.
All Orchard Sessions are open to the public. Concerts run from 6:00–8:00 P.M. with a $25 cover charge for Old Edwards Inn and Half-Mile Farm guests and members, and $50 for the public. A cash bar and complimentary snacks round out the experience.
by Marlene Osteen
Mike Kinnebrew
Booked for Bingo
Highlands Rotary Bingo, set for April 11 at the Highlands Community Building, looks to boost the fortunes of its Interact Club at Highlands School.
Are you ready to connect with Bingo Bliss? It’s a fabulous way to Spring into community interaction. Support the efforts of Highlands Rotary with a Bingo bonanza. Feel the gratis-faction by helping organizations you care about (see those which benefit from Bingo below).
Groups look forward annually to raising funds for worthy causes. They, in turn, help the Rotary mission: We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
If you haven’t already, get your pencils (or your iPhones) and make note of the following dates. This upcoming April 11 Bingo Night supports Interact Club, a service club directly associated with Rotary. Wow. Two service clubs in one
room. That’s a bundle of energy and genuine kindness. Join the conviviality. Everybody benefits.
All 2025 Highlands Rotary Bingo Nights are held at the Community Building, 869 North 4th Street.
This upcoming April 11 Bingo Night supports Interact Club, a service club directly associated with Rotary.
Interact Club of Highlands School: April 11, Friday, 6:30-8:30 P.M.
Counseling Center of Highlands: May 22, Thursday, 6:30-8:30 P.M.
Gordon Child Care Center: June 26, Thursday, 6:30-8:30 P.M.
Scaly Mountain Women’s Club: July 24, Thursday, 6:30-8:30 P.M.
Highlands School Athletic Booster Club: August 22, 6:30-8:30 P.M.
Scaly Mountain Historical Society: September 25, 6:30-8:30 P.M.
Wreaths Across America: October 9, 6:30-8:30 P.M.
Why Us Kids: November 13, 6:308:30 P.M.
Shop with a Cop: December 18, 6:30-8:30 P.M.
For more information, contact: rbax47@gmail.com. Bingo bliss awaits.
by Donna Rhodes
Groovin’ on The Green
The Village Green is gearing up for its raucous 2025 Groovin’ on the Green season. Here are the rules and the lineup and an invitation to plunge into these fun celebrations.
Now that we’re at the start of what’s shaping up to be the Plateau’s busiest Busy Season, we’re all invited to enjoy the happy sounds of Groovin’ on the Green – a bangin’ summer-long jam that has visitors and locals swinging all season long to performances by some of the area’s most entertaining bands.
The Village Green’s Event Coordinator Shelby Ward has unveiled the 2025 Groovin’ on the Green lineup of acts.
“Everyone is invited join us for these performances – if you’re inclined to kick up your heels, dancing is encouraged!” she says.
Here’s the 2025 lineup:
May 23: Corey Stevenson Band
May 30: High 5 Band
June 20: Commodore Fox
July 25: McIntosh & The Lionhearts
August 1: Martin & Kelly
August 22: The V8s
August 29: Gotcha Groove
There’s also a hatful of rules to pay attention to:
Rain or Shine, concerts will go on; General admission is free and concerts are open to the public;
Donations are encouraged and accepted to support The Village Green and this beloved event! Donations will be collected at each concert and individuals are welcome to donate through The Village Green’s website at villagegreencashiersnc.com/concerts/
Groovin’ is family-friendly and fun for all ages;
Concerts are held on select Fridays from 6:00 - 8:30 PM;
Attendees are welcome to bring their own picnics, however, local food and beverage businesses will be on site for purchase;
Dogs are welcome as long as they remain leashed and with their owners at all times;
A limited number of 10x10 tent rentals are available for purchase on The Village Green’s website: villagegreencashiersnc.com/concerts/. These tents will be set up on the Commons Lawn, providing a comfortable, shaded space to enjoy the show.
The Village Green is a 20+ acre nonprofit park system that is not funded by any government, state, or federal entity.
“We rely solely on the generosity of private contributions to continue our treasured community events and programs, like Groovin’ on The Green,” says Ward.
by Luke Osteen
Scan to learn more.
Tastebuds Rejoice
Both Cashiers and Highlands are serving up the bounties of their local farmers, artisans, and kitchen masters – The Green Market at The Village Green Commons, Wednesdays from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.; and Highlands Farmers’ Marketplace from 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.
Saturdays at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park.
It seems like we were just picking pumpkins, gathering nuts, and collecting holly stems for holiday decorations. Look at us now … happily welcoming spring and digging, literally, what’s to come: Highlands Farmers’ Marketplace (Saturdays beginning in May from 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street in Highlands); and Locally Grown at The Village Green (opens every Wednesday, starting May 7 through October, 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.).
The markets make it easy to weekly gather baskets of beauty, flavor, and fragrance. Every purchase will awaken your senses and fill your home with all Spring has to offer. Local berries are just around the corner. Radishes, leafy greens, and asparagus, break the winter humdrum of meat and potatoes.
Citrus, while not grown in the mountains, is often available on the market
tables. Fruit and veggies are growing, bursting into tasty, tangy, deliciousness with a complement of lemon zing.
Support our local farmers. When they thrive, we do too, with healthy food for our families. With our two producer-
The markets make it easy to weekly gather baskets of beauty, flavor, and fragrance.
only markets you’ll have plenty of nourishing, fresh produce, meats, dairy, baked goods, honey, jams, and so much more.
Besides edibles, explore the markets’ handcrafted goods, bath and beauty products, candles, handwork, and gift items for celebrations, treats, and parties.
Please contact shelby@cashiersgreen. com if you are interested in joining the Village Green Market as a vendor. Don Deal, manager of Highlands Farmer’s Market, also invites vendors. Call him at (828) 342-8239.
Entrance to both Markets are free and so is parking. Come on over. Fill your basket with yum. While you’re at it, catch up with friends and neighbors now that weather and Nature invite getting together under Spring’s blue sky.
The air is filled with fresh beginnings. Your markets await! Delight in their delectables.
by Donna Rhodes
Our Red-Letter Plant Day
With the mountains greening all around us, there’s no better time for the Highlands Mountain Garden Club to stage its now-legendary Annual Plant Sale at the Town Ball Field on Saturday, May 24.
Let’s all give a collective shout out for the arrival of spring!
Now’s the time to start freshening up your landscaping and gardens and the perfect place to start is at the annual Highlands Mountain Garden Club’s annual plant sale to be held on Saturday, May 24, from 9:00 A.M. until Noon at the Town Ball Field. The ball field will have been transformed into a magical carpet of green covered with plants of all shapes, sizes, and varieties, and busy worker bee Garden Club members will be on hand to help you find what you’re looking for.
Why take a chance on big box plants that might or might not thrive in your garden? These plants have all been lovingly cultivated in native soil so they will grow and thrive for years to come. Chances are that if you’ve admired any beautiful plant in a local garden, you’ll find it here.
Expect to find flowers and plants of all kinds, from those that attract pollinators such as bee balm, astilbe, and clematis, to the always popular Hosta in its many varieties, several types of ferns, including the popular Cinnamon Fern, and many other offerings, including Dahlia tubers.
Dahlias have become increasingly popular on the Plateau thanks in no small part to the successful Dahlia Festival held each September. It’s hard not to want to grow your own after you see them in all their glory, so this is your chance to talk to the growers and buy local tubers.
Who knows, you might grow next year’s best in show! At the very least you will have transformed your garden with stunning Dahlias.
Garden Club member Ann Maxwell says, “what’s not to love about Dahlias? They bloom from July until the first frost and growing conditions on the Highlands
plateau are perfect for them.”
They come in unlimited colors, varieties, and sizes, which can range from less than two inches to more than 10 inches in diameter, are deer resistant, and they are beautiful cut flowers.
Ann warns that “growing Dahlias is addictive,” so plan ahead to come back next year for more tubers.
Be prepared to arrive early as the sale is extremely popular and long lines form quickly. Proceeds are used for scholarships for local students, maintenance of the Highlands School garden, the Historical Jail premises and the Eckerd Center Garden, as well as for other community projects. It is a chance to beautify your garden while giving to a good cause.
Cash or check only, please.
by Mary Jane McCall
Keep Highlands Beautiful
It’s time to tidy up the neighborhood – you’re invited to join the Plateau Pickup, set for Saturday, April 26.
“Join the annual Plateau Pickup and help keep Highlands beautiful,” says Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands N.C. Executive Director/ Kaye McHan. The event kicks off at 8:30 A.M. Saturday, April 26, at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street, where volunteers will receive their assignments for stretches of US 64, NC 28, NC 106, and parts of downtown Highlands.
Participants will be provided with everything needed for the cleanup effort, including a light breakfast, safety vest, gloves, pick-up tools, garbage bags, and a Thank You t-shirt. After the morning’s work, a boxed lunch will be served back at the park at 12:00 P.M. “Last year, despite the cold
weather, we had an amazing turnout, and volunteers collected an incredible amount of debris,” says Ms. McHan. “It’s heartwarming to see our community come together to beautify our roadways.”
Plateau Pickup is organized by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. To participate, email events@ highlandschamber.org or call (828) 526-5841.
For more details about Plateau Pickup or other Highlands events, visit highlandschamber.org
by Luke Osteen
Scan to learn more.
Fun With Purpose
The entire Plateau – boys, girls, parents, supporters, llamas – is invited to join the fun at the Boy & Girls Club’s May Fest, Saturday, May 3, on Frank Allen Road in Cashiers.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau will be hosting its free May Fest at the Club’s headquarters on Frank Allen Road in Cashiers on Saturday, May 3rd, from Noon to 3:00 P.M.
May Fest is a complimentary event for all community members organized by the club to express gratitude to the community for its ongoing support and involvement. Nearly 40 local nonprofits and businesses will join as participants, offering engaging educational activities centered around the theme “Fun with Purpose.” Attendees can look forward to a special guest appearance from MAMA the helicopter, the Jackson County SWAT team, and even llamas! With delicious food and live music, this event promises to be enjoyable for all.
This vibrant Club serves 560 members from Cashiers and Highlands. It
provides a welcoming space where members can connect with peers and receive support from staff while engaging in physical activities, art projects, and learning about science, technology, and healthy eating. Along with offering after-school programs, the Boys & Girls Club also offers a nine-week all-day summer program.
Thanks to the strong support from the community, this year marks the first time the Boys & Girls Club has been able to announce free membership for both the after-school program and the Summer Camp program.
The Summer Camp program will run from Tuesday, June 10, to Friday, August 8. Registration for Summer Camp is now open for all three locations: the Cashiers Club, The Highlands Club, and the Abell Teen Club.
If you would like to learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau,
visit bgcplateau.org or, of course, make a point to join the fun at May Fest.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau (BGCP) serves youth from kindergarten through 12th grade in the Cashiers and Highlands communities. BGCP is nationally recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America as one of the top 20 Clubs out of 5,200 in the country. The club offers a wide range of programs focusing on academic success, character development, and healthy lifestyles. BGCP is committed to ensuring that all children, especially those who need it most, have access to a safe and supportive environment after school and during the summer months.
For more information, please contact Carmen Waite, at (828) 743-2775 or via email at carmen@bgcplateau.org. Visit our website at bgcplateau.org by Kayla Deaton, Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau
CLE’s Season Kick-off
Everyone’s invited to The Center for Life Enrichment’s Opening Season Soiree, an exclusive preview of the upcoming 2025 Season of discovery and enlightenment – 5:00 P.M. Friday, June 6, at Highlands Wine & Provisions. Call (828) 5268811 or visit CLE’s website to RSVP.
Andrew Weissmann
Benjamin Wittes
Alan Shuptrine
Cadence by Alan Shuptrine
The Highlands-Cashiers Center for Life Enrichment is gearing up for its most spectacular season yet. Whether you’re interested in attending historical lectures that transport you to another time and place, learning more about current affairs from specially curated experts, experimenting with a new art medium, or refining your culinary skills, CLE has something for everyone!
To kick off the season in style, CLE’s Opening Season Soirée will take place on Friday, June 6, at High Country Wine & Provisions. Guests are encouraged to drop by between the hours of 5:00 and 7:00 P.M. to enjoy wine and light nibbles, catch up with Plateau friends, meet CLE’s new Executive Director, Meg Stevens, and see what CLE has in store for the season.
This event is free to attend and open to members and non-members alike (so bring a friend). Please call CLE’s office at (828) 526-8811 or visit CLE’s
website to RSVP.
July 21 heralds the return of CLE fan-favorite Andrew Weissmann, along with Benjamin Wittes, editor in chief of Lawfare, for a discussion on the Trump 2.0 administration’s impact on the United States Department of Justice, the FBI, the Intelligence Community, and national security. This presentation is ideal for those interested in a deep dive into the activities of the president, the administrative state, and the courts by two of the country’s foremost thinkers about democracy, national security and the rule of law. If you missed out on seeing Andrew last season, now is your chance. This program will sell out, and advanced registration is required.
While Fall may seem just a distant notion, local artists are encouraged to mark their calendars for September 15, as nationally awarded artist Alan Shuptrine will be returning to Highlands to teach a watercolor painting workshop.
This exclusive CLE experience will focus on painting weathered farm homes, clapboard buildings, shadows, and distant grass fields. Alan’s favorite teacher was his father, Hubert Shuptrine (1936-2006) and of course, both Hubert and Alan’s works are inspired by artist Andrew Wyeth. Wyeth’s preferred techniques being covered in this six hour class by Alan will include drybrush watercolor, layering of washes, and detailed Realism. This is a one-of-a-kind artist encounter you won’t want to miss!
To learn more, register for programs, or join/renew your CLE membership, please visit clehighlands.com , call (828) 526-8811, or email office@ clehighlands.com
by Audra Bullard,
Center for Life Enrichment Scan to learn more.
Heritage Apple Day
The storied apples of the past get their day in the sun with Cashiers Historical Society’s Apple Heritage Day, Saturday, April 26, at the society’s orchard, 1940 Highway 107 South.
Celebrate springtime at Cashiers Historical Society’s Heritage Apple Day!
drink for centuries.
…the Cashiers Historical Society celebrates the agricultural history of the Cashiers Valley…
Every year, as the frost thaws and the crocus and daffodils shoot up from the ground, the Cashiers Historical Society celebrates the agricultural history of the Cashiers Valley at Heritage Apple Day. This annual event focuses on the rich role of apples in the culture of our area. Apples grow well in our cool mountain climate and Cashiers families have utilized apples for food, dessert, and
Mordecai Zachary, who built the rustic Greek-Revival style home now known as the Zachary Tolbert House, built an apple orchard on his property. His daughter, Flora Jane, wrote, “my father had a nice orchard of apple trees, and I have been to the top of every one of them, and gathered some of the most delicious apples anybody ever tasted: Granny Rogers, Morgans, and other varieties.”
Today, the Cashiers Historical Society still has an apple orchard like the one the Zacharys had over 100 years ago.
This year, Heritage Apple Day is on April 26. We celebrate apples in spring-
time to highlight grafting and planting trees. Our event will be at the Cashiers Historical Society so you can see our orchard and tour our grounds. We will have grafting, cider-making, traditional Appalachian music, Jack Tale storytelling, and an apple baking contest. Please visit our website to learn more about the event. We’re excited to welcome you back to CHS on April 26! by Amelia Golcheski, Cashiers Historical Society
Mordecai Zachary … built an apple orchard on his property.
Scan to learn more.
APRIL
“April
“April is the sweetest month of the year, the mellow season of rebirth and renewal.” — Mary Sojourner
Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.
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The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.
Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.
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The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM.
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Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. NTL: Nye, 5 PM, Highlands PAC.
Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Cashiers Methodist Church Choir Room.
View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar
Bluegrass, 10 AM-1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House. Live Music, Monica Spears, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Music Bingo, 7 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.
Bluegrass, 10 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House.
Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.
Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM.
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Live Music, 5-8 PM, The Local.
Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
Live Music, David Cheatham, 6-9 PM, Trailborn Highlands. Blues Music, 6-9 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Trivia, 7 PM, High Dive.
is the sweetest month of the year, the mellow season of rebirth and renewal.” — Mary Sojourner 11
Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.
Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.
Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Zorki, 1-3 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern.
Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Zorki, 1-3 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern.
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Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
Fly Fishing Film Tour, 6 PM, Highlands PAC.
Fly Fishing Film Tour, 6 PM, Highlands PAC.
Bluegrass, 10 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House.
Music Bingo, 7 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.
Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist.
Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Laurel Cover Artist Reception, 5:30-7:30 PM, High Country Wine and Provisions, Highlands.
The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.
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Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.
The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Landscape Elements, 3 PM, The Bascom.
Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Cashiers Methodist Church Choir Room.
Blues Music, 6-9 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern.
Good for Grub, CHS Trivia, 6 PM, Whiteside Brewing Co. Live Music, Brooke Campbell, 6-9 PM, Trailborn Highlands. Trivia, 7 PM, High Dive. 10
Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.
The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Bascom Clay Symposium Keynote, 4 PM, The Bascom.
Live Music, 5-8 PM, The Local.
Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
Rotary Club Bingo, benefitting Interact Club at Highlands, 6:30-8:30 PM, Highlands Community Building.
Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.
Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Bascom Clay Symposium, 10 AM-4 PM, The Bascom. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Zorki, 1-3 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern.
Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist.
Live Music, Tim Austin, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Easter Concert, Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 2:30 PM, The Village Green. Music Bingo, 7 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.
Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.
The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM.
Egg Decorating Party, 3 PM, Albert Carlton-Cashiers
Community Library
Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.
The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM.
Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church.
Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Cashiers Methodist Church Choir Room.
Live Music, Melissa McKinney, 6-9 PM, Trailborn Highlands.
Wine Dinner Series, Highlands Supper Club.
Blues Music, 6-9 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern.
Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.
Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM.
Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
Bluegrass, 10 AM1:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House.
Cashiers Burger Week, pick up your Passport at the Cashiers
Area Chamber of Commerce.
Live Music, Breeze Cable, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly.
Music Bingo, 7 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.
Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist.
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Bascom Clay Symposium, 10 AM-4 PM, The Bascom. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Zorki, 1-3 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern.
Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist.
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Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.
Mountain Findings, 10 AM-1 PM.
Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM.
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Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. Easter Egg Hunt, 10 AM, Highlands Recreation Department. Easter Egg Hunt, 11 AM, The Village Green. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Zorki, 1-3 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern.
Easter Egg Hunt, 1-4 PM, Satolah Creek Farm.
Easter Egg Hunt, 10 AM, Highlands Recreation Department. Easter Egg Hunt, 11 AM, The Village Green. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Zorki, 1-3 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern.
Easter Egg Hunt, 1-4 PM, Satolah Creek Farm.
Live Music, Rail Town Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
Trivia, 7 PM, High Dive. 24 25 26 15 14 18 17 16 19 5 20
Live Music, Rail Town Music, 2-5 PM, The Vineyard at High Holly. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
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Cashiers Burger Week, pick up your Passport at the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce.
Art League of Highlands Cashiers meeting, 4:30 PM, The Bascom.
Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist.
The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.
Books & Bites, Author Jennifer Moorman, 12:30 PM, Hudson Library.
Author Talk, Jennifer Moorman, 3 PM, Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library.
The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.
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Artist Talk, Will Dickert, 4 PM, The Bascom.
Live Music, Mike Kinnebrew, 6 PM, The Farm at Old Edwards.
Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.
Out of the Round & Into the Fire, 9 AM- 4 PM, The Bascom. The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:30 PM, Cashiers Methodist Church Choir Room. Live Music, Remedy 58, 6 PM, Trailborn Highlands.
Live Music, Ben Nichols, 8:30 PM, Highlander Mountain House. Blues Music, 6-9 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Trivia, 7 PM, High Dive.
Tending Your Creative Fire, NC Women’s Retreat, 9 AM-5 PM, Lake Logan Retreat Center, Canton. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
Highlands Plateau Pickup, 8:30 AM-12 PM, Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Burger Week, pick up your Passport at the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce. Heritage Apple Day, 11 AM-3 PM, Cashiers Historical Society. MET: Le Nozze di Figaro, 1 PM, Highlands PAC Zorki, 1-3 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern.
Highlands Food Pantry, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Methodist. The Bookworm , 11 AM-4 PM.
29 The Bookworm 11 AM-4 PM.
Cashiers Burger Week, pick up your Passport at the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce.
Village Nature Series, 5:30 PM, The Village Green.
Cashiers Burger Week, pick up your Passport at the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce.
Mountain Heritage Series: Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, 2 PM, Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library.
Bluegrass Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Ugly Dog Pub.
Highlands Plateau Pickup, 8:30 AM-12 PM, Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM-2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM-4 PM. Cashiers Burger Week, pick up your Passport at the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce. Heritage Apple Day, 11 AM-3 PM, Cashiers Historical Society. MET: Le Nozze di Figaro, 1 PM, Highlands PAC Zorki, 1-3 PM, Ruffed Grouse Tavern.
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Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
Live Music, 5:30 PM, Hummingbird Lounge.
May Events
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 - SUNDAY, MAY 4
Cashiers Burger Week Cashiers, North Carolina
Pick up your Burger Week Passport at the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce, present passport when ordering burger and the participating restaurant will stamp the passport. Vote for your favorite and win prizes. cashiersburgerweek.com
SATURDAY, MAY 3
Boy & Girls Club’s May Fest
Noon-3 PM, Boys & Girls Club Cashiers May Fest is a complimentary event for all community members organized by the club to express gratitude to the community for its ongoing support and involvement.
SATURDAY, MAY 24
Highlands Mountain Garden Club Annual Plant Sale Town Ball Field
The ballfield will have been transformed into a magical carpet of green covered with plants of all shapes, sizes, and varieties, and busy worker bee Garden Club members will be on hand to help you find what you’re looking for.
ON THE HORIZON June Events
THURSDAY, MAY 1 - SATURDAY, MAY 3
Three Rivers Fly Fishing Festival
Highlands, North Carolina
The Three Rivers Fly Fishing Festival offers plenty of challenges for both veteran anglers and clever novices of all ages.
3riverflyfish.com
SATURDAY, MAY 17
High Style
Highlands, North Carolina
With its fusion of art, music, food, and fashion, High Style is the quintessential Plateau celebration of Mountain Chic. highlandschamber.org
Weekly
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 - SATURDAY, JULY 12
Mountain Theatre Company’s The Marvelous Wonderettes
Highlands PAC
This smash off-Broadway hit takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where we meet Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts!. mountaintheatre.com
MONDAY, JUNE 16
CHHS’s Pawsitively Purrfect Party Country Club of Sapphire Valley
The evening - to benefit the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society - will feature a live and silent auction combined with a magnificent dinner and beer, wine and spirits chhumanesociety.org
SATURDAY - SUNDAY, JUNE 28-29
Mountaintop Art and Craft Show
10 AM-5 PM, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park
From pottery and photography to weaving and basketry, you’ll find a wide variety of art and crafts. One thing our show specializes in is rustic furniture and wood accessories. Enjoy live music. Dogs and children welcome. highlandsartshow.com
EVENT SERIES
Locally Grown On The Green Wednesdays beginning in May
11 AM-3 PM | The Village Green
Friday Night Live Fridays beginning May 17 | 6-8:30 PM | Town Square
Highlands Marketplace Saturdays beginning in May
8 AM-12:30 PM | KH Park
Saturdays on Pine Saturdays beginning May 16 | 6-8:30 PM | KH Park
THURSDAY - SUNDAY, JUNE 12 - 15
Highlands Motoring Festival
Highlands, North Carolina
Oh, the tales they’ll tell! The classic autos at the heart of Highlands Motoring Festival are dramatic fusions of chrome, craftsmanship and passion. highlandsmotoringfestival.com
THURSDAY, JUNE 19
Great Art On Screen: Florence & The Uffizi Gallery
Highlands PAC
A journey into the Italian Renaissance. It is a totally immersive and unique experience allowing the audience to see, listen, feel and savor the most outstanding and celebrated breeding ground of creativity in the history of art. highlandsperformingarts.com
Monthly
Village Nature Series Select Dates - April 29, May 27, June 25, July 3, August 19, September 30 | 5 PM | The Village Green Pop-Up Pipers Select Dates | 4:30-5 PM | Around Highlands May 3, June 7, July 12, Aug. 2, Sept. 6, and Oct. 4
Orchard Sessions Select Dates | 6-8 PM | The Farm at Old Edwards May 21, June 11, July 16, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Dec. 17
Old Edwards Chef Dinners Select Dates | 6:30 PM | The Farm at Old Edwards | May 29, June 26, July 17, Aug. 24, Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 14, Nov. 15
Groovin’ On The Green Select Fridays | 6:30 PM | The Village Green | May 23, May 30, June 20, July 25, Aug. 1, Aug. 22, Aug. 29
Beth Townsend
A TOP 1% AGENT ON THE PLATEAU OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS!*
*According to data from the Highlands-Cashiers MLS, 2004-2024
BROKER & CO-FOUNDER OF THE MCKEE GROUP
Beth’s connection to Cashiers runs deep. A resident for nearly 45 years and a real estate professional for over 30, she has witnessed the plateau’s evolution while remaining rooted in its natural beauty and community spirit.
A Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) with GUILD ELITE™ recognition, she has played a key role in notable development projects, including Cedar Creek Club and Wade Hampton Golf Club.
With a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Florida, Beth offers specialized expertise in large-acreage development parcels, historic estates, and homes in the area’s finest private communities. A passionate conservationist, she helped protect over 600 acres near town, contributed to the creation of the Snowbird community, and preserved her own circa 1892 farm.
She also owns The Historic Minnie Cole House, built in 1875 and celebrating 150 years. Currently home to Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty, it is a designated Cashiers Historical Society Heritage Property and received the 2022 Village Heritage Award for its careful restoration and adaptive reuse.
Beth’s profound understanding of land, history, and community has made her a trusted advisor for Buyers and Sellers alike. Her childhood summers and holidays at High Hampton cemented her love and connection to the area’s nature and culture.
What Beth’s Clients are Saying...
“When selling a challenging property,you want Beth on your team.She is determined,creative and perseveres to meet your goals.From emails and texts on the weekend to going above and beyond her ‘broker duties,’you know instantly that you have an essential advocate on your side.” – SEAN L
“We’veworkedwithBethonanumberoftransactionsoverthepastseveralyearsasBuyersandSellers. Sheissmart,honest,hardworking,andalotoffun.Sheiswell-preparedandstrategic,andwehavealways beenwell-servedbytrustingherinstinctsandadvice.Plus,shemakesthewholeprocessenjoyable.Ican’t imaginethere’sabetterbrokerinWesternNorthCarolina.” – JEN AND DAVE G
Cedar Ridge Estates
Offered for $3,995,000
3 BR / 3.5 BA / 14.99 ACRES / MLS 1000130
• Circa 2019 custom home in popular Cedar Ridge Estates
• Firepit and professionally designed gardens on double lot
• Additional spaces available to create 2 more bedrooms
• Current, beautifully crafted, and well maintained home
for $1,595,000
37.07 ACRES / MLS 105794
• 37+ unrestricted acres very close to Cashiers
• Private well and power already installed
• Views, creeks, dramatic rock face
Rainey Knobs Offered for $1,225,000 (JUST REDUCED)
2 BR / 3 BA / 42.95 ACRES / MLS 104493
• 43+/- unrestricted acres in “Old Sapphire”
• Adorable circa 2009 cottage overlooks pond
• Property adjoins a conservation easement
RECREATION & CREATION Pages 68-77
Photo by Susan Renfro
Crow vs Raven
One says “Caw Caw” and the other “Nevermore.”
Both birds are found on our Plateau but if you see a large black bird on the wing or perching on a branch, it is likely to be an American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos). Crows are abundant in our area where some are year-rounders and others migrate from northern climes for the winter. Ravens (Corvus corax) are uncommon but they are here to be seen all year.
Crows are found across the lower 48 but some find their summer breeding grounds in Canada. Ravens, strong and hearty birds, are year-rounders in our Western states and across Canada, including northern Canada and Alaska. Their range includes our part of the Appalachians but very little of the Central and Southeastern U.S. where Crows predominate. The differences between Crows and Ravens are as a catechism to experienced birders. The Raven is larger – having a wingspan reaching 53 inches on a bird weighing, perhaps, 41 ounces—and has a wedge-shaped tail, large bill and shaggy
neck feathers. Crows are more streamlined, weighing up to 21 ounces with a wingspan of 20 inches. The difference in size is not always easy to detect in the field. Look for the large bill and shaggy head and neck of the Raven.
The differences between Crows and Ravens are as a catechism to experienced birders.
The calls and flight patterns are also different. Ravens soar effortlessly while Crows flap their wings vigorously in flight.
The familiar Crow call is a loud and distinct CaW, CaW while the Raven emits a variety of sounds ranging from deep, throaty croaks to high, bell-like notes: kraaah or brrronk and prruk. Consult your free Merlin app. Raven imitate sounds and, yes, someone has taught a captive Raven to say “Nevermore.”
Both Raven and Crow are highly social but only Crows gather in large flocks called a “murder” of many thousands after breeding season.
If a treetop Crow sees you while taking you morning walk, you can
American Crow by William McReynolds
hear it call out to all the other Crows in the area. Listen closely to hear the signal for “there’s a person down here.”
These birds have entered the English language in interesting ways. As a verb, to raven means to eat greedily or prowl for food, to devour, plunder or despoil. To crow is to brag or exult, to talk with self-satisfaction. These meanings seem to bespeak an earlier time when we lived closer to nature.
Happy spring birding from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. Our birds here on the Highlands Plateau are, indeed, something to crow about. We must not raven or despoil their natural habitat.
The mission of the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society is to provide opportunities to enjoy and learn about birds and other wildlife and to promote conservation and restoration of the habitats that support them. HPAS is a 501 (c)(3) organization, a Chapter of the National Audubon Society. Visit highlandsaudubonsociety.org for information on membership and all activities.
by William McReynolds,
Highlands Plateau Audubon Society
Common Raven by Ed Boos
Fly-Fishing In Spring
You can leave behind the stress of the modern world by simply stepping into a stream.
You can feel it, hear it, and smell it.
Spring is in the air, and for any outdoor enthusiast that is some exciting stuff! For most fly anglers, spring is a magical time of year that just cannot be matched.
Here in Western North Carolina, we are very fortunate to be able to fly fish all year long. Winters can be a little chilly, and summer can get a little hot (on the fish), but spring and fall are just right. Fall would be the runner-up on my favorite times to fish here at home, but in my opinion, the best time to fly fish here is springtime (March through mid-June).
As the days begin to get longer and warmer, a metamorphosis happens in both the waters and the woods. About the time that leaves begin to bud, and birds begin to lay on their nests above the water, there are also things happening below the surface that are more
important to the fly angler. Aquatic insects live most of their lifespan below water, but when it comes time for them to reproduce, they need to do that above water. This is what’s referred to as a “hatch.”
These bugs transform themselves from things that crawl and swim around on the riverbed into flying insects. When this happens, they leave the protection of the rocks that they live in, and swim freely in the water column up to the surface. The dinner bell rings, and the feast of all feasts happens for the trout!
It’s a spectacle to behold. Trout can be seen feeding voraciously below as well as on the surface of the water.
A sight like this can get an angler so excited it’s hard to tie a fly on to the tippet. It looks as if you could throw any fly in the box on the water and a trout would gobble it up. That’s not the case though – this is a chess match between
the angler and the fish. In order to get the trout interested in eating the angler’s fly, it must look and act like the bugs they are actively feeding on.
Size, shape, and color are all things to consider when picking the right fly from your selection. Once you have that dialed in, then you must make the fly act like the other bugs on the water.
Are they floating lifelessly like a mayfly will, or are they skittering like a caddis? These interactions with mother nature are not uncommon on the trout streams around here in spring, which makes it my personal favorite time to fly fish. You should get out and experience it!
by Matt Canter, Brookings Fly Shop
No Better Place In the World
For nearly all of its 150 years, Highlands has had a faithful partner in the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust.
One hundred and fifty years ago this year, two developers from Kansas, lured by dreams of a commercial thoroughfare and rumors of a bounty of natural resources, traveled to the Highlands plateau.
Led by a local teenage guide, in March 1875 Samuel Kelsey and Clinton Hutchinson climbed the Cherokee trail from Franklin, negotiated the Cullasaja River and Dry Falls, and eventually made their way to the top of Satulah Mountain from where they visually surveyed the wilderness that would become the town of Highlands. The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust was founded less than a decade later as the Highlands Improvement Society, dedicated to beautifying the new town. Kelsey and Hutchinson purchased 840 acres for $2 an acre, but what they got was essentially untamed wilderness; with the exception of a few acres of abandoned apple trees, the Plateau was
covered in rhododendron thickets and primeval forests. Future roads were flagged but not cleared; an early visiting journalist describes following Kelsey through the clutch of rhododendrons while the developer pointed out “Main Street” and church sites.
As the town slowly emerged from the forest, the Highlands Improvement Society built planters and installed benches, even then focused on preserving the natural bounty that was already beginning to lure future Highlands citizens from around the country.
From its inception Highlands was promoted as a healthy destination. An 1876 brochure declared that there is “no better place in the world for health, comfort and enjoyment” and in 1887 it was claimed to be “the greatest health and pleasure resort in the United States.”
In 1909, prompted by fears of a rumored hotel, the Highlands Improvement
Society led the effort to raise $500 from local citizens to purchase and protect the summit of Satulah Mountain. Five years later Ravenel Park, the location of Sunset and Sunrise Rocks, was conserved as a result of a gift from the Ravenel family. The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is proud of its long history of protecting and conserving the natural attributes that make Highlands, Cashiers, and the surrounding area so special.
As part of Highlands’ sesquicentennial celebration HCLT will be providing the public 150 native tree saplings, including oak, birch, and even a few American Chestnuts cultivated from “survivor” trees on HCLT properties. Please follow HCLT on Facebook and Instagram or check out hcltnc. org throughout the year for more details on our native tree giveaways. by Lance Hardin, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust photo by Stephanie Contreras
Time to Explore
Introducing a powerful new way to navigate Highlands Biological Station’s natural treasures.
Say “Hello” to easy exploration!
Our long-awaited Wayfinding project is almost complete. After years of planning (and a few covid-related delays), we’re finally installing a brand-new system of trail signs that will help you navigate the station like a pro. Signs, Etc., the team behind the magic, has finished manufacturing the signs, and are currently building the stone bases for keymarkers around the Station.
This project is no small feat – it includes seven vehicular directional signs, 42 trail markers, 14 confidence markers for those longer trails, two informational kiosks, and two major entrance signs for the Highlands Nature Center and the HBS facilities. Funding for this project was provided through a North Carolina Science Museum Grant, as well as contributions from the Highlands
Biological Foundation and HBS/Western Carolina University.
After years of planning … we’re finally installing a brandnew system of trail signs…
Center will be back in action with plenty of activities to get you excited about the season. We’ll be open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., offering a variety of educational programs, including weekly bird walks to catch the spring migration, and a monthly ecoEXPLORE program. Plus, our new Nature Center Drawing Club might make a comeback in April!
The signs themselves are pretty impressive—thermally modified hardwoods, brushed aluminum, and local stone bases make them both durable and beautiful. They’ll also correspond with our updated trail map, helping you find your way through the 1.5 miles of trails (even though it might feel like more with some of the out-and-back paths!).
Spring Programming at the Nature Center
Starting April 3, the Highlands Nature
Best of all? Admission to the Nature Center is completely free, and the Highlands Botanical Garden and trails are open from dawn to dusk. So, come on out, enjoy the fresh air, and discover the natural beauty of the HighlandsCashiers Plateau this spring!
by Marissa Nieddu
, Highlands Biological Foundation Scan to learn more.
Sun, Shade, and Direction
So many considerations, so many careful decisions –gardening on the Plateau challenges the mind as well as the body.
Have you ever wondered why a plant does so well at your friend’s place and will not grow at yours?
Years ago, I learned from my pruner in Atlanta that there is such a thing as microclimates and that at that time, I had one in my very own backyard.
Fast forward to today and I am convinced I am living in one right now. When it rains down the hill from me, no rain at my place. Snow all around me? Nothing here. I find it fascinating but it also makes so much sense, especially living here in the mountains.
The mountain weather and microclimates create unique challenges as well as opportunities for gardeners. Our high elevations and varying terrain can significantly affect plant growth. I hope you find this as interesting as I did, I am calling it:
Microclimates 101
A microclimate is a localized climate that
differs from the general area around it, often caused by topography, elevation, and other environmental factors. The diversity of microclimates in WNC means that the same mountain can have vastly different growing conditions on different sides. Here is how these can vary:
South-facing Slopes: These slopes receive more direct sunlight throughout the day, which leads to warmer temperatures. The extra sun can extend the growing season and help plants thrive that might not survive in cooler, shadier areas. Plants that prefer full sun – tomatoes, peppers, and herbs – can do well here.
North-facing Slopes: These areas receive less sunlight and often stay cooler and wetter. North-facing gardens may have a longer winter season, but they can be ideal for plants that prefer cooler conditions, such as leafy greens (spinach, lettuce), root vegetables (carrots, beets), and some types of ferns or moss.
Valleys and Lowlands: Cold air can settle
in valleys, creating frost pockets even when surrounding areas are warmer. These areas tend to be more sheltered from the wind, but they can also be prone to late spring frosts or early autumn freezes. Gardeners in these areas often must wait longer to plant or use from Ridges and Mountain Tops: High ridges and mountaintops are exposed to harsher winds and cooler temperatures. The growing season here may be much shorter, and gardeners may have to be strategic with plant selection. However, the open air and abundant sunlight can benefit certain crops that need a lot of light, like some berry varieties. So, there you have it! Sometimes it is not about how good your green thumb is but choosing the right plant for the right microclimate.
Happy Gardening! by Debby Hall
Photo by Susan Renfro
A Vibrancy for Life
Preternaturally cool, Cover Artist Poanè’s images are drenched in subtle meaning and bold emotion.
Some artists contemplate chaos.
Artist Poanè simply flows with Life, enjoying whatever the day brings. He rides the waves, navigating each one’s unique challenge.
This month’s Laurel cover is a classic Poanè. A self-taught artist he portrays the common in his own uncommon way.
The dramatic thread that stitches all
his interests together began with music lessons at age five. He’s a percussive kind of guy, a person of impact, and that was reflected with drumming early on.
What he experienced auditorily crescendo’d into the visual. His energy, dominant colors, intensity, story-telling with sound and beauty, was inspired by his favorite chiaroscuro artist, Caravaggio, Italian painter born in the
1500s. His work, impressively dramatic, resonates in Poanè’s bones.
As a young man Poanè worked his way to the top of the photographic celebrity ladder, snapping entertainers at performances and shows. Often hired, sometimes invited, he submitted scores of candid and posed shots for national publications. Along the way admirers would say, “Hey, you are cool. You from
another planet? Why are you here? Why not in Los Angeles or New York?”
He’d laugh and respond, “This is where God puts me. It was in my chart.”
Recently his chart brought him here to Cashiers, along with his art and trademark fedora.
A large version (5’x 6’) of the hat rests outside his Poanè Poanè Gallery door, a landmark for a teeming gallery owned by him and his wife, Jennifer.
Poanè paints on wood and metal, while following his dreams (he actually does dream
a lot of his art); Jennifer creates candles, functional works of art in themselves.
Poanè loves to tell stories. If you’re up for it, he’ll pull a couple right out of his fedora. Ask him about the Playboy Club, Louis Farrakhan, or Chris Tucker. Or dozens of other celeb encounters. While you enjoy his tales, visit all his gallery exhibitions, loaded with sensorial delights.
Visit him at his art gallery in Cashiers, located at 560 State Hwy. 107 South in Cashiers. You can send an email to
poanegallery@gmail.com or call (678) 508-3421.
Meet Poanè at The Laurel’s first Cover Artist Reception of the season at High Country Wine and Provisions in Highlands on Tuesday, April 8, 5:30 - 7:30 P.M. – and raise a glass to his amazing talent. RSVP to info@ thelaurelmagazine.com by Donna Rhodes
Of Color And Cloth
After exploring a broad spectrum of artistic avenues, Joan Marsden has found her groove, and it’s beautiful.
“I always knew I wanted to go into art,” says Joan Marsden. “I didn’t know what kind. But I knew it would be art.”
With her mom, a teacher and clothingcreator, and her dad, a creator of constructions, Joan was born into a perfect innovation storm. Her two- and three-dimensional world set the stage for just about any vocation she chose. While she considers herself a fiber artist these days, Joan spent her life passionately exploring everything from fine art to craft: design, commercial/ graphic arts (she worked for Fisher-Price R & D department doing package design for toys), cast paper, hammered wire ornaments, hand-crafted greeting cards, silk-painting, watercolor, fiber-dyeing, stain-glass, texture-exploration with batiks and alpaca in fabric landscapes . . . the list goes on and on. Let’s just say, there’s hardly any art form untouched by
Joan’s talented hands.
Joan’s first pro gig, commercial art, was in her hometown, Buffalo, New York. She says, “In the 1990s, after 20 years of ad agency composition, computers took over work I’d been doing by hand. I went back to college, got both B.S. and M.S. degrees in art education, and taught art in a small private school for 8 years: Pre-K/age 4 through grade 8.”
Now, with her kids grown and everyone happily ensconced, it’s time for Joan to dig further into art exploration. This time she savors it just for herself. She says, “I still have to justify buying new materials, so I sell a few works of art to keep a balance.”
And you can find those beautiful balancers at Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro (a member of Cashiers Chamber). View her fabric landscapes (greeting cards and wall pieces), each fabricated with l’assemblage of color and cloth, rich in
hue and texture – true to the Blue Ridge seasonal-wow.
She adds, “My wall hangings and mountain landscapes are machine stitched, using mostly batik fabrics. I love the color variations in batiks, and they are easier to work with because they are a tighter weave than regular fabric so they don’t ravel. I use alpaca locks for the mist in the mountains. I love playing with the colors and visual textures in the fabrics and choosing which fabrics to put together. More distant mountains are lighter in color and less distinct, the closer mountains get brighter colors.”
For more information, contact Joan at Ravenarts@yahoo.com.
by Donna Rhodes
A Photo Storyteller
The meticulously composed works of Margaret Holland Adams resonate with mystery and revelation.
Now in its ninth year, The Bascom’s Photography Artist Residency continues to be a catalyst for artistic growth and community engagement, bringing nationally recognized talent to the Plateau. This highly competitive program provides artists with dedicated time, space, and resources to deepen their practice while enriching connections with the local community. As a cornerstone of The Bascom’s commitment to artist development, exhibitions, and outreach, the residency expands access to contemporary visual arts and encourages dialogue around the evolving role of photography.
The program culminates in a solo exhibition in The Bascom’s Joel Gallery, offering visitors an opportunity to experience photography’s power to document, interpret, and reimagine the world around us.
The Bascom is pleased to welcome
Margaret Holland Adams as its 2025 Photography Artist in Residence. A professor of photography at Radford University and an accomplished artist and curator, Adams explores themes of cultural identity, memory, and the shifting landscape of the American South. Through a compelling blend of analog photography, video installations, and new media, she constructs visual narratives that intertwine personal and collective histories. Drawing from Southern vernacular traditions and oral storytelling, her work engages with pressing social and environmental issues while examining the enduring legacies of family and heritage.
By integrating traditional and contemporary techniques, Adams invites viewers to consider the intersections of place, memory, and transformation. Adams’ work has received widespread recognition, including being named “Best Fine Art Photographer” by
FotoWeek DC, and is featured in The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes by Christopher James.
Her residency at The Bascom reflects the organization’s mission to make the visual arts accessible and transformative. Through exhibitions, artist talks, and community engagement, Adams will contribute to thought-provoking artistic experiences that generate new possibilities for inquiry and connection.
Join us in welcoming Margaret Holland Adams to the Plateau. Her solo exhibition will open on April 26 in The Joel Gallery, with a public reception on June 12.
by Billy Love, The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts
Scan to learn more.
Every Act Is Art
April’s live performances at Highlands Performing Arts Center explore the complex trajectories of compassion and passion.
Le Nozze di Figaro
The Highlands Performing Arts Center invites you to immerse yourself in live performance this spring with two exceptional on-screen presentations. Enjoy the best of theatre and opera from the comfort of your local theater.
First, journey into the extraordinary life of Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan with Nye on Thursday, April 3, at 5:00 P.M. Michael Sheen delivers a tour-deforce performance as the man who transformed Britain’s welfare state and created the NHS. This National Theatre Live production takes audiences on a mind-bending journey through Nye’s memories as he confronts mortality. From his Welsh mining roots to his triumphs and tribulations in Parliament, including clashes with Winston Churchill, Nye offers an intimate and thought-provoking exploration of a life
dedicated to social change. Tim Price’s compelling script and Rufus Norris’s (Small Island) masterful direction create an epic theatrical experience.
Later in the month, experience the timeless brilliance of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro on Saturday, April 26, at 1:00 P.M. This Metropolitan Opera live broadcast brings the wit and charm of this beloved comedic masterpiece to Highlands. Conductor Joana Mallwitz makes her Met debut, leading a stellar cast through the opera’s delightful twists and turns. American bass-baritone Michael Sumuel shines as the quick-witted valet Figaro, while Ukrainian soprano Olga Kulchynska embodies the cunning maid Susanna. Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins portrays the philandering Count. Italian soprano Federica Lombardi delivers a moving performance as his wronged
wife. French mezzo-soprano Marianne Crebassa adds youthful energy as the lovestruck page Cherubino. Prepare to be captivated by Mozart’s glorious music and the hilarious antics of this unforgettable opera.
These two live broadcasts are just a taste of the diverse 2025 programming offered by HPAC. The center is committed to enriching the cultural landscape of Highlands, providing access to worldclass performances without ever leaving town. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the magic of stage and opera on screen this spring.
by Jeanne Piazza,
Executive Director, Highlands PAC
Scan to learn more.
The Power Of Music
Thanks to its Residency Program, HighlandsCashiers Chamber Music Festival will be spreading its music and its message at venues across the Plateau. For more information, visit h-cmusicfestival.org .
Katarina Quartet
For over 40 years, the HighlandsCashiers Chamber Music Festival has brought world-class chamber music to the Plateau, transforming local venues into dynamic performance spaces and fostering a deep connection between the community and the arts.
Founded by a small but passionate group of civic-minded residents who believed in the power of music to enrich lives, the festival has become a cherished institution, offering audiences extraordinary performances and unique opportunities to engage with renowned musicians. One of its most impactful initiatives is the Residency Program, an annual effort designed to bring chamber music into everyday spaces and reach audiences beyond the traditional concert hall.
Each year, the Residency Program offers a unique opportunity for students, seniors, and music enthusiasts to experience the power of live chamber
music up close. Through performances at local schools, the Fidelia Eckerd Living Center, and a free public concert on May 3 at the First Presbyterian Church, the festival brings worldrenowned ensembles to the Highlands and Cashiers communities, emphasizing accessibility and education. Artistic Director William Ransom has championed the program to inspire young musicians and deepen the appreciation for classical music across generations.
May 2 and 3, the Residency Program welcomes the Katarina Quartet, a dynamic and expressive ensemble known for its technical mastery and engaging performances. Formed in 2019, the quartet has gained a reputation for their dedication to outreach, regularly performing in schools, community centers, and intimate venues.
The Katarina Quartet will perform for students at Highlands School, Blue
Ridge School, and Summit Charter School, offering young audiences an interactive experience that fosters curiosity and a deeper understanding of music. These school programs are a cornerstone of the Residency, introducing students to the nuances of ensemble playing and the artistry behind great compositions.
The Residency also extends to the Fidelia Eckerd Living Center, where residents will enjoy a private concert tailored to their setting. The program culminates in a free public concert on May 3 at 5:00 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church of Highlands, an event eagerly anticipated by the community.
With the Katarina Quartet’s vibrant artistry and a commitment to outreach, this year’s program promises a celebration of chamber music’s power to connect, inspire, and transform lives.
by Marlene Osteen
This Cast Will Be A Blast
Mountain Theatre Company’s National Audition Tour nets a strong slate of talent for its 2025 productions of The Marvelous Wonderettes and Forever Plaid. Tickets and more information about its 2025 Mainstage Season are available at mountaintheatre.com
Mountain Theatre Company recently held auditions in New York City for our highly anticipated productions of The Marvelous Wonderettes and Forever Plaid. The audition process drew over 1,000 submissions and 200 in-person appointments.
The audition process was a rigorous one, designed to find the perfect cast for these beloved musicals. In addition to initial auditions, candidates were invited to participate in a dance call, where they showcased not only their movement skills, but how they could bring their character to life through movement.
A vocal call followed, where those asked to continue in the audition process were challenged to learn harmonies singing in groups of four, mirroring the iconic characters of the two productions while demonstrating their ability to blend their voices with others.
“We were blown away by the talent that walked through the doors,” said Executive Artistic Director, Scott
Daniel. “We’re excited to assemble these casts and bring these stories to life in a unique and captivating way.”
New to Mountain Theatre Company this season, The Marvelous Wonderettes and Forever Plaid will be presented in repertory with each other, offering audiences a fun and nostalgic summer experience. This “girls vs boys” summer experience will pair the harmony-rich, female-led “Wonderettes” against the charming, all-male quartet of “The Plaids.” While the two shows may seem like vastly different entities, they share a common thread – a rich tapestry of harmonized voices that not only weave together in perfect blend to support the chord, but also beautifully reflect the way the characters support and uplift each other through friendship.
By running these shows in repertory, MTC invites audiences of all ages to experience the best of both worlds, celebrating the iconic sounds and styles of a bygone era.
As a professional theater company
nestled in the heart of the HighlandsCashiers Plateau, MTC relies on the talent of actors from all across the nation to bring their high-quality productions to life.
This means MTC must cast a wide net, seeking out the brightest from coast to coast. This approach not only enriches the productions with diverse perspectives and talents, but also fosters a sense of community and collaboration among their cast and crew.
However, this endeavor would not be possible without the generous support of the patrons.
By attending shows, donating to our non-profit organization, and spreading the word about the importance of live theatre, patrons play a vital role in enabling MTC to continue to bring outstanding talent to the stage.
Stay tuned for more casting information coming soon!
by Erin Leigh Knowles, Mountain Theatre Company
Connecting Art & Home
Highlands-Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty’s Jody and Wood Lovell show how to merge art and charity with their unstinting support for The Bascom and the Plateau’s vibrant artistic community.
Among Highlands’s fine qualities are two merits that have Pulitzer potential: One, Mother Nature’s eye-popping beauty, and two, exceptional community kindness. Where else could you sit atop a mountain under a blue, robin-egg sky and chat with neighbors who just happen to be real estate brokers with Sotheby’s International Realty?
And yes, we are talking about the empire that originated in London in 1744.
With the empire’s luxury real estate division established in 1976, Sotheby’s International Realty reflects the same heritage of art, culture, and exceptional living as does the Sotheby’s Auction House.
Sotheby’s auctions are familiar to most. Just as the Auction House showcases exceptional art, distinguished antiquities, heirloom pieces, and opulent décor, the realty division embodies the same commitment to excellence in extraordinary homes.
This year marks the silver anniversary of HighlandsCashiers Sotheby’s International Realty, established by Jody and Wood Lovell.
But the Lovells weren’t finished – they opened another artisan door. They underwrote The Bascom Gift Shop at a time when it was just a concept. Over the past decade they’ve helped local artists connect their artwork to collectors. Linking art-tohome is at the heart of the Sotheby’s legacy. Their goal is to strengthen relationships with the arts, the artists, the gallery, and art exposure.
They are doing so by sponsoring local artists’ receptions. Individual art shows (May-August) are held downtown at Highlands-Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty’s downtown Highlands office, 114 N. 4th Street. Artists and works rotate, changing-out monthly. Openings are on the first Friday of each month, May - August, from 4:30-6:00 P.M.
Artists hold casual talks, showcasing their work and engaging the community. Wine and charcuterie are served.
“We value our relationship with the Lovells and are grateful for their continued and longstanding support of The Bascom. With our partnership, our hope is to enrich our community with creativity and a shared passion to create more beautiful places to live. Art is more than just expression – it helps bring us together to build connection and inspiration within our community,” said Jessica Lammers, The Bascom’s retail manager.
While there’s already plenty of foot traffic downtown, the Lovells are always looking for ways to expand art experiences. Artists need to sell. Collectors are eager to buy. In winter months, exhibits rotate bi-monthly, but in the summer, new showings are monthly.
For more information, contact Cassie Ross at cassie.ross@ highlandssothebys.com.
by Donna Rhodes
photos by Susan Renfro
PAC Kids Take the Stage
The struggles of a plucky and precocious girl and her resourceful friends take center stage when PAC Educational Theatre presents Matilda the Musical, set for May 2-4.
This spring, PAC Educational Theatre will take the stage with its highly anticipated production of Matilda the Musical, a captivating story of a young girl with extraordinary powers and the heart to overcome adversity.
The show will run from May 2 to May 4, with tickets priced at just $20-25. Matilda the Musical follows the journey of Matilda Wormwood, a precocious and gifted girl, as she navigates the challenges of her family, school, and an authoritarian headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. With its witty dialogue, memorable songs, and themes of resilience and empowerment, the production promises to captivate audiences of all ages.
Over 35 local kids, ranging from first-time performers as young as five to seasoned performers, will take center stage, supported by a talented ensemble of 10 adults. The majority of these young
performers come from the Highlands/ Cashiers Plateau area, reinforcing PAC Educational Theatre’s commitment to the community. The show marks a significant expansion from last year’s successful production of Oliver!
This year’s larger cast not only adds to the energy and complexity of the performance but also provides even more opportunities for local kids to shine.
PAC EDU’s mission is not just to create amazing productions, but to use theatre arts as a platform for teaching valuable life lessons. By giving these young actors the chance to work in a professional theater environment, they develop essential skills in teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. Students learn the importance of working together toward a common goal, how to manage their time, and how to overcome challenges both on and off the stage. These experiences go beyond the footlights, helping them build confidence and a work ethic that will
serve them well throughout their lives. In every production, PAC EDU strives to provide professional-level experience, helping the students rise to the occasion. From rehearsals to the final performance, the goal is to challenge the actors, enhance their skills, and showcase their growth. It’s about more than just putting on a show, it’s about creating well-rounded individuals who are ready to take on any challenge life presents.
With a stellar cast, an engaging story, and valuable life lessons woven into every scene, Matilda the Musical is sure to be a hit. Mark your calendars for May 2-4, and don’t miss your chance to see this incredible local production in action! by Erin Leigh Knowles, Mountain Theatre Company photo by Susan Renfro
Leaving a Lasting Impression
Artist Zach Claxton reveals the circuitous path that brought him to artistic prominence – April 28 at The Bascom.
It’s finally here – Spring!, when the mountains wake up, and so does the Art League of Highlands Cashiers. The League’s 2025 season begins with its first meeting on April 28 at The Bascom. Social time begins at 4:30 P.M., with the meeting starting at 5:00. All are invited to this free event.
The guest speaker will be Zach Claxton, an oil painter. He will talk about his artistic journey that began almost by accident in 2008 during a visit with his daughter and son-in-law. It was then that a much earlier interest in painting was revived.
Zach is self-taught. With a BS in math, a master’s degree in business information systems and a career in software development and bank operations, he has no formal training in painting.
Until 2008, he had not picked up a brush in more than forty years. Once he re-discovered the art form, he found
himself in front of the easel almost daily. Some neighbors chanced to see his work and wanted to buy it. They encouraged him to enter local shows.
He will talk about his artistic journey that began almost by accident in 2008 during a visit with his daughter and son-in-law.
Soon afterwards, he gave it a try and had success. A few shows later, customers began asking him for commissioned work.
His medium is exclusively oil, and his style is representational across a variety of subject matter – anything that seems worthy of the materials and time.
Early on, he would tell customers, “I paint what I see.” Now he tells them, “I paint what I wish I had seen.” Over the years, he has supplemented his
self-improvement with occasional online courses and demonstrations in drawing, color theory and oil painting.
With hundreds of pieces completed, he still finds joy in painting, although his volunteer work with several local non-profits has reduced his output. When he is not working on commissioned pieces, he still produces enough for a couple of shows per year
The Art League invites you to attend this meeting to meet and greet other ALHC members and friends and to hear Mr. Claxton’s presentation. To learn more about the Art League, visit artleaguehighlands-cashiers.com.
by Luke Osteen
Botanic Impressions
There’s a bit of magic and beauty embedded within each creation of Southern Botanics.
Georgia O’Keefe once said “If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for a moment.”
Douglas Selph and Austin Davis, co-owners of Southern Botanics, create magic that allows you to hold onto that world through their handcrafted pressed botanical works of art.
For those wishing to create lasting artwork commemorating their wedding, engagement, anniversaries or other special occasions, they will press your flowers into framed keepsakes, and can incorporate invitations, photos, and other memorabilia into their final design. Brides will be excited to know they can preserve their bridal bouquets by turning them into one-of-a-kind framed works of art. They carefully take the bouquet apart, press the flowers and then compose the pressed flowers into a lovely piece suggesting the look of the original bouquet.
Douglas and Austin suggest that brides wishing to preserve their bouquets in this manner contact them prior to the wedding to schedule their service.
Although these gifted artists have enjoyed a second home in Highlands for six years, they’re now thrilled to be living on the Plateau year-round. They’ve always found their inspiration in nature, and waking up in our mountain paradise each morning has inspired them to explore new mediums and engaging ways to connect with their customers. They now offer pressed botanical workshops at Trailborn Highlands as part of Trailborn’s Experiences program, the first of which this season is scheduled for Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 P.M. Participants will be provided with a mini-press and native plant materials in order to learn the basics of botanical pressing and mounting. They will then be able to create their own botanical art at home once the plant materials
are dried and ready to remove from the press. For details, cost, and to secure your spot, contact Trailborn Highlands. They’re also venturing into plaster casting of flowers and botanicals, and three-dimensional resin casting offering customers even more opportunities to enjoy their art.
Southern Botanics’ artwork can be purchased locally at Acorns and The Bascom Gift Store in Highlands and Objet D’ Art in Cashiers. Don’t miss their trunk show at Acorns on July 5.
You may also purchase their artwork at etsy.com/shop/southernbotanics. You can reach them by phone at (404) 314-5650 or by email at southernbotanics@gmail. com. Also check out their website at southernbotanics.com and their Facebook and Instagram pages, which offer stunning galleries of their work.
by Mary Jane McCall
Douglas Selph and Austin Davis
DINING Pages 106-127
Photo by Susan Renfro
The Vineyard at High Holly
The Vineyard at High Holly at 37 High Holly Road in Scaly Mountain is a welcome destination for fun dining and supreme relaxation.
Tricia and I were excited when Marjorie sent us to The Vineyard at High Holly for a mid-March meal, a return visit after a year-and-ahalf absence.
Here’s what a wrote back then in the barely remember year of 2023:
“Here in the 21st century, Lesley and Eric Galloway have opened an expansive retreat on the edge of Scaly Mountain, just up from Sky Valley – The Vineyard at High Holly.
“This breathtaking getaway began working its magic immediately upon arrival – a rolling vineyard; vistas of ridges in shades of emerald, edging into blues and purples, and a landscape dotted with charming cabins, a farmhouse looking like it was lifted from Amboise in the Loire Valley,
and a restored 1890 cottage.”
We couldn’t wait to see what our friends (more on that later) had delivered in the intervening year-and-a-half.
Some things were exactly as we remembered – that absolutely enchanting vineyard (now producing – they just uncorked their own rosé last month); the fire pits scattered across the property, inviting both lively conversation and quiet contemplation; and the historic cabins decorated in Mountain Chic style.
But the centerpiece of this visit was the expansive dining room/ballroom, with its broad bar at its center and the cozy seating vignettes on the fringes of the building overlooking the vineyard.
We’d come for a late lunch and the scene was set for languid dining.
We were welcomed back by Lesley – that’s right, though we hadn’t seen her in a year-and-a-half, she instantly recognized us and called us by name. Concierge-level service.
True to our natures, Tricia and I immediately focused on our menus – she to the expansive cocktail choices and the vast, carefully-curated wine list; me to the food possibilities.
She ended up with the Mimosa Collection. Being a spirits novice, I had no idea what a Mimosa Collection could be, and I surmised that it was a large sifter loaded with an improbable sluice of different varieties of this brunch staple. Once more, reality far overmatched my imagination – the Mimosa Collection was a bouquet of four champagne flutes
vertically arrayed upon a metal form like a Rob Lorenson sculpture on loan from The Bascom. A dazzling presentation.
But of course, that artistry would have all the value of a Slushie from the Kwik-E Mart if the four mimosas – a classic concoction, a peach bellini, a cranberry mimosa, and a strawberry mimosa – had been assembled with inattention and in haste.
But these were beauties of the purest pedigrees and I simply couldn’t resist Tricia’s repeated imprecations to just take a sip.
Well, I didn’t take a sip – I took four sips, and later, two large gulps.
Then our food arrived.
I ended up with the Chicken Tenders with Fries. I know you’re thinking that this is something of a lost opportunity as you read this, but come on – for me this is comfort food of the highest order, the
heart knows what it wants and needs!
Let’s turn our attention to Tricia’s Choice – the American Wagyu Cheese Burger with Fries.
You may be saying to yourself, “C’mon, Chicken Tenders and a Cheeseburger?!”
Again, we were in the mood for dishes that would smooth our ruffled feathers, and this Cheeseburger was of a higher order. Make that the highest order!
It was built upon Wagyu Beef raised just down the road at Providence Farmstead in Otto. If you’re any sort of local foodie, you know that the Russell Family have quickly established themselves as the purveyors of quality beef and, thanks to their herd of Jersey cattle, incredibly rich and delicious dairy products.
So anyway, our meal was delicious and deeply satisfying on a physical level, but strangely, that’s not the emotional core of our visit.
Instead, I’d invite you to get to know the men and women who attended to us that golden afternoon – Lelsey, of course, (and her husband Eric, who managed to stop by our table for a moment while attending to a full day of chores), Michelle, Abigail, and Don. They’re the animating spirit of this enterprise and their good spirits are relentless.
These are all qualities that make The Vineyard at High Holly unique and to those looking for an escape or interlude or looking to start a new life together (thinking of those wedding parties that flock to The Vineyard at High Holly).
by Luke Osteen
photos by Susan Renfro Scan to learn more.
Your Next Favorite Bottle
The roots of Greek winemaking run deep.
Marlene Osteen
From the moment I learned about the unique vine-growing techniques in Greece, I was hooked. I pictured the wreath-like vines of Santorini lying low to the ground like a bride’s headpiece.
But this wasn’t just about aesthetics. In the face of relentless winds and scorching sun, winemakers on the island have perfected the kouloura method – basketweaving the vines to shield the grapes, creating a protective microclimate that allows them to thrive. This technique has given rise to Greece’s most famous white wine, Assyrtiko, known for its crisp acidity, striking minerality, and mouthwatering salinity.
Greek wines, in general, fit seamlessly into the Mediterranean way of life – vibrant, food-friendly, and full of character. They have the ability to transport us to a sun-drenched terrace overlooking the Aegean.
But more than just a daydream, they belong on the table, enhancing meals, elevating gatherings, and reminding us why wine has been central to Greek culture for millennia.
And in a time of rising prices, they remain some of the best values on your retailer’s shelf – because who doesn’t love a great wine that leaves room in the budget for dessert?
I had to dive deeper. I discovered that Greek wines offer something refreshingly different – indigenous grapes found nowhere else, brimming with bright acidity, structure, and history.
And with spring’s arrival, their vibrant energy feels especially fitting. After all, Easter is about renewal, tradition, and gathering—exactly what Greek wines bring to the table. Whether it’s a crisp white for a spring toast or a bold red to pair with a celebratory feast, the wines are as great on the table as they are on the palate.
Santorini’s Assyrtiko is unlike any other white. Grown in volcanic soil and shaped by kouloura-trained vines, it bursts with citrus and saline notes. Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko 2022 captures this essence perfectly.
For those who lean toward floral, aromatic whites, Moschofilero from the Peloponnese offers a lively alternative. With its bright notes of orange blossom and stone fruit, Troupis Winery’s ‘Fteri’ Moschofilero 2022 is a standout.
Moving to reds, Agiorgitiko from Nemea is a crowd-pleaser—soft, fruity, and layered with spice. Gaia Wines ‘Notios’ Red 2020 is an easy favorite.
For those who crave structure and depth, Xinomavro from Naoussa delivers dark fruit, earth, and spice with age-worthy complexity. Kir-Yianni’s ‘Ramnista’ Xinomavro 2019 is a great example. by Marlene Osteen photo by Susan Renfro
Savor the Delicious
For High Hampton’s April Franqueza, ending up on the James Beard Short List for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker is the logical culmination of a passion that began in childhood.
April Franqueza didn’t just land on the James Beard semifinalist list for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker — she baked her way there, one perfect cake, cookie, and tart at a time.
It all started in Warrenton, Virginia, where her parents (a D.C. cop and a science teacher) spent weekends baking with their daughter.
By high school, April’s dad looked her straight in the eye and said, “You should go to culinary school.”
She did — and found her calling at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, where she earned two degrees and met her future husband, savory chef Scott Franqueza.
France came next — traditional pastry work in Nice — followed by New York City gigs at Jacques Torres Chocolate and Magnolia Bakery. Big city kitchens sharpened her skills, but
April always had her eye on the South. In 2016, she and Scott joined the culinary team at Blackberry Farm, one of the region’s culinary heavyweights.
When High Hampton Resort began building its new food program, they called the Franquezas. April and Scott arrived while the property was still under construction, charged with shaping the pastry and savory programs from the ground up.
At High Hampton, April makes everything from scratch, every day — English muffins for breakfast, pizza dough for lunch, parker house rolls for dinner, and desserts that guests still talk about long after they check out.
Her coconut cake, made with real coconut milk and toasted flakes, became an instant signature. So did her strawberry shortcake sundae, layered with macerated local berries and hunks of lemon butter cake. Her pastry case walks the line
April Franqueza
between nostalgia and precision — desserts that feel familiar, but taste like nothing you could make at home.
In January 2025, somewhere on the road to Texas, April’s phone lit up. Messages poured in — “Congratulations!” “Well deserved!” She had no idea what was happening until High Hampton’s marketing team called with the news: James Beard semifinalist. April cried.
For chefs, the James Beard Awards are a career-defining moment — national recognition from one of the most respected institutions in food. April is the only North Carolina pastry chef on the list this year, and while she’s honored (and still a little stunned), her focus hasn’t changed. She’ll be back in the kitchen tomorrow morning, flour on her apron, shaping dough and tasting fillings. The goal is the same as it’s always been – bake something that makes people stop and savor the moment.
by Marlene Osteen
One Plate at a Time
Believe it – for a raconteur like Marlene, the Old Edwards Chef Series is like catnip, a delicious serving of plated stories.
Ilike to think of the 2025 Old Edwards Chef series as a succession of stories told by chefs, one plate at a time.
It’s a gathering of culinary personalities, each bringing their own point of view into the kitchens at Old Edwards Inn and Half-Mile Farm. And it’s a true collaboration with Food and Beverage Director and Executive Chef Chris Huerta and his team to create something entirely new.
May 29 brings the arrival of Carey Bringle, Nashville’s king of smoke and founder of Peg Leg Porker. Bringle’s barbecue is famous for its no-shortcuts authenticity, built on hickory smoke, bold rubs, and sides that tell their own stories. But Carey is more than a pitmaster — he’s a storyteller, a whiskey-maker, a cancer survivor, and a personality big enough to match his flavors. When he steps into The Farm at Old Edwards, expect a meal that mixes deep smoke with sharp wit.
On June 26, Chris Hall of Local Three in Atlanta takes the helm. Hall’s approach is refreshingly simple: let the ingredients shine. Known for his honest, ingredientdriven menus and a hospitality-first mindset, Hall will craft a summer feast
that celebrates the freshest local produce.
July 17 brings the glitz with the Pol Roger Champagne Dinner, now in its 13th year. This one’s all about precision — every dish calibrated to complement the delicate bubbles and nuanced flavors of Pol Roger. It’s a night where chefs become jewelers as they let the ingredients sparkle.
The 4th Annual Sunday Supper on August 24 welcomes Joe Cash of Greenville’s Scoundrel, who’s rich, rustic take on Provençal cooking has earned rave reviews. Cash trained at The French Laundry and Noma, but at The Farm, he’ll channel the warmth and generosity of a South-of-France family table.
September 28 brings the 7th Annual Oyster and Seafood Fest, headlined by Lowcountry Oyster Co., along with guest chefs Sara Prezioso of Charleston Bay Gourmet and Kathryn Fitzgerald of Regina’s in Asheville. Expect oysters every way imaginable — raw, roasted, and fried — plus creative seafood dishes and cocktails from Chemist Spirits.
On October 26, the Southern Chefs Potluck returns — a collaborative feast where the food is as soulful as
the chefs cooking it. This year’s lineup features Sam Fore of Lexington’s Tuk Tuk Snack Shop, David Bancroft of Auburn’s Acre, and Cory Bahr of Monroe’s Parish. Each will bring their own interpretation of Southern comfort, served family-style.
Finally, the season wraps with two cherished traditions: the Farm Harvest Dinner & Barn Dance on November 14, where Old Edwards chefs and local farmers join forces, followed by Fall’s Finest Dinner at Half-Mile Farm on November 15, when Terry Koval of The Deer and The Dove partners with Huerta’s team for a menu rooted in the flavors of fall — think game meats, wild mushrooms, and the last burst of harvest produce.
Every dinner in the 2025 series is a one-night collaboration — two kitchens, one table, and a story told through flavor. Seats are limited. Book online at oldedwardshospitality.com/chefdinners
by
Marlene
Osteen Scan to learn more.
Our Beloved Burgers
“The Grills are calling and I must go.” Carnivores (and the people who love them) are invited to plunge into the culinary delights (and sides) served up at 2025 Cashiers Burger Week.
Mark your calendars for the highly anticipated 2025 Cashiers Burger Week, set to take place from April 26 through May 4 in Cashiers. This annual culinary celebration brings together local eateries and burger enthusiasts for a weeklong homage to the beloved burger.
What to Expect
During Cashiers Burger Week, participating restaurants will craft unique, limitedtime burgers, each priced at an enticing $10. These specialty burgers are offered à la carte, with sides and beverages available for an additional cost. This event provides a fantastic opportunity to explore the diverse culinary talents within the Cashiers area, as chefs put their creative spins on classic and innovative burger recipes.
How to Participate
To join in the festivities, you’ll need a Burger Week Passport, which guides the participating restaurants and a record of
your burger adventures. Passports can be picked up at the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 US-64 in Cashiers, starting mid-April. Alternatively, if you prefer the convenience of printing your passport at home, an online version will be available on the official Cashiers Burger Week website.
As you savor each burger, be sure to get your passport stamped at every location. Collecting stamps tracks your culinary journey and qualifies you to vote for the “Best Burger” and “Most Creative Burger” awards. To be eligible for prize drawings and have your vote count, you must visit at least three participating restaurants. Visiting five or more establishments earns you a bonus entry, increasing your chances of winning exciting prizes from local sponsors and restaurants.
Burger Week Etiquette
Participants are encouraged to:
Be Patient: Popular spots may experience high demand, leading to potential wait times or occasional shortages. Show appreciation for the hardworking staff, relax, and enjoy the community atmosphere.
Tip Generously: While the unique burgers are offered at a special $10 rate, they often represent higher-value creations. A gratuity of at least 20 percent is appreciated.
Support Local Businesses: Consider purchasing sides, beverages, or other menu items to show additional support for the participating establishments.
Share Your Experience: Document your burger journey and share it on social media using the hashtag #CashiersBurgerWeek. Engaging with the community enhances the overall experience and fosters local pride.
The Stubborn Duo
Stubborn Buddha lays down a marker for bold, fun Asian cuisine served up with confidence and a knowing wink. Discover for yourself at 332 Main Street in Highlands. Reservations are a good idea — (828) 482-4822.
The Highlands dining scene just got a bold shakeup — and it’s driven by two women rewriting what it means to be stubborn, and what it means to dine out in this town.
Stubborn Buddha, which opened its doors on December 31, 2024, is the brainchild of Kiki Donikian and Clarissa Powell, who built their partnership in the very same downtown space where they first worked together — the former home of Midpoint — long before they dreamed of creating something entirely their own.
Their partnership was forged through experience — and a little reinvention. Clarissa’s event-marketing career came to an abrupt halt when the Pandemic hit. She traded corporate events for hospitality training at the renowned St. Regis in Aspen, then found her way to Highlands, where she joined the team at Midpoint — working alongside Kiki, who was managing the restaurant at the time.
When Midpoint closed, the two women joined forces to open Stubborn Bull in 2023 — a natural fit for Kiki, whose
years living in Madrid gave her both a deep understanding of Spanish cuisine and a lasting love for its culture. And when the old Midpoint space became available, they knew they couldn’t let the opportunity slip by.
In just six months, they transformed it into Stubborn Buddha — a restaurant where handmade Asian cuisine takes center stage, driven by their unwavering commitment to quality and service. That commitment — and their refusal to compromise — is exactly why
“Stubborn” is part of the name.
“As women in this business, you have to be stubborn,” Clarissa says. “You have to fight to protect your vision — and we knew exactly what we wanted this to be.”
The “Buddha” reflects the restaurant’s focus on Asian flavors, tying the concept to its sister restaurant, Stubborn Bull, while carving out its own unique identity.
The menu at Stubborn Buddha travels across Asia, from the sushi counters of Japan to the spice markets of India.
Entirely handmade in-house, it ranges from fresh sushi and sashimi to handmade dumplings, house ramen, stir-fry noodles, and signature dishes like
chicken tikka masala and Korean BBQ salmon. With a team of chefs collaborating on every dish, the focus is on quality and authenticity, while keeping the experience approachable and fun.
The dining room reflects the same thoughtful creativity, with bamboo ceilings, vintage kimonos, and Asian art creating a warm, inviting space.
But the rooftop bar — the only one in Highlands — is where Stubborn Buddha truly makes its mark. Overlooking bustling Main Street, it offers not just a spectacular view but also the full Stubborn Buddha menu and a cocktail program designed to match the bold flavors from the kitchen - from sake spritzes to Asian-inspired craft cocktails.
And Kiki and Clarissa aren’t stopping there.
Next door, they’re getting ready to open Bodega by the Bull, a grab-and-go market filled with Spanish wines, cheeses, house-made breads, and quick bites perfect for picnics or hikes — extending the hospitality they’ve created into something you can take with you.
by Marlene
Osteen photos by Tiho Trichkov
Clarissa Powell and Kiki Donikian
Scan to learn more.
Oven-Baked Chicken Parmesan
Chef John Johnson’s Chicken Parmesan is a creation that’s equal parts reverence for a time-tested recipe and an unquenchable impulse to innovate.
Chicken Parmesan at Four65
Woodfire Bistro + Bar isn’t just a dish – it’s a glimpse into Chef John Johnson’s lifelong habit of figuring things out in the kitchen.
Long before he ran this wood-fired spot in Highlands, John was a kid in Athens, Georgia, cooking for himself because his parents – both paramedics – worked long shifts.
His cooking education didn’t come from culinary school; it came from hunger, curiosity, and a mom who let him stir pots and taste sauces. His cooking is rooted in a career that started, like so many, at the sink – he was 17 and washing dishes when he realized the people working the line seemed to be having a lot more fun. From there, he did it all: line cook, event caterer, bartender,
manager. But at his core, he’s always been a cook, the kind who loves food not because it’s aspirational but because it’s good company.
That same make-it-work spirit led to this oven-baked version of Chicken Parmesan –born not from a perfectly planned recipe, but from a need to feed people well with the tools at hand. In fact, it started as a staff meal, a way to lift spirits after a punishing month of service. Johnson wanted to make something comforting and familiar, the kind of dish that feels like a pat on the back. It worked – almost too well. The staff devoured it, the regulars got curious, and before long, it found a home on the specials board. Now, it shows up whenever the mood strikes, like an old friend who never
needs an invitation.
That ethos defines Four65, a restaurant built on wood-fired comfort, where wood-fired comfort is the house specialty. It’s the kind of place where the pizza crust blisters properly, the mac and cheese arrive in cast iron, and the daily specials are less about showing off and more about making something good to eat.
The magic of this Chicken Parmesan is not in innovation, but in intention. It’s food made by a chef with the confidence that people don’t need tricks – they need something hot and delicious. In a world where chefs are often chasing the next clever thing, Johnson understands that sometimes the most satisfying cooking is the kind that you’ve loved all along.
homemade with San Marzano tomatoes, basil, kosher salt, and cracked pepper)
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each), halved horizontally (butterflied or fully split)
Olive oil (for sheet pan)
2 cups sourdough breadcrumbs
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried basil
1½ teaspoons granulated garlic
1½ teaspoons dried thyme
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1½ teaspoons black pepper
2 large eggs
1 cup water
2 cups marinara (store-bought or
Extra grated parmesan, because it’s the right thing to do
12 oz fettuccine (or any pasta you’ve got handy)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly oil a sheet pan.
Cook the pasta according to package directions. Set aside.
In one shallow dish, combine breadcrumbs, parmesan, oregano, basil, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. In another, whisk together the eggs and water.
Set up a breading station: wet, dry, wet, dry. Dip each piece of chicken into the egg wash, then into the breadcrumbs— repeat to make sure every inch is well-armored.
Arrange the breaded chicken on the prepared sheet pan. Bake for 15 minutes, flip gently, and continue baking until the internal temperature hits 165°F (about 10-15 minutes more).
Spoon warm marinara over each cutlet. Blanket generously with mozzarella and a flurry of parmesan, then return to the oven until the cheese melts into bubbly glory (about 5 minutes).
Toss the pasta with remaining marinara, warming gently over medium heat. If you have roasted tomatoes or vegetables, stir them in at the end.
To serve, swirl the pasta into a loose nest, crown with the chicken, and scatter more parmesan over the top. A final drizzle of olive oil wouldn’t hurt. by Marlene Osteen photos by Susan Renfro
Chef John Johnson’s Chicken Parmesan Serves 4
Chef John Johnson
Plateau Dining Guide
Restaurants of the Highlands Cashiers Plateau
HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS
4118 Kitchen + Bar 64 Highlands Plaza (828) 526-5002
Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar 465
CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS
SAPPHIRE/TOXAWAY AREA RESTAURANTS
Olde Station 502 Blue Ridge Road. Lake Toxaway (828) 966-4242
CASHIERS, NC
Buck’s Coffee Cafe - (828) 743-9997
Cashiers Valley Smokehouse - (828) 547-2096
Chile Loco - (828) 743-1160
Cornucopia Restaurant - (828) 743-3750
El Manzanillo - (828) 743-5522
On the Side BBQ - (828) 743-4334
The Orchard - (828) 743-7614
Native Prime Provisions (828) 743-3743
Subway - (828) 743-1300
Ugly Dog - (828) 743-3000
Whiteside Brewing Company - (828) 743-6000
GLENVILLE, NC
Happ’s Place - (828) 743-5700
The Local - (828) 743-7778
SCALY, NC
Magliocca’s Ristorante - (828) 526-0803
HIGHLANDS, NC
Asia House - (828) 787-1680
Black Bear Cafe - (828) 482-7020
The Blue Bike Cafe - (828) 526-9922
Bryson’s Deli - (828) 526-3775
Divine South Baking Company - (828) 421-2042
Dusty’s - (828) 526-2762
Fressers Courtyard Cafe - (828) 526-4188
Highlands Pizza Place - (828) 305-7700
Highlands Smokehouse - (828) 526-3554
Highlands Tavern - (828) 526-9002
Madison’s Restaurant - (828) 787-2525
Mountain Fresh - (828) 526-2400
Rosewood Market - (828) 526-0383
The Ruffed Grouse - (828) 526-2590
Secret Garden - (828) 305-7509
Spinx Highlands - (828) 526-4191
Stubbon Buddha - (828) 482-4822
The Stubborn Bull - (828) 200-0813
Subway - (828) 526-1706
Wild Thyme Gourmet - (828) 526-4035
LAKE TOXAWAY, NC
Los Vaqueros - (828) 966-7662
Sweetwater Perk & Creamery, LLC - (828) 577-0469
Villa Amato (828) 885-7700
SAPPHIRE, NC
The Fix Bar & Lounge - (828) 743-7477
Jim’s Place at Sapphire Country Store - (828) 966-4011
Library Kitchen + Bar (828) 743-5512
Mica’s Restaurant - (828) 743-5740
Panthertown Cafe - (828) 862-3663
Slopeside Tavern - (828) 743-8655
Plateau Lodging Guide
Accommodations on the Highlands Cashiers Plateau
BREVARD, NC:
Meraki Escape - (828) 463-7440
CASHIERS, NC:
High Hampton Resort - (800) 648-4252
Hotel Cashiers - (828) 743-7706
The Lakehouse - (904) 753-0247
Landmark Vacation Rentals- (877) 926-1780
Mountain Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-0258
The Orchard
Guest Cottage - (828) 743-7614
Pebble Creek Village - (828) 743-0623
Silver Creek
Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-1999
The Wells HotelA Cashiers Experience - (828) 761-6289
FRANKLIN, NC:
Southern Belles
Glamping - (828) 371-9890
GLENVILLE, NC:
Innisfree Bed & Breakfast - (828) 743-2946
Mountain Lake Rentals - (828) 743-6875
Prime Property Rentals - (828) 743-3482
HIGHLANDS, NC:
200 Main - (855) 271-2809
Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-1717
Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-3717
Fairview House - (866) 526-8008
Half Mile Farm - (855) 271-7246
Highlander Mountain House - (828) 526-2590
Highlands House Bed and Breakfast - (828) 787-1186
Highlands Inn - (828) 526-9380
Highlands Resort Rentals - (828) 526-5839
The Inn at Mill Creek - 828-526-9999
Lotts of Sky - (404) 395-4000
Lullwater House - (423) 488-2799
Old Edwards Inn and Spa - (866) 526-8008
Outpost Inn (828) 482-7736
Park on Main - (800) 221-5078
Ray’s Roost - (678) 534-6870
Rent in Highlands - CCP - (800) 684-2171 x 302
Rockwood Lodge - (828) 526-8919
Silver Creek Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-2999
Trailborn Highlands (828) 482-1581
Valentine Manor - (561) 613-1496
Whiteside Cove Cottages - (828) 526-2222
SAPPHIRE, NC:
Club Wyndham Resort at
Fairfield Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-3441
Foxhunt at Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-7667
Hampton Inn & SuitesCashiers-Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-4545
Mt Toxaway Lodge & Motel - (828) 966-4582
Sapphire Run at Whisper Lake - (863) 412-5734
Whispering Falls - (352) 470-4085
Woods at Buc - (770) 714-9211
SCALY MOUNTAIN, NC:
Fire Mountain Resort & Spa - (800) 775-4446
The Vineyard at 37 High Holly - (828) 505-6190
LAKE TOXAWAY, NC:
Cabins at Seven Foxes - (828) 877-6333
Earthshine Lodge - (828) 862-4207
Greystone Inn - (828) 966-4700
Lake Toxaway Realty Company - (828) 508-9141
Photo by Susan Renfro
Show off your Highlands pride with this darling baseball cap sporting the elevation of our mountain paradise.
4118 Cap | $ 35
Highlands Chamber of Commerce/ Visit Highlands, NC
this sleek, leather-wrapped shoe. We love the tailored take the buckle accent brings to this retro-chic slide. Available in a soft hand-finished Italian or metallic leather.
Kork-Ease Sandle | $160 Allison Diane | Highlands
Plateau Picks A
few of our favorite things
YOU’RE SO FLY
Branded with Brookings’ iconic logo – the symbol of quality and knowledge – this Guide Shirt comes in a variety of stylish Colors. It is equipped with convenient zippered pockets, easy roll-up sleeves and a durable fast-dry fabric built for fishing comfort.
Brookings Fly Shop Guide Shirt | $ 99.95
Brookings | Cashiers & Highlands
UPCYCLED BEAUTY
These gorgeous bags are crafted from pre-loved designer pieces –repurposing 95% of the original materials into sustainable luxury. And you’re not just wearing a handbag—you’re making an impact. Each leather creation helps those in human trafficking regain freedom.
Beaudin Upcycled Sling Bag | $ 230 .95 Molly Grace | Highlands
DON’T POKE THE BEAR
Created using acrylic, pastel, and gold leaf paints, this lighthearted original by artist Carla Gignilliat will be a delightful addition to any room. Depicting two of the Plateau’s most revered creatures, one has to wonder what secrets the hummingbirds are whispering.
30” x 40” ‘Don’t Poke the Bear’ | $ 2250
ACP Home Interiors | Highlands
STYLED IN LUXURY
This ensemble will take you into Spring in style. Featuring a fine knit pant and vest set that feels like heaven. Accented with a classic cotton long-sleeve blouse, a stunning silk scarf and rounded out with a beautiful medallion necklace.
| Silk Scarf $135 | Shirt $ 82
Sioni Knit Pant and Vest Set $ 210 Robin’s Nest | Cashiers
YOUR PANSIES WILL POP
Your flowers will look lovely in these wood crate-style planters. Designed with tongue-and-groove construction and sealed with all-natural Linseed oil for long-lasting durability.
Small $ 39.99 | Medium $ 69.99 | Large $ 39.99
Whistlin’ Dixie | Sapphire
Spring: Refresh, Renew
Rusticks’ 33rd season is blossoming with exciting new promises and possibilities. For more information, call (828) 743-3172, extension 1; for design queries, email design@rusticks.com ; but come on, you owe it to yourself to give the gallery a careful browse – 32 Canoe Point in Cashiers.
It’s April, time to dust off the winter blues and breathe in spring. Rusticks, Cashiers’ premier mountain-chic design store, presents fresh starts and fabulous styles for your home, patio, guest house, and more. Close your eyes and imagine your living space bouncier, bolder, better
than ever before.
Rusticks can inject that kind of magic into any environment. It only takes a phone call to (828) 743-3172 ext. 1 to make dreams come true.
If re-imagining your entire home feels too big of a project for now, ratchet it down a notch or two and start simple:
do a five-minute-make-over with just a few decorative interior/exterior throw pillows. Voila! Watch your spaces take on delightfully sassy new personalities. And that’s just a beginning. The creative possibilities for transforming your home are endless, thanks to Stacie Platt, owner and interior designer at Rusticks. With
a mind always bubbling with innovative ideas, Stacie can help redefine any room in your home.
Stacie and her husband have returned from their annual winter tour of selected markets and you’re going to love what they brought back – expanded tableware at a great price and exceptional quality.
It will make your garden party shine with spring colors. It may serve as everyday ware, but it’s in no way ordinary. New glassware, dinnerware, placemats, and flower arrangements will accommodate
any event from an informal nosh-andnibble to a summer soiree.
For the bedroom, Rusticks has incredible furniture that blends classic designs with whimsical touches to ensure a restful night’s sleep. Complete the look with beautiful lighting. How about a dazzling, luminous chandelier? Then select the perfect flooring, custom drapes, and more to create the ambiance that’s totally you.
Make your way to Rusticks’ opening for their 33rd Season. Open Tuesday-
Saturday, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Address: 32 Canoe Pt, Cashiers. You can reach them at (828) 743-3172 ext.
1. For design queries, email design@ rusticks.com. by
Donna Rhodes
photos by Mary Gillan
Scan to learn more.
One-of-a-Kind Finds
For homeowners and contractors and the relentlessly curious, a visit to Reclamations is an exciting tumble down the Rabbit’s Hole.
No shopping trip would be complete without a stop at Reclamations at 99 Cherrywood Drive off Highway 64 between Highlands and Cashiers.
You will know you’re there when you see the giant silo by the roadside. That’s your first clue that you’re in for a real treat.
Southern Living named it one of the 16 must-do things in Highlands for good reason. This sprawling indoor/outdoor space is an antique store but so much more. They have a tremendous array of antique and vintage items that you can spend hours looking through, but they also have one-of-a-kind hard to find salvaged architectural items, a great selection of outdoor furniture and fire pits, yard art and so much more. Reclamations is a destination within itself. You can happily spend hours searching through all the treasures – old windows and doors, jars and glassware, figurines, lamps, prints and
paintings, mirrors, vintage signs, spinning wheels, tables, furniture, old whiskey barrels, and the list goes on. Whether you’re a collector, a history enthusiast, or someone seeking distinctive home décor, Reclamations provides an ever-changing selection of one-of-a-kind finds.
If you’re looking for that perfect piece that will stand out and add a touch of vintage charm to your home, you’ll find it here. You might not even know you were looking for it but we guarantee something will strike your fancy here as a must have. Designers often stop here to find hidden treasures that can liven up and individualize their clients’ homes.
It’s all about reclaiming, repurposing, and revitalizing the old into something new. You may not know quite what you’re looking for, but if you find an item you like, the knowledgeable
folks at Reclamations have more than enough ideas to help you imagine a new use for it.
Contractors and homeowners know that Sourced at Reclamations is the place to go to look for vintage wood, barnwood, old windows, bricks, cabinets, fixtures, and doors that can be incorporated into a new build or remodel project.
Reclaimed building materials have become an increasingly popular choice in construction and renovation projects due to their unique aesthetic appeal. Just a touch of vintage can add so much character to a home.
Reclamations is open seven days a week from 10:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. They also have Facebook and Instagram pages that are a great place to keep an eye on new finds.
by Mary Jane McCall
photos by Susan Renfro
Visit Our Advertisers
WEST END
1. On The Verandah Restaurant
3. High Country Wine & Provisions
5. The Bascom: Center for the Visual Arts
6. The Bascom Shop
7. The Dave Drake Ceramic Barn at The Bascom
SOUTH END
23 Highlands Supper Club
25. 4118 Kitchen & Bar
27. Dauntless Printing
37. Lupoli Construction
38. Allen Tate/Pat Allen Realty Group
39. Highlands Decorating Center
44. Unfurl Wellness Spa
45. Don Leon’s
45. Hagan Binder Landscape Architect
48. ACP Home Interiors
50. The Summer House
51. Nancy’s Fancys/The Exchange
60. Divine South Baking Company
MAIN STREET
101. Main Street Nursery
104. Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center
106. Los Vaqueros
121. Highlands Wine Shoppe
123. The Park on Main Hotel
128. Primary Kitchen + Bar
134. The Southern Way
136. Dutchmans
141. Main Street Gifts
146. Wit’s End Shoppe
147. Calders Coffee Cafe
148. Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry + Wine Shop
153. Allison Diane Clothing
158. C. Orrico
160. TJ Bailey for Men
166. Annawear
169. Country Club Properties
180. Bijou
185. Ristorante Paoletti
187. The Dry Sink
189. The Lofts on Main
191. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Meadows Mountain Realty
195. Old Edwards Inn
196. Madison’s Restaurant
197. The Wine Garden
198. Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar
203. Country Club Properties
210. Creative Concepts Salon
WRIGHT SQUARE on MAIN
(Factoid: Named after Whiteside hero)
114. Edward Jones
115. The Baked Bunny
117. Country Club Properties, Wright Square Office
SPRING VILLAGE
405. McCulley’s
406. Brookings
VILLAGE PARK
610. The Molly Grace 611. ACP Home Interiors
613. Cleaveland Realty 619. Christie’s Internatonal Real Estate Highlands Cashiers
ON THE HILL
303. Mirror Lake Antiques
306. Acorns
308. Highlands Burrito
310. McCulley’s
312. The Ugly Dog Public House
313. Old Edwards Inn
318. Peggy Crosby Center:
- The Counseling Center
- The Kitchen Carry Away & Catering
- Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation
319. Lakeside Restaurant
CAROLINA VILLAGE
701. Mountain Life Properties
702. Highlands Historic Village
704. Creekside Village: - Suncoast Equity Management
709. Wayah Insurance
710. The High Dive
NORTH END
801. Green Mountain Builders
815. Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival
815. Highlands Cashiers Players
815. Highlands Performing Arts Center
815. Mountain Theatre Company
OUT 28 SOUTH
➡ Satolah Creek Farm
OUT NC 106
➡ Head Innovations
➡ Peak Experience
➡ Allan Dearth and Sons Generators
➡ Steve Holt Landscaping
OUT 64 WEST
➡ Jackson Hole Gem Mine
OUT 64 EAST
➡ Black Rock Design Build
➡ Berkshire Hathaway
Homes Services
Meadows Mountain Realty
➡ WHLC
➡ Highlands Lawn & Garden
➡ High Camp
➡ Bryson’s Grading & Paving
➡ Rejuvenate Laser Center
➡ Reclamations
➡ Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group
➡ Highlands Dermatology
➡ Roman’s Roofing
➡ Wenzel Facial Plastic Surgery
VISIT FRANKLIN
➡ Clark & Co Hardscape Supply
➡ Garcia Paint Expert
➡ Whistle Stop Antique
VISIT CLAYTON
➡ Calhoun Irrigation & Landscaping
➡ C&C Design Studio
➡ Clayton Merchants Business Association
➡ Mountain Lakes Physicians Group
➡ Mountain Gate Systems
➡ Willow Valley RV Resort
For a complete listing please visit our website, thelaurelmagazine.com.
Being added to our listing is easy! Simply advertise with The Laurel.
Visit Our Advertisers
NORTH 107
2. Zookeeper Bistro
6. Slab Town Pizza
16. Stork’s - Wrap. Pack. Ship.
19. The Look Boutique
21. Sashay Around Ladies Boutique
THE SHOPS AT CASHIERS COMMONS
27. Bird Barn & Garden
28. Cashiers Kitchen Co.
29. Dr. Anita, Medical Aesthetics
30. Bombshell Hair Boutique
31. The Watershed Shoppe
33. Zoller Hardware
AT THE CROSSROADS
36. Bucks Coffee Cafe
CHESTNUT SQUARE
47. Lehotsky & Sons, Builders
54. Mountain Home Consignments
55. Fusion Yoga & Wellness
55. The Bungalow Boutique
59. Las Margaritas
EAST 64
63. Alexander Gardens: - Victoria’s Closet
- Victoria’s Closet Shoes & Purses - Vic’s for Men
72. Ingles Plaza - Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group
76. Blue Ridge Bedding & Furniture
79. Jennings Builders Supply
VILLAGE WALK
80. A-List Antiques
80. Josephine’s Emporium
80. Laura Moser Art
85. Children’s Edit
86. Nora & Co.
89. Nearly New Furniture Consignment
90. Gracewear Boutique
SOUTH 107
102. TJ Bailey’s for Men
105. Living Stone Design + Build
107. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Meadows Mountain Realty
110. McCulley’s
111. Rusticks
112. Vivianne Metzger Antiques
113. Brookings Fly Shop & Cashiers Village Outfitters
116. Tampa Bay Trust
118. Chattooga Gardens Nursery
121. Robin’s Nest
123. Caliber Fine Properties
128. Mountainworks Custom Home Design LTD.
130. The Cashiers Store
136. Cashiers Sotheby’s International RealtyThe McKee Group
137. Bounds Cave Rug Gallery
THE VILLAGE GREEN
142. Village Green Commons
143. The Village Green
WEST 64
145. Edgewood Antiques
146. Shoppes On The Green: - Sugar Creek Custom Cabinets
155. Cashiers Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center
173. Betsy Paul Properties
176. Lenz Gifts
DOWN 107 NORTH
➡ Bazaar Barn
DOWN 107 SOUTH
➡ Silver Run Reserve
VISIT CULLOWHEE
➡ Western Carolina University
VISIT GLENVILLE
➡ Crawford Construction
➡ Four Seasons Landscape
VISIT LAKE TOXAWAY
➡ Balistreri Realty
➡ Blue Ridge Falls RV
➡ Charlie’s Hot Buns
➡ Grand Olde Station
➡ The Greystone Inn
➡ Headwaters Outfitters
➡ Los Vaqueros
➡ Mountain Construction Engineering
VISIT SAPPHIRE :
➡ Burlingame
➡ Canyon Kitchen
➡ Canyon Spa
➡ Casa Amigos Bar and Grill
➡ Sapphire Valley Real Estate
➡ Whistlin Dixie
VISIT SYLVA :
➡ Riverstone Development Group
For a complete listing please visit our website, thelaurelmagazine.com.
Being added to our listing is easy! Simply advertise with The Laurel.
Photo by Susan Renfro
New Owners of Toxaway Market
Tradition and a commitment to quality lie at the heart of Lauren and Chris Wiener’s purchase of the Historic Toxaway Market.
Whether you live in the Sapphire or Lake Toxaway area or are passing through the area, don’t miss the opportunity to stop at the Historic Toxaway Market at 15889 Rosman Highway.
Lauren and Chris Wiener purchased this charming gourmet shop this year and are excited to welcome everyone to stop by.
Recognizing that there’s no need to mess with a good thing, they are not making sweeping changes and are still offering premium wines, craft beers, gourmet food items, local honey, cheeses, fresh meats, produce, organic items, including dairy, and a selection of gift items.
Of course, they also carry your necessary day-to-day dry goods, dairy items, and snacks. This is especially convenient for their neighbors who can stop in without making the longer drive to Cashiers or Brevard. Who hasn’t been on their way
home and thought -oops I forgot to buy milk?
Hikers and day trippers can find everything they need for a midday picnic here-drinks, ice, sandwiches from Dilly Deli, dried and fresh fruits, nuts, snacks and a host of other items.
Chris and Lauren believe in bringing their customers the very best so they’ll be emphasizing organic and locally grown products as much as possible, as well as other products produced in North Carolina including wines and cheeses.
The idea of providing the freshest and healthiest products available for their customers while supporting local farmers and businesses appeals to Chris and Lauren, who are local farmers themselves. They own a hog farm and have been providing pork products to the Toxaway Market for years.
They know the importance of providing customers with the best and know that the flip side of supporting local farmers and
producers is vital to the area.
It’s all about community here, gathering with your neighbors and supporting them in every way possible.
Lauren is the face of the business and here every day. Her family roots run deep in this area as her grandparents owned Case Cabinet Shop in Brevard for many years. She has traveled extensively, lived and studied in many places, worked as a social worker and physical therapist, and it’s all brought her here to this much-loved community.
Spring hours at the Market are Wednesday through Saturday from 11:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M.
Summer hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 until 7:00. Reach out to them at (828) 214-7811 or visit their website at historictoxawaymarket.com.
by Mary Jane McCall /
Mary Gillan
photos by
Scan to learn more.
Lauren Wiener
Summer Camps For Kids
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute’s Summer STEM and Space Exploration Camps are looking for young adventurers – visit pari. edu/camps/summer-camps .
For decades, the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute has been illuminating the mysteries of the cosmos.
It’s now offering its expertise and resources to reveal those mysteries to young explorers through a set of summer camps.
“Unleash your curiosity of the unknown when you retreat to a dark sky oasis where the stars are innumerable and beckon overhead,” says PARI’s Laura Galloway.
“The summer of 2025 will begin PARI’s 24th summer camp season.
PARI campers have a strong tradition of going on to pursue careers inspired by the challenges they took on at a PARI summer camp. Whether this will be your first time, or you’re a returning camper, we have a great season planned with engaging guest educators and speakers and a team of experienced staff who will share their experiences in the field of space science.”
Above and Beyond, July 7 – July 18; Best for campers entering grades 9-12
Above and Beyond is PARI’s signature camping experience designed to immerse high school students in the world of space science and research while building confidence and critical thinking skills.
Originally developed in partnership with Duke University and refined for over two decades, this space camp explores the universe through astronomy, physics, and astrobiology, while also providing time for adventure and fun.
“From the impact of stars on the planets in their systems, to the composition of atmospheres and regolith, we’ll present the tools to answer a myriad of questions that could one day help humanity spread beyond Earth,” says Galloway.
Mission Control 3D Planets Camp, July 20 – July 25; Best for campers entering grades 6-9
Come explore other worlds with us and learn to 3D model and print volcanos, craters, rifts, and more from the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Campers learn how to access and use data collected by spacecraft about the surface of other planets and moons.
“Campers will use hands-on models, computer software, 3D printers, and real NASA provided data to conduct their research and produce their models,” says Galloway. “Our large radio telescopes will be used to demonstrate and understand how the data that spacecraft and satellites collect is transmitted to Earth and collected so it can be used.
“These camps have generous scholarships available for North Carolina campers,” says Galloway. “Please contact us to see about receiving one for your camper at pari.edu/camps/ summer-camps.”
by Luke Osteen
Pages 158-163
Photo by Susan Renfro
Homes in the Sky
Highlands Historical Society’s exclusive home tour, set for June 21, illuminates the history and artistry embedded within a trio of magnificent houses. For information and reservations, visit highlandshistory.com .
On June 21, the Highlands Historical Society will celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Highlands by hosting a tour of three of its most historical homes tucked high in the clouds above.
Shuttle vans will transport guests to each home where a “ghost” of the first homeowner will greet them and provide unique insights into the home and their own past. Docents will also be available to guide the guests through the home and to answer any additional questions.
The first home on the tour will be the Sloan House, also known as “Cheeonondah,” which was built by J. Walter Reese for Henry Worrell Sloan and his wife, Katherine, in 1901.
Built in an ornate Italian style with a stucco exterior unique in
Highlands, a feature of this home will be the Sloan Gardens, which have been lovingly cared for by current owners, Chuck and Pam Auster.
Having lived in England and Italy for a period, Sloan was exposed to a variety of architectural styles which influenced the design of the house and gardens. The terraced gardens were begun prior to the beginning of the home’s construction. As a home on the National Register of Historic Places, the house has been described as being “both Mediterranean and Italian in feeling but with Victorian influence in the interior.” This makes it unique on the Highlands Plateau.
The second home on the tour is the Lapham House, dubbed “Faraway,” which was built by master carpenter Marion Wright in 1898 for Dr. Mary Lapham, who lived in the home with
Sloan Gardens Pool by George Masa, 1929
her friends, Edith Bloomer Dougall and Carolyn Barker. Known for its exceptional views of the mountains to the West, the home is now owned by Bill and Julia Grumbles who have helped to return the home to its past glory. Though there is some dispute as to whether the home is a result of a renovated farmhouse that was preexisting on the property, or that it was completely built by Wright, there is no doubting the beauty of the finished product and the views that it commands. Dr. Lapham maintained a general practice at the home which resulted in a two-story addition which was used as an office and dispensary for her patients. All of the space is now incorporated into the existing home, which still features leaded glass windows and an expansive front porch.
The final home on the tour is the Ravenel House, called “Wolf Ridge,” which was built in 1915 by Thomas Parker for his half-sisters, Marguerite and Claire Ravenel. This wonderful home is now co-owned by Ray and Diane McPhail and Will and Karen Stolz. The home was recently painstakingly restored after a fire burned in the attic and water damaged much of the home. The views from the home are unforgettable.
Built in an Arts and Crafts style with chestnut wood that was harvested on the property, and foundation stones hauled to the site by ox cart, the home was built with room for family and friends to gather. Despite the extensive damage from the fire, key features of the home were able to be preserved, right down to the hardwood floors which were saved by a little TLC from the owners and their contractor. One thing that was never altered is the panoramic views of Horse Cove Valley, Whiteside Mountain, Fodderstack and beyond.
Tickets for the fundraiser benefiting the Highlands Historical Society are $100 each. All ticket holders must be able to board and depart a van. Reservation times begin at 10:00 A.M. and continue until 1:30 on June 21. The tour will last approximately 90 minutes. If you are interested in participating, please visit highlandshistory.com for more information and to reserve your space. Only 112 tickets will be sold.
The Highlands Historical Society would like to thank Chuck and Pam Auster, Bill and Julia Grumbles, Ray and Diane McPhail, and Will and Karen Stolz for their graciousness in allowing the Society to use their beloved homes for this event.
As partners in our mission, we all seek to “preserve and promote the rich heritage of Highlands for present and future generations.”
by Tracy Foor, Highlands Historical Society
A History of Books
A trio of community cultural powerhouses are celebrating their anniversaries this year.
In the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2008, when the national and local economies were writhing like a snake on a griddle, I ended up working the front desk at Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library.
It gave me an unprecedented look at the various communities of Southern Jackson County and a continuous drama wilder than anything conceived in Hollywood – little triumphs and shared tragedies, petty feuds and sudden reconciliations and always – always –unexpected bouts of laughter.
My employment was ensured by Fontana Regional Library System, which supports branches in Jackson, Macon (that’s right, Highlands’ Hudson Library) and Swain counties. The system is celebrating its 80th birthday and, if anything, its mission has become even more vital.
In the 19th century, North Carolina had the highest rate of illiteracy in the US. The State Library, formally established in 1812, was the only tax-supported library existing in North Carolina before the 20th Century.
Grim as that situation was, things weren’t so dark in the grand experiment called Highlands.
Ella Emmons Hudson, a newcomer to the young town, believed that residents deserved a library. Though she died before her dream could be realized, Hudson Library opened its doors on June 13, 1884. The 80 volumes that comprise the collection were those brought to Highlands by Ms. Hudson.
If you look at the date of its foundation, you’ll notice that Hudson Library is in the midst of its 140th anniversary.
And while we’re talking about birthdays, we can’t ignore Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, which opened its doors in 1994. How about that – its 41st birthday!
In the 1930s, Franklin Roosevelt’s Works Project Administration decided to increase the number of libraries in the state, with emphasis on WNC with its burgeoning army of Civilian Conservation Corps workers.
My uncle Harvey “Benny” Souther
was one of those CCC “boys” and he remembered the thrill of being able to check out the Tarzan novels and the pulp adventures of Doc Savage and G-8 and His Battle Aces.
With even more development of the Tennessee Valley Authority and Oak Ridge (see our 2020 interview with Highlander Katherine Taylor about that project), it became clear that an even greater effort would have to be undertaken to meet the needs of the reading public.
In 1944, Fontana Regional Library began as a regional bookmobile to visit the most remote areas of Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties. After nearly a decade, Fontana Regional Library System incorporated as a nonprofit entity designed to serve libraries in all three counties.
For evidence of how FRL and the twin Plateau libraries continue to enrich the lives of residents, I’d invite you to check their reports featured in every issue of The Laurel.
by Luke Osteen
Construction begins at Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library
Highlands and Good Finds
Stuart uncovers a centuryold heart-felt message from Highlands’ own Louise Rand Bascom.
Stuart Ferguson is a local historian, armchair traveler, and irrepressible raconteur. He reviews books for The Highland Hiker, which maintains an extensive collection of local literature.
“And now the watery April sun lit up …and the birds; Rejoicing in their flood of unknown words; Were heard again, a silk-fastened book; A certain elder from his raiment took’ And said “O friends…be pleased to hear an ancient tale again; That, told so long ago, doth yet remain.’”
Remind you of Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”? It’s from “The Earthly Paradise,” William Morris’s 1870, four-volume poem modeled on Chaucer’s work, but alternating Greek and Roman myths with Norse and Germanic romances. Morris was an energetic English designer, artist and social reformer who said “if a chap can’t compose an epic poem while he’s weaving tapestry he had better shut up.”
In 1894, Morris’s Kelmscott Press published a landmark edition of Chaucer.
I found my 1905 edition of “The Earthly Paradise” at the Hudson Library’s
awesome Bookworm; it has the signature of Louise Rand Bascom (1885-1949) on the first page, with the date 6/25/07. She’s the teenage girl with cascading ringlets seen in old Highlands photos, on the tennis court of the Davis House at the turn of the 20th century, or standing next to her friend Helen Hill Norris (future author of “Historic Tales of Highlands”). Louise’s father Henry Bascom owned most of the real estate in town—including the Davis House – and served several terms as mayor. She and her father are the namesakes of the Bascom art gallery, which her widowed husband, the artist and theater-designer Watson Barratt, endowed in honor of his late wife and father in law.
Rereading Ran Shaffner’s fun “Good Reading Material, Mostly Bound and New: The Hudson Library 1884-1984” gave me info on Louise who was a library trustee as well as a patron. A drama major at Wellesley College,
Louise moved to New York and wrote short stories for magazines such as Harper’s and Ladies Home Journal, as well as travel pieces about NYC. In fact, her future husband (they married in 1917) illustrated some of her magazine work.
In her biography of Morris, Fiona MacCarthy calls “Earthly Paradise” a “cult book, mainstay of mid-Victorian picnics.” It’s great fun, but I can’t find that any public library in North Carolina has a copy.
The Hudson Library does have a copy of “Good Reading Material” that can be checked out. They also have the paperback for sale for $15. If you’re interested in Highlands and books, you should own it!
by Stuart Ferguson
photo by Susan Renfro
Photo by Susan Renfro
Supporting Our First Responders
The Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation is dedicated to supporting the Plateau’s first responders and helping to lift the safety of the community for everyone.
In the past year, the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation has proven to be a vital ally in supporting our dedicated first responders through grants aimed at enhancing emergency medical services and community care initiatives.
In a profound display of commitment to our community’s well-being, the Foundation has allocated funds to bolster the capabilities of our essential services, ensuring a higher level of care and support for all residents in need.
One grant has been directed toward Macon County EMS, the primary 9-1-1 EMS service in Macon County. Macon County EMS is responsible for transporting patients to medical facilities and enabling critical transfers between facilities.
This grant will enable Macon County EMS to implement essential equipment upgrades and incorporate cutting-edge medical technologies, thereby enhancing its capacity to provide efficient and effective medical care to those in distress. The investment in modern advancements
and resources is a testament to the Health Foundation’s dedication to ensuring the highest standards of emergency medical services for the community.
Additionally, the Health Foundation’s support extends to vital community care programs, particularly focusing on the high-risk populations in our community.
Through a second grant, Macon County EMS’s Community Care Program will be strengthened in its mission to provide essential services such as food assistance, transportation options, and medication support to vulnerable individuals. Although the program lacks a dedicated budget, the Health Foundation’s contributions, combined with donations and the hard work of EMS members, will have a significant impact on the lives of the most vulnerable individuals in our community.
The recent aftermath of Hurricane Helene has further emphasized the urgency of these services, highlighting their crucial role in times of crisis.
Furthermore, the devastating impact of
Hurricane Helene revealed significant challenges in the communication infrastructure vital for facilitating emergency response efforts. The Health Foundation’s grant will address the deficiencies in communication by providing Swain County with new VIPER radios, essential for seamless coordination among various agencies during crises. These radios will be instrumental in enhancing the efficiency of disaster response efforts, bridging the gaps that were starkly exposed during Hurricane Helene.
Through its proactive support and strategic initiatives, the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation supports our first responders, ensuring the safety and well-being of our community during challenging times. Their unwavering commitment to empowering those on the front lines of emergency response highlights the Health Foundation’s dedication to creating a safer and more resilient community for everyone.
by Josh Bryson, Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation
Financial Focus®
Carefully Consider Social Security Decisions
Your Social Security benefits can be an important part of your retirement income – but when should you start collecting them? It’s a big decision, so you’ll want to consider your options carefully.
Essentially, you’ll need to decide whether you’re going to take your benefits as early as possible — age 62 — or if you should wait until your “full retirement age” or even longer.
If you begin accepting benefits at 62, they’ll be about 30 percent lower than if you waited until your full retirement age, which is 67 if you were born in 1960 or later. And if you wait until 70, your benefits will be about 24 percent higher than at your full retirement age. In deciding when to claim benefits, you’ll want to weigh these factors: Income needs — If you need the money to help meet your daily cost of living, then you may not feel you have much
of a choice about when to take Social Security. However, if you have sufficient income from other sources, such as your 401(k) or other retirement accounts, you may be able to delay taking benefits until they’re much larger.
Employment — If you’re still working and you don’t wait before claiming Social Security, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 earned above $23,400. In the year in which you reach your full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $3 earned above $62,160. (But once you reach your full retirement age, Social Security will adjust your payments to credit you for the months during which your benefits were lowered because of your income.)
Life expectancy — None of us can say for certain how long we’ll live — but you may have some hints. For example, if you have a family history of longevity, and you’re in good health, you might
decide it makes sense to delay taking Social Security until your full retirement age, or even later, as you could potentially have more years of receiving larger checks.
Spouse — If you’re married, decisions about when to claim benefits could affect you or your spouse. The spouse with lower Social Security payments may be eligible to receive spousal benefits, which, when combined with their own benefits, can reach up to 50 percent of the higher-benefit spouse’s payment at their full retirement age. To qualify, the lower-benefit spouse’s benefit at their full retirement age must be less than half of the other spouse’s full-retirement-age benefit.
But if the lower-benefit spouse claims their benefits before their full retirement age, their own retirement benefit and the spousal benefit will be reduced. Also, the lower-benefit spouse reaches
their maximum benefit amount at their full retirement age — they won’t receive additional benefits even if they or the higher-benefit spouse delays taking benefits past their respective full retirement ages.
One other point to keep in mind: If the higher-benefit spouse claims early, the survivor benefit to the other spouse is reduced, but if the higher-benefit spouse delays their benefit beyond their full retirement age, the survivor benefit is increased.
By making the appropriate choices, you can help maximize your Social Security benefits — and possibly enjoy a more comfortable retirement.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC
Todd Holder
Hairy Situation
Donna finds herself in a hairy situation (and our editor Luke discovers what Nair is).
My friend, Frances, and I were Naired at birth – barely a hair on our heads.
Our friends were all blessed with Rapunzel manes – beautiful heads of hair. We hated them, in a nice kind of way, of course.
If there were fairy tale dwarf names for our pitiful hair, we’d be Limpy and Skimpy, though Wimpy is more accurate.
After trying conditioners, ointments, vitamins, (and braiding extensions to our three existing follicles) nothing was gonna cut it.
In an effort to gloss over her situation, Frances gave her topper a trendy name: Stringy-chic. “It’s a legit style!” she insisted. Yeah, right.
My hair was beyond re-branding. I told people I was accosted by a hairrorist. I tried to be cool like Frances. I said, “My hair isn’t stringy. It’s just erupting with awesome.” People looked at me with squinty eyes. No one bought it.
Once I told Frances that we are evolutionarily-advanced. We no longer need hair, so we are the vogue of the future. Granted, the naked-mole-rat trend isn’t what I hoped for.
I read about chia pits (ginormous underarm hair). Perhaps we could plant some chia seeds on our scalps. They wouldn’t last long. Plus we’d be walking sprout-salads. Then again, if a cute guy came by, I might offer a sprig or two. But alas, Frances and I don’t even have underarm hair, and unless we could
transplant Andy Rooney’s eyebrows to our pates, we don’t have any luck with eye-hair either. And nose-hair is totally out-of-the-question.
I asked my doctor about our lifelong pitiful hair. She said, “Perhaps you have Hairpes …There is no cure.”
We are doomed to buzz-cutting and scalp-tattooing. We considered begging Dolly Parton to let us join her pre-worn Dragzilla wig charity…if it even existed. Wait a sec! Why not vacuum up my cat’s spring shed and, for a buck, glue it to a skullcap. There would be little toupee. Gotta go! If this works out, and I have hair left over, I’ll shave you some! by Donna Rhodes art by Norma Jean Zahner
Travel: The Virgin Islands National Park
Deena takes the Trail Less Traveled – Virgin Islands National Park!
Spring can still be a bit nippy on the Plateau, and winters can be downright unbearable at times. So, for individuals busting to be out of doors when our weather is too chilly, consider traveling to the Virgin Islands National Park, where a myriad of great hiking trails exist.
Of the 63 sites in the National Park Service, only two are not in the United States: American Samoa and Virgin Islands National Park. Both of these parks are located in what is considered American “territories” on an island. American Samoa is almost 7,000 miles away and requires many hours of air travel to get there, while the Virgin Islands National Park is a quick, few hours, non-stop flight to St. Thomas in the Caribbean and then a short ferry ride to St. John.
Virgin Islands National Park takes up most of St. John and includes lush tropical forests, protected feral and wild animals, well-maintained hiking trails, secluded snorkel-perfect coves, and preserved sugar mill ruins.
The island is not crowded and has only one main town, Cruz Bay, where the National Park Service’s visitor center is located. Pick up a map there and then begin knocking out short, manageable hikes throughout the almost 20-square-mile island. Or download on a smartphone the National Park Service app
as well as the AllTrails app and find the list of hiking trails, as well as descriptions, difficulty rating, approximate time range for hiking each one.
Some of the trails are right along the edge of a bay, where views of aqua and teal waters convey shallow and deep areas. Often, hikers will see turtle heads pop up or view stingrays “flying” above the water’s surface. Other hikes ascend to cliffs where there are 360-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean and the many mountainous islands nearby, including St. Thomas, Jost van Dyke, and Tortola.
A favorite hike is the 4.2-mile out and back Reef Bay Trail. While the descriptions of the Reef Bay Trail are a bit intimidating – “mostly downhill,” according to AllTrails, or “strenuous,” according to the National Park Service – anyone who has hiked the Whiteside Mountain Trail or any sections of the Bartram Trail will consider the Reef Bay trail moderate and doable.
For one, the trail is only downhill for about a quarter of a mile at the start. Then it mostly levels off for the rest of the trail.
Beginning at the trailhead on Centerline Road (due to its location in the center of the island) the trail meanders through lush forests replete with tiny, white-tailed deer, iridescent bridled quail-doves, and massive wood-ant tree nests. A short spur trail
leads to a secret-garden-like waterfall with a deep pool at its base and petroglyphs covering a large boulder.
A bonus at the end of the trail, just before the dense tropical forest opens to a white beach and a brilliant blue cove, is the Reef Bay Sugar Mill.
Hikers will marvel at the mill’s unique construction showcasing shells, brain coral, multi-hued rocks, and red and white imported bricks. The wood-framed areas of these structures may have eroded due to its century-plus age, but the solidly built walls show little deterioration. Hermit crabs and crested anoles (lizards) creep or dart over, around, and through the ruins.
Plus, enormous gears, a boiler, iron kettles, and a steam engine fill the spaces. Components were manufactured in Glasgow, Scotland in 1861 by the W.A. McOnie Company, and both the date and the company name are still legible on the equipment.
Hikers that also like to snorkel would be wise to pack snorkeling gear in a backpack, as almost all of the hiking trails within the Virgin Islands National Park start at or lead to coves teaming with tropical fish and colorful plant life.
by Deena Bouknight
I Grew Up Here
For Terry Potts, growing up in Highlands was an idyllic experience marked by lessons at home, in the classroom and on the farm.
Terry Potts, owner of Country Club Properties, grew up in the shadow of downtown Highlands. His family’s farm encompassed 50 acres where the Shelby Place Subdivision is now. Their family home most recently served as the Shelby Place Clubhouse.
It was an idyllic childhood where Terry and his siblings, Stevie, Sherry and Robbie, could explore to their hearts’ content.
They had two burros, sheep, chickens, ducks, a German Shepherd who allowed his favorite duck friend to ride on his head, and cats.
There were fields and woods to roam, ride motorcycles in, drive their little King Midget car through, and trees to climb. They were free to explore at will but when his mother, Mae, rang the farm bell they had 10 minutes to get home. From here they could walk through the
woods to Harvey Talley’s store for candy or up Satulah Mountain to visit their friends, the Worleys. Favorite activities there were skeet shooting or in winter riding sleds from the top all the way down the mountain into town.
His family believed in hard work too. His father, Steve, owned Potts Market and when Terry was small his dad would pay him and his siblings five-cents a pint to pick wild strawberries that were sold in the store.
Terry helped in the grocery store from the age of 7 or 8, and often ran a cash register. Just a few years later, and long before he was old enough to have a driver’s license, he’d drive the family Wagoneer in the snow to deliver groceries. Soon his Uncle Tom Potts took him under his wing and taught him the intricacies of meat cutting, and Terry spent his next years as a butcher until he
became a real estate agent.
The value of hard work was instilled from an early age. Terry also fondly remembers that his seventh grade teacher, Corbett Holand, taught him a valuable life lesson about fairness and the consequences of misbehavior. Corbett posted his classroom rules and kept a quiet tally when a student broke a rule. Five infractions earned five gigs (for those uninitiated that’s five strikes to the palm your hand with a ruler) or one swat with a paddle-student’s choice. Everyone was treated the same and all learned early on to behave.
Most importantly of all, Terry met the love of his life, Karin, in the 11th grade, they were married in 1979, have three children and 11 grandchildren.
Highlands, a home like no other. by Mary Jane McCall
Terry Potts
Karin and Terry Potts, 1979
10 Simple Steps
Dr. Sue Aery (Dr. Sue to everyone on the Plateau) lays out the path to healthy living.
Dr. Sue Aery
For nearly two decades, Dr. Sue Aery has been a familiar face to anyone in Highlands seeking relief from pain and a path to better health.
As a chiropractor and wellness expert, she’s known for blending hands-on care with a big-picture approach – one that sees health as more than just the absence of pain. Now, Dr. Sue is sharing that philosophy far beyond her treatment room with the release of her new book, 10 Simple Steps to Better Health: A Guide to Health and Wellness for Everyone
“I’ve always wanted to write books,” Dr. Sue says, “but life gets busy when you’re running a practice. It wasn’t until I was recovering from hip surgery—and suddenly had time to reflect—that I jumped into a 7-day book challenge and finally put my thoughts on paper.”
The result is a warm, accessible guide that feels more like advice from a trusted friend than a textbook. “This isn’t about
complicated science,” she says. “It’s a foundation—a starting point. These are the stepping stones to better health.”
Dr. Sue’s 10 steps touch on the basics—hydration, sleep, movement, and stress relief—but they also dig into something deeper: the importance of emotional, social, and spiritual health. “Love, companionship, happiness—those are just as important as what you eat,” she says. “It’s all connected.”
That whole-person, root-cause approach has shaped Dr. Sue’s entire career, and it’s also the driving force behind her latest venture: Reflux Rescue (www.refluxrescue.health), an online resource dedicated to helping people manage acid reflux and GERD naturally – without medications.
“So many people are struggling with digestive issues, but they don’t realize how closely gut health connects to everything else -- immunity, energy, even brain health,” she explains.
“If I could give this book to one person, it would be a medical doctor,” she says. “Not to criticize, but to bridge the gap. My focus is on nutrition, lifestyle, and getting to the root cause. Imagine how much better we could serve patients if we worked together.”
She’s quick to emphasize that better health isn’t a destination you arrive at –it’s a daily practice.
“Good health is a journey. It’s fluid and dynamic. It’s about making better choices, learning what your body needs, and being curious enough to keep asking questions.”
With 10 Simple Steps, Dr. Sue hopes to spark that curiosity – and empower readers to take charge of their own well-being.
by Marlene Osteen
photo by Susan Renfro
GIVING BACK Pages 186-197
Photo by Susan Renfro
Part 2
Louise,
The
long, long residency of beloved Louise culminates in a Happily Ever After.
When I wrote about Louise, our second-longestterm canine resident, in last month’s issue, I wasn’t intending at the time that it would be Part One of a two-part story.
But I’m really not surprised that it turned out that way, because as a no-kill shelter that celebrates life and unconditional love, every ending that we write is a happy one.
So before I jump to that ending, as a reminder from last month I wrote this: “Louise is strong and loyal, like a rock. She stands proud, and she stands tall, high above it all. Louise still believes in her dreams. We believe in her dreams, too, and we’re not going to give up until we can make them come true.”
We rescued this brave canine survivor in May of 2022. Like the more than 100 other animals currently entrusted to our care, Louise had all the time she needed and wanted to choose her Forever Human Companion. In the meantime, we promised Louise the highest level of compassionate care.
Turns out, that time amounted to 1,009 days. We cherished every one of them with this sweet girl. And then a few weeks ago, the wonderful day finally happened. Louise met her awesome new forever mom, and she traded the cold winter of western North Carolina for the warm sunny life of Florida.
With your support, we helped make Louise’s dreams come true. And this is why we do what we do.
Established in 1987, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located at 200 Gable Drive in Sapphire, one-and-a-half miles east of the Cashiers Ingles in between Cedar Creek Club and Lonesome Valley on Highway 64. Our no-kill shelter is open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. For more information, visit us online at chhumanesociety. org or call (828) 743-5752. Tax-deductible donations to support our lifesaving work can be mailed to: CHHS, P.O. Box 638, Cashiers, NC 28717.
by David Stroud, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society
Open a Book, the World Unfolds
Literacy & Learning Center’s generous partners give its students a rich, fun experience throughout the school year.
The Literacy & Learning Center believes a well-rounded education extends beyond the traditional classroom.
That’s why the after-school program goes beyond homework help, offering students enriching experiences through valuable partnerships with local organizations. These collaborations expose students to diverse subjects and activities, fostering a love of learning and building a stronger connection to the Highlands community. Partnership with The Bascom ignites creativity, allowing students to explore various art forms and express themselves through visual arts. From painting and drawing to sculpture and mixed media, The Bascom’s instructors guide students in developing their artistic talents.
Highlands-Cashiers Hospital focuses on health and wellness, teaching students about nutrition, exercise, and the importance of healthy habits. These interactive
sessions empower students to make informed choices about their well-being. The natural beauty surrounding Highlands provides a living classroom, thanks to partnerships with the Highlands Nature Center and Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust. Through hands-on activities, students discover the wonders of the local ecosystem and wider natural world, fostering an appreciation for conservation and environmental stewardship.
The Hudson Library expands learning beyond books, providing engaging STEM projects that encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Through hands-on exploratory activities, students discover new ways of problem-solving.
The Highlands Performing Arts Center adds a touch of drama to the after-school program, helping students develop confidence, communication skills, and creativity through theatrical games and exercises.
Finally, the Highlands Fire Department reinforces the importance of safety, teaching students valuable lessons about fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and how to stay safe in various situations.
These partnerships are essential to TL&LC’s mission, enriching students’ lives and strengthening the community’s fabric. Working together gives children more opportunities to explore their interests, discover new talents, and develop into well-rounded individuals.
The Literacy & Learning Center is deeply grateful for the support of these valuable community partners who make the after-school program so impactful.
To learn more about programs at TL&LC, contact Caroline Cox at CCox@ TheLiteracyandLearningCenter.org or (828) 526-0863.
by Anna Norton, Literacy & Learning Center
Sharing and Painting
We cherish our friendship with Sue Blair and the wonderful horses (and other creatures) that give sweet spirit to Carpe Diem Farms, month after month.
In September 2002, publishers Marjorie and Janet asked if I would contribute articles about Carpe Diem Farms and our activities to their new magazine, The Mountain Laurel.
Now, lovingly known as Laurel, and marking 23 years of publishing, it has been my privilege throughout all these years to offer a glimpse of Carpe Diem Farms, a Highlands non-profit, “Exploring the Human Potential Through Equines” each month.
The September 2011 issue is certainly one I won’t forget. Selected as that month’s Cover Artist showcasing a pastel I had recently completed of nine-year-old CDF Lola’s Promise, our magnificent Morgan, the only foal ever born on the farm.
As life does seem to flow, the first article in 2002 had showcased his arrival and now he was a cover!
There have been 23 horses who have participated in all we do in our programs for men, women and children. Seventeen
are remembered daily as they rest in the Saint Francis Cemetery, and six now make up the herd.
Once again, I have begun to paint, this time acrylics in a much freer form than that of my pastels!
I thought it would be fun to share my latest… our newest and biggest, “Journey,” the three year old Shire and the latest of him with his friend Pumpkin, our 34-year-old miniature “Sharing Breath” on a Cold Winter’s Day. If you would like to do a photo shoot, come paint with us and our teacher, Susan Jagar, on Thursdays or just come to the farm to meet the herd.
Please call (828) 200-9725 or email me at blair. carpediem@gmail.com to schedule a time to visit. Drop-ins don’t really work, so please schedule a day and time to experience the magic of the horses of Carpe Diem Farms. by Sue Blair, Carpe Diem Farms
One Child at a Time
Dedicated volunteers make a Big difference in the lives of their Littles.
In today’s fast-paced and often fragmented world, families face a wide array of challenges. From balancing work and home life to managing financial stresses and navigating complex educational systems, it’s easy for some children to slip through the cracks.
However, Big Brothers Big Sisters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing one-on-one mentorship for children locally, continues to be an invaluable resource for families in need in Macon and Jackson counties for over 23 years. By creating lasting relationships between children and adult mentors, BBBS has proven to be a powerful and effective support system for families across the country.
BBBS’s mission is simple: to ignite the potential in young people by pairing them with caring adult mentors who provide guidance, encouragement, and support. The core idea is that every child has the potential for success and that a
positive, consistent mentor can play a transformative role in a child’s life.
Through its programs, BBBS helps to address some of the most critical gaps that children and families experience, providing not only mentorship but a broader network of support that empowers children and strengthens families.
Mentorship can be a game-changer for children. According to research, youth who have mentors are more likely to perform better in school, have better social skills, and avoid risky behaviors. Mentorship also fosters emotional well-being, as children develop greater self-esteem, confidence, and a sense of belonging. However, many children, especially those in underserved communities, lack access to positive role models, which can lead to feelings of isolation, low academic performance, and an increased likelihood of getting involved in negative influences.
This is where BBBS steps in. The organization focuses on pairing children
with mentors—known as “Bigs”—who provide stability, guidance, and encouragement. These relationships are built on trust and mutual respect, with mentors offering their time, attention, and wisdom to help children navigate life’s challenges. These partnerships are not just about providing advice; they are about offering a consistent presence in a child’s life, which can be a lifeline for many.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is not just an organization – it’s a critical family resource that helps to bridge gaps, build confidence, and create stability for families. Through mentorship, BBBS empowers children, strengthens families, and enriches communities. By pairing children with positive role models, BBBS provides much-needed support and guidance to both children and their families, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
by Mary Jane McCall
The Louis Osteen Scholarship
The sweet spirit of our beloved Louis Osteen thrives here on the Plateau through the Louis Osteen Scholarship.
So many times, things aren’t what they seem.
Take Highlands Festivals Inc., the nonprofit behind Highlands Food & Wine and Bear Shadow Festival. It would be easy to see it as just an entertainment machine — weekends full of music, food, and wine. But it’s so much more than that. It’s a lifeline, a dream-maker, and in my case, a way to honor my late husband, Louis Osteen.
Highlands Food & Wine was born from a simple idea — to bring visitors to the Plateau during the slower fall season, expanding the shoulder season and boosting local businesses. Bear Shadow followed with the same goal for spring.
In the years since, both festivals have wildly exceeded those hopes. Hotels sell out. Shops and restaurants report record sales. But what matters most is what happens quietly beneath all that — the way these festivals turn ticket sales into funding for community causes and life-changing opportunities.
Louis was a chef, but that barely scratches the surface. He was a self-made man from a solid middle-class family where dreams were modest and practical. Reaching for the stars wasn’t part of
the vernacular, yet somehow, Louis became one.
And if he were here today, I know his greatest joy wouldn’t come from his own success — it would come from holding out a hand to someone else and helping them take that first step toward their own dream.
Funded entirely by Highlands Festivals Inc., the scholarship is now fully endowed at $100,000, with the annual award funded by the interest earned on the endowment in perpetuity to help students pursue their culinary education. For a student with talent, passion, and a demonstrated need for financial assistance to afford a world-class culinary education, this is the kind of door Louis would have loved to hold open.
One of my greatest personal moments came reading the thank you letter from this year’s scholarship recipient Imari Morehead. She wrote, “This gift has changed the trajectory of my life,” and described how it eased her financial burden, allowing her to fully focus on learning. “I hope to one day mentor others and give back the same way this scholarship gave to me.”
Reading those words, I could almost hear Louis chuckling —
Louis Osteen
Imari Morehead
proud and a little stunned that his name was now tied to someone else’s future.
Highlands Festivals Inc. does this kind of work all the time, though not everyone knows it. The festivals have funded Friends of Founders Park, the Highlands Biological Center, the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, and the Highlands Food Pantry — all causes rooted in care for this community. The scholarship is just one more piece of that larger story.
I often think back to the day Louis gave the graduation speech at the Culinary Institute of America. I remember watching him at the podium — humbled, proud, and so completely genuine — offering his story to a room full of young chefs just beginning to imagine their own.
Now, through this scholarship, he’s still there — a quiet hand on someone’s back, saying, “Go on. You’ve got this.”
Because sometimes a festival isn’t just a party. Sometimes, it’s a hand reaching back, making sure the next dreamer has a way forward.
by Marlene Osteen
Publisher’s Note: Louis Osteen Scholarship preference is given to applicants from the Highlands-Cashiers area. Local students interested in pursuing a first-class education in the culinary arts may contact the CIA at ciachef.edu and refer to the Louis Osteen Legacy Scholarship.
Long a shining star on the Plateau, The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau earns national recognition.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau has earned national recognition from Boys & Girls Clubs of America as one of the topperforming clubs in the country.
Ranked among the top 20 out of 5,200 clubs nationwide, BGCP excelled in key areas such as membership growth, financial sustainability, and delivering exceptional experiences for the youth it serves.
Carmen Waite, BGCP’s chief executive officer, along with current Board Chair Dr. Joy Clark and past Board Chair Nat Turner, participated in a detailed interview with BGCA to discuss the strategies driving the Club’s success.
This prestigious accolade is the latest in a series of milestones for BGCP. Earlier this year, Waite was named the Southeast Region’s Best New CEO.
In addition, Waite was asked this month
to serve on Boys and Girls Clubs of America President’s Advisory Council – a distinguished and trusted group of Boys & Girls Club CEOs tasked with advising on strategic matters and monitoring progress over the next several years.
“It is an honor to receive this recognition,” said Waite. “By sharing our journey and successes, we aim to inspire other Clubs to achieve similar levels of excellence and impact, improving the lives of youth.”
“Serving as Board Chair for such an outstanding organization is a privilege,” said Dr. Joy Clark. “Our success is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our staff and volunteers, the generosity of our supporters, and strong collaborations with schools and local non-profits. Together, we’re creating brighter futures for our youth.”
The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau
serves youth from kindergarten through 12th grade in the Cashiers and Highlands communities. The Club offers a wide range of programs focusing on academic success, character development, and healthy lifestyles. BGCP is committed to ensuring that all children, especially those who need it most, have access to a safe and supportive environment after school and during the summer months.
For more information, please contact Carmen Waite at (828) 743-2775 or via email at carmen@bgcplateau.org. Visit our website at bgcplateau.org
by Kayla Deaton,
The Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau
Scan to learn more.
Her Business Expertise
For Wendy Reese, business is built upon an instinct for dealmaking, deep local roots, and wise valuations. She gets along with bears, too. Wendy can be reached by phone at (402) 630-7461 or email at Wendy@BHHSMMR.com .
Wendy Reese
Wendy Reese, owner of Business Acquisition, Sales and Consulting, is a certified business valuator who helps owners throughout Western North Carolina and nationwide value their businesses and real estate.
She’s also a commercial real estate broker with Berkshire Hathaway Meadows Mountain Realty in Highlands, so she’s also able to streamline the sale or lease for her clients from the beginning of the transaction until the end.
Wendy, a business owner herself, is a distinguished authority in business brokerage who is unwavering in her focus on helping owners successfully transition their companies to qualified buyers. She excels in crafting superior business brokerage solutions. Her robust expertise is highlighted by her certification in business valuation from Columbia University Executive Education, enabling her to effectively assess
businesses to attract premium buyers. She is a strong advocate for entrepreneurship, calculated risk-taking, and strategic exits.
This industry is her passion, and she takes great delight in helping people buy and sell businesses and seeing that people who have worked hard achieve their dreams.
Wendy says “It’s like opening up a Christmas gift every time I get asked to come in to someone’s business. I’m always amazed at the ingenuity of people and it’s always a privilege to be a part of the transition to new owners.” Her motto is “seeking future success stories.”
Wendy moved to Highlands from Omaha, Nebraska last May, but don’t mistake her for a newcomer.
Her family roots here go back 200 years and she has always considered Highlands home. The daughter of Dorothy and Gordon Reese, her family
moved often since her father served in the military, but they always found time to visit Highlands.
Wendy spent many summers here, enjoying time with her extended family. Her first job was working as a cashier at the Mountaineer Restaurant, which was owned by her Aunt Marie Reese.
Wendy has been warmly welcomed by her family, friends, clients, and neighbors, including a rather large black bear neighbor who was among the first to roll out the welcome mat, or rather, mistake her open door as his welcome mat. While unpacking on that beautiful spring day with her doors open, the bear walked right in. Wendy assured us that after a bit of excitement and screaming by both parties, they retreated out their respective doors and have lived amicably near each other since.
by Mary Jane McCall
photo by Susan Renfro
Liz Harris & Jessica Hoheisel
TWO SISTERS, ONE GOAL: YOUR REAL ESTATE SUCCESS
As sisters and brokers, we bring a powerful blend of synergy, passion, and market expertise to the Cashiers-Highlands area. With deep roots in the community and a shared commitment to excellence, we’ve combined our individual successes to create a powerhouse real estate duo—offering our clients twice the knowledge, strategy, and personalized service.
Liz, has been a leader in the region’s luxury real estate market for over 20 years and is currently the top ranked broker in Cashiers and the 2nd ranked broker on the Highlands/Cashiers plateau for 2024. Specializing in exclusive club communities, land and estates, and lakefront properties, she pairs strategic marketing with a keen eye for staging, ensuring every listing reaches its full potential.
Jessica’s solution oriented attitude is the driving force behind her career. Mentored by Liz Harris over the past five years, she’s quickly becoming an expert in high-end real estate, seamlessly navigating transactions and building strong client relationships. Possessing an innate ability to understand and connect with people, and a sharp eye for market trends, she helps buyers and sellers navigate the real estate process with confidence and ease.
Together, we offer a full-service real estate experience, combining elite marketing, expert negotiation, and an extensive network of industry professionals. Whether buying, selling, or investing, we ensure a smooth, strategic, and rewarding process. With us, you don’t just get agents—you get trusted advisors, relentless advocates, and a sister-driven team committed to your success. Let’s find or sell your place together.
“Liz and Jessica have guided us through the purchase of several homes in Cashiers and we could not speak more highly of their expertise, attention to detail or the care and services they provided us as clients.You would be hard pressed to find a moreknowledgeableagent;theyhaveledustoafewofourbest investments. This team will just about bend over backwards to find you the perfect real estate for your family. We are so grateful for their professionalism and assistance.” –
“Liz has successfully been my Broker on two occasions. First, she coordinated with other Brokers to get top-dollar for my home in Mountaintop.Next,she was able to secure a property I really wanted after it was just sold to someone else, and find a solution that satisfied everyone.In a word she is tenacious,and gets the job done.” – CHRIS E
Cedar Hill
4 BR / 4.5 BA / 1.48 ACRES Welcome to this exquisite new construction home now completed and ready to move-in! Conveniently located in the highly sought-after neighborhood of Cedar Hill, just minutes from the heart of Cashiers. Offering long-range, expansive views from the Primary Suite, Living Room, Kitchen, and Guest Suites, this property blends luxurious living with breathtaking scenery. The Main Level is designed for both comfort and elegance, featuring a spacious Primary En-Suite with a dualsided fireplace, seamlessly warming both the bedroom and the bathroom. Adjacent is a charming study, complete with its own cozy fireplace, perfect for quiet relaxation. At the heart of the home, you’ll find the vaulted-ceiling Living
for $4,395,000
Room, featuring a full-stone fireplace and a glass-enclosed wine storage room, ideal for showcasing your collection. The open-concept Kitchen offers two large islands and connects to a Breakfast Nook, Keeping Room, and Formal Dining Room—perfect for both casual meals and elegant entertaining. A wellappointed Laundry Room and spacious Walk-In Pantry enhance the home’s functionality. Upstairs, discover three additional very spacious En-Suite Bedrooms and an office. The unfinished space above the three-car garage offers potential for additional square footage, ready for your personal touch. Don’t miss the chance to own this one-of-a-kind property with luxury finishes, unparalleled views, and a prime location in Cedar Hill. MLS 105907
Wade Hampton Golf Club
4 BR / 4 BA / 0.84 ACRES This beautifully renovated home blends timeless character with modern luxury. The great room serves as the heart of the home, featuring vaulted ceilings and a stone fireplace that creates a welcoming atmosphere. Natural light pours through large windows, while the open flow leads seamlessly into the beautiful kitchen and formal dining room. Completing the living areas, a charming Carolina Porch with its own fireplace provides a relaxed outdoor setting for enjoying morning coffee or entertaining guests. The Primary En-Suite is a true retreat, offering a serene ambiance and glimpses of the mountains beyond the golf course below the property. A spacious, remodeled bath with dual vanities, a large walk-in shower, and an expansive walk-in closet completes this retreat. The main level also features a cozy study, a second bedroom, and a beautifully appointed guest bath, ensuring comfort and convenience for both residents and visitors. The Terrace Level offers even more living space, with a cozy
Offered for $3,695,000
family room anchored by a stone fireplace and a full wet bar—ideal for relaxing or hosting. Two generously sized en-suite bedrooms offer privacy and comfort, while the terrace-level Carolina Porch extends your living space outdoors, inviting you to take in the fresh air and views. Every detail in this home has been thoughtfully curated with exquisite custom furnishings and decor, creating a refined yet welcoming atmosphere throughout. Outside, the gently rolling lot boasts terraced gardens, lawn spaces, and an inviting outdoor fire pit. Situated just minutes from the charming mountain village of Cashiers and located within the gates of the prestigious Wade Hampton Golf Club, this home offers the perfect balance of privacy, luxury, and convenience. With its impeccable renovation, stunning surroundings, and thoughtful design, this home is an exceptional find for those seeking a peaceful mountain retreat. MLS 32855
Laurel Meadow Cottage Offered
3 BR / 3.5 BA / 0.33 ACRES Discover this pre-construction sale of a charming new cottage, perfectly situated just outside the gates of Mountain Top Golf and Lake Club and a quick 4-minute drive to downtown Cashiers. Nestled in a serene, sunlit setting, this home boasts picturesque views of the community meadow and glimpses of the prestigious Whiteside Mountain. The main level features an open-concept living area that seamlessly flows onto a spacious covered porch and wraparound decks, ideal for outdoor entertaining. You’ll find the primary bedroom on this level, along with a versatile office or
Ellison Lane Cottages
2 BR / 2 BA / 0.33 ACRES Discover the charm and convenience of these brand new 2-bedroom and 2-bathroom cottages in the picturesque neighborhood of Cottages at Silver Run Falls which is nestled against peaceful Nature Conservancy land. Located less than 5 minutes from Cashiers, these five cottages offer proximity to Silver Run Reserve, Wade Hampton, Chattooga Club, and High Hampton, ensuring easy access to local amenities. Enjoy an easy 1/4
for $1,275,000
nursery space. Upstairs, two generously-sized bedrooms with en suite baths await, complemented by a roomy loft area perfect for a second living space or family room. Located in the new Laurel Meadow community, this lowmaintenance home allows you to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors without the hassle—including HOA maintained landscaping! With only eight homes in this quaint neighborhood, you’ll find the perfect blend of convenience and tranquility, all at an exceptional price point. Don’t miss out on this idyllic retreat! MLS 106184
Starting at $799,000
mile hike from the community through Nature Conservancy and National Forest to the stunning Silver Run Falls and its refreshing swimming oasis. Gather with friends around the community outdoor fireplace garden, offering a perfect spot for relaxation and socializing. Experience peaceful seclusion in this charming neighborhood while remaining conveniently close to all that Cashiers has to offer. MLS 104629 / MLS 104630
4118 Kitchen and Bar 4118kitchen-bar.com P 120
A&A Property Cleanouts P 53, 154, 183
A-List Antiques P 70
Acorns acornshighlandsnc.com P 212
ACP Home Interiors acphomeinteriors.com P 37
Allan Dearth and Sons Generators adsemergencypower.com P 77
Allen Tate -
Desimir Petrovic P 15
Allen Tate -
Kelly Ramsay allentate.com P 210
Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group patallenrealtygroup.com P 9
Allison Diane allisondianeclothing.com P 198
Annawear annawearnc.com P 41
Anne Buresh Interior Design annburesh.com P 184
Around Back at Rocky’s Place aroundbackatrockysplace.com P 97
The Baked Bunny P 108
Balistreri Realty laketoxawayliving.com P 144
Barbara Jamison Paintings barbarajamisonpaintings.com P 5
The Bascom thebascom.org P 87
Bazaar Barn P 30
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices meadowsmountainrealty.com P 101, 102, 130
Betsy Paul Properties betsypaulproperties.com P 211
Bijou Jewelry bijoujeweler.com P 163
Bird Barn & Garden P 190
Black Rock Design Build blackrockdb.com P 80, 182
Blue Ridge Bedding & Furniture blueridgebedding.com P 193
Blue Ridge Falls RV Resort bueridgefallsrvresortcom P 147
Blue Ridge Music P 97
Bombshell Hair Boutique P 166
Bounds Cave’s Rug Gallery boundscaverugs.com P 33
Brookings brookingsonline.com P 69
Bryson’s Grading & Paving brysongrading.com P 75
Buck’s Coffee Cafe P 113
Bungalow Boutique bungalow828.com P 137
Burlingame experience-burlingame.com P 151
C Orrico corrico.com P 49
C&C Design Studio P 195
Calders Coffee Cafe calderscoffeecafe.com P 109, 120
Calhoun Landscaping P 188
Caliber Fine Properties caliberfineproperties.com P 55-59
Canyon Kitchen lonesomevalley.com/canyon_kitchen P 155
Canyon Spa lonesomevalley.com/canyon_spa P 155
Casa Amigos P 125
Cashiers Chamber of Commerce cashiersareachamber.com P 48
Cashiers Kitchen Company P 190
Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty - The McKee Group P 62-65, 202-206
The Cashiers Store thecashierstore.com P 159
Cashiers Valley Community Chorus P 49
Highlands Lawn & Garden highlandslawnandgarden.com P 71
Highlands Performing Arts Center highlandsperformingarts.com P 89
Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty - Andrea Gabbard sothebysrealty.com P 173
Highlands Supper Club thehighlandssupperclub.com P 5
Highlands Transportation Company P 171
Highlands Wine Shoppe highlandswineshoppe P 112
Historic Homes Tour highlandshistory.com P 159
Historic Toxaway Foundation historictoxaway.org P 150
Hummingbird Lounge oldedwardsinn.com P 212
Jack’s Upholstery P 181, 183
Jackson Hole Gem Mine jacksonholegemmine.com P 74
Jennings Builders Supply jbwnc.com P 76
John Cleaveland Realty jcrealty.com P 38
Josephine’s Emporium P 183
The Kitchen thekitchenofhighlands.com P 116
Lakeside Restaurant lakeside restaurant.info P 121
Las Margaritas P 111
Laura Moser Art lauramoserart.com P 5
Lehotsky & Sons lehotskyandsons.com P 56, 182
Lenz Gifts & Luxury Linens P 46
Leslie Jeffery lesliejeffery.art P 84
Living Stone Design + Build livingstonedesignbuild.com P 66
The Lofts on Main theloftsonmaininhighlands.com P 4
The Look Boutique P 21
Los Vaqueros P 127
Lupoli Construction lupoliconstruction.com P 47
Main Street Gifts P 73
Main Street Nursery P 56
McCulley’s P 3
Michele Page Webster, Artist pagetheartist.com P 84
Mirror Lake Antiques mirrorlakeantiques.com P 32
The Molly Grace P 88
Morales Painting P 74
Mountain Construction Engineering mountain-ce.com P 149
Mountain Gate Systems P 189
Mountain Home Consignments P 73
Mountain Lakes Physicians Group P 187
Mountain Life Properties mountainlifere.com P 129
Mountain Theatre Company mountaintheatre.com P 93
Mountainworks
Custom Home Design, Ltd. mtnworks.com P 175
Nancy’s Fancys P 196
Nearly New nearlynewnc.com P 52
Nora & Co P 17
Nth Degree nthliving.com P 86
Old Edwards Inn & Spa oldedwardsinn.com P 182, 212
On the Verandah ontheverandah.com P 120
Paoletti’s paolettis.com P 116
Park on Main theparkonmain.com P 162
Pat Calderone calderonegallery.com P 85
Peak Experience peakexpshop.com P 40
Pridemore Properties pridemoreproperties.com P 10
Primary primaryhnc.com P 121
Reach of Macon County reachofmaconcounty.org P 170, 195
Rebecka’s Home Cleaning Service P 182
Reclamations P 79
Rejuvenate Laser Center P 179
Rent In Highlands-CCP rentinhighlands.com P 189
Riverstone Development Group riverstonedevelopmentgroup.com P 55
Robin’s Nest robinsnest-cashiers.com P 95
Roman’s Roofing romansroofingnc.com P 72, 183
Rusticks rusticks.com P 11, 44
Sapphire Valley Real Estate sapphirevalleyrealestate.com P 78
Sashay Around P 19
Satolah Creek Farm satolahcreekfarm.com P 162
The Scheer Organization paidscheer.com P 41
Slabtown Pizza slabtownpizza.com P 111
Southern Way P 163
Spraggins Home Inspections spragginshi.com P 19 Steve Holt Landscaping P 183
Stork’s Wrap, Pack & Ship P 15 Sugar Creek Custom Cabinets sugarcreekcustomcabinets.com P 57 The Summer House by Reeves summerhousehighlands.com P 43 Suncoast Equity Management suncoastequity.com P
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Closet victoriasclosetnc.com P 52 Victoria’s Sportswear victoriasclosetnc.com P 52 The Village Green villagegreencashiersnc.com P 156 Vivianne Metzger Antiques vmantiques.com P 45 The Watershed Shoppe P 25
Wayah Insurance Group wayah.com P 29, 183
Whistle Stop Antiques whistlestopantiquesnc.com P 154
Whistlin’ Dixie P 149
WHLC FM 104.5 whlc.com P 17 Wenzel Facial Surgery wenzelfacialsurgery.com P 181 Western Carolina University westernsky.wcu.edu P 98 Willow Valley willowvalleyrv.com P 57
Wit’s End P 31
Zach Claxton zachclaxtonart.com P 85
Zoller Hardware zollerhardware.com P 183, 190
The Zookeeper Bistro thezookeeperbistro.com P 108
